Morning all.
Well well, who saw Ronaldo back to Utd coming? One minute he’s heading to City, the next he’s returning to his old club at the ripe old age of 36. He’s not your average 36 year old though, he’s almost super human but even so, the Premier League isn’t as it used to be when he first arrived. I wonder who’ll top Sky Sports ‘most fouls won table’ this season, him or Grealish?
Sky Sports reckon Everton are in need of a right-back and want to sign AMN on loan. This is a weird one because if he’s happy to go there and play in defence then he can jolly well stay put and help solve our own right-back issues surely? However, if there’s a deal to be done with Everton then Arsenal should push hard to include Calvert-Lewin, leaving Juventus and Man City to fight it out between them for Aubameyang. Otherwise I can’t see how Arsenal could risk letting our captain leave this late in the transfer window. Not unless selling Aubameyang has always been the intention and there’s a contingency plan in place.
Four more days of this summer of transfer madness left.
Arsenal go to the Etihad today for a lunchtime kickoff against Pep’s Manchester City. KDB is missing through injury, Mendy has been in trouble with the law and subsequently suspended by City and Phil Foden also misses out through injury.
Gabriel misses out again but he’s on his way back after playing for the under 23’s yesterday and helping them to a 2-1 victory over the old enemy. Kido Taylor-Hart scored both goals to put the Toots in their place. At their place! Partey and Nketiah remain on the sidelines as I think does Ben White because of Covid.
The good news is both Tierney and Saka are fit, as is Bellerin. Willian and Runasson too but with a bit of luck, both are in the midst of securing a move away from the club. Martin Ødegaard should start his first Premier League fixture of the season.
Can we win? Why not? Will we win? Unlikely. But what we could do is play a back three, dropping to a back five when City come at us as no doubt they will. Yes it might be boring, but I’d rather suggest it’s pragmatic. Leave gaps all over the place and City will rip us apart.
Nuno Espirito Santo worked out how to keep Pep’s team quiet so really, there are no excuses for going there unprepared. A good defensive shape, commitment to the cause and then hit them on the break when or if we chance. Aubameyang still has pace, Arsenal have to utilise it. Our number 14 should be in a good frame of mind after his hat-trick in midweek. In fact the players should all be boosted by the midweek win regardless of it being against a young West Brom side. Perhaps it’ll prove to have been the perfect opposition at the right time after our opening two disasters.
I’d like to see Mikel Arteta be a lot more proactive today as far as his game management goes. If you and I can see a problem repeating itself on the pitch, then so should he. Had he have spotted James enjoying far too much freedom down our left against Chelsea, he could have prevented their second goal. If he did spot it but failed to react then Arsenal have a problem. Failing to react is as bad as failing to prepare but both will often end the same. Failure.
As said, I’m not expecting Arsenal to win today but I certainly expect to see a battle out there on the pitch. Arteta talks the talk before and after a game, now it’s time for him to prove he’s that tactical genius he perhaps thinks he is.
See you in the comments.
The first bit is a push but the second is a full bodied punch
Definitely a foul on Chambers. VAR should have overruled their second goal and at least a yellow card to Laporte.
Not claiming that we would have won but surely this is a red card
https://dailycannon.com/2021/08/referee-defends-laporte-punching-chambers-contact-is-part-of-football/
Disagree Devil. All those players could have been sold.
No Rico. Auba, Xhaka and Bellerin still have to be considered as AW players….. signing a contract does not mean a change of attitude.
Agree re Bellerin Brad although I think he’ll leave. He has been listed as being injured though.
Morning Devil, surely you need to add in the players who have been given a new contract by Edu/Arteta too?
Xhaka, Aubameyang, Elneny I believe to name just three. Surely they have to be considered Arteta players too.
Afternoon guys.
New post up now
Geoff…..I already explained it in my comment….Arteta knew we would lose….so he did not pick the players he bought….to save them from injury and also to hold them back.
Arteta can easily point out….we lost with the players I did not buy. Had they all played (if it was possible) and still lost he would be rightfully accused, that he was failing. The team he put out spoke volumes. Only Cedric and Odegaard were his buys.
