Two weeks to go till our season-opener against Newcastle, so the next few friendlies are important games to get the team ready. With three wins and a draw (after 90 minutes of footie) Arsenal had some good results and, as per my hardly commented on post yesterday, there are some positive developments within the team and the way we play.
Today’s friendly against Lyon at the home of football should provide another opportunity to test the team’s tactics and interactions. The addition of Ceballos also offers food for thought. Will he start or come of the bench? And who will he replace, Willock or Mesut or Mkhi?
So how will we line-up? I am expecting us to go with our strongest possible first 11 or thereabout. I am hoping we will see Ceballos straight away but not for the in-form Mesut or Willock but for the still looking rusty Mkhi. With the possible arrival of Pepe, it would not surprise me if it’s the Armenian who will make way for him this summer.
So attack is Ceballos – Laca – Auba – Mesut. Then two in the (deep) centre of midfield: Xhaka and Willock (expect Matteo G to replace JW28 at some point in the game). At the back it should be Leno – AMN – Sok – Mus – Nacho (expect Jenkinson, Chambers and Kola to make appearances too).
So here is my anticipated starting 11 for the Lyon encounter:
If you are lucky enough to be at the game – enjoy! COYGs.
By TotalArsenal.
Bergkampesque 
TA, if I am Emery I will throw in Nelson instead of Ceballos, and only play Ceballos in the second half. The defense is a hard one to have a different lineup..
Maybe the Tank can play on left back and Nacho plays in the Mustafi position.
Mustafi in the AMN position is another option.
Cheers 84, Good shout about Nelson. There is a reason Ceballos got the nr8 shirt, I reckon, so expect him to play. We will have to see.
TA, good preview. Well, it looks like neither Nelson nor Ceballos will start the game, per the team sheet released.
Arsenal
Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Willock, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Lyon
Lopes – Dubois, Yanga Mbiwa, Denayer, Marçal – T.Mendes, J.Lucas, Cheikh Diop – Terrier, B.Traoré, Depay.
No indication of the subs yet, but we know the “usual suspects” (everyone else, that is) will be available, subject to the substitution rules of the Emirates cup. So, Willock is being tried out in the No. 10 role, or will that be Mkhi?
TA, you are getting us back to the mood. Willock obviously is impressing everybody. Emery wants to give returning Douzi some game time. Musti didn’t play against Real. If he doesn’t play today then something must be developing. Ceballos might be given some 25 minutes.
We still have Angers and Barcelona to come, as Friendlies, before the start against Newcastle, so enough time to try out Ceballos and maybe one or two other newbies.
In other news, Liverpool are looking to use CL involvement to butt into our bid for Pepe and now, it’s all at risk. For me, if Ornstein has said it, I can take it for granted it will get done (if not already done). The game has started. Any one know what the Ladies did against Bayern Ladies?
Okay, our ladies lost 0-1 with Danielle Carter stretchered off.
Also, Laca came off for Nelson in the 13th minute, limping badly. Ankle sprain, it is being reported.
Apparently, both Ozil and Kolasinac are at the Emirates today but will not be involved against Lyon after Unai Emery had a chat with the pair and decided to leave them out owing to the attempted mugging incident involving both players, earlier in the week. Smart thinking, I’d say as they must have been shaken.
Looks like no one else on here was interested in the Emirates cup games; both our men (1-2) and the Ladies (0-1) lost, sadly. In both cases, the result didn’t reflect the effort put in by the Arsenal team; got to see a bit of the first half, and all of the second, on YouTube. Auba got the first/only goal midway into the first half but in a dramatic turn of events, Lyon scored two quick, late goals from Moussa Dembele, in the second half. Try as we did, we couldn’t find the equalizer to take it to penalties.
Emery used the outing to play as many of the lads as he could bring on, including Ceballos. Martinelli (scored a disallowed “winner” minutes after coming on), Nketiah, Tyreece John-Jules, Burton, Mustafi, Carl Jenkinson and Zech Medley. All a nice experience and great looking atmosphere.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49144687.
Even as PE lines up a full write upon the man….. 😜😜
…full write-up on the….**
Cheers my Nigerian friends. I wasn’t able to watch the game but it sounds like it was a good workout, even though we didn’t win.
Eris, you owe us plenty. We are all dieing for posts from you. Come on!
TA,
HOT PEPPER!
A MAIL IN YOUR BOX.
Lol, PE. There I was thinking I was “helping a friend”.
Cheeers PE!
Yes the hottest pepper! New Post New Post!