Arsenal (A) - Wed 15th Feb, 19:30 | Pre-Match Thread

[Zenmanc]

View attachment 68963

I was saying Pep'd play Foden as LB didn't expect Bernie but he has twice the tenacity Cancelo did and 3x the heart.

 

[Tevez City]

_________________Ederson______________

Walker_____Dias_________Laporte___Foden

__________________Rodri____________

_________KDB___________Gundogan_____

Mahrez_______Haaland__________Bernardo

 

[UncleBerbs]

Expect this to be another cagey game. We need to be at our best - one half of good football isn’t going to cut it. Would love a very similar starting 11 to our line up vs Villa (but with Ake at LB to contain Saka). Foden went missing again after coming on in the second half so I’d expect Jack to start ahead of him again. Dias + Laporte is a must for this one too.

The first half vs Villa was promising. Quick movement, forward passing, balls through to Haaland, created lots of chances. And for the first time in a while we were entertaining to watch. I know the result was in the bag but we can’t afford to drop off against Arsenal. A draw wouldn’t be the end of the world but we need to be near our best to ensure we walk away with all three points. Absolutely can’t wait!

 

[JTFactsPlz]

_________________Ederson______________

Walker_____Dias_________Laporte___Foden

__________________Rodri____________

_________KDB___________Gundogan_____

Mahrez_______Haaland__________Bernardo

I guess leaving two of our best players since the WC out of the side for no apparent reason, in one of our most important games of the season, is a way to go. Good grief.

 

[vincent]

_________________Ederson______________

Walker_____Dias_________Laporte___Foden

__________________Rodri____________

_________KDB___________Gundogan_____

Mahrez_______Haaland__________Bernardo

Foden at LB in a game if this magnitude? If anything, you’re consistent.

 

[dickie davies]

I've a feeling Pep will "Pep" everyone and not start Haaland using the "knock" as an excuse, even though that's what his plan was all along

 

[vincent]

I've a feeling Pep will "Pep" everyone and not start Haaland using the "knock" as an excuse, even though that's what his plan was all along

Yeah maybe with the CL game on the following Wednesday.

 

[its a Barm]

Same team that started yesterday for me, its a game we dare not lose but desperately need to win so who knows what will happen

 

[Blu1]

Play like the first half v villa we will destroy them play like the 2nd we will lose.

We have to keep energy up & move the ball. We can’t go slow & disjointed.

That first half v villa was excellent

 

[City Raider]

Defeats at Liverpool, Rags and Spurs, draw at Newcastle. Akanji started most, Laporte and Dias didn’t start any together. If we don’t change that, we’ll get more of the same.

 

[Worsleyweb]

I think we have to win to be in with a good shout of wining the league. Lose and I think it is all over. Draw and I would say we have a 30 percent chance??

Intense game!

 

[Dial M 4 Mercer]

If Haaland doesn’t play, I wonder if we will revert to a false nine.
What worries me is when we revert to a false back four.

 

[supercity88]

We need a banner saying "Oil money can't buy class, but it can buy titles"

 

[supercity88]

I think we have to win to be in with a good shout of wining the league. Lose and I think it is all over. Draw and I would say we have a 30 percent chance??

Intense game!

It's Arsenal's biggest game in a long time. This game will show their fans whether they can really win the league or not. They're squeaking, the doubts are rising and their fans will be a wreck. Can their players show that winning mentality, or will they continue to struggle now the pressure has risen?

If I was Pep I'd look to keep it as tight as possible knowing the longer the game goes on the more the pressure will rise on the players, fans and Arteta. Arteta has made attacking changes in nearly every game, looking to win it. Let him blink first trying to beat us, and then sucker punch when he's over committed like the rags did at the swamp. A draw is fine for us. Beat them at home and the gap would be 3pts (if they win their game in hand). We can manage that. But their fans will want the win because they'll want the comfort of a bigger gap, and that nervous energy can play into our hands. We're far more experienced.

 

[Plain Speaking]

Play like the first half v villa we will destroy them play like the 2nd we will lose.

We have to keep energy up & move the ball. We can’t go slow & disjointed.

That first half v villa was excellent

I agree with this, we seemed to largely run out of energy in the second half, (except for Alvarez)

 

[waspish]

Draw be fine only if we losing! Arsenal will attack us so I want to see more long ball down the channels for Haaland or Alverez to run after what us to be more direct

 

[Maine Rd]

Ede
Walker
Dias
Laporte
Ake
Rodri
Kdb
Gundogan
Foden
Grealish
B Silva

I think Pep could use the Haaland knock to go to his favoured False 9, Haaland off the bench as game opens up 2nd half.

 

[Semper aggressus]

Please be fit to play Erling!

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Operation Don't lose. It's weird that Spurs have this strange hold over us at home, yet Arsenal seems to be the total opposite. I'm just hoping that's in their players heads.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Please be fit to play Erling!

It might not be the biggest upset to lose him for one game. Can't help thinking that we'd have so much more control in midfield. Saying that, I'd still prefer him to play because he is a match winner.