West Brom away will be another challenge for Arsenal, and although Fat Sam is no longer chewing his gum at the Hawthorns I have no doubt that they will try and rough the boys up tomorrow.
We need a committed performance tomorrow, of course, but what really needs to shine through is the incredible quality within the team.
I have not much of an idea what Arteta’s lineup will be, but I would go for something like this.
Preferred Lineup:
Ramsdale
Soares – Chambers – Holding – Tavares
—- AMN – – – – – Elneny – – – – –
Saka – – – – – Ode – – — -Martinelli
——–Lacazette – – – – – – – –
Robbo could do with another game and Mari needs a rest. Same goes for Lokonga and AMN needs a start. Laca and Ode could have their first starts this season, and Martinelli, if fit, should start. Saka also needs a good game.
Looking forward to this one.
CoyrrGs ⚽ ⚽ ⚽ ⚽
By TotalArsenal.
Bergkampesque 
I think that Arteta faces some difficult choices and nothing less than a good win will do. If AMN is not picked I expect to see him leave, on loan or permanently, by Tuesday. If Laca isn’t fit enough for 90 minutes, I would start Pepe as CF to see how he performs there.
My predictions for the weekend:
Manchester City v Arsenal H (even if I hope for an away win or even a draw!)
Brighton v Everton H
Newcastle v Southampton D
Liverpool v Chelsea * A 1-2
Burnley v Leeds A
Rangers v Celtic * H 2-1
Broadly agree with your line up but it’s a big ask for Laca to start the game given he’s just back from a nasty bout of Covid – he was out for 10 days. Far more likely that Auba plays the first 60 and Laca the back 30 if Arsenal is in a position to (big if).
Also, I doubt Arteta starts Holding at LCB and Elneny at LCM given they’re both right footers. Gabriel is back in training now apparently so he might get 30mins if it’s going well towards the end (big if, yet again) but I expect at least one of Mari or Xhaka to start.
Both good comments, I’d love to see Pepe there, but unfortunately our strikers really need the work. Perfect game for El Neny, Nelson, Ødegaard to get work. Some players may be on their 2ay out like Nelson or Eddie.., so who knows.
WBA won’t make it easy but still, we’ve got to rest some players and give certain players much needed starts. So, I like the idea of Tavares, AMN and Ode starting. I expect to see Nelson on for Martinelli or Saka (the lad looks rushed back). I feel Mari would start alongside Holding while it will be a toss up between Chambers and Cedric for the right back; all depends on who Arteta intends to start against City.
Again, I am not sure Laca would start after being out for so long, but if he can handle it, I’d leave that to Arteta to determine. It is a game in which we have to find a bit of our rhythm back and just win a game. Good luck to the boys.
My predictions for this week’s selections:
Manchester City v Arsenal D
Brighton v Everton D
Newcastle v Southampton H
Liverpool v Chelsea * D (2 – 2)
Burnley v Leeds H
Rangers v Celtic * H (2 -1)
Jync, not sure how we can pull off a transfer for Kieran Trippier without European football. He may just use us to get the attention of United and that’s that. Will he want to risk the ire of the fans at his old stomping ground? Don’t get me wrong. I will love it if we can get him, but….. Let us see how it plays out.
I understand what everyone is saying about rest and rotation and under normal circumstances I’d agree, but normal this isn’t, instead I reckon Arteta will go full strength because he needs this win so badly. It wouldn’t surprise me to see both Xhaka and Lokonga start in midfield, in fact I can see just Ramsdale for Leno, Tavares for Tierney and Odegaard for one of either Saka or The Smith, possibly Aubameyang as well, he needs game time and goals.
Apparently none of our promising youngsters were training with the senior squad yesterday (Tues) so no Azeez or Hutchinson or Patino, this game is just too important…
Only one week of the transfer window left and a lot of work still to do…
Ben, GunnerOx10 good comments, I’d love to see Pepe there, but unfortunately our strikers really need the work. Perfect game for El Neny, Nelson, Ødegaard to get work. Some players may be on their way out like Nelson or Eddie.., so who knows.
Hi J, I think that Arsenal and Palace will come to a compromise and Eddie will leave for Selhurst Park.
There’s a rumour that we’re negotiating a loan for Aoaur with an obligation to sign him next summer, that might happen if Torrieira and Willian leave, Torrieira apparently posted a picture from an airliner on his social media with an Italian flag so is he on his way to Italia to join Fiorentina or maybe Roma?
Kolasinac wants to quit the UK with his family and Fenerbahce looks the likely destination.
I don’t think that Arteta wants Nelson to leave, not permanently anyway – and nor do I for that matter.
Elneny is an interesting one, he probably feels frozen out by Lokonga and who knows, I’m still hoping for a Yves Bissouma miracle?
Sorry for the duplicate. I thought it was lost….
Kev, I don’t know Lacazettes fitness, but Auba needs the work and I expect good things from him this season. I don’t think he’s lost anything physically, and a fresh start is all he needs. Some love from the fans would be nice, but that will come with the goals.
I still prefer him up front with creative players around him, because even with Ø we need more chances created and taken. Saka played better for England and maybe Arteta should try to figure out why.
As bad as our midfield may be, it’s actually better than England’s.
