We are three points ahead of Man City with a game in hand. A win today would restore our point difference to six, could have been better but a person sitting in VAR room FORGOT to draw a line. Yep, you read that right. If we lose today, we would lose the top spot for the first time this season, but having played a game less.
We had problems in our last 2 games. We lost against a poor, relegation fighting Everton and then shared points with Brentford. There was a common theme in both the games, we were slow on the ball, lost duels and some of the players weren’t up to the speed. This includes Zinchenko, White and Martinelli, who had been prolific otherwise and playing some of the best football in first half of the season. Everton game showed a glimpse of our last season, when we didn’t know what to do when the opposite team decides to let you keep the ball and setting up a deep defending block. We had 71% possession to Everton’s 29% but we couldn’t make it work. Same was with Brentford, though it was the VAR which fu*ked us up AGAIN.
Right, back to the City game.
I’m guessing Trossard will start in place of Martinelli, though I would stick with the later personally. Martinelli is lethal, he can out-run City defenders, he can create chaos on the left wing. I haven’t seen much of Trossard but in a game when you need your best players, implementing your best strategies, stick to the players who had been doing it right. The only change I can get away with, would be Tomiyasu replacing White.
City, on the other hand, would be hungry to get back to the top. However, we will have to see how much effect the recent controversies have on the players and their morale. Fu*k them. Haaland is back, which isn’t a good news for us, but hey, we have the big Gabby and Saliba in the defence.
In the pre match conference, one of the reporters touched a very important point.
on what he thinks when people say they have figured out Arsenal
I don’t know. Every team is trying to work out what we do, the same that we do with every opponent (we face). When I look at the games, and what we produce in the games, I’m usually very satisfied with what happens. Sometimes we can do better because there are many factors that can determine that, but for sure we are always looking to evolve to be better, with the players we have, and put them in the best positions to win the games.
source: arsenal.com
After the loss against Everton and a draw against Brentford, most of the publications ran articles saying Everton showed a way to beat us, to the rest of the Premier League teams.
BOLLOCKS!
We are sitting on top of the table, with 51 points in 21 games, only lost twice and playing some scintillating football. Do you really expect me to believe that a relegation fighting team with a new manager in Sean Dyche figured us out, but not the Man United, Spu*s, Liverpool? Come on. It was a bad day at office, we will bounce back and get back on winning tracks.
Lets hope today’s is the day. A win and we will be flying. A loss, and we still would be in the mix. There is a lot on stake but I’m sure the Emirates would be a difficult battle for Pep.
I’m wearing the Arsenal Jersey today. It’s a late for us Indians, 1.30 in the night but I’m all up for it. That’s all for today, see you in the comments.
#COYG.
Good post Ambarish. I’m assuming you’re happy to play Xhaka tonight?
Going to have to agree and disagree with you Ambarish, I agree Martinelli has been ineffective, but it is the lack of space Gabs M has that Xhaka takes up moving forward that pushes Martinelli wide to try to cut in against a tag-team of defenders or run wide to put a cross into an empty box with maybe Xhaka rooted in the penalty spot hoping they don’t make a quick counter.
Trossard should play instead of Xhaka, not Martinelli because he’s quick feet can beat the press and get the ball down to Martinelli and link up with him using one-touch triangles to get around the tag team. Trossard can also assist in there box and score from the LMF position far better than Xhaka can.
Same on the right Tomi is better than White at linking with Saka, as is ESR when fit.
Ambarish, sorry to burst your bubble but we ARE easy to play against as has been proven in our last 2 games. If Arteta doesn’t pull a rabbit out of the hat for this City game and plays his usual 11 round pegs in square holes and Pep will take the piss with the score line where Arteta will throw his poor shattered and broken players under the usual press conference bus. Either that or he’ll do a “Poor Me” more narcissistic approach.
We are all thinking we are at Fortress Emirates where Brentford should have scored 3 against us.
Reality is we are tired and we run out of gas far too early in games and just defend for our lives for the last 20minutes of each half. Guaranteed Pep’s war cries will keep City at full power throughout the game bringing on subs we could only look at and wish we had them.
Will Arteta get his selection and in-game management right?
We’ll find out at 0230 my time tomorrow morning. I’ll stay up for this one and write the post game report for you Ambarish if you’re happy with that.
0:3 is my prediction which could be far worse if City score early.
I seriously hope I’m completely wrong.
Their box*
Hi Tony,
Hate to say this but I would keep Xhaka today. I don’t wanna see lots of changes in a crucial game like today, sticking to what’s worked till now except last 2 games is the way to go.
Plus we don’t have a Xhaka’s replacement. ESR/Trossard/Zinchenko can be tried but not today.
Today’s game will confirm if those 2 games were a blip or we are developing a pattern here.
Happy to accomodate articles from your or anyone else. I’m sorry I missed the author details in last post which you contributed, I had updated it yesterday.
No worries Ambarish. I write for the club and LIR I’n not looking for recognition. Just happy to write and help out.
Xhaka will be too slow to cope: his games should be relegated to a sub’s position. However, I understand your thinking, but I fear Xhaka will be targeted because I would if I were Pep. Xhaka can’t live with any of City’s mid field for pace and skill sets and Partey will be spread too thin to do his covering for Xhaha.
We’ll have to agree to disagree and hope each other is right as the result is what matters along with the points.
I feel this is a pivotal game for us & City tonight and is why I’m staying up for it. I’m expecting a very spicy game.
Junior disagrees with me also and feels we will win by a goal.
