Morning all.
The task ahead of tonight is simple. Don’t concede a bucket load of goals and we’re in tomorrow’s draw. Olympiakos will arrive at The Emirates with nothing to lose so I’d imagine there’ll be no parked bus or low block, whatever the latest terminology for a defensive setup is because they need three goals to stand any chance of progressing in this competition. When did Arsenal last let three goals in? December 22nd 2020 against Man City in the League Cup is the answer. We lost that one 4-1, at home. Before then it was November 8th against Aston Villa, also at The Emirates.
Arsenal have come a long way since then I think. Admittedly, the team can be frustrating, sometimes boring but overall, silly errors aside, we’re better. I know that sounds like I’ve contradicted myself but when Arsenal are at their best, what Mikel Arteta is trying to build is clear. Or at least I think it is. Only sloppy finishing and the odd defensive cockup is the reason we’re where we are in the League. Since Boxing Day anyway.
In this competition Arsenal have done pretty well so far. The group stage was overcome with relative ease and with a second string group of players. Lacazette has virtually been reborn thanks to playing in the Europa League with the younger players. Even he though could be far more ruthless in front of goal. I know it’s easy to suggest he’s playing for a new contract or trying to tempt another club to offer him a huge deal but the most important thing now is how he’s playing for Arsenal.
I imagine the starting eleven will be similar to the one which won in Greece barring injuries and knackered legs.
Mikel Arteta:
It’s true that we have some players with some significant loads there, but our priority now is to win these next two games and then whatever happens with international duty. If anything, they will have to adapt to what we want. We’re not going to do it the opposite way around because we are the ones that have to look after our players here every day. But at the end, we’re the ones who pay our players so if anybody has to adapt, that’s the national teams and not us.
Well said Mikel.
We have two huge games, this one today and then a trip across London to face a strong West Ham team on Sunday.
Arteta has also spoken about the absence of Martinelli:
If anything it’s my fault, he has done everything perfect, he trains incredibly well every day, his attitude cannot be any better, he is disappointed he is not playing more obviously and I have spoken to him, but he needs to be a little bit patient. He had some minutes, he had some games as well and it’s true the competition for the front positions is very tough but he needs to be patient and he will get his chance.
With the five substitute rule in Europe, I think tonight is the perfect opportunity to give Martinelli more game time. He’s clearly fit and ready to play so why not give him 20/30 minutes from the bench? It must be hard for a player of his quality watch some of the performances by Aubameyang, Willian and Pepe for example, to understand why he’s not playing.
- Arsenal have progressed from five of their six Europa League knockout ties where they won the first leg, the only failure coming last season against Olympiakos, who turned around a 1-0 first leg home defeat to progress on away goals via a 2-1 second leg victory.
Injuries:
Olympiakos are without centre-backs Ruben Semedo and Avraam Papadopoulos, and winger Mario Vrousai. Ousseynou Ba is a doubt too.
For Arsenal, just Bukayo Saka is a doubt. I don’t think he’ll feature because the team needs him on Sunday a lot more than tonight.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
I agree that Saka should be rested for tonight’s game and that against The Hammers, he should also be pulled out of the England squad for the entirety of the international break, three games between 25th and 31st March, so as to be ready for the Liverpool game.
Arteta should also make it clear to Southgate that ESR should play in only one of the three matches. We won’t be the only club withdrawing players for “precautionary” reasons.
Morning Cicero.
Arsenal need to be more sneaky. Other clubs withdraw their players and so should we. Trouble is, players want to represent their country which is understandable.
At least for once, we seem to have a manager who puts the clubs needs before country.
Morning all.
Imo, any luck layer with this salt wants to represent his country, but national managers should protect them from themselves at times.
We will demolish Olympiacos!!
4-0.
Yep, not a 3-1, I’m that confident 🙂
Stupid bloody phone.
Luck layer ffs?
PLAYER.
Have a good look at yourself, Bill Gates 🙂
Oh and there there’s ”with this” from “worth his”.
I need a damn translator.
Lacazette will be leaving this summer and Martinelli is his replacement. Arteta is having Lacazette on display at the moment to attract the highest bidder. Arteta and his team see Martinelli everyday in training and are aware of his qualities.
