Arsenal v Man City Preview and Line-up. Partey and Rice or Odegaard and Havertz?

TotalArsenal

So here we go again, folks. The season’s opener, the beautifully named Community Shield, is upon is and the Arsenal are playing. It has been a long while since we played a meaningful game, and I cannot wait to see the beautiful red and white on the green of Wembley strutting their stuff once more.

The media are focussing on the scenario of Arsenal using this opportunity to make a statement, to show Man City that we are ready for the battle this season and give them one on the nose this afternoon. Of course, they will more than half expect this not to happen, and then we will be seen to have failed.

For me it is just a good half-meaningful game to get back into the groove and play in-front of a great audience. The winner of these encounters seldom win the league subsequently, so there really is nothing to take from it. It should be a celebration and demonstration of good football, and get us all ready for the exciting season that lays ahead.

What will be interesting to watch is who will dominate who in their own area the most. Guardiola has now and again instructed to absorb our pressure in their half, and then kill us with conventional balls over the top. In pre-season we have looked vulnerable to those, although I expect that the defenders will be more willing to stretch their legs and muscles in today’s encounter. The tactical battle will be interesting to watch and may tell us something about how both teams will approach the top games this season.

City – the triple champions – are of course the team to beat this season. They may have reached their peak last season, though, and it remains to be seen whether they will deal well with the departure of some of the reliable players that helped to pull them through the latter part of last season. Arsenal are on the right path and may have great momentum from both the incremental growth this young team has in itself and the pinpointed additions in defence, midfield and attack. This combo may make the difference this season, and I am quietly confident that we will fight for the title once more.

We all know that Man City have their own combo of world class quality: Kevin de Bruine and the Berserker are as deadly an attacking duo as you will find. Imagine Haaland leading our attack and the number of assists both Bukayo and Martin would have been able to add to their already impressive total reached last season. And KdB is one of the finest footballers of this century and always a joy to watch.

I feel, more than last season, that if we stop this duo to combine with ease we will have a good chance to beat them.

Line-up? Not entirely sure. I guess our strongest one, given injuries, is something like this:

——–The Ram——-

Big Ben, Tequila, Big Gab, Timber

——-Partey, Rice——-

–Saka, The Ode, Marti/Tross–

——Eddie/Havertz——-

That’s how I would play – with two deeper laying midfielders.

But I expect Arteta to play with either Partey or Rice deep and two attacking midfielders in front of them.

The Ram

White, Saliba, Big Gab, Timb

Partey or Rice

The Ode, Havertz

Saka-Eddie-Martinelli

Let’s enjoy this and a win would be nice.

By TotalArsenal

41 thoughts on “Arsenal v Man City Preview and Line-up. Partey and Rice or Odegaard and Havertz?”

  • Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.
    Subs: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Holding, Vieira, Trossard, Smith Rowe, Nketiah.

    Manchester City: Ortega, Walker, Dias, Stones, Akanji, Kovacic, Rodrigo, Silva, Grealish, Alvarez, Haaland.
    Subs: Ederson, Lewis, Gomez, Laporte, Phillips, McAtee, De Bruyne, Foden, Palmer.

  • Hi Total,

    Thank you for your thoughts, like yourself I’m more interested in watching a good game of football although a win would be the icing on the cake.

    It starts at 11:00 here and I make myself a salmon and tomato sandwich and a cup of tea to have during the game.

    Alcohol of any type is off the menu – my choice as my doctors tell me that moderate usage would be fine.

    Lets hope we have something to celebrate.

  • Just looking at our line up excites me.

    Total- can you dig out PB’s post that has gone into the ether?

    Here are my predictions for next weekend.

    Arsenal v Nottingham Forest * H (2-0)
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United * D (2-2)
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace * D (1-1)
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur * H (2-0)
    Chelsea v Liverpool * A (1-3)
    Villarreal v Real Betis * H (2-1)

  • Hi GN5

    That sounds like a great lunch. Allezkev will be proud of you too.

    You can find PB’s predictions at the end of the last blog, but here it is again:

    Arsenal v Nottingham Forest * 3-1
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United * 0-2
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace * 0-1
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur * 0-2
    Chelsea v Liverpool * 0-2
    Villarreal v Real Betis * 1-2

  • Well the great news is that we play with a double-deep pivot: Partey Rice! The even better news is that Havertz, Saka and Marti are in attack.

  • Thank you for commenting earlier, GN5… Otherwise I would have thought the world has gone under. No other comments on the post or game at all from anyone else. Weird.

  • Arsenal made my day (or evening, actually).
    Even though the late-late equalizer was lucky, generally the draw seemed fair to me.
    Despite the 61:39 ball possession it was quite balanced from the attempts point of view.
    And the best part: we didn’t look the inferior side. Something that couldn’t have been said in our past many-many encounters with City (including the FA Cup semi final we managed to win).

    So it was a pleasant and encouraging experience even before the penalty shootout.
    And that was the icing on the cake.

