A new partner for Rice in Midfield, Tomi the Tank Engine, Jesus in our Middle: Arsenal v MU line-up / Preview

TotalArsenal

Our PL-era most-disliked team are coming to THoF and let’s send them back home with screams for their theatre of dreams. The boys will never need much motivating for a game against the Mancs – Arteta will have a library full of stuff to inspire with – but they will be extra fired up after the ridiculous challenges Ten Hag’s hackers put in during that so-called friendly in the States recently. We owe them one alright.

This is a make or break season for egghead Ten Hag who really is a fine tactician but may lack the interpersonal skills to succeed at Manchester United or indeed in the UK – I see more of a comparison with Emery than with Mikel. No doubt he will be hoping for having an Arteta-season himself this time round, but first signs are not great. Of course, all teams need to still get into their strides, as do the Gunners. Both opponents have made changes to their midfield and opted to buy a Chelsea player to move things forward, over the summer. Mason Mount is out and Havertz is finding his feet in our team, trying to understand what Arteta wants from him.

This is normally exactly the sort of game to kick-start the season, one to build confidence and form on. But after this there will be an interlull and all momentum is in jeopardy again. An away game at sorry and wounded Everton – a ground where we have had some huge wins but also painful and unnecessary losses – after the break could also prove to be extra tricky. In short, we need a win today and a season-lifting, awakening kind of performance, just we go into the break feel warm and cosy. 🙂

Who will do that for us? It looks like Partey is out and that will be a miss for the boys. Arteta may have to tweak a bit for this one as we do need the extra deeper midfielder. Partey and Rice with Odegaard higher up would have been great. Elneny is out, Granit is gone, so what to do? Now, I have never been convinced about Zinchenko being our best left full back, but I reckon he will be great in midfield. He can play there now since Xhaka is gone, and I would be tempted to do so today.

My preferred line-up:

——Ramsdale——–

White-Tequila-Big Gab-Tomi

—-Rice—Zinch——

——The Ode———

Saka—Jesus—Marti

I would be tempted to start Trossard over Martinelli, but the Brazilian always plays so much better when Jesus is on the pitch- and who wouldn’t! After sixty or seventy minutes bring on Havertz (to score the winner), Trossard, Eddie and maybe even Madhu’s favourite son Emile to turn Ashburton Grove into a bastion of delight and celebration for the third in a row against the Manky Mancs.

Come on You Rip Roaring Gunners!!!!

By TotalArsenal.

71 thoughts on “A new partner for Rice in Midfield, Tomi the Tank Engine, Jesus in our Middle: Arsenal v MU line-up / Preview”

  • Good advice, Total. I’ll rescind the invitation, or better still, leave him locked out at the door at 3 am in the cold winter morn. Mwa ha ha…

    I think we might see Jorginho alongside Declan, once we establish a lead.

  • Lets give ESR this nonle start…he will massacre them rogues…. Then he will be substituted by Jorghino….and Trossad to start ahead of Martinelli

  • This made me laugh on the BBC website:

    “Simon: First goal for Szoboszlai and valuable points for my fantasy side ‘The Unpronounceables'”

  • Nice preview, TA.

    If I engage in wishful thinking mode I can see us playing in 4-1-4-1
    Ramsdale – White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko – Rice – Saka, Odegaard, Havertz, Martinelli – Jesus
    (with Trossard, Tomi and ESR as multi-purpose supersubs), but I admit that is a bit too attacking against a team with a solid midfield.
    Yet, we will play at home and MU will miss Mount (meaning they will start the attack-minded Eriksen in central midfield), so it’s not entirely unthinkable.

    Else. While Manchester City started the season at full speed I’m quite concerned about Liverpool. With the latest addition of Ryan Gravenberch they are probably the favorites to clinch the title. I stand by my prediction of this year being a 3-horse race, but it’s going to be really hard. Where we cannot really afford to lose 2 points against a bottom-tier opponent playing with 10 men in the Emirates.

