Arsenal (A) - Sun 21st Sept, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?


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So I'll make my Gooner prediction. I reckon it will be 2-1 Arsenal. I think it's insane you play this after playing Napoli on Thursday night although a BBC article says City are unbeaten in 15 whenever they've played a PL match 2 days after a previous game.

Reasons for optimism is I think we are a bastard to score against and also Arteta has realised playing Calafiori at left back instead of the hot-headed Lewis-Skelly means we are more likely to keep 11 on the pitch. I think midfield is an advantage area for us I suspect Arteta will go long to Gyokeres as opposed to going wide through Madueke and Eze. I doubt he will be super attacking.

All bets are off if City score first though and I suspect we will see Haaland and Gabriel smash the hell out of each other all game and Haaland will find a way to score. Foden will be key for City. I'd say Arsenal do have a strong bench despite the injuries. Being able to bring Martinelli, Trossard or Nwaneri on against tired legs who played against Napoli may be decisive.

Having watched Gyokeres all season one thing he does is constantly chase and hurry the defenders and Pep will need to make sure no brain-farts at the back.

A draw helps nobody and the loser would be miles behind the Dippers already so it's a high stakes match.

Arsenal are notoriously nervous of playing City - much more fearful than playing the Dippers so there could be a psychological advantage for City, especially if they score first.
I think that it depends on how Phil/Erling/Jeremy play . Those three are good enough if they are on song to trouble any defence including Arsenal's. I hope that the other three chosen are defensive. Personally I would go Rodri (if he feels ok), Nico Gonzalez and Bernie (with some trepidation that he doesn't turn in a performance like the one vs Rags). I think you are right - you may well win it in midfield. Zubimendi looks a very good buy for you. I would take a draw for sure.
 
Second toughest game of the season in the league. I’d take a draw tbh. Doubt we’ll even get that but would be great if we could somehow get a win then the confidence that should instil for the season would be amazing.

……………Donnarumma
Khusanov….Dias…..Gvardiol….O’Reilly (Ait-Nouri if fit)
…………Rodri…..Gonzalez
…Foden…..Reijnders………..Doku
….…………Haaland
I’d rather play O’Reilly at left back tomorrow (even if Ait-Nouri is fit), he’s a better defender.
 
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We need a counter attacking masterclass in this game and I hope Pep doesn’t think about anything else, two banks of 4 and let the speed merchants do there thing.
 
Arsenal are spending £200m per window and sooner or later they will win the title.

I don’t think this is a guarantee.

I think it’s entirely plausible (actually I think it’s likely) that after losing a few to us, they’ll lose a few to Liverpool and then either us or Chelsea will come back to the fore and they’ll lose a few to them too and they end this era with half a dozen 2nd and 3rd places without ever getting over the line.

I’m just not convinced Arteta is good enough, or that the players they’re buying are quite good enough to carry the rest over the line. When we were winning titles you could point to 4/5 of our starters and say they were the best in their position in the league - Haaland, KDB, Rodri, Walker. With Liverpool they could say the same about Van Dijk, Salah, Robertson, Alisson.

Looking at Arsenal I don’t think any of their players are the best in their positions - maybe Saliba.
 
I am more concerned with how we play than with the result. Arsenal are more or less the finished article (albeit flawed imho) and are probably second only to the dippers at the mo. We are in transition so the game is a genuine test of how much progress we have made.
A good performance, even if we lost 1-0 would represent decent progress by us. I feel we are doing ok and Pep is happy with our progress. We may indeed snatch a draw and I would be very happy with that.
Arse 1 City 1.
 
He was talking about the ref

I agree with everything you say but I think we are ultimately a step below where we need to be to challenge....moving int heright direction but I think the title is between Arsenal and Scousers this season....

Infact if Arsenal dont win it this season then Im not sure what happens to them.....Scousers have invested massively but so have Arsenal and its arguable that they have a slightly more stable team (VVD and Salah for instance at the wrong end of their careers)
Agree. It’s make or break for Arteta. If they don’t challenge the dippers closely, it’s all over for him.
 
We have new players settling in, new players injured & academy lads stepping up.

Imo, we have to be in touch, in form & with a fully fit squad coming out of the next international break and capable of putting a 15 match unbeaten run together.

If so, we will be right in the mix with the crucial fixtures agin dippers & arse.
 
I still don't think that we're credible title challengers this season - for defensive reasons - but to say that it's a 2-horse race if we lose is crazy, so early in the season with nobody really having hit the ground running.

I know Liverpool are on maximum points, but having given up three 2-goal leads in just 5 games they'll be worried about Arsenal, Chelsea and even Spurs, who've only conceded once so far.

Arsenal to win the title for me, so I'm happy to treat tomorrow as a free hit. That way it shouldn't interrupt the positive momentum so much?
 
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