Arsenal (H) - Sun 31st Mar, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[St.Pauli support]

There are very few Arsenal fans I know predicting an easy game. Most are predicting a defeat or maybe a draw and anyone thinking a trip to the Etihad is a great goal difference building opportunity is either deluded or looking for clickbait.

The only caveat that gives any of us more optimism is if Stones doesn't play as he's so vital to how you rotate the ball up the field.

I know it suits the narrative to imagine there are a bunch of entitled opposing fans who have it in for City and think we'll win easily but you must be confusing us with the Dippers, firstly we so not expect to win and secondly very few Arsenal fans have it in for City anyway, it's Spurs and the Dippers that we dislike the most.

Any idea which Arsenal players will be out, and what line-up do you expect to start?

 

[SWP's back]

Sunday compared to last year they will have

Raya vs Ramsey
Rice vs Jorginho
Saliba vs Holding
Havertz vs Jesus

They have improved massively.

City have unfortunately got weaker as we're integrating new young players in Nunes and Doku compared to having Gundogan and Mahrez available last year, and Grealish in the form of his life. Kovacic looks to be getting it but he'll need to have a great game.

Unfortunately due to Gareth the Dim I think Arsenal are favourites for this game.

They’re five points worse off, we’re one point worse off.

Stop talking shite.

 

[SWP's back]

or there’ll be pitchforks and torches out for them :D kova’s not hated at the moment, but gvardiol. people are literally having meltdowns because he’ll probably play. even why couldn’t gvardiol get injured instead of stones. what’s the deal with wishing injuries for your own players?

anyway, many people think we’ll see gvardiol cb and ake lb because saka.
would pep do that in one of the most important games of the season when he only had him play cb in dead games previously?

on the other hand, if he plays lb and ends up in problems with saka, it’s pitchfork time for him, especially if pep won’t have akanji invert but play gvardiol lw again.

many arsenal fans are predicting an easy game and a comfortable win for them. arrogant assholes.

Leave your Croatian victim complex at the door when you enter Bluemoon. Unlike you, the rest of us care only for what’s best for City and don’t fanboy based on nationality.

I love both Kova and Gvardiol and hope both start, but leave your nationalistic out.

 

[SWP's back]

His distribution is his problem. It’s nowhere ederson levels and that matters in the big games IMO.

But his stop stopping is levels above.

I’d rather Ederson started, all things considered however I’d rather have Ortega in goal if we’re playing shite and having to defend for prolonged periods.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Yep, agree, but Eddie can also be an accident waiting to happen when he charges out instead of staying back.

That only happens once a season at most. It’s the fact that Arsenal are a big pressing team, and we are probably without a couple of press resistant players, so the playing out from the back is going to be crucial. Ortega wobbling, the defence losing confidence and that could lose us the game. It was the way we dealt with that press and prayed through it that won the home game.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

But his stop stopping is levels above.

I’d rather Ederson started, all things considered however I’d rather have Ortega in goal if we’re playing shite and having to defend for prolonged periods.

See my reply above. To me this is the game where we need ederson more than any other.

 

[Plain Speaking]

But his stop stopping is levels above.

I’d rather Ederson started, all things considered however I’d rather have Ortega in goal if we’re playing shite and having to defend for prolonged periods.

'Shot stopping' even! ;-)

 

[bridgeno1]

Any idea which Arsenal players will be out, and what line-up do you expect to start?

I reckon Martinelli will be out. I think Arsenal will line up like this;

Raya

White. Saliba. Gabriel. Kivior

Jorginho Rice

Odegaard

Saka Havertz. Trossard


With White inverting into midfield. Odegaard playing slightly forward of Rice and Jorginho and Rice being less box to box and more holding as he'll need to neutralise Rodri.



Weak points are Jorginho if Rice can't hold off Rodri as Jorginho is lightweight in a defensive role. Kivior I'm afraid will get murdered by Foden/Silva. That's where City will get joy and Zinchenko can't be trusted in these games.

Havertz will play as he's an effective outball for Arsenal to play over City's midfield.

Possible alternatives are Tomiyasu instead of Kivior and Jesus instead of Trossard. If Martinelli is fit he starts as he's a threat on the break, else he'll come on after the break.

Partey isn't match fit but he may come on 2nd half to replace Jorginho.

 

[halfcenturyup]

yeah, pulls off some amzing saves but when the balls at his feet a little turd begins to pop out of my arse ;-)

What is Gary Neville doing up there?

 

[BerkshireBlue]

ha! Like we did at the Emirates.

have a look at the team we put out at Emirates then ask yourselves why did arsenal only win with a stuffy deflected shot. They got lucky as it was the perfect time to play us. This will be a totally different city team