Morning all.
Man City are a side who if on form, could tear us apart with ease. Even if they’re not firing on all cylinders and we defend like we have for most of the season, maximum points for the home team is almost guaranteed.
Unai Emery has hinted that new signing Denis Suarez could start and why not? He’s been training hard, he’s eager to impress and if rumours are true, we hope to make this deal permanent in the summer. A January signing can come in and make a difference, especially one who is desperate to his career up and running again. Suarez is going to want to impress the man who is giving him that opportunity. If he hits the ground running he coul£ turn out to be a great addition. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he brings to our team.
Laurent Koscielny could return today too which considering the the way state Lukaku left him in is a bit of a surprise. Mkhitaryan and Ainsley Maitland-Niles face late fitness tests.
442, 451, 3142, or whatever fancy numbers formations like to be mooted, the reality is we just need to be focussed and smart. We’ve no Bellerin so whoever Emery selects to slot in will need support. Same over on the left with Kolasinac/Monreal. Leave them isolated and City will have a field day but defend hard as a team, we’ll have a better chance of stopping them. Same in the middle of the park. In fact I wont care if Xhaka and Torreira barely cross the halfway line today, not if it means their looking after the defence.
We don’t need both our centre backs in the box on a set-piece either, not against a City side who pass the ball the way they do because that leaves us vulnerable to the counter attack, as does playing a high line against pace with City have in abundance.
We simply have to be smart and not gung ho. If that means Aubameyang sits on their last man and we resort to hoofing the ball over the top for him to run onto, who cares? Horses for courses I say.
There’s a time and a place for everything in life but in football, going to The Etihad and trying to play City at their own game isn’t one of them. Not in my opinion anyway. Sit back, soak up the pressure and hit them hard when the opportunity arises.
Simples eh….
Morning Rico, i feel pretty much the same as you in reality but, you never know, we might spring a surprise of the season, just like England did against Ireland, in Ireland.
It’s going to be a nervous day, nail-biting day though…….
Good morning Rico, Emery has stated that he likes to play “his own way”, problem is I’m not sure he has defined what “his own way” is.
We will need to get behind the City defence, not piddle around in front of it. If Kolasinac is going to overlap on the left he has to put crosses in not play short passes in the hope that someone will walk the ball into the net.
Both Aubameyang and Lacazette, twenty-nine goals between them, need to start. Give the City defence something to think about.
According to some reports AMN and Xhaka have not travelled if true then once again our rearguard is in turmoil before we start.
3 at the back ? we know how that pans out and if so who is right back /midfield. Lichenstiener or Jenks ? monreal and kola should be ok on the left but that leaves Mustafi and Kos in the middle.
Torriera and Guendouzi sitting and then what ? both Laca and Auba up top or just one of them with a perm of Iwobi , Suarez ., Ozil .
Looks too unbalanced to me but what do I know ?
Is Mhikitarian fit ? he goes into the perm if so .
I think he will have a fitness test Potter, so won’t last ninety minutes if he starts. Last thirty maybe? Unless we’re four or five up by that time. 😉
Morning Andorra, Cicero, Potter and all.
Not good news, especially Xhaka if he’s out…
Morning Rico and all. Its a long shot but I’d take a draw right now. 😊
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico
I just had a horrible thought, it is that this situation reminds me a lot of the chaos we were in when we got hammered 8-2 at Old Trafford. Surely not…
Morning Adam, Kev.
I’d take a draw too although a win would be nice… lol
Decimated defence, shredded midfield, yep, I’d take a draw for sure Rico.
Can’t believe the injuries we’ve had this season, despite Emery rotating and substituting – note we’ve suffered very few soft tissue injuries compared to other seasons.
It was great to see that picture of Holding and Welbeck on the exercise bike, I wonder if Danny will be fit enough to get in a couple of games before the seasons end?
No AMN, no Xhaka, so Elneny I guess comes into the frame?
Sane will destroy Lichtsteiner or get him sent off, so I’d start with Jenkinson, at least Carl can match him for pace if not technique and he can bomb forward at pace which will force Sane to defend, or could do, unlikely I know but possible…
afternoon all
Can we play with 16 today?
Our injuries have been hideous Kev. Apart from Holding, all have come from nothing I think. Very odd.
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
I`d like to lose today just because Spud fans want us to win !
See some NFL geezer telling us to stick with Kroenke as he has built up his NFL team etc etc etc, but he talks a load of bollox with this quote………………………………………….
“He has put things in place and built it up in such a way that they have been able to win. That’s all the fans want.”
And Brooks reckons Arsenal fans should be patient with Kroenke and insists he could take them the distance if given time.
He added: “He kind of stays in the shadows; he lets his football guys handle things, with a good team in place in Les Snead, the general manager, and head coach Sean McVay.
“I feel it’s just a matter of time at Arsenal too. I think as he devotes more of his time and energy to building up the team, you’ll start seeing the same approach produce similar results.
“It’s all about the stars in pro sports. Yes, of course, the team then needs to play well, but you first have to have the stars to win
“He is learning that. Especially with this Rams team getting him to the brink of an NFL Championship. Maybe he’ll see that as the blueprint now for Arsenal too.
“Stay patient. The success will come.”