Personally I do not agree but in such a situation I feel that he played up to his strengths. That is why I feel the team against Norwich would be vastly different. I think he would go with
Leno,
Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney
Lokonga, Partey
Saka, Odegaard, Pepe
Auba/Laca (whoever is still here)
Devil If the players that Wenger and Emery picked are no good then why is Arteta still picking them, when all his new recruits from this transfer window except White sat on the bench against Man City. We can not keep blaming Wenger and Emery for how we play now and remember Emery was over ruled on certain players and had his players picked for him.
Had Roma agreed to pay 20M for Xhaka then yes I feel that Arteta would have signed Bruno Guimaraes. But Roma did not agree and in order for Arsenal to protect Xhaka’s value(?) he was given a new contract. I have no doubt in my mind that Arteta sees the combo of Lokonga and Partey as the future CDM with Odegaard in front of them. So Xhaka and Elneny will be kept as reserves. It may be that the board told Arteta that to bring in another midfielder he must sell Xhaka and maybe Elneny first.
Good Morning Rico and all
Scott and all those who like me are asking why Arteta played certain players.
At the back of my mind I had the feeling that Arteta knew that we would lose. And he knew that whatever way and personnel we play we would have been on the end of a loss. I think the team against Norwich will be far more different than the one put out yesterday. Both in personnel and in tactics.
Kolasinac played simply because we have no one to fill up the LWB berth. Its true he could have put on Tavarez but Tavarez can only play LB or LW. He is not equipped to play as a WB. And AMN came on for the last third of the game to rest one of those who are remaining. I guess that even Auba will be gone by then as there are clubs sniffing around him. I feel that the club want to sell him so with his money they will get in another striker….DCL or Belotti….while they are prepared to let Laca run down his contract while Balogun grows another year. With regards RB I think that Bellerin will eventually stay and play on from the next game onwards.
Kev made a good point about our regression. We have been going backwards since AW was in charge. the reasons he gave are well thought out and make a lot of sense. We have stagnated not because of the managers but because of those who manage the club at boardroom level.
a few days ago someone here said that basically the team is now all Arteta’s. I stand to be corrected but if one goes through the playing staff one finds that AW’s players still dominate the playing staff. Let’s go through the players (I am not counting the players which come through the academy….I am considering only those bought by the managers)
Goalkeepers
Leno (Emery)
Ramsdale and Runarsson (Arteta)
Defenders
Bellerin, Holding, Chambers, Kolasinac (Wenger)
Tierney (Emery)
Soares, Tavarez, Gabriel, White, MAri (arteta)
Midfielders
Partey, ODegaard, Lokonga (Arteta)
Xhaka, Elneny (Wenger)
Strikers
Lacazette, Auba (Wenger)
Willian (Arteta)
Pepe, Martinelli (Emery)
So Wenger has bought 8 players, Emery bought 4 while Arteta has bought 11
That makes it Arteta has 11 out of 23. Half the squad. And with the exception of Runarsson and Willian (both of whom may soon be gone) plus Soares the other 8 Arteta bought are good quality. Meanwhile, the majority of players many of us consider dead wood are all from the AW era.
The problem with Arteta is that he is trying to put donkeys into horse racing. Which is impossible. You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Its true there are some decisions which Arteta took which we feel different and oppose them. Like the Saliba decision. Like the Guendouzi situation. Like the Xhaka U-turn.
Is it easy getting rid of certain players?? It seems that its not.
But I feel that the remaining days in the transfer window will the revolving door moving around with a spin.
On the striker side, we are late, no one will sell their quality striker because they cannot replace them.
I would still like an offer on Martial. 4th choice at United, out of favor and ability to recover some of Sancho and Verane money.
If we’re not getting a RB and Bellerin is staying, I would play him. He can’t be worse than the other 2 and at least offers something going forward.
The Willian to Corinthians story is in the Mail. The remainder of his contract is worth £20 million in wages, £220.000 per week. He is willing to forgo all of it to go home immediately. That’s the best news I’ve heard in the entire transfer window so far.
