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

[kippaxwill]

Anybody know what the usual away pubs are? Usually drink near King’s cross but I’ll be looking for a spare ticket before the game this time.

 

[Marvin.]

No chance Saka will start. He may be on the bench as Arteta played Dowman in the U21s today indicating there's another right winger available but he's been injured for a month with a hamstring injury, we aren't starting him against Gvardiol for his 1st match back. Pep would be committing footballing suicide putting O Reilly at left back so I assume it will be Gvardiol at left back with Stones and Dias in the middle.

Will probably be Madueke on the right side for Arsenal and Eze on the left. If Odegaard hasn't recovered Arteta will play Merino alongside Rice and Zubimendi. Your defence will absolutely get bombarded at set pieces and also from Zubimendi crossing from deep - I don't see Arsenal trying to take risks in the final third unless we go behind.

The one person returning from injury who will for sure start is Saliba as Arteta will want him and Gabriel together up against Haaland.

Donnarumma put in the best keeper performance against us I've seen for many years in the CL semis last season so I'm pretty nervous about his ability.

You under-rate O'Reilly. I think Arsenal will likely win this game but City are getting stronger again.

 

[noseve]

Why shouldn't we have confidence in our defence? Gvardiol is back which will make a difference and we now have Donnarumma which will help bring more stability

I was just thinking that since the shambles against Spurs and then Brighton, we've barely faced an attack, yet could still have easily conceded a couple against United.

Both Khus and Donnarumma are fantastic additions individually but as a unit I don't see that we've moved on yet. Tomorrow will be a better yardstick, no doubt. I'll be happy if we can just make a good fist of it.

 

[balotellishaircut]

Bit of a free hit for City this game, all the pressure on Arteta, can he finally win a league title after all the investment.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

City have been the dominant force in English football over the last decade....tomorrow we can help cement that view & put to bed any fears that we have lost our way...we have the largest revenue in the country & the 2nd highest in Europe after Madrid...let that sink in for a moment...I remember when City clung to a top ten club position in England through support only...those days are long gone...its time to prove once again we can become the top team & there's not many better places to do that than one of the biggest club grounds in London, when the football world watches on a Sunday evening. Step up blues...Once injuries are finished the squad will be as strong as any other in Europe...i have a very good feeling since Donnaruma arrived. Himself & Erling are like two top doormen to the best nightclub in the City. Fear no-one blues...keep the faith.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Shit comment.

You've got no idea whether Pep will change the line up.

If he does it will be because we played a game 3 days ago.

We've just played the same 11 twice so your timing is just weird.

We've won loads of trophies since 2021.

I think Ric agrees with me rather than you....

 

[JGL07]

9 points behind and out of contention before October if we lose tomorrow

Out of contention with a nine point deficit with 33 games left? You are a cheery soul!

I bet you were a real bundle of joy when City were eight points behind United in 2012, with 6 matches to play? Also City were nine points behind Arsenal in 2023-24 and won. Even in 1967-68, City were way behind United in March and won.

 

[Matt Diablo]

I’m seeing tomorrow as a bit of a free hit tbh. Don’t think we’re realistic title contenders at the moment, as we’re not as good/consistent as Liverpool or Arsenal yet.

Looking forward to seeing how we fare though, as confidence is higher after the last two results and there are quite a few positives going into this. Donnarumma’s introduction, Khusanov at RB, the return of Gvardiol, Rodri and Foden, the form of Doku & Haaland etc.

Main concern for me is losing the midfield battle and getting overrun there, but presumably/hopefully Pep has a plan for that, even it means a slightly more conservative starting XI.

Yes why don't think Bernardo will start. Bobb or Sav. We need to get at them and be quick enough to hurt them all over . . .

 

[Blue2202]

Wasn't winning the league this year anyway, it's already Liverpools. Won 5 games despite being absolutely bang average and they'll find form very soon.

Top 4 a trophy and a further rebuild is our aim.

The pressure is 100% on Arsenal and Arteta he simply has to deliver a title.

There's just as much pressure on Pep, 6 points from the opening 5 games is simply not good enough in any circumstance and would leave us behind the likes of Leeds, Sunderland and the dreadful Rags.

We shouldn't be worried about whatever pressure is on Arsenal or Arteta, we should be going there to take a point or three simple as.

 

[Axel Freed]

Acid test. Small sample size admittedly but if we can make it 3 clean sheets on the bounce in 3 difficult games then we can be fairly confident that the Donnaruma effect will bring us 10-20 points more than last season.

I’d be just as happy, perhaps even moreso, with a 0-0 than a mad end to end 4-3 win, just for what it would say about our solidity and potential to nick tight games against teams with less secure defences than Arsenal’s (ie every other team).

