Morning all.
What a surprise eh, we have drawn Man Utd in the FA Cup whereas the likes of Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Totts are drawn against lower league clubs. Not that I’m overly bothered about us playing United at The Emirates but I think it’ll mean Mikel Arteta is unlikely to rotate many of his players as he might have had we had a more favourable draw. Still, I’m sure the draw was totally above board……
This fixture will take place across the weekend of Saturday, January 11th and Sunday, January 12th and I’m pretty sure it’ll be televised.
Talking of fixtures being televised, there’s talk of the 3pm Saturday blackout in the UK being when the 2029-30 season kicks off. The reason behind the change is because of concerns raised throughout the Premier League over the figures behind the latest TV deal and a growing belief that the only way to make more money will be to show more matches. It does seem crazy that here in the UK we cannot watch 3pm fixtures, especially when nearly every other country can. I don’t think it’ll have an impact of stadium attendance because there’s nothing quite like watching football from the stands. However, no doubt it’ll be excuse for television companies to hike their viewing prices up which in theory, could mean they lose more customers than they already are. Still, that’s all a few years away yet.
Arsenal face Man Utd tonight and I’ve no idea how Ruben Amorim will set his team up against us although at Sporting Lisbon, his style was about playing out from the back, pressing hard from the front, short passes to control the game and of course, being clinical in front of goal. The last time Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal came up against an Amorim side, the two-legged tie ended up with Arsenal being knocked out of the Europa League.
Amorim was successful during his time in Portugal but whether he can muster up success this season with the players he has inherited at Man Utd is a different proposition altogether. His Premier League start was a draw away to Ipswich, his second, a 4-0 thumping of Everton at Old Trafford. In between the two, Utd defeated Bodo/Glimt 3-2 at home in the Europa League.
This fixture has changed so much in recent years. Long gone has the battle for the title between the two and the mind games between Arsene Wenger and Fergie as both clubs have struggled to win the Premier League since both managers retired from the dugout.
Utd have tried to rebuild under a number of managers, Amorim being their 6th, not including interim appointments, whereas Arsenal are on their second with Mikel Arteta taking over from Unai Emery. Mourinho has been the most successful manager post Fergie but even he didn’t last that long.
As far as rebuilding goes, Arsenal have left Utd standing in my opinion but as yet, there are no trophies to show how much the club and team has improved. This season is meant to be third time lucky for Mikel Arteta but it’s so typical of Arsenal’s bad luck that in a season when Man City hit a brick wall, Liverpool have stepped up. At least so far they have but as we Arsenal fans know only too well, things can change in a flash. All it takes is a couple of injuries to crucial players… Not that I’d wish injury on Salah, Van Dijk, Gakpo etc, I wouldn’t be that cruel. Or would I?
Anyway, back to tonight’s game and as said before, Utd are without the suspended Manoo and Martinez. Bruno Fernandes has recovered from the injury he sustained against Everton and Leny Yoro could feature for what would be the first time in the Premier League. Amorim added that some of his players are feeling tired. I very much doubt Mikel Arteta will fall for that old chestnut.
Mikel Arteta was cagey about any injuries we might have, especially in relation to Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel…
We’re going to have a meeting this (yesterday) afternoon. We have done a training session, we have monitored and kept a few away from certain activities and after that meeting we will decide if everyone is fit and available and who will start.
I hope all four are fit enough to be in the squad, if not the first team. There was no update on Takehiro Tomiyasu or Ben White.
One topic the Spaniard touched on was atmosphere in the stadium. He’s always talked positively about the fantastic support he and his players receive each week but I get the feeling he wants The Emirates faithful to reach another level. He asks for “Hyper energy. Everybody on it, playing every single ball with us and the team is going to respond to that.”
One could suggest that the fans need exactly the same from the players….
Regardless of who is fit or not, Arsenal need to impose their game on Utd. Start strong and stay strong. Give Utd nothing, give the officials nothing either. Not with alleged Liverpool fan Jarred Gillet on VAR duty.
Catch up in the comments.
Jarred Gillett – self confessed I believe. An interview in Australia some time ago he said he was a boyhood Liverpool fan and he cannot officiate in their games.
I have no doubt that Amorin will have watched Sporting’s recent destruction and will be plotting a way to stifle our play . As usual the game will turn on the midfield and whether Casimiero , Fernandez and or Mount can keep up with our fast moving passing game however they will be dangerous on the break as Rashford seems to want to play again and speed will be important going back as well as forward.
Didn’t want to end up in trouble Potter. 😂
I read about his confession…
Good morning Rico, Potter.
Amorim likes to play with three at the back, just as well as he doesn’t have four fit players who can play in the back line. They will play out from the back and operate a high pressing game, trying to miss out the midfield and rely on pace to counterattack.
Relying on Casimero, Fernandez, and Mount in midfield will only work if we allow it to. We must use our pace and speed of passing to run their midfielders into the ground.
I sincerely hope Gabriel is fit as we would surely miss his goal threat at set pieces.
Morning Cicero.
Spot on, if Rice, Partey and/or Merino are available, I can’t see Utd getting much joy in midfield.
Big big game for Kiwior and for Zinchenko for that matter…
Heaven on the bench says it all, I wonder if we’ll see Tierney?
No Gabriel or Calafiori then.. ☹️
Isak has put Newcastle 1-0.. Go barcodes… 😂
Awful first half…..
Two goals, clean sheet, three points. That’s the way to do it!!!
The corner routine is being so heavily publicised that it is only a matter of time before it finds either defences will get wise or refs will find subtle pushes to stop it .
We were saying tonight that instead of 5 running in from the far post make it 3 or four and put a couple on the edge of the six yard box on the near post and as one lot come forward the others go backwards . Just cause more confusion and keep the defences guessing.
Nice 3 points and Scousers dropping 2 as well makes it even sweeter.
Did not see the match as it cost another pay tv membership,
Any win against Man U is a good win, but to keep a clean sheet is even better. confident booster all around.
Smart decision to take Zinchenko of after his yellow card, so the ref doesn’t get a chance to send him off and let them back in.
Morning Rico and all