Morning all.
With Liverpool drawing their game in hand with Everton during the week, the pre-match prediction of a 9 point gap opening up at the top didn’t happen. A 98th minute equaliser from James Tarkowski not only secured a point for Everton but it sparked a bit of nastiness between the two sets of players. Arne Slot and his assistant got involved two which ended up with both men being sent off. The usually cool, calm and composed Dutchman was furious. Having seen the footage, I certainly didn’t need a lip reader to work out the content of his rant at Michael Oliver. Doucouré and Jones were sent off at the end too. I shouldn’t write this but I love seeing a bit of passion in the game because it shows how much these players and managers care. I don’t mind seeing a flurry of red cards at the end of a match too but only when it involves clubs other than Arsenal.
Arsenal face Leicester City today at the King Power Stadium. I would suggest it’s a must win game but every league game is a must win one. The 4-2 victory over Leicester at The Emirates was no more than Arsenal deserved.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard had given us a 2-0 lead in the first half but no sooner had the second half begun, Leicester had halved the deficit. Fifteen minutes later, it was 2-2. An own goal 4 minutes into added time, followed by Kai Havertz strike a few minutes later, gave Mikel Arteta’s side the victory.
Much has changed since that day in September. On the managerial front for Leicester City, Van Nistelrooy has replaced Steve Cooper yet results wise, little has improved for them as the club are still hanging around in the relegation places. The only game Leicester City has won this year was away against Totts….
Without wanting to state the bleedin obvious, today will answer a question or two about how the heck we as a team/squad are going to beat opponents with the majority of our already small attacking unit missing for the next few months? Martinelli is likely to be the first of four injured attacking players to return but even he’s unlikely to be back until mid March at the earliest and then later in the month, we might see Bukayo Saka again although I’m not holding my breath. For Gabriel Jesus and Havertz it’s about next season.
Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri seem the most likely three up top should Arteta continue with such a formation but who knows, he might just change things up a bit because of the personnel he’s missing. I’ve read somewhere, I’ve no idea where now but an option Mikel Arteta might go for up front is Mikel Merino. I kind of get why if it’s true. He’s 6’ 2”, he can move and he can shoot. His height also gives us something defending set pieces too. If this experiment, should it take place, works, then Boomshakalaka! It would certainly be an “out of the box” way of thinking and one which opponents are unlikely to have thought much about. To be fair, anything Arteta tries in the absence of our injured will be a new approach which we can only hope works.
Arteta:
There are certain things that we’re going to have to adapt. It brings other opportunities as well because we’re going to have a different frontline of players that are very unpredictable, so good in 1-v-1s, very creative, very sharp and it’s going to give different headaches to the opposition.
I do love an optimist….
Ben White returns to the squad today which is welcome news. His return should end the days of seeing Thomas Partey at right back. Thank goodness!
Our bench isn’t going to be strong as far as experience goes and certainly not in attack but there’s something about potentially seeing a couple of the under 21 players on the bench which I find exciting, especially if we can get into a position where Arteta can get them on the pitch. Let them feel the experience because there’s a good chance they’ll be needed over the next few weeks, maybe even months.
I know YouTube can make most players look good but I think the below clip gives us an idea of Ismeal Kabia’s pace and ability to get behind his marker. I also realise that the level of opponent is very different at under 21 level than the Premier League and Europe but as said before, if Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri can, why can’t Kabia?
Here’s a clip of the young winger and his teammates from earlier this season.
Anyway, my money is on Kabia, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Khayon Edwards making the squad today.
Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke:
Leicester have not scored a Premier League goal at home since early December, so we mustn’t gift them any chances to end that drought early on at the King Power Stadium. Van Nistelrooy’s side have struggled in the air at times this season, facing more headed shots than any other team, and conceding the second-highest number of goals from headers (10) too. We have lost the height of Havertz, but Mikel Merino and Gabriel from set pieces will make the hosts nervous.
Since the Dutchman took over, young attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss has been a real live wire in the No.10 role. The Belgian has great skill, and has shown that he can score and create opportunities at this level. Making sure he is only a peripheral figure in this match will be important.
Crosses from left-back Kristiansen are another of Leicester’s strengths. In spite of his team’s struggles, the Dane has produced 19 successful crosses in open play, and that’s a tally only three Premier League players can top. His aim is usually towards Vardy, who scored 11 times against us before, so his movement and finishing remain a key strength for them. He must be closely shackled at all times.
Last but not least, keep your eye on keeper Mads Hermansen. He is good with his feet, and an outstanding shot-stopper. According to Opta he has prevented more goals (5) than any other custodian in the top-flight this season. Hopefully, we can make sure he has a busy afternoon.
If Bilal El Khannouss is that good, perhaps if Leicester do get relegated, we should try and get him on the cheap….
