Here we are, back together, ready to indulge in some peak-Barclays viewing today.
So what can we expect away at Manchester City?
A tough game. Sorry to be very obvious here, but Manchester City are hurting at the moment and they really need to impose themselves back on the league.
First game back can go either way. It’s an advantage in one sense, because teams have only had a couple of training sessions to crack the code. The fact that they don’t have KDB and a striker of note is also a big win for us.
Arteta has his side on better paper form, but really, we haven’t blown a game out the park so far this season. This would be a nice one to execute a sound plan really well.
Again, I wouldn’t be expecting us to express ourselves. We’re going to take our chances on the break, we’ll test their centre backs, and we’ll try and play very patiently.
The key is always defence. If David Luiz starts, you’ll know within 6 minutes which one showed up. We can’t have it be the Luiz who came on last time and had one of the worst performances of the season. We need the towering leader of a defender that took us to an FA Cup final win.
It’ll also be interesting to see how tempted the manager is to use Thomas Partey. Suspicion says it’s too early and he’ll go with Xhaka and Ceballos. Hopefully, he’ll see some minutes off the bench.
Nicolas Pepe, on form, could be interesting today. He lit up the last game with his energy and quick passing. Question is, does the manager really trust him? If we’re to have any sort of free-flowing football this year, it’ll likely have to include him. We know he has it in him to be world-class, we just don’t see it often enough.
I don’t have lot to offer today, but we’ll be back with a podcast and a match report tomorrow.
ENJOY THE GAME HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW! x
RH
They’ve been the best team in all of Europe since the restart in terms of results, more wins than even Bayern Munich although obviously not saying that they’re better than Bayern.
We may be not at Man City’s level but there is no reason why we can’t do a Leicester on them.
Pepe down the middle with a free role.
Put the right footed Willian up against the right footed Cancelo, get him to go out the outside
Let Aubameyang drag Walker infield, leaving space on the left for Saka
Holding injured, Luiz in 🤨
And you look at what zlatan brings to the table and it’s remarkable
He is so complete. He’s physically dominant, technically awesome, a top goal scorer, holds the play up, vision, passing, the best volley technique bar none of the past 20 years
What more can you ask of a player who will soon be in his 40s? It’s almost comical how he doesn’t age
Pedro
We are not at the level of man City
But Arsenal has a far higher chance of beating City than say, crystal palace even though city are much better than crystal palace.
Left, I don’t disagree.
Ffs
Holding out In warm up
Two left footers
Eagle
Cafu also played till he was 38 or stg, didn’t he ?
Luiz in, now its likely to be a draw
That training top is the guvnour
And it’s Arsenal,
Arsenal FC,
We’re by far the greatest team,
The world has ever seen…
Holding out in warm up. Luiz coming in… ugh!
Let’s hope Aguerro limps off after 5 mins
Holding injured in warm up. WTF!!! Why didn’t we just sell him. Might as well fast track Saliba into the first team.
I suspect Holding’s injured is preplanned to confuse Pep.
Big question for me is whether it’s 4231 with Bernardo in the double pivot or 433 with Bernardo btl.
If it’s the latter, they will be significantly more vulnerable on the counter.
Maybe if Luiz didn’t have time to think about a start he won’t get in his own head… one can hope.
Still worries me though.
Fasten your seatbelts gents, here we go !
Record away against top teams the last few years has been gash. If there’s ever a time to remedy that though it’s this season when there are no fans. With the other results today 3 points would be huge, let’s grind one out.
Eagle they have been very impressive Milan, even in that Europa qualifier they struggled in they still found a way.
No wonder they told the Red bull dude thanks but no thanks when he came for total power
Zlatan had it all, yet not good enough for Arsenal or Barca.
Good shout Karim, another defender though.
Can’t think offhand of a CF at that age to still be so effective.
“Bamford has spoken so I’m putting a tenner on Southampton to get a draw today.“
😭
Now Holding injured before the match?? Is this bad luck or what?? I hope the in form Luiz shows up.
(Or, crazy idea, is Arteta is secretly changing his line up just before the game?? 😀 )
Wouldn’t it be better if we played in red!
Come on The Arsenal!!!!!
