ROTATION WITH A SPRINKLING OF FIRST TEAM FOR FA CUP

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FA CUP 3rd ROUND DAY!

The best cup competition in the world kicks off today, we have ourselves a lovely trip to the River Trent to take on the storied Nottingham Forest. Arguably one of the best club names in the game.

What do we expect from them? A big attempt at a performance. They are smack bang in the middle of the Championship, they’ve won their last 3, their players will be looking to shine brightly whilst the whole of the UK is watching on ITV a bit later.

Arsenal will be playing a very young side because there’s no choice. COVID issues, knocks, and some big games coming up will mean heavy rotation. When you have to heavily rotate, you can’t guarantee you’ll maintain performance, so we have to be prepared for the evening to be tough.

Rumours have it that Biereth, Salah, Hutchinson, and Patino will be on the bus. BIG rumours that the conductor of the 2022 hype train, Charlie Patino, could actually make his first start for the club. That would be special, he has everyone at Arsenal buzzing about his talent, and he even has his own song with the fans. I don’t think we’ve been more sure about a second coming since Jack Wilshere.

Outside that, who knows what the team will look like, but my assumption is it’s going to be all about the fringe players. Bernd Leno, Holding, Soares, Tavares at the back. Midfield will probably have to be Patino and Lokonga for the minutes. But somewhere along the line there’s going to have to be some first-teamers you’d rather keep fresh. The Smith, Odegaard, and maybe Benny Blanco spring to mind.

Personally, I’m looking for the same thing I always do during heavy rotation periods. All 11 players dropping performances like they want to be considered for the Spurs and Liverpool games. Healthy squads create the feeling that everyone could start. Unhealthy squads see these games as an imposition. As I said many times last season, players like David Luiz used to think they were above games like this, so they’d not show up. In healthy squads, they all go there to do the business.

IN OTHER NEWS

Ainsley made his move over to Roma to play under the delightful Jose Mourinho. I don’t really have much to say on this outside, I REALLY HOPE HE DOES WELL. It never worked out for Ains, the killer blow to his career was saying no to the right-back role which could have been lucrative for him. Still, going to Rome could be good. That league lacks power, so he’ll have a leg up on the intensity. If he’s playing well, he’ll have to up his concentration. All things he’s young enough to manage.

We’ve been linked to some midfielder in Brazil. Those rumours really do nothing for me. Their league makes Italy look intense, so it’s really hard to work out which players you can bring from over there that would make it here.

Midfield is such an interesting position to recruit for. We need a body for the now, but really, only for emergency reasons. So who are they going to buy cover for? And is it cover, or someone that can challenge Xhaka and Partey next season? Or, will they look for a midfielder that does something different to the other two. Someone that is more of a specialist for certain types of games? Is Arsenal building out two squads of players that do that same things, or are they building out a chessboard of pieces that can cover off the different types of games we struggle in?

Who knows, but if Arteta is to be believed, we’ll find out in the next 3 weeks.

Right, that’s me done, have fun in the comments x

 

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Time Up

KT warning up.

Zacharse

give the 2nd string a half to warm up, bunch of these players havent [played in a while

Time Up

He’s taking Tavares off. GOOD

LeMassiveCoq

Tuvares rightly dragged off. Good management from Tets.. lad was having a shocker, looks half asleep..

MidwestGun

Tavares getting the hook.. looks like.

Dissenter

For all of Tavares mistake, he’s not the only one playing poorly
Patino has been invisible too in the middle too

Spanishdave

Tierney on early says it all

Nuno injured?

Chris

That’s a Mourinho substitution. Ruthless

Luteo Guenreira

Patino needs more time. Feel a little light in midfield so far today.

Unoni

Harsh on the lad
Not sure I rate him as highly as others but that’s a bit fucking ott

That must be embarrassing as a player. But Nuno is on thin ice as he could go either way, shit hot or shit. And right now I’m leaning more towards shit. But he’s young and it is his first season.

Dissenter

I think Tavares is injured, the physios walked him to the bench to attend to him.

Spanishdave

Eddy off too he’s doing nothing

Buzzy

Nkiteah is the most nothing player ever…never fails to not inspire…absolutely passive

Samesong

Proper management there.

andy1886

Nuno not happy. Not going to do his confidence any good.

Zacharse

injury?