  • That’s a sketch on the Fast Show re: The Unpronounceables, it was like The Untouchables, Black n white kind of 1930’s gangsters with these Polish and East European names, it was hilarious but probably wouldn’t be made now in case someone took offence…

  • Just watching Crystal Palace vs Wolves and you cannot complain about a lack of effort, it’s end to end but the quality is poor

  • Arteta is one stubborn man, isn’t he? Well, if he believes a midfield of Rice, Havertz and Odegaard would work against United, I would have to get behind that, just for this game. I would have Jorginho and Rice in a pivot, drop Havertz and start with Saka, Nketiah and Martinelli.

    Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.

    Subs: Raya, Kiwior, Tomiyasu, Jorginho, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Nketiah, Jesus.

    Manchester United: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Rashford, Martial.

    Subs: Bayindir, Maguire, Hojlund, Reguilon, Pellistri, Evans, Gore, Garnacho, Mejbri.

  • Looks like Nketiah starts and not Trossard, as the club’s website initially gave off.

    That is better. Trossard looks like he can affect games more coming off the bench.

  • We must starve Martial of the ball, as much as is possible. He gets his hackles up when playing against us.

    COYG!!!

  • The bench comparison is interesting. No doubt I am a bit bias but ours really looks a lot stronger.

    Nice to see Theo in the studio. Always knew he would end up in PR, Comms, Marketing. Very, smooth and knowledgeable talker.

  • This is not a good Man United team, Ten Hag isn’t as good as he thinks he is, we’ve gotta stop playing the shirts and instead play the men inside them, we are a far better team with a far better coach and we need to go out there and bloody well show it…

  • Are we showing too much respect or saving energy for a rampant second half. We cannot gift Rashford this sort of space on our right. I am looking at you Ben.

    Brilliant assist by Martinelli and solid finish by The Ode to Football.

    All to play for.

  • Yes Kev, I could see Fabio or The Smith making an impact with energy. Of course as natural our press lost some energy a bit after about 35 minutes. So just thinking of fresh legs like Jesus to go after them. I like our bench.

  • I don’t want to pick on Havertz but he’s got to help himself if he wants to win over the fans, so far not so good…

    Yes Stu seeing Smudge get a run out would be super cool.

  • Also I see that Rice is the perfect player for us. After a couple weeks tentative passing from him, the past couple matches and today he is spraying the ball around with confidence. Those forceful passes out wide to Saka, looking for unexpected openings down the middle… he’ll only get better.

  • I told you about Rice at halftime haha. Now he’s got a goal his attacking confidence will go up a notch. Expect him to appear more dominant from now, but like I said … the passing improvement from him has been evident.

  • They’ll feel like they could’ve taken that one from us at our house, and we can’t be happy with the lack of cutting edge on shots and final balls today or the past weeks. Hopefully we come back after the break feeling like a fresh start. I believe we just need to click.

  • Horrible performance though. Havertz needs one real kick on the backside. He needs to stay on bench for Viera/Smith Rowe after the break. Great result but performance wise lot to improve.

  • Arteta will give Kai a big hug, say well done and you will start next game. That’s because he is a people’s person. All great managers are. 🦋

  • Declan was brilliant, even before his goal, my man of the match. I counted just one loose pass from him in the entire 112 minutes. Let’s have a song for him.
    Still, despite VAR and pundits, think we should have kept that penalty. Kai’s ankle was knocked, however slightly and it put him off balance.
    William’s big indrawn breath and balletic leap backwards saved the day on the offside decision.

    Very happy morning stretching out in front of me here in the Celtic fringe…

  • A song for Rice? You mean other than the one Odumodu Black (Nigerian Artiste) did for him, which he already sings and dances to? 😜

    Could only check results on the road trip back to Richmond Virginia. Great result for us as we go on the first International break.

  • I agree Stu, I can think of quite a few North-West clubs who would have had the penalty confirmed with no fuss at all, but Arsenal have to scrap for everything, nobody gives us anything and certainly nobody from the PGMOL.

  • Imagine watching that match and coming out with “horrible match” take. Some fans are just bitter bitter bunch. Coyg. Keep making them sour

  • Well, Eris, the song won a “Headie” but I can’t imagine it transferring to the terraces. That patter, as good as it is, is too hard to replicate.
    But doesn’t “North London forever” imbed itself deeper, with every pre-match rendition into the folklore of our great club? Spinetingling. At last something to match YNWA.
    Loved Mikel’s after match chat about courting his wife. He has something of the great Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer in him.

    Yes, Kev, sigh, yes.

