Daily Bits and Bobs

The Arsenal, Liverpool and The FA Cup….

Posted on by rico
Tony “The Arsenal” Adams.

Morning all.

Social media can be a cruel place but mostly, it’s good in my opinion. Only this morning I spotted this from The N5 History.

Tomas Rosicky was and always will be one of my favourite midfield players Arsenal signed from overseas. He oozed quality and I don’t think we’ve had a player like him since. Santi Cazorla perhaps, Cesc Fabregas too. Sadly, Tomas was a player Arsenal fans and the fans of his home country, didn’t get to see enough of him because of his injuries. I hadn’t forgotten his super strike against Liverpool but to see it pop up on Twitter was fab.

A goal from outside the box is a rarity for Arsenal these days yet I’m not sure why. I can hazard a guess as the continual passing in and around the box plays out but it’s crazy really. So many times when I see a player with space around on the edge of the box I think, just shoot! Declan Rice sometimes takes a shot from distance but in my opinion, others need to as well. I bet your bottom dollar Liverpool players won’t hesitate to shoot from distance later today should the opportunity arise.

Szoboszlai and Tsimikas are ruled out for this game after picking up injuries over the festive period and both Salah and Endo have gone off on international duty for the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup respectively.

Klopp:

I am not sure if Arsenal is now a game to rotate. I don’t know 100 per cent if we have the opportunity to do so. It’s not that we have the biggest squad available. We have players available and we can line a team up, 100 per cent, a good team, and I think that’s what we will do. We have six days between the games – that’s long and there’s no need for rotation.

Arsenal have injuries of their own with Timber, Partey and Vieira missing although as suggested yesterday, Zinchenko could return. If not, the only real option is Kiwior starting in his place unless Tomiyasu is yet to leave for international duty with Japan. Selfishly, I hope his country fail to make it beyond the group stages.

Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:

Liverpool will almost certainly line up in a 4-3-3 that will often resemble a 3-2-2-3 in quality possession. Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold will slip into central midfield to try and create overloads, which means he vacates space on the flanks that forces the centre-backs to shift across, and the back four can become fragmented and vulnerable. Away from home the Reds are less possession-based, with their average share dropping from a division-high 64.8 per cent at Anfield to 55.5 per cent. This indicates they exert less control, but as a very dangerous counter-attacking side, it could also be a deliberate ploy to leave space for their front line to exploit on transitions.

Under Klopp Liverpool will always be a strong pressing side who make it difficult to play through the lines. They are a team that can suffocate opponents by pinning them back inside their own half, and like to spring direct attacks with Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk boasting outstanding passing ranges. In the Premier League, our opponents have outshot every team by some distance during the first half of the campaign, peppering the opposition with attempts from inside and outside the danger zone. Pace in forward areas is always one of their strong suits, as they have quick, nimble forwards capable of interchanging positions with one another at speed.

We’re the home team so make it count. The fans inside The Emirates will be ready I’m sure, after all, it is Liverpool!  Then it’s down to the players to match their enthusiasm and passion on the pitch.

Catch up in the comments.
rico

50 thoughts on “The Arsenal, Liverpool and The FA Cup….”

  1. Cicero says:

    Good morning Rico, I’m not one for statistics but sometimes the numbers don’t lie. There have been seventeen FA Cup matches between Arsenal and Liverpool. Arsenal 8 wins Liverpool 5 wins and 4 draws.

    Let’s make it 9 today. 😉

  2. rico says:

    Morning Cicero, I hope we do. Depends on what mood the players are in. If they play like they did over the festive period, I can’t see us winning.

  3. Cicero says:

    The one certainty is that Liverpool will not come to defend. They will try to attack at every opportunity, which will create space for our counter-attacks. Pace and precision will win us the day!

  6. Cicero says:

    If Partey was fit, Arteta would play him up-front in place of Jesus. That would be his idea of being less predictable.

  7. allezkev says:

    Howdy Rico and company, I’ve heard that Jesus has a knee injury, I’ve really no idea how today will go, but don’t touch Jota when he’s in the box the snivelling little Lusitanian cheat.

    The Lemsip was good btw.

  8. rico says:

    Ha ha Cicero. There’s always Gabriel, he started out as a striker..

    Hi Kev, good.

    Me neither re today, I’m full of hope. For now at least…

  11. Limey says:

    I read that FFP guide,some of it makes no sense,like the long contracts thing,I know the rules have been changed but it doesn’t stop Chelsea benefiting from so called creative accounting for years to come.
    Looking forward to today’s game. I’d expect pretty much the strongest available team. If Jesus is out,Eddie probably or maybe Trossard – he has been poor recently but I like the player. Also he scored a hat trick against Liverpool playing for Brighton !
    Either way it’s win or bust,neither team will want a replay.
    Arsenal to win with Ramsdale saving a late penalty. COYG

  12. rico says:

    Probably why they’re being investigated Limey, I just hope there’s some good evidence. Wish we haven’t given them money to help them out..