Samesong

Nkiteah is the most nothing player ever…never fails to not inspire…absolutely passive

Will probably score though.

Time Up

That was ruthless sub but needed. I loved it. Uncle Arsene would have rathered lose the game than hurt Tavares feeling.

MidwestGun

I never thought I would ever ever say this… but Granit has to start versus Spuds in the NLD… Hopefully he gets over the Covid. Thats how short we are in midfield.. though… Im advocating for Granit.. hahaha Oh man..

Samesong

Nuno not happy. Not going to do his confidence any good

Why? He will need to play better next time.

Matt

I genuinely forgot Patino was on the pitch.

Dissenter

I wonder why we didn’t delay AMN’s exit to Roma. He would have been useful today.

Raulishuss

Tr7 was telling us not so long how shite tierney was and tavares was better. That guy eh!

Leedsgunner

Why are we putting in crosses? Do they think Nketiah’s 6 feet 7?

Luteo Guenreira

That might be the earliest non-injury related sub from Arteta I can remember. Tavares upset and rightfully so. Surprising to say the least. He was having a shocker so far though so hopefully he’ll learn from it.

Unoni

Should have put Tavares up front and took Eddie off
Kid has nothing outside the final touch

Berg10kamp

Nuno was drifting infield too much instead of overlapping causing patino to overlap. Seems like he wasn’t listening to instructions.

MidwestGun

The ball keeps dropping to Rob Holdinho of all people to shoot. Like 3 times now..

andy1886

Samesong, think I would have given a little longer to settle. Not great but hardly a disaster. A little harsh for me. The ironic thing is Tierney picks up a knock now then Nuno will have to play in the PL…

Unoni

Tr7 was telling us not so long how shite tierney was and tavares was better. That guy eh!

Not one of his better takes

Graham

Patina skilfully moving around to make sure he is never where the ball is. Remind me of Walcott when he was kid on confidence.

Tavares suffered for playing where Arteta was standing and ignoring his instructions.

Graham

Or even Patino

In fairness to TR7 in Nuno’s first few games he looked good, Def one for the future. Unfortunately last few games he’s had he’s been distinctively average

Dissenter

Tierney is more one dimensional, even though he’s more experienced and reliable, relative to Tavares.
Tavares is a more complete footballer, he needs to work on his decision making and concentration.

Bob N16

Any offers for Holding?

I could see us losing this

Samir

I know he’s only a kid but Patino really is avoiding the ball here as someone said ^^.

Always in an area that you can’t pass to…guessing he must be nervous. Hope he grows into the game soon.

MidwestGun

Yep Tavares looked brilliant for at least 3 games.. maybe 4.. HIs deision making is mostly his problem.. but that shot on Leno showed his head wasnt in the game today..

GD

What is Nketiah doing?
Slip or no slip that was unnecessary

Time Up

Is there something wrong?. We can’t do a simple pass.

Spanishdave

Patino is letting himself down.badly.

TR7

Raul See you don’t understand football, stop yapping at me. Tavares has not played for over a month, probably not fully fit either by the looks of it. You think it’s all so easy not playing a game for weeks and then coming in and hit the ground running eh ? And my praise for Tavares was with regard to the way he runs with the ball going forward and how that helps us better than the crosses from wide in. Anyway you won’t understand any of this, so yeah kind of waste of my energy here explaining stuff to… Read more »

Unoni

ssenterJanuary 9, 2022 17:52:27 Tierney is more one dimensional, even though he’s more experienced and reliable, relative to Tavares. Tavares is a more complete footballer, he needs to work on his decision making and concentration. Dissenter Really? You genuinely think Tavares is a more complete left back than Kieran Tierney? Tierney can read the game so we’ll he is at home at centre half for arsenal and Scotland. He can read the game, head, tackle, pass, cross, dribble, shoot. He’s the epitome of the complete full back. Don’t get me wrong, Tavares is more threatening with his page and dribbling… Read more »

GD

What are you guys on about regarding Patino?
What game are you people watching?
Kid has been solid

andy1886

Looking like we did earlier in the season when we lacked creativity. No-one’s mentioned it but Odegaard has been invisible, he should be dominating games like this.

Buzzy

Funny part about Patino is he walks into a an occupied zone from a free one and then asks for the ball.

