Morning all.
The FA Cup third round draw took place last night with an away trip to Portsmouth coming out of the pot for Mikel Arteta’s team. The match is due to take place sometime over the weekend of the 10th January. Bearing in mind we play Liverpool on the 8th, I imagine the FA Cup tie will be played on the 11th or 12th.
The last time we faced Pompey in this competition was back in March 2020, the year of Arsenal’s last time of lifting a trophy. The Championship club are having a rotten season so far with relegation to League One looking possibly unless they turn things around in the second half of the season.
There are no replays this season so it’s extra-time and penalties should the game end up being a draw. Good, but I hope Arteta’s team can get the job done in 90 minutes.
Four all Premier League ties were drawn with Villa travelling to Totts, Everton facing Sunderland, Newcastle taking on Bournemouth and Brighton travelling to Manchester United.
Tomorrow night we face Club Brugge who are well away from securing a place in the Champions League playoffs let alone the top eight but in this league format, a couple of wins could soon see them catapult up the table. Arsenal on the other hand are flying high at the top of the table, just one point away from the 16 won last season which secured a knockout place. We’re close to progressing through to the next round but we’re not quite there yet. A win tomorrow night could change that though, especially if other results go in our favour.
Then it’s back home for an 8pm kickoff on Saturday night against Wolves. The West Midlands club were battered 4-1 by Manchester United last night, mind you, Wolves haven’t won a game this season.
Shock, horror, the players will have a whole week off after the Wolves game. A rare thing this season. We’ll hear from Mikel Arteta at some stage about who is and isn’t fit for tomorrow’s game but like many Arsenal fans I’m sure, I’m hoping to see Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Gyokeres, Norgaard, Eze, Madueke, Salmon, Dowman, Annous and Kepa on the pitch. If not at the beginning, the end.
Whilst not suggesting tomorrow’s game is a forgone conclusion or that it’s going to be easy but it’s an opportunity to rotate and rest a few players who have been playing a lot of minutes over the last two weeks.
Whether Arteta feels the same I’ve no idea but logic suggests he should.
Catch up in the comments.
There’s logic and there is money , as much as players are needing a day off the club will still be aware of the rewards for a win approx £ 2 million a match .We should qualify especially with Kairat at home to come but we can’t afford to take things to lightly.
Arteta needs to find the balance and not weaken too far because after losing to Villa a loss in Brugges might make the game against Wolves a bit edgy.
As I said earlier on the previous thread , They have just sacked their manager and appointed a new man . It’s the bounce as they will all be looking to impress the new man .
Football and money eh…
I just think it’s a huge risk to expect Rice, Timber etc etc to play another 90 mins. But I get what saying about the mood should we lose tomorrow.
Good morning Rico, it’s anyone’s guess what team Arteta will put out tomorrow. So long as we have a modicum of togetherness at the back we should be able to rest some of the midfield and forwards.
New manager bounce? More a dead cat bounce hopefully.
Well after his outburst yesterday when he accused Slot of throwing him under the bus, Salah appears to have burnt his boats as far as continuing to be a Liverpool player is concerned. Not in the CL squad for tonight’s game against Inter Milan and extremely unlikely to figure in the weekend game and he departs for the African Cup of Nations on Monday. By the time that is over the transfer window will be open and the Saudi Pro League will be waiting with sackfulls of petrol dollars and long term contracts to entice him away from Merseyside.
Morning Cicero, I read a rumour somewhere this morning that Saliba might be back..
I think what makes things more difficult is that Arteta won’t have much of an idea what kind of team or tactics he’ll face with the new man in charge. I guess he can study some of his tactics and line-ups from his previous club to give him an idea but it’ll be very much of the hoof tomorrow.
With that in mind I reckon an unchanged defence if Calafiori is fit, I’d like to see Myles start and maybe he’ll have minutes but Wolves should be in his sights.
Martinelli, Madueke and Gyokeres needs minutes so I’d imagine that they’ll be up front. Try to bully a defence low in confidence.