Sounds good doesn`t it, but this particular line doesn`t cut it with me (“”It’s all about the stars in pro sports. Yes, of course, the team then needs to play well, but you first have to have the stars to win””) …………………now if he ploughed his own money into Arsenal like he does with LA Rams, then yes we would have a chance…………………his investment in LA Rams is akin to what Mansours are doing a City, pity he doesn`t think on the same lines with Arsenal !
Bearing in mind that football never existed before 1992/93 and the advent of the SKY TV driven Premier League, all hail the EPL. It’s interesting to see how the record of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang compares with his Premier League contemporaries…
Aubameyang took 37 games to score 25 goals for Arsenal
Henry took 42 games.
Wright took 51 games
Alexis took 59…
Up till now, Aubameyang has not yet scored against Man City. (I think? 🤔)
He certainly didn’t bother them much at Wembley a year ago…
Just a thought, I wonder if Mavropanos will get a start today?
Just seen the team, 3 at the back, Lichtsteiner wing back, Aubameyang & Lacazette up front with Iwobi. No Ozil or Ramsey, Monreal, Kozzer and Mustafi at the back. 😬
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Team to face Man City: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Kolasinac, Mustafi, Monreal, Koscielny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Cech, Mavropanos, Elneny, Ramsey, Ozil, Suarez, Nketiah.
Row z Iwobi you plum!
Liechteiner is the weakest link
So, City explore it
What does Jenkinson have to to get a game
I’m assuming Jenkinson is either injured or has been sleeping with Emery’s daughter.
How he’s not on the pitch or even in the squad….
3 goals all from right back
We knew our right hand side would be vulnerable.
You know when you see a new player and within 10 minutes you’ve seen the quality of their touch, their movement, and you know you’ve got a top quality player on your hands.
Didn’t get that today. Hope he settles quickly, as Emery’s judgement is on the line.
Playing with Liechteiner, is to play with 10.5 players.
The replacements should have been made at the 55 minutes, when the game was progressing out of control.. After conceding 3 goals, it’s all much more complicated and late.
I continue to say and “Judge me in May”: I do not understand how the Southampton, currently playing in a tactic with 3 defenses, why we did not go to (on loan or buy) Cedric. Even because we do not know when Bellerin will return and how will he return. Playing without a right track makes the team vulnerable, unbalanced and dispossessed.
Jenkinson is not in radar.
MLN is better in others positions.
Speechless!
No Pace, no power. Just a very ‘nothing’ of a performance.
Well done MC, now come on WHam ! 🙂
What do we expect ?……………….Man C spend £50Ms on subs and reserves, they have 3 wingers in Sane, Sterling and Mahrez, we have how many wingers ? 🙂
Not a snowball in hells chance of ever winning the 2 big trophies until Kroenke copies his personel $1.8B investment in LA Rams to Arsenal !…………………………..I`m more interested in the FA Youth Cup where funny enough we have 2 wingers…………….Saka and Amaechi !
On the bright side…………………………Spuds fans must be crying that we didn`t win ! 😆
Thought that Aguero was offside for the 2nd City goal.
And Aguero put the ball in the net with his arm for their 3rd.
But it’s Man City at the Etihad so it’s allowed.
Considering that we’re playing without three of our best and first choice defenders, only conceding 3 goals isn’t a complete disaster.
Can you imagine the carnage if Wenger had taken us there with this defence and conceded after 1 minute?
Kolasinac has been with us two years now and he’s not really good enough.
He’s the type of player who’ll do a Flamini – that is run down his contract and leave on a Bosnian, as he did at Schalke, so next summer would be the best time to move him on whilst he still has some value, then reinvest in a new left back.
I like Kolasinac, he’s often at the heart of our attacks imo.
Lichtsteiner and Aubameyang and Iwobi for their first were disappointing I thought.
Today not surprising but I can’t understand why Smith-Rowe and Nelson are on loan,yet Iwobi is here, starting league games as well Both our loanees are injured I think but Iwobi,well It’s a mystery,as Toyah Wilcox once said!
I would have gone with Suarez or even Ramsey,in place of Iwobi today, of those available.
Why does it have to be a Bosnian, Mesut can give him a piggyback when the time comes !
Was never taken on Emery from the beginning but have to admit without him we’d have no chance of finishing mid-table this season.
Oh it’s a mistowee, it’s a mistowee lol.
Not one attempt on goal in the whole of the second half.
Suarez must be wondering what he has got himself into.
So what do is gooners want in Super bowl? if the Rams win is it good for Arsenal?
I can’t help but want to see Stan and joshs smile wiped of their face..
Morning all.
You got your wish then Kel. I think I saw his syrup shift😀
There is no doubt that the Kronkes won’t be attending any more ‘soccer’ finals this year. Oh dear! What a pity! Never mind! Except, on this side of the pond we do mind! I wonder if he’s aware of how unpopular he/they have become? I doubt that too! Still, on the plus side Arsenal still exists and, as yet, it has not been shipped stateside! Plenty of time to do that if he’s a Trump supporter, he could help making America great again by shipping the club lock, stock and barrel out of England to a new home in St. Louis perhaps, I believe they have an empty stadium in that city!
Gloomy and damp here but palpably warmer today
New post up now.
Morning Wavy.