Just a quick blog today so we can start a fresh thread of elite comments for the Leeds game.
Mikel Arteta clearly took a pilgrimage to Arsenal Internet and he has been baptised in the knowledge of the fan selection demands.
Joe Willock starts. This game is huge for him. He has the chance to show he’s more than Europa League player.
Auba looks like he’s starting through the middle. Again, this is huge. It’s an acceptance that our best striker should play through the middle and it’s an end to the rein of Lacazette.
Willian gets the nod. Arteta clearly loves the player. He believes form is temporary, class is permanent. He wants to see if he can make his stuttering free transfer rock today.
Nicolas Pepe also gets the nod. The Ivorian is a maverick, he lacks consistency, but deep down, we all hope there’s a rocket man waiting to blow.
I think Saka is being rested. He’s played a lot of minutes and we don’t want to break him.
The only other notable exit is David Luiz. He didn’t make the game-day squad. I think he’s fit. This could be disciplinary action. To my mind, he’s too slow for a game like today, but we will miss his abilities in the build-up.
UPDATE: His wife had a baby. Damn, I just went straight to drama.
So, in short, we have seen a reaction on the line-up, now let’s see if there’s a reaction on the pitch. We need to see high energy, we need to see smart on and off the ball movement, and we need to make some chances.
See you in the comments.
First
Second
3rd
Fourth?
Lol been awhile since I had a clean sweep
Let’s go read the post
Today is huge, we need our creators in natural positions, we need runners. Safety blanket needs to come off now.
Arteta has set very firm lines, he has set his stall as a disciplinarian, that’s fine as long as you win… Otherwise this dressing room will blow soon
Top 6
Pedro
Can’t argue with any of that.
I’m interested to see what we get from Freddie as a pundit today – will give us some insight or is he just going to tow one of the the usual lines.
David Luiz had a child today
Win and we go up to 8th, lose and we drop to 14th.
Trap
Didn’t know that – I really expected him to start to be honest.
Hopefully holding and Gabriel can keep it tight at the back as midfield isn’t going to be protecting them much.
Maybe it was Luiz who let slip about the training incident with ceballos?
Big Dave was left out because his missus gave birth yesterday.
I think we win this 3-1
Pierre keeps talking up Willock. Too much of an off the ball player as far as I am concerned, doesn’t touch the ball often enough but let us see whether he makes an impression today.
I’ll be honest, I’m a little bit excited about this first 11.
If only Partey was fit! It would be even better with him in and not Xhaka.
Not looking forward to another Morinho Lite disaster class as we try to shot house a win from a promoted team but end up making them look like galacticos … for me that early positivity from the Arteta reign has dried up, let’s see what this game brings us
I think those hoping for a 4-2-3-1 are set to be disappointed
……………………Leno
…..Holding Gabriel Xhaka
Bellerin…………………..Tierney
…………Ceballos Willock
……Pepe…..Willian…Auba
We’ll invite Leeds to press, Willian will drop deep and create an overload, and Willock, Pepe and Aubameyang will provide a direct route to goal.
U4GN
“Maybe it was Luiz who let slip about the training incident with ceballos?”
You reckon he was boasting about beating up a younger player!
Cheers groovedaddy didn’t know. About luiz.
Sup Ladies.? big game…
I’m very apprehensive, on paper this is the type of game we can do well at.. because Leeds will give us space to operate and won’t sit back and give us the ball.. But unfortunately games aren’t played on paper. Very dangerous.. team. Anyhow…. seems like Luiz is out due to having a baby.. Anyhow encouraged by a 4-3-3.. but can we play it with theses players? Guess we will find out.
Wtf does Willian have to do to get dropped? At this point it makes Arteta look like a hypocrite.
Marc,
We don’t have a lot to boast about at the minute, take what you can lol..
Groovedaddy put me right!
The energy Leeds have in midfield will be key if, and a big if, the press can be side stepped then I can see a decent win but if the press leads to losing possession just in front of 5he back four Leeds will run away with it
Football is not rocket science. I have a good feeling about this.
Expecting great games from Danny, Willock, Pepe and Auba.
Terraloon
” but if the press leads to losing possession just in front of 5he back four”
Ah what’s known as the Xhaka scenario.
Willock may be inconsistent on the ball, but in a team with zero off the ball movement, we need that more than anything else
TR7
TR7
I will continue to talk up willock because he gives us something that no other Arsenal player gives us…
Until we bring in a player of Eriksen’s class to provide the creativity then willock provides a cutting edge in the final 3rd.
Glad that to have the EPL back on!!!
I was really hoping to see Arteta learn from his mistakes over the Interull and it looks like he has. 🤞
Really glad to see Auba through the middle. As much as Arteta has said that this will change around (lol he changes everyone around upfront bar Auba upfront until now).
Of course we need to be solid defensively but I really want us to attack as well (I.e. get that goddamn handbrake off!!)
Rich
Would be surprised to see Willian in the ‘false 9’ again.
I think we will see the system change, if we do that line up looks a lot more exciting.
Glad to see Willock get his chance. Now he has to grab it with both hands.
No change of formation, xhaka plays left 3rd back .
Hopefully willian left and Auba central, but it’s the sauce and you would bet it’s going to be willian central .
Big game for Willock, hope he put up a good performance.
COYG!
Looking forward to seeing if willock can step up.
Any midfield with xhaka in though puts the fear of God into me.
Can see us getting overrun, as willock and Danny are chasing around covering for xhaka though.
Mics
Arteta is banking on his experience to balance the youth in the team.
I have been very disappointed by Willian so far so I hope he pulls his finger out if his arse and plays at the level we know he can (like he did when at Chekski).