Midfield, well Declan surely must put his feet up? That leaves Odegaard, Zubimendi and Merino I reckon… Spin a coin
Zubimendi needs a breather I reckon Kev.
I agree Rico, but does Arteta? 🤔
Probably not Kev..
From The Mirror:
Popular Arsenal soft tissue therapist Manoel Marcelo Ribeiro has departed the club. Ribeiro, better known around the Sobha Realty Training Centre as ‘Manny’ or ‘Manu’, joined the Gunners from London rivals Chelsea in July 2024.
At the time, the appointment was widely regarded as a significant coup for Mikel Arteta’s side as the experienced masseur had previously spent 15 trophy-laden years with the Blues, who he joined in 2009.
Rice, Trossard, Saliba miss Arsenal training as Jesus returns
Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard not not participate in Arsenal training ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League match at Club Brugge.
Rice, who played the entirety of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, did train indoors but away from the squad.
Sky Sports News’ Gary Cotterill, reporting from the Arsenal training ground, said of Rice: “There is nothing too much to worry about.
“We understand he could still be on the plane to Bruges later.
“He is training but just away from the rest of the squad.”
Trossard is another doubt for the trip to his homeland of Belgium, after the forward was substituted late on in the loss at Villa Park, having been brought on at half-time before scoring the equaliser.
Cotterill said of Trossard: “They’re managing his training regime.
“I’m told he is also probably away elsewhere down here at the training ground doing his own work.”
Hiding away from prying media eyes perhaps?
The club must have registered Jesus after all, apparently there was an opportunity because Mosquera is out until the end of January, some UEFA regulation loophole?
I believe that he is replacing Dowman who has just copped an injury
I read it was for Dowman too.
Just watched a programme about the hotel Hubertus – wow..
https://www.hotel-hubertus.com/en
Mikel Arteta says that Declan Rice has not traveled to Belgium to face Club Brugge due to illness. Trossard will also miss the game after picking up another knock, while Saliba also is not ready.
So it would seem that Norgaard has to start probably with Zubimendi and Odegaard in midfield and then perm anything from Eze , Martinelli , Gyokeres , Saka , Nwaneri, , Madueke, Merino , I don’t expect to see Jesus unless we are far ahead with 10 minutes to go.
What he does with the back 5 is also open , Raya or Kepa ,, Calafiori or Lewis Skelly, Timber must be in the middle with Hincapie there really is no alternative unless we blood Salmon which like Jesus is a last minute substitution for experience.
Good re Norgaard, he needs it.
Good morning Rico and all
A good piece today Rico. I enjoyed reading that.
Will Arteta rotate?? If Arsenal win in Brussels tomorrow night, they will only have to beat Kazakhstan side FC Kairat at the Emirates Stadium to secure top spot in this season’s Champions League. And as Kev pointed out the club gets €3M for every win. So on one part he is obliged to win but on the other he is required to rotate for multiple reasons.
Whatever the result I still think Arteta should rotate. MLS should begin game so he will be in full swing for the Wolves game, Calafiori should get a fortnight’s rest since he is suspended. Hincapie and Timber make up the defence while White continues on the right.
The attack, as KEv pointed out, should include ‘Martinelli, Madueke and Gyokeres needs minutes so I’d imagine that they’ll be up front.’ I have no qualms about that because I have absolute faith in them.
Its in midfield where the conundrum may lie. Does Norgaard begin game over Zubi who DOES need a rest but he also happens to marshall the team as a general does. Merino, Eze and Odegaard fill up the other two spots.
Fingers crossed that Arteta stops this nonsense of putting Eze on the left. It reminds me so much of AW’s square pegs in round holes.
With all due respect to Wolves I would still play the defence I mentioned above. No point in rushing Saliba back. So he gets extra rest and recovery time. Yes they are the only options atm, but they are seasoned and high level defenders. They need time together and that increases tightness and understanding.
Morning Devil, all.
I just think Eze had an off day. He’s definitely better central though and offers something different to Odegaard. Moving the ball forward quicker being one of them.
New post up.