Arsenal (N) - Sun 22nd March, 16:30 | League Cup Final | Pre-Match Thread

[waspish]

We all know we will get stay on our feet when be man handle and we know Arsenal will go down like a sack of spuds Everytime they do! They want the break up in play they want to hoof the ball in the box! Oh Haaland will get pulled pushed dragged about and be given nothing! Arsenal play hoof wrestling mania!

In to the game feel pep needs to play Doku inside and cherkie on the inside right

 

[thedude1993]

Trafford
Nunes
Khusanov
Dias
Ait Nouri
Rodri
NOR
Bernardo
Doku
Haaland
Cherki

Semenyo, Foden, Reijnders off the bench if we need to chase a goal

 

[Dax777]

Am i right in saying he played in the FA cup after getting knocked out by Macclesfield ?
Which fixtures does Bernardo have to miss ?
It won't be popular on here but my guess is Rico Lewis will start Sunday.

We didn't register Guehi early enough apparently.


Why would Rico start? Nunes is entrenched at RB and all our Midfielders are back. We've got Rodri, Nico O and G, Reijnders, Kova, and thr AM midfielders in Phil and Cherki. I strongly doubt Pep will skip all of those guys to play Rico.

 

[richards30]

Dont fancy us at all in big games these days and could be another decent size defeat.

Trafford
Nunes
Khusanov
Dias
Ait Nouri
Rodri
O`Reilly
Cherki
Semenyo
Doku
Haaland

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Dont fancy us at all in big games these days and could be another decent size defeat.

Genuinely curious. Why do you say that? Yes, we were thumped by Real, who are not exactly minnows, so there's no shame in that. Otherwise, we haven't actually been defeated for ages.
Edit: just looked it up. In the two cup competitions and the league, we've been defeated once this year (at the rags' gaff, and that was ages back). That's it.

 

[Ethan23]

I thought they were missing Odegaard and Timber?

Nah they're both due to return Sunday

 

[IrishBloodEnglishHeart]

Genuinely curious. Why do you say that? Yes, we were thumped by Real, who are not exactly minnows, so there's no shame in that. Otherwise, we haven't actually been defeated for ages.
Edit: just looked it up. In the two cup competitions and the league, we've been defeated once this year (at the rags' gaff, and that was ages back). That's it.

Can you honestly see this team coming back from 2 down last game of the season against Villa?

 

[supercity88]

Can you honestly see this team coming back from 2 down last game of the season against Villa?

That's irrelevant.

Can we beat Arsenal to win the cup? Yes. We're a hard side to beat but we struggle to get the balance right to win games at the moment. We can draw 0-0 and beat them on penalties if that's what it takes.

 

[meeesh]

That's irrelevant.

Can we beat Arsenal to win the cup? Yes. We're a hard side to beat but we struggle to get the balance right to win games at the moment. We can draw 0-0 and beat them on penalties if that's what it takes.

Start like we did the other night, but this time score, we could win easily, never mind penalties

 

[richards30]

Genuinely curious. Why do you say that? Yes, we were thumped by Real, who are not exactly minnows, so there's no shame in that. Otherwise, we haven't actually been defeated for ages.
Edit: just looked it up. In the two cup competitions and the league, we've been defeated once this year (at the rags' gaff, and that was ages back). That's it.

I just think its more against the bigger teams mate? We have lost our fear factor and lets be honest, Arsenal can hit on the counter attack where we are currently terrible with this high line and we are terrible at defending corners?

 

[IrishBloodEnglishHeart]

That's irrelevant.

Can we beat Arsenal to win the cup? Yes. We're a hard side to beat but we struggle to get the balance right to win games at the moment. We can draw 0-0 and beat them on penalties if that's what it takes.

It's hardly irrelevant. It was a big game to win us the league - that's what was mentioned in the original post

 

[supercity88]

It's hardly irrelevant. It was a big game to win us the league - that's what was mentioned in the original post

It is irrelevant. It's a cup final where anything can happen. Wigan and Palace beat us when most wouldn't have given them a chance.

It's one of the few times we're the underdogs in a final but we also still have much more experience in these games than Arsenal do. The majority of their squad haven't won anything of note.

 

[Super-Barwuah]

Am i right in saying he played in the FA cup after getting knocked out by Macclesfield ?
Which fixtures does Bernardo have to miss ?
It won't be popular on here but my guess is Rico Lewis will start Sunday.

If so then city lose

 

[supercity88]

I just think its more against the bigger teams mate? We have lost our fear factor and lets be honest, Arsenal can hit on the counter attack where we are currently terrible with this high line and we are terrible at defending corners?

As I've just posted. It's a cup final, it's not about fear factor. It's about putting the best performance you can in on the occasion. You're at Wembley with a chance to win a trophy. Previous performances and form go out the window. Palace came out and played confidently, with a solid gameplan in the cup last season and got the job done. Newcastle, with such a long period without a trophy did similarly against the dippers.

 

[Chippy_boy]

A must win in an otherwise awful campaign of uninspired football.

A must win AND an awful campaign of uninspired football.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

A must win AND an awful campaign of uninspired football.

True, but that's true of virtually the entire PL. Starting with the team that's currently top and will probably win it. They're solid, and efficient, they've got two very good players (Saka and Rice) and they've got bullying on set pieces down to a fine art. They're the best of a poorish bunch. And that's been demonstrated painfully last night and the night before.
They may well win on Sunday, but I honestly think we can beat them. We showed fight against Real. That's all I ask on Sunday. It's cost me several hundred pounds to be there but that's my choice, no-one's forcing me. But I walked away from the Palace game with a bitter taste in my mouth.

 

[Dax777]

Dont fancy us at all in big games these days and could be another decent size defeat.

Trafford
Nunes
Khusanov
Dias
Ait Nouri
Rodri
O`Reilly
Cherki
Semenyo
Doku
Haaland

If we played the above team. It would be a close game.

Personally, I'd rather play Nico G over Semenyo.

Have Cherki and Doku as inside Wings with RAN and Nunes as Wingback like fullbacks. And the 3 Central midfielders. The Nicos and Rodri or even Kova if Pep just doesn't want to play Rodri and Noco G together.

It will be competitive. So long as Pep doesn't get complicated and fancy some genius tweak.

Straight forwardly any of the permutations will work

Trafford
Nunes
Khusanov
Dias (Stones)
RAN

Rodri
Nico G (Kova)
Nico O (Reijnders)

Cherki
Doku

Haaland (Marmoush)

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I just think its more against the bigger teams mate? We have lost our fear factor and lets be honest, Arsenal can hit on the counter attack where we are currently terrible with this high line and we are terrible at defending corners?

I'll admit that does worry me. Donna's never been completely safe on corners apparently (he had that reputation at PSG.) And if Trafford's played, he too is suspect on that count. Both good shot stoppers, Donna clearly the superior of the two. I'd really like to see Nico O'R in that back line, frankly (instead of Ait Nouri). And yes, I'm well aware he was shown up against Real. His height should help on set pieces. I'd also very much like to see Khusa in there. What I actually suspect is that Pep will play neither. I'd play Haaland as much for his defensive work as his attacking threat. But there's no risk Pep won't play him in any case.

 

[Bluemoon dan]

Remember the League Cup Final against this lot in 2018? At the time City were flying. Our squad was strong, confident and filled with players playing at the top of their game.
In contrast Arsenal were moving towards the final throws of the Wenger era, there was a general disconnect between fans and the club and the team looked lightweight and inconsistent.

City cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win.

Yeh, you could say I'm not optimistic for Sunday

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

I would leave Reijnders in Manchester along with Savinho.

I wish we'd of left Reijnders in Milan.