Don’t be worried… Martinelli is going nowhere..
I’d give up Scott. 😂
I don’t think he’s going anywhere either Danny. If one of Auba and Lacazette have to go, I’d rather it was Auba. Appoint a proper captain too.
With you on both fronts Rico , forwards are mainly too selfish to be good team leaders and as much as Auba can be prolific I have always felt that Lacazette’s work rate is much more superior and a better example to the kids that we are bringing along.
If we do sell Lacazette the chances are that he will stay in the Premier League ( wages ) and he will hurt us rather like Giroud has .
Defender first for me Potter, then a midfielder but never a striker regardless of how good he was. Henry was a great player but should never have been captain imo.
PSG might fancy Lacazette, Poch likes players who work hard. Surely Auba though it’s the last opportunity to get a reasonable fee for him.
Maybe that’s what the latest strop was about . Although that is just speculation.
Yes, we’ve had a habit of making players captain to keep them happy.
It’s a bad idea lol
Well, if he is going, makes less sense not to giving Balogun and Martinelli more minutes. Surely Balogun can see his time is coming. He, Moller and even Eddie could be our future.
I agree with you Rico, defender first then a midfielder as captain. At the moment I can’t see past past Tierney but it’s probably a bit early in his Arsenal career right now. We need someone who is going to be a regular starter and who will stay on the pitch, the latter requirement rules out Luiz. Bellerin has been tried and wasn’t bad but I rather think he’s nearing the end of his Arsenal career. Holding maybe? Xhaka? I don’t think so. ESR? One for the future as is Saka.
A bit of a conundrum for Arteta.
I would make Lacazette the captain now after all, he seems to have the respect of both the older players and the younger players.
In their last dozen or so away games Olympiarkos have played two good sides away from home in Panithinakos and PSV Eindhoven and lost them both.
They’ve also not scored more than 2 goals away from home in that period, so we should respect them but at the same time not panic, they aren’t Tottenham and they aren’t coached by Mourinho…
Probably another short term fix as he will be gone this summer or the next, Geoff. Also as he ages his time on the pitch will be less, either starting on the bench or being subbed after an hour.
We need a calmer presence, one who can talk politely to the refs and get his point across.
In Rugby Union here both the England squad and some of the bigger teams regularly invite the top referees to attend training sessions in order to coach the players in the finer points of the laws of the game and to teach them how to approach refs without getting up their noses.
What is a Luck layer?
Whatever happens with the future of Aubameyang this summer (and I can’t see him leaving) I would still be inclined to sell Lacazette. I like Laca but we cannot and we must not dish another big deal to a guy moving into the veteran stage of his career, he’s 29 and he’s not getting any stronger or any quicker or more skilful, he’s only going one way and we have to go away in another direction by bringing in players in their early to mid 20’s.
So yeah, I like him but let’s move on, get a decent fee and reinvest.
Afternoon Rico and the House
Plenty of football for the club in a 72 hour period starting this evening.
After the europa game we have
WSL at home to ManU Friday KO 1830 BT sport.
Sat Ewood park Blackburn v Arsenal FA youth cup midday ko
they thrased us 4-1 last year same round. Behined Closed Doors
Sunday U23s Everton v Arsenal KO 1300. There maybe link.
then the West Ham game t 1500.
Afternoon Rick, all.
Your days are filled then Rick. Lol
Lacazette captain is a big no from me.
Kev, as you’ve said before, bar a handful, every player has his price.
Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
Subs: Ryan, Okonkwo, Lacazette, Odegaard, Holding, Cedric, Partey, Chambers, Mari, Nelson, Nketiah, Martinelli
Not Willian or Saka
Ceballos, Xhaka and Elneny start in what looks like a 4 3 3…
That’s right Rico, only 5 players in our squad are unsellable to me, Saka, Tierney, Smith Rowe, Gabriel and Partey and that’s still the case but if we signed Odegaard then that could easily become 6, the rest are available I reckon if the price is right…
Interesting line up tonight with Aubameyang leading the line with Smith Rowe and Pepe on the flanks that’s unless he’s playing Ceballos further forward?
Bellerin makes sense at R/B, with 5 subs I expect a lot of changes…
I wonder if Nelson will get a run out?
