Morning all.
These tough hurdles for Arsenal to jump over just keep on coming don’t they? First it was Crystal Palace and Brentford away which we’d be judged on, then the goalposts moved to so called bigger tests like Totts. Seriously? Next it’s Liverpool, a team we really need to beat if anyone is going to take this Arsenal team seriously. Well, stuff the pundits I say, because their opinion means nothing but that of the fans does and I doubt there are many who aren’t happy with what’s going on this season.
Tonight we play Bodo/Glimt at The Emirates and I think we’ll see a number of changes. Mikel Arteta has been bigging up Reiss Nelson in his pre match press conference so he’s likely to be on the bench at least. Marquinhos is certain to start in my opinion, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, Matt Turner, Fabio Vieira, Eddie Nketiah and Sambi Lokonga too. Cedric Soares is another who could make an appearance and considering Granit Xhaka seems to be indestructible, I reckon he’ll be one of the few who played against Totts, who’ll start tonight. Perhaps one of Gabriel, Saliba or White too. Then again, I could be totally wrong and Mikel Arteta selects a strong side to get the job done. Not that any eleven is guaranteed to win.
I know nothing about tonight’s opposition so I’ve nicked this from the Arsenal’s Michael Cox:
Knutsen almost religiously sticks to a 4-3-3 system, which features one midfielder sitting deep and the others pushing forward aggressively into the channels. Although Bodo/Glimt dominate possession in league matches, in European competition they’re a little more likely to strike quickly on the counter-attack. They’re also an effective side, pushing up quickly and trying to regain possession in advanced positions. Patrick Berg is a classic holding midfielder, but his midfield colleagues are more adventurous. Ulrik Saltnes pushes forward into goalscoring positions, and Hugo Vetlesen has chipped in with some excellent goals. Going forward, the main threat is Amahl Pellegrino, limited to a single substitute appearance in this season’s Europa League so far, but scoring at a rate of a goal per game in the Eliteserien. He’s likely to start on the left and cut inside to shoot, and also has a knack of scoring headed goals. It feels like Knutsen hasn’t yet found the right combination in the final third, but Bodo/Glimt still play wonderfully cohesive attacking football.
In other words, take Bodo/Glimt lightly at our peril. They play in the Norwegian summer league so are a handful of fixtures away from the end of their domestic campaign. They sit top of our group right now.
Mikel Arteta on Bodo:
We’ve done our homework. We have made the players aware of the team that we are facing tomorrow, the history and what they’ve done in the last few years. There are a few really good players and it’s a really good coach as well, and they have a clear identity with how they play. You can see straight away what they are trying to do and again I’ve been impressed with them.
Well I hope we’re not left too impressed with them later. The sooner we can get qualification to the knockout stage the better. We have five Europa fixtures in five weeks so it’s Thursday/Sunday football from now until the break for the World Cup. It’s going to be tough but that’s football.
See you in the comments.
I previewed this match earlier with information from Ole and Otto two Arsenal supporting Norwegian friends and your comments bear out what they have been saying , unless of course your source has been talking to them as well.
We take this lot lightly at our peril , they play open possession football which suggests an end to end match, they score goals , averaging 2 1/2 a game . They have conceded 31 goals in 24 league matches . They may come from a league we know little about but they are not mugs for the slaughter.
We can’t weaken too much at the start albeit some of our top players do need a rest. Arteta needs to shuffle his pack carefully , lets hope we don’t end up with cries of sack the juggler.
Michael Cox writes about the opposition before each game but I suspect you know that. Lol
I know nothing about Glimt, other than what you wrote the other day Potter.
Morning Rico
The big decision this evening is whether to go for a burger or a Thai meal before the game?
I’ve seen a few of Cox’s analysis pieces on twitter. Went into great detail after the Spurs game, but really it boiled down to one team attacked, the other sat back and played what is known in Italy as Catenaccio tactics. Conte and Mourinho are the current disciples.
In English football it is called ’11 men behind the ball’.
Yawn.
Morning Pete. Yep, boring tactics from Conte and they got what they deserved.
Interestingly, this team tonight thrashed Roma 6-1 last season.
G’day Rico, Bodo might be just a tad worried about facing a team sitting at the top of arguably the toughest league in Europe who are on a confidence building run of winning games.
We just need to play our game at our pace and not let them get on the front foot.
I’m quietly confident.
And Mourinho has a pre contract agreement with Pellegrino apparently.
Bodo and Roma played 4 times in last years conference , in those games Bodo scored 10 goals and Roma 8 but Roma went through . Interestingly Pellegrino only scored once there were 8 different scorers across the midfield and forward line . They are quite a dangerous looking outfit.
Hoping for a good match tonight, unfortunately it is not covered in oz that I can see.
@Potter wiki tells me Pellegrino is 32. He’d be battling with Abraham, 25, for a place at Roma. Seems odd, unless Roma will be selling Abraham in the near future.
I wonder is Pellegrino will fizz one in tonight?
Hi Cicero, here’s what Bodo managers says about us.
Knutsen on us: “Our opponent leads the Premier League and is one of the best teams in Europe. It is a fantastic test of what Bodo/Glimt is. We are looking forward to testing ourselves at a new, high level.
“It is difficult to say what will be your XI, but it doesn’t really matter. They have the types and similar players in the positions. They are patient, attack in the same way as us and give a lot of space. Now we really get to test ourselves at the highest level. The only thing we have to do is dare to be ourselves, and challenge what are their weaknesses. “
Well the Bodo manager is taking the game seriously. Getting his guys revved up.
Interesting he’s says we give the opposition space.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Reiss Nelson has ‘something special’ after dropping a heavy hint that the midfielder is set for his first appearance of the season against Bodo-Glimt.
I read that, kind of feel it’s last chance saloon for him really, regardless of what Arteta has said.
He has been injured Rico; I think he would have been moved on, in the summer, if Arteta couldn’t see something in him.
Yes Cicero, I realise he’s been injured. Agree re the summer too although once Pepe went, keeping him made sense in a way.
Arsenal: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Xhaka, Marquinhos, Vieira, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Cedric, Saliba, Partey, Cirjan, Smith, Saka, Nelson, Odegaard, Jesus.
if they want anything except a narrow defeat they have to come out and leave space behind . maybe Nelson for Martinelli and Smith for Xhaka
Well we are playing our own game and playing it well. 2 – 0 up at halftime and looking good for more goals.
Eddie’s reaction to score from the rebound was exceptional.
Great to see one of my favourite players get a game and score a goal, well done Rob Holding.
Marquinhos has found it tough imo. First twenty minutes was a bit scrappy but to be expected really with so many changes. Vieira and Tierney unlucky not to have scored but two good finishes from Eddie and then Holding.
A bit harsh on Marquinos there Rico, he’s played very few minutes and, to my mind, looks a great prospect.
I’m not being critical of him Cicero, just think he’s found it tough. Doesn’t mean I don’t like him, or rate him because I do.
Nelson coming on.
Apologies, It just sounded a bit of a criticism, Rico.
3 – 0 Vieria puts the game to bed.
For once Cicero, no. Lol
I like all our players these days, even Granit. 😇
I wish that we had bought on Nelson instead of Saka , he would have had more time and Saka needs to rest as in my opinion he looks tired and stale.
Still we got the win and saw enough of Bodo to know that next weeks rematch will not be easy.
Morning all
New post up now