Loosing to Man City does not worry me but what does is the way we lost,
Arteta looked lost and half the players looked like they did not want to be there and that brought the other half down.
No new player given a chance against Man City so Pep new how all our players play
Saka does not seem the same player since last year I am wondering if the crap written about him playing for England has made him loose interest in the game I hope not he has a great career ahead of him. Even ESR body language did not look good. I wonder if the team selection had some thing to do with it or have the players given up on Arteta for keep changing the side around.
As For Arteta Every one knows I am not a big fan of him how ever unless he keeps loosing and we are in the bottom 4 we have to give him until mid year break and if not in the top half then get rid of him, We can not keep using the Excuses of rebuilding or injuries.
Big Sam, not for me Wavy, if we plumb those depths then I think I’ll seriously walk away…
There’s a story doing the rounds on social media via some hack on Sky Sports that Willian has decided to tear up his 2 year contract and leave Arsenal for Corinthians.
Now I don’t know the voracity of this rumour and the Sky hack doesn’t have a good name when it come to reliability and the source of rumour is said to be Kia Joorabchien therefore it could be a PR ploy from him to try and force the move by putting out misinformation and embarrassing Arsenal, but if it turns out he has actually ripped up his deal then what a result…
I can not for the life of me understand why Kolasinac played, unless it was to show he’s first to a potential buyer, because nothing else makes any sense whatsoever.
Classy stuff guys.
Thank you.
If Arsenal has to play Kolasinac in central defence, why did he on loan Saliba, or why did he buy him?
I can’t understand how a Coach playing with 10 keeps playing the same way, with 5 defenders. It’s unbelievable!
we have to move to 4-4-1, so that the 3 midfielders don’t wear out completely and the opponent doesn’t appear with a lot of space and packed. Play with 5 defenders, when are 10 v. 11, is to tell the opponent that you will not go beyond midfield.
When have you ever seen city score headed goals and they score 2 past us. We were so bad across the defence.
Kosialnac was never on his man, Chambers had a shocker again. Holding not clearing and beaten by little guys in heading.
They seem lost, what has Arteta changed from last season?
Why no Loconga? Works so hard last 2 games when you need that this week.
Play Smith Rowe, Odegaard, Abaumeyang and Saka against city when none will track back and tackle. Leaves Xhaka alone in Midfield with full backs trying to fill in as mids then leaves the CD to cover the flanks.
Hey ho here we go!
Potter, Rico, Kev as I was reading through today’s post the thought crossed my mind that someone should be searching for Fat Sams number, in that he was/is the relegation saviour.
I didn’t watch today, was out to lunch, and most convivial it was too. When the final score pinged on my phone sadly I sighed, not in the least surprised. Losing today was inevitable but by 5? Unbelievable! I’m not watching motd tonight nor any other night until we win. It may may be many weeks until I look next!
There is obviously something seriously wrong at the Arsenal and whatever it is it needs sorting tout suite. If the manager can’t cut it, cut him loose. If it’s the players motivation in question, drop them. But for Gods sake can we see a plan, a methodology, some evidence of coaching, some sort of plan, please. We won’t win until the team play like a team and not eleven individuals running around aimlessly.
How the mighty have fallen! We are well on the way to the bottom of the pile with little hope of finding a ledge to land on to save ourselves.
Still we can go to bed tonight happy in the knowledge that we are currently the strongest team in the Premiership as we are holding the other 21 teams up! ( Gallows humour?)
Hurts me to read that Potter but I understand where you’re coming from.
I don’t disagree with the general judgement on Arteta and Edu (who hired them?) but let’s not forget the gradual decline of our club over the last 10 years,this isn’t all on Arteta.
Gazides wanted Wenger gone a couple of years before he actually left, Guardiola and Klopp were available at the time.
But Wenger stayed because Kroenke procrastinated and it was cheaper to do nothing.
Eventually we decline and the Emirates empties of customers and Kroenke is forced to act as it looked bad for sponsors and Wenger then goes.