  • TA, I am just in-flight out of Toronto, heading to Lagos Nigeria, en-route Atlanta. I was able to catch the game while waiting to board though.
    You were really close with the predicted line up and, tactically speaking, it would seem we play against the big sides with a double midfield pivot of Rice and Partey, which is ideal.

    After being under the pass-pass-pass crush of City for 15mins, we roared back to hit them on the break and frankly, had the better chances. Second half was a bit of the same, but by then, we appeared to have had the measure of them till Palmer scored for them in the 70th. Deflected equalizer or not, Trosaard’s goal was what we deserved.
    The win is well received. It helps as we go into another tough season.

  • Beating them at any time is very satisfying, beating them at Wembley is doubly so, a very enjoyable day, the Arsenal fans were great the City fans pretty well non existent support, I only heard them after they scored and the referee was quite biased not least in his awarding of cards.

    City can do one…

  • Really enjoyed the game, the result especially.
    We endured City’s triangulating dominance over the first 25 minutes and then grew into and had the better of the game up until DeBruyne and Foden came on. Mikel will need to come up with a strategy to counter KDB’s brilliance. He is the best in that position since our Denis ruled the premiership.
    Our press was intelligently cautious, and our willingness to play out from the back under pressure showed courage and boldness. We can foot it with these boys this season.
    Our three new boys are bedding in. They are big fellows and bring a scary new dynamic to our squad. Some of MO8’s touches and passes were exquisite. Loved watching him put Kovacic on his ass.
    I lean into Kev’s comment about the ref, he did seem a bit inconsistent with his cards. Rodri’s pull back, especially seemed a cast iron yellow. And, agree that our fans seemed to dominate the sound in that magnificent arena. Well done, Kev & co.
    Lovely to get the run of defeats monkey off our shoulder.

    I hope you enjoyed that celebratory cuppa, GN5.

  • Belief is the word as the season starts due to this win. Ramsdale post match mentioned ad mental block which means the team has it and discussed it. Now having done once the belief is there that this season they can do one better than previous season. Definitely bodes well for the season.
    Glad I could watch it on iTV and will be back in India as the season starts. The Roy keenes two footed attack on Arsenal on TV was disgraceful. There was no semblance of balance and frankly pretty offending. Emma Hayes tried to say something positive. Now I understand why Viera was needed to tackle him what an annoying person Roy is. Disgraceful.

  • Pingback: ≫ Arsenal v Man City Preview and Line-up. Partey and Rice or Odegaard and Havertz? – Bergkampesque

  • Watching the 1st half from high in the stands and along the sides (I’m usually behind the goal where I prefer) it was interesting to see how compact Arsenal were when City had possession, it’s almost as if Arteta has switched from trying to take City on stopping them playing and doing a City on City instead. City tried to stretch the game by having two wingers on the lines of the wings but Arsenal stayed disciplined and stopped giving up almost any avenues through the centre, it was fascinating to see the chess game like that. Saliba stuck to Haaland like a limpet and probably played him better than any centre half has done so since the android came to England. Without his outlet and lacking the guile of Gunduoan and Marez City weren’t as potent – but they’ll improve for sure.

  • I saw the whole game again, minus the verbal garbage pre and post and half time, it’s beautiful when you can fast forward all that crap.

    Well Timber looks a classic Tootal Voetballer and fits snuggly into this Arsenal team adding so much power to the left-back spot and adding options to Arteta that he lacked a year ago – I reckon he can play anywhere.

    Rice is getting there, reading the game so well and making Patrick Vieira’esque interceptions, he is going to be another Bergkamp/Campbell addition in terms of his influence over the next 8 to 10 years.

    And Havertz, I really liked his pressing, he actually made some tackles (remember them?) could have had a couple of goals and brought a presence in the air we’ve lacked since ‘Olivier the beautiful’ left us for Chavland.

    So very encouraged by the newbies.

  • Watching it again on TV and seeing the players close-up rather than being up in the Gods watching Subutteo it brought home to me the psychological impact this result had and will have on Arteta and the team, Ramsdale mentioned this and about getting rid of the mental blockage with City and that’s going to be huge going on.

    This team is a year older, Arteta is a year wiser, both are learning and growing, you don’t needs stats to tell you that, it’s a feeling you feel from experience, from seeing champion teams develop and grow in the past and this team is on the cusp of something massive.

  • Hear! hear! Kev, well said. The fact that Arteta seemed very displeased about losing equally made my day.

    On another note, congratulations to the Three Lionesses on their qualification for the Q/final of the Women’s World Cup, after a penalty shootout win over Nigeria. The super Falcons gave them a good scare and were impressive as they set about nullifying the usual threats of England, keeping them out for 120mins+, while threatening to take the lead on a good many occasions. This World Cup has shown just how far the women have come in the game. Amazing stuff.

  • Eris, I think you must have meant Pep, not Arteta, you could see by Peps reaction when City scored, how important it was, he knew it was a battle for the edge between the ears of the players, now when Arsenal next face City they’ll have good memories in their minds and City will feel like a hunted animal.