Yes J, I also think that Aubameyang has at least one more good season for us in his tank and Lacazette really can’t be fit enough for this game, maybe off of the bench if we need him, hopefully we don’t and Balogun can come on.
For me Saka operates best on the right flank J and Pepe has done some good work on the left but Arteta decided to play them on opposite flanks vs Chelsea, who knows what he has in mind for this game, will ESR start, will Martinelli play wide left supporting Auba?
Great comments and formation suggestions, guys and girls.
Ben, good point about needing left footed players in the team. I thought about this too but wanted to give Mari and Xhaka a break. I reckon Granit will have to play.
Re Auba.. Still too many rumours that he is on his way if the offer is right – more for him than the club. If he is intent on leaving then I would not play as he would be saving himself to avoid injury.
I assume Laca is fit to start and raring to go.
Fine suggested line up Total, the game is a pleasant surprise to me as I was unaware of us playing today – old age tends to play tricks on you.
Although I still have not heard from everybody most of you who have responded to my message on whether our competition should be for fun or a fee seem to prefer to play for fun.
Personally I prefer the no fee option but if enough folks want the fee option I will be happy to pay a fee – I will continue to manage the competition either way.
The decision of NO FEE will be final on Friday 27th so if anybody has strong objections now is the time to express them.
Team news update
Here’s our latest team news ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match at West Bromwich Albion.
Hector Bellerin
Right thigh. Hector was unavailable for Sunday’s match with a tight thigh. Hector is back in training and being assessed ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Alex Lacazette
Alex is now back in full training after testing positive for Covid-19 and has returned to full training ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Gabriel Magalhaes
Right knee. Gabriel sustained an injury to his right knee with the Brazilian Olympic Squad. Gabriel is progressing well and is now back in training with the squad.
Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel has returned to full training after suffering from lower leg cramps on Sunday.
Eddie Nketiah
Right ankle. Eddie sustained bruising to his right ankle during the friendly match against Chelsea on 1 August. Eddie is working hard with the medical team and is aiming to be back in training in early September.
Martin Odegaard
Martin has now received full clearance to play and is available for selection.
Thomas Partey
Right ankle. Thomas sustained an injury to ligaments in his right ankle during the friendly match against Chelsea on 1 August. Thomas is working hard with the medical team and is aiming to be back in training by the end of August.
Alex Runarsson
Alex is now back in full training following testing positive for Covid-19.
Kieran Tierney
Kieran has returned to full training after suffering from cramps in his thigh on Sunday.
Ben White
Ben tested positive for Covid-19 last week ahead of the Chelsea match and will not be available for Wednesday’s match. Ben’s health and fitness will be continually monitored ahead of the weekend.
Willian
Willian tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Brentford match. Willian’s health and fitness will be continually monitored ahead of Wednesday’s match.
As part of Premier League protocol, all members of our first team squad and support staff continue to be regularly tested for COVID-19.
Copyright 2021 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
News
GN5, I prefer to play for fun too.
Thank you OX.
A simple statement on the Fiorentina site read, “ACF Fiorentina is delighted to announce the signing of Lucas Torreira on loan with an option to purchase from Arsenal Football Club.
“The Uruguay international – born in Fray Bentos on 11 February 1996 – spent last season at Atletico Madrid, helping the club win La Liga.
“Torreira has 31 Uruguay caps to his name and recently played for his country in the Copa America.
“The midfielder will wear the No.18 shirt at Fiorentina.Video: Le visite, la firma e le prime parole di Lucas Torreira.”
Good Luck, Lucas.
Well a strong line up with a few surprises.
Ramsdale
Tavares, Chambo, Holdingho, Kola
Elneny, Xhaka
Pepe, Ode, Saka
Auba
Stron* team
That’s a near full strength side with Kola the real surprise. If he really were on the way out, would we be playing him, unless it is to showcase him to his would be suitors?
Anyway, good to find use for him. Who knows? He may just have a blinder; one thing I know is he won’t be as shaky as Mari, but he is a penalty – risk.
Let’s do this, boys!
Ramsdale is so much better with the ball than Leno. He will be No1 before the end of the season. Also tavares is really good to watch.
Great first half of football. Few nervy moments but we have looked like arsenal tonight.
0-3. Auba has been influential in this game. He looks like he has something to prove (and he does). Now, we can coast into half time.
Surprised that we didn’t have Nelson in the team.
Odegaard makes such a difference
Eris very good point about Trippier.
Today, a little relief finally. Not counting my chickens but at least we scored. I have a good feeling that Auba wants to get back to his best, even looked interested against Chelsea.
I’m listening to the game, if
Sam Mateface dickface mentions the young inexperienced players we’re playing against one more time,… I’m gonna send him a nasty tweet.
A little work for Øde and Auba, let’s get some subs out there for others soon.
One more thing. Harry Kane is a moron and a born loser.
Well that was sweet relief 😌
Aubameyang’s 3rd goal was out of his top drawer, signs that his form is returning.
Nice goals from Lacazette and Saka.
A tonic.
AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates in the next round.
I’ll drink to that… ☕️
Yeah nice one, Kev.
The result and the performance just tells you how much we missed having our big players (against Brentford, at least); with Auba about, the Chelsea defenders won’t have been pushing as far forward as they did too. All water under the bridge now, and it is only a championship side in the Carabao cup. Victoria Concordia Crescit!
New Post 🙂⚽🚀