(originally posted this late last evening before this more pertinent article emerged)
2 interesting notes:
(1) City have not lost to Arsenal in a league meeting since 2015, winning the last 10 games by an aggregate score of 26-3…of course this will in no way be a determining factor in today’s fixture, but it’s definitely a painful reminder of just how poor we’ve been in matches against the best and the brightest…let’s hope we find a way to flip this script moving forward
(2) Arsenal have made just 14 changes to his starting XI across the Premier League, nine fewer than the next club Newcastle…now there’s no doubting the fact that this worked in our favour during the first half of the season, as most club’s aspire to having a settled and successful starting 11, but the real measure of a manager comes when adversity hits and adjustments need to be made…it doesn’t appear, thus far anyways, that a viable Plan B is in MA’s repertoire, unless you actually believe moving Xhaka 10 yards up the pitch counts
on a side note, I wouldn’t be surprised whatsoever if MA shifted back to his old 4-2-3-1 borefest formation, in the hopes that we don’t get overrun by their superior midfield options, which likely means more wide side bombing and little to no offensive presence in the middle of the park…the problem with this tactical approach, besides the obvious, is that it doesn’t even allow us to effectively counter with pace even if we wanted to…I still think making life difficult for Rodri is the key to disrupting their rhythm…I would likewise play Tierney and Tomi, as they match up better against Grealish and Marhez, assuming City will actually start both of the above-mentioned players
TRVL, I read that earlier my time remembering many of the goals. That is not the reason for my pessimistic scoreline but I felt that we would implode gradually after the world cup. The Arteta rollercoaster hasn’t disappeared yet and City are slowly back in their ascendency and will be coming to win as if their lives depended on it.
City need some feel good factor after the recent revelations and will want this title as it may be its last with this squad if City’s punishment fits its crimes.
Countering that Arteta has been out thought by Frank & Dyche dropping 5 points in the process.
We’ve looked inept in all departments in recent games, so tonight we need to be credible league leaders all of a sudden to prove it’s where we belong against an on fire City.
What are the chances of that happening and us getting 3 points?
https://twitter.com/charles_watts/status/1625893444299239429?s=46&t=3rYI1-NRopGrflA305M_uA
Just picked this up from LG saying no Partey tonight. Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse.
“Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey expected to miss tonight’s crucial top-of-the-table Premier League game against Man City. 29yo Ghana int’l has a muscular injury, although it is not thought to be serious.“ – David Ornstein & Gunnerblog
Seems to confirm then Twitter post.
Hopefully, we’ll see the recent record breaking Jacob K at DM and not Jorginho. KT at left back and Zinchenko and Trossard in midfield with Ode. The midfield and DM need to be pacy with quick feet on the ball.
I’d play Eddie out left and Martinelli centrally with Saka on the right to begin with.
We will need to make any free kicks and corners count. Maybe Jacob can bag a goal as he’s noted to be formidable in the air as Gabriel can be.
Damn, that’s a big blow for us. I have zero trust in Jorginho.
One more hour to see the magic of Arsenal’s boys… I’m waiting to have a 6 point difference
Arsenal XI vs. Manchester City: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Xhaka, Ødegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Arsenal subs: Turner, White, Tierney, Kiwior, Holding, Vieira, Trossard, Nelson, Cozier-Duberry.
Jorginho & Xhaka midfield?
“I have zero trust in Jorginho.”
Agreed Ambarish.
There’s always hope for a miracle. I don’t think Pumpkin can help with this one.
” I’m waiting to have a 6 point difference”
That’s akin to waiting to win the lottery, Divanshu.
Fuck me our CM is Xhaka and Jorginho. Asthmatic snails would overrun it.
Tony
Exactly man….we’re the gambler…and we know, how to win a game…!!!
Three cheers for Arsenal!!!
Jesus seeing the line up and I can’t believe Arteta’s so fucking stupid.
We could see a result that crushes the team after two really lacklustre performances.
Of course its possible the City players will see our line up and all suffer serious injuries from laughing so hard.
How can that be a high-footed challenge?
Thank God….just saved
Arteta’s recipe for success: shouting and pointing
Haaland is going to cause some problem today. Big Gabby wasn’t able to hold him
What a chance. How can you miss it Mr Nketiah. Come on
Fucking Eddie, he can’t hit the side of a barn, properly named purple patch Eddie. Can’t wait until he is benched again.
Fuck me
Oh fuck…missed…!
What a cross pass…!
Have to give our lads credit for giving their all.
Long way back now
Here e go 2nd in the table in about 60 minutes.
Poor performance now…fuck😡
Silva you cunt.
Two good chances, Tomi first and Saka the 2nd one.
Tony,
Agreed, boys are giving their everything today.
Again miss…what are you doing guyzzz…give your best on ground.. you’re a champion side…
WTF is wrong with in front of goal being totally shit. Ode should have shot instead of passing to Saka.
What is this on ground today……????
I can’t understand the game plan…!
They are creating chance just can’t finish them, same problem that we have had last season and the one before. Attacking talent needs to be upping their game.
Killroy-TM
Yeah man… you’re right 👍
We need a RED.
Ohh fuck…what happened
Need penalty
Perfect time for the equaliser and dispatched with aplomb by Saka.
A bit more on that shot by Eddie and no goal line clearance. He is just a back up striker. But have to admit our team is stellar and were it not for Tomi’s mistake we are looking good. If they keep up their pace and commitment we my just win this one. City are clearly rattled.
Next thing we need is Ramsdale having a world class performance in goal.