Ok, I’ve waffled on too long…..
Catch up in the comments…
Morning Rico.
A great clip that and as you said YouTube is selective, that said MLS showed why he has made the team.
Edwards is a tall lad, a good opportunity for him to gain some experience in thlast 10 minutes against a weak aerial opponent?
Morning Berg.
Ideally, we can score a few first half goals and then use the subs, giving the younger guys, assuming their will be one or two on the bench, some minutes. Break them in gently so to say. 😝
Every cloud might have a silver lining. Maybe the injuries will have to force Arteta’s hand to play the young ones. So whilst I certainly didnt want Kai to be injured if it promotes a youngster in his place and is a success then I will be happy
Good Morning Rico and all. I loved reading the post twice over.
VVD suspended for half a season?? (Previous post) you gotta be joking. they will video edit it to appear he had been fouled. lol
Today, as many of you might already be aware, the advent of AI has certainly influenced many things at less the blink of an eye. I wasn’t joking when I said that they will edit videos to make VVD appear to have been fouled.
Recently, with AI I managed to turn a picture of my dad as a soldier in 1963 when he was just 21 years old, into a 5 second video of him marching. yes the same picture. So if me, being a fledgling amatuer in the world of technology compared to the professionals, can manage that imagine what professionals can do.
With regards the striker department shortage, I dont regret the sale of Nketiah (he’s not setting any houses on fire is he). But with regards Biereth then yes I am regretting it. Because he is delivering.
Hopefully, fingers crossed, Butler Oyedeji or Edwards will step up. I still dont trust Sterling.
Morning Devil, yep. Isn’t that what happened at Barcelona and young stars have emerged?
exactly Rico. sometimes fate forces your hand. and all you can do is just smile back.
I dont think that Arteta needs extra motivation for today…..all he must do is pin a picture in the dressing room of Martin Keown jumping on RVN and show them the video when he cheated and voila…..its us against them mentality.
Did you read about Everton using an Arteta photo in their programme for the game on Wednesday?
Nwaneri, Trossard and Sterling to lead the line. The rest are the same as usual.
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabi, MLS, PArtey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling
subs…Neto, White, Kiwior, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Tierney, Jorginho. Merino, Butler Oyedeji
Disappointed Kabia not in the squad.
God afternoon Rico, very quiet on here today. Everybody behind the sofa I suppose 😉
Sorry everyone, the comments have only just come up. Iffy WiFi. We are house sitting while my younger son has gone skiing with his son. It’s a barn conversion with a few not spots.
Afternoon Cicero, the lull before the storm…
Ben White on the bench at last, it’s great to have him that close to playing again.
Three attempts so far,two missed and one saved.
very low key so far.
Trossard and Sterling need to stay onside..
Trossard is playing false 9 yet he is more offside than onside. The mind boggles
Nwaneri is making Sterling and Trossard look pretty average…
That was too close for comfort…
a lot for Arteta to ponder about during half time team talk. I agree that Nwaneri is making sterling and Trossard look pretty average. On this showing Arteta should haul off Sterling, put Trossard on the left and introduce Butler Oyedeji. Surely he cant be worse than Sterling who has been below average so far. We are playing with ten men at maximum and with NBO we might play with 10 and a half at worst.
Get Stering off put Trossard left and Gabriel up front for last ten minutes its 3 points or nothing
Merino for Sterling soon I hope..
Anyone but Sterling…
I think that Sterling will be hauled off and Merino goes as a CF. he is doing warm up
Good!
finally….Sterling off and Merino goes as CF
Now kindly excuse me while I go to King Power stadium to show Sterling the way to the showers and when he finishes I will personally call a cab to take him to Stamford bridge. He can stay there
Nwaneri hits his 2nd post today.
There’s the goal.
Merino scores from an Ethan cross, brilliant.
Merinooooooo. 1-0 to the good guys.
Merino 2-0….
I’ve always liked him 😂
Oh la la…..Merino, the spanish Salmon, rises high again to power a header at the King Power stadium.
They will soon change the name to Merino Stadium then
still enough time to get a hat trick.
Wow, afternoon all. We have a new Centre Forward, two great finishes that we often miss. Underwhealming as a midfielder but what a boost as a number 9! An Nwaneri, I’m speechless.
RvN the next to be sacked? 😂
Our new number nine hits the ground running and the back of the net twice.
One, or even two, in the eye for Lineker. Bet he won’t say much on M O T D.. 😉
I think I’m one of a few who rate Merino Andrew. Never expected to see him playing CF though..
Nwaneri motm. Utterly deserved..
Off for a walk with the hound with a spring in my step…
Come on Wolves…
Who needs a striker when you have Mikel Olivier Thierry Merino???
Pity that Nwaneri didn’t score today. He could have got two as well. He deserved MOTM.
