Daily Bits and Bobs

Arsenal take on Villa, Arsenal ready to make signings.

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

It looks like the Mikel Merino saga could be over within hours after the player reportedly underwent a medical at Arsenal yesterday. This deal must be one of the longest ones to get over the line in transfer history. It certainly feels that way.

Out of the blue, yesterday afternoon David Ornstein reported that Fabio Vieira is to return to Porto on loan for the rest of the season. A good move for all concerned I think, especially the player. Hopefully he’ll have a good season with Porto and this time next year, European clubs will be desperate to sign him. Young Ethan Nwaneri must be rubbing his hands together because with Vieira’s departure, his playing time could/should increase.

During his press conference yesterday, Mikel Arteta was asked if we’re looking to recruit players before the end of the transfer window:

We have to, because anything can happen both ways, especially in the last week. You have to be ready, especially in the last week, you have to be ready and be prepared because a lot of surprises can come, for many different reasons and we are prepared.

Edu and his team have a lot to do over the next seven days including today. The futures of Nketiah, Nelson, Ramsdale and Kiwior need resolving and replacements, certainly for Ramsdale, need signing.

Anyway, back to the here and now….

Arsenal travel to Villa Park this weekend for their first Saturday evening kickoff of the season. Villa, managed by Unai Emery, have had a busy summer in the transfer window which I guess they needed having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Having sold Douglas Luiz for £42 million, Moussa Diaby for £50 million, they had money to burn. Omari Kellyman and Cameron Archer moved to Chelsea and Southampton respectively but I’ve no idea how much additional money those two sales generated. Jhon Duran looked to be on his way to West Ham last week but the moved didn’t materialise. Instead, he ended up scoring Villa’s winner against West Ham on the opening day of the season.

Replacing those who left is Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, Ross Barkley, Jaden Philogene, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea. Onana and Barkley I know of but the others are just names I’ve seen written somewhere. Even so, Villa are a dangerous side, aggressive and quick.

Mikel Arteta in his pre-match press conference:

It’s one of the toughest places to go for sure. We know that, we’ve prepared really well to understand what we have to do to go there and win the game. They dominate every aspect of the game, when you give them space to run they are phenomenal, when there is no space and they have to find it they can do that. In any restarts or set-pieces, they are at it.

Tomorrow (today) we go there with that belief and being very clear in what we want to do and what we have to do to earn the right to win the game, and we will certainly try to do that.

Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke:

From a tactical perspective Emery was extremely shrewd when Villa beat us 2-0 in April. In the second period he dropped his back four deeper to shrink the space between the lines inside their own half, rather than holding their usual high line. That stopped us running in behind and slowed down our attacks, so I can see our former head coach trying to replicate that ploy. 

The key will be finding ways to unlock that set-up. If Villa hold a line on halfway, looking for offsides, well-timed runs from deep could hurt them. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are two players who are especially clever when making sprints beyond the last defender.

Aside from the obvious threat that Ollie Watkins carries, Leon Bailey will arguably need the most attention. The Jamaican stays high and wide on Villa’s right wing and has pace to burn. He produced a great assist in this fixture last term and scored in north London.

The midfield battle will also be fascinating. I expect Morgan Rogers to drop into the engine room from his No.10 role when we have the ball, and John McGinn to shuffle inside from the left. If the centre of the pitch becomes crowded, we must move the ball quickly and efficiently to the wings, to stretch play and isolate Villa’s full-backs. That is the way to beat teams who block up the spine.

December 2023, Villa had beaten Man City 1-0 just a few days before our fixture against them took place. Within 7 minutes, McGinn had put the home team 1-0 up. I think I’m right in saying that turned out to be their only real chance of the game. A game which Mikel Arteta’s team bossed in every department other than goals scored. Arsenal had two goals ruled out, one for offside, the other for a debatable handball, Martin Odegaard spurned a number of chances to not only level the scoreline but to win the match too. It was one of those days….

Mikel Arteta opted for just once defence minded midfielder back in December last year, just as he did in the home fixture later in the season but I don’t think he will today. As well as Declan Rice, I’m sure one of Thomas Partey or Jorginho will start with Kai Havertz pushing further up the pitch where he plays best. I’d so love to see him beat Martinez on more than one occasion today. Actually, I’d love to see Martinez beaten many times full stop.

Lastly, the officials appointed for this evening’s game are:

Referee: Michael Oliver, assisted by Stuart Burt and Dan Cook
Fourth official: Darren England
VAR: Peter Bankes and Eddie Smart

Catch up in the comments.

 

rico

66 thoughts on “Arsenal take on Villa, Arsenal ready to make signings.”

  1. Cicero says:

    Good morning Rico.

    There will be no room for mistakes this evening, we just cannot afford to give the ball away three times in the closing stages, so if Partey starts he has to be subbed before he begins to tire and lose concentration.

  2. rico says:

    Morning Cicero. I guess this is the perfection White was talking about…

    I’m wondering if Jorginho will start this one, two games in a week might break Partey..

