Happy Fri-emery? Or just Friyay? Or just Friday? Whatever you fancy. There’s a big game this weekend and I am PUMPED.
Liverpool come to town. Emery has a chance to fire up the troops and take his first ever top 6 scalp. Liverpool are favourites, and I think that’s a positive for us. I’m not sure any of us expect to come out of this alive, even at home. That puts us in a good position of being grateful for anything more than zero points.
There are many things for us to be looking out for.
Selection:
There are a lot of questions ahead of this game. Firstly, I think he should stick with Leno, Cech didn’t look great against Blackpool and Leno has been pretty good.
The big fear is Lichtsteiner and Xhaka as fullbacks. We’re going get absolute spanked if that’s the case. Might as well pack up and go him, give Xhaka his red card already. Trouble is, we’ll likely have to risk a players recovery to get anyone back into the mixer, and Liverpool doesn’t feel like the right game to be taking punts like that.
Midfield kind of picks itself… dependent on Xhaka. Will Ramsey come in next to LT? Will Ozil occupy a central role?
Up front is also interesting. VVD is a monster, and he’ll eat Lacazette alive. So do we opt for someone like WELBZ to bully? Or do we just have a blended front three and see what happens?
Tactics:
If this were Arsene, we’d be going toe-to-toe in a ‘who has the biggest toe’ competition. I’m not sure Emery will be so reckless. The challenge he has is the team aren’t exactly reliable when it comes to defence. Are we equipped to absorb pressure? Do we have the discipline to run a deep block. Do we have the intelligence to stop Liverpool from playing at high pace?
The real worry is if we go into this game playing a high line. Especially if we have two slow full-backs in play.
The last time Emery played Klopp was the Europa League final. From what I remember, he let Liverpool exhaust themselves in the first 60, then picked them off when their legs were gone. I think the Liverpool team is a touch more sophisticated in 2018, but at least our man has the winning record here.
Psychology:
I always felt an Arsene Wenger side was beaten 3 days before the game. How is Emery going to change that? Are we going to be in the fight? Will we see a difference in the way we approach the game? Will the team look like they believe they can win?
These games are acceptable to lose if the team looked like they were in it. I don’t want to come out of this weekend thinking we were bullied. I don’t want the game plan to be out the window after 6 minutes. I want to see 100% agression for the whole game, Liverpool need to feel like they’re in a game.
Right, that’s me done. See you in the comments! x
Ozil cannot start today
Got to go with Mkhitaryan welbz and iwobi I think
Xakha in the middle with Torreira
Lichtsteiner left back
Jenkison right back.
If ozil starts then it’s got to be a big performance from him and if Aubameyang starts then he’s got to do more to get into the game and keep Liverpool on the back foot
Welbeck has to start today.
May I say how absolutely annoying it has been watching El Neny soil the No 4 Jersey with uselessness, when it had belonged to a truly great midfielder before
Actually i would go with a midfield three today and drop the no10
Is elneney no4??
What about giving gallas the n10 after bergkamp?? Terrible
It doesn’t surprise me one jot that CC stands up for Pierre and his ” perceptive post”. Only someone with an equally self opinionated take on themselves would not see this as being laughable.
It’s so quaint that they- CC/Pierre/victorious/BobN16- all hold hands together when they think they’ve got one over another poster.
This superior than thou attitude is wearing a little thin guys.
Most eagerly anticipated day at AFC for many many years.
una na,
Yes. that was also terrible.
Peak ozil would be very useful but it’s not going to happen against a big team I’d play auba, iwobi, welbeck and laca ahead of them In iwobi and welbeck we have earnest work rate with pace. In auba we have a quitter player but a finisher and very quick. And laca for his work rate and finishing I wouldn’t play mikki because I’m frankly not impressed with him . He’s ozil light. He also goes vanishing in most games, doesn’t score enough and gets fewer assists. People remember his good games but there are usually 3-4 really poor ones… Read more »
Graham, why are you trying to stir up and create ‘a them and us’ situation? . There is far too much divisiveness already!
