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
We could have done with AMN today alongside Lokonga. Wish him well at Roma badly treated by tets
Again, hard to see it with Nketiah, just very hard to see what else asides the tap ins
Forest started off like they wanted to kick everything and anything that moved , the crowd were boistrous and i think we did a good job quietening the home crowd down and forest were frustrated after a bright opening 10 mins.. We passed our way back into the game , we controlled the tempo but there was little zip in the final 3rd. The right back has Martinelli in his pocket atm , so i expect him to come inside a little more , the same with saka , both playing too wide. Push saka and Martinelli into the inside… Read more »
Time up
Ode is playing the no 10 role. And trying to find space out wide.
This is the wrong game for Patino.
Those Forest 6.5 and 20 stones donkeys would tire out in the second half.
Andy
Yep they’ve had no threat just trying to play a low block to blunt us. We’re old enough to know sometimes these games are wars so we’ve controlled them well really considering personnel. Great thing is it shows how we need to strengthen centre midfield and central striker either Jan or Summer.
I knew Tierney would come in, but that was early. Tavares doing something Arteta not liking?
Martinelli should back himself more and try to cut inside. Too many instances of him taking the easy option of passing the ball back
Harsh comments on Patino above. TBH, I think the lad will probably suit more of a CAM role than CDM. Looks too lightweight for that role. He will obvs have lots of competition with ESR and Ode..
Anyone suggesting Tierney is not currently > Tuvares doesn’t know football..
Worried about our midfield this month with Partey and Elneny at AFCON and AMN at Roma.
They’ve realized they can bully us into playing hurriedly
We have to up the tempo and move the ball around quickly.
We don’t like playing in white..Cant see the.numbers totally non.- aggresiive..
Agree that we’re missing a focal point in attack that Laca would help with.
Bati
Eddie has been invisible as per. He can be Lewandowski II in Pierre’s eyes all he wants in the Carabao Cup but when he is asked to step up in the more important games he always flatters to deceive.
We need Laca on for Eddie.. that would change this game
This is the wrong game for Patino.
This is where you earn your stripes. Conor Gallagher got battered yesterday but still kept going. Good experience for the lad.
Pierre coming to tell us it’s not Eddie fault he’s limited, it’s Saka and Martinelli’s fault.
Insane man.
Torreira, Guendouzi and AMN on loan. Partey and Elneny at AFCON.
Their RB is useful
Time Up
I saw that and laughed.
Had a pop at Martinelli of course who he didn’t rate before last month and not a word against his pet Eddie
Nketiah is more lazy than Aubameyang.
Back, back ,back, yawn
‘Nketiah is more lazy than Aubameyang.’
No mate, you’re mistaking lazy for not good enough!!
This is the type of game that we cannot afford to go behind
Holding running in treacle. 🏃♂️
Their RB is a Wan Bissaka clone.
Maybe send Laca on for Patino to create some chaos in the Forest defence.
Wow.. Holding got left in the dust.
Terrible, we need Laca.
No shit Dissenter lad.
Yes Spence is looking like a potential top RB or wing back.
Is pepe at afcon? Nobody mentions him
Sub incoming.
Do we need to spend some dish ! Fast
Diss
Tierney is no1 choice. Tavares is a more attacking tactical option as tomi clearly will never be Cafu.
One day Tavares may progress into a fine attacking full back but for me, as things stand, his footballing brain isn’t there.
Tr7
Was Tierney not injured for those 4 games Tavares played? Don’t get me wrong, he was refreshing but he doesn’t offer what Tierney does. Tierney and Saka were our best players last season and most arsenal fans called
For him to be made captain.
We really are not at the races today. Not good
Pepe at Afcon yep..
“ This is the type of game that we cannot afford to go behind”
Straight out of the Michael Owen book of obvious observations!
Some people are waiting poised to be offended. Nobody is having a go at patino or saying he is a bad player. All they are saying is that he has been anonymous, which he has.
Eddie!
Left T This is the wrong game for Patino. 100% with you on that . What we are witnessing is the folly of expecting so much from young and experienced players. Nketiah is at his level. If anyone thinks he is of the quality needed for higher echelons of the PL they are sadly mistaken. Tavares today looked the player that Benfica supporters suggested Arsenal had purchased. Lookonga looks lost and without that added bit of experience the team whilst maybe not second best certainly doesn’t look like the higher division club This Forest team are no more than workman… Read more »
Wow, Eddie you need to do better than that mate
Good clearance from Nketiah.
Nketiah absolute sitter.
