Morning all.
It’s conundrum time. Field the strongest team, risk injury and/or fatigue which in all likelihood will have an impact on the game against Wolves, or rotate one, two or more for tonight’s game? Playing Bayern Munich in Germany is a tough challenge for any club in football let alone a group of players whom for most, have never been in this situation before. Mikel Arteta has never been in this situation as a manager either and whilst he might have been in a quarter-final with Man City, there’s a big difference between sitting alongside one of the best managers in the game and being the man in the hot seat. It’s his team selection, his tactics and his substitutions. Staff around him can offer him ideas but it’s he who has the final say.
Win tonight and Arteta will be a hero, lose and the critics will be telling us how Arteta could have won the game had he only done x, y or z. I don’t mean fans by the way, I mean those who write glorious headlines in the back pages, most of whom would probably struggle to assemble, let alone manage a pub team.
Fans get upset, angry even when Arsenal lose a match in the way we did on Sunday but only because we care so much about the club and want to see a Premier League trophy with our name on it again. The closer we get and let’s not forget, we’re the closest we’ve been in the last twenty years, for two seasons on the trot, the more it hurts. We’re the closest we’ve been to the juggernaut which is Man City, since their takeover. We’ve taken 4 points taken off both City and Liverpool this season – when did we last manage that? Yes, it’s taken a few years to get where we are today but there’s a reason for that which doesn’t really need explaining.
Arsenal as a club are still growing. If turning a football club into champions was so easy, why are Chelsea, Man Utd, Newcastle Utd not challenging for the title? After all, are Poch and Ten Hag not meant to be better coaches/managers than Mikel Arteta? How well have they done in Europe this season?
I don’t think Mikel Arteta is perfect, which manager is but just the very fact he’s got people talking about us being pipped by City for the Premier League title means we’re doing very well.
On to tonight….
In his pre match interview Mikel Arteta was asked what he wanted to see from his team tonight:
A performance that puts us in the Champions League semi-final. All the preparation has been to achieve that, and earn it. We have been ready for 10 months and everything we did last season to start that journey in the Champions League after so many years, and tomorrow we have an unbelievable opportunity to make it happen. We didn’t lose anything last year because we didn’t win anything. First of all, you have to win it and then maybe you can lose it.
He’s right of course, we need a massive performance if we’re to beat Bayern Munich tonight. Perhaps a performance similar to the Man City away game only when the chances to score come, we have to take them. We didn’t against Aston Villa and it cost us 3 huge points in the title race. Whatever the result, I hope it comes in 90 minutes. Whatever happens at the Etihad, I hope it’s penalties which decide the result.
We know from the first leg that this Bayern team has plenty of pace in attack so we have to be smart, especially when they counter attack because that’s where they can hurt us. But, if we can nullify their attacking midfielders, their supply to the frontmen, we’ll give ourselves a chance. We too can be quick on the counter attack and it then we need to make the breaks count.
I’m sure Bayern will be all over Saka and whoever starts on our left which I hope is Martinelli but expect it to be Jesus. As they double up on our front players, space could open up for the likes of Odegaard (if he’s fit), Havertz and Rice, assuming Jorginho or Partey will be there to protect the defence. If Odegaard isn’t fit, will ESR get a start?
Arsenal can win this game that’s for sure but every player Arteta uses has to be at their best. No silly mistakes, do their job and do it well. If we don’t give them a sniff at goal, they can’t score. We should have won the home tie but didn’t, so let’s go and win the away tie instead.
See you in the comments.
Without Odegaard we are a very average team lacking any creativity
Morning Rico and all.
Thinking A little bit just outside the box, drop Saka and Jesus and start ESR and Eddie Nketiah and go for a more direct atttack for first half then swap 10 minutes into the second half if needed, also we need to be quicker at throwing the ball back into play from the side line.
Harsh Al, I think ESR is capable, very much so.
Morning Geoff, I think that would be footballing suicide.
Morning Rico and Co, we need to be Boring Boring Arsenal for 60/70 minutes, just close off all avenues to Bayern who are best when hitting teams on the break. Just don’t concede first, keep disciplined and hold our space, that’s why I wouldn’t start Zinchenko and why I might not start Jesus, not least because of his knee. We might have to go the distance, 120 minutes?
Arteta needs to rediscover his inner George Graham
G’day Rico and all.
Just don’t give away penalties!
Cicero, does mean drop Ben White, he bound to hold on to someone jumper,
Rico can’t be any worse than last week’s match😏
Morning Kev, that’s what I suggested… 😜
Morning Cicero. It’d be nice if we got one if warranted. Lol
I think it would be worse Geoff. ESR yes but Eddie? I think he’s a gonner in the summer. His brief appearances recently would suggest that.
It could be a win win with Eddie, a good match could raise his value for us also increase interest in him from other clubs.
The one person I wouldn’t change is Raya,
I would, Ramsdale is good in away matches. However, Arteta won’t change the keeper imo.
My concern about swapping Raya and Ramsdale is the players are now use to Raya as unfortunately Arteta has not really given Ramsdale too many opportunities to get the number one keeper position back
I love Smith-Rowe but Odegaard must start if available in my opinion.
I also have a feeling Jesus will start wide left,he is probably more suited to Europe as well.
Agree re Odegaard starting if fit Limey, he’s our captain but if he’s not fit, I’d rather see ESR.
I just hope we see one of Jorginho or Partey alongside Rice. Maybe all three 😜
Arsenal XI:
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
Subs:
Ramsdale, Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny, Hein, Zinchenko.
I reckon that’s the strongest eleven.
You beat me to it Rico, WordPress sent my comment off into the wide blue yonder. 😉
Goodness knows where that went then Cicero…
By selecting what looks to be his strongest starting eleven , is Arteta conceding defeat in the Premiership chase?
here we go
I don’t think so, I think he wants both..
City trailing 1-0.
Evening all, not a lot going on?
Good first half I thought considering we’re away against this lot.
TNT sport Andrew, who signs up to that? 😂
0 – 0 half-time, so far so good.
That, unfortunately, was a great header. What a goal!
Would any Arsenal player just shoot the ball? Smh
Oh well that’s probably that, Jesus coming on.
And it all started with Saka unnecessarily falling down looking for a foul. He’s constantly doing that and it’s so annoying.
Another petulant yellow card for Jesus.
Well there’s always next season.
Good night Gooners, everywhere.
Such a shame, they were there for beating.
I’m fed up with seeing our players go to ground but it seems part of the game these days. Sad..
I’m off too. Night guys.
never looked like scoring , everywhere else on the pitch it was pretty even . One more year before the money comes in for Odegaard ,Saka and Saliba . Next window so important need to find a way to score when we come up against a bit of class .
City out too , that puts the 5th place entry in jeopardy.
Just putting it out there, but to me Thomas Partey, considering his transfer fee and wages, has been a huge waste of money.
Yeah, he’s had some really good games but in general, when we really need him he’s never fit or fit enough to make a difference.
He has a lot of admirers among the Arsenal fans but for me he’s been an expensive flop.
Maybe it might make sense not to use him in the remaining fixtures so that he’s fit going into the summer and we can sell him a recoup something from a player whose promised a lot and actually delivered bugger all…
The premier league titile is going to be interesting now that both Arsenal and City knocked out
Morning all.
Kev, I love Partey and when he’s fully fit, he’s a top top player, however, I have to agree. Value for money wise, he’s been a dreadful signing because of his injuries which to be fair, couldn’t have been foreseen. And yes, what’s the point in risking his fitness now when we so close to the season end. Hopefully he’ll be fit enough to sell.
New post up.