  3. Limey says:

    Morning all,thanks Rico nice preview,
    Yes the Villa Park game last season was ridiculously one sided at times,we just couldn’t finish. You have to give them credit for staying in the game,then taking their chances at the Emirates but even then we should have been way ahead. So more than anyone they cost us,and we owe them.
    Interesting to hear Arteta talking about Raheem Sterling,he obviously rates him. He would have been a great signing 5 years ago but I can’t see it now. Maybe if we could get him on loan.

  4. rico says:

    Thanks Limey. I’ve so often thought about that late handball decision and what a difference it would have made to our season. The missed chances as well as the home game too.

    I really hope we can beat them today because they’re fast becoming a bogey team..

  5. AndrewH1313 says:

    Thanks for preview rico, big game so early in season. Shame Jesus injured, might have needed him later on. COYG

  10. Aussie Geoff says:

    Afternoon Rico and all,
    looking forward to tonights game, is Jesus injured or not as I have only read that Rice and Saka were the only 2 that picked up slight injuries last week.

  12. Cicero says:

    According to The Telegraph only Tierney and Tomiyasu are injury doubts. Mind you, they also report that Vieira is due a late fitness test, but he’s gone anyway.

  19. Cicero says:

    England need 205 to win. If the weather doesn’t cause too many delays it will be an exciting run Chase.

  27. rico says:

    Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Havertz.

    Subs: Ramsdale, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Nelson, Nwaneri, Trossard, Nketiah.

  32. Dunchirado says:

    First time commenter Aston Villa bench stronger than our bench, if we can get draw that will be good result

  34. allezkev says:

    All Arsenal, Saka almost scored, but we should be a goal down.

    We look comfortable but not clinical in front of goal.

  36. Cicero says:

    Timber seems to have the freedom to move into midfield a la Zinchenko but the difference is Timber has the pace and awareness to get back in position when needed. That said, as Arteta has indicated that he was “easing” Timber back following his injury, expect a substitution maybe at half-time.

  45. allezkev says:

    Playing against Villa is like being lured into a spider’s web.

    They’ll draw you in and mug you off, we need to stay alert and disciplined.

    Trossard is the boy for this game!

    I’d be happy with a 1-0 win for the boys wearing the worst Arsenal kit in years.

  47. AndrewH1313 says:

    Agree Kev, horrible kit. I’d be over the moon with a 1-0 win. Isn’t that McGinn a lovely fella? We certainly don’t look like a title winning team.

  56. Aussie Geoff says:

    In the few minutes he was on Calafiori, look good.
    Nice win in the end.
    , it’s 4:35 am in oz good night all

  57. allezkev says:

    I know Rico, I could hear you…

    Another clear sheet. Our defence will win it for us if we’re to win it…

  58. AndrewH1313 says:

    Did to Villa what they did to us last season. How Watkins didn’t score two I don’t know! Should have been three, most unlike Odergaard. Fantastic result in end. And few minutes for Califiori helps to bed him in and feel involved.

  61. Cicero says:

    Two goals, clean sheet, three points, just another day at the office…..and one in the eye for Martinez. 🔔🔔 😁

  62. kelsey says:

    As they say “Football is a Funny Old Game” .I thought the first 25 minutes was absolutely awful, perhaps,nerves,perhaps too much respect for each other and sloppy passing ,perhaps too many pre season games however after Watkins missed an open goal either you or I could have scored ,I started to have doubts .Many of our players just weren’t performing and then Raya who looks more confident with each game (with the secured move) made that worldy save, and M A| made the right choice subbing Martinelli who just isn’t 100% with Trossard who really imo should have started and it showed in his face when he scored within coming on in his first minute .Jesus is injured again so surely the priority is for another forward before the window closes though we won’t get a true number 9 but we are light upfront .Partey scored (should have been saved) but realistically how often will he be fit to start . Seems mad to say but that was a vital win and imo there will be many teams chasing City this season,not only us.

  63. allezkev says:

    Morning all, the table looks good to me already, Ipswich could do a greasy pole if they don’t sort themselves out, a stroll in the park for City.

    You can’t go gung ho at Villa Park or they’ll pick you off, going there this early before everyone is fully up to speed did us a favour as Watkins is scoring those two misses in a couple of weeks time.

    Tomiyasu and Jesus injured – we’ve been here before, can’t rely on these guys even though I like them. When fit they’re great, but availability is always an issue with them.

  64. Limey says:

    Important win,what a player Trossard is,talk about instant impact,he was involved in the Partey goal too. I thought Partey struggled at times so fair play to him getting the goal.
    Up to the goal it was a pretty lousy game. To be honest it seemed to follow the pattern of previous games between the two.
    I saw enough of the Brighton game to think they could give us a hand game( they create loads of chances but struggle in front of goal – sounds familiar) With our defence and goalkeeper I am confident.
    Refereeing was atrocious,and that was with Michael Oliver,probably the best of a bad bunch. I just think the PGMOL hate Arsenal.
    Pundits are so Anti Arsenal,I looked on the BBC website and Chris Waddle and his mates wanted Villa to win so much,we had the last laugh.

  65. rico says:

    Morning all.

    A game not easy to watch but sometimes, certainly at grounds like Villa Park, teams can’t afford to go gung ho imo. Arteta said after the game that he didn’t expect Villa to play as they did. I’d rather be bored watching Arsenal for 95 minutes away from home and win than like last season, play well and lose..

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