Saka Out: Five Solutions

TotalArsenal

Everyone on this blog knows how much I love Bukayo. We never had a more efficient winger since the Overmars days. That combination of speed, torque, intelligence and levelheadedness of Saka is hard to find. He is hard to predict and teams put at least two players around him to stop him. They can try but Bukayo always finds a way to beat them, and his stats of assists and goals are second to none.

He will be missed, but that’s footie. So what can Arteta do to deal with this temporary loss?

  1. Martinelli replaces Bukayo. The obvious choice as Arteta already put this in practice on Saturday. Odegaard will give him great service and Martinelli’s right foot can do great cut backs and crosses. We just need our attacking players to be ready. The problem is that the young Brazilian leaves a gap on the left, as Trossard isn’t really a winger.
  2. Marquinhos is said to return from his latest loan spell in January. I liked him from the start and right-wing is his favourite position, I think, but his lack of experience in the PL and the time he would need to adjust, could cost us.
  3. Play Trossard or Jesus in Saka’s position. The Brazilian and Belgian are flexible players and will always put in a shift, but it remains to be seen how effective they will be on the right. I see this more as a one-off solution than one for a number of games.
  4. Odegaard on the right, with Jorginho or Nwaneri to play in the Norwegian’s usual position? Martin has a lot of Bukayo’s skills but would we miss his midfield mastery too much?
  5. Nwaneri to replace Bukayo. This would be quite the gamble but my gut feeling is it could work. Ethan has the close ball control and speed so vital for this position; he also is a good finisher and would relish the opportunity, I think…

what do you think Arteta will/should opt for?

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 ❤️

by TotalArsenal

107 thoughts on “Saka Out: Five Solutions”

  • Very relevant/topical post, TA.
    Any of 1, 3 & 5 works for me, depending on the opponent, but Martinelli as a direct replacement may be what Arteta likely/largely opts for.
    At this point in the season, with Liverpool running away with it, we cannot afford experiments or re-inventing the wheel. There will be occasions in games when we may try the Gabby Jesus or Trossard option, to keep the left side strong, if we are playing against an opponent with good right wing play (Martinelli’s work rate helps disrupt attacks).
    The Nwaneri option may come in for the cup games or late on in EPL games.

    Bukayo Saka is a very important player for this club and losing him will be hard for the side. It is time for the others to step up to make up for the period he will be absent for.

  • Thanks Total.
    A blessed and merry Christmas to you, your family and all on Bergkampesque. Thank you for another year of very enjoyable engagement with you and your fine bunch of contributors.

    You’ve offered some good options above to cover for our Starboy. I agree with Eris, Martinelli is likely the best choice, with Nathan as a back up, tho’ it will be intriguing to see how Marquinhos has come on since his loan. It was discouraging to see Bukuyu’s injury (when will lady luck glance our way this season?) But it was encouraging that the team went on to score four goals after his departure.
    Commenters close to the club are calling for Mikel’s training sessions to be less physically intense during the coming weeks, in order to protect our squad.

    Anyone up for sharing their moment of 2024? We’ve had more than a few, but, for me putting five past Chelsea back in April was like the balm of Gilead soothing away some of those angsty moments from the past against that lot. I especially enjoyed Benny Blanco’s lovely move… https://www.tiktok.com/@thearseblog/video/7361730787181415712?lang=en

  • Great post Total, but as Eris and Stu have opined I reckon the easiest solution is the simplest and Martinelli on the right flank with Trossard on the left although they could switch flanks and Ethan could also come into the equation?

    If Califiori stays fit then I think the left-flank is in good hands and Myles has shown that he’s generational even if people try to put him down.

    Losing two attacking options is going to put added stress on our attackers next month but I’m sure they’ll cope whilst hopefully we’ll see Zinchenko and maybe Tierney get some minutes off of the bench to support the lefties.

    Marquinhos is going to be an unknown quantity, will Arteta be impressed by him in training and use him, it’s rumoured that Atletico Madrid are interested in taking him so give it some thought Mikel?

    Transfers in? I’m doubtful but it’s the hope that kills ya.

    Finally Merry Christmas to all Gooners out there and if you read the blog why not make a New Year’s resolution and post the odd comment, we don’t bite…

    Total, dank u wel for all your hard work.

  • Thanks, Stu. Best wishes to your family too.

    I don’t know much about training regimes, so cannot comment. It’s clear that the Euros players have been struggling to stay fit or in form. It’s a real challenge this season.

    My 2024 Arsenal moment is just the fact that our second place in 2023 was no fluke. Becoming second again was a great achievement, and Arteta has developed something special now.

    As an individual moment I loved Cala’s first goal for us: the golf shot against Citeh was a joy to behold. Holding out against the Spuds away this season was also special.

  • Thanks Kev, and seasonal greetings to you and your sons.

    Great point about Calafiori giving us that bit extra on the left. With a bit of luck Rice will also step up now.

    I love Lewis-Skelly already. Great attitude and apparently fearless. Are there any youngsters who could play on the wing for us?

  • In the post above you will see a picture Stu sent me. He tells me that it is a
    photo of NZ’s Pohutakawa, the New Zealand Christmas Tree, so called because it blossoms throughout December.

    Thanks for sharing, Stu.