Now we could have gone for a big name but we went for Emery.
Why?
He was out of a job so it was the cheaper option.
Raul came and went, Mislintat came and went, Gazides had already buggered off, now we have Edu, we couldn’t get Monchi, maybe he knew something? But Edu was the cheaper, Moneyball option.
Emery goes and in come Arteta, I wonder what it cost to compensate City?
And here we are, 10 years of KSE and bottom of the Premier League, when Kroenke arrived we were fixtures in the top four…
I know who I blame for our decline.
What we need now is an Allardyce/ Benitez type manager that would instill some organisation .
And it hurts me to say that.
I know you don’t Adam, nor do a lot of fans I’m sure. Arteta certainly doesn’t make believing in him very easy. In fact I’d say he makes it impossible.
Rico. I know but I can’t see things that way.
Conte is a great manager but I am not sure he would be interested in the job that we need.
But he would at least give us a defence to build on.
Adam. What I really meant though was 3 games in a new season with his new players and the injuries/Covid issues we’ve had.
Conte isn’t interested in Arsenal according to the media.
I wouldn’t judge Arteta on three games, but on the whole sorry period in which he has presided over a steep decline in our clubs fortunes and sees us bang bottom of the table.
Antonio Conte is unemployed at the moment.
Precisely Rico. 😀 it’s been a shit show generally.😬
What about the previous 17 months Adam. 😂
I used to get irritated by AW when he played players who knew they were going. I recall Cesc, being played when deep down everyone including himself, knew he was off to Barca. I got angry when Nasri played a few days before being transferred to City. And AW irritated me beyond imagination when he said that players are professionals and they will play well.
No they dont. They take it easily so they wont get injured. Their mind is elsewhere.
Play Kolasinac?? Seriously??
Play AMN??? Seriously??
Stick with Xhaka who should have gone to Roma?? Seriously??
Leno’s mind is not fully focused although some are saying he saved us from a heavier defeat both against Chelsea and against City.
Soares?? I wish he never puts on the Arsenal gear again
Tierney?? He tried but when you are surrounded by peanuts you get monkeys.
Kolasinac?? He should have been given as a freebie to Fenerbache for taking off Ozil.
Chambers and Holding…Much as I like them I feel they have regressed because of the way they are asked to play.
Xhaka?? We are still in time to send him to Joise. He excells in a 3-4-2-1 formation only. Any other he is suspect and Championship player at best.
Odegaard, Saka and ESR were up against it. Inexperience, youth and no direction.
Auba?? Everyone knows my feelings towards him but today cant fault him since if everything behind him was crumbling what can he do? Go down to defend? He needs to feel secure that behind him its strongly defended if he is to attack the opposition.
I did not agree that much with 5-4-1(It was more of a 5-1-3-1 formation) and certainly not with the personnel in those 11.
Rico. I doubt anyone would judge him on 3 games.
That’s how I see things going Brad. Certainly don’t think he’ll be sacked after 3 games with all the issues he’s had.
Surely Arteta gets a chance of a full squad and not playing the likes of Chelsea and City.
If it’s another shit show, he’s fired after the next game back.
Probably Adam.
Rico. That’s paper talk I think.
I thought the ref was going to give a yellow card but was overruled by VAR.
it seems a grey area to me I seen referees give it a red and some give it a yellow, if Xhaka didn’t touch the ball first I would have agreed with a straight red card.
Arteta has a couple of weeks to fix it how ever if we loose after the short break then he has to go along with Edu
I wonder where the ‘ten game to improve things’ prediction came from before the Telegraph printed it. A leak from within the club perhaps?
Red mist Brad.
Too many mistakes over too long should see the end of Mikel and Edu. The sooner the better, for the club.
I’m agree witht rico. Clear red card (according to current rules). The desperation of the game cannot justify entry (as happened when I played in Germany, but in the meantime the rules have changed)
Clear red for me Geoff. Although Atkinson was getting his yellow card out to begin with. Two footed and studs up is always going to be a red.
