Morning all.
No one expects us to win today, apart from the most optimistic of Arsenal fans and possibly Mikel Arteta and the players. I usually have a ‘play the strongest team on the day’ view but I’m not so sure today, not with such a big game in a few days time. It must be a tough decision for Mikel to make. Does he rest Saka and ESR and give Tierney a few more training sessions before starting him, or does he just carry on with the team which beat Leeds and we’re unlucky not to beat Benfica too? At some stage or another, I think we’ve all suggested a settle first eleven is better than chopping and changing players around. However, surely Lacazette and Holding have to come back in at some stage, Martinelli too and Pepe.
Against such a strong side as Man City, Thomas Partey will be a big miss if he fails a late fitness test. Without him in the midfield, Mikel Arteta’s choices are limited to Xhaka, Elneny and Ceballos. I’m a glass full kind of person but there’s our weakness right there. All three, in my opinion, need a player of Partey’s calibre alongside them. Still, it is what it is for now. Have a plan and execute it with perfection.
I’m sure that’s Folarin Balogun in the photo with Alex Lacazette and if I’m right, he’s clearly set to be part of today’s squad. Especially after missing the under 23 fixture on Friday night. Yes, I really want him to get his chance in the first team but then you might have worked that out by now.
Whilst all seems doom and gloom ahead of today’s game, let’s not forget that in the FA Cup, just seven months ago, we beat Pep’s side 2-0. Aubameyang was the hero that day as far as goals go but every player played their part in what was a fantastic victory for Arsenal. City dominated the game as far as possession goes but when it cam to finishing, they had a touch of the ‘Arsenal’s’ and as we know only too well, it matters not how much control of a game a team might have, only goals win a game.
Against Leeds, Arsenal scored goals. Four but could, should have scored more. But for the woodwork eh. Similar happened on Thursday when chances came and went. Simply put, Arsenal need to be more decisive in attack and clinical in front of goal. City in their last game, breezed past a good Everton side 3-1 so yes, it’s going to be tough.
Nevertheless, I’m rally looking forward to this one.
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico/everyone
I’m really looking forward to today’s game too, it’s a bit of a free hit, nobody expects us to win. To me it would make sense to play Lacazette and Holding, they were playing well anyway.
It will be great if Balogun is on the bench, I’d like to see him in Athens too.
The other reason for the spring in my step is what’s happening with Liverpool right now, perhaps we can fight it out with them for 9th/10th place…
COYG
Morning Gooners and Goonerettes, thanks for the post Rico and thanks for the link.
It’s Aubameyang I reckon Rico but I wonder if Balogun is now being frozen out of the U23’s as we move towards March because of his or his advisors reluctance to sort his contract, it’s basically been a wasted year for Flo because I reckon he would have played about a dozen games by now and be a regular part of the senior squad and a regular on the bench.
The grass isn’t always greener as Flo might find out and being a part of a club like Arsenal doesn’t come along that often. Just ask Alex Iwobi, he’s still not, after almost two years, a regular starter at Everton and the next move for Alex will probably be to a Fulham or a Brighton sized club.
Gabriel Martinelli will soften the blow if Flo leaves and if he goes abroad he’ll quickly be forgotten, but it didn’t have to end like this…
Balogun’s decision won’t affect Arsenal transfer plans this summer regarding Alex Lacazette or Eddie Nketiah as the club are continually being linked to new young strikers so it seems that Edu has alternative plans in train to compensate on Flo leaving.
Good Morning Rico and everyone.
I would love us to win handsomely but 1-0 or even 2-1 against the best team at the moment will do. Everyone knows I loathe conceding even 1 goal, but against such a team I accept that as sort of inevitable. Yes against teams like City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spuds and Manure I accept that we may concede and if it happens its no big deal. However against the other teams yes I really hate conceding. I would rather win 1-0 than 3-1. Because keeping a clean sheet says a lot about the team and the way it defends.
Who would I choose for today’s game??? I would go with Leno, Soares, Gabriel, Mari, Tierney; Xhaka, Ceballos; Saka, Odegaard, ESR; PEA.
It all depends whether or not Partey and Tierney are fully fit. Although I would love them to play I hope that none is included if not fully ready. Last year we won in the SF against City and we had a PARTY but no Partey.
As I said earlier….I would love us to win handsomely. A 4-0 win will do.
But reality sets in and I have to cross my fingers, my hairs, my legs and everything which can be crossed.
Maitland-Niles got good comments on yesterday’s game.
https://tbrfootball.com/arsenal-and-west-brom-fans-react-to-ainsley-maitland-niless-display/
Morning Limey, Kev and all.
The Liverpool stuff is hilarious. Klopp is not such a friendly character with the press now….
Really Kev? I thought his frame was too big to be Aubameyang and his hairstyle wrong. Mmmm…
No time for posting today as the sun is out and preperations for our new venture have to be measured up.
Any one want an experimental holiday on the broads 1/2 mile from the river in our lovely 2 bed bungalow set in its own gardens ?
Morning Devil.
Sounds perfect Potter…
Afternoon Rico and the house
I think it is Saka getting the handshak
Kev I do not understand what the club are doing with our
young C/F. Eddy,Flo and and Kaylen are natural goalscores
But to me we are just not handling them right and all the goals have
dried up.
