Morning all.
Happy Easter one and all.
It’s a big day for Arsenal. The women play Chelsea in the League Cup Final at Molineux, kick off at 3pm and then the men take on Man City at The Etihad, kick off at 4-30pm.
A basket of chocolate eggs or 3 points later this afternoon, there’s only one winner. This is a big game in terms of the title race. A big game in terms of maintaining confidence too because in 2024, Mikel Arteta’s team are yet to experience domestic defeat.
At The Etihad, City are a strong. It feels like they’ve not lost a home fixture since man stepped foot on the moon. Their home fans, like so many, make a difference, unless they’re silenced of course. Arsenal need to do at the earliest opportunity. Easy to say, hard to do I know. Guardiola’s side will want to play possession football, it’s what they do. Personally, I find it boring but there you go. Their last home game was a 3-1 defeat of Man Utd at the beginning of the month. Utd went ahead before Foden scored 2 and Haaland added another late in the game. 70% possession of the game went to the home team. The last time we went to The Etihad, the result was awful, the entire situation was awful
KdB opened the scoring 7 minutes in, John Stones added a 2nd just before half-time, de Bruyne scored again after the break to make it 3-0. Rob Holding scored Arsenal’s only goal of the game but by then, we’d been battered. Haaland put a 4th past Aaron Ramsdale right at the end of the game. A horrid result for Mikel Arteta’s team. A team quite different to the one we could see up against Man City today. Declan Rice, David Raya, Kai Havertz and Jakub Kiwior are yet to face City at The Etihad wearing an Arsenal kit. William Saliba will be fit for to play too which he wasn’t last season but there is doubts over the fitness of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel, none of whom have taken part in training this week. However, as Mikel Arteta said in his Friday press conference:
There is a chance. They haven’t trained but tomorrow we have another session so there is a chance that they can be available.
Speaking at his pre-Arsenal press conference on Friday, Guardiola said:
Injuries. Ederson is much, much better. Kyle and John are out. It is what it is.
I suspect we’ve all watched enough of Man City to know what to expect from them today but here is Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke’s view:
Guardiola has turned to a 3-2-4-1 in key games so far in 2024, but he prefers a back four in games against us meaning he will likely set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. On home turf and knowing how strong our spine is, I expect City to stretch play by targeting our full-back areas. Tricky winger Jeremy Doku will be stationed wide on the left, with Phil Foden sliding inside from the right to wreak havoc. How we handle those two slippery dangermen will have a huge impact on the outcome.
Rodri versus Declan Rice is another fascinating battleground. While they may not directly contest too many duels against one another, the midfield titan that shines brightest is unlikely to end up on the losing side. However, if our shape remains robust, we have the strength, pace and quality to hurt Guardiola’s side from turnover situations. In big games this term, City have been susceptible to direct attacks. Tottenham, Aston Villa and Liverpool all scored from quick counters against them, and our winner at Emirates Stadium stemmed from one long pass.
Staying in the contest will be of critical importance. In games against the top five this season City have had a habit of fading from half-time onwards, conceding six goals and scoring just once. Like our two previous meetings this season, our substitutes could have a big say late on.
If Mikel Arteta doesn’t have Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka available today, not only will our first eleven be less strong, but also our bench. Yes, it’s the same for City if their ‘doubtful’s’ turn out to be missing but I think their squad is stronger and deeper than ours meaning Guardiola’s substitute options will be better. Bringing on Alvarez is a bit different to Eddie Nketiah coming on for us. The latter has barely kicked a competitive football this year. It’s the same for ESR, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu too.
The questions on my mind relate to the ex City players. Oleksandr Zinchenko gives us something extra going forward but his free roaming licence, throws the defence out. If he’s not back in defence when Foden is on the ball, we could be in trouble. Will Gabriel Jesus start now he’s fit or will Mikel Arteta stick with what and who has worked so well to get us in this position? There’s a reason the saying ‘if it isn’t broken don’t fix it’ exists. If Martinelli is ruled out I suppose there’s a space for Jesus to fill but is he a better option against City than Trossard? Kai Havertz dropping to the bench just isn’t going to happen in my opinion. I think Jorginho is a certainty to start because he and Declan Rice has worked so well. If Gabriel misses out, will Kiwior shift into the centre or will Tomiyasu come in to fill the gap? We’ll have to wait and see.
On paper, this game should be a cracker but it could quite easily be drab too as the cat and mouse game between both teams and managers plays out. Outside of the Arsenal ‘family’ I doubt anyone truly believes we can win. We’re underdogs that’s for sure but underdogs can spring a surprise. We’re a young team/squad with no experience of winning at The Etihad but that doesn’t matter either because one day we will.
Maybe, just maybe, that day will be today.
Catch up in the comments….
