Festive season here, but you knew I would make it before time. Another Tuesday night Champions League football where we are playing Sevilla away. A crucial game for both the teams because lose this one, and the days ahead are going to be tougher.
Playing XI is already out and Zinchenko made way for Tomiyasu. I think it’s a pretty good move because Tomi is better defensively, and has a better work rate than Alex. He can run forward equally well and if the strategy is to play a back 3 of Tomi, Saliba, Gabriel with White drifting into the midfield when we have the possession, then we are in a much better defensive set up. Tomi can have that overlap runs and I think, when given time, can build up that connection with Martinelli.
Jorginho starts again with Odegaard and Rice, which confirms the Thomas Partey injury news. I have been a great fan of Partey and his ability to control the midfield and his inch perfect passes, but hey if you are injured most of the time and can’t turn up to the most important games, what’s the point of it. However, I would have preferred Rice in that DM role and Havertz / Vieira / ESR in the attacking side of it.
Odegaard keeps his place after a dismal display against Chelsea. Again, the manager do not want to disrupt the chemistry based on one game performance from the captain, but personally I feel it’s time we shift ESR to the right side of the midfield, and let him sync up with Bukayo.
Gabriel Jesus starts up top, we need goals and he has a pretty decent record in Champions League. I hope he improves that today.
We are in 2nd position after losing to Lens and a loss today would mean we would have to catch up to both Lens and Sevilla. We should be aiming to wrap up the group stages as early as possible, but we don’t have a decent record in Spain drawing 3, winning 3 and losing 11 in previous 17 games. Sevilla is in a good form having restricted Real Madrid to a draw in their last encounter which they could have easily won.
Anything but a win today would make life tougher for Mikel Arteta and his side.
Right, a short one today, game is in another 30 min and I hope we come out as winners. See you during the game.
Hey KP
When it comes to kits I’m more of a traditionalist of red and white. The rest is just marketing to get as much money as possible given The Arsenal is a corporate business these days worth between £2.5B to possibly £4B. I’d rather the club put their energy into getting Arteta help (mental) or just get rid.
Did the green kit make us play better? No it was the same shit just a different day with complete predicability in our play and all hands manning the pumps for the last 25 minutes hoping not to b e breached. Sound familiar?
From my prospectus City being docked 6 to 12 points this season opens the door for us and Pool er um and saying in a whisper spuds who currently are top. Let that sink in Gooners.
Could Mikel take advantage of such a morale boost the to PL others than City fans?
I’ll leave that one with you to percolate if you feel so inclined. Have a good one LIR.
Yeah Tony, some of the kits over the last 25 years are mind-bogglingly awful. As a 70s child, the away kit always needs to be yellow-blue-yellow, a la Charlie George in 71 or Brady in the 5 minute final at the other end of the decade. There’s also the strip that the team wore in 89 at Anfield. It was a bridge too far when we some genius chose blue (cfc) or even white (thfc) in those awful da cup defeats in the past few years. What the fuckity fuck?
I got no training whatsoever in psychology and mental health (otherwise I’d’ve cured myself… ) but just give me 5 minutes with Arteta sitting opposite me on a sofa and I’m pretty sure I could solve AFC’s problems!
Percolate…. Hmm…. Time for coffee.
Buy yourself a large caffeinated drink and head over to the new post.