Sorry you’re feeling inferior, onwards and upwards, eh!
Graham69
“This superior than thou attitude is wearing a little thin guys.”
Why so serious ..there is a definite lack of humour on this blog .I should have known that a little tongue in cheek remark would bring out the school teachers preaching their “superior than though” philosophy . …..and yes,the irony of your remarks would be totally lost on you and Bamford..
Absolute troll this Charlie guy is. What a terrible thing to say that we have the “squad to batter Liverpool” meaning that if we don’t do it it’s going to be on the manager. LoL?!?! We’ve had the squad to beat Liverpool in the recent years and we haven’t been able to do it, but now we are at our absolute lowest level of talent in god knows how many years, thanks to you know who. While Pool have their absolute best squad for god knows how long. 10 years past from the team with Gerrard, Alonso, Torres, Carragher –>… Read more »
Happy Birthday Unai Emery!
may the team give you a present today 😉
Beating dippers would be a nice birthday present for Unai,hopefully the boys play with no fear and bag all 3points,i mean that would be some birthday present and a half.
Pierre 1958!!!
And you think you’re funny?
Lol!!
Sorry but “you lot”( and yes, you’ll always be “”you lot”) just bring it upon yourselves.
raptora
Don’t forget, CC is also supposed the be a funny guy.
BobN16
Suck it up.
You just have to live with it.
Graham,
Live with the fact that you don’t have an original idea in your head and cheerfully talk repeated b*ll*ocks…yep , I’ll have to ‘suck it up’, or scroll down I suppose.
“Absolute troll this Charlie guy is. What a terrible thing to say that we have the “squad to batter Liverpool” meaning that if we don’t do it it’s going to be on the manager. LoL?!?!“ That’s only your take on matters. I said absolutely nothing with how it relates to Emery, I also said absolutely nothing with how likely it is we batter Liverpool. I said we have the talent to batter Liverpool at home as a direct response to the fear mongering nonsense that we should be worried today because of the players we have. So try and keep… Read more »
We have the squad to batter Liverpool at home
In whatever context it is said that’s an embarrassing statement
The only one who should be embarrassed is you Charlie
I stopped taking Graham/Micheal serious the day he made the claim of dumping arsenal for Fulham. He must know that truly was a shocking moment.
I mean that moment I knew straightaway he was never a fan of arsenal
the fact he now sees himself credible enough to pick and group certain more supportive fans of the club for having like minded opinions with the intention of causing a divide tells u about the guy really.
Lame attempt at becoming a troll is all i can deduce
Your knowledge of football is fucking embarrassing. Our GK is as good as theirs at best, which could be a stretch but let’s say and hope that it is. We absolutely don’t have as good of a defender as VVD. Not even close. Like not even close. Our full backs are worse. In the central of the pitch we might have the best one in Torreira, but they can’t find a place for Fabinho and Keita while AOC is injured so you get what I mean. In attack they have one of the best front three in Europe, especially with… Read more »
This message board can be hilarious at times i swear
Charlie has countered a defeatist mentality lingering in the likes of Bam that we quite actually have the ‘talents’ to bitch slap dippers,not that its likely but yea we do have the players and somehow that has angered a good few who comfortably has misconstrued that comment as a swipe at Emery.
thats being insecure for particularly no reason.
‘If you’re so awash with praise for Emery you’d be excited at the prospect of seeing his new arsenal side face off against teams like Liverpool. Hiding behind half-excuses like the players is exactly that. We have the players to batter Liverpool at home, let’s see how close we come to doing exactly that‘ This is what you said. You began with a dog at people for praising a manager who won more games in a row than we have done since 2007. You then explicitly said hiding behind players if the performance is bad is no excuse (all eyes… Read more »
I mean “the squad to batter them” would mean that we have better players than them, no?!
At the very best we’d have 2 of our players in a combined best 11.
