Arsenal (H) - Sun 31st Mar, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[vanchi]

And Braithwaite didn’t play one minute. Great management that. Utter twat

that is simply bizarre. it was the perfect opportunity to test the young players. he’s so weird.

 

[If I die in the Kippax St]

Whoever’s fault it is, international friendlies in March are a farce. By definition these involve the best players, fighting for trophies. They should not have been put in that position. The league could be decided Sunday, it’s an absolute joke.

No it won’t be decided on Sunday with a further 27 pts to play for and all the top 3 will drop points. Nobody will hand us the trophy when we win on Sunday. Twists and turns in the title race will happen. The Tarquins will crumble if not on Sunday and the dippers always balls up against the unexpected teams. City know how to keep going even when the odds are against us.

 

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

That only happens once a season at most. It’s the fact that Arsenal are a big pressing team, and we are probably without a couple of press resistant players, so the playing out from the back is going to be crucial. Ortega wobbling, the defence losing confidence and that could lose us the game. It was the way we dealt with that press and prayed through it that won the home game.

Eddie has the other option of the long/direct ball to Haaland which I think Arsenal might find difficult to deal with. Ortaga isn't bad but he isn't Eddi and we may have lost on both tables ... But last season we were solid at the back and now we don't even know who our "back" is going to be. Let's hope the gooners can't cope with KdB and Erling any better than they did last season.

 

[halfcenturyup]

how bout you leave your xenophobia and bigotry at the door?

i read the forum rules before joining and followed the procedure, according to the rules i am allowed to post here.

if i were fansomething i’d be fangirling btw, but i’m not. gvardiol for example needs to be slapped and is stupid. and that’s just a small, tiny example. but it’s my croatian nationalistic victim complex, sure jan.

anyway, your issues are not my problem, if you can’t refrain yourself from making xenophobic insults ignore button is your friend ;)

and don’t tell me what to do, my boss is the only person in the world that gets to do that during my working hours. and i’m pretty sure you’re not my boss so good luck with asserting your authority on someone who’s not me.

Way to go, V.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Arteta on Saka, Martinelli and Gabriel's chances of facing Man City: "There is a chance. They haven't trained but tomorrow we have another session."

That’s all 3 playing then

As certain as Sunday morning follows Saturday night...

 

[alexmcity]

Eddie has the other option of the long/direct ball to Haaland which I think Arsenal might find difficult to deal with. Ortaga isn't bad but he isn't Eddi

It was the Ortega long ball to Haaland that led to that Gundo goal in the FA Cup final...

 

[kaz7]

It was the Ortega long ball to Haaland that led to that Gundo goal in the FA Cup final...

The only time his long ball reached a blue shirt , he is bad 99% of the time kicking long

 

[SWPISHOME]

Ederson

Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Ake

Rodri
Kovacic
De Bruyne

Foden
Grealish
Haaland

Although Gvardiol hasn't played at centre back for us yet, I think it's a must that it's Nathan Ake that's at left back against Saka. Gvardiol is a natural centre back so he'll be fine, He's still raw playing at the left back position.

Grealish ahead of Ake also ahead of Doku.

Rodri, KDB, Foden, Grealish, Haaland ect incredible players, We'll get the job done!

CITY CITY CITY

 

[Father Paul]

Ederson
Dias
Rodders
KDB
Haaland

That spine strikes fear into any team in world football. As long as those 5 start, you could fill the rest of the team with Under-11's and we'd win most games.

Add a sprinkling of Phil, Jack & Bernie stardust and jobs a good 'un.

Let the bottlers worry about us, get behind the lads and send the shandy drinking southern Jessie's back down the M6 to cry themselves to sleep wailing at the injustice of it all.

The delicious irony of the newly moneyed Northern Oiks, from the wastelands of Manchester sending the old money, self-obsessed, arrogant London tossers back to Tory-land is one of life's joyous blessings.

