Morning all.
Just six days to go until this summer transfer window closes. Mikel Arteta said in his press conference yesterday that Arsenal still have a plan to add another player or two to the squad now that Nicolas Pepe has left:
If we can implement the plan that we have, we will try to do that. In the plan, that [Pepe’s loan move] was something that could happen – now it’s a reality and we’ve been preparing the last two months in order to achieve what we want. We’ve let a player go and will maybe be able to recruit somebody. Whether that’s possible or not, we will see.
Bearing in mind he also said that the club are not in danger of breaching FFP, and the stories suggesting we are, are inaccurate, there’s still a chance a winger and/or midfielder could yet arrive at Arsenal. As Arteta said, we’ll see.
The Europa League Cup draw was made yesterday and Arsenal are in Group A along with PSV Eindhoven, Bodo/Glimt, Zurich. The toughest opponent is PSV Eindhoven I think but all will be tough if the players think they’re already through to the knockout stage. The fist fixture takes place on the 8th September, which isn’t that far off.
Today sees Arsenal take on Fulham, the first of three matches in a week. The first Fulham player I think about is Aleksandar Mitrovic whose 40 odd goals last season pretty much secured Marco Silva’s team promotion back to the Premier League. He’s already scored three goals and two of those were against Liverpool. Mind you, everyone is scoring against Liverpool so far this season. Seriously though, he’s a big presence up front and both William Saliba and Gabriel will have to keep their eye on him, especially on set-pieces. Same as always though, if we as a team don’t give away any silly free kicks in dangerous areas, the ariel threat is lessened. Cutting out the supply of crosses Fulham like to direct towards him will be key too.
Fulham aren’t just about their big striker though, they’re a good footballing side with a lot of quality. The addition of Joao Palhinha this summer has given them more strength in midfield. He’s the kind of player we could do with in my opinion. Tall, strong and powerful. Whilst the pre-match talk in the media is about how will our defenders deal with Mitrovic, I’m intrigued to see how our midfield deal with Palhinha. He ran rings around Liverpool.
Marco Silva’s team have had an odd start to the season. A 2-2 draw against Liverpool, 0-0 at Wolves, a 3-2 win over Brentford and then in midweek, were knocked out of the League Cup by Crawley Town. Admittedly, Silva played a totally different team against Crawley Town, but even so. The first team were 2-0 up against Brentford but squandered that lead but Mitrovic nicked a winner just seconds before the final whistle blew. They surrendered a lead against Liverpool too which suggests their defending is not as strong as their attack. Fill your boots Arsenal.
Barring Reiss Nelson, everyone is fit for this evening’s game which is good news and with Marquinhos not being in the Under 21 squad which drew 2-2 away at Brighton, he might at least make it onto the bench later today. With three fixtures in seven days and Europa League Cup fixtures just around the corner, all of players need some playing time I think so they’re fit and ready to be called on.
Saying that, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mikel Arteta start with the same eleven who breezed past Bournemouth last weekend. If we can be more ruthless in front of goal when/if the opportunities arrive, there’s more chance the manager will use his five substitutes.
Should be a good game. For Arsenal I mean…
Morning rico, all. Let’s hope Fulham are more worried about Martinelli and Jesus, hopefully they should be! Be surprised if we keep a clean sheet, so let’s score two or three.
Good afternoon Rico and all.
I see no reason why Arteta would, or, should change the starting line-up as The Premiership must be his main focus and fatigue should not yet be a problem.
Mitrovic does offer a threat but if we play our own possession based game and keep the number of crosses into our box down I expect our defence to cope.
Jesus is as much of a threat to Fulham as Mitrovic is to us.
My confidence is high…ish but I believe will take all three points.
Afternoon Rico and all
Watched a couple of Fulham matches and the main thing we need to remember it that they like to play long out from the goal, still think we will win but maybe not as easy as we hope for.
Afternoon Andrew and Cicero. I’m quietly confident ahead of the game but not shouting from the rooftops. Lol
Liverpool 5-0 up against Bournemouth, just as we should have been at H/T, Man City 2-0 against Palace and Chelsea down to 10 men v Leicester City and it’s 0-0.
