Arsenal.com
Morning all.
As expected, Mikel Arteta was asked about the Barcelona rumours during his press conference. His reply shocked no one I’m sure. Is he leaving?
Who, me? No, that’s totally fake news. What you read yesterday, I don’t know where it’s coming from. It’s totally untrue and I’m really upset about it. I could not believe it. I don’t know where it’s coming from, it’s got no sources, it’s got nothing and I think we have to be very cautious when we talk about personal things, to put it in the way that it was put yesterday. I’m in the right place. I’m with the right people, I feel really good about it and, as I said many times, I’m immersed in a beautiful journey with this football club, these players, this staff and our people and I’m investing still a lot for them.
When someone makes mischief in a way somebody did when suggesting Mikel Arteta had told ‘people close to him’ that he was ready to quit Arsenal in the summer, that person clearly gives no thought to the damage it can cause to so many people. Especially Mikel Arteta. He’s now cross, he’s probably had to reassure the board that the story was fake, reassure fans, his players and his staff. I’m sure there are a number of fans who hoped there would be an element of truth to the rumour but I think the majority would be disappointed to see him leave. But, I’d imagine the players wouldn’t be because they all signed up to his and the clubs plan and vision. The owners wouldn’t have financed the building of his squad if they didn’t believe in what him.
With that silliness put to bed, we can all move on.
Arsenal play Nottingham Forest tonight. A tough test I think especially if Declan Rica and Gabriel don’t come through late fitness tests. Jakub Kiwior is a good backup in defence in my opinion but our midfield won’t quite be the same without Rice. Saying that, Jorginho isn’t a dreadful option to have in reserve but he’ll need help I’m sure.
The hope I had for Thomas Partey returning to the squad tonight was dashed yesterday when Arteta confirmed he’s not yet ready to return. Neither is Fabio Vieira.
Forest have a number of players missing too. Origi is injured, while six players remain on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Forest might be sat towards the bottom of the Premier League table but it wasn’t that long when they hammered Newcastle 3-1 and beat Man Utd too. Both results I believe, came after new manager Nuno Espírito Santo was appointed. This month though, they’ve only managed to win one game and that was against Bristol City in the FA Cup and only after a replay and extra time.
We’ve already played Forest this season of course. We won the game 2-1 thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka but for Jurrien Timber, it was a rotten day. Arsenal’s opening game of the new season, his debut for his new club having arrived that summer and then just after the break, he suffered what turned out to be a terrible knee injury. That seems like so long ago now though and thankfully, he’s not too far off returning but I think next season will be his time.
What can we expect from Forest?
New head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has surprised plenty of observers from a tactical perspective, by adopting a far more positive and adventurous approach than we saw from him at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur. His teams will always work hard out of possession and press with hostility, but it appears he is willing to let Nottingham Forest’s players perform is a slightly less structured manner than expected. This freedom has led to some exciting contests. Nottingham Forest have scored 14 goals and conceded 12 in his seven matches in charge so far.
Nuno has started every match until this point in a 4-2-3-1, where he seems determined to get attacking midfielders Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi or Nicolas Dominguez onto the ball more often than they did under predecessor Steve Cooper. Their combined pace and guile from fast breakaways must be watched closely at the City Ground, as it played a big part in their recent victories against Newcastle United and Manchester United. In fact, no team has registered more counter attack goals (7) than Nottingham Forest so far in 2023-24.
One of our best strengths, set pieces, may cause the hosts a sleepless night ahead of this encounter though. Displaying fragility defending corners and wide free kicks all season, they have leaked a league-high 11 goals from dead ball situations. On our last two visits to the City Ground we have encountered a very well organised, super-defensive Forest side that relinquished possession. This time around we are still likely to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball, but there will be less emphasis of putting 11 men behind the ball.
