Morning all.
What a week ahead for Arsenal. The first of a two-legged semi-final in the League Cup against Newcastle Utd tonight, then on Sunday we face Man Utd in the FA Cup and then a week today we face Totts in the second north London derby of the season. It’s football every three days for Mikel Arteta’s players until the international break in February. Nine fixtures crammed into twenty eight days. Although should by chance we progress through to the next round of the FA Cup, our next fixture in that competition would be on the 8th February, just a few days after we would have either made it into the League Cup final or not.
Having such a small squad won’t help our cause over the next five months, especially as so many are injured right now. Thankfully, Ben White could be back before the end of January, as might Takehiro Tomiyasu as long as neither suffer any setbacks.
Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar are suspended tonight. Callum Wilson, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and Nick Pope are expected to remain on the sidelines through injury. Newcastle have quietly but confidently climbed to fifth in the Premier League having won five matches in a row including victories over Totts and Manchester Utd on their travels, something which seems to have the media excited about. However, in the next breath they’ll be telling us, or writing about, just how bad the two clubs are right( now. A fickle lot eh..
Mikel Arteta didn’t really say much in his pre-match press conference other than Ethan Nwaneri will be out for a few weeks, Kai Havertz could return tonight and Raheem Sterling should be back soon. The transfer tale was the same as always, as a club we’re ready…
When asked about having to be reactive in the January window and lowering our expectations:
Hopefully not because we set very high standards and we really want to only have players here that are coming from our academy or we have to sign players to really elevate and impact the team, otherwise just bringing in bodies doesn’t help us.
With Jurrien Timber returning after serving his one match suspension and all three of Kieran Tierney, Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly fit, at least Thomas Partey won’t be required in defence.
How much Mikel Arteta rotates his players for this game is anyone’s guess but id imagine he’ll make changes to the side which drew against Brighton at the weekend. If Havertz is fit, I suspect he’ll start although there is no sign of him in the training photos. Oleksandr Zinchenko is surely an option for tonight, perhaps Jakub Kiwior and Marquinhos who has now been added to the senior squad. Wouldn’t it be brilliant if he suddenly made a name for himself in the team? It’s highly likely that one or two of the academy players will be on the bench too.
Newcastle are going to be a tough side to beat and with a lower league opponent this weekend, Howe is unlikely to rest players tonight. They will be physically strong and will no doubt try to break our play up any which way they can. Fine, we’re known to play that way too so can’t complain but I hope the officials are on the ball. VAR will be live tonight, with the fans hearing how and why they come up with the decisions they do. Perhaps that will focus their minds to make better decisions.
Lastly, Mikel Arteta said:
A semi-final, an opportunity to earn the right to be in a final and that starts tomorrow with two legs. Obviously they’re going to be two long games against a very competitive team, we know that, but very excited and we need a big, big atmosphere in our stadium. I admire the Emirates the most – 100%. The way we can feel at the Emirates with our people is incredible and I’m very positive that tomorrow we’re going to create a big one against really good opposition in the semi-final of the cup that we want to win, so let’s go for it.
I hope his players do go for it…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
I’d like to see Marquinos given a run out tonight, surprise package who would be unfamiliar to Newcastle.
In the present dire injury situation, three right wingers missing, would it not be wise to consider recalling Nelson from his loan at Fulham?
Morning Cicero.
When Kev mentioned him a few weeks ago, I assumed he’d go back out on loan somewhere but no, he’s in the squad which considering our injuries, makes sense. I hope he plays.
Nelson is injured too.
Oh well, another good idea down 🚽
Yep… 😂
Morning Rico and Up for the Cup.
I didn’t know that Rico regarding Marquinhos but it makes a lot of sense and yes it would be interesting to see him getting a run-out this evening, probably from the bench and then a start against ManYoo on Sunday if all goes well.
No way should the club consider letting Tierney leave yet either, we don’t owe him or Celtic and he can do a job on the left wing if need be.
We gotta utilise all our resources as it stands. I shall give you all a cheer tonight from the cheap seats. 😉
Surely Arteta will have to field academy players tonight or at least have them on the bench. Our fixture list is too hefty to expect the first team players who are fit to play in them all.
Morning Kev, I saw his name had been added yesterday. He’ll be like a new signing. 😜
Absolutely agree re Tierney, frees up MLS to play on the wing if needed.
Personally Rico I’d go as strong as is available tonight and worry about the other games as and when.
Marquinhos = LANS
4 weeks ago Marco Silva said that Nelson was out for about 10 weeks which means about end February early March. Certainly not the answer to our present problems.
Marquinos is a wild card , does he cut in or go outside , left foot ? right foot ? It will keep Howe occupied this morning studying videos.
The media are playing up the injury situation at Newcastle saying that Gordon , Botman and a couple of others are carrying knocks , However they will all play.
We need a good win tonight because it will be a hot bed up there , it usually is but ,with a trophy up for grabs their fans will be more rabid than ever.
As you say on the weekend they have Bromley and we have Manchester United , doesn’t seem that we ever get the luck of the draw.
Between the first and second legs we have 6 games :- Spurs , Villa < Zagreb < Wolves , Girona , Man City. They have 4 :- Wolves , Bournemouth , Southampton and Fulham .
Doesn't get any easier does it ?
