Morning all.
What a weird start to the season this has been and not just for Arsenal. In fact I think we’ve been quite consistent as in good in defence, struggling somewhat in attack. Around us though, Leeds, Everton and Villa started strong but are going through a dip in form. Who’d have thought Utd would have beaten Everton yesterday? Not me. Southampton though are the current in form side and that lot down the road aren’t doing so badly either. I hope that doesn’t last long. I’m not even going to mention Reading.
Aston Villa are a strange team. On their day, they can beat anyone as their 7-2 defeat of Liverpool showed but they can have bad days too although they generally seem to be at Villa Park.
Arsenal were poor in their last home league fixture against Leicester. Chances came but as seems to be the theme this season so far, we can defend but we can’t score. The second string are scoring for fun in the Europa League but our big guns up front are seriously fluffing their lines. Against Leicester we bossed possession, we often have but when the chances come, they go again.
As Mikel Arteta said after the game:
I’m really disappointed. We had it in our hands in the first half and I don’t know how the hell the goal was disallowed.
He was referring to the goal Lacazette scored but was ruled offside.
It’s hard to take poor decisions but they are playing a huge part of the game right now and not just for Arsenal. We’re at home and we need to our game on Aston Villa. Don’t let them settle as we didn’t Man Utd. Don’t be fooled by Grealish and his sly antics. If he can go over he will and I wouldn’t bet on Martin Atkinson not buying into his theatrics.
Mari, Chambers and Martinelli remain injured but the rest are fit and ready for selection. I hope we see Partey and Elneny in the centre of midfield again today with Holding, Gabriel, Tierney and Bellerin in front of Leno. As for the rest, again the midweek fixture will have an impact on who starts. Surely Pepe can manage another game, or will Mikel be bold and play Nelson if he’s fit? What about Willock? Nah, my guess is it’ll be Willian, Lacazette and Aubameyang with our little maestro in their somewhere running the show.
One thing I think we can be sure of is that Villa won’t park their number 42 bus in front of Martinez in a way Leicester did so hopefully an open game will favour us. We’ve got to start scoring goals soon surely and as I said yesterday, there’s no better day than when our old keeper is in goal.
See you in the comments guys.
Bellerin call up to Spain national team.
Xhaxa is tired.
G’day Rico.
My selection, Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Luiz, Tierney, Elneny, Partey, Saka, Aubameyang and Nketiah.
My reasoning, with the pace out wide of Bellerin, Saka and Tierney we don’t need the Chelsea Pensioner and Pepe needs a rest…a long one.
We haven’t got a hold-up striker so keep the ball on the ground and the passing quick and accurate. The occasional long diagonal ball for the wingers to run onto will do no harm.
We need to put someone behind Leno’s goal to shout at him and keep him awake. 😉
Don’t look at the league table Rico, you won’t like it.
Afternoon Cicero, Jm, all.
I’m not going to Cicero, I don’t think I need to after your comment. Lol it’ll never last…
Roll on MotD2 for the highlights of our astounding win against Villa………..I hope😀
Shame the ladies never turned up today against manure women. Lost 1-0. Not a good day so far!
My selection close but no cigar. 😉
Must win game tonight….no Xhaka is a boost!
Mine was spot on Cicero..
Absolutely Lee, on both.
Bloody heck. 1-0 down…
Nearly 2 -0 down but VAR saved us on an ‘interfering with play’ after 40 seconds. Balances out Leicester because no way could Leno have saved it.
Poor first half I think.
Ceballos coming on for Partey..
Poor defending by Saka, and we lack a little imagination in their final third.
They’re tearing through us time after time.
How did Holding miss that…
Don’t watch it Mikel, change it…
Why are we half the speed of Villa? 0-3, fast ball out from Martinez.
Totally outplayed.
Ceballos is the only player in a hurry.
Dreadful performance. It’s going to be a long two weeks.
Night guys.
Mid table ,cup team at best .
There is something rotten in the state of Arsenal . The spirit has gone and there is no energy . The get up up and go has gone and Partey has done his thigh. We got what we deserved.
Now some bugger off for international duty and Arteta is left to try and sort the problem.
That’s as bad as I’ve seen under Arteta.
Where are our strikers??
Martinelli will be straight into the starting squad the way these guys are going.
We are creating chances, though not a lot, but don’t really look like scoring from open play.
New post up now