G8

Sure Nuno was having a shokcer, he was feeling nervous as well, Arteta barking orders on his face and waving up his arms towards him wasn’t helping either.
Should have tried to calm him down and hook him off at half-time.
What a tool !

Luteo Guenreira

Forest manager looks like he hasn’t stopped drinking since he was 12.

Samir

After this game Arteta will be in even more of a hurry to get a CM in.

Neither Lokonga nor Patino are good enough yet.
We need Xhaka and Partey back ASAP.

Bit harsh on Patinho. The team in general hasn’t been good , plus it’s only his 3rd or so game for first team

GD

People saying Ode and Patino have been absent are clearly watching football with blindfolds.
It’s a cagey affair against a team playing ten men behind the ball and playing on the counter.
The lads are playing well

Berg10kamp

Yeah patino looks scared. He needs an extperienced partner in midfield, unlucky to have your debut with an inexperienced partner.

Raulishuss

Tavares is more complete? How? People just underrate kieran cuz he comes across as old school but he’s one of the most complete and productive lb in the league.

Left Testicle

Poor game.

Holding and Soares poor. Lightweight in midfield and little movement up front.

Good to see Arteta proactive on the substitution.

Samir

GD
If you’ve ever played football…you’ll know what Patinio is doing. He needs to be taken off at half time.

G

Don’t think patino is avoiding the ball at all.. Martenelli could have passed to him a few times but chose other options… you only have to watch him for 5 minutes to see he’s a player

GD

Who is calling Xhacrap?
He would’ve been red carded by now with his shirt pulling and getting done for pace. Really engaging game.
Loving the chess match

MidwestGun

A lot of nothing going on for either team really. The game still highlights we need a cm and a striker. So nothing new really… we should wear them down second half hoepfully.

They mostly only look dangerous from counter attacking off our failed corner kicks.. we need to clean that up.

Spanishdave

Andy a lot of our players look half arsed.
You can’t just expect to win these.
Up tempo

Dissenter

Unoni
That’s why I said TIerney is more reliable You know what you get with Tierney, no more no less

With Tavares, he’s does some offensively that gets to you to the edge of your seat.

Tavares needs games to get better, games he will struggle to get when completing with Tierney fir starts.

Samesong

I know he’s only a kid but Patino really is avoiding the ball here as someone said ^^.

What game are you watching? Noone wants to pass the ball to him. He is always looking for a pass. I reckon he will be a little frustrated that the players are ignoring playing the ball to him.

Samir

Patino*

TR7

Tavares kept Tierney out for 4 league games, must have been doing something good then right ? Tavares is more menacing going forward when he is at it. Tierney more disciplined and defensively solid but quite predictable going forward.

Samesong

And by the way against Sunderland they hardly passed the ball to him Patino isn’t avoiding shit!!

Goonah

Even I want Xhaka to start the NLD and I hate the dude, but thats just a testament how abysmal our midfield is.

Samir

Samsong
The reason no one is passing to him is because he’s walking into crowded areas …

Berg10kamp

Not saying patino is shyt. But as said anyone who has played football can see he is avoiding getting passed to and making nervous gestures instead of calling for the ball and looking for action.

Mozi

KT is one of the top 5 left backs in the league. Taveres has a long way to go to get to his level

Berg10kamp

Eventually his team mates will see this and not pass to him as they scared he might make a mistake

TR7

Patino is playing alongside another kid in Lokonga, not an ideal set up for your first game.

Buzzy

No one is passing the ball to Patino because hes asking for it when he is surrounded by 4 opposition players. That’s fake courage. The kid needs to man up. And trust me I’m a big fan.

Bob N16

Criticism of Patiño is a joke. He’s playing safe when he’s had the ball but he’s constantly trying to receive the ball.

Chris

Tavares is an excellent prospect for the future but has has had a shocker today. Perhaps a touch harsh to take him off on half an hour but certainly at half time. No issue with it at all.

Dissenter

Honestly, if an early substitution was the panacea then half the team should have been subbed off by the half hour.
Tavares was but unlucky with the substitution He may yet have grown into the game.

You’ll expect the team to get the message when Tavares was taken off, even then we still slept-walked our way through that first half.

Forest have done their homework and look well organized. We are empty in the middle, game may have come too early for Patino.

andy1886

Dave, yeah we don’t look like we’re taking it as seriously as we should. Need to step it up.