They have abundance of quality on their bench as well in Shaquiri, Keita, Fabinho and so on. So I don’t know how you got to this conclusion. Oh wait I do. You don’t have a clue. Just like the manager you’ve stood for all these years.
Charlie
“We have the squad to batter Liverpool at home”
No we don’t
We played a 33 year old at RB and Xhaka at LB against Palace last week
We are in the middle of a defensive injury crises and we are about to play a team with pace.
Our squad is paper thin at the moment.
It’s obvious you’ve set up camp with the agenda brigade.
CC: “That’s only your take on matters. I said absolutely nothing with how it relates to Emery”
What China says shows up how pathetic you sound. Your sole idea was to set up the whole day as if we lose it’s going to be on Emery. “Hiding behind half-excuses like the players is exactly that. We have the players to batter Liverpool at home, let’s see how close we come to doing exactly that“ he said. Nice try AKB. Once an AKB, forever an AKB. You don’t support the club. You support Wenger.
raptora Yea as a cohesive unit dippers are a level above and its not an esoteric knowledge why that is Klopp has being with them for a good few years now,adding quality in every summer. But I take exception to your high to the heaven praise of their attack Player to player we comfortably have the better players in that department Henderson is a star in their midfield and we have Ramsey who frankly cant get a sniff in ours and is hands down a comfortably better player They have a better defense largely due to one player but you… Read more »
There’s no shame in admitting that Liverpool are better than us at the moment.
Klopp has had FIVE transfer windows awash with money from outward transfers.
Emery has had ONE transfer window that was limited by all the misdeeds of his predecessor.
Saying we have the squad to “batter Liverpool at home” is along the same lines as Pedro championing for Arteta. You just know the author is trying too hard to stir the pot.
Charlie you didn’t say how likely it is is the dumbest cop-out ever
Yeah stoke could smash Barcelona 10-0. They have the players. It could happen.
Don’t judge that comment because I didn’t say it was likely to happen, right?
victorious If you consider going along to watch Brighton(twice) and Fulham (once) to enjoy a game, as “dumping” my team, I can live with that. Arsenal have always been “my team”, long before you had even heard of AFC, but when you see your club being dismantled on a daily basis by an individual and system that was no longer fit for purpose, you sometimes have to make alternative arrangements. What I enjoy reading are those comments, made by folk like yourself, who feel they were doing us all a service by continually “cheering on the lads”. My conscience is… Read more »
Emery reportedly said he’s waiting for the fitness test for Monreal, Bellerin and Papa… too good to be true it seems. Can hope… Xhara would have to pair with LT in MF to try to halt the Pool counter/attack. AMN could play LB anyway. Which 3 of Ozil/ Ramsey/ Mikki/ Iwobi/ Welbeck?? A million pound question and I don’t think Emery has the answer tbh. We know what we’d get from Ramsey and Iwobi (both not a lot) and Welbeck… but Ozil and Mikki are plain unpredictable. Or, Ozil will predictably be missing?? For 1H, would try Mikki, Welbeck and… Read more »
Useroz
The fact that Emery is still waiting on the fitness of three key players in the defense underscores the fact that we have a thin squad defensively.
Even if they return, they wouldn’t be match fit.
One more thing.
Our MF and forwards must take more shots. I am not convinced the Pool GK is as good as his price tag so let’s find out.
Whatever he does Laca must be banned from making idiotic back passes. Ever again.
If we can find a win today it would be a glorious result. I am expecting a loss but maybe we’ll get a bit of luck. A bad day for one or two of their key players or a lucky red card in the first half and maybe we’ll find a result from somewhere Frankly the thought of us playing with Mustafi, a third choice LB and a second choice RB against their attack is extremely concerning. We need a huge game Fromm xhaka and torreira today in CM. They need to hugely limit exposure for our weak back line… Read more »
Dissenter. That’s right. Would prefer AMN to a half fit Monreal.
I hope we’d hold fort in the 1H and bring a fresh Auba and a creative player (if necessary) on in the 2H.