” A few years ago there was separate advice given to the Select referees of the Premier League, which was as follows; ‘when a player goes in at pace with feet off the ground, the referee should always award a free kick. If the tackle makes no contact then a yellow card should be issued. If there is contact with the opponent then it should be a red card.’ Whether that still stands I don’t know as the Premier League referees now have new chief but new man, Mike Riley, recently said to clubs and players, ‘if you commit a tackle at speed, with intensity, by and large with two feet off the ground, you run the risk of being sent-off’”.
So even though not in the rules, it’s up to the ref and 9/10 times involving Arsenal it’s red.
We know the media and refs have an agenda against Arsenal, why can’t Xhaka get it through his thick skull that nothing good will come from stupid play like that.
Who cares though Geoff? It’s your opinion and I’m sure how anyone can defend what’s going on at the club right now. It’s his team, his ideas, his tinkering etc.
Rico if I gave Arteta his P45 I would be accused of all ways being against Arteta appointment.
Scott as I said before and I still stand by it I thought Xhaka should of got a yellow card not a red, I believe he got the ball first but he slid in with both feet showing the stoppers.
What I don’t get is our player gets hit in the face and no free kick and they score and then there player gets hit in face and we get a yellow card
That’s about the only positive from today Geoff. Lol
No mate,
We get more ridiculous red cards than any other club.
It’s the shirt that attracts them, not the player 🙂
Andrew look on the bright side, yes we have lost Xhaka for a couple of weeks and with Luis not playing any more we should be safe from red cards for a while.
They need to give him his P45 Geoff.
Exactly Andrew. I just don’t understand the Xhaka stuff at all. I’d have snapped off Roma’s hands with their first offer. Now we’re stuck with him.
I’ve had mates show me the rules, and I still do not see how a player winning the ball clearly, making no contact with the opponent can be red carded.
The opponent was actually second to the contest-that’s proven by the fact Xhaka won the ball-so how does the okayer attacking and winning the ball get red carded???
Before you disagree with me, have a read of the rules.
That said, it didn’t cost us the game, neither did the penalty we weren’t given, because we were outplayed.
A long way to go.
Emiliano Buendia scores for Villa …..
Rico, last year we worried always that Luiz or Xhaka would always do something silly. I remember posting a few weeks back, ‘at least we don’t have that concern anymore’. Transfer collapses, new contract given and where are we?
Why not pick our new players that way Pep would not know our weakness because we even kick off. Same old team same old result.
The board really do need to sit down with Arteta and discuss were we go next.
Do we keep him or tell him to go away and coach in a smaller league were he can learn and then maybe come back in a few years.
We can not keep using the excuse of rebuilding for the results we are getting this season.
Arteta mentioned in his interview about how many fans stayed and clapped the team at the end of the the game but didn’t mention anything about how many fans left early.
I wouldn’t be patting Xhaka on the back either after his red card.
The current situation is serious.
It’s not by chance that I’ve posted that our 1st goal is not to be relegate.
In my opinion, we should bet heavily on the 2 Cups, perhaps the easiest way(?) to reach a European competition.
Today’s game was a disaster, despite the 2nd goal having been fouled and the sent off. 3 games, 0 goals, 9 conceded goals and there is no team. There is a set of players. And options, in my view, wrong as in today’s game. It’s hard to understand how the whole game was played with 5 defenders, when what you should do is play on equal terms in midfield. Otherwise, it’s an invitation to massacre. It’s playing with a bus with flat tires. There was a Leeds game last year where they got 10 but they knew how to defend and attack whenever possible. And I don’t remember if they won or tied the game.
Today, we watched a game in a single midfield with a desolate team. I remember, for example, that last year Schalke started like this. When they wanted to stand up, in addition to never having had a connected and united team, it was already too late.
As Keown said, where was our two strong defensive type of midfielders? Xhaka and?? These are the simple things. If you’re going to try an shut up shop for 90 mins, why have three creative midfielders in the team and a striker who doesn’t defend?
Agree again Kev, the back five wasn’t a problem, who was in it though was imo.