    I saw very brief highlights of the England. Vs Nigeria game Eris as I don’t really follow the women’s game but from what I saw Nigeria should have had a penalty and should have won…

  • Once more we see baseless transfer garbage coming out of Turkey, this time regarding Jorginho whose agent recently said how happy he is and how discussions over his contract extension are likely very soon…

    Pepe to Besiktas I can believe as it could, reportedly, save Arsenal £6m in wages.
    Arguably the worst transfer in recent Arsenal history and maybe ever.

    AMN has signed a 4 year deal with Lyon and Marseille’s are actively looking to sell Guendouzi, with Arsenal due a percentage of the fee…

  • Still no rumours linking Charlie Patino to a move anywhere, maybe he’s not as good as he and his advisors think he is?

  • I really feel so much confidence when I look at the lineups amd subs especially.
    I just wish Arteta would bring them on earlier. Now more than ever. Our guys were exhausted at 60 minutes mark when they were getting endless corners.

    Smith Rowe is back playing hard and can be an energy boost. Eddie was useful taking down those long balls for White also. No need to even mention Trossard who is usually our best player when he’s on.
    Obviously Saliba was immense, but I like the way Havertz plays. Can tackle and stretch a defense. A lot of skills .. including pressing.

  • Yes, Kev, it did remind of a chess match. I mentioned our “intelligently cautious press” in an earlier post. Watching it live must have been absorbing and I do appreciate your thoughts.

    10 mill for Turner is a good return on the 5.5 we paid for him. I hope he prospers (except on opening day) as he is a Gooner and an all round good sort. Ainsley, too. Four years in beautiful Lyon will be a treat for him. Raya and Aaron will keep each other honest.
    I watched a lot of Charlie P when he was in our youth teams. At times he was unplayable and seemed destined to be another Liam Brady. May still work out for him and a first option buy back clause could prove wise.
    Madhu, the tournament is really igniting passion for the game here in NZ. Nigeria, indeed missed a great chance to advance. Who do you fancy for the semi’s? It’s a real shame our Beth and Leah are missing.

  • Yes, Kev. I did mean to type Pep. Lol, he was so excited when they scored and was literarily begging for the game to be stopped early, even when he knew the Ref added 8 minutes, in addition to a long treatment time for two players (Partey and Walker) involved in a serious clash of heads. I still chuckle at it when I see replays of the game.

    Indeed, it did look like Nigeria was “Arsenal-ed” out of that penalty shout. England were there for the taking but held on.

    Pepe should stop waiting for his contract to be cancelled and let Besiktas know that surely, he should be worth a few millions to them, no?

    Truly happy for AM-N. He deserves a good home ground. I hope he pleases out in France.

  • David Raya is signing on loan for 3 M with chance to sign next season for further 27M.

  • They almost had me.
    I have the humble pie at arms reach, but I dodged this bullet. 😎

  • I feel that’s a better deal for us. Possibly, both clubs couldn’t agree on his valuation and we took the safe bet to see if he proves himself enough to sign him up.
    Also possible there is some FFP thing going on there. With our transfer business this summer, we must be approaching the edge….

  • Arsenal vs Notts Forest….. 4-0
    Bournemouth vs West Ham… 2-2
    Sheffield Utd vs C.Palace… 2-1
    Brentford vs Tottenham… 3-2
    Chelsea vs Liverpool……. 1-3
    Villarreal vs Real Betis…. 2-0

  • Thanks Kev, we now have all of the predictions except from Le Gall – if he’s still around?

  • Still three weeks of this transfer window to go, a lot of young players who are too good for the U21’s but not good enough for the senior have to be found news clubs either on loan or permanently.

    I did see a rumour that Brentford asked about the availability of Eddie Nketiah when the clubs were discussing the Raya transfer, but apparently the Bees baulked at the asking price – maybe keep an eye on the Eddie situation?

  • It seems, if the story is correct, that Arteta had a one – to – one with Patino and persuaded him to give it another year on loan, sometimes a lot can change in a year?

    In a years time and if Charlie matches expectations, then an opportunity might arise in the senior squad?

  • My level of anticipation is building up, it’s only a matter of hours before our season starts.
    I’ll be watching the first game of the season this afternoon, it will be interesting to see Man C with their new line up. Burnley are not much opposition so it may not be a good game to judge them.

    7:30 am kick off here for the Arsenal game. I’ve got every game of the season scheduled to be recorded on FUBO TV.

  • You have to be impressed with the way Brighton conduct their business: Moises Caicedo transfer news: ‘Liverpool agree £111m fee with Brighton for Ecuador midfielder’, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66470820. The BBC further report that Chelsea are still trying to get Caicedo. It also puts the price we paid for Declan into perspective.

  • While I love KDB as a player, I hope this hammy keeps him out for a time. Can anything stop Harland? Starts with an S and ends with aliba…
    Arsenal kick off around midnight here, GN5. I’ll keep you company, mate. Albeit on sofa’s some distance from each other.

  • Hey, TA
    Would you be interested in a squad analysis and final position prediction on the top teams before the campaign kicks off, or do you have your own season assessment in the queue?

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