Come on Arsenal
Couldn’t post for some reason. I am really looking forward to the game this afternoon. I just would like to see the team click together and have a performance to be proud of. I really hope that Leno starts today. I don’t want to see Cech play and be all shaky with his passing from the back. The bin dippers are absolutely going to be looking for any weakness that we have at the back. Hence I would rather have Leno to instill some extra confidence to our defence. I just hope we get off to a good start as… Read more »
Champagne Charlie and his sidekicks Pierre,Victorious setting high standards and expectations for the Arsenal.
Champagne Charlie and his sidekicks Pierre,Victorious coming on here and portraying a ‘Know more than you’ attitude.
Champagne Charlie giving class to Bamford about self-reflection.
Damn,too much comedy for one day.
Trying to remember the last time I looked forward to a game so much.
Jeepers, it’s been too long.
Come on you Gunners!
Victorious
I would say Henderson and Ramsey are two completely different players.
Sort of like chalk and cheese, wouldn’t you say?
Lol!! plus shake of head.
I think k Emery is too astute a manager to play Cech against this fast L’pool forward line. For that same reason Licht cannot start this game. I think my Arsenal will turn up for this game, just a lil apprehensive about Xhaka and Ozil. Xhaka has to play tho because L’pool foul a lot with their over aggressiveness. We need him for set plays in the final third. Ozil though should be on the bench for me. Play Iwobi in the middle to hassle Fabinho and their Dutch guy. Not ideal offensively, but we can survive because I see… Read more »
“Regarding
“ we have players to batter Liverpool “
We had the Ox who could rise in rare occasions. But we sold him to Liverpool.
Yeah Aubameyang could cause problems, provided we had service to implement these.
I am a WOB
Emery’s bday today, it is my own tomorrow, a nice present please Arsenal.
There’s a fair bit of the Liverpool of last season or the one before in us.
We can be absolutely lethal in attack, but our defence is porous. That was the story of last seasons Liverpool, they could score 3 goals but could then easily concede 3 in 20 minutes at the end of a game.
It took spending and time to cure that. It will be the same story with us. Though we already potentially have a better CDM in the making than them.
Lol Cesc… as long as it don’t turn into a “wenger anniversary” kind of disaster, we’re safe.
Oh dear, just how contrived are some on here to invent a narrative to criticise someone with? We have the talent to slap Liverpool at home is a controversial statement on an Arsenal blog? Hahahahaha what a bunch of fucking clowns arguing that. As if we didn’t utterly blow some sides away at home in recent seasons, namely United 3-0 was it? Whatever it was it was a tonking, exactly the sort of game we are capable of delivering against anyone at home with the attacking talent we possess. Are some of you seriously that downtrodden that you can’t imagine… Read more »
We have the players to batter Liverpool at home.
Who knows; perhaps some of our players work part time at the local chippy and are pretty handy with the fryer?
We drew 3-3 in the corresponding match last season, so it’s not pie in the sky to think we could win today.
Having said that I am worried that the way we play, especially in defence, may suit Liverpool.
If I was Emery I’d instruct the players to go easy on playing out from the back all the time.
Today it might be beter to get the ball forward more quickly.
Alexander
A big difference though is that Liverpool’s defence looks a lot better this year, they’ve conceded 4 goals in the EPL.
Out of the top 5 they’ve conceded the 2nd least behind City, weirdly though they’ve scored they’re 4th best for goals scored ahead of Spurs but behind Chelsea, Arsenal and City.
Alexis with a very similar handball to the one vs Chelsea in the FAC final game.
