Morning all.
Look who’s back, Kieran Tierney and Alex Lacazette. The perfect boost ahead of tomorrow’s fixture against Villarreal. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found the back of the net at the weekend which is good for him and the team and along with Gabriel Martinelli, our attacking line up will be a lot stronger than it was in the first leg.
I hope Mikel Arteta sticks with Martinelli as he’s the kind of player who can cause any defence problems.
Lacazette seems to be the guy which links our attack together. When he plays together with Bukayo Saka and ESR, Arsenal have often looked good in attack. Tierney and whoever plays in front of him will be a very different problem for Villarreal to face than Granit Xhaka.
But of course, not every player can start and if there’s the slightest of doubt about Tierney and Lacazette, they won’t. Unai Emery knows how good Tierney and Martinelli are, after all, he was the coach when both players signed for Arsenal.
If Tierney starts, Xhaka is likely to drop back into midfield and love or loathe him, alongside Partey, we’ll be stronger. Ceballos misses out of course after being sent off in the first leg.
Matt Ryan was excellent at the weekend. He’s did everything Bernd Leno often does. He takes hold of crosses, distributes the ball quickly and looks comfortable doing what he does. But, it was thanks to Leno that Arsenal are still in this tie. Two really good saves, the first to deny Chukwueze, the second, even better than his first, prevented Moreno from scoring. At 2-0 down there was hope, had we gone 4-0 down, I’m sure there’d have been no way back.
Also, we have Pepe to thank for converting his penalty, Saka for being clever in the box too and why not go over? Referees give nothing if a player stays on his feet.
Arsenal might be 2-1 down but they’re by no means out of this competition.
See you in the comments.
Morning rico, House. That is a welcome sight, roll on tomorrow! An 80 per cent Tierney is better than most, but we must excuse if he is a bit rusty. Feel we have to take a chance, especially with 5 subs allowed.
Morning Andrew, all.
Funny how Arteta said KT has been training like a beast but this is the first time I’ve seen photos of him training.
So hope he plays tomorrow.
Good morning everyone
As much as I would love KT03 to play every game I would keep him on the subs bench. not so sure about bringing him on even if he is 90% fit……we dont want the injury to relapse do we?
Alongside Partey I would still play Xhaka because at LB I would play Soares and tell him to stay back and defend….especially if MArtinelli is on the left flank.
Personally I would go with this formation…….
Leno (reality although Ryan seems to communicate more)
Chambers, Holding, Mari, Soares
Xhaka PArtey
Saka, ESR, Martinelli
Laca (Although it will be Auba up front)
Wot no Willian? DG.
I don’t think Arteta would risk either if not 100% Devil.
Hi Rico and all I would start with Auba and if he has done nothing then change him at half time with Laca as for Tierney start him on the bench and only bring him on if we need him and if not then save him and start him next match. I don’t want to rush Laca or Tierney back too soon.
I recon we will start with Leno only because it will not look good if we drop our number 1 goal keeper for one we have on loan for an important match when Leno is not injured
Good news about Tierney and Lacazette.
Our better performances have come with those two,It’s a good point Andrew makes about the 5 subs.
UEFA must be fuming at the possibility of all English finals in both Champions league and Europa League.
Man City are already through,Man Utd have one foot in the final,I wouldn’t like to predict the other 2,we could well have 2 English 2 Spanish.
Hi Geoff.
Limey, was it the same a couple of years ago when we played Chelsea in the Europa final and Toots played Liverpool in the CL.
That’s right Rico, would be great if English teams dominated again this year.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ArsenalAcademy/status/1389892636299911171
With only one cup ending up in London Limey, the Europa Cup. Lol
Gosh, 14 years old?
That is quite a good goal by a 14 year old. And one which should give him confidence for the future.
But sorry to dampen your spirits a bit…..he will be a good player….but not a top top player. His technique is good but his composure and the way he prepares his body to shoot means that he still lets the ball control his movement rather than he himself controlling the ball and letting it do what he wants with it. There is some sort of fluidity missing when it comes to pushing the ball forward and shooting it in one fluid motion. That is important a lot in strikers and advanced midfielders.
I just hope I am wrong about him.
He’s only 14 Devil, and you’re writing him off already? Poor kid. 😂
I am used to it Rico….and it was always painful whenever I had to do it. Its the worst part of the job. And I always used to end the meeting with this sentence, “I want you to find another club so that one day you can prove me wrong. And if you do come up to me with your head held high telling me that you did it. And I can assure you that I will be happy for you and proud of you.”
I was proved wrong only 2 times in a 25 year coaching career.
You’ll have to remember his name then Devil. Or just ‘number 3’….
Champions League Final, Chelsea v Manchester City. Venue? Istanbul! How bloody ridiculous is that.
If we win through tomorrow evening it is more than likely that the Europa League Final will be Arsenal v Manchester United. Venue? Gdansk!
There is a pandemic still raging throughout the World, travel is either severely restricted or banned altogether. But UEFA are content that four teams and all their ancillary staff can travel across Europe when both games could just as well be played at Wembley.
Morning all
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/05/06/aubameyang-out-to-hush-his-critics-once-more/