Can’t think of any others to add to your list Kev.
TEAM NEWS: Leno; Bellerin, David Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney; Ceballos , Elneny, Xhaka; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang
I filled in the blanks 😜
I hope we win…
Evening Rico and the house
Is it going to be a good night.
Evening Rick, fingers crossed.
Good evening
A bit of a let down with the line up imo. I expected Leno, Tierney, Luiz and Gabriel to be rested at least. And Xhaka as well. Bellerin I expected to play. I hope no one gets injured
Auba needs to hassle their keeper, not give him all the time in the world on the ball.
Good stop Leno.
I didn’t Devil, we need to get the job done.
yes we need to get the job done Rico. But I dont think its beyond Ryan, Cedric, Holding and Mari to do a good job.
Infact in your earlier comment you said that Auba needs to pressure their keeper not give him all the time in the world. The fact that we are winning 3-1 you can see that Auba will not get out of 1st gear. He will just play for time. I feel he will go through the motions just to wear down time. This time last week we had 70% possession and were peppering them with shots. now possession is not that much its 55-45.
Pepe, Elneny and Ceballos were good choices for today.
I think Cedric will play on Sunday though Devil, Holding too perhaps.
with 5 subs today I expect ESR to be the first one to come off.
we are allowing them a lion’s share of possession. Atm its 40-60%
With regards attacks they are equal to us.
with regards shots we have had 3 on target to their their 1.
We are just wearing down time.
Just when you think that Nicholas Pepe, our record signing, is starting to show why Arsenal spent £72m on him he plays like this evening as if he’s got his boots on the wrong way around.
seems as if Pepe can’t be arsed Kev. Like Auba imo
Yes Rico, I think we need Odegaard on to settle things down, Ceballos is all over the place, ESR is still suffering from the ball in his face and Aubameyang looks like he’s got the right hump…
DG I think it’s just his ability or lack of in controlling a football.
I think that Pepe knows what he wants to do and in most cases he does it, it’s just that he forgets to take the ball with him…
And that is what faffing around will cost us.
0-1 down.
El Arabi seems to like playing against us.
that is his 3rd goal over 4 games
Spuds are drawing 202 on aggregate
and its the 90th minute.
so if it remains like that its extra time. Extra effort.
Brilliant
They will be knackered next Sunday
Robbie Burton did not come on for Zagreb today
Its finished.
Am disappointed with today’s performance.
Yes we passed and being 3-1 up might have affected the way we played.
But I hate the fact that we were just killing time.
Today’s performance goes to show that when the players can’t be arsed they will not turn up.
At least I would have expected more hunger….and to get an early goal.
I simply hate losing. Even dead rubber games or friendlies.
What a terrible performance. Auba and Pepe were shocking in front of goal.
😂 Kev
Kev…..I hope that elsewhere in life he does not forget to take his balls with him either. it will be useless if he knows what to do but nothing to show for it. 😂😂😂😂😂
I am literally disappointed Rico. Because I feel that Nelson and Martinelli would have done a better job. Even Nketiah for that matter.
At least they would have given it more of a go and tried to do something.
Saved it all up for Sunday.lol
Hindsight is a wonderful thing Devil
Fingers crossed Rick
Just turned over to see the spuds and Gareeeethbale 3-2 down
Spuddies knocked out of Europa lge.
Brilliant.
Unlucky Toots 😀😀😀
They are out 3-28
Arsenal, Dinamo Zagreb, Granada, Roma already through
Villareal and Ajax are practically through
Waiting for Milan/Utd and Rangers/Slavia Prague
3-2
Nowcome Milanmake our day
Well we scraped through, saw a bit of Martinelli but it was a typical Arsenal performance. In commentary I am sure aI heard that they have played 20 games in England and only won twice both times against us . Shows that although we are heading the right way there is work still to do. We are a better team with Lacazette than Aubameyang. When you want to control a game you need to keep the ball.
Still Spurs went out
When all seems lost,
when you feel that your team is a bit of a mixed bag,
along come Tottenham to reassure you that things are never as bad as they seem….
Thank you Jose…
Auba is always “disconnected” from the game;
Ceballos, it was awful. I don’t understand why it never “attacks” the area.