Eagle
Eusebio maybe or Di Stefano but that was ages ago
China
It goes beyond his mere ability as a player, he has completely transformed the entire ambition and mentality of Milan with his mere presence and personality.
Look at their results before he was signed in January of this year and then in the months after. This time a year ago they were fighting relegation teams.
Willian plays false 9
Willian through the center. Interesting.
weitd choice of kits..red would be more contrasting
Williams through the middle?
Why we wearing blue
Should have kept training top on
Great long pass from Gabriel. Poor touch from Willian.
Auba still can’t get a game at CF with neither Laca or nketiah on field !!
Axes
Think they are swutching
I hate this tippy tippy playing from the back.
One slip and it’s a goal.
Arteta should swap Luiz and Gabriel.
Luiz is horrible defending wide spaces.
Arteta probably has him RCB because he is right footed
Back 4 as expected.
Gazz
It’s all about mixing I think
Two diff teams we will play today
That’s way too much space for Mahrez
Bamford
Why don’t get off this blog and go to your own one?.We know you don’t like Arsenal. Trying to get a rise out of Pete now. Your disdain and constant goading is tiresome mate, you really are a sad individual.
Is that Chelsea offer still on the table for William ?
How is this not a foul against Saka? Wtf???
Why the fuck isnt Auba playing through the cenre? Seriously dont get Artetas thinking sometimes
what the hell are you all doing ! Lets win!
It wasn’t a foul on Saka because it’s kavanagh as referee.
We are playing more like back 4. Saka plays like a midfielder.
William is a busybody chasing cars he cannot catch up. . But guess Arteta impressed .
433 today
Gabriel really does look a player. Nice and calm plus he stays on his feet must of the time.
Wasn’t a booking because it’s kavanagh as referee
Mahrez is holding Pepe with both hands. Why no YELLOW!
They are fouling the shit of Saka today.
Gabriel is doing a really good job of defending at the moment
Saka needs more strength… weight room needed
You guys are going to jinx Gabriel. Please don’t…
We get 2 throws and a free kick in their half, both end up back with Leno WTF?
I really hope Xhaka sit for partey today… at some point…
Auba is such a waste on the left!
We are too slow in the build up.
We are wasting the attributes of Subs
2 – game too fast for slow coach Xhaka
Auba passing really off so far…. come on Auba!
Xhaka has to use his hand.
Willian is leading the line? Why does he do these things?
William is a millstone in the park. What a waste of Saka pass
Auba is a bad passer.
Willian doesn’t look right in that central role to me
You can see in Aubas body language that he plays half heartedly when on the wing..shocking that a coach can’t notice his ineptness on the left
Auba and link play..It’s just not his game , he is best at scoring goals keep him there!
Sorry typo. We are wasting attributes of Auba
Good going at the Etihad so far. Very happy with the structure and discipline with which we play under Arteta
Bellerin spun around again
what utter shite defending by Bellend. Geez
Lenooooooooo
Just when I posted that…
Bellerin and Luiz at fault for me
Bellerin got skinned
Would be better having Elneny or Partey as DM with Ceb pressing Rodri and Auba uptop instead of Willian pressing uptop
Can I just say I fucking hate Cabellos , real pointless player
Another Arteta blunder that…keeping Leno and selling Emi
The niceties of Pep towards his Assistant are over
Catch the ball ffs, if not parry it away from the attackers
Has anyone seen Willian yet?
Martinez would not give an rebound like that!!!
This one is on Leno!
Why doesn’t Leno push balls to the side instead of straight back into play? Frustrating
Bring back Martinez
Piss poor defending and keeping.
Bellerin and leno both could have done a lot better there.
Leno should have held
Why the fuck does Leno always parry the ball back into the danger area? Serious problem with his technique.
Arteta is a fool, a stupid coach
Also Willian…..what a waste of fucking money he is. Ozil doesn’t earn his wages neither does willian
Bellerin a mile off Foden, had to do nothing to cut inside and force the save. Poor
Leno is a liability
Letting Martinez go was criminal negligence.
So what kind of GK is this who punches the to opponents to score
Martinez all day
Bellerin should probably have done better there. Mixed views of him here, but he might not be good enough.
What’s the game plan with Willian?