Information overload Kev. I said the other day in a post that it’s a fact that the more you tell someone, the more they’ll forget. Arteta talks like he’s swallowed a footballing manual.
I mean, why play a system that exposes your players’ weaknesses?
It’s the line ups Rico, the tactics, were not experts by any stretch of the imagination but you look at the team and you just think ‘that’s risky’…
I’m not sure that Arteta has lost the dressing room, that’s the popular statement from the social media crowd, but I think our players look confused.
Ditto Kev. There’s too much chopping and changing going on I think.
Its difficult to find any positives from that debacle, I’ve had bad vibes in all the teams Arteta has picked this season, you see the line up and your heart sinks.
Interesting from Auba. Reading between the lines, there’s clearly something going on within the camp.
Yep, agree too Cicero. He’s a beaten man.
Potter. Good move 😀
I wonder if Arteta will still be in his job for the next game
Personally I would go
Ramsdale
RB, White, Gabriel, Tierney
Lokonga, Partey
Saka, Odegaard, Pepe
Auba (if he is still with AFC)
But any team he puts out now will suffer
They need a new direction.
I am really sorry and sad it has come to this way. I want him to succeed but unfortunately it seems he will never do
Motd
Think I will give mots a miss
Cicero. I agree. This result, on top of the first 2 are so devastating and so emotionally destructive that I cannot see the board and owners seeing a way forward. The fanbase will be feeling it right now. The situation has grown and is now appalling. Things must change and quickly before the club spirals out of control.
BT pundit, ‘not years, decades away from the top teams’
5 – 0. No need to to sack Arteta, he should resign!!
70 minutes in our fans leaving the the ground already.
I can see Arteta’s press conference all ready,
I very happy with the way the players never gave up, We are a young team in the middle of rebuilding and we’re can take a lot of positive out of the second half.
I think so too Cicero. He hasn’t the experience to deal with players imo.
If our players hang there heads any lower the heads will be around there ankles
My son’s travelled up there today after going Brentford first match. Not going to be happy!
This team are totally demoralised and Arteta doesn’t have a clue what to do about it.
I am hearing the coliseum crowd shouting ‘kill’ ‘kill’ ‘kill’
So far out from goal and Leno still failed to save it. 4 nil
That goal summed up what a mess we are defensively.
Our biggest loss is 8-0 back in the 1890s at least it’s only 3 -0 something positive I have found about today’s match so far
Can’t always blame the players though Devil. Too many are regressing for the problems we have to sit on their shoulders. It’s no longer one or two, it’s nearly all of them.
Oh dear, oh dear. Couldn’t have gone worst. They don’t even need the added help from ref and VAR. Whenever we are short of our best CB’s we play three, but it never seems to work. Despair.
At least show some spirit and will to fight.
But no. As everyone is noticing the players are like total strangers, walking and dont seem to give a fuck.
So although I do want Arteta to succeed I am sorry, we need a different direction now.
It’s tragic but unavoidable now.
I agree Rico.
I still can’t see any game plan, our players look like there walking and not running for the ball.
Adam, you’re telling me something I know. It would be the right time I feel with the international break.
There is no organisation out there, no direction and no one seems to know what they’re doing.
Rico. The club needs to move on. Starting tonight. The road ahead under this management team is unsustainable.
Arsenal has fast become a laughing stock.
We are not competing in any shape or form. We have nobody who has a clue how to tackle. No possession not a hint of a goal scoring chance.
It is sad, so very sad.
Xhaka took the ball cleanly. He did not touch the player. Look at the replays
But he dived in two footed. And that is unacceptable
Xhaka red card a bit harsh I thought A yellow 3 nil we look crap
And they walk right through us for a third….
This is truly pathetic. That an Arsenal team can come to this is sad and depressing.
Good idea to keep Xhaka eh. Still, at least he’s now out for three games!
So, nothing against City for the foul on Chambers yet Kolasinac gets booked for something similar…
Based on my calculations we will lose 13-0
England win by an innings and 76 runs.
