Morning all.
It’s three in a row for Gabriel after he was awarded the November player of the month by fans on the official website. Youngsters Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka were voted second and third respectively. Doesn’t that sum up Arsenal right now? Not a senior or long term Arsenal first team player in amongst the votes. Talk about Gabriel hitting the ground running, I can’t recall the last time Arsenal signed a defender of his quality or ability to adjust to a new league with such ease. I’m not sure Mikel Arteta knows yet who the best partner for him is. Long term it could be William Saliba if he stays at Arsenal, otherwise it’s between Mari, Holding and Chambers.
Gabriel should be rested tonight against Dundalk in our final Europa League fixture. It’s a dead rubber with top spot secured but without being disrespectful to the opposition, it’s an opportunity for one or two more youngsters to get playing time or even one or two old heads to gain some confidence. Would it worth playing Aubameyang for a half in hope he can find some form in front of goal? From the left, the position he played when his goals came fast and furious. I think so but he’s stayed at home.
I’m looking forward to this one again. A break from the Premier League struggles and a chance to see the younger players doing their thing again is pure enjoyment for me. AMN, Willock, Nelson, Balogun and ESR will all start hopefully with the likes of Mari, Chambers, Cedric, Kolasinac and Pepe adding a bit of experience to the team. I’m sure Mikel Arteta will give a few more youngsters minutes on the pitch too before the game ends. With five substitutes in this tournament, he can afford to.
The annoying thing about this competition is clubs who fail in the Champions League groups, drop into the Europa League. Leicester City and Toots will be tough opponents should we be drawn against them and now Man Utd have joined them. Plus of course, there’s Olympiakos who knocked us out last season, and Ajax to overcome should we be drawn against them. But all that is a couple of months away as the knockout fixtures don’t begin until the middle of February. At least finishing top of the group might help us avoid one of the so called bigger clubs in the competition.
Back to tonight and another big performance I hope. Balogun should be thinking about pushing Eddie down the pecking order, Cedric too with Bellerin. Players like AMN, Willock, Nelson and ESR should believe a first team spot is not far off. It shouldn’t be far off either, not when one considers how a few of the first team players are struggling. With Partey seemingly ruled out for a while, AMN needs to be staking his claim for a start in midfield, Nelson too on the wing and with our lack of creative spark, ESR needs a big performance. They all need a disciplined performance. A strong and convincing performance.
Is this game an opportunity for younger players to put pressure on the senior player?
Yes and they are putting the pressure on. We have some really good examples of things that have happened in the last few months and not only players that are starting football matches in different competitions, but as well, players that have taken the spot of somebody senior in that team or that squad. Mikel Arteta.
I guess Mikel means Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock as they’re the only two who have been given minutes on the pitch of late. Personally, I think one or two more might have joined them by now. Had the five substitute rule continued, perhaps they would have.
Anyway, I hope the players go out there tonight, enjoy themselves and finish the group stage in style.
Enjoy it guys.
Morning Rico/all
Nice preview. I read that AMN & Elneny might play tonight, I’d rather they play Sunday. I suppose they could play part of the game, maybe come off the bench if needed.
I hope we go with mostly reserves/younger players.
COYG
Teams will be allowed to make up to five substitutions in Uefa competitions until the end of the 2020-21 season.
The rule change was proposed by Fifa because of congested fixture schedules caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
In August, the Premier League said it would not adopt the rule change after clubs voted against it.
But Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said it would be used in European competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League.
Plenty of room to pick and mix if he wants too , I would like to see AMN in the middle with Elneny and put Xhaka under pressure , in fact I would rather see a dustbin play than him at least the ball might come off him at different angles.
No chance of Aubameyang playing this evening, he’s not in the travelling party.
Morning all.
Good positive post Rico.
I’m with you let’s see some of the youngsters start, let them try and make a meme for themselves.
What we seem to lack presently are ball carriers. Players who run at their opponent, dribble passed them and set up opportunities for the ‘strikers’ to have a go! Part of the problem on Sunday was none of our players found the space and time to create for the front runners. Jack used to do that job, back in the day.
The newbies have the ability to do the same. ESR, Nelson, Willock, Saka, Pepe, Elneny, AMN, etc. All have shown glimpses of the natural talent but not often enough. It makes you wonder if they’ve had it coached out of them? To keep the ball is vital, but it seems to attract too much crab football! Not enough forward thinking!
Let’s hope that tonight the team is given a bit of freedom to express itself ( whatever that means), and we win handsomely and then repeat a more progressive approach against Burnley on Sunday. It’s time to turn this season round.
‘meme’ = name, although meme doesn’t seem to be a bad idea!
Afternoon Limey, all. Elneny and AMN again? Good. Practice before Burnley.
Wavy, I think some already are. At least Arteta has acknowledged some of them are putting pressure on him through their game and attitude.
Auba not undroppable? I’ll believe that when I see it.
Arsenal lineup: Runarsson; Chambers, Mari, Mustafi, Cedric; Smith Rowe, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Willock; Nketiah, Pepe
Subs: Macey, Hein, Saka, Ceballos, Holding, Balogun, Cottrell, Azeez
4- 4 – 2 ? should be interestiung , hope I can get a stream .
Tonights Team
Runarsson
Chambers
Mustafi
Mari
Cedric
Elneny
Willock
AMN
ESR
Peppe
Eddy
He has left the Birthday boy out
Injured or in the team on Sunday
Should make him captain , then we could expect every player to do his duty.
Nelson injured I guess. Big shame.
Mustafi captain? Why on earth?
Pitch looks in terrible condition and the weather is foul…
Apparently there was a clash of heads in training between Nelson and Kolasinac,not sure what that means for Sunday (Nelson)
Wonderful strike from Elneny.
That explains why Kolasinac is not playing too then..
New post up now