It all depends on team selection and even if players start there is no guarantee that they are 100% fit . Arteta needs to keep the pressure on for the whole time and if that means subbing at half time . So be it .
I am more nervous about this than I get about our two annual run outs against the 7 sisters mob . So much more than 3 points are at stake . Come away tonight with the points and the team is ready , take a loss and it’s square one again .
Morning rico, house. I should be looking forward to the game, it’s only a game of football, right? But I’m not, I fear a dampener on Easter! Son made his way up yesterday, hope he gets a better result than last time he travelled there!
Morning Andrew, Potter.
I’m feeling quite relaxed about today. I fancy a point.
I had to read your Son comment twice. Lol
Morning Rico and Co
Today is Easter, eggs n all, so Happy Easter everyone.
Later on I shall mostly be stressed out but this is what we want at this stage of the season, matches that matter – enjoy (if you can).
G’day all.
I shall watch more in hope than expectation. In seasons past I have watched with little hope, but the expectation of defeat.
The history of the last few seasons is against us, but as Henry Ford famously said “history is bunk”. So hopefully Arsenal can start to write a new chapter this afternoon.
Can we do it? Bob the Builder would say “Yes we can”. 😉
Gabriel and Martinelli are with the squad..
Afternoon Kev.
I feel bad. Today is Rocky’s Remembrance Day. Come on Arsenal, win today for him…
Bukayo Saka is with the squad too.
Haha rico, son not SON 🙂
Was just about to go on x and see why 2 out of 3 and not Saka when read your next post! Saka was one I most expected to be fit
Ederson ‘may’ not be playing
Mind games! Ignore them.
I’m sure Ederson will play.
lol Andrew.
Let’s hope the ladies can get the perfect start to Sunday. A double victory day 🙏🤞
There will be 3 games in a week where Arsenal’s position will be decided.
Let’s hope for the best…
Afternoon Rico and all.
As much as I would love to win today, I am going for a draw.
Half time Liverpool 1 Brighton 1
Potter, you are so right. Lose today and it’s back to square. It is for that reason that I think they win. Arsenal needs this game more than they have ever needed any game in the Arteta Era. Arsenal 2-0. It’s a statement game.
The football authorities really should wake up to global warming. Why is the League Cup final between two London clubs being played in the midlands?
Thousands of fans, from both clubs, are forced to travel hundreds of miles to watch the game. There are plenty of suitable grounds in the Capital
Hi Geoff.
Stones fit, no surprise really.
Man City team news
Team to face Arsenal: Ortega, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland.
Subs: Carson, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis.
Arsenal team news
Team to face Man City:
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus, Havertz.
Subs: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Good point Cicero. At least half a dozen alternatives.
Liverpool 2 Brighton 1 full time
Looks like fine weather in England today, fingers crossed
It’s cold though Geoff.
Fine weather Geoff? I’ve just got in after a dog walk, cold,.cloudy and a wet east wind.
Are we still half asleep?
Turgid stuff . We cant get the ball . Too many players seem not up to it
Not a convincing first half but at least we are not behind, hopefully a better second half.
Looks like Raya and Saka needs to change their boots for ones with a better grip
Awful first half of football but it’s 0-0 at half-time….
Someone stick a sock in Walcott’s choppers.
Now we have a game of football…
Odegaard isn’t his usual self today…
Well done Arsenal women, 1-0 after extra time..
Brilliant result imo.
I consider that a Point earned rather than 2 points lost,
It’s 4:30am in oz good night all
We won the cup, we won the cup, e i adio, we won the cup. 🏆
Definitely one point won. 🔔
Settle for that, a Ladies title, and draw at City with Haaland and De Bruyne hardly having a chance 😀. If only Trossard had passed across to Martinelli.
4 points off Liverpool
4 points off Man City
I’ll take that…
Night Geoff.
Get well soon Frida Maanum, must have been scary for her and her teammates… 🥲
Absolutely Kev, much improved results against both of them.
got the impression neither team set out to win they were more concerned about not losing .
They played to nullify us and Saliba and Gabriel kept Haaland quiet and very frustrated . The game came alivein the last knockings but a draw was the right result .
I’m unclear why Arteta persists with Jesus, as always, he did nothing of any significance other get booked for the silliest of fouls. At one point he appeared to be marking Harlaand at a corner, a mismatch if ever there was one.
Chelsea lady’s manager Emma Hayes has pushed Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall away and accused him of male aggression on the sideline after their loss.
So I am guessing that Emma Hayes has never argued with any other manager or yelled at her players.
Just Hayes throwing toys out of the pram Geoff. A way to deflect attention from Chelsea’s defeat.
according to reports, Arteta claimes he took Saka off due to fatigue, if this report is true then Saka has to be dropped next match to give him a rest, before he gets burned out or suffers a long term injury.
Good morning guys.
New post up.