It's so unfair mummy.

Up the fucking Blues.

The only problem is that apart from Rodders there are question marks over the rest of it on current form and fitness. This will be one of the hardest games of the season and I am hoping we find that little bit of magic to seal the victory over the bottlers.

 

[alexmcity]

For me, it's better to have proper midfielders next to or ahead of Rodri. Stones was brilliant in that role last season, but I won't miss his attempts to receive and play the ball between Rodri and Haaland, as this isn't his best role.

Pep is great partly because he is not afraid to experiment, fail and learn from his mistakes. Thought Stones's positioning at Anfield was wrong and didn't help us. Play Kovacic and Bernie around Rodri. No other CB can do what Stones does, but he isn't a midfielder.

 

[alexmcity]

Ederson

Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Ake

Rodri
Kovacic
De Bruyne

Foden
Grealish
Haaland

Although Gvardiol hasn't played at centre back for us yet, I think it's a must that it's Nathan Ake that's at left back against Saka. Gvardiol is a natural centre back so he'll be fine, He's still raw playing at the left back position.

Grealish ahead of Ake also ahead of Doku.

Rodri, KDB, Foden, Grealish, Haaland ect incredible players, We'll get the job done!

CITY CITY CITY

When did Bernie get injured?

 

[Dobsy]

They’re five points worse off, we’re one point worse off.

Stop talking shite.

We haven't beaten a team in the top 5, and we've drawn and lost to them this season. Two of our starting defenders are out injured. They have the best defence in the league.

Maybe you should stop talking shite.

Mods - nice to see my original response deleted cos I bit back but this response is still up, good balanced approach there

 

[IBlue]

Walker didn't need to play, Wastecoat could've played someone who'd have benefited from the game time/experience.

Stones should've been a sub for the Belgium game.

Agreed...Pep should've publicly questioned the twat in his presser.

Don't forget the extra minutes in Foden"s legs

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Ederson

Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Ake

Rodri
Kovacic
De Bruyne

Foden
Grealish
Haaland

Although Gvardiol hasn't played at centre back for us yet, I think it's a must that it's Nathan Ake that's at left back against Saka. Gvardiol is a natural centre back so he'll be fine, He's still raw playing at the left back position.

Grealish ahead of Ake also ahead of Doku.

Rodri, KDB, Foden, Grealish, Haaland ect incredible players, We'll get the job done!

CITY CITY CITY

Is Bernardo injured ?

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

And Braithwaite didn’t play one minute. Great management that. Utter twat

Pep has managed Stones injury situation for a couple of seasons now , its very rare he plays midweek as well as weekend games he is usually rotated , step forward Bonehead Southgate and he plays him twice in three days and Stones gets a muscle injury.
Really sums up the difference between Pep and Waistcoat , one uses his knowledge and experience the other is a knobhead.

 

[stonerblue]

His distribution is his problem. It’s nowhere ederson levels and that matters in the big games IMO.

Seems a bit less 'erratic' than Eddy which is also useful in the crunch games.

 

[stonerblue]

ha! Like we did at the Emirates.

No, like we did in last seasons title decider at ours.

 

[kaz7]

Seems a bit less 'erratic' than Eddy which is also useful in the crunch games.

Eddie is a true sweeper keeper , it is what pep wants him to do , the odd muck up is few compared to what he does the majority of the time, you seem to want a more traditional style keeper

 

[stonerblue]

yeah, pulls off some amzing saves but when the balls at his feet a little turd begins to pop out of my arse ;-)

Hahahaha. First laugh of the day ta

 

[stonerblue]

when we play against teams that like to press high up the pitch I often wonder why Eddie doesn’t fire a couple of long balls over the top to Haaland but it’s clear that’s not the way Pep wants to play. He prefers to play out from the back, keep possession and wear opponents down.

I'm another who thinks long ball and wingers could work against these. Phil close to Haaland as well.