Morning all.
Everything went right for Mikel Arteta and his players on Wednesday night. The fans were brilliant, the players gave a bit extra and even a decision or two went our way which in itself is unusual. The result topped off what was a perfect night. Any win over Totts is perfect in my opinion.
Mikel Arteta:
Brilliant. I loved it. I said it before, that’s in our hands. We can look and feel sorry about what’s happening with injuries or the referees, but what is in our hands, let’s make sure that we do it and I saw a different bite to our crowd, a different body language. We were on top of every ball, we created atmosphere with and without the ball and we had real purpose. We were screaming and going into every ball in a very different way and I must say that I loved it.
But, the approach the club/team had for the Totts game cannot be a one off just because the opposition live just down the road. It doesn’t matter who we face because every game is worth three points and in every game we need to fight hard for all of them.
This group of players need reminding that Villa were one of the clubs who put a huge dent in our league title chase last season. The game itself was much like a few of the performances we’ve seen this season. Tons of possession, plenty of goal scoring opportunities but no one to stick the ball into the back of the net. Jesus, Saka, Odegaard, Havertz, Trossard – they all spurned a chance or two to score. That was back in April last year. We go into this game today with Jesus and Saka. Plus, Nwaneri, Tomiyasu and White remain out. Calafiori is a doubt too.
Villa have been good at home having lost only one game which funny enough, was against us in August, but away from home they’ve struggled. A 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park in the week was their first for a while.
Villa’s new signing Malen, could make his debut against his old club but McGinn, Carlos, Torres and Barkley are ruled out.
Mikel Arteta and his players should know what to expect from Unai Emery’s team today. They don’t press from the front as much as some other clubs do, instead, Emery deploys a mid block in attempt to prevent the opposition defence from passing forwards. A few lofted balls over the top of that block might work well, especially with the pace of Martinelli and Sterling.
In attack, Villa look for the through ball to Watkins or Duran so Gabriel and Saliba will need to be on their toes, however, if we win the battle in midfield, the through balls will be kept to a minimum. It’s probably on the break when we need to be careful. We need to win the battle full stop, put pressure on Villa both in and out of possession and cause them to buckle. Oh, and ping a few shots at Martinez early in the game and don’t let him settle. I look forward to seeing Havertz get at him..
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
Every game we play for the rest of the season will be called “a big one”. Hopefully we will soon have Ben White back, Timber can the move to his preferred left back role and, who knows, MLS may move into midfield as an Odegaard back up.
100% effort this evening, nothing else will do.
Morning Cicero.
Absolutely, Trossard said we have to be near on perfect from now on. He’s right.
Afternoon Rico et al…
Yes Cicero I remember Manninger, he was very unlucky because Wenger never really trusted him above David Seaman.
I was thinking about Warmuz, remember him? No, me neither, I remember the name but I don’t think I ever saw him play, Rami Shaaban was another, our first Israeli footballer if I recall correctly?
I think he broke his leg in a game and never came back into the team? I’m sure you all have your favourites, personally, and I know this is another era, but I’m still scarred by George Wood…
Afternoon Kev,
Almunia used to scare me and to think he was once our number one keeper…
Manuel Almunia, yes Rico, there was talk at one time of Manuel making himself available to play for England (have I got that right?) something to do with residency laws if I recall.
People grumble about Arteta but nobody but nobody could not see the wood for the trees like Arsene, he was another level.
Remember how stubborn he was over signing a proper centre half? It was almost bordering on irresponsibility and wasn’t solved until we shipped 8 goals at Old Toilet.
The goalkeeper situation was also a joke after Jens left, he didn’t solve it until he signed Petr Cech who gave us one good year before his age caught up with him.
For a guy who was so smart he did also make a lot of dumb decisions.
Kev, I think Wenger was always fixated on finding another Thierry Henry, a virtually unknown forward he turned into World beater.
Did he succeed?
How about a six month loan for Karim Benzema? he’s only 37.😉
Kylian Mbappe, that’s the boy Cicero, he tried to sweet talk him into joining Arsenal when he was 16/17 but Arsene had lost his aura by then.
He made too many decisions in his latter Arsenal career that looked and were daft and consequently lost a lot of his credibility.
Ha ha Kev re Wenger, let’s not start on the defenders he signed latterly.
Gosh, Bournemouth are thumping Newcastle 4-1 at St James. There’s hope for our League Cup fixture yet. 😜
After all, Newcastle can concede 4 goals… and score one.
Let’s hope Malen doesn’t want to inform Arsenal, who shouldn’t have been sold to PSV.
Yes,all big games now but a level up from Spurs. The result in midweek gives me a lot of hope though.
I would go with a front 3 of Trossard,Martinelli and Havertz which is pretty much first choice from those available.
Bournemouth certainly showed the way to beat Newcastle,high energy from the word go and great finishing. Hopefully that will dent their confidence.
Totally agree we should look at the lower leagues in England. In recent years there haven’t been many. Rob Holding was never really a first choice for long but 98 appearances( I had to look that up) and an FA Cup win is not too shabby.
Going back further Steve Bould and Lee Dixon had great careers.
COYG
No Saliba, not even on the bench. Raya, Partey, Timber, Gabriel, MLS. Odegaard,Rice, Merino, Trossard, Martinelli, Havertz.
Has Saliba been sold to Real Madrid? They’re said to be interested in him.
He wasn’t in training so I guess he’s injured..
Partey at right back it seems.
AFC.com:
Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino are both back into the starting lineup to face Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Raheem Sterling and William Saliba are the two to make way from the team that started the north London derby victory on Wednesday night. Sterling is among the subs, while Saliba misses out entirely – he had played every minute of our past seven games since December 21.
It means a defensive reshuffle, with Thomas Partey likely to start at right back, and Jurrien Timber partnering Gabriel in the middle. Myles Lewis-Skelly continues at left back after his storming display in midweek.
question :- Is Martinelli a better right winger than left or does he benefit from Odegaard the way that Saka does ?
By the look of that goal Potter, Martinelli doses well on the left.
I think having Martinelli and Trossard can make a difference. Usually it’s either or.
Odegaard certainly looks to be over his injury hangover.
Hhaaavvveeerrrttzy
I think we need to take Merino off and bring on Jorginho.
Berg 10, the original, is in the crowd.
Sh*t Watkins again! 2 – 2
2 goals down to Partey keeps losing his man
That’s a bit of shock..
Sterling to get the winner… 😂
Oh bloody hell Sterling coming on.
Martinelli off for Sterling you got to be joking
This is on a knife edge
I’m not sure that hit his arm.
So so disappointing…
looked like his hip to me Kev but there you go .