They’re on the bus Cicero, the one Sir Cliff once drove…
The Arsenal fans don’t look too impressed with Arteta
Parking the bus? Our lot may as well be sitting on the f*****g thing.
Oh dead oh dear… 2-0
Here we go. 0-1 down
Bloody hell, first attack and we concede. Pathetic!!
Mrs T will do me Devil. 😂
Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Anderson.
Or liking you to Maggie T
Can’t imagine you being fearsome Rico
Ha ha Kev. We are.
Rico….Kev is liking to Queen Boudicca 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yes DG, I think that makes more sense, therefore it’ll be the opposite. 🙄
I think that was the case Rico, apparently him Mum is a fearsome woman, personally speaking I find all woman fearsome 😄
I thought about that too Kev. A British three CBs is more beneficial to communication. Kolasinac works better asa wingback than CB.
Wasn’t his mum involved in something when AMN was at Ipswich?
Morning Geoff.
Didn’t Niles have issues at Ipswich when he was on loan there a few years ago?
Kohli gone, a couple more and we’re into the tail.
Morning Rico and all
Very happy with the starting time, looks like Arteta dropped all the new players for the same team that struggled last season
It could always be Tierney at left centre back and Kolasinac as wing back, that would work for me.
I don’t think AMN has been flavour of the month for any of our mangers he has worked under. An Awkward Squad member we are most probably better off without.
It’s the choice of players to park the bus I wonder about. Lol
Parking the bus? Why not? It’s a tactic that numerous teams have (mostly successfully) used against us in the past. Hopefully it’ll work for us, for a change.
Strange looking team .
Arsenal: Leno, Cedric, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac, Tierney, Xhaka, Smith Rowe, Saka, Odegaard, Aubameyang
Subs: Ramsdale, Okonkwo, Tavares, Mari, Maitland-Niles, Lokonga, Elneny, Martinelli, Lacazette
Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac, Tierney, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Xhaka, Saka, Aubameyang.
Subs: Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Tavares, Pablo Mari, Sambi Lokonga, Elneny, Ramsdale, Okonkwo, Martinelli
Morning Devil. I’ve just seen the team too. Stunned…
Good morning Rico and all.
Thanks for the post. And the fact that AMN is going to play in defense for Everton only shows one thing….he has fallen out with Arteta. It’s not the position which is the issue.
Just seen the lineup….5-4-1 it seems. Kolasinac is in. Beggars belief.
Kev, they forked out £72 m odd for Pepe, never say I reckon. 😜
Perhaps Cicero and that’s all he probably wants. I don’t get it though, not all time our RB situation isn’t settled.
Morning Kev, another wicket too. Good start. Now skittle them out…
Morning One and All, morning Rico.
The cricket is nicely balanced, should be a good day at Headingley.
Everton won’t be selling Calvin Lewin for less than £80m so I reckon we need to look elsewhere as the Kroenke’s won’t provide the funds for that. Of course if the Arabs were in charge we’d have him already!
Niles to Everton seems to make sense, it’s a shame that he won’t play where he’s most effective and where he won his solitary England cap, stupid is as stupid does.
£20m if they want him, he’s under contract until 2023.
I wonder when Palace will crack and bid an acceptable bid for Nketiah, they need a goalscorer and I reckon he’ll do well for them.
Rico, just maybe AMN will play a lot more games at Everton than he can expect to get at Arsenal.
I rather suspect that whatever system we play, this lunchtime, we will have to score to get at least a draw.
Save it until the morning Potter, it’s not worth the pain..
Don’t know about 3-1 Scott, with our defending, we’re far more likely to lose 3-1.
Well us Aussies are grateful for the 9.30pm kick off 🙂
We will be winning 3-1.
Silly oclock kick off , will have to be motd for me . Hope it won’t give me nightmares so close to bedtime.
Or any silly gifted goals given away. I’d be more than happy to come away with a point, even if it means parking the bus.
So long as we don’t concede a stupid early goal (like last time), we stand half a chance.
Citeh pretty much went to a back 5 when Sterling got that header. I’m expecting Pep to go for that tactic again tbh.