  • Snaparse result masks the performance and close shaves. We could have drawn or lost the match as well. In the end we won, but the performance is much to be desired.
    By the way you can give your opinion without calling names. Calling names shows your class and not your fandom. Grow up mate.

  • In fairness to Madhu, there were long periods in that game where I didn’t enjoy it particularly in the 1st half. Of course the tactics employed by Ten Hag didn’t help the spectacle but I also see a less cavalier side to Arsenal and that doesn’t help from an entertainment perspective, maybe I saw this unintentionally at Wembley a few weeks ago when Arsenal refused to get drawn into an open contest with Man City?

  • Last season Arsenal surprised everyone, all of us as well, and that helped us during those early pre-World Cup months when everyone and their dog was expecting us to collapse. This season it’s different, opponents are showing us more respect but a less open game is the consequence and as we’re learning how to deal with that the downside is maybe a lesser brand of our sparkling football of 12 months ago allied to our own expectations?

  • There were a couple of times yesterday when I had to walk away from the TV, make a cuppa, let the cats out, look out of the window, just to break the tedium and frustration, in fact I almost switched off towards the end as it was getting on my nerves but thankfully I stuck with it and alarmed my neighbours as I roared following the Jesus goal and I could finally let go of the pressure cooker tension.

    I honestly do wonder what degree of watching Arsenal for me is enjoyment and how much is angst?

  • It was an epic tactical battle. Enormously so. The footie was indeed scrappy at times, but that was part of the tactical battle going on. I enjoyed that game just for the tactical mastery. Ten Hag is learning and on the basis of this game I think they will do well again this season, despite the poor start.

    This was a huge win.

  • I watched with a lot of angst and it was yet another game where VAR made decisive decisions and not the referee – I guess I’m not alone with having mixed opinions about VAR – but suffice to say it is still not the finished article .

    I find very little reason to pick holes in the game or our performance for they was so much to enjoy and love.

    1. Fantastic atmosphere from start to finish keep pushing the team on.
    2. Amazing “keep right on to the end” attitude from the players.
    3. A strong enough squad to inject skill and energy at the end of the game, when needed.
    4. Having Jesus back in the squad and looking like he’s back to his best.
    5. Rice worth very penny of his transfer fee.
    6. Vieira looking like the real deal.
    7. Ode leading like a captain should.
    8. A young and incredible front three – who could be there for many years to come.
    9. The obvious togetherness of the team was a joy to see.
    10. I could go on and on but I saved the best till the last – we beat Man Who – what’s not to like that!!

  • Last weekends results:-

    1st Stuart with 3/6 plus most correct predictions = 7 points
    2nd Total & OX10 with 2/6 plus 1 correct score = 4 points
    4th Eris, Kev & PB with 2/6 = 2 points
    7th Madhu & GN5 with 1/6 = 1 point

    “”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
    Season to date:-

    1st Stuart with 23.00
    2nd PB with 19.33
    3rd Total & OX10 with 15.00
    5th Eris with 12.33
    6th Kev with 11.33
    7th Madhu with 10.00
    8th GN5 with 7.00
    “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

    Well done Stuart top for both the weekend and the season but PB is lurking just around the corner.

  • International weekend selections:-

    Ukraine v England *
    Kosovo v Switzerland *
    Romania v Israel *
    Republic of Ireland v Netherlands *
    Montenegro v Bulgaria *
    San Marino v Slovenia *

  • Kev I texted my friends just before kickoff saying how much I hate the tension and pressure.
    The more seriously we compete, the stronger the pressure becomes.

    Watch for us to surprise Europe by going deep this year.

  • Hmmm, fellas, maybe its because we eat a lot of vegemite down here, but I love the gut clenching tension and even the angst that accompanies Arsenal games. I posted once before that as soon as Arsenal get a goal to the good I want the ref to blow the final whistle, the points, the points…
    But I wouldn’t want to miss that ecstatic explosion that accompanies a late Michael Thomas/Reiss Nelson/Eddie Nketiah/ Declan Rice winning goal. Or that churning feeling while we endure the wait for it. It is love, and what love affair is devoid of angst, suffering and pain?

  • Johnno, both my sons text me when we’ve scored and as my feed is a bit behind it lessens the stress level, it’s quite nice waiting for the eventual goals.