Another game without a clean sheet
.I didn’t understand why neither against 10, even if it was just for the sake of panache and pride,, not everything was done so as not to lose the game.
Kev @ 8.35 that is simply a motivating speech fit for a film trailer 😂😂😂😂
I think that games like tonight’s show that we still need quite a few upgrades in not only the team but the squad. Odegaard and Partey made an impression when they came on and Partey isn’t in good form but he’s still an improvement on Ceballos and Elneny.
Tierney looked tired, they all looked tired in fact after watching the Spuds it shows how much both teams gave on Sunday
Martinelli looked good…
That’s what I thought DG 😉
JM…. never try to understand Arsenal. It’s like trying to understand the mind of a woman 😂😂😂
Job done guys.
That’s the point of getting a lead in the first leg, so credit where it’s due, and all credit to Joe Say 🙂
As it stands we are the only British team through,I wonder what excuses Jose will have this time..
United are still there Limey, If we are to get them it would have to be the final . Would not want them over two legs.
Ajax, Arsenal , Granada , Man utd ,Sparta Prague , Roma , Villareal , Dinamo Zagreb.. Who would you fancy playing over two legs ?
Apart from us.
Granada would be favourite for me scored 33 this season but let in 44.
Haven’t been to the Alhambra Palace for years and won’t be going this time either.
Aubameyang had a stinker. Three big chances wasted. Totally ineffective in pressing, totally ineffective in defence. He must be top of the summer sales list. During the last ten minutes he made no attempt to chase a ball played forward for him and was completely unconcerned. Arteta should have hooked him off at half-time.
I thought Pepe, while missing a couple of chances one hit ESR who accidentally blocked his shot, was working well and helping Bellerin out in defence.
Ceballos has gone rapidly down hill, losing possession on several occasions and wildly inaccurate with his passing.
The good thing is we are in the draw for the next round and the Spurs are not
I commiserated with my wife but she said if being knocked out of the competition got Mourinho the sack she would be happy.
todays match could have gone any way so many missed shots by both teams now to catch our breath for the next match.
can any one this question are shin pads compulsory and do they come in different length. As I just sore a picture of ESR during a match and it looked like he does not wear them.
Geoff, they’re compulsory, but apparently ESR wears kids “small” ones.
Thanks Scott
ESR was very lucky that he never got hurt or KO from Pepe shot at goal
Good Morning
Some of the comments on Gunners Banter…..
Tottenham players have been banned from owning dogs after RSPCA raises concerns that none of them know how to hold onto a lead..
I saw a bunch of spurs fans kicking a cat around the other day, couldn’t believe my eyes at the cruelty, I put the phone to my ear ready to call the RSPCA, at which point, the cat went 1 – 0 up !!
Pocchettino once said…..The Tottenham players are hungry for titles.
Well I guess they might be starving by now.
Choke….the official soft drink of the spuddies
Devil, some classics there.
Another I read was the judge residing over a case involving a young lad on the receiving end of child abuse sent the boy to Tottenham for his own safety, as Tottenham can’t beat anyone 🙂
Aaahhhh, we lose, we still win where if they lose, they lose.
Gotta appreciate them bahahahahaha
Yep some of the banter written on blogosphere is just classic.
I laughed so hard that I had to stop reading them for some time. They were so hilarious.
It’s going to take a special magician to pull Spurs out of the hat today in the draws.
Zagreb looked better coached than the spuds and their manager is in prison 😄
I bet Robbie Burton enjoyed it…..
Wouldn’t be at all surprised if we draw Unai and Villarreal!!
Obviously glad we’re through, but it was a tough watch!! I could’ve carried on decorating and wouldn’t have missed a thing!! Oh well…. must up the tempo for the hammers, or Lingard will be milly rocking or moonwalking….🙈
I would love us to draw Ajax in the next round. True, Granada and Sparta Prague might seem better draws, however I prefer Ajax because they are one team who do not sit back but try to play out from the back.
Fingers crossed that Man Utd get Roma.
We’ve got to beat decent sides to win the thing, so might as well get until over and down with next up.
Just written the same in the post Sue, Villarreal or Utd I reckon.
Morning all.
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/03/19/brutal-honesty-aubameyang-struggles-yet-again/