Arsenal (A) - Sun 2nd Feb, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[alexmcity]

Arsenal need the 3 pts more than us, as they still hope they can win the title. This is good for us: Arsenal will have to take risks and leave free spaces. Here comes Savinho with his pace and ability to evade challenges and go past players. I'd be surprised if he didn't feature.

I know we want goals from Marmoush, but he himself says he can play at 10 and 8. Pep will probably try him there at some point.

 

[robbieh]

Ederson

Khusanov Akanji Stones Gvardiol
Nuñes Kovacic Bernardo
Foden Haaland Marmoush

Savinho
Bobb
De Bruyne

 

[lightning Rodri]

No KDB? You’d play Nunes in midfield ahead of him?

As a Right wing back, not in midfield.Nunes, Bernardo, Foden, Marmoush and Gvardiol to press them.
Marmoush is taking the KDB role. KDB and Savinho to come in around 60 mins.

 

[Marvin.]

--------------Ederson
Khusanov--Stones---AKanji---Gvardiol
---------Kovacic--Grealish
----------Foden--Bernardo
---------Marmoush-Haaland

Savinho to come off the bench after 60 mins.

I would be worried about Khusanov at right back but given their set-pieces and ability on the left with Martinelli and Trossard I think you need a quick and competitive right back. Nunes is a bigger risk than Khusanov. We could do with Dias coming back and playing Akanji at right back but I doubt he will be fit.

 

[SWP's back]

Just please don’t start Gundogan.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Just please don’t start Gundogan.

Or KDB. Adding Marmoush means KDB can be on the bench most games now. We need to up the energy of the team.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Ederson

Stones
Akanji
Khusanov
Gvardiol

Kovacic
Bernardo
Foden

Marmoush
Savinho
Haaland

Arsenal are no great shakes, I'm recent weeks they've scrapped results against Ipswich and Wolves, Dumped out of the FA Cup by 10 men Rags and absolutely taken apart by Newcastle in the League Cup. They are also missing Saka who is their biggest threat.

We aren't playing well at all obviously but we have more than enough to beat this Arsenal team.

Apparently Arsenal do a job on Haaland, Last time I checked he has 3 goals in 5 games against them in the Premier League, Now they've to try to keep an eye on Haaland and Marmoush...I'm confident.

Come On City!!!!

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

No way will Khusanov be playing after last weeks audition.

 

[SWPISHOME]

No way will Khusanov be playing after last weeks audition.

It will either be Khusanov at centre back alongside Akanji with Stones at right back.

OR

Stones at centre back with Akanji with Nunes at right back.

What are you hoping for regarding the back four?

I wonder will legohead go for Martinelli on the left as he's normally being played right wing with Trossard on the left. I think Nunes would do OK against Trossard, Not so sure against Martinelli...That Nwaneri kid they have is dangerous too.

 

[Semper aggressus]

………………….Ederson
Nunes….Stones……Akanji….Gvardiol
…………………Kovacic
…………Foden……….Grealish
Savinho…………………….Marmoush
………………Haaland

 

[Really_here]

Nice to see we're back to a majority voting for a win , we're on the way back !!

 

[TShed]

Don’t start Gundogen

If Silva has to play then him and Foden play in the middle

Pep will never do this but I’d use this game to try and grind out a 0-0 as preparation for CL

Plus a point at the arse would be ok

I’d just pack the midfield and leave Erling up front just to distract them

 

[DMA's]

Realistically one of kdb/foden/marmoush/ savinho won’t start this game. If I had to guess today I’d say it will be savinho on the bench.

Ederson

Nunes (unfortunately no option really)
Stones
Akanji
Gvardiol

Bernardo
Kovacic
Kdb

Foden
Haaland
Marmoush

Think arsenal win 2 0

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Ederson

Akanji
Kushanov
Stones
Gvardiol

Kovacic
Bernardo
Foden

Savinho
Haaland
Marmoush

Kdb only an impact player in the games against better opposition imo now try and play with more legs before throwing him on.

 

[mosssideblue]

Come on @malg lets have your prediction early

 

[Nevizade]

It might work. My worry is that both Kevin and Phil are more attacking players than midfielders and will often leave Kova and Bernie a bit lonely in midfield, even if they are instructed to play deeper.

Unfortunately, we don't have many options in midfield. We need a better version of Gundo next to Kova and Bernie. One option would be to move Foden in midfield, he can run and pass, and play Savinho on the right instead of Kevin. On paper that might be more attacking, but Savinho can help Nunes more than Kevin.

Also, an in form Grealish would be an option too, but Pep doesn't seem to fancy him, PSG aside.

Something like this is not unlikely:

--‐----Kova-----Bernie

Foden-‐--Marmoush-----Grealish

------------------Haaland

Looking at this makes it so frustrating that Grealish is seemingly not an option. Would bring so much balance to our midfield.

 

[youngbob]

We've got to play on the break. Unsure that we will. Don't really see us holding Arsenal out, to be honest.

Ederson
Akanji, Khusanov, Stones, Gvardiol
Kovacic, Bernardo
Foden, Marmoush, Savinho
Haaland

 

[Lee the Blue]

Hopefully we wont roll out the OAP central midfield we started with last night - if we do we will get hammered.

Foden and/or Bernardo need to be in the middle here with the new holding midfielder that we (havent) signed protecting the back 4 from the.....oh wait, we still havent signed anyone to address the most glaring weakness imaginable.

With our squad as it currently is, we need Arsenal to have an off day and we need to take every half chance that falls our way to get anything here. A fixture Im absolutely dreading tbh.

 

[Claytop]

Guessing no chance of a Dias or Ake recovery?

Either one and I imagine we'd play

Akanji Stones Dias/Ake Gvardiol.

 

[David Silva #21]

Tough game. A draw would be pleasant too. They have no injury crisis. ( only Saka )

Would like to see the line-up who played against Brugge at second half. ( Maybe Marmoush on the left wing )