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

[Father Paul]

You think we'll beat them with 10 players

Not sure it would be wise to draft Lewis in for this match?

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

forget Rico henceforth he is ...

Haha it avoids the confusion with O'Reilly this way

 

[johnny crossan]

SSN paddling down the river with Gyokeres talking about his hair touches.

 

[noseve]

I was at work last night with a United fan, not one of those awful ones but nevertheless one who took great delight in reminding me that if we lose, they are above us in the league on equal games. Which, considering how garbage they are, is a little of bit of a kicker.

Seriously? Bragging rights because of league position in September?

You should have laughed in his/her face.

If Ferguson was dead, he'd be turning in his grave to hear how United fans have settled for such a petty brownie point.

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

Gonna be a proper physical shithouse game. Id be happy with a draw and no injuries here

 

[SuttonColdfieldBlue]

Seriously? Bragging rights because of league position in September?

You should have laughed in his/her face.

If Ferguson was dead, he'd be turning in his grave to hear how United fans have settled for such a petty brownie point.

It was all relatively good-natured - I didn’t take it personally! I suppose for them it’s something of an achievement considering how hilariously awful they are.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Only change I would make is Gonzo in for Bernardo. Their midfield will steamroll him Rodri needs a bit of physical help in there.

That's the one change no one in their right mind would make.

 

[Rhapsody in Blue]

Looking forward to this. For once we’ll be an underdog and I think it suits us perfectly fine. Think we’ll hurt them on the counter. As long as we accept to play with a good defensive structure, we’ll be fine.

 

[heslops barnet]

I’d put Bernie on the bench today, not been impressed so far with him….

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Keep possession, silence the crowd, hit them on the break.

 

[Goodlove]

I’d put Bernie on the bench today, not been impressed so far with him….

I was more happy with him against Napoli than in the league games prior. I don’t think he’ll play today though.

 

[supercity88]

Good post up to the point where you joined the group that have this bizarre misconception that "it's too late for us this season". I'm staggered at how many times I've read that.

Because it is. I don't think we will be able to iron out the inconsistent results until November time. Too many new players to gel and we aren't the well oiled machine yet.

I'm not throwing in the towel, but I personally don't think we will be able to win the number of games we need to in order to win the league this year. The dippers are already 9pts ahead of us.

 

[Rammy Blue]

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.

Summed up to a tee for me mate, exactly how I see it.

 

[paulchapo]

I think this game might have come too early in the season for us given all our squad changes. If the majority of our players hit peak form though we still have a good chance. I liked Eddie but Donnarumma seems to give us a presence now at the back and lifted our defenders. A victory here would do wonders for our season and strike fear into Liverpool.

 

[.db.]

Difference between him and Josko is negligible and Khusanov is great in the air. We have Gigi to help deal with the set pieces aswell. Don't change a settled back 4.

Stones is done barring an injury crisis for me. He was poor against Spurs and Brighton and going off to England and coming back injured again just defies belief, straight to the bottom of the pecking order. 2023 Stones doesn't exist anymore, he's a lame horse.

Stones was one of our only good players against Spurs.

Came second in our MOTM vote.



And he was class at Wolves.




The main reason I’d pick him (if fit) today is this…

2025-26 aerial duels won:
John Stones 88.9%
Ruben Dias 53.8%

 

[Really_here]

Because it is. I don't think we will be able to iron out the inconsistent results until November time. Too many new players to gel and we aren't the well oiled machine yet.

I'm not throwing in the towel, but I personally don't think we will be able to win the number of games we need to in order to win the league this year. The dippers are already 9pts ahead of us.

Liverpool are definitely having more than their fair share of luck so far this season. We just have to start (and keep) winning consistently and see how it pans out. Way,way to early to start throwing in the towel !

 

[heslops barnet]

Liverpool are definitely having more than their fair share of luck so far this season. We just have to start (and keep) winning consistently and see how it pans out. Way,way to early to start throwing in the towel !

Can’t remember the last time we had any ‘luck’ in our games

 

[eversince 76]

We start this game NOT being the favorites. And we can’t do any worse than last year.

After a good week so far I expect us to play a good game. If that brings us 1 or 3 points that’s great. If not, nothings lost yet and -like Pep says- we continue on the progress.

Now come’on City.

 

[.db.]

Can’t remember the last time we had any ‘luck’ in our games

There’s no such thing as luck. It’s a fiction of human imagination.

 

[Longballutd]

Good time to play them with s few key players sidelined. Odegaard, White, Jesus, Saka and Havertz all missing today.

Quite frankly don't think they look the same team since Sterling left.