Morning all.
Just a point tonight will be enough to secure top spot in our group. Arsene Wenger hinted in his press conference that he may select a stronger team or certainly a more experienced one than he’s done so far in this competition. Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah have travelled to Germany but I’m not sure any other younger players have but we’ll find out for sure later.
We don’t have a good record against German opposition, especially away from home. In fact it’s awful with just four wins in seventeen attempts but tonight there’s a good chance we’ll make that five. FC Koln are poor, terribly poor which is why they sit bottom of our group and bottom of the Bundesliga.
Danny Welbeck is set to start, as is Olivier Giroud having recovered from his thigh strain. Theo Walcott is reported to be ill so misses out so perhaps Reiss Nelson will take his place. David Ospina is fit again so it’s likely he’ll start although I’d love to see Wenger stick with Matt Macey. Jack Wilshere will no doubt be getting another game, perhaps alongside Elneny or Coquelin.
Merts was alongside Wenger in his press conference so I guess he’s going to start this one alongside Rob Holding, a pairing which excelled in the FA Cup Final victory over Chelsea.
Merts talked about Saturdays victory over the neighbours:
I think it was a brilliant example of us bringing it all – fans and players together. It was a great atmosphere and lovely to see how we were together in every single situation. Even in the stands, on the bench or actually on the field, we seemed to be together.
The intensity was great from the start and I think it is human on those occasions that we give 20 per cent more. I think it is like that.
But we want to reproduce, especially on Thursday. They set a good example for us, those players who came in. We saw that intensity and to repeat that tomorrow and Sunday will be a big, big challenge for us. But we embrace it.
He’s right of course, it’s easier to get motivated for a NLD because of who we play and the history between the two clubs but Arsenal should be better than just raising the tempo in two fixtures a season.
Every game we play in is equally important just in a different way. The Emirates fans showed they’ll be behind this team 100% if the team are firing on all cylinders but it’s a ‘chicken v egg’ situation imo. The fans set the atmosphere before kickoff and after that it’s down to the players to respond. But the problem is, we never know which Arsenal will turn up and if it’s the boring sideways passing team with players not up for the challenge then the fans will soon hush. It’s different in away games of course because there’s fewer Arsenal fans but as we know from the past, those travelling fans can be noisy too.
Not sure they’ll be heard in a stadium like tonight’s though as I’d imagine the place will be quite hostile with Koln fans either rooting for their team or showing their discontent at the way their season is going.
Anyway, a point or all three will do nicely, as will another good performance. Both might have us believing we’re heading towards better times, although Burnley on Sunday might just put any such thoughts right back where they were…
Enjoy the game guys. Don’t forget it’s a 6pm kickoff time here in the UK.
Morning Rico. A decent first day in the Ashes. We avoided an early batting collapse at least.
As for this evening? We just need to keep it tight and sensible really.
Morning Adam. Yes, a good first day…
Tight and sensible sounds just like Wenger.. 😉
Morning Rico
Always happy when that Moanino loses.
With his full squad this time….lol
Morning Alex.
Tight yes , sensible not sure . However the team tonight will need a few old heads as the Cologne fans will not have forgotten the Emirates problems and the fines and despite it being down to them will be baying for blood. Effectively we need to keep things tight at the back draw them in and hit on the break , an early goal and they will probably fold. If we attack too much and let one in they will think it’s Christmas come early and be a lot more difficult..Pragmatism tonight get the point and go home.
Burnley will be just as difficultt albeit different. They will be organised at the back and as they don’t ship too many goals we will need a more direct approach if we sit back and knock it sideways we will get great possesion and zero penetration.
Good point there Potter. Maybe that’s why AW has hinted at a more experienced side.
Afternoon Rico.
Listened to the morning session last night, Vince and Stoneman did ok, shame about Root.
Was looking at the Aussie XI and I didn’t know any of them except the spinner, they’ve really gone through a change.
Afternoon Kev. Real shame about Root and Cook, but this England team need to start digging in and not just relying on a few older heads to get the runs. Seems they did which is positive..
