Arsenal (a) pre-match thread (Game given go ahead 1350hrs)

[Dax777]

As amazing as Otamendi has been this season, Kompany is still the best centre back at the club, an unpopular view on here I think but probably a view shared by Pep hence his selection on Sunday and against Basel. He shouldn’t play on Thursday though because his body can’t cope with more than 1 game a week.

While I disagree with your claim, my response here really isn't a challenge of your opinion, rather a challenge to your reasoning.

You can't say your opinion is probably shared by Pep and then use the selection of Kompany in 2 games as prove. Especially when Otamendi was equally selected for those same games. That's just really odd reasoning.

Let's just conclude you believe what you believe, and it's probably not that unpopular of an opinion anyway. Most hope Kompany's is the best CB at the club. But performance would conclude decidedly that Otamendi is.

 

[Blue Til Death]

Pretty sure the referee cannot play advantage if he intends to send someone off. If there's going to be a red card- including a second yellow- play has to stop there and then. At least, I've never seen it done any other way.

This is correct, play has to stop if a red is to be issued.no ifs buts or maybe's

 

[Dax777]

3 changes at the back? That makes no sense to me. Personally I would play the same back four. Kompany looked ok to me at the end.

Arsenal will be demoralised if they see the same side. (With the exception of Bravo and Fernandinho)

They will almost be beaten before they start.

These are the kinds of thinking that gets him injured again... Kompany's rested for me. He can bully Chelsea in 3 days.

Danilo, Otamendi Laporte Zee

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Go strong again whilst they are on the ropes - get the points that are on offer and then assess what to do against Chelsea.

 

[Henkeman]

This is correct, play has to stop if a red is to be issued.no ifs buts or maybe's

So if someone is hacked down for a second yellow and in the same moment someone else puts the ball in the net (i.e. before the ref has a chance to stop the game), is the goal disallowed, a red card issued and a penalty given?

 

[Fame Monster]

While I disagree with your claim, my response here really isn't a challenge of your opinion, rather a challenge to your reasoning.

You can't say your opinion is probably shared by Pep and then use the selection of Kompany in 2 games as prove. Especially when Otamendi was equally selected for those same games. That's just really odd reasoning.

Let's just conclude you believe what you believe, and it's probably not that unpopular of an opinion anyway. Most hope Kompany's is the best CB at the club. But performance would conclude decidedly that Otamendi is.

To be fair, my post was more to opine that Kompany is by far and away better than Stones at this time (who is a long way from being the finished product) and must get in the team ahead of Laporte just because of Laporte’s inexperience. I wasn’t really pitting him against Nico cos Nico has been class this season and I actually would have him on the team sheet at this moment in time before Kompany truth be told mainly because his passing is so good as well as being a great defender when he wants to be. That said, Nico has made a few mistakes as well this season (West Brom, Leicester, Basel arguably) and I’m always scared that his rashness and tendency to dive in will reappear that tarnished some of his performances in his first couple of seasons here. I think Kompany will get back to near his best (if protected) and if so, then he will probably become our best centre back again (which he actually was at the end of last season).

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Would be perfect to have this game postponed.

Concentrate fully on the Chelsea game and hope the Arsenal rescheduled is pretty much irrelevant for us by then, with Arsenal still having to factor the Europa League.

 

[Blue Hefner]

Would be perfect to have this game postponed.

Concentrate fully on the Chelsea game and hope the Arsenal rescheduled is pretty much irrelevant for us by then, with Arsenal still having to factor the Europa League.

Is that likely? Not seen any reports, although I haven't looked that hard

I agree though. It is such a shit time to play them, from a logistical perspective, especially with Chelsea coming up

 

[kaz7]

We have a lot of snow down here on the south coast and it's forecast to be worse tonite and tomorrow,i london will be freezing on thurs but thats all i think,it should go ahead ok

 

[TBooksbluearmy]

According to SSN this morning Arsenal's Jack Wiltshire was extremely angry with the ref Pawson for not protecting the Arsenal players from our aggressive tactics during the cup final. This from the player who last season was watching as his teams kicked David Silva off the pitch with in the first 30mins of the semi-final. So I am expecting an aggressive response from the Arsenal players with them trying every underhanded and dirty tactic posssible to try and get city player sent off. They will try and con the ref into giving them penalty and numerous free kicks by diving under the least challenge possible. I just hope that the ref is strong enough to not be fooled by this tactic on Thursday.