Arsenal (H) - Wed 26th April, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[BringBackSwales]

Has Mikel confirmed when the first time-out is, so I know when to be ready to nip for a pee?

Just wait for the first bit of sustained City pressure, second minute

 

[Roachy]

They will man mark us all over the pitch, making it difficult for us to play out from the back. We will have to be patient with our players while they sort that out over the first 20 mins. They did this in the cup game against us, to some effect. Can see us going long often which, of course nullifies are strengths. I am sure Pep will have a plan to overcome this.

Agree mate. They pass and move into space really well also. I see a cracking game ahead.

 

[Withnail]

Key game, no doubt. Saka is a concern, but so too are Odegarrd, Martinelli and Jesus if we let them have the ball too much. I trust our midfield to nullify that for large parts of the game.

Zinchenko is an interesting one. He'll push on and, at least when he was with us, he's not actually as press resistant as many of the other city team, so can be tackled in a couple of ways - stick a player out wide or put someone tenacious on him. We have both options, be interested to see what Pep goes with.

I do fancy us though. From five chances created, I can see our defense squishing out most, but I don't see them stopping Haaland and co in quite the same way. Hope I'm proved right.

Their front 3 are very good and Saka will need to be kept quiet, hopefully Laporte is upto the job. Without Saliba defensively they are very flaky as has been proven in recent games. A City win will really dent their already fragile confidence.

 

[mattcity5]

Who pretends to be injured for arse after 20 minutes so they can have their little touchline huddle?

It's just about always Ramsdale, and likely will be again.

If it were an outfield player they'd make them go off before coming back on, but goalkeepers don't have to do that so no risk.

Refs should start giving yellows for it, you can class it as unsportsmanlike conduct, deceiving the match officials. Won't happen though, certainly not tomorrow anyway.

 

[No1 was Colin bell]

Ederson
Laporte
Dias
Akanji
Stones
Rodri
KDB
Gundogan
Grealish
Haaland
Bernardo

Tough on Mahrez but we need be Bernardo's work rate and defensive abilities

4-0. And they'll be lucky to get nil

Ederson
Laporte
Dias
Akanji
Stones
Rodri
KDB
Gundogan
Grealish
Haaland
Bernardo

Tough on Mahrez but we need be Bernardo's work rate and defensive abilities

4-0. And they'll be lucky to get nil

yep I’d go with that. As you say hard on mahrez who will be “grumpy“ but Arsenal will be, if nothing else, energetic from the off and we need everyone at it straight away. Need them not to score and definitely not score first if they do

 

[OccupiedPalestineBlues]

Is there even a chance that Ake is fit?
I was thinking he would be out for few weeks minimum

He may be fit but a couple of games out nursing an injury and he might not have the excellent rhythm he had prior to the downtime.
One for Pep I guess ;-)

 

[OccupiedPalestineBlues]

yep I’d go with that. As you say hard on mahrez who will be “grumpy“ but Arsenal will be, if nothing else, energetic from the off and we need everyone at it straight away. Need them not to score and definitely not score first if they do

On the other side of the coin. They can be as energetic as they like but it won’t serve them much purpose if they’ve not got the ball and Mahrez doesn’t lose the ball.

I’d be happy with Bernardo or Mahrez btw both bring something very special to our game and we’re very lucky to have them.

 

[stonerblue]

give it a rest stoner
the mans just asking for a show of respect for a fellow blue
if you dont want to join in then dont.
why do you feel the need to attack a fellow blue?

just for the record i will be there and will be applauding

I am not 'attacking' anyone.
And how do i 'not join in'? Should i slope off to the bar, stick my fingers in my ears and shut my eyes?

 

[M16 citeh]

Has Mikel confirmed when the first time-out is, so I know when to be ready to nip for a pee?

20 mins mark - also the moment where we begin to take the upper hand so I'd wait until half time mate

 

[Turner92]

Comfortable 3-0 win Zinchenko to get sent off and Jesus to miss several sitters