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🚨 Thomas Partey is not at the team hotel with the Arsenal squad. ‘99% sure’ he doesn’t play against Fulham today. [
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Really disappointed if true…
Liverpool struggling against Bournemouth….struggling to score eight, only seven at the moment. 😉
Two changes for Arsenal, Tierney in for Zinchenko and Elneny in for Partey neither of two players replaced are on the bench.
Team news – Tierney returns for Arsenal
Arsenal v Fulham (17:30 BST)
Mikel Arteta makes two changes to the Arsenal side from the comfortable win over Bournemouth in their last Premier League outing.
Mohamed Elneny and Kieran Tierney come in for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Thomas Partey.
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tierney, White, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard, Jesus, Martinelli, Saliba, Elneny, Xhaka.
Subs: Turner, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Holding, Soares, Tomiyasu, Vieira, Lokonga, Marquinhos.
8 now Cicero
Zinchenko and Partey out is a huge loss imo. I think we’ll struggle a bit.
They’ll probably declare if they get another.
It’s nine they’re going for a record.
Blimey Riley…
According to The Express both Partey and Zinchenko are out through injury, the latter with a knee injury but no mention Partey’s problem.
Looking at the teams that have won today we have to win today and win well.
Lets hope the 2 players dropped today are only resting not injured
Strange as Arteta said everyone was fit yesterday.
I forgot Leno moved to Fulham
Partey has a “tight thigh” according to Sky.
Partey thigh in training , Another powderpuff attempt by Saka
This ref is shocking!
I’m glad it’s an injury, the rumour mill is already in overdrive.
too many touchy touchy passes in the goal instead of just shooting we should be leading
As it always is Rico.
Arsenal well on top but we need to be a bit more clinical in the box, too much Fancy Dan farting around. See goal, see ball, kick ball into goal. Simples.
Certainly is Cicero.
We’re looking for the perfect goal. Just put a boot through the ball instead of this passing to death..
showing off again cost a goal
Nketiah on for Tierney? What’s that all about?
Odegaard with the equaliser.
Stupidity more like Geoff.
we need a second goal to break there spirit
The Fulham ‘ keeper looks good, where did they find him.
Gabriel makes amends with a scrambled goal to give us the lead.
Phew, that was tough. Well, the team made it tough.
The 100% run goes on!!
the best thing about this win was we never gave up.
Got away with that won ugly very ugly
Whilst Elneny didn’t nothing wrong and nor did Tierney, we missed Partey and Zinchenko imo.
We need Zinchenko back quickly, Odegaard Man of the match
Wasn’t Zinchenko the one celebrating the winner? I thought he was injured…
well it’s 4:45am in oz Good night all
Night Geoff
Wow, that put us through the wringer. My son phoned from ground on way out, he was behind goal to see our two but queried what exactly happened other end! Explained first a silly ball to Gabriel and then with time to clear he decided to dribble past their powerhouse CF. So blood@ stupid but I guess he made amends and HOPE he learns. Need a drink, just sat down in local for a pint to get over that.
Enjoy the pint of whatever , I reckon if I went out after that I might need a couple more .
As for the ref , he was Gilett (The best Riley could get )
Enjoy it Andrew, and have a few for me.
Very good Potter. Hope we don’t get him again for a while. If ever. Send him back to the A League or wherever he came from.
Thanks, it’s tasting sweet after the end result, and the next….My son dropped off our six year old grandson while he went to match. I explained to him how refs treat us and that after letting that first bad foul on us go without a booking, he would book us for first similar foul. And yes, he did! Grandson was shouting out every foul after that. Teach them early! Tried to explain PSV and Nistleroy history but that was taking it too far back at his age😃
Rico the ref Jarred Gillett is a Australian and there comes the problem, our game is a lot slower than the premier league. don’t get wrong I’m not sticking up for the ref as he lost control of the match at times.
Having said that we have to take some responsibility for our game last night at times it looked like our players underestimated Fulham but on the positive 2 years ago we would have given in last night we fought to the last second to get back in front and keep the lead. a big step forward
Geoff, I know he’s Australian, he’s rubbish though. Just like the rest. I don’t think it was the speed of the game, just his reluctance to book a Fulham player but quick to book White.
New post up now