Eddy wasn’t ready
That was horrible
Eddie not the best header… thats for sure.
I think it was Saka cross that at fault of Eddie not scoring.
Rofl..if that doesnt prove Eddie is not even a championship level player, then nothing will
Eddie showing exactly why we need to buy a top CF
It’s been a so-so game. Saka best player so far. Sambi and pat no chemistry but it’s to be expected. Need more from ode,eddie and gabi
Lokonga looks rusty.. Artetas fault.
This officiating is just what we expect. Saka clearly taken out
G, Hooking Nuno off at 35 mins is very bad management, whatever way you want to look at it,
He didn’t even try to show him any consolation
That’s poor management for young players.
Jose he is not!
The whole team was playing shit anyway!
And still are
Was that not a foul on Saka. practically ripped his shirt off?
I’ll keep saying it Eddie…….championship level
Unoni
Assuming you are un nai (D.O.N), I welcome you back.
Don’t go by what Raulishuss says. He talks shit all the time. What I have always said is Tavares is more direct when he runs with the ball going forward which I prefer compared to Tierney’s style of crossing the ball in.
I can see this going in.
No Matt, no Arsenal player was good. Picking on an 18 year old making his debut, accusing him of deliberately making runs into traffic to effectively hide, was really out of order in my opinion.
Nketiah is nowhere as good as he thinks he is.
@AFC
When it happens 5 yards from the linesman, so blatantly but still not given, you do wonder
Can’t head a ball yet Pierre would have you believe this chump should be starting league games. Perfect ball by Saka and his response is deer in headlights. We better buy a striker this month.
That’s actually a penalty on Saka the trip in the box.
The ref has no control on this game. And Is going full on notts Forest
World class safe from Lino.
Can we send Mikel home? We seem to play better when he’s sick at home
Fuck me, their manager has just woken up….
What’s holding doing?
@TeeCee
Ready for his next fix 🤣
That’s a face only a mother can love.
We are really playing shite, why?
When he was born the nurse slapped the mother!
Holding is having a disaster. Forest are letting him bring the ball out as they know his progressive passes lead to a turnover in possession.
Soares is also having a nightmare.
Bob
I really don’t think anyone is picking on him, just making observations.
It really wasn’t the right game for him and I’m sure Arteta is dying to take him off but doesn’t want to do it too early for fear of messing his confidence
We should be doing so much better. This is really really poor.
For the next month our midfield options are Sambi, Patino and Xhaka. Just think about that for a minute. 😬
Lazy passes from White and Saka.
Shows how much we miss Tomi, he offers so much
11 milkmen. A load of old cobbler’s …..
Rusty players in an FA cup tie against a championship side is not a recipe for success.
Arteta seems yet again paralyzed on the touch line when his plan is not working
TYAG
Iit certainly does. As the crowd gets noisier the decisions will follow. We look a bit leggy tempos really slow an cons from the spine. I would bring on Lacazette, we need his physical presence & experience.
Eddie looking for the hat trick. Missed chances with his head and left foot so far – just needs the right foot.
*and comes.
Eddie’s not exactly putting himself in the shop window is he
Eddy has proved one thing today, he is not worthy
We’ve been shocking and I think it’s time to sub off Patino
He’s still an excellent talent who will no dough do good things in his career.
Right now it’s the feeble shoulders of Lokonga trying to do everything and it’s showing.
If this is not the right game for Patino then kindly relievehim. He will have other chances.
We miss any of our starters when they don’t play.. Gabriel, TT, Laca, Partey and no ESR from the bench. It shows.
He’s really a championship level striker isn’t he
@AFC
We need something.
Arteta making the right subs
Patino off and Eddie stays on.
This is embarrassing! We need changes.
Matt, a cup game is usually the perfect opportunity to blood a youngster, it’s not his fault that the players around him are having shocking games.
If any player deserved a free pass it was Patino, focussing on him rather than say Soares or Holding is picking on him, literally.
I won’t say Holding is rusty because he played last week. Just a bad game for him so far.
No one is picking on Patino
He’s not the first young player to have a meh game.
Can’t believe we’re having to bring on the big guns to beat a team 9th in the Championship.
If this is not the right game for Patino then kindly relieve him.
>>>>>>>>>
Whatever floats your boat.
So static unreal
Absolutely no movement up front.
Terrible
Foxy, yep Arteta is to blame for everything. I’ve coached and managed, sometimes it’s on the players mate. They need to be braver, take responsibility. The ball is being moved too slowly, thaelre is a lack of rhythm due to changes. Players have to claim the shirt not go through the motions.