They will try to build attacks when possible, but without the ball Forest will hassle and harry our players inside the middle third, before springing quick transitions. In-form Chris Wood is the danger man. The tall New Zealander is not just excellent at attacking crosses in the air. In recent weeks he has been a real threat from turnover situations too, running onto balls played in behind. He is a striker that will need to be shackled closely on the night.
Forest’s style of play now should suit Arsenal more than a side which concentrates on defending alone but even so, they clearly have the game to hurt us too if we’re not focussed and at it from the first whistle. We’ll miss Gabriel if he doesn’t play because above anything else, he’s fantastic in the air. At both ends of the pitch too. It sounds like Raya and the defence in general will be up against a high pressing front Forest line too so playing out from the back will need to be sharp and swift. Our own front men need to pressure Matt Turner too because we know he can wobble. Cause him problems early and he could crumble.
If Arsenal are to remain serious title contenders, these are the type of games which have to be won.
Enjoy the game guys, it’s a 7.30 kick off and it’s live on TNT Sport…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, I’m not sure what to expect from either side this evening, Forest are as unpredictable as Arsenal are the opposite.
If Forest are to press aggressively, then they will be open to the fast breaks so sweetly effective against Fulham. Martinelli must be ready to take his chances.
Without Declan Rice, Zinchenko will need to be far more diligent in holding his position, he can’t afford to go wandering round the pitch in his usual way. Jorginho may not have the defensive capability of Rice but he can play some superb forward and diagonal passes to get our attacks going.
The one sure thing is the match tonight will be like an episode of “Tales of the Unexpected”.
Morning Cicero. Sounds to me like it could be an open game with the winning team being the one who scores most. 😂
It’ll be interesting to see how Mikel shuffles his pack if Rice and Gabriel are ruled out although I strongly suspect both will be fit.
Morning Rico, nice post.
I don’t think we can risk Gabriel or Rice this evening, it would be a bloody disaster if we lost Rice just as Partey was returning to the fray.
Kiwior and Jorginho are good players and if we as a club have any Premier League pretensions we’ve gotta trust them against an unpredictable but inferior Forest team.
The likes of Havertz, Jesus and Odegaard have to drop in and help Jorginho.
Morning Kev, thanks.
Agree, it would be stupid to play either if they have even the slightest of doubts. Especially with Liverpool looming.
If Jorginho and Kiwior aren’t good enough to play Forest, what are they doing at the club?
Morning Rico and all,
I reckon the answer to winning tonight will be the quick long ball in from Raya and attack the goal quickly and hard so there keeper doesn’t get to rest, while keeping the loose passing in check.
This match could be a good one to start either Eddie or ESR or both and rest Saka.
Morning Rico/all
it seems crazy it’s the 30th of January and we have only played one league game. We are into a busy period now though,I’d still expect a full strength team tonight.
This is a fixture where we’ve really struggled in recent years,we owe them one. In fact last year’s game was so disappointing,before the game everyone was predicting they would be physical and make it hard for us to play, and it turned out like that.
COYG
Morning Geoff, Limey.
I just typed a comment and it disappeared ☹️
There’s some rumours doing the rounds ( 🥱 yeah I know) that Cedric could be on the point of being sold to Galatasaray, we’ll even get a fee!
Of course the problem you have is that the player concerned, Cedric, is on a nice little earner, about £100k per week and he isn’t walking away from £2m in wages up till June 30th 2024 when it expires
Also his agent, maybe he thinks he’s entitled to a fee, you know for all the hard work he’ll be doing to make any transfer go smoothly?
I’ve heard that Arsenal will receive a fee somewhere in the region of about £4.2m (€5m/$5m?).
I’m not sure how much of that is pure profit or how much of it has to be recycled back into the pocket of Cedric and Cedric’s agent?
Arsenal might come to an arrangement where by they make top-up payments on top of his new clubs’ salary up to £100k until June 30th?
So say Gala and paying him £40k per week, Arsenal will pay the extra £60k pw until June?
