Morning all.
How many times have you and I heard pundits say “there’s not enough contact for me” after one of our players has been fouled in the opposition box? Too many to recall. This morning I saw the penalty Liverpool were awarded against Bournemouth and it has to be up there with some of the worst decisions I’ve seen given. Gakpo tripped himself up and the officials as a group, let him get away with it. The rest of the league clubs might as well give up because it’s quite clear this is going to be Liverpool’s title winning season. I’m pretty sure an Arsenal player, players from other clubs too I hasten to add, would have been booked for simulation.
As Arsenal take on Man City at The Emirates later this afternoon, all one can hope for is honesty and consistency from the officials. I know, I’m asking a lot…
David Raya missed our game in the week with an alleged muscle injury but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him return today. Lord help us if Neto is between the sticks as he hardly covered himself in glory against Girona. Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus remain out.
City are still without Rodri and according to Guardiola, Dias, Doku and Ake will be missing too. Bobb is a doubt but their three new signings, Marmoush, Reis and Khusanov could make their league debuts.
Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
City have shifted between a 4-1-4-1 and a 4-2-3-1, with the use of Kevin de Bruyne crucial to which set-up Guardiola prefers. If he is leaning towards a possession-based attacking approach, the Belgian will usually play as a No. 10 but if not, he becomes a box-to-box midfielder in a gameplan more suited to breaking at speed on fast transitions. Averaging a league-high 61% of possession, City want to monopolise the ball. Bypassing our press by going long to Erling Haaland is an obvious ploy if he is left 1v1 with a marker, but roving left-back Josko Gvardiol also likes to make dangerous runs beyond the defensive line. He can be expertly picked out by keeper Ederson, or a central defender.
City have had more shots than any other team, and have netted a division-high nine times from outside the box. Egyptian star Omar Marmoush has been added to their ranks this month who scored 15 goals in 17 starts for Eintracht Frankfurt prior to the move, so his finishing prowess has to be respected. However Rodri’s absence means City have also been more susceptible to counter-attacks through the middle, and only three Premier League sides have faced more shots from fast break, and their unusually porous defending has limited them to just five clean sheets in 23 matches.
Regardless of the title race, Arsenal need to beat City today. They got lucky at the Etihad and today gives Mikel Arteta and his players the chance to prove that. To themselves and the fans more than anyone else.
The back four pretty much picks itself right now, at least three do but I wonder if Riccardo Calafiori will start at left back rather than Myles Lewis-Skelly. Thomas Partey should be back in midfield where he belongs with Declan Rice. Up front, Arteta could opt for Gabriel Martinelli on the right although Ethan Nwaneri is more than capable of handling himself against a top team. Neither of our teenagers will let the occasion or the opposition get to them I’m sure. If Martinelli starts on the right, will Arteta give Raheem Sterling another start on the left where he looked better in midweek? Probably not, or rather,, hopefully not. It wouldn’t at surprise me if one day, it’s Lewis-Skelly we see on the left.
As Clarke mentioned in his tactical assessment of City, they’re vulnerable to a quick breakaway which is something we as a team can try to take advantage of. Martinelli is our speedster, so let’s use him. We know the threat City offer up front with Haaland but as another battle between him and our defenders goes on, Marmoush could be just as much of a danger should he feature.
Still, Arsenal have plenty of dangerous players for City to worry about too and if they’re in firing on all cylinders, are more than capable of getting the three points the club needs.
Lastly, good luck to the women who face Man City at The Etihad at midday today. Like the men, they need a win. Ex Arsenal Vivianne Miedema will be up against ex City Chloe Kelly with the latter rejoining Arsenal on deadline day.
Enjoy the games guys…
Let’s make it a double, I’ll drink to that! Make mine a scotch. 😉
Good morning Rico.
Watkins went off with a suspected groin injury yesterday, so we won’t be buying him.
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Morning Cicero.
I’ll settle for water… 😂
Watkins wasn’t moving anyway was he..?
I don’t think we ever were , that rumour was put out as an appeaser to make it look like we were really trying and to keep the fans onside . The club know what and who they want but those players are not available and they are prepared to wait. , get as far as we can and collect the money before the summer spend .
I reckon you’re probably right. I’m certainly not expecting us to make any signings today or tomorrow.