Morning all.
Today is the six-year anniversary of Mikel Arteta’s appointment as Arsenal manager and what a fixture to have. A trip to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium where he’ll be up against one of his old managers in David Moyes.
From Everton to Man Utd, onto winning the Europa Conference League Cup before returning to Merseyside in January this year. David Moyes has done a lot in football management including keeping Everton in the Premier League last season when relegation was a possibility. Today, his club sits in 9th place, a far cry from where they were 11 months ago.
I have not seen an Everton game this season but having read about them, they are playing well. Their league position alone would suggest that. Back in the summer, Grealish, Dibling and Dewsbury-Hall joined the club, adding a bit of flair to his attacking unit.
Everton don’t rely on physicality, long balls and lucky counter-attacking football anymore, not according to the so called experts anyway, they play proper football which, if they do again today, could help Mikel Arteta’s team. After all, against the low block, we have not been very good. By all accounts, Grealish is back to his best since he’s been given more freedom to express himself.
This is another one of those fixtures which on paper, Mikel Arteta’s team are probably favourites to win but we seem to have hit a bit of a blip, especially away from home. Players have looked jaded, sometimes devoid of ideas up front and even against Wolves at The Emirates, we stuttered to a rather lucky victory. It was the kind of game that last season, we might have drawn or worst still, lost. Own goals are part of the game and had Saka not delivered that kind of corner, or Jesus hadn’t put the defender under pressure, those goals wouldn’t have come so be grateful for small mercies.
Arsenal, or rather Mikel Arteta and his coaching team need to find a way to break down a low block. Other teams manage to break down a disciplined defence so why do we sometimes huff, puff and struggle to blow through one? I think many of us have a similar idea. Do things the same, just quicker. A lot quicker.
Everton will be without Gueye and Ndiaye for today’s fixture as both have gone off to the African Cup Of Nations. Dewsbury-Hall, Branthwaite and Coleman are ruled out through injury.
As for Arsenal, no change in the injured department but Gabriel and Havertz are getting close to a return. Arteta hinted that White’s injury is not too bad but bad enough to keep him out for a few games. At least Calafiori is back tonight after serving a one match suspension.
As always, here is Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke on what we can expect from tonight’s opponents:
Everton have impressed me this season, playing in a more attack-minded style that is easier on the eye. They will go long sometimes, but this Moyes outfit is not as direct as some of his previous teams. When it is on, they will play it through the thirds in their 4-2-3-1 shape.
They have a big, physical target man striker – either Beto or Thierno Barry – so an aerial threat will be posed whenever the hosts put balls into the danger zone. The Toffees are also excellent at getting the first contact at corners and free kicks, registering 71 attempts from set plays. No one, barring us on 77 shots from set pieces, has more.
Everton do like to press, and having kept four clean sheets in eight matches in front of their own supporters, I would expect them to be hostile in this aspect. Brighton are the only top-flight team to have a greater number of shots from high turnovers, so we must be careful when playing out from the back.
Defensively, Everton maybe lack a little pace so that is an area we might look to exploit. Experienced centre-back pair James Tarkowski and Michael Keane are especially strong in the air, so beating them with sharp passing, bright movement and quick dribbling is the best way of creating chances.
We all know it’s a tough time in the season when fixtures come thick and fast but having had a week off, they should be feeling more refreshed and ready to go again. If this group of players and staff want to lift a trophy in May, we need to see something better than last Saturday’s performance.
Something much better.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, a fairly straightforward starting eleven selection, Raya, Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
My expectation is that Trossard will score and be subbed shortly after in favour of Martinelli.
It’s certainly going to be a tough few weeks fixture-wise.
Morning Cicero, I think so too.
I’m not confident today..
The only thing I’m confident about Rico is that the game will kick-off around 8pm. 😉
Ha ha Cicero, but I’m with you on that one.
For the Palace game, I hope the squad is used in full.
Newcastle 2-0 up v Chelsea, it’s a good game..
2-2 now, Newcastle should have had a penalty
Wasn’t outside penalty area?
I’m not feeling confident today, which is a bad omen.
Good result for the neutral..
City go 2-0 up. We need to win if we want to top the table over Christmas..🎅
It’s bloody stressful isn’t it, you go into it full of confidence and expectations, fight off all of your opponents and then when the right opportunity presents itself and you’re ready you go for it – and then everyone is a happy bunny on Christmas Day….
No not football,
I’m talking about Christmas shopping…. 😀
You’re on form Kev. Lol
Oh dear, Totts down to 10, a sending off for Simons for raking his studs down VvD’s calf…
Strong team for us,Madueke and or Martinelli to come on,save Eze for Palace. It’s going to be tough,we need to win to go back to the top.
Let’s go.
Team to face Everton:
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Eze, Nwaneri, Merino, Martinelli, Madueke, Jesus.
Time to step up to the plate
I was nervous for Gyokeres but he smashed it😆
I missed it as our woofa decided to be ill.. ☹️
I can’t remember the last time I saw Arsenal make more back passes than today. This is not title winning football by any measure.
One goal a clean sheet three points top of the table. 🔔
Some of Pickford’s clearances, tonight, were over hit due to him being pressurised by our forwards. He’s vulnerable.
Some poor refereeing, how he missed the hand ball when he was only about ten feet away I just don’t know even after being sent to the monitor he had to watch it half a dozen times at least.
He booked some players for fairly innocuous fouls and missed several of-the-ball incidents.
Just for once I can say thanks for Var. 😉
Rico, I hope that Fido is ok.
I’m not so sure that an 8pm kick off on a Saturday evening is such a great idea but I guess that everything must prostrate itself at the feet of television.
Ok, up next the ubiquitous League Cup, it’s everything to everybody of a certain age but meaningless to Zoomers. It should make for an interesting evening’s entertainment regardless of whatever team Arteta picks, but I do hope he rotates.
Afternoon Rico and all, so happy for Victor hopefully more goals to come.
Well busy for the next few days getting ready for our first Christmas without dad,
Thank you, Rico, for another good year of stories / subject and to all who have written stories / subjects for Rico.
Merry Christmas to all and a happy and safe new year.
I’m not so sure that an 8pm kick off on a Saturday evening is such a great idea but I guess that everything must prostrate itself at the feet of television.
Yes missed the whole thing at a family meal booked way in advance when it was a 3 oclock kick off . Went to a typical Norfolk Pub near the river Bure and as is standard hardly any mobile signal . Had to keep going out to keep up to date .
However the restaurant at the Hermitage in Acle comes highly recommended.
Obi, retaining the ball means controlling the game.
8 pm kick off worked for me, we had an early curry at a recently opened Bangladeshi restaurant, Jays Spice, at the Boundary in Norwich and got home in time to watch the a recording of the news before kick off.
I didn’t like the 8pm kick off either, smack bang in the middle of the Strictly final. lol
Kev, she’s much better this morning thanks.
Morning all.
Not the best performance but a cracking penalty.
New post up.