LEEDS MATCH DAY BLOG

by .

Arsenal vs Leeds is always a special game for me. Family connections, heated early 2000s rivalry, it’s usually a fun 90.

The big question this evening is how junior Arteta goes. Some are saying we should be going for the League Cup as we have limited trophy options. I agree with that, but also think we need to give some development minutes to players that aren’t out on loan.

Rumour has it that Salah is going to join the squad, possibly because Charlie Patino picked up a slight ankle injury. The attacking midfielder has been a regular feature in the post-game comps with the kids. He signed from Feyenoord on a free last season and apparently he’s a beast of a worker in training. His footwork is great, he’s very creative, and he looks like the type of player that is going to have goals in his future.

Who knows what the rest of the side will look like.

I suspect we’ll see Martin Odegaard who has been a bit up and down with regards to form. Eddie will probably start up top, maybe with Pepe on the other side of him. This is another game for Martinelli to force his way into the starting 11. His start to the season has been a bit bland.

In defence, I think we’ll see run outs for last seasons defenders. Holding and Mari will be at the back, Cedric on the right, no idea who picks up the left considering Tierney’s injury.

Midfield will probably be BIG MO and AMN. Martin acting as the creative lever.

The subs bench will also be interesting. Maybe it’ll be first team heavy for a rescue operation?

It’d be lovely to continue our 7 game unbeaten run. Heading into the early Leicester kick-off with another victory just adds to the confidence.

Let’s see what the boys have got. Hopefully, we can field a debutant as well!

See you in the comments. We’ll be dropping in with an OTW podcast… Johnny is back.

WATCH THE PREVIOUS ON THE WHISTLE VIDEO or PUT THE PODCAST IN YOUR EARS.

ACAST | AMAZON | STITCHER

 

249 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
MidwestGun

Yep White was great… he is starting to make more of those line breaking runs. And defended his side pretty well. If he does that against the big boys I will be very impressed. He can start next match against Leicester its shaping up as a huge match for us to guage any progress.

bacaryisgod

MidwestGun

Fair point-I was referring to the knee-jerk negativity across the board during games. I won’t call it bedwetting because certain people have soiled that phrase on here (yes, that’s intentional)

I would love more comments during games but it would be nice if some of them weren’t so boorish.

bacaryisgod

Midwest-missed your earlier comment. The bigger picture means that of course you can point out that Pepe is having a bad game but then it becomes all about how useless he is in general and not about the actual game itself.

MidwestGun

Hey BIG.. I probaby reacted to that a little over the top. .. I agree there is always a few commenters during the game your like what are you talking about we are winnng.. I mainly just try to ignore them..

We are good… I think we have both been on here forever .. haha So its all good

bacaryisgod

Totally agree-all is well with the U.S contingent!

MidwestGun

Yep…we have to stay strong so we can get up at the crack of dawn on Saturday.

bacaryisgod

Midwest

I think it’s also a little to do with me. When you’re not watching the game or following the comments in real time, you have a little more separation from the ongoing drama. I was just updating the score and saw 0-0 (ok), 1-0 (nice) and 2-0 (we’re through) and it was a more relaxing experience than I’ve felt for a while!

MidwestGun

Ill admit soemtimes its like a feedng frenzy on certain players during the games but Pepe deserved the crticism today.. He was awful.. think he lost the ball 8 times in just the first half alone. and consistently ended our attacks.

China1

Game was too late for me but I’ll take that result all day

Win
Clean sheet
2 goals including one from Eddie
Through in the cup

Anything else is a bonus. We’re on good form currently. Arteta has dug himself out of what looked like a potentially dangerous rut with those two draws and a win this weekend will cement our place as being well out the other side.

Unbeaten in a fair while. Good stuff. More please!

China1

If we beat Leicester at the weekend that would be fantastic. Firstly the momentum would be really valuable to us but secondly they’re a direct rival for 4th. An extremely valuable 3 points. I’d love a good performance but the 3 points is my concern, get a win over the line any which way and I’ll take it. That would leave us with watford remaining before the likely defeat to liverpool. We need to give 2000% to get these 6 points so that we’re in a really solid place before the pool game and won’t have to be too bothered… Read more »

China1

Leicester
Watford
Liverpool
Newcastle
Utd

My target would be a minimum of 8 points from this run. The main priority needs to be wins against watford and Newcastle and at least draws with Leicester and Utd. Liverpool would love a result but let’s not expect anything, it would be a bonus to get anything.

First things first tho, Leicester. Would be a brilliant 3 points if we can get them

China1

It’s then Everton Southampton and west ham so this run of games will tell us a lot about how our season is likely to pan out.

