Arsenal (H) - FA Cup - Fri 27th Jan, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[Fiftyyearsandcounting]

Huge huge game. If we win we plant seeds of doubt in their minds and gain a psychological edge for the run in. I hope we go with our absolute strongest team especially with no game for 9 days after this.

Eddie in goal, Ake at LB.

Problem is, if Pep goes "Best 11" and Arteta only goes 75%, we won't be able to assess relative strengths, unless of course Arsenal should win, or draw, then we know they have even more to add for future games.
If they both go 100% then, yes, we will then have a good indicator for the future match ups.
Be interesting if Pep went 75% to Arsenal's top line up and still beat them or, if struggling see if our bench can turn things around. No doubt Pep will have decided on his approach to this game.

 

[citymad]

Problem is, if Pep goes "Best 11" and Arteta only goes 75%, we won't be able to assess relative strengths, unless of course Arsenal should win, or draw, then we know they have even more to add for future games.
If they both go 100% then, yes, we will then have a good indicator for the future match ups.
Be interesting if Pep went 75% to Arsenal's top line up and still beat them or, if struggling see if our bench can turn things around. No doubt Pep will have decided on his approach to this game.

Arteta and his young coaching team will be plotting 24 hours a day on how to deal with City. Be interesting to know how much Pep will worry about Arsenal.

 

[Axel Freed]

Problem is, if Pep goes "Best 11" and Arteta only goes 75%, we won't be able to assess relative strengths, unless of course Arsenal should win, or draw, then we know they have even more to add for future games.
If they both go 100% then, yes, we will then have a good indicator for the future match ups.
Be interesting if Pep went 75% to Arsenal's top line up and still beat them or, if struggling see if our bench can turn things around. No doubt Pep will have decided on his approach to this game.

I think if we go best 11 and arsenal go at say 75% we still get a huge mental boost if we win.

Arsenal have no reason to turn up at anything less than full strength, if they don’t play their best team I’d see it as a sign of weakness, sort of them trying to protect their best team from a potentially damaging defeat.

 

[Corky]

Problem is, if Pep goes "Best 11" and Arteta only goes 75%, we won't be able to assess relative strengths, unless of course Arsenal should win, or draw, then we know they have even more to add for future games.
If they both go 100% then, yes, we will then have a good indicator for the future match ups.
Be interesting if Pep went 75% to Arsenal's top line up and still beat them or, if struggling see if our bench can turn things around. No doubt Pep will have decided on his approach to this game.

With the 3 games against Chelsea in late 2020/21 Pep went weaker the first 2 and threw them away, especially the league game, then lost in Porto anyway for the third.

I'm not sure if it was all part of his plan, but it backfired.

 

[pete73]

Depends on how often you wash your crusty crystal ball:)

hehe, yes we'll see. I haven't washed it, only dusted it.

 

[inchy14]

Just looking at my tickets for the match. Entrance M1 South Stand…3rd level. I assume that’s high up in the Gods?

Yep, top tier but you’ll get a great view of Erlings hat trick.

 

[aguero93:20]

Has anyone contacted the club about doing that for Andy?

No idea but I'll be doing it at home

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Well it looks like Pep & Mikel are trying to out flatter each other before tomorrow night's game. I suppose it's better than slanging each other off like some managers. I wonder if the loser will be so nice in May. Up the blues.

 

[train man]

With the 3 games against Chelsea in late 2020/21 Pep went weaker the first 2 and threw them away, especially the league game, then lost in Porto anyway for the third.

I'm not sure if it was all part of his plan, but it backfired.

But he still didn't go 'strong' in Porto? The team that ground PSG to dust should have been the one...

 

[NeilMcnabTwoFooted]

We can’t afford 30 minutes to settle in against this lot.
Pick a familiar, established, top quality line up who will ready to go from the start.

this 1000,000%