It’s all good fun…
I’ve got my eye on something different for Forest game, since we can’t know about the fitness issues.
I’m watching to see if the refs and far start calling fouls against us on corners and other attacking set pieces. I don’t like how the league and whole media was doing intricate dissection on video after Palace. I’m expecting this to be another way they can use bias against Arsenal. Pundits who hate us are one thing, but it amazes me that the league would put out a video about it. Inappropriate.
Breaking News, it’s official, Arsenal have signed former France international ‘keeper Sarah Bouhaddi on short term deal. The 37year old played for PSG last year has been signed as cover for our Canadian ‘ keeper Sabrina D’Angelo who will be away next month for the Concaaf Womens Gold Cup in the USA.
Nigel, I think you are seeing conspiracies where they don’t exist. I assume you are referring to the tactic of placing a player in front of, or alongside,the opposition goalkeeper at corners. It’s by no means an innovation, teams have been doing it for years. The very fact that it was used against Fulham and cleared by Var indicates to me that is a valid tactic under the laws of the game.
I think the officials would make themselves look even more stupid if they start awarding free kicks against us on set-pieces because the pushing and shoving in the box goes on in every game.
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Ramsdale, Kiwior, Soares, Walters, Jorginho, Trossard, Havertz, Nelson, Nketiah.
Really pleased to see ESR finally getting to start a Premiership game.
Arsenal need to come out of the blocks FLYING.
Put your bleedin foot through the ball, someone, anyone!
A frustrating half of football.
82% possession,one shot on target.
Forest have zero.
I’d bring Havertz on and play him as a centre forward.
At fecking last..,,
That’s it, job done!
Sensible substitutes…
And then it was 2-0….
Pleased for Saka, for some reason the crowd have been booing him all night.
And hopefully the goal will do Jesus good (just in time for the Liverpool game)
The Villa result would suit us;I didn’t expect the Luton score.
Good Old Arsenal. They live to put you through the wringer
Goodness knows how Jesus scored from such a tight angle. Good old Turner. 😜
Was Saka booed after we played on after a Forest player was down injured?
I’ve only just finished watching a recording of the game and very nearly deleted it at half time, the frustration level was off the scale. Two good goals improved things and then we fell into the old trap, conceded a goal right at the death, and then there was panic……
Good night Gooners, everywhere. 😴
I didn’t like the show again. It seems that football “has no goals”.
There is clearly a lack of a man in the area who is not afraid to shoot hard. That intimidates defenders. Whenever we enter the area, we are most likely to give the ball wide. It only makes it easier for those who defend it. Nobody wants to shoot, or it seems like they don’t have confidence in the shot.
Against Porto it will be very complicated. We are not technically superior and they play with much more objectivity. They are well coached and definitely know how they are going to play to eliminate Arsenal.
Turner with those long legs..
the longer the legs-the easier it is to get a ball through.
He really improved his catching crosses and corners though. Turner used to punch everything.. I think he claimed at least 3, maybe 4 from the air. With his height. He should do that.
JM I also thought we were being g a little too cute, over passing in their box in the first half.
We need someone who can shoot and score from the edge of the box.
Trossard can do it.. Saka has a great shot, no backlift with power, but he needs to come more from the middle, not cutting across from the left. Those have been wasteful.
Same old complaint from me.. Martinelli and Saka need to be given freedom to come inside.
Rice has a nice accurate shot in him… but he has a very high, slow backlift, and almost always gets blocked.
I think we should have him working on that… Rodri finishes goals without power, but he gets off shots quickly and after his runs.
More minutes for the Smith could be the answer. He has the quickest snap shot of anyone … he’s not shy to use it either.
We made that a lot harder than it should have been, very happy to see ESR start, we look quicker and more attacking with him in the side.
The “afraid to shoot and moving the ball quicker’ drum has been banged on here for a while. It’s frustrating but it’s clearly something Mikel Arteta prefers in games. Or does he?
New post up.