Arsenal Thread | 2024/25

[bennyboy]

Smith-Rowe’s?

Aye on the bench.lol.

 

[waspish]

Looks arsenal are going for the keep it tight and when they score it's game over with there defence!

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Aye on the bench.lol.

Think Arsenal might use him as a box crashing number 8 if they need another option. He did it for Spain in the Euros.

 

[Eds]

Obviously if Rice gets injured he can slot in and another player like Partey or Jorginho comes in.

So you haven’t bought him to cover for Rice, you have bought him to go straight into the starting 11 to replace someone? Very confusing. We don’t have a best starting 11 and that’s the difference between the two sides. You pretty much know how you will line up as Lego head flogs the same players to death, like Klipperty used to. We have no idea who will line up and that’s the beauty of what the club has done these past 10 years. Whoever does start barely weakens the side. Should be a good game when we play in a few weeks.

 

[bridgeno1]

So you haven’t bought him to cover for Rice, you have bought him to go straight into the starting 11 to replace someone? Very confusing. We don’t have a best starting 11 and that’s the difference between the two sides. You pretty much know how you will line up as Lego head flogs the same players to death, like Klipperty used to. We have no idea who will line up and that’s the beauty of what the club has done these past 10 years. Whoever does start barely weakens the side. Should be a good game when we play in a few weeks.

I think that's the point, he comes in and provides options.

You say you don't have a best starting XI but you do have some outfield players who, if fit, are in your starting XI against all but the weakest sides. Haaland, Rodri, KDB, Foden, Stones. You may rotate other places but those boys are nailed on to play against any PL team from mid table onwards. So 5 outfield players.

Last season we had to play the same starting XI a lot because of squad depth and injury to Timber but this season, bringing in extra players hopefully alleviates that. However, if we put Arsenal in the same scenario as above this season (playing any decent side) it's nailed on that Saliba, Odegaard, Rice, Saka and White start. Again that's 5, same as City. The idea is that Calafiori can replace either Gabriel at CB or play LB, Merino can slot in midfield but so can Partey, Jorginho, Nwaneri. Jurrien Timber is a superb player who can play anywhere across the back line or in midfield.

What we don't have is decent cover for Saka. City for sure have more options up front.

I get it that Arteta tends to play the same starting XI every game, and for sure Saka gets gassed in particular. Nwaneri is potentially a better player than Saka but is only 17 so not this season. But Arteta does have options this season to mix it up a bit.

We can slice it and dice it all we want but the reality is the main difference between the sides is Pep and Rodri. Aside them Arsenal are better at the back than City, but City have better offensive weapons. But the reality is, Pep is the GOAT tactically and Rodri can dominate a match and lock up midfield. So if Arsenal and City went head to head and were both at 100%, City would most likely win because of those factors. But because the PL isn't based on 1 match, Arteta is trying to boost the average level of performance in each game so we eke out an extra point here and there. If that's not enough to win the league, so be it, we're up against a fantastic team. In fact, ok, I'm a Gooner and think the invincibles were an unbelievable team with some all time great players but they never won the CL or a treble. So on that basis this City side is the greatest PL side there's ever been. The facts back that up.

So in that context it's like being the guy who finishes 2nd to Usain Bolt - sometimes if you've done your best and maximised your performance and you still can't beat the opponent then you have to respect that.

 

[bridgeno1]

Villa away tomorrow. Tough game, they mugged us at Villa Park last season so we owe them (in fact they beat us home and away). After that it's home to Brighton but then away at Spurs and then away at City, so a pretty tough start.

 

[KS55]

Villa away tomorrow. Tough game, they mugged us at Villa Park last season so we owe them (in fact they beat us home and away). After that it's home to Brighton but then away at Spurs and then away at City, so a pretty tough start.

You deserve it!

 

[BerkshireBlue]

Obviously if Rice gets injured he can slot in and another player like Partey or Jorginho comes in.

Still relying on rapists then. Despicable team with disgusting morals

 

[Asa's left peg]

As has been said before, the two head to head games are the key - effectively 2 six pointers. We all know what happens after Xmas every year - we put our foot down (it will be a surprise if it doesn't happen again) so Arsenal have to be virtually perfect until then to build enough of a gap so that the pressure doesn't affect them and it is mathematically impossible for us to catch them.
It will be interesting to see if they get a more difficult CL group this time.

 

[bridgeno1]

Still relying on rapists then. Despicable team with disgusting morals

I must have missed the trial and consequent conviction. Anyway I'm not discussing this point further as I'm not privy to the information but just think on how ridiculous your statement is.