Afternoon all.
Graham Potter has taken Chelsea job. I can understand why he’d want to move to a club which will give him more money to spend on transfers etc but as we’ve seen in the past, what he’ll really need is what Chelsea don’t usually give and that’s time. Sounds obvious I know but I think Potter will either confirm he’s a great coach and manager, or it’s going to set him back in his career. Will the Chelsea board let him pick and choose who he sells and keeps? Will all the big egos the club has in the squad see Potter as a big enough name? I hope it’s a no on both.
Mikel Arteta and his players are in Switzerland, preparing for match against FC Zurich. Pre match he said:
We don’t have that many players available, unfortunately, with injuries we’ve picked up in the last two weeks. This is a competition that we want to take very seriously, against an opponent that is going to make life difficult for us. We want to start the competition the right way and maintain our momentum.
The managers words translate to “don’t expect many changes tonight” I think. He also talked about Bukayo Saka and how he plans to manages his playing time ahead of the World Cup in November. Why on earth Saka needs treating any differently to any other player expected to be playing for his country this winter I don’t know and in any case, I’m sure Mikel Arteta will put Arsenal before international teams. Every single one of our players time on the pitch needs to be managed because the season is long and it’s going to be hard. Having so many injuries this early in the season doesn’t help matters either, with Emile Smith Rowe being the latest, Goodness only knows what state our squad will be in after the World Cup.
That’s for later in the year though, tonight it’s all about beating FC Zurich and getting the perfect start to our Europa campaign. I know nothing about tonight’s opposition other than as said yesterday, they’ve not won a league game yet this season which is bonkers really bearing in mind they finished last season as the League champions. But, they changed manager at the end of the season as Andre Breitenreiter moved to Hoffenheim with Franco Foda. Funny enough, I’ve no idea who either of them are either. Lol
The managers.
Foda on Arsenal:
We’re looking forward to this extraordinary game in front of a sold-out crowd against Arsenal tomorrow night. It will be important that we’re compact defensively, but then, once we’ve got the ball, we play calmly and decisively. A lot is possible in one game and we do everything we can to achieve the best possible result. Arsenal are extremely good at positional play and often have a lot of possession. We have to keep the gaps in width and depth small because the Gunners are also great at moving between the lines.
Arteta on Zurich:
The biggest danger is that, after the season they had last year, they haven’t got the results that they expected. You can see how willing they are to win football matches. This is a different competition, a different context and I expect a team that is going to be very ready tomorrow. (Tonight)
Our record in the group stage of this competition is good and hopefully that’ll continue this season.
Anyway, here’s the confirmed team/squad:
Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Lokonga, Marquinhos, Vieira, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, Zinchenko, White, Saliba, Smith, Cirjan, Odegaard, Saka, Cozier-Duberry, Jesus.
See you in the comments.
That looks a fairly solid starting eleven with some useful subs on the bench.
Here’s hoping!
Yep, but a few getting a rest too.
Not another suicidal ‘ keeper please!
Thank goodness I’m not watching. Lol
Now that’s what I call a counter attack. Vieria to Nketiah and Nketiah to Marquinos and terrific finish.
0 – 1.
Now Nketiah gives away a Penalty.
And its scored.
RIP Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2.
God save King Charles 3.
RIP Queen Elizabeth. You truly were a remarkable lady….
Marquinos returns the favour with a lovely pass to Eddie at the far post, another excellent finish 1 – 2
RIP Good Queen Bess II
Match day one, three points, job done.
Sad news from Scotland but not unexpected, R.I.P
As for Arsenal , we seem to have the ability to play down to the level of our opponents. Still it’s 3 points away from home . PSV and Bodo/Glimt drew so like the Premier we are top of the league.
Was the game as close as the scoreline suggests?
We had total domination of the ball but despite everything we could not put them away. and It was close to inevitable that they would equalise . We then got in front again and so very nearly contrived to give it away again. I would expect us to get 4 or 5 when we play them at home . We really do need to learn to go for the throat when we have the chance.
Thanks Potter. Similar frustrations then.
Xhaka and Lokonga played the entire game. At this time, there is no substitute for any of them. The squad is short. The team in the last 10 minutes was very tired. We dominated the game at all levels, but it seemed tired. And it’s the 1st game of European competitions. The English teams (and the results show) will pay in European Competitions, this weeks with two successive games every week. Internally, those who are not in the European Competitions become stronger; the same will happen in European competitions.
One very relevant point, in the very near future Marquinos will make an excellent back up to Saka. I think he can be used to ease the load on him either as an early sub or even starting the occasional game. We cannot at the moment afford to exhaust Saka.
I do think that Marquinos may well, eventually, turn out to be the best of this summers recruits.
Sad news about The Queen May She rest in peace with her Husband Philip
Strong rumours that both of the Everton and PSV games are to be cancelled . be aware anybody booking transport to the ground for those games.
New post up
I think football and all sport will be cancelled. Ten days of mourning…