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

[DMA's]

Just reading the arsenal forum. Their fans are fuming with the team and basically lamenting the fact arteta has gone with such a defensive team.

I’m confident now we can get a result

 

[ufo]

Not sure what's odd about the line up? Odegaard is injured so Merino comes in and Trossard is on the left instead of Eze who was shite against Bilbao. So kind of what was expected except maybe I'd have kept Eze in. Trossard is hardly a defensive option.

Some one needs to toss that foxy eyed ****

 

[bridgeno1]

Just reading the arsenal forum. Their fans are fuming with the team and basically lamenting the fact arteta has gone with such a defensive team.

I’m confident now we can get a result

Honestly our fans are the biggest fanny wipes on the planet. It's why I go on a City forum instead of hanging around with fellow Gooners.

 

[.db.]

On paper we for sure have the better side

Don’t think we can say that with any certainty to be honest.

Neither of our full backs have ever played a game of this stature away from home before in their careers. So far Reijnders has only been ‘okay’ for us, BSilva isn’t the player he was, and we don’t know what Doku is ever going to turn up (he can either get a goal and four assists or he can be ineffective, he’s never got a goal or assist against Arsenal yet in 5 games).

Our spine of Donnarumma-Gvardiol-Rodri-Foden-Haaland when all fit are probably the best spine around though.

For them, they have a front three who haven’t played together much (if at all?) before, although Trossard and Madueke do have good PL experience. But their keeper, back-four and defensive mids are probably the best defensive unit around. They’ve only conceded one goal this season and it was a freak free kick. Other than that, they’ve barely looked like conceding a goal.

I would say they’re more of a settled team than us with a better defensive unit. We have more goals in us and are more attacking but have more inexperience in the fullbacks and with Reijnders.

 

[roy.or.r]

Wow can’t believe dinky Arteta is unbeaten against Pep in the last 5 games.

 

[cleavers]

Its not as simple as totalling up the minutes though. Even if it was 30 mins per match, Its 3 extremely high intensity games within 7 days. you have to let the body fully recover after high intensity exercise andthat is a lot to ask for somebody so early in their return from an ACL.

I'm sure Rodri will have has some say in the matter, if he didn't think he was fit enough I'm sure he would say.

Also he was injured against these c*nts last year.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

We are off Arsenal points wise, but I have seen nothing from any team in the premier league the shows me that they are so much better or at it.

 

[ufo]

Don’t think we can say that with any certainty to be honest.

Neither of our full backs have ever played a game of this stature away from home before in their careers. So far Reijnders has only been ‘okay’ for us, BSilva isn’t the player he was, and we don’t know what Doku is ever going to turn up (he can either get a goal and four assists or he can be ineffective, he’s never got a goal or assist against Arsenal yet in 5 games).

Our spine of Donnarumma-Gvardiol-Rodri-Foden-Haaland when all fit are probably the best spine around though.

For them, they have a front three who haven’t played together much (if at all?) before, although Trossard and Madueke do have good PL experience. But their keeper, back-four and defensive mids are probably the best defensive unit around. They’ve only conceded one goal this season and it was a freak free kick.

I would say they’re more of a settled team than us with a better defensive unit. We have more goals in us and are more attacking but have more inexperience.

Dias and jasko ?

 

[noseve]

Because it’s classic preparation for failure. The question is, why wouldn’t you?

Will all Huddersfield and Burnley fans be cowards, then? Or merely supporters who think that City are more likely to win?

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

I'd fucking slaughter Arteta for that if I was a Tarquin. We can get at that, nothing to fear from the offence and midfield. Madueke and Trossard are both dogshit and the midfield looks workmanlike and devoid of creativity. He's playing for a goal from a set piece the shitbag, let's make him regret it City. Come on lads.

 

[paulsimpson]

What does a draw really do for us. Puts us 8 points behind Liverpool instead of 9. Draw would have been fine if we'd beaten Spurs and Brighton. The last thing I want to see today is trying to grind out a draw.

Well, not losing to this rival would maintain confidence. I'd love a win and I think we will go for it.

 

[Ithryn Luin]

Hope I am wrong but I expect a 3-0 or 4-1 defeat. Only happy when it rains!

 

[heslops barnet]

Looking forward to this game, come on lads

Best stay out of match day forum

 

[malg]

Just reading the arsenal forum. Their fans are fuming with the team and basically lamenting the fact arteta has gone with such a defensive team.

I’m confident now we can get a result

He's probably watched other teams against us and decided to defend first and hit us with pace in behind. Why not?

 

[bridgeno1]

I'd fucking slaughter Arteta for that if I was a Tarquin. We can get at that, nothing to fear from the offence and midfield. Madueke and Trossard are both dogshit and the midfield looks workmanlike and devoid of creativity. He's playing for a goal from a set piece the shitbag, let's make him regret it City. Come on lads.

Madueke has been excellent this season and Saka has been injured. Timber doubles up with Madueke so they will attack on them front.

What also seems clear is they will get Calafiori to ping it long to Gyokeres who will drift left against Khusanov so that will be an interesting battle. I've not seen much of Khusanov but if he's not strong and quick that may be an issue.

City's forward line looks proper tasty which is why Saliba is back. And Merino is in the middle to add some muscle - I'd have liked to see us play Eze at 8 but it seems Arteta wants to put a physical shield there.

Subs might be key in this game.

 

[malg]

Best stay out of match day forum

Best part of Bluemoon.

 

[ninjamonkey]

I'm sure Rodri will have has some say in the matter, if he didn't think he was fit enough I'm sure he would say.

Also he was injured against these c*nts last year.

I think you're right he probably had a big say in it but I look at that in the complete opposite way to what I think you've intended.

He shouldn't have a say in it, players are emotional and eager to play, they'll often declare themselves fitter than they are. I think we should have a strict limit on his game time in the early period of his return and not base it on feeling until we are further down the line.

But, I'm somebody who has had multiple ACL injuries myself so I accept my view is probably way more cautious than it perhaps has to be and we should put trust in the expert medical team that have evidently said he, along with the rest of the side after thursdays game is good to go.

 

[ufo]

Strange - why do you relate somebody's opinion about City chances to having/not having courage?

Then why even bother watching and making your self a miserable bastard ?

 

[heslops barnet]

Has Pep come out and said what a great manager and team the Tarquins have?

 

[heslops barnet]

He's probably watched other teams against us and decided to defend first and hit us with pace in behind. Why not?

Makes sense