Manchester City come to town and whether we like it or not – and I don’t like it – this is a pivotal game for our season, even this early on. Of course it is just three points, but there is a big psychological risk attached to today’s game, and that goes for both teams. Citeh cannot afford another beating; Arsenal need to win to keep the gap with Pool, who have had an easier start than us, to a minimum of three points. Apparently a programme on a laptop, belonging to that lovely FA chap who originates from the North-East and is responsible for PL match scheduling, decided Arsenal had to play at Newcastle away before the next interlull, and that after already allocating away games to Arsenal in Manchester and Liverpool within the first seven games. And so Arsenal need to win today to keep momentum going and avoid headlines like ‘Arsenal could be out of the title race come beginning of October’, and whatever else will be thrown at the club and the manager.
If Arsenal can get through these tough first seven games within a 3-5 points-gap of Liverpool, we have a great base to win the title this year. Winning today could either be easy or really hard. It all depends on finding the right balance in midfield. Our defenders know how to defend but don’t want to be exposed to tons of space with the Norwegian Berserker and co running at them. The attackers know how to score but need to be fed decent balls and not be too isolated.
A theme is developing this season: against tough opposition, Arsenal play Rice, Zubi and Merino in midfield: an additional wall to protect the defence that is almost impenetrable. This protects a clean sheet but also makes us less fluid, and therefore less dangerous, in attack. The likes of Odegaard and Nwaneri move and pass between the lines better than either of the beforementioned midfielders, and it is also much easier on the eye too. Against less ferocious competition Arteta appears willing to start with a typical nr10 and bench one of the three deeper positioned midfielders.
It is fair to say that with the new signings needing to settle in – and they are doing a fine job at it for all I can see – Arteta is still finding the right balance to get the maximum out of his team. It would have been much better to have an easier start to the season as to settle in the players, but it is what it is and Arteta will have to find a way to win today. It may not be beautiful and the game may well be decided by a set-piece, a stroke of genius or a bit of luck; let’s hope it will go our way.
No doubt patience will be required and the home crowd need to understand this. Against Bilbao the Wall of Zubi, Rice and Merino did the job of protecting and keeping the home crowd quiet – and didn’t the supporters provide a magnificent background in the San Mames for the game (I want to play Where’s Wally!)? A couple of supersubs made the difference eventually, and the job was done. Could Arteta have played with a bit more flair and risk? Certainly, but this is not the season to be too sentimental about beauty and audacity for Arteta (and indeed for us); he knows he will be judged on what he will deliver at the end of the season, despite all the incredible progress he has made since he joined us.
So how will Arteta lineup against the light-blue Oilers?
Raya
Timber – Mosquera – Big Gab – Calafiori
Zubi – Merino – Rice
Madueke – Gyokeres – Martinelli
If Saka is fit – and Arteta may well have planned all along for this to be his first game back – he will play, and that will really frighten Man City. However, it is more likely that Madueke, who is in fine form, will start. I have gone for Martinelli after Goonereris mentioned the possibility in one of his comments on the blog; I think he is on to something here. The Brazilian will be boosted by his fabulous goal midweek, and I think he will be in the right frame of mind. I also think he and Calafiori can develop a strong partnership on the left, and as we all know this is really needed this season. Eze, and hopefully Saka and Odegaard/Ethan, can come on at some point to reinvigorate the attack. William Saliba may also start if fully fit, but Mosquera has made such a great start in what already looks like an established defence that I feel the Frenchman may have to wait a while longer.
I will say it again: this is a big, big game for Arsenal. Man City are a wounded animal and seen as the underdog; they will be up for it and need a result. We need the three points, and it will be a huge test of the boys’ maturity and desire to win the title. Bring it on!
By TotalArsenal.
Bergkampesque 
My pick exactly, T., for the very same reasons.
I won’t add anything about the schedule, nor about Attwell being back for precisely such an importatnt game, nor again about the knives that are already out to cut our throats, should nothing go our way today …
Just bring back the “Real” vibes, lads, and everything’ll be just fine.
