Morning all.
Finally, some good news from Mikel Arteta as both Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri have not only returned to training, but they will be in the squad for tonight’s game. Also training with the first team yesterday was 15 year old Max Dowman and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.
There’s an extra incentive to win this game tonight, the final game CL game to because if we avoid the playoffs, a spell in the sunshine next month could be on the cards.
Mikel Arteta:
My thinking is let’s do what we have to do first which is always difficult because we are talking about the Champions League. If we manage to do that, we will have the best ideas on the table to make the right decision. (Last season) It was very helpful and with the schedule that we’ve had for the last three months, you can have a break, reset a little bit and work on things and rest some people, while some people are back, that would be great.
Photo taken by club photographer Stuart MacFarlane.
Back to Dinamo Zagreb who are on their tenth manager in four and a half years. Right now it’s Fabio Cannavaro hoping to revive the clubs slim chance of making it through to the knockout stage of this competition. The Croatian club needs to win its final two fixtures so they’ll be up for this game I’m sure.
Bruno Petkovic and Peta Sucic are reported to be ruled out through injured.
Dinamo Zagreb are Croatia’s most successful club and a regular in the Champions League although like so many others in the competition, winning the big trophy has been out of reach. They’ve played 6 matches so far, winning two, drawing two and losing two. One of their defeats came at the hands of Bayern Munich who thumped them 9-2. During their winter break, Zagreb changed their manager. Tonight’s fixture will be their first competitive fixture under Cannavaro.
As already said, having Nwaneri and Calafiori back in the squad is a boost, especially if the latter is ready to start. He’s a versatile defender so it might be that Mikel Arteta partners him with Gabriel instead of Jurrien Timber.
Arteta on the knock-on effects of moving players from midfield like Partey to right-back:
I had no choice, I didn’t have another right full-back, just Jurrien, nobody else. Who plays when Jurrien isn’t available for his load is too high? The other day was the first time [he moved Jurrien to centre-back] but in relation to the way we have to play, we cannot have a right-footed player defending a right winger. I didn’t have another right-sided centre-back.
He does have a right sided defender in Maldini Kacurri but I guess throwing him into a PL game or Champions League would be too risky. Thankfully, William Saliba is likely to be out for just a couple of weeks although with the fixture schedule as it is these days, he’ll still miss a handful of games.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
Cannavaro has previously been criticised for adopting a defensive style, but that was also a strength when he took over at Udinese on an interim basis last April. In his six matches in charge, the side were well-organised, conceding only five goals. He has tended to favour a 3-5-2 formation which would fit in well with Zagreb, who have deployed a back three in four of their six Champions League fixtures. Averaging just 37% of the ball in this competition, they absorb pressure inside their half before launching well-timed counter-attacks. Three of their 10 goals in the league phase have stemmed from fast breaks, the most so far.
Including the qualifying round, Dinamo have scored at least twice in all four European away matches, so their counter-attacking style feels better suited on their travels. They offer a threat from the wide areas, especially down the right where full-back Stefan Ristovski [above] and winger Dario Spikic operate. Against top-class opposition though, Dinamo’s defending has come up short. Pulled out of position too easily when facing quality movement, they have struggled to stem the tide of chances opponents have created. Defending corners has also been problematic, and the Croatians have conceded multiple goals from those situations.
I can’t see Mikel Arteta rotating too much this evening because of what’s at stake. Champions League qualification is ours to throw away because if we win our next two, we cannot be overtaken.
Enjoy the game guys, it’s the wireless for me…. Lol
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico and all
That’s a good roundup for tonight Rico. I enjoyed reading it.
Personally I think that Kacurri should begin the game at CB with Calafiori at LB instead of MLS who should be rested. Still very young at 17 especially mental fatigue. Partey in midfield will help protect Kacurri.
I would go with an attack of Trossard, Havertz and Martinelli.
We should win tonight, especially if we take our chances
Morning Devil, thanks.
It’s a shame that Kaccuri hasn’t had more minutes at the end of games but I guess that’s down to the struggles we’ve had putting results to bed.
I too think we should win but they have the new manager in their favour, they’ll want to impress.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji. has been an unused sub in the last few games and I doubt that he will get on tonight . Should we win and top eight is assured he might get a few minutes in Catalonia in the next match. Nwaneri though could be handy and probably more useful than Sterling who really doesn’t offer anything so I can see him getting 30 minutes or so this evening.
Then it’s Wolves and Man City before the most welcome break and hopefully a recovery period .
Meanwhile the search for someone to put the ball in the net continues and if Ayto is to be a temporary appointment I can’t see Kroenke giving him the keys to the vault.
None of our young players have got further than the bench have they yet I bet they’re itching to get on the pitch.
Morning Rico and all,
Potter, on the other hand, Kroenke might make give Ayto some money to test him out. either way we need to sort out Edu replacement quickly, so they can have a chance to work out both the clubs and Arteta commitment and direction forward.
Good morning Rico and all.
Who’s that in the pic with Arteta?
Thanks for the pre-match Rico, it’s the first I’ve seen properly for a while, I’ve got my new specs and in the words of the song 🎶 can see clearly now🎶. 😀
I can see no reason to rest MLS, yes he young but will be raring to go and the less disruption to the team the better. He can be subbed later in the game if necessary, let him build his confidence and add to his experience.
Martinelli, Havertz and Trossard up front makes sense. Maybe Nwaneri for Odegaard after sixty minutes.
Morning Geoff, Cicero.
Eduardo Cicero.
Ha ha re the specs, I think the comments section is ok now. I had a lot of spam which I’ve now cleared. It could have been the cause.
Clear ups all round then Rico. 😉
Eduardo, a tragic loss. 😕
Absolutely Cicero.
Agreed, such a great striker who just was tied the same after his awful injury. Good to see him back at the club though..