Morning all.
Mikel Arteta will be sat in the directors box for tonight’s match after he took his celebrations at Luton a step too far. Literally. As he said in his press conference, Albert Stuivenberg, Nicolas Jover and Carlos Cuesta will be working together in his place. Stuivenberg has stood in for Arteta before when the Spaniard had Covid with one match being against Man City a couple of years ago. We played really well that day. Really well.
Mikel Arteta on Aston Villa:
Tactically they are really well set up, they do two or three different things, they are really brave to play from the back. They really attack you because they have players between the lines that they can really hurt you; they have players in open spaces that are constantly threatening you. But not only that, the spirit that they have created, the atmosphere, the intensity, and the belief that they have at the moment that they can go on and beat anybody.
Villa are in a really place right now which their league position reflects. I don’t think they’ve lost a home league match since the opening day of the season.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is ruled out through injury. Rumour is it’ll be six weeks at least before we see him again. Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber remain out too of course but hopefully it won’t be long before Smith Rowe and Partey return.
Unai Emery on his squad:
We had to rest a lot after the match we played on Wednesday, we (also) played on Sunday and last Thursday. And the players at the beginning, we are not having a lot of information about some injuries. But it’s going to be very, very important the last day until tomorrow, how the players as well can tell me physically and mentally how they are for tomorrow.
I think what he’s saying is that some of his players might have tired legs. Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendía are definitely ruled out.
Villa usually line up in a narrow 4-2-2-2 formation but as they showed against Manchester City last time out, they can also revert to a 4-5-1. Pushing their back four up as high as they can, and tucking their wide players infield, Villa deliberately turn the middle third into a crowded place where it is hard to put your foot on the ball. This helps them create valuable turnovers, but holding such a high line comes with an element of risk.
Captain John McGinn is a player we must keep close tabs on. He drifts in from the left into some great pockets of space, and from those areas the Scot has the talent to provide goals and assists. Another key strength is the pace and movement of Ollie Watkins, who has scored eight Premier League goals at a rate of one every 163 minutes. Knowing he will tirelessly run the channels; Emery’s side are able to go from back to front quicker than most Premier League teams. In fact, no one has produced more direct attacks than Aston Villa (38) in the season so far.
A key battleground to look out for is Declan Rice versus Douglas Luiz, two of the strongest all-round central midfielders in the country. The Brazilian is enjoying a fine campaign as the heartbeat of Emery’s side, and it will be fascinating to see who gains the upper hand in their duel.
As said yesterday, I don’t think it’ll just be the Luiz v Declan Rice battle which will be key to this game. The tactical minds of both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta. Which goalkeeper will perform best. Will Raya, if he starts which I’m assuming he will, cut out the errors in his game? Will Martinez be able to keep a clean sheet as he did against City or will Arsenal have a day when everything clicks as it did against Lens? Emery’s team won’t sit back and defend because that’s not in the Spaniards DNA – he once said he’d rather win a game 5-4 than 1-0. At least I’m sure I read that during his time at Arsenal. Against City, Villa started with purpose and Arsenal will need to expect the same today. If we’re caught cold, we’re likely to get punished.
At home, Villa are very very good. Emery has his players believing and performing, something he couldn’t achieve at Arsenal but I think that said more about certain Arsenal players back then rather than him. None of those Arsenal players are at the club now though and like Emery at Villa, Mikel Arteta has a squad which believes in him and how he wants them to play.
On paper it should be a very close game. A good game too. Would I take a draw right now? You bet I would.
Catch up in the comments.
The premier league is a joke, Arteta gets a banned for celebrating yet Haaland gets nothing for abusing the referee both on and off the field
Arteta spoke out and they don’t like it.
As for him sitting in the stand perhaps he will get a different perspective away from the pitch.
I have always found that the higher you are in the stand the more you see the movement of the players. I remember watching Bobby Moore from the top tier at Wembley , his anticipation and covering showed up more , it was like watching a game of chess.
Good morning Rico.
I’ve read several articles on this evening’s match, none of the journos concerned have offered an opinion on the outcome, it is that close. I think fatigue will play a significant part with the slight advantage of an extra day’s recovery in favour of Arsenal.
In common with those journalistic giants , I’m keeping my prediction to myself. 😉
I too think the view is better from above ground level. As a spectator and coach.
Morning Cicero.
Don’t sit on the fence, you think we’ll get beaten don’t you? 😂
I do ! Raya is a basket case and the crowd will be on him and Ramsdale’s confidence is shot , whoever plays, I can see a goalkeeping error being the deciding factor.
I’m of the same opinion Potter.
OK Rico, I’m off the fence. Arsenal to win with a two goal margin. Goalkeeper errors may play a part, on both sides, but the resilience shown recently will see us through.
I know Aussie rules is different to soccer, but all our coaches sit in boxes half way up the grandstand all the time and watch the match live and also through monitors, then relay to an assistent coach on the side line.
Aussie Rules is a much more violent game than football Geoff, maybe the coaches sit in the stands for their own safety. 😉
You’ve surprised me Cicero. 😂
One thing I would like to see, when we are defending corners and free kicks, where our defensive line is close to the penalty box, is a player left up field in the centre circle. Someone like Jesus, who is not particularly defensive minded, would not only provide an outlet but would force the opposition to keep at least one or possibly two players to keep an eye on him thus relieving some of the pressure on our defenders.