    Ramsdale in goal for me too…

  13. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Arsenal XI vs. Liverpool: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Jorginho; Ødegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
    Come on Arsenal!

  14. Limey says:

    Also Rico,
    I agree with the long range shots thing,I just can’t understand why we don’t do it more. Thinking about it Saka is another who will at least try.

  18. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Important news arrives faster..
    Zinchenko and Jesus injured again. They start to be a problem.

  26. AndrewH1313 says:

    Rico, with Toney instead of Havertz, feel we would be at least two ahead. That header and two or three other times the shot was delayed.

  27. rico says:

    Andrew, agreed.

    It was only a matter of time before they scored. We do shoot ourselves in the foot. Terrible finishing from the start.

  28. potter says:

    we are now approaching 50 shots without a goal at home . Should have made changes a lot earlier . Cant blame anyone else it’s our fault

  29. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Summary: we had 8 games in December; we conceded 18-19 shots; we conceded 10 goals; one clean sheet.
    Once again today we made several shots. We usually lose in terms of the number of yellow cards (not today) and the result.
    In my opinion, and I’ve already said it, we shoot little, we have little confidence in shooting because we don’t have shooters, we play a lot on the Saka/Odegard duo and it’s strange that a team that spent several rounds in 1st place, doesn’t have a player at this point in the League arround 10 goals.
    On the other hand, subs are always late, which means that the playing time of those who do not play initially, in terms of accumulated value, is reduced.

  31. AndrewH1313 says:

    Ramsdale faultless today, pass of the season if it had been out away. Last game, as no more domestic cup chances?

  33. Cicero says:

    If we had a striker worth the name the referee would have stopped the game at half-time to save Liverpool from further punishment. As it is we don’t have a player who could hit the ball against a barn door if he was holding the handle.

    Saka need at least a month off, he’s knackered and demoralised.

  36. potter says:

    Chances are he could be at Liverpool replacing Salah who will be somewhere in the middle east .
    Depressed ? not really I found it quite predictable .

  38. Cicero says:

    Reinstate Ramsdale as our number one, send Raya back to Brentford and save not only £30 million but his wages for the rest of the season. Put the money saved with whatever we get for Jesus and Kiwior and Zinchenko and buy a f*****g striker.

  41. potter says:

    I have avoided them , I turned off at the final whistle .I can’t accept any more excuses either for players or manager.
    Can’t shoot ,won’t substitute favourites , I read that in the last 3 matches 61 shots 1 goal . Tells it’s own story.

  43. Aussie Geoff says:

    Reports claim on X formally twitter that Ian Wright says we need a killer referring to a striker but Arteta says we will not be signing a striker in January and it’s also hard to sign any good player. So either Arteta is lying or we not going to buy anyone.

  44. Aussie Geoff says:

    Arteta claims we don’t need a striker our problems are only Psychological,
    here is a hint Arteta, if you can’t see simple mistakes and players being beaten
    or just simple need a rest then maybe the first appointment with a shrink should be you.

  45. allezkev says:

    Many asked for a Plan B, so Havertz up top, a holding back four and two midfielders holding as well.

    It all went to plan, we outplayed Liverpool for all but the last 10/15 minutes but couldn’t score.

    Is that the managers fault?

    Well he picked the players but really if a highly paid, highly trained professional cannot score from the opportunities I saw last evening then that’s on them, not the manager.

    What he does next is on him though!

  46. Aussie Geoff says:

    Kev agree you can’t blame the manager for players making simple mistakes but you can blame the manager for not dropping them and starting another player on the bench after all he picks the side, game plan and the players position,

  47. Bradster says:

    Hi all,
    Let’s hope these 2 weeks sun revitalises the team’s batteries.
    At this stage we might as well swap Martinelli and Saka to be unpredictable. Correct footers on the correct flank as cut in doesn’t work anymore.
    Double pivot can work if Arteta trusts Jorjinho and Kiwior as a 30min sub.
    That will need Zinchenko fit and playing inverted FB with the double pivot covering.
    With that, Havitz will have to play more false 9 rather than 8 or a striker.
    Arteta was never my cup of tea but we’re stuck with him, he’s got his lessons the past 4 years and should be given the 2nd half of the season to show his metal or prove me right that he’s the City lite manequin.

  48. rico says:

    Kev, I’m all for the plan b but when that isn’t working, where’s the in game management from Mikel Arteta? I recall the days when Freddie and Bobby P has license to switch throughout a game and not only did it confuse the opposition but it brought success.

    My gripe with Arteta is that he seldom thinks outside the box as a game plays out, he makes his changes too late and often too little. Changes might not work out but heck, let him at least try.

    Hi Bradster, good to see you, hope all is well.

  50. Bradster says:

    Hi Rico,
    Been very long, tried to trust the process and not add my 2p.
    Trust all is well with you and the regulars here.

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