Two goals, clean sheet, three points. Just another day at the office! 🔔🔔
Rico, it’s so happy for him, ready to make debut and flattened by Gabriel, out for 2 months, then bit part as a midfielder. I remember his great header for Spain in the summer, but lovely 2nd finish as well, he looks like he can do a job. First time ever a a CF! Dedicated to his wife for Valentines Day😀
Mikel Merino….same initials as Malcolm MAcdonald…..and same ability to be at the end of crosses with his head. We have been screaming for something like that since God knows when
We’ll never know if Havertz would have scored from that first cross. Like to think so, but Merino took it so confidently, it just looked like a number 9 finish (nearly said Vardy-like but couldn’t bear to mention his name😂)
But you did Andrew. 😉
Only in brackets Cicero, no way of making text size smaller😂
we cant blame Arteta for lack of creativity. Turning Merino into a real number nine for some minutes smacks of creativity all the way
Merino 1-0
https://streamff.com/v/99a52f74
Merino 2-0
https://streamin.me/v/kur84cvb
As I posted months ago, Stirling adds nothing, quite the opposite. What hypothetically could you add (?), improvisational ability and speed, you haven’t had for a long time. Therefore, we play with 10. On top of that (I believe I have already posted this), he doesn’t know the offside rule.
I don’t know the young players, but I doubt that at least we are not playing with 10.5 players on the field.
Therefore, in my opinion, it is preferable to play with more midfield players.
sorry for my 2.20 comment about Merino rising like a salmon again to power a header….the game I was watching (illegal streaming on net) was showing a replay of the 1st goal and I thought it was the 2nd because the bbc reported that Arsenal have gone 2-0 up. the games I watch are always around 30 secs late than normal.
Sad to say but if that was Sterlings auction for the Saudi League he failed it miserably. He was astonishingly bad! It was a great example of playing under false pretences. Time to send him back from whence he came. I mean we may be short of fit and able footballers but he defies the term, ‘footballer’. Playing a ghost would be more productive!
Anyhow at least we’ve found our new number 9. Mikel Merino the new striking 🦸♀️ hero. Let’s hope he will be the new ‘hidden claw’.
80 minutes of dross followed by 15 minutes of relief and then joy. Down to a 4 point gap, we’re getting there slowly and tediously, but we are getting there. Still all to play for.
Audition not auction auto correct not entirely being helpful. As usual.
Wavy, if we win the remaining 13 games with a 2-0 scoreline each game playing dross for 80 mins and then 15 mins of joy follow then I am all for it. And if Sterling plays dross and Merino comes and scores 2 every time then it would be amazing
stop dreaming Grumblestiltskin.
time to celebrate with some vino and chocolate.
City are winning 2-0 against the barcodes. i cant see the latter getting anything from it today…..I expect city to trounce them.
Its mind boggling how we can trounce city 5-1 and cant seem to get the better or something from the barcodes. we have lost 3 games this season against them already.
Me too Andrew, thrilled for him.
Sterling lacks confidence in every aspect of his game. It’s like he starts to do something, has a panic attack and then cocks things up…
Persistent wet snow here in bloody freezing Norfolk. I took the dog for a walk and got back half an hour before it started. We’re both curled up in front of the log burner, her with a chew and me with a beer.
Cheers to you all! 🍺
Sounds perfect Cicero, enjoy…
Forest and Newcastle beaten today, Chelsea beaten yesterday which is good for us..
We didn’t pay any fee for Sterling, we only pay a part of his wages and we still got robbed. A waste you of space…it should be given to a youngster. He is doing nothing at all
Yep, much rather have seen one of the academy players.
Evening Rico, I don’t mind you waffling, you waffle away.
Nice post.
Arteta was keeping his cards close to his chest re: Merino.
Will he start vs West Ham – he should do imo?
But you don’t know with the boss, maybe he sees Merino as an impact sub and will start Sterling again next weekend?
I was thinking that way too Kev. Begin with Sterling to keep the opposition occupied (???) and then when they tire put in Merino. Merino can win aerial duels, can jump high, can run fast and has good feet. So it mght be that Arteta goes that way as you said.
Evening Kev, thank you.
I would say both Sterling and Trossard wore their defence down but it wasn’t until Sterling went off that Tross woke up. Nwaneri was brilliant and deserved to have a big guy on the end of his crosses.
Two really well taken goals from excellent balls into the box.
I can only think that Arteta saw Sterling as a cheap option and hoped he could return to the sort of form he showed in his early years at City. Needless to say he hasn’t and it is highly unlikely that he will. Can’t we send this hopeless has–been back to the Chavs and release a slot for another of our young guns?
Don’t think we need to send him back to release a slot Cicero. Under 21’s don’t need to be listed, at least I don’t think they do.