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

[bridgeno1]

Where are people who are going drinking before the game?

Where’s best for a nice pint and something to eat that’s relatively near the ground? @bridgeno1

I'd head to Islington High St, loads of restaurants there to take a pick from. Probably 25 mins walk from the stadium but loads of buses heading that way too.

Away pubs are The Drayton Arms and the Twelve Pins.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Same team as started for Chelsea for me.

 

[Bluemoonadam]

Think it'll be 3-1 arsenal our defence is poor.

 

[BuryBlue1977]

I’ve read too many comments that KdB is finished. Absolute nonsense. He’s not playing at his best but he’s still capable of winning the game for us. I would 100% have him in my starting line up

 

[bridgeno1]

Ederson
Nunes Stones Akanji Gvardiol
Kovacic Bernardo
Foden KDB Savinho
Haaland

Bringing on Marmoush during 2nd half to finish the game off. Confident with this one. 3-1 City

Akanji ruled out apparently.

Edit my bad it's Ake.

 

[urban genie]

They are an odd lot of weirdos

 

[N1985]

Still won't win the league even when we're shit. They absolutely bottled it. Twice. Won't get anywhere near it again for another decade.

 

[citytill1die84]

Think it'll be 3-1 arsenal our defence is poor.

So is their attack :-)

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

Under any normal circumstances the way we are at present, I’d be fearful of tomorrow’s game. But given Liverpool’s result puts pressure on them and the overly emotional nature of the team (Gabriel will celebratory fist pump his first clearance), we have a chance. They and their fans are wound up for us. I can see an early red card for them.

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

A tough game of that there is no doubt, and I'm sure you'll get great odds for us blues to lose this one.

However I'm rather optomistic that we will get something out of this game, as for the first time the pressure is all on them to get the result.

Recently all our fixtures against them, has been us going for the league and this time round is on them to keep pace with the dippers.

As others have said I think they'll definately bottle the league, unfortunately thats going to Klanfield.

Hopefully though the bottling of said title means we'll get something out of this game and a nice 1-3 would make the nice bottle of single malt I was bought for Christmas, go down even better than it would, without a City win.

Come on City. CTID

 

[Silva&Silva]

Under any normal circumstances the way we are at present, I’d be fearful of tomorrow’s game. But given Liverpool’s result puts pressure on them and the overly emotional nature of the team (Gabriel will celebratory fist pump his first clearance), we have a chance. They and their fans are wound up for us. I can see an early red card for them.

We've absolutely got into their heads these past few years. They simply don't have the bottle to compete with us and deep down they know it.

 

[noseve]

We must leave at least one of Erling or Mouchie up when they have a corner - preferable both.
The best possible way to keep their defenders honest. We simply cannot afford to allow them to flood our box, with no jeopardy to them.

 

[heslops barnet]

Wonder if we’ve been practicing corners, free kicks, throw ins & shooting this week?

 

[simon23]

Just cant see us getting anything out of ths game...their midfield will run through ours regardless of who we put in there at present.
There other obvious danger is set pieces

For me Gundo can not start....bernardo has to play central and even though its not him at his best and he will struggle there, he is a better option than Gundogan

Marmoush will cause them problems and Im not sure Id even play KDB but also we need his creativity (though he makes us weaker defensively).

Very difficult game.....saka being out is good for us but they are probably still too strong...

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

We must leave at least one of Erling or Mouchie up when they have a corner - preferable both.
The best possible way to keep their defenders honest. We simply cannot afford to allow them to flood our box, with no jeopardy to them.

I’ve never understood why we don’t leave one up, it forces the opposition to leave two back.

 

[aka blue jambo]

Still won't win the league even when we're shit. They absolutely bottled it. Twice. Won't get anywhere near it again for another decade.

Agreed

 

[citizen_maine]

I’ve never understood why we don’t leave one up, it forces the opposition to leave two back.

I can understand not leaving Erling up, as he's one of our best defenders at set pieces, but you'd think we could leave someone, maybe Marmoush?

 

[paulsimpson]

We are not expected to win this really but I fancy us to put up a good show. They fear Erling and if Marmoush gets going along with Savinho and Foden we might upset them.

 

[supercity88]

Some good results for us this weekend. Forest won but Newcastle, Villa and Bournemouth losing means this one is a chance to get a little breathing space in the tough run.

I can see Pep being really pragmatic and quite defensive, knowing the win is vital for them and looking to pick them off with Haaland and Marmoush.

 

[bridgeno1]

We've absolutely got into their heads these past few years. They simply don't have the bottle to compete with us and deep down they know it.

From an Arsenal perspective I disagree mate. My concern is we take this too easy and take the win for granted based on City's challenging season so far. I'm worried that Arsenal will be complacent, not that they'll be emotionally scared.