Cesc Really? I would’ve thought the big difference from last seasons fixture was the new Arsenal manager and defensive reinforcements we’ve brought on board. We’re every bit as potent as we were (arguably more so with Laca/Auba adapting) and we’re better organised and understanding of our roles thanks to Emery. Find it telling that after a 3-3 result last season with Salah doing POTY things, we change manager, buy some players we needed (Leno, Sokratis, Torreira), go on a good run of results, and the likes of Banford has predicted a 3-0 loss. Are people that in awe of Liverpool?… Read more »
Champagne “As if we didn’t utterly blow some sides away at home in recent seasons, namely United 3-0 was it?” Pure sophistry. Really disingenuous. How does a battering of United in 2015 (when we had a different XI / different squad) support a claim about our ability to “batter” Liverpool (a completely different and much better team) at home in 2018? It doesn’t. For the record, though, Charlie was not trying to set up a post-game criticism of Emery. That’s more Pierre’s game. Charlie’s over-confident (and somewhat silly) claim that we can “batter” Liverpool today is the result of two… Read more »
We can beat Liverpool nobody is arguing we can’t, well some are , but we are not battering them.
It’s about time you owned up to the fact battering was the wrong word to use and leave it at that
Champagne “the likes of Bamford has predicted a 3-0 loss” Not exactly. What I actually said is below: “I think we will play with a good deal of fire and determination, but in the end the gap in quality will be too much. I see Liverpool winning 2-0 or 3-0.” Now, I agree the above may be a little pessimistic — I think we will battle and fight and do everything we can to make it close; I now think 1-0 or 2-0 to Liverpool might be a more accurate forecast — but I do think Liverpool are A LOT… Read more »
BTW, do we know if either Bellerin or Monreal will be in the squad today?
Receding No I don’t thanks, I used it several times because it does nothing more than denote a beating. Which is precisely what we are capable of with the current talent in the side against anyone in the league at home – except City I’d say. Because you seemingly think otherwise is immaterial. I’ve no idea what your assessment of current affairs is because you seem that confused or muddied with every discourse about it. You rate Emery highly, we bought well etc but were not good enough to batter a good side at home on a given day? Something… Read more »
From what I can see, both Monreal and Bellerin are listed as doubtful. That definitely weakens us. If we had those two, I would be more optimistic.
Bournmouths David Brooks looks a real talent.
Champagne
“What is your 3-0 predicted loss based upon exactly?”
Well, as I said above, I said that I could see a 2-0 or 3-0 loss, and that this might have been a little pessimistic.
However, I definitely wouldn’t be surprised by a 2-0 (or even a 3-0) loss, especially if we’re without Bellerin and Monreal.
As for what this forecast is based on, well, the same foundation most people here’s forecast is based on: the fact that Liverpool are a lot better than we are.
Banford
I’m not addressing “most people”, so don’t look to introduce a ‘right by consensus’ angle to avoid specifics of your own POV.
Were Liverpool not a lot better than us last season then when we drew 3-3?
The cited 3:3 at the Emirates last season they should have been 5 ahead at half time. We only got back in the game because they were wasteful in front of goal and because of Alexis and a certain Mignolet. Their CB pair was Klavan, Lovren mind you with Mignolet having a shocker to concede a 35-meter away from his goal Xhaka shot that was pointed directly towards him. “We’re every bit as potent as we were (arguably more so with Laca/Auba adapting)” We’ve lost Alexis though. My view on tonight’s game is that Pool will win. And I don’t… Read more »
Raptora Completely with you. We all should remember the early Klopp days at Liverpool, some nice stuff and some flat stuff. Defensive weakness as well. Even last year with Salah playing like he was and Liverpool attacking like they did they could still easily concede. Sounds familiar. This season they look more solid, maybe slightly less effective going forward, maybe. But they look far more solid at the back. I think VVD will score from a corner today, Leicester, Palace and Blackpool all gave us problems from corners. Leicester and Blackpool hit the woodwork from headers at corners. I think… Read more »
My take on affairs its simple Charlie.. We are coming along nicely but will need a few more windows to get a balanced squad
Its really quite simple so the only one confused here is yourself oga
Receding
Remember when I called you petulant and you had a little tantrum? Your endless jabs are precisely the reason for it.
My original comment that we have enough talent to batter Liverpool on any given home match was also very simple. See how much trouble you had with it?
