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
The perperual deference to top 6 teams continues unabated.
A player like Ceballos should play further up the pitch. He is being played even behind Xhaka.
Also, I think Arteta was the defensive coach for City considering we play park the bus footie and City have looked so much more vulnerable since he left.
Midfield is sleepy. Backwards facing.
I’m switching over to strictly
This is total bollocks
Haven’t you seen enough, Arteta? Time ti ready subs.
Wot a shame a not completely fit Aguero wrecks mote havoc than our fully fledged forward lime.
Dangerous Tippy tapping at the back = Arteata is Emery in Pro’s clothing as someone said before ?
Rodri is on a yellow. Run at him.
@Guns
Arteta sidelined Martenelli as soon as he took over. I wouldn’t be too hopeful.
We’re playing Auba on the left ffs and still playing Xhaka…
yawn
Kaz
Park the bus
We’re losing ..m
@Useroz, I agree. Our pass weighting has been poor for ages now. It means we lose so much inertia in our attacks and counters.
I just I don’t get the logic in having Auba picking up the ball on the left and trying to pick a pass for someone else at CF. It just doesn’t work
We cannot affect the final third anymore. We need a change already.
Look if Unai made some of these decisions you’d never hear the end of it. Can we get some changes?
We are moving the ball like we are winning 3 nill
FFS backward and sideways
Get chicken legs off he running around like his on skunk.
Can someone somewhere nobble xhara
What a prize cunt he is…
We’re competing but our lack of midfield bite very very obvious.
Only Tierney and Gabriel may be Saka walk the talk ai far.
We are piss poor today three players chasing the same ball.
Arteta is not on the ball , 67 min subs back?
Cant wait until Martinelli is back…
The whole Auba left was to fit in Laca into the side. But when the latter is not even on the team, why…..?
Arteta is unnecessarily making things complicated by playing Auba on the left…absolutely clueless in attack our front three
Partey needs on, they are just pinging it around in the middle…. need to fight them. Partey pls!
RSPC
And how do we score if we don’t go forward?
Nice. Luiz saw he had headed the ball to the opponent and was on the floor. Managed to win a free kick.
Leeds
Are we really competing I think not.
A pigeon had more teeth than us
That’s a red
This officiating has been so poor today.
One of the worst City sides and performances I’ve ever seen. Luckily for them they are playing Arteta’s Arsenal that is even worse.
another yellow, need to run at these fools!
Cabellos is sooooooo shite ffs
Leeds
Are we really competing I think not.
A pigeon had more teeth than us
That’s a red
Var is a joke
Ref is a joke
It’s all corrupt
I hope covid kills football.
Getting pissed by Willian’s movements off the ball. Hardily shows any intensity and urgency. Half hearted pressing and still get brushed off by City players easily. Unable to dribble or make final passes. Sowot do we meed him for? Rather put Laca on.
Let the Partey begins too. Wot’s to lose?
No. We didn’t foul Elderson!! If that was a foul, Walker’s high boot was way worse. Hypocrite ref.
City making changes
what are we doing?
Arteta’s special 70 mins secret play coming up?
Sheesh, we need more energy and yet nothing
The happiest person that partey isn’t involved is guardiola.
Don’t worry kroenke ‘s already killed football for us at least
Partey and Laca on for Ceballos and Pepe?
Just like the Liverpool game we’re showing them far too much respect
Ok good work that right side, not bad
Pepe really not giving it his all, seems half arsed.
This is the thing, City without De Bruyne is quite poor.
We should be attacking this game and controlling it, but we’re all set up to concede space and.lack the skill to transition quickly to make up for it.
Take that Chelsea cunt off
Come on !
3 yellows! keep running at these fuckers
Arteta still under Wenger’s spell?? Can’t sub before 66”??
Willian doesn’t even pretend to try getting past players anymore. Fuck off we now look to have another expensive dud.
Wor a Saka!
Kaz
Arsenal with 11 and art are poor
Saka has become our best player.
Might as well enjoy Sana’a performances for us while he’s here. Be at a more ambitious club by next season
Cmon Pepe.
Saka lighting the game up
At last
Luiz shouldn’t have taken the FK. Pepe territory.
Saka we love you, I know you’re going to a top top team in a few seasons.