Cicero, Aussie rules is only violent if you forget to duck and weave.
VAR saved Liverpool in the first half
VAR helps palace 58 min in palace 1 Liverpool 0
One all Palace down to ten men. 88 mins bum couldn’t get any squeakier.
Liverpool lead 2 – 1, 10 mins added time. C’mon Palace.
Palace really pushed Liverpool hard..
Allison saved them two points.
I would also add the ref, too many very soft free’s given to Liverpool, he even gave palaces manager a yellow card
It’s the latest craze for refs to follow, if they’re having a bad game booking the manger will get the headlines rather than his own incompetence.o
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Our strongest outfield ten?
I’m steering clear of the ‘keeper conundrum. 😉
Utd 3-0 down. 😂
I reckon Ten Hag will soon be for the chop.
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Ramsdale, Nketiah, Kiwior, Soares, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny, Walters.
Oops, sorry. Cicero. Lol
With the on going Ratcliffe takeover saga I wonder who has the power to sack the manager.
No one I hope, let them carry on losing..
No probs Rico, 😉
It’s 0 – 4 now at Old Toilet.
No, Var rule out goal 4 for handball.
Shame…
What is Zinchenko doing? Out of position for the goal, as a left back he’s playing all across the midfield.
Get Zinchenko off, he’s a liability and now he’s been booked for a needless shirt tug.
Good keeping from Raya there because Watkins was onside imo.
We should be level really.
So far the ‘keeper errors have come from Martinez. We need to put him under more pressure. Jesus largely ineffective, maybe Nketiah would be better at pressing.
No need for panic….yet.
Trossard too could make a difference.
Even Carragher thought that was a pen. Lol
Gee, our guys really do go to ground a bit too easily..
We’re too slow playing the ball to Saka and Martinelli. They’re making the runs, they just need the right ball earlier imo.
Rice is holding his hip, hope he’s ok.
Trossard on for Martinelli
Do Aussie refs have a rule that they don’t give free kicks for fouls on players in yellow shirts?
Not what we hoped for but credit to Villa, they scored and we didn’t…
didn’t it hit Cash on the arm before it hit Havertz ?
Still I thought we did not deserve much and they were allowed the physical stuff albeit They have a few on suspensions for their game against Brentford .
We do seriously need a plan B and Eddie is not it .
Corrupt officiating again, is it worth watching? I don’t believe pathetic Ref saw a handball, and then VAR thought they would back him. It’s happening so many times now. And if that’s not a penalty, just like last game! So obvious they have it in for Arteta now.
But we did score rico. Not our best but we played at least as good as Villa and those two decisions made sure we didn’t win.
No complaints for me. No major decision went against us. Arsenal are architects of their own Downfall… profligacy Infront of goal. So many wasted opportunities 🙏
I’m not convinced the ref actually saw it in real time either Andrew but after watching it ten times, the ball did brush the fingertips of Havertz. VAR had little choice but to leave it with the refs decision imo.
We need a plan a striker Potter, as well as a plan b.
Kyalo, agreed.
Plan A is getting the ball to Saka and Martinelli for them either to centre it to no-one in particular or play it inside hoping that Odegaard gets a shot on goal. The problem is that most opposing managers know it and either take Saka out on the halfway line or double up when he gets it further forward . On the other side , again double marking and force him to run it out of play or go back to Zinchenko or Havertz who are quite likely to either play a safe ball or get a bit adventurous and lose possession..
I am not cutting my wrists over this , Villa are good at what they do and when they are home they will be difficult to beat .I thought that we might lose but I was disappointed about the way we did it. Whether having Arteta closer to the pitch would have made a difference is moot but I reckon we will have to get used to it when his next ban for his rant comes into force.
VAR had little choice but to leave it with the refs decision imo.
It was only a couple of weeks ago when we lost to Newcastle they said that it was impossible to see clearly so they allowed the goal , today they obviously thought that they could spot the ball hitting Havertz but clearly missed the ball coming off Cash’ hand first.
Agree re the plan a play but I meant more of a plan a centre forward, Jesus isn’t prolific enough, or consistent enough. Anyway, it is what it is I guess and they’ll be kicking themselves for missing a chance of three points. It’ll make a change from the opposition kicking them.
Doesn’t var only overturn a decision, or direct the ref to the screen if there’s clear evidence that the ref has made a mistake? I thought the ball touched Havertz before Cash.
What’s more frustrating is we had enough opportunities to win the game and had we taken them, the decision at the end would have been irrelevant.
In my opinion, the game was won on the bench. Clever substitutions, i.e. replacing Villa’s two full-backs with 2 fresh players, balanced the game.
The (usual) replacement of Martinelli by Tossard had no influence on the game, quite the opposite. In fact (if Martinelli hadn’t been injured) I didn’t understand why Martinelli left.
Unusual for Trossard though Jm, he usually comes on and does well.
Australian tradition, always send the worst referees / umpires overseas.😆
Missed the match as it started around 4 am here but it sounds like we are truly missing a genuine striker.
Considering the howler Raya made last match and still holding his spot for last night match I am guessing Ramsdale will request a transfer in January.
Here we are thinking a true striker will help, yet Arteta claims it’s only the wind that cost us the match
New post up