Like you I had expected Edwards to kick on this season and he must
be feeling pretty low in not getting playing time.
Testing testing.
7 comments and only two hours till ko? Can’t be right, surely?
Shall we win? I really hope so, but a draw will do!
Afternoon Rick, I didn’t think of him. Bit too tall perhaps?
It is Wavy, unless others are struggling to leave comments.
afternoon all
no teams?
Leno
Bellerin
Holding
Pablo Mari
Tierney
Xhaka
Elneny
Saka
Odegaard
Pepe
Aubameyang
Substitutes
Ryan
Cédric Soares
David Luiz
Gabriel
Ceballos
Willian
Smith Rowe
Martinelli
Lacazette
No Balogun ☹️
He fly to Athens ! 🙂
Balogun not in sqaud
The plot thickens
It certainly does. I honestly thought we were going to see his name today.
Good to see the Spuds get beaten again. I wonder what excuse Mourino will come up with this time. 😉
Maybe all the young ones have gone east to help Potter lol
Good to see Mari back .
I see all the kickers and divers are in the city team
A gift from Ghendouzi and 0-2 for Leipzig
No Nelson nor Balogun
Nelson played on Friday Jm.
Do we have nobody who can run with the ball? There’s plenty of space for someone to run at the City defenders.
He’s on the bench.
I reckon we’re lucky to be only one down.
At least we’ve had a bit of possession and a few scraps of chances. Get Aubameyang off and put Martineli, not not not Willian, on and we may yet get something from the game.
We always make Sterling look like Messi!!!
Auba really has been poor first half. Our central midfield is very weak too.
Bring ESR on place of Pepe
it will be a different Game
Ha ha Sue, a current day Messi? Lol
Such a shame Partey wasn’t fit for this one.
Auba might as well not be there. Hardly moves for the ball and can’t hold it when he does get it
I have to say that after that start I thought we would get a right trouncing, but some of the City players look a bit lackadaisical, they’re content to maintain possession and wait for our players to get tired.
We need to start the second half on the front foot and maintain the pressure.
It’s only one nil. C’mon The Gunners!
Rico
I have a comment in moderation
Deleat it please.
Too late Rick. Lol
I can’t understand why Xhaka plays?
I can’t understand why they play out of the back?
I can’t understand Arteta’s selections and substitutions. I just simply can’t understand.
Well I think we can be grateful that the boys stuck it out and kept it to one nil..
If we’d had a striker on the pitch instead of Aubameyang we may well have got a goal or two. He’s had some poor games in this season, but that must be up there with the worst.
Aubameyang really was awful. He bottled every challenge and just ran around doing very little. Ødegaard wasn’t involved much either and neither was Pepe in the second half.
But, I think we’ll be good going forwards if a few more leave in the summer and a few more arrive. Plus we’ll have one or two from the under 23 team pushing through.
Think iwould have had Aubameyang off for Martinelli and tried to change things. Frankly it’s boring yet another game without any real chances created
I didn’t expect us to win – they’re top for a reason, but we should’ve had a go.We didn’t even look like scoring!! City didn’t even have to leave first gear…Very tough week ahead.. I really hope our season isn’t over come Thursday night…
To continue to insist with Auba at the center of the attack is a mistake. It is physically weak, easily “swallowed” by defenses, bad in one to one. We playing with 9. He can only play on one side to be thrown in depth.
Laca gives much more support to the midfielders but arrives “late” ahead. He must play with a striker other than Auba.
Was it 3 shots ,1 on target in 90 minutes . Something has to change. If you’re going to go down, go down in flames not like a damp squib
Rico.. did you know roly-poly Moss was a PE teacher??!! 😱 He was Milner’s teacher and in the picture I saw it shows he’s always been partial to a big mac 😂 Was surprised Sterling wasn’t booked for launching the ball earlier and moments later the ball was kicked away – still no card!!
Well said, Potter.. very damp squib indeed!
Sue, I didn’t. My PE teachers were always fit. Lol
I’ve become immune to the refs dodgy decision making. It seems that certain clubs are favoured and even Tyler mentioned how England players have been favoured over the years.
Maybe Arteta would have gone for it a bit more had we not be playing Benfica on Thursday.
Testing
I think that tonightsgame dosnot bode well for our next 2games
Arteta said before the game that some of the players were not able to train after the game against Benfica so what will be the fitness leval after tonight.
Lets hope that Party is able to play in botg games
None of us expected an Arsenal win but some more shots would have been nice.What was the thinking behind Saka on the left Pepe on the right? Saka is good in any position,but Pepe loads better on the left;also the Pepe/Bellerin combination is a disaster.
There are two players who I wouldn’t shunt around on the pitch and they are Saka and ESR. Against Benfica, ESR was moved left to accommodate Ødegaard and yesterday it was Saka to make way for Pepe but on both occasions, we lost what Saka and ESR bring to the team.
I’m with you Limey, Pepe is better on the left..
New post up now.
https://highbury-house.com/2021/02/22/work-to-be-done-if-arsenal-are-to-ever-compete/