Morning all.
The simple answer to the question in the headline is, we’ll find out on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta is a crafty manager in my opinion and I think both Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel will be in the squad to face Totts. We may not like it or agree with it, but the game is full of mind games between managers. At least I think it is.
What looks better, Calafiori and Gabriel going away with their respective countries before withdrawing through “injury” or staying at home because of a supposed injury only to then play at the first opportunity? Apparently Ancelotti has apologised, why I don’t know unless he’s in on the act. lol
I can almost hear Arteta saying to both players, go, but come back early, especially Gabriel who would have jetted off to South America for another meaningless friendly had he not “felt something in his groin”. Instead, he played half a game against Scotland before withdrawing and returning to London. (I think he’s stayed in London)
Of course I could be totally wrong and end up eating humble pie but in Arteta we’re talking about a manager who pushed an injured Partey back onto the pitch. Not because he expected him to continue playing in my opinion, but because he wanted the player to sit on his backside whilst he sorted out the change, keeping the game 11 v 11.
Calafiori is reported to have been playing with a hip injury for a while yet suddenly it’s kept him out of the Italian team. He’s been training though so how does that make sense? It doesn’t in my opinion.
What do you reckon, a master stroke by Arteta, of a week or three on the sidelines for our two defenders? England, France and Norway play later today so hopefully our players will either get a bit of a rest or simply return in good health.
Before those fixtures though, there’s a north London derby to enjoy as the women take on the neighbours. Kickoff is at 2-30 pm and the game is live on Sky Sports.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Baldrick ,
It would be nice but I can’t bring myself to see it.
Saliba , Rice , Saka and Eze are the ones to worry about . Odegaard is not with Norway so is it churlish to want a touch of concussion for their centre forward hopefully Gattuso is sharpening the elbows as we speak.
Anyway it’s all about NLD’s this week , the one on the 23rd is uppermost in my mind but I will look at the result of today’s ladies game and hope that as an Arsenal fan , just want any team representing the club to beat any team from up the road.
Afternoon Rico and Gooners in hibernation, that’s a very conspiratorial/wishful thinking post I must say. 😀
Arteta tends to keep his cards close to his chest, hence no further forthcoming news on the fitness readiness of Gyokeres, Havertz, Madueke, Odegaard and Martinelli, only videos of Jesus training and he’s a month away, or not as the case might be? 🤔
I really hope you are right but I suspect you are wrong about Gabriel. Why should Ancelotti say such a thing? I’d be amazed if he played against Spurs but we will see. More worrying is if he is gone for weeks. And they played Senegal not Scotland.
Baldrick certainly had many cunning plans, but they never worked out.
How nice would it be if we could have just one season without any international games
😂 potter..
Afternoon Kev, all.
I just have a feeling we’ll see both. One or two of the currently injured too. But yep, I’ll have everything crossed our England players return fit.
My other theory is that Arteta didn’t bring back any of our current injured last weekend because he knew, if he did, they’d get called up for international duty.
Senegal not Scotland in the Emirates.
Only a few letters out…
This team is missing Williamson and Little…
Saka on the bench. Eze and Rice start.
Elliott Anderson looks every inch an Arsenal footballer.
Saliba sat on the bench for France for the entire game. ✌🏼
Kane is looking sharp….
Brilliant re Saliba. I was hoping Kane would get nobbled 😜