I prefer to be on the optimistic side of things with CC. We could give Liverpool a really good game today.
The first goal is critical to how things will go, I think. Hope we’re the ones to draw first blood, give their defenders the willies nice and early.
If they flood our box with their lit runs, it could be a long evening. Got a bottle of Lagavulin 16 at the ready.
But to batter someone in footballing terms is by most people’s definition a proper thrashing like a 4 or 5 nil is it not? I believe that if Liverpool have a bad day at the office and we have ridiculous luck we are capable of beating them I.e. by 1 goal, but definitely not 4 or 5 nil or even by 2 goals I would say.
Therefore not a battering, but let’s see, I look forward to watching it later.
Jamie
It’s unknown waters is it not? Emery bedding in and a top 6 side coming to town.
I mean we knew the deal pretty much in the recent seasons, but there’s cause for optimism surely? If there isn’t I struggle to see the point in this season tbh. I’m hoping we see a competent Arsenal side perform against a top side, it’s an opportunity to set a new tone.
That is a typical fucking United goal
Extremely lucky United. Nathan Ake what a player. Cost his team a point.
Liverpool GK and Van Dijk are two good players but the rest of their defence is average at best. There is nothing special about their midfield. Their two wingers main strength are their speed to which they use to good effect. Arsenal squad is what it is because of poor recruitment and bad decision making. We aren’t as bad as most have us to be, if we can improve our defence and find some team to make a bid for Ozil and get a world class goal scoring winger we can compete.
last gasp manure -fergie goal … @ 92.999 min
Look on the bright side.it keeps that c** t Maureen in a job at least till Xmas which means Manure are going nowhere fast.
Have to respect that jammy Utd stoppage time winner. If that was us under Emery, we’d be jizzing over it.
CC –
Yep. We could very well smash Liverpool later. Is that likely to happen, maybe not, but is it possible? Of course, and that’s the reason I’ve watched far too much football these last 30 odd years.
Without any optimism, what’s the point?
Jamie
That’s it in a nutshell, professional sport is all about optimism and hopefulness. Likely today? Not so much, but with the attacking talent we have, new impetus from Emery, and home advantage, you’d like to think a return to us blitzing good teams is nearer now than in recent seasons.
We owe Liverpool a battering. We owe most top 6 sides a battering after they have embarrassed us over and over with wenger in charge. That’s the difference though. No other team has wenger as manager. We will beat or draw Liverpool today. We won’t batter them. I think if we come out on the front foot we can take the match to them and disrupt their flow. We are a couple pieces away from a great squad. Ramsey replacemt and a winger. And a couple cbs as I don’t think Mustafi is our saviour. On the other hand ,… Read more »
This game will he won and lost on individual errors and Mustafi does not fill me with the world of confidence.
An early goal will be telling if pool score early it may give us a kick up the backside.
One, professional sports is no more about optimism than it is about realism or pessimism. Each fan adopts the approach that is appropriate to his disposition. Two, saying that our current XI can “batter” Liverpool — a far better team — isn’t “optimism”; it’s an obvious mis-evaluation of where we are quality-wise versus where they are quality-wise. Optimism would be saying that we can win today or that we can get a result today, both of which are statements I agree with. We definitely can. However, if I were placing money on today’s match, I’d put my money on Liverpool… Read more »
Bamford
How are Liverpool “far better” than arsenal? They’ve finished 4th
Wooooo. They’ve done alright this season and they may be marginally better (May) but Nothing more than that. You don’t half love to belittle arsenal a lot done you?
No proper London gooner would take that line.
Bamford, you appear to have a disconnect with a typical football fan’s mentality and emotional involvement.
You can take the rational view but that ignores the acute emotional involvement which means sometimes ‘the heart can rule over the head’.
If you’re disposition is purely rational then you are missing out on something crucial that most supporters find integral to their experience.
Rationalise away though Bamford, I know you will.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2018/11/03/video-arsenal-loanee-reiss-nelson-scores-absolute-wonder-goal-to-continue-fine-start-to-life-at-hoffenheim/
Reiss Nielson……yet another goal!