Samir

Quite worrying the drop in quality from Tomi/Tierney to Cedric/Tavares.

And Xhaka/Partey to back up CM options.
We need better back up players.

Samesong

Samsong
The reason no one is passing to him is because he’s walking into crowded areas …

Dont agree
He is trying make space. By checking back.

Samesong

Criticism of Patiño is a joke. He’s playing safe when he’s had the ball but he’s constantly trying to receive the ball

Exactly Bob.

TeeCee

This game totally re-enforces the view that Eddie the Feather is a championship player at best, he’d struggle to get 10 goals a season for Forest even

I keep telling you it’s the spuds like kit. Turned us into the spuds 🤮

andy1886

TBH we can’t be as poor in the second half, I still fancy us to win this one, I don’t see much threat from Forest.

Left Testicle

Forest manager looks like a crackhead.

Raulishuss

Tr7 you might think you know stuffs but you should watch the game more and stop been knee jerk, sorry scratch the knee. Your takes are usually starting the obvious or talking mostly trash. I’m just here to remind you everytime it’s the later

S Asoa

Patino will improve instantly, if Laca comes in. He was not avoiding at the start, but after being ignored totally, looks like confidence is shot. So after 15 minutes has been hiding, which is correct

WengerEagle

Patino has done fine considering his age and the typd of game this is.

Really poor one if we are honest. Hopefully turn it on come the 2nd half.

Spanishdave

Laca on maybe.

G

‘’ Sure Nuno was having a shokcer, he was feeling nervous as well, Arteta barking orders on his face and waving up his arms towards him wasn’t helping either.
Should have tried to calm him down and hook him off at half-time.
What a tool !‘’

Love the fact that he took him off.. the way he was playing he was gona cost us and MA acted.. Old Jose used to do that all the time

@Raullihuss

There’s no need for that mate is their! We all have opinions people don’t agree on.

Samir

No one is passing the ball to Patino because hes asking for it when he is surrounded by 4 opposition players. That’s fake courage. The kid needs to man up. And trust me I’m a big fan.

Buzzy – agreed. Also a big fan of Patino. I hope he grows in confidence if Arteta keeps him on.

Nigel Tufnel

Our first team needs some minutes. 2 weeks off will not be good before Tottenham away.

We are short handed and some of you are being short sighted. Thursday to Saturday will be tricky and I don’t envy Arteta making those decisions.

AFC Forever

GD

Yep agree. Odegaatd has played well, some of his passing has been good. Arsenal lack rhythm which is expected with the eleven out there. Forest playing a low block which every knows is hard to break down. Centre mid we are lightweight though, they’re a physical side and Patino is taking a massive step up., it’s why they all go on loan. I expect Lacazette on soon, we need his physical strength and experience. We’ve still controlled the game, they’ve not really had any foothold in the game.

Dissenter

TeeCee
‘ This game totally re-enforces the view that Eddie the Feather is a championship player at best, he’d struggle to get 10 goals a season for Forest even’

Nah
It’s proof you don’t like the lad or maybe, you’re trying to draw Pierre into defending him.
Eddie has had nothing to work with because we’ve been muzzled from the wings and absent in the middle.

TR7

Yeah Raulishuss you are such a sage that everyone here waits for your takes with baited breath.

Habesha Gooner

People are so knee jerk. Patino is 45 minutes in FFS.

Samir

TeeCee
Agreed. Eddie is no way suited to the way we want to play.
I hope he leaves this window.

Time Up

I can’t believe Samir “who played the game” telling us Patino hiding while the midfield congested even Odegaard can’t find space to move. Is Odegaard hidings too???.

MidwestGun

Patino looks ok to me… However the shots Holding is taking is where Patino should be in the positioning. He doesnt have enough gametime to read the game even as much as Lokonga.. Loko had a shot headed towards goal that was blocked. However we will need cm’s very soon. If Patino is just going to be our backline screener ..and destroyer.. we are in trouble. He is not really in the flow though.. I do think Tierney was subbed in to help him out. Maybe second half will be better for him… early days.

Nigel Tufnel

Holding 1 good pass .. 3 terrible passes so far.
Makes you appreciate how Gabriels passing and distribution have come on in just 1 season.