Morning all.
I agree on holding on to Tierney, when he’s fit he’s a great LB plus with Tommy and Zinchenko frequently injured he’s an asset.
It would be interesting to see MLS play wide tonight with his attacking style and double up as defensive cover on the left flank.
Yeah Rico, I’ve just had a look on Arsenal.com and out new addition from Brazil will wear No.27
Fair enough Kev, totally understand. A chance of getting to Wembley shouldn’t be sniffed at I guess…
It’s a juggling act for Arteta over the next month or two that’s for sure…
Should we win our next CL fixture and other results go our way, we could secure qualification for the next round which means a few might get a rest.
He’s certainly an option Berg, not a bad one either. He and Trossard can rotate whilst Marquinhos and Martinelli can do the same on the right. White and Tomiyasu can’t return quick enough imo.
Kev, Number 27, previously worn by Serge Gnabry, Gervinho, Emmanuel Eboue. Let’s hope Marquinhos is more Gnabry than Gervinho 😂
Marquinhos is a late bloomer Rico, I can feel it in my water. 😁
Wouldn’t it be good if he is though Kev. Look how Gnabry’s career suddenly took off.
Ok, I’m dreaming…
I think we’ll go with the strongest available team tonight,Sterling or Marquinhos more likely to play Sunday.
It seems crazy but Man United in the FA Cup is probably the lowest priority of the next 3 games but then it’s a crazy schedule,tougher than any of our rivals.
I saw a report last week that Marquinhos was close to a loan move to another Brazilian club,maybe our injury problems have made the club think again. Good luck to him anyway.
Good afternoon Rico and all
I am with Kev with regards fielding a strong side today. Its a semi final and even though the media are all saying how NUFC will be missing players due to suspension (2) and others (plenty) through injuries and rotation I will not consider fielding a 2nd string side.
But honestly Kev, with regards Marquinhos being a late bloomer AND you feeling it in your water, please go and check with a dr for funny water feelings. might be something to do with old age perhaps??? 😅😅😅😅 Maybe you need some vitamins which help your water. 😅😅😅😅
Limey, our strongest team is whoever is fit. 😜
Afternoon Devil.
If Pope isn’t fit, their second keeper is reported to be on the verge of leaving so he’ll either want to play well, or not risk picking up an injury. Hopefully it’s the latter.
Do away goals count in this competition I wonder?
It’s good to dream Rico 🙂
Just on the train to Stratford, it feels bloody cold, I need to invest in some gloves.
Hey Dev, I’m already on the vitamins, wait until I’ve had a couple of Peroni’s and then I’ll tell ya about my acqua.
I’m with Limey re: Man Utd being the least important, let’s get a good lead over the Geordies and then worry about Sunday.
Bovril it is then Kev….
Just checked re away goals, they no longer count. If all square after two legs, straight to a penalty shootout..
Makes sense, no replays, no extra time. A better idea would to be to play just one match,the venue to be decided by rock paper scissors best of three.
One thing I noticed in the Spurs – Newcastle game at the weekend was that Newcastle are very physical,how Dan Burn managed to only get a yellow card was a mystery,also Joelinton was outright dirty.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz
Subs: Porter, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Tierney, Jorginho, Calafiori, Merino, Sterling, Jesus
Joelinton over physical ? I don’t believe it. He has always put it about a bit.
Teams as good as it gets , taking all into consideration . We need to go for the throat tonight , no going back to theirs needing a win or hanging on to a narrow lead.
No sign of Marquinos.
Agree, whoever thought a two-legged tie was a good idea is bonkers. One game at a neutral ground made more sense.
Good to see Havertz back and Odegaard. The latter wrote in the match programme that he’s feeling much better.
they have started physical and faster than us
Plus we are looking a bit dodgy at the back..
ITV coverage keeps dropping out, anyone having the same problem?
we are just too slow
Too many touches
Yes to both..
Martinelli should have scored. That’s the kind of move I wish we’d see more often…
Oh dear oh dear…….
It’s too easy for the Bircotes ad we’re so predictable
Barcodes
Seasons over
I wish it was. 😜
The players are physically exhausted. On the other hand, as they are not used to not shooting for Arsenal, when they do, they do it badly and without confidence, which combined with being physically and muscularly exhausted, always gives the impression that everything is done with great effort. . The opponent just had to shoot at the goal, with a low probability of success, but I emphasize, the ball was not blocked by the goalkeeper, etc., the ball is in there.
Sluggish and clueless!
To go with Rico’s boxing analogy headline, that was a technical knockout. 😕
Afternoon all. Didn’t see the game but reading about it.
Stats don’t say the whole story but in this case it shows how much more possesion we had and we got smashed. I don’t think it was buut fingers crossed it was part of Arteta’s plan too lose so we don’t have so many matches to play.
Wound licking time . Time for reflection and some rectifying action.
Good morning all.
Only on one occasion did we move the ball forward with pace, unfortunately Martinelli’s shot hit the post. The rest of the time the ball was moved slowly, backwards and forward, side to side, going round and round until possession was lost as the Newcastle defence crowded us out.
Arteta needs to come up with some new tactics, or even revert to some older ones, his present pass pass pass rinse and repeat, system is stultifying and almost totally ineffective.
Morning guys.
New post up.