  • My pleasure, Total. We have a dozen of them surrounding our house and all of them are gloriously in blossom… north Kerikeri is red!
    Indeed, Cyril figures in my thoughts, too. A prayer for his family who will be feeling his passing on this special day. And one for our mate, LG, may his recovery be quickened. And Bukuyu’s, too.

    Whispers of Kudus have reached these distant shores. A sixth option?

  • Merry Christmas, Total and the rest of the BKers. Warm wishes for the approaching new year too.

    Indeed, heart goes out to GN5’s dear family. May the Lord continue to comfort them all in this season.

  • Well I hope all you guys and gals had an enjoyable happy holiday (horrible term) – today is all about recycling the leftovers and cooking up another culinary miracle, mine is coming along nicely!

    Two days of family mayhem which I totally embrace whilst today is chill out and footie.

    The transfer madness which we all love kicks off in less than 4 days so expect Arsenal, given our injuries, to be linked with every available or unavailable footballer on the planet, it gets on my wick but you can’t help being drawn in.

    Keep the line up simple and obvious today, do a surgical job on Ipswich and move on. 4-0 should do it.

  • Laid on a plate for our Kai. So nonchalant in his finishing.
    “Holy day” is from where the term derives, Kev. It does get somewhat overlaid, like the Boxing day football we’ve viewed through the fog.
    We had roast lamb, my preference over the twelve days of turkey we enjoyed/endured back at my Mrs’s place in Somerset.

  • Jesus scored a cracker, but just went a tad early, Gabriel missed an absolute sitter, Rice did everything technically correct but a tractor got in the way and we should have won 4-0 but I’ll take the points and move on and so should some of the idiots who go on Talk Sport radio and ask for the sacking of Arteta, the stupidity of some knows no limits.

    Martinelli struggled against the low block again but I felt but he worked hard so I’m not gonna dig him out, in general I thought we played well but how on earth does the referee ignore all the NFL blocks, shoves and pushes by the Ipswich players? It was another level and I suspect if done at Anfield against Liverpool would result in a succession of penalties but we never get pens!

    Lewis Skelly was again impressive and for the first time in senior Premier League football played the entire game, he’s becoming a bit of a Mikel favourite and deserves it.

  • I couldn’t agree with you more Total, we need to be relentless in our chasing down of those lucky Scousers, eventually cracks will appear if we keep up the pressure.

    Stu, I never saw the connection between holiday and holy day, it looks so obvious now that you’ve pointed it out to me, just goes to show that you’re never as smart as you like to think you are!

    One more holy day for me then back on the treadmill tomorrow on the Lords day of rest.

    Arsenal have only won the league once when the season ends in a 5 and that was 90 years ago, bring it on…

  • Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time. The maximum number of loans registrable in the same season is four, and, under no circumstances, shall more than one be from the same club at any one time.

    Arsenal have Neto and Stirling

  • Nuts to all those calling for Mikel’s demise. Bizarre behaviour which deserves the term Kev applies.
    Gosh, yes; only one League title, two FA Cups and one Charity Shield in years ending in a 5. Bring it on, indeed.

    I thought our players were superb v the Tractor boys. Their work rate, tracking back and press were ferocious, and deservedly rewarded with a clean sheet and three points. Big Gab’s header; I missed a similar chance once, in a cup final. I remember thinking, “I’ve won the cup” as the ball came over. Like Gab I didn’t quite get enough on it, a real head in hands moment. Glad I experienced it, tho. If only to teach me some empathy.

    Amen, Total. I’ll accept those scorelines…

    Brentford away on News Years Day
    A world in red and white gets underway
    I will be with you
    Be with you night and day
    1-0 to the Arsenal
    On New Years Day

  • AVHNY to you all, lads … I read the kind words you wrote when I started playing truant, and they did cheer me up big time. Thanks!!
    I’ve been feelin’ better for a week now; I might be back full time soon. I’ve caught up with as many posts-comments I could, here and elsewhere in the Arsenalverse. Just as you guys, I have difficulty (understatement) understanding the doom and gloom feeling we get there sometimes. A few performances were a tad frustrating, yes, but some (Sporting!!) were just mind-blowing, weren’t they?
    We’re (possibly) nine points behind, but:
    1) Slot has been doing a fantastic job (I had a feeling he would, I watched a lot of Feyenoord the season Reiss was loaned out to them, and what he did with his then limited resources was impressive, to say the least) … there’s nothing we can do about that
    2) He’s been lucky so far on the injury front, too
    3) Even though we had to do without our skipper-playmaker for half of our season, the only reason there’s such a gap between us and them are the three “10 vs. 11” games we had to play – 7 points went out the window then.
    4) I have rinsed your eyes often enough with the academy … How could I (we) not rejoice about what’s becoming of young Myles. What a lad! From the moment I saw him burst from midfield through the opponents’ lines with the academy, I’ve always thought there was an Edgar Davids in him. C’mon Mikel settle him up there, by Declan’s side! But the way he stood his ground in front of the two Ipswich two-bit punks, that I didn’t see coming, not that fast anyway. That’s an Arsenal captain we have in store, lads …
    5) There’s no denying some (part of) games were indeed frustrating, Everton in particular (I’ve watched as much as I could of