Arsenal (H) - Sun 22nd Sept, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[DallasMCBlue]

Rico is ten times the player

Ridiculous statement

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

Yeah I feel good for this one. Though it doesnt fit in with my narrative of all our rivals being more confident since the 115 court case/hearing/investigation started. The twats. They think we're going to be thrown out of the
pl or have points deducted so they can win.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Yeah I feel good for this one. Though it doesnt fit in with my narrative of all our rivals being more confident since the 115 court case/hearing/investigation started. The twats. They think we're going to be thrown out of the
pl or have points deducted so they can win.

Piss poor for them to need us to have points deduction to be able to win the league

And we are cheats!!!

Bottle merchants today and let’s give them a good fucking

 

[Dave El Magico]

I think the game will be like Inter on Wednesday night. Arteta will have taken ideas from that game and prevent Haaland from having any room to operate in. Their attacks will come from balls played over the top to Saka, Martinelli and Havertz. Just hope that we can get at them with an early goal and then take them to the cleaners. Please can we get the place rocking blues.

 

[SWP's back]

Nothing against Doku, his unpredictability makes him exciting but Pep will want to dominate possession and midfield and Grealish gives him that. Space behind will be tough so I expect lots of intricate passing. If we're pushing in the second half Doku will give us pace

Grealish doesn’t do intricate passing to break through lines in the slightest. And when the defence is packed, you need players that can beat a man.

 

[ufo]

It never gets old to see Antonio Banderas appear from nowhere and scream “hold me”

 

[bert38]

Odegaard

They've shortened a tad so prob no great surprises either way.

 

[ufo]

Their biggest game this one and I think they'll be stinging from the criticism of their negative tactics from last season. They'll be right up for this and will attack from the start - and they have one of the best attacking games in world football over the last 3 years. Rice is absolutely world class and proving that actually Arsenal got a good deal getting him for what they did. Jesus will be right up for it and will be dying to show that ruthless streak in front of goal that he's renowned for. Also, Saka is a future Balon d'Or winner and probably should be in the top 3 this year. They are a force to be reckoned with.

Add to that the fact that their defence will have Haaland in their pocket again. Also our players haven't hit the ground running just yet.

So, let's just take a 1-1, keep our unbeaten start and move on to 3 points next time round.

 

[ufo]

Hello Blues. I think we have to try something new. Now hear me out on this one.

Arsenal/Arteta are going to park the bus and play on the counter / rely on set pieces. The foundation of their gameplan relies HEAVILY on their defense being on their A game.

Gabriel/Saliba are licking their lips and are probably dreaming of playing like prime Nesta and Maldini getting ready and motivated to stop Haaland.

We know how ineffective Haaland can be against a deep block, especially an organized one who are on red alert for him.

I think we should INNOVATE. Throw a spanner in the works. Hear me out. I think Haaland should be on the bench.

3 ATB with Gvardiol, Dias & Akanji
3 in midfield, Rodri as the 6 with Kovacic and Rico either sides of him to have control in the midfield
Doku and Savinho on the flanks to provide threat from the flanks
Gundogan and Foden both as false 9s, attacking midfielders in the middle

Tactically, Pep said Rico, Foden and Gundogan are our best players in the pockets so this system allows all 3 to be in there.

while Doku and Savinho will be a constant threat down the flanks.
Rico, Kovacic and Rodri will give us control.

Psychologically, this would be a masterstroke. For starters, Arteta and co would not have planned for this. Whatever plans they had for Haaland and motivation they had is gone, they go into the game confused. Gabriel and Saliba would not get what they have been preparing for.

Also, Haaland on the bench would mean his ego would be hurt, a wounded viking animal waiting to be unleashed.
whatever the gamestate, when the Arsenal players and City fans see Haaland and KDB warming up to come on in the second half, the stadium will erupt and the Arsenal players will shit themselves, making them go even further back into their shells. This is not what they planned for.

Fantastic idea to wound our best goal scorer.

 

[Elliot houghton]

Probably a small advantage mind but the weather will certainly help us be much harder for there team to sit back for 90 minutes without making mistakes