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

[oldhamblue]

I just hope both sides go for it like the dippers league Cup game we had. You looked very good 2nd half against the scum. 3-2 City ;-)

No way Arteta goes full tilt for the cup. I'd expect Gunnersaurus to get a game

 

[AirbagsOptionalTheReturn]

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think we will get ref’d ok in this and even get a dodgy decision given to us. Then pigmol can happily screw us over in the league and refer back to this fair ref performance. As for the game I think we will get beat as I have a hunch pep will change it and the players that come in will not do the business and he will know who he can rely on

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think we will get ref’d ok in this and even get a dodgy decision given to us. Then pigmol can happily screw us over in the league and refer back to this fair ref performance. As for the game I think we will get beat as I have a hunch pep will change it and the players that come in will not do the business and he will know who he can rely on

I call you a realist.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

No way Arteta goes full tilt for the cup. I'd expect Gunnersaurus to get a game

Moonbeam would fuck him up good style !

 

[Gray]

I think we will play a strong team…maybe rest Ramsdale and White. I think he’ll play the same front 4 and midfield. Trossard likely to come on to relieve Martinelli or Nketiah. Should be interesting.

No no not Trossard.

 

[ysmsa]

Not rattled at all. Pointing out why we might have a few issues this season and also how Arsenal have found themselves in this lofty position.

I used to think like that but we just did it to Chelsea in a matter of weeks so why not.
Then again, draws in any of the League games wont be too bad.

 

[HorlocksWalk]

Given Ederson had the purple kit on, on Sunday I think we have to play Ake in goal.

 

[waspish]

This is such an interesting game in what teams going to playing as in a strong or a weaker team and if we can get hold the ball and stop Arsenal having wave after wave of attack! If we can stifle them to maybe 3/4 breaks that be a great outcome meaning we can control them.

 

[TFC]

Good opportunity to give them a psychological slap this. If we can win (and even better win comfortably), it sows the first seeds of doubt....then we have something to build on.

 

[jamesha]

No mid-week game next week and we do not play until Sunday 5th so I would go full strength for this game.

Not sure about who should be in goal. Ortega was bad against Southampton but previously looked decent. I guess we need to keep him involved but could be tricky against Arsenal's pacy attack.

It would be great to demolish them 4-0. If we take our chances I think we could do that.

 

[blueste41]

Friday would be a good time to get back to our best.

 

[LongsightM13]

I think both will go close to full strength, a replay is the last thing either manager wants
We’ve already got six games in February and five of them are away, don’t need another

 

[kun]

Why does haaland need a 2 week break? Have to be careful , players need momentum

Fair point

 

[citymad]

Let’s confuse them and go full defensive:

Ederson
Walker
Stones
Dias
Laporte
Ake
Lewis
Cancelo
Rodri
Phillips
Gundogan
Haaland

We might need too, its one way to stop Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli. Ederson to Haaland will work eventually.

 

[ancoats]

both managers/clubs have nothing to hide, but arsenal may well see the FA Cup as a give away game because it's away to the Champions, do arsenal have a big enough squad to fight on 3 fronts with the Europa League in mid-week Thursday nights, I even think pep will stick to his plans and play Stefan in all the cup games.

also, are arsenal fully ready to show their hand early, knowing it's the Premier League they really want most,
would it be a good season for them if they only won the FA cup, when leading the league for most of the early season,

if Manchester city turn up, we win, it's not being big-headed or giddy it's just facts we are a better club than arsenal, they even know if we turn up It's pretty much over

 

[KingGeorge]

both managers/clubs have nothing to hide, but arsenal may well see the FA Cup as a give away game because it's away to the Champions, do arsenal have a big enough squad to fight on 3 fronts with the Europa League in mid-week Thursday nights, I even think pep will stick to his plans and play Stefan in all the cup games.

also, are arsenal fully ready to show their hand early, knowing it's the Premier League they really want most,
would it be a good season for them if they only won the FA cup, when leading the league for most of the early season,

if Manchester city turn up, we win, it's not being big-headed or giddy it's just facts we are a better club than arsenal, they even know if we turn up It's pretty much over

I assume you mean Ortega

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

Is Jo cup-tied? ;)

Sorry, one for the old school BM’ers.

 

[Gray]

Is Jo cup-tied? ;)

Sorry, one for the old school BM’ers.

No - one match suspension for card accumulation.

 

[supercity88]

I'm fully expecting Pep to play 5 at the back in a completely new formation, to keep Mikel on his toes!

I'm torn between wanting it to be a proper first team battle where we tear them a new one, and resting our first 11 just to kick lumps out of them. A great chance to give Saka, Odegaards etc some time in the treatment room!

In all seriousness I'd love to win the FA Cup this season. We've only won it twice since the takeover, losing the final to Wigan in 2013 and so many semi finals more recently! It's still a special competition in my opinion.

 

[Legal Alien]

I think both will go close to full strength, a replay is the last thing either manager wants
We’ve already got six games in February and five of them are away, don’t need another

The question is what is considered our full strength team?
To me it is changing weekly and certainly a lot different from 3 months ago.

We need to get players match fit for the games to come, so barring injury i think these should start:

Walker
Dias
Laporte
Cancelo
Phillips
Bernardo
Foden
Alvarez
Palmer