I thought the “please do not fall for it” idea of Cesc Appeal was working really well for the sanctity of LG Comments. Either people have such thin patience here or they equally like to argue on “unnecessary things” online… like a super silly comment that holds no ground, so it need not be argued at all.. just scroll past it and smile at the “hunger” for attention of some trolls. My heart tells – we will batter the bin-dippers 4-2 (does a 2 goal margin count as battering?) My head tells – we will get battered 4-2 by them.… Read more »
Bob
He will never fully get football or what it means to be a true fan of your local club. It shines through in almost every comment.
Nep
That being said I’d be just as happy with us winning 1-0 scoring off elneny’s ass in the 96th minute after Liverpool had 99% possession and 100 shots to our 1.
🙂
Unai, doesn’t stop him pontificating about ‘sports’ and Arsenal sadly.
Joe, I’d take a 1-0 but there’s about as much a likely of that as the proverbial snowball in hell.
Stranger things have happened I suppose….
Bob
It was more of a ‘dont care how we win,as Long as we win”
You’ll hate us more after we put 5 past you in a few hours
Just for that message from one of my scouse mates. Cunts
Told him pressure is all on them. Don’t let it “slip”
We know Liverpool will come out of the traps like a team possessed for the first 20 minutes.
Have to be ready for that and counter it.
Klopp will know we start slow and give up chances early, he’s going to go for it early and maybe a reckless abandon by him could play into our hands?
I believe we will be getting the team news in a few minutes ..can’t wait
Joe,
I too don’t care how we win today..as long as we win. And if we win today, it will be a great page turner..a watershed moment of the Emery era.
Oh and it could very well be a 4-4 draw. There you go. Now I’ve now covered my ass for ALL results 😉
4-4
I loved our little Russian. Completely ruined by wenger.
Joe,
Much as you’d like to blame Wenger for Brexit, Trump’s presidency and leaves falling off the trees, Arshavin has to accept some responsibility for his terrible form over his last few months with us. He was blatantly unfit and appeared disinterested. You may argue that Wenger made him feel disillusioned but a player has to take responsibility for his attitude and fitness surely?
Come on Bob. He came in as one of the hottest players in Europe. Against wenger’s wishes.
Wenger fucked him about for the whole time he was here. Remember wenger not playing him v chavs in the league cup semi. I think it was that. Just to prove wenger was the boss. Bollocks
Sorry bob. That was on wenger. Arshavin showed what he could do numerous times. Wenger has no clue or desire to harness that talent properly.
What a waste
Kolasinac at LB?
Potential for disaster there.
Aubameyang hasn’t worked from LM as a starter practically all season, has to be the first time it works today.
Unless Emery is going for that 4-2-2-2 hence Mkh.
Lol. Xhaka in midfield. Mkhitaryan and Ozil in attack.
So many passengers.
Mhki and Ozil starting a game against Liverpool
Kolasinac at full back
Laca and Auba both starting
A defensive pairing of mustafi and holding
I prefer not to speak
Mustafi, Kolasinac and Xhaka could all potentially cost us with dopey fouls.
Have to be disciplined today.
Line up, anyone??
Unless this a 2 up front formation I think Emery has made a mistake here.
Aubameyang has not worked out there and also means we have nothing to change the shape of the game later on.
This reminds me of the early season line ups that were dysfunctional and flat.
Basically everyone needs to be on it.
Leno is going to need to have a superstar game when called upon.
Wenger was not a motivator. Couldn’t get the best out of the players
Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Mkh, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Joe, we’ll have to disagree on this.
Watching Arshavin huffing and puffing reminded me of Merson after a big night. Every player has to take responsibility for his fitness and attitude. He appeared not to care which I find unforgivable. Sure Wenger misused him but I can’t accept an Arsenal player not trying, he lost my sympathy when he repeatedly stopped giving of his best.