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

[Goater101]

Donnarumma; Stones Khusanov Dias Gvardiol; Rodri Bernardo Reijnders; Foden Doku Haaland. We’re not good enough yet to match them at their game but I believe with the defence and Rodri back we can get a result. 0-0/1-1

 

[bridgeno1]

You love your reverse psychology don’t you.. crikey.. why you dreading a game of football against a below par City ?

Honestly I call it as I see it. If you'd asked me a couple of weeks ago I'd have said you might be in for a doing but you've looked good in the last 2 games and the key thing is Foden looks like he's back. I felt when he wasn't at it you would be relatively easy to defend against but with him finding the gaps (like that assist for Haaland today is basically undefendable - if you try and block Haaland you give the pen away) I think you'll score and if you score 1st that basically takes a lot of Arteta's advantage away as he can't keep it so tight at the back and gaps will appear.

I do think you are vulnerable at the back and there is a risk of getting overpowered in midfield but if Rodri is even 70% capacity that risk is minimised. I am genuinely expecting a really tough match - even the 5-1 last season was tight until your defence shat the bed in the last 20 minutes or so with some crazy play - they won't do that again.

 

[BringBackSwales]

View attachment 169932

So lucky....

Gillett on VAR, wasn’t he on VAR for the cup final and failed to send Henderson off?

 

[The Mighty Marmoush]

Kick off time 16:30 BST.

Dreading it. I think they're the best team in the league and they battered us there last season. They dont concede many, so our defence needs to match them on Sunday.

Our last 2 games have got me more confident but this is another step up. I'd take a draw, if we were to win, it would be a sign that we might be in the fight this season. Our last win there was the battering in the treble season.

Unchanged again?

---------------Donnarumma
Khusanov--Dias--Gvardiol--O'Reilly
----------------------Rodri
----------Foden-----------Reijnders
Bernardo------------Haaland----------Doku

Right wing is possibly the only argument but I think he goes Bernardo.

They didnt cause the dippers any problems, didnt score and lost, I think you over estimate them

 

[TinFoilHat]

Gillett on VAR, wasn’t he on VAR for the cup final and failed to send Henderson off?

Yep

 

[Gorbachev]

Same team for me. It's clear for now Pep has found his best team and we need consistency.

I still believe the best we can hope for however is probably a draw. Arsenal right here right now are just a better overall team.

Can't believe the only goal they had conceded all season is that freak Szoboszlai goal. Arsenal are probably the best defensive team in world football at the moment.

I would like to see us play on the counter attack a bit more like we did against United. Let them come to us and hit them hit them with our pace.

 

[Franny 1234]

Another cleansheet would be heaven for me.
Same starting eleven makes most sense but I can't see Pep doing that let's hope am wrong.
People saying Stones in for Oreilly but Nico deserves to stay in.CTID

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Same 11.

2-1 City.

 

[MCFC1993]

They didnt cause the dippers any problems, didnt score and lost, I think you over estimate them

Think they just played how we usually play at Anfield, could have easily ended 0-0 which would have been a decent result.

They've been better than Liverpool so far this season.

 

[pfs87]

Starting to develop a slightly disturbing sense of optimism about this.

If, and a pretty big if, Tijanni starts and catches fire, then I think there's a squeak for three points.

 

[Ysabel 123]

A win will take us level with them! despite them having the best squad in the league, and us being a spent force and Pep needing to leave according to 99% of the media!

It will be funny if we beat them just to see the reaction from their overly dramatic, oddball manager!

 

[super_city_si]

Same team if possible. Will be a much sterner test but we look to be gelling and the height of oreilly rodri Gvardiol and haaland will help defend their set pieces

 

[blueabdi]

Same line up

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Two interesting comfy home game wins both for different reasons, now onto the real test.

Hope I'm not wrong but I can feel a big swing within the team. Maybe it's Rodders getting there, Duku doing what I thought he could do, Phil back and Mr Kebab in nets.

A win on Sunday will announce us as being proper contenders.

 

[Dial M 4 Mercer]

Starting to develop a slightly disturbing sense of optimism about this.

If, and a pretty big if, Tijanni starts and catches fire, then I think there's a squeak for three points.

I like the phrase “Disturbing sense of optimism”. As a long time City fan it’s up there with being ‘Loudly pessimistic’ as opposed to ‘Quietly optimistic’.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Same team for me maybe bobb for bernie. Would take a point right now. Only because its a hard place to go.

 

[vincent]

I'm dreading this. Still have PTSD from Donnarumma against us last season. I feel we have the weaponry to hurt your defence. On the flip side Foden has played well the past 2 games, Haaland is Haaland. A lot depends on what level Rodri turns up.

No chance it's another 5-1, probably a terrible game for the neutral and a goal either way in it.

Come on mate. It’s September and this is the month Arsenal win the league. Not sure why you’re dreading it. Think Arsenal are a bit too strong for us at the moment, especially at home. But I’m confident that will change as we progress during the season.

 

[omri]

First test for donnaromma.

 

[Newman Noggs]

I think Arsenal are very lucky to be playing us this early in the season. A couple more games and an injury or two less and we'd beat them. As it is, I fear this one is a bridge too far just now. But we live in hope.

 

[alexmcity]

Any result is possible. On current form, Haaland, Foden and Doku make our attack very strong.