U4GN
I’m looking at Xhaka’s start today as a positive – it’s an enforced change so if he has a nightmare it should be the final nail in the coffin for him
Yep, Legendary… so glad International break is over.. … mind numbing break. So pointless during the Covid.
🤞🏾
Come on Arteta, prove there’s more to you. Make me wrong.
My prediction for today.
A 3-2 win for us with both goals conceded being Xhaka’s fault and he never plays for us again.
How’s that for positive you fuckers!
Afternoon Marc
Yep that was what I was thinking
My hope-
4-3-3 today I reckon.
Xhaka and Ceb deep with willock more advanced.
Hopefully a nice fluid front 3 with Auba central.
My fear
Xhaka in a back 3, willian as a false 9 and Auba left.
Passive aggressive positivity…guess we will have to live with that…Marc. 😀
Marc lol!
Lol Marc I’ll take that, as long as we win!
I know Pedro didn’t like emerys grasp of the English language, but how is it bielsa can’t even do an interview after three years!
TR7
Freddie rates Willock
Freddie seems a thoughtful guy – makes Evra look an even bigger cunt if that’s possible.
G8
I agree.
Xhaka will play as a third centre back.
Aubameyang won’t start centrally though, he’ll start on the left, Pepe on the right,
Willian will play as a false 9, but drop even deeper to create overloads in the middle of the park.
Chucking it down in Leeds could make conditions tricky.
Well said up 4.
Oh great… The announcers just tried to jinx us… said Leeds have never lost 3 in a row under Bielsa. 🙁
Release ze handbrake !!!
Leeds 3-1
And it’s Arsenal,
Arsenal FC,
We’re by far the greatest team,
The world has ever seen…
Koch is a cock for Leeds.
One of the worst CBs in the league.
Auba has to mug him off.
Come on arsenal!
Let’s have positive vibes from Le Grove today, if possible. Not need to evaluate every single misplaced pass or other error of some sort.
Auba through the middle I hope
Marc you giant mong. You’d have to be a delusional prick to think my comment was about that one post of yours.
How about the other 100s of other posts drenched in your misery and negativity?
Don’t have to bring every cunt and their dog to your levels of depression.
Freddie really seems to rate Joe.
Arteta really needs to trust the young pkayers like Joe or Eddie. There is no better place to learn than on the pitch.
If they make a mistake, they are far more likely to learn from this (and grow) than a more experienced player who is likely less to learn as they are more set in their ways (c.f. Mustafi or Kola; Xhaka has improved but you cannot learn running faster if it’s not in his nature to be fast).
Today? I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Terrible day to be missing Partey. Let’s hope that we rediscover how to counterattack at speed. We may miss Luis’s long ball in that regard.
Mid
Hear, Hear!!
I would be curious if there was a petition setup to ask for the dismantling of internationals how popular the vote would be.
No lose situation for MA today. Win and it’s all good. Lose and he played the team the fans have been asking for.
Rich, iam hoping it’s 4231
Raining again.?. sheesh.. Is that like 3 in a row? Arteta is breaking out the Wenger-like puffy coat.
DB10
Put it this way I think FIFA would be taking the Trump response to the vote.
I don’t feel confident with this defense.
Come on The Arsenal!!!!!
Multi millionaire footballers take the knee for equality in the world…..
I don’t see how a plan like that could fail?
I hope to wake up tomorrow with a bank account in the black, a spanking new Audi RS3, and my mortgage paid off,
If only they’d thought of taking a knee earlier….
Rich
You want shit, you have to work for it.
Why didn’t you just become a pro footballer?
No midfield
We are going to give up a lot of shots. Our midfield is so open.
No midfield….. but definitely a back. 4 progress.
Ceballos with his new ”hard man” haircut.
Would art stop micro managing every fucking ball.
Going off him rapidly
Danny+s
It’s called sarcasm
I don’t expect anyone taking the knee to change anything, it’s just worthless virtue signalling nonsense, that changes nothing
Willian seems to have thankfully gone to the left hand side. Started as a false 9 unbelievably.
Oh man… Dani Cebs .. good attempt.. camera angle it looked good for a second.
Rich
Yeah it is quickly losing its meaning.
Too much space for leeds to run into.
Dani hair is quite powerful
Bellerina spinning like a top.
Has a players pace gone as bad as Bellerin?
He’s 25 ffs.
I wish Dani’s control of the ball was equally ‘powerful’ to that haircut, Guns of SF.
Cc
He had an ACL
William looks a retiree suffering jet lagged
Why is there no movent, wilian watching the play rather than making a run
Commitment up top isn’t good enough.
Willock driving forward and just Willian and Auba jogging nearby, nobody busting a gut to make runs or drag players.
When Willock had the ball, both Auba and Willian stood still and watched. There is no chemistry between them.
Ceballos looks like he had nits.
Marc
Not the excuse you make it out as, trust me. It’s a concern.
Xhaka back passing per usual….
Mmmm training ground set pieces not working. so far.
Yeah I couldn’t believe the lack of forward movement from Willian or Auba when Willock had the ball.
Christ, Arteta shut it for a minute mate.
Making me want the artificial crowd noise.
0-0 kinda game so far.
Better than a loss
Gabriel should bypass Leno and pass straight to Holding. Less risky and save time. Leno passes to Holding anyway
Pepe threat down left. Cross clipped the cross bar
Pepe moved to the left wing…. we need more of that inter changing.
Willock’s job is to nullify Phillips
Willian been much better today than previous games.
Wow.. cross almost went in..
Another set piece. Do better this time please.