Arteta is a dithering manager bland like his player years.
No urgency at all.
No Partey time
What has Willian done today?? 3/10.
Willian seems so one dimensional
City has like 4 or 5 yellows. Now run at them… ffs
No doubt we’ll be hearing a lot of ‘We were competitive’ from the Artetistas. Reality is City comfortably closed this, did not even need to their top gears
Let’s hope that’s the last we see of that twat William
I see Partey!
“Hey Laca,
We’re going to play an u23 striker ahead of you mostly and now we’re trying an older guy than you who has never played there before.
But keep training hard, you’ll get your chances.”
Pepe should have taken that free kick.
Willian in his movements today reminded me of watching Ozil. No desire to be aggressive with the ball at his feet, back pass after backpass to areas with more space. He needs to be better.
Willian seems so one dimensional
this he really isn’t special at anything. just average
pace – average
dribbling – average
passing – tidy
deadballs – good
scoring – average
He is a tidy player and that’s all really
Partey’s passing can easily break their press, this fella can actually dribble with some pace…..
If Arteta does not play him then fuck arteta
Why the fuck does Luiz take set piece? Fucking clown!
Why’s Ceballos still stinking the pitch. Absolutely atrocious. So many back passes even when obvious forward options are available
This academy football will get us nowhere.. Absolute toothless football, City are as weak as you can get them and they are going to see this out in 3rd gear.. Rubbish
We really are a retirement home for over the hill players.
Pepe not getting service. If he taps it to Bellerin and moves up to get the pass, pBellerin perversely sideways and back. So what is Pepe to do , except run in himself. Yes ,and lose the ball against 4 defenders
“Hey Auba,
We’re trying to recreate Liverpool’s attack, that’s why we play you out left.
I know you can’t dribble anywhere near as good as Mane or Salah and your game isn’t based on such physical intensity, and I know their midfield are athletic, tidy and smart and ours isn’t, but it should still work out the same, that’s why you are being played central”
Auba is just pathetic today
Arteta thinks a 1-0 defeat as an achievement against Man City..
Saka plays at a different level to any other Arsenal player. We need a couple of more technicians like him.
Have we had a shot on target in the second half?
Even Leeds gave them.one hell of a fight…this is just plain boring..really sucked out all enthusiasm this performance..I blame Arteta..has got his system completely wrong
Aren’t *
SpanishDaveOctober 17, 2020 19:02:48
Arteta thinks a 1-0 defeat as an achievement against Man City..
Yup.
Slightly more intent with Laca than Willian. But still not dominating midfield enough.
Arteta and his boring football….. what a waste of our talent.
Partey ffs
Can’t wait to watch Pedro spin this as the right step 🙄🙄
Honestly, not to start Partey is probably the biggest crime.
City players are taking this so easy. They are smiling…really shameful
Atop it. Commentators. Gabriel was running and was shoulder to body with Silva. His right arm was out after the got together. Didn’t hear them talking this shit when Walker got his high boot onto Gabriel’s head??
To many shall I -shan’t I passes across the back.
FFS
It’s obvious auba should be at CF. arteta is great but He can be so frustrating
Guns of S.F.
Only because he should be up top. Auba is not where he should be: in and around the box.
It really looks like he is not happy playing on the left.
Holy shit
Foden spinning KT and almost an own goal
I hope Willian is helping the dressing room cuz he aint helping on the pitch
Who wants to bet that even if we lose, Arteta will be pretty happy about that absolutely drab performance?
Even Leeds tried to win, we seem to be happy of not being embarrassed.
Pedro will just say no shame in losing to city and we are a work in progress lol
Nothing to lose now, just go for broke! Fucking long ball it just do something!
It’s a bit limp isn’t it ?
Has Lacazette even touch the ball yet?
Looks like the conservative Arteta wouldn’t start a Partey unless we went two down!!
Don’t do the silly things Wenger used to and put Partey on 5” before FT…
Pepe off for Ainsley – push Saka forward. He’s been our most dangerous player today
Rubbish this passing around at the back when we’re under pressure. Still ends up in a hoof and City get the ball back. Can’t understand when we’re being pressed at our own six yard box why we can’t find the space that they have vacated.
We’re not even trying to score in the second half.
Absolutely embarrassing performance.