COYG
The Real vibes, yes Legall that’s exactly what we need.
I watched the Mancs Derby last week and noticed how Citeh were happy to sit back and not dominate play in MUs halve. They will do the same today and play us the break and rebound. Not giving them much if any space will be key, but not so easy when playing at home.
Raya
Timber-Saliba-Gabriel-Calafiori
Zubimendi-Rice
Madueke-Merino-Trossard
Gyökeres
Big Wil is back! Come on you GUNNERS
Rhat was bad defending.
I just feel Arteta showed a bit too much respect to City with that starting line up. However, it looks a game that may just be won from the bench and we have a good one.
We have huffing and puffing with no end product……yet.
Haaland’s pace has undone our defence this time. I would have thought Saliba could fly in to make the block. Easier said, perhaps.
I made peace with the fact the game could end in a draw when I saw the start. But if we use that subs bench effectively, this City can’t stop us scoring three times.
And what a poor cross – begging for a counter-attack – from Calafiori that was, at the start of it all …
I don’t think we’re that poor, but I find them really impressive, their backbone (Donnarumma-Dias-Gvardiol-Rodri-Foden-Reinjders-Haaland) in particular. You get the feeling they’re so strong that the flesh on it (the quartet of players left) doesn’t really matter much … and it so happens Khusanov-O’Reilly-Doku-Silva aren’t exactly sunday league players, so …
It seems to me Pep has done a hell of a homework too, we’re made to pile up minutes of possession, but in our own half. I have to say I’m a bit frustrated with William. I’m old enough to remember the great Bayern, and when they found themselves in such a mess, that’s when Mighty Franz Beckenbauer would take it upon himself to turn things around, by bringing one more body in midfield, or upfront even … I think Bill has the talent, the skills, the power, the vision to provide us with the same kind of weapon – but he never does (not to mention his lack of scoring output).
Anyway, this disappointing scoreline isn’t on him alone, of course … Bukayo and Ebz are about to be brought on (for Trossard and Merino, I guess); what an opportunity for them London boys to become legends.
COYG
Time for:
Raya
White-Saliba-Gabriel-LewisSkelly
Zubi-Rice
Saka-Nwaneri-Eze
Gyökeres
????
(to bring something different on the wings – and Jurrien is on a yellow).; as for Ethan he has just what it takes to surpise them, hurt them imo
C’mon Mick
Reiss against Bournemouth redux … Gabi, you legend, and what a thing of beauty that lob was (how about Eze’s pass, as well? – anyway what a goal to put things right).
How brave were our boys today again – once we’ve hit cohesion we’ll be unplayable.
Spare a thought for Barney R., who was about to have the time of his life …
Well deserved equaliser and the boys did us proud in the second half. If only we believed how good we really are. Did we pay the prize for lining up too conservatively in the first half?
Yes Legall, Barney can have a good cry now.
What a much better second half by our lads. I am not moaning about much when I see my team humbling Pep Guardiola’s side so.
After the Haaland goal, Arsenal were simply out-Arsenaled by Man City. Never have I seen Man City play so defensively and yielded so much dominance to any side in this league, since Pep Guardiola. Lowest possession start ever under him too.
Good game by both; not the result either manager wanted, I imagine. None could afford to have Liverpool so far ahead.
Pep was apparently moaning about what he thought was a foul before the goal. He needs to be told VAR had looked at it and deemed Gonzales to have stepped on Calafiori.
Man City are looking better now, it must be said. At least they showed better cohesion today and defended our set pice routines so well.
Just woke up after returning to my pillow following the match. I have not seen City dominated like that for many a year. They were always dangerous with the electric Doku and an on form Haarland, but I think Mikel got his tactics bang on. And, bizarre as it sounds I think we dominated them more than we did last season in our 5-1 home win. I could see City were tired after their short turn around but have you ever seen Pep resort to a 5-5-0 formation before? Our Arsenal are a scary proposition this season.
New Post 🙂
Possession stat**
Set piece routine***