Strange decision to take the new ball in fading light with floodlights on . Almost certainly gave the England batsmen a chance to get prepared for day 2.
Afternoon all and thank`s El Rico.
We may want Wenger Out !…………………but I love this from him, pure class imo !
🙂
https://twitter.com/ReshminTV/status/933685337368428544/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.caughtoffside.com%2F2017%2F11%2F23%2Fyou-are-ill-on-the-inside-arsene-wenger-trolls-tottenham-reporter-reveals-exchange-with-arsenal-boss%2F
Question ?…………………………………do Cologne have the nicest smelling fans ?
Jermaine talking sense !.
Speaking on Premier League Tonight on BT Sport, Jenas said: “Saturday against Tottenham was one of those days where it didn’t matter what the last five results were, it didn’t matter if everyone hated Arsene Wenger – it was about winning the derby.
“The support that I heard in that stadium was ridiculous.
“It was unbelievable and it transmitted itself onto the pitch to inspire the team.”
See it can be done getting a great atmosphere………..how to do it against the likes of Burnley????
No LC they just exude ‘odour’! And pong rotten!
Good result tonight? …..let’s hope so…….Wenger out!
Getting dark here, but it’s been a lovely blue skied chill windy day. Not bad for the end of November.
An experienced side is better for tonight’s game, it would be a lot more competitive for sure and there are squad players who need to put in a good performance.
3.25 Lc, it’s in the post from one of our own.. ?
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/933741926964256769
Morning all.
Kev, our bowling attack will be phenomenal with some experience under their belts.
There are some rippers amongst them.
Game day.
Whatever side we put out, we should be winning this.
Anyone still awake? ?
Yet again we lose in Germany but we’re top of the group… ?
Wel, that was absolutely awful.
Wasn’t it just….
Night guys.
Result doesn`t matter and the final group game means nothing aswell……………the important thing is the first team play on Sunday after a weeks rest from Spud bashing…………..expect my predicted record away win !
🙂
Is there a cricket match going on ?……………………..I`d rather watch the naked hungry hippo championships !
🙂
Take things for granted and lose. We went back to the eye of aneedle threading and got caught out on the break yet again.
Very poor image.
We didn’t shoot.
We played for the 0-0
No surprise, it’s not like it’s the first time they’ve beaten us in Europe is it !
rico, you can make that 18 now.
We topped the group and in the end that’s what really matters, but the other three teams in our group were all truely awful, so awful that we’ve failed to score in the last 180 minutes of football against them!!!
If we are to progress in this competition, and it is worth winning, Wenger cannot rely on players like Giroud, Coquelin, Elneny, Debuchy and even Wilshere. If Wenger uses a similar line up in the knockout stages Arsenal will get knocked out.
If Arsenal had not been so insipid against Red Star in the previous game and won the group two weeks ago then Wenger could have played the youngsters tonight and we would have probably won with players who want to impress.
I know people will say that tonight’s players need games, but they’ve all had plenty of games this season and they still lacked that edge, maybe they also lacked self-motivation?
The players that beat Tottenham had that edge in spades, that’s why they’re in the 1st choice team and tonight’s team are in the reserves…
Kev, our lads motivation is up and down, and that’s half the problem.
Is it Wenger, or the players?
Is it both?
Who knows, but the inconsistency is pretty obvious.
You’d think these guys would’ve been out to impress.
We were toothless upfront. .Giroud is just terrible. .no motivation whatsoever. .get knocked off the ball like a teenage girl!
All his attempts flicks and touches were pathetic.
The rest didn’t cover themselves in glory either, but at least they tried!
Morning all
Morning all.
Agree re Giroud Kk, for a big lump, he’s really weak..
Morning rico,
I wish if wenger played Nkitia or Akpom for 30 or 45 mins instead of persisting with Giroud.. .it’s not like he needs game time anyway!
Good call, KK.
Give the kids a go when the result isn’t that important.
Morning all.
Morning Kk, agree there. Their defence was awful, get some pace and clinical finishing on the pitch and Eddie has both..
New post up.