    Stu, that’s the advantage of watching sports upside down…

    Pepe on the last train to Istanbul this week?

  • Kev that’s a great set up you have… it’s almost perfect, like watching the game when you know we’ve won already. That’s a pleasure.

    I watch a tiny bit behind a few minutes so I can fast forward past time delaying fake knocks or opponents taking 3 minutes to set up free kicks around our box. They seem to take forever. I think the new rules with timekeeping and stoppage time are great.
    The time killing was becoming frustrating last season, Newcastle at the Emirates was the best example.

  • Ha! Kev, you make me laugh, mate.
    I agree, J, the new rule is a fine addition to the game. It should benefit Arsenal’s fast flowing game considerably.
    Great news for Eddie and his family.

    Ukraine v England * 0-2
    Kosovo v Switzerland * 0-2
    Romania v Israel * 1-1
    Republic of Ireland v Netherlands * 1-1
    Montenegro v Bulgaria * 1-1
    San Marino v Slovenia * 0-3

    Thanks GN5.

  • The Kai Havertz debate is gaining traction, the media a# usual are jumping on the bandwagon and following the online fan narrative – never expect the press to have an original thought…

    Patience is the watchword but I couldn’t help feeling frustrated after his air shot last Sunday. As a fan I want him to succeed not least because we can laugh at Chelsea for their inability to get the best out of him, but he needs to give us something in return.

    I liked his performances at Wembley, I saw something in his play there but I’ve not seen that since, maybe it’s the low blkck as all of our games this season have been vs low block teams. His best performance in the EPL for us was probably at Palace so maybe it’s away from the Emirates that we’ll see him grow?

    Alternatively a jar of vegemite could help?

  • Ukraine v England * A (1-2)
    Kosovo v Switzerland * A 0-3)
    Romania v Israel * H (1-0)
    Republic of Ireland v Netherlands * A (1-3)
    Montenegro v Bulgaria * H (1-0)
    San Marino v Slovenia * A (1-3)

  • Ukraine v England * A 1-3
    Kosovo v Switzerland * A 0-2
    Romania v Israel * H 2-1
    Republic of Ireland v Netherlands * A 2-2
    Montenegro v Bulgaria * H 2-1
    San Marino v Slovenia * A 0-3

  • Tough picks…

    Ukraine v England * A 1-2
    Kosovo v Switzerland * A 0-1
    Romania v Israel * H 3-2
    Republic of Ireland v Netherlands * H 2-1
    Montenegro v Bulgaria * H 2-1
    San Marino v Slovenia * A 0-3

  • 6 away wins for me

    Ukraine v England * 0-3
    Kosovo v Switzerland * 0-1
    Romania v Israel * 1-2
    Republic of Ireland v Netherlands * 0-4
    Montenegro v Bulgaria * 1-2
    San Marino v Slovenia * 0-5

  • Ukraine vs England….. 2-4
    Kosovo vs Switzerland 0-2
    Romainia vs Israel.. 2-0
    Ireland vs Nederlands 1-3
    Montenegro vs Bulgaria 0-3
    SAN Marino vs Slovenia 0-7

  • I’ve not really watched England rugby union team for about four years, but seeing the results was enough even if some of the defeats were unlucky, so I wasn’t expecting too much against an Argentinian team that recently beat the All Blacks in Dunedin especially after having a player harshly sent-off on 3 minutes, but credit where credit is due because the English dug in and defended like crazy whilst the Argies lost their composure and discipline. I love wins like that, backs to the wall against a team whose beat the best recently and despite set-backs show the resolve to come through it and win against the odds. One win doesn’t make you contenders but it certainly has spiked my interest once more…

  • The French looked amazing against the All Blacks, I only saw the highlights and some of the speed of the play was top drawer by both sides but it’s going to take something to stop the Frenchies finally winning the World Cup.

    Japan looked good in beating Germany 1-4, the Germans looked clueless.

    Quite a day for sport

  • So sad for the Arsenal Ladies, getting knocked out of the 1st round of the Women’s champions league by Paris FC, after extra time and a penalty shootout. They will be devastated, the girls.

    Now, they’d have to win a domestic trophy or two, to make all the hard work worthwhile.

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