We’re still easily good enough up front to pick up routine wins against mediocre teams, if we can pick up points in those other games that previously we dominated but dropped points due to conceding soft goals to a rare counter attack then we’ll be in with a real chance of the title

 

[ninjamonkey]

Out of contention with a nine point deficit with 33 games left? You are a cheery soul!

I bet you were a real bundle of joy when City were eight points behind United in 2012, with 6 matches to play? Also City were nine points behind Arsenal in 2023-24 and won. Even in 1967-68, City were way behind United in March and won.

Firstly i very clearly said IF, and it is nothing to do with being a "cheery soul" just a realist outlook.

I dont think you have watched us a lot lately if you think this squad is capable of clawing back a 9 point deficit to the dippers should we suffer our 3rd loss in 5. Lose tomorrow and we're behind United who the whole world is laughing at at, whose manager is seemingly on the brink of losing his job with us arguably having had easier fixtures. Would you be okay with saying United are out of title contention?

in 2023 we went on a 23 game unbeaten run as reigning champions to claw back that deficit and take the title. Are you honestly suggesting this squad is capable of repeating that or something similar?

Get real, to have any chance of competing for a title this season we have to stay within touching distance throughout.

 

[Gorbachev]

I really hope Rodders is rested as those mockney cnuts will be hatcheting him again. 57 minutes play time and 33 minutes madridesque shithousery

No Rodri tomorrow and we are getting tanked 3-0

 

[mexico1970]

I think we have turned a corner, not the type of corner the rags turn every time they ave a win but a corner we can build on.

We will win this, it might even be an ugly win but I can feel it in my old brittle bones mark my words.

 

[ultraboffin]

But why not. Why the defeatist attitude. We have the greatest manager of all time. Arguably the best keeper in the world. The best forward in the world. Rodri and foden hopefully back in the groove. Gvaridol, kushanov and marmoush are excellent players. I also think reijndeers and Gonzalez are excellent midfielders and will do well for us.
We are better than a lot of our fanbase seem to think we are and with the squad we have should 100% competing for the league.

We should but we've only beaten the worst team in the league...........and wolves!

We really need to start getting results over top sides too. Actually we've got a pretty poor head to head record over the other potential top sides over the last couple of seasons. That alone makes competing for the league harder, never mind being unable to get points out of the likes of Spurs and Brighton.

We certainly have the makings of a new squad that can go far but there's a lot to prove still.

Arsenal are rightly favourites today. Lose and we've got 6 points from 5 games. That's piss poor

I fancy a win though, as long as we turn up 100% confident.

 

[samuelyeboah]

feel like it's too much for us tomorrow, with the injuries, less time to rest, team's form is shaky, away at the emirates. gonna be too big a mountain to climb, i'll take a draw

 

[SWP's back]

I think someone on here said "No team has ever won the league losing 5 games"...

Loads have.

 

[Harrycity21]

As opposed to 'dwindling' on them myself & others are politely referencing them to highlight that Pep's,despite his success, is not faultless,but fallible.

Imo, we've lost too many winnable CL games along with cup semis and finals against inferior, beatable clubs.

I'm sure most of the players, past & present, feel similarly.

Just a pov.

Just my opinion but I feel like the players fully back pep and if they didn’t either they would leave or pep would call it a day. Even if u feel like pep made a mistake or two or his 9 year tenure, why bring up games from 4/5 years ago and w

 

[Gorbachev]

Loads have.

4 is about the average.

The most is 6, but it's only been in 1998 with Arsenal, United in 1996 and 2001 and us in 2014 and 2021.

That's 5 in 30 years.

5 losses is typically the cut off.

I think if we are to lose tomorrow, 3 defeats by September would be curtains for our title hopes.

3rd or 4th for us would be most likely scenario.

 

[Legal Alien]

I don't see any changes and i don't think Pep will change a winning team.

I personally would like to see Gonzalez play alongside Rodri and Reijnders, but i can't see him replacing Bernie today.
I could understand Ake playing but i think NicoO has deserved his place and i like him up against Madueke. It'll be a good challenge but i think he has the pace and skill to stay with him, plus Josko will be behind him.

I think we have a great chance if Phil, Doku and Erling play well, but i'd settle for a draw right now.

 

[KS55]

4 is about the average.

The most is 6, but it's only been in 1998 with Arsenal, United in 1996 and 2001 and us in 2014 and 2021.

That's 5 in 30 years.

5 losses is typically the cut off.

I think if we are to lose tomorrow, 3 defeats by September would be curtains for our title hopes.

3rd or 4th for us would be most likely scenario.

Iirc, in 2014 we lost 4 of our first 11 games then just 2 in the next 27.