MidwestGun

Yep China.. and over the Arteta reign it seems like every time we are about to break out of the mid table doldrums.. We lose. Crushing any positivity I might be feeling. Time to break that cycle.

China1

If we’re still hanging in there within a few points of top 4 by Christmas that will be a job well done to that extent. Let’s see how it goes.

If we can get to Christmas within 3 points of top 4 then I propose we adopt a Christmas tree table for the remainder of the season to ensure we get over the finish line lol

China1

Midwest yeah we’ve been stung too many times to be that hopeful anymore

But let’s beat Leicester. 3 points here and the mood is good at least for now!

China1

The problem with Eddie is arteta wants him to stay but doesn’t much want him to play 😅

Therein lies the issue…

Sid

Eddie Nketiah it top talent

Leedsgunner

If Arteta isn’t going to give Martinelli and Balogun game time we need to send them out on loan in January so they get minutes under their feet and restore their confidence. Based on last night’s performance it appears that Nketiah’s locked in the “third” striker position. Strange if true, considering he hasn’t committed his future to the club. It makes me think, I wonder if Nketiah is close to signing a new contract… maybe Arteta is giving him game time to convince him? Do I think Nketiah has a genuine long time future at the club? No… but neither… Read more »

Leedsgunner

Bournemouth, Fulham and West Brom the top three in the Championship right now.

If they are still there come January I can see them very interested in taking our youngsters out on loan…

Leedsgunner

That is, our youngsters like Martinelli and Balogun…

Sid

Nketiah should replace Laca in the team ASAP.

Sid

Ode was a waste of money we should have kept Willock.

bacaryisgod

Could history repeat itself and we let a young striker leave the club only to later star at Newcastle? Could Eddie be the next Andy Cole?

China1

Eddie has grown on me a lot since the end of last season. I suspect we will regret it if he goes on a free He might never be world class but I do suspect he will be a good reliable PL suitable CF. Auba is surely on his last legs and laca not far off plus his contract situation… I’d be fine with us losing both at the end of the season, buying a fantastic CF and having Eddie as second choice. Second choice should get plenty of minutes for rotating and with injuries + all the cup games… Read more »

China1

Priority this summer for me: Incomings Quality CF who can link up play and score Quality CM Saliba (awwwww yea 😀) If we can sell Pepe, a quality winger who can rotate with both Saka and ESR Cheap backup keeper My priority outgoings would be: Auba Laca Xhaka Chambers Mari Soares Guen That lot would surely fetch 50m combined. Enough to cover or nearly cover a quality CM. The CF would have to come from whatever additional money can be found tho I am fine with us punting on a lesser known diamond in the rough instead of a big… Read more »

China1

Forgot to include Leno in my outgoing list

Samesong

Pepe lacks so much confidence it’s unbelievable.

I wanted to say I was done with him last night, the amount of times he miscontrolled the ball.

Couldnt dribble past a man. He still finds himself in position to provide assists though. Which is brilliant so I lm not going to give up quite yet.

He is a very frustrating player to watch as you know there’s something in there. Right side is definitely not his best position.

China1

Samesong I’ve already given up on Pepe

You can’t be awesome sometimes and shite the rest. It’s better to be a 7/10 every game than it is to fluctuate between a 9 and a 3.

That inconsistency means you simply never know what version of Pepe will show up. He could win you the game or cost you it. I don’t feel comfortable about that arrangement

China1

Players like him and ozil need the rest of the team to be elite to carry them on their bad days

If they’re at Madrid or whatever, fine. A bad day will simply be absorbed by the quality of their team mates and go unpunished. But arsenal are simply not good enough to carry passengers right now. Has been this way since about 2011 or so. If someone would bid 30m for Pepe I’d take the money

Graham62

I’m very old fashioned when it comes to positional play.
If you’re decent with your left foot, play on the left, if you’re decent with your right, play on the right.
Both Pepe and Martinelli do the same thing. They cut inside to get on their stronger side. It’s very frustrating from a layman’s perspective.
Arteta is so regimental.
Where’s the flexibility. No wonder we don’t create much.

Samesong

China it almost felt yesterday and I’m not trying to bash Pepe. Our good play broke down as soon as we passed the ball out to him. It was so frustrating, because you want to see all the player’s doing well.

There was a cross into the box in the second half and how did the ball bounce off his leg like that lol. Luckily it went to one of our player’s.

Graham62

Believe it or not that was a special goal from Nketiah last night.
Where he was, what he had to do to bring the ball under control was first rate. Yes, the finish was fortunate but the rest was superb.

Keep Eddie and give him more game time.

Graham62

I would play Pepe as a lone striker on occasions.

Again, where’s the flexibility?

Sid

Nketiah was exceptional in the under 18s, considering he didnt have a physical advantage, it means his touch and football intelligence is good.

Tony

Leicester 3
Watford 3
Liverpool 0
Newcastle 3
Utd 2/3

China I’d want 11 points from the above if we’re going to mount a serious CL birth challenge.

Watched Leicester a couple of times and they look a bit out of sorts with Madison 8 months without a goal. I feel we can do to Leicester what we did to Villa.

United are there for the taking as long as Ole holds out.

Tony

That’s assuming Arteta doesn’t tinker or change formation. Keep 442 or 433 and keep it tight with our pressing.

I can hope, can’t I?

The Bard

A tough game and good win. Not sure why we were risking ESR unless Arteta is prioritising the cup over the league. On the downside £72m for Pepe looks like a stitch up of humongous proportions.

kjelli

Leno the MotM for me, then AMN and Eddie NK . Holding is eager to drive things forward !! and is
more assured on the ball . Eddie must pass the ball sooner and could learn from Laca..

Pierre

“Believe it or not that was a special goal from Nketiah last night. Where he was, what he had to do to bring the ball under control was first rate. Yes, the finish was fortunate but the rest was superb.” . Exactly Graham ….Berkampesque And his goal v wimbledon was kanuesque. And his goal v watford was Henryeaque That’s the level of finishing that Eddie is capable of IF GIVEN THE CHANCE . it will have to be injuries that will open the door for him, the way it was injuries that opened tge door for smith rowe and tavares… Read more »

Samesong

Pierre

Eddie was never going to miss that. The goal looks even more special the way he scuffs at it.
Eddie looks a much stronger player now. Given time I’m sure he will get his chance.

Bob N16

Tony – Maddison scored in his last match

China- agree with your changes although I’d buy another RB and sell Holding and give Ballard a chance. Tomy could cover at CB if we have a decent alternative at RB.

AFC Forever

Pierre People forget Eddie broke Shearer’s record for the England U21. You don’t do that if you don’t have an eye for goal. He first touch for the goal was pure class & instinctive. Arteta is demanding, he expects players to work hard to press and close spaces. .Eddie has been working on that, he said it himself. The team in the whole is getting better at that through coaching,. .That’s something Eddie did well yesterday’s Its one of the reasons Laca is so important, he leads by example & that’s good for the young strikers. It’s up to Eddie… Read more »

Pierre
AFC Forever

Bob N16

We got what we both wanted last night. Players stepping up & proving we have competition. Thought the desire and intensity in the second half was impressive. My son was at the game, he said the atmosphere was electric again.

Tony

Thanks Bob I was flitting between the Spud’s and Leicester games so missed it. What I saw of Madison didn’t make me worry. To be fair I’d have preferred Tielemans over Madison. Anyway, still say we beat them if we play as we did against Villa. LCFC aren’t playing much above Villa at the moment. We have the players for the starting 11 to beat anyone below the Bin Dippers and City right now. We’re a couple of seasons before we can go toe to toe with those 2 getting a fair share of wins. Few more acquisitions to add… Read more »

Graham62

It’s great when you see Nketiah smile.

There’s definite improvements in his overall game.

Looks so much stronger.

Can I credit Arteta for this?

Need to see him more, even at the expense of Aubameyang and Lacazette.

Pierre

Very little passing ( pissing about ) along the back line and keeper the last 2 games which is refreshing to see.. Ben white did do his best impression of Franz Beckenbauer last night…most impressive. AMN did himself no harm last night, he is slowly showing that he can play the midfield role and having such speed in the middle of the pitch means his recovery pace is 2nd to none. The defence , despite many changes, never looked like conceding once we got our noses in front, which is a good sign. Pepe was poor and Martinelli only slightly… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Arsenal’s best performance in first half came from Leno. He made two excellent saves and his general distribution was better than we have seen for a very long time. In the second half we did more pressing and our performance level improved. However, I was not that impressed by our forward line. Pepe was poor and Martinelli has in my view regressed from the player that I watched in first season. The only real contribution made by Nketiah was his goal, which was a fairly scruffy affair. That is not justification for giving the player a new contract unless the… Read more »

China1

Eddie, much like Martinelli, will only have an arsenal career if the stars align.

Arteta doesn’t rate him highly

He absolutely trashed Martinellis confidence and look where he is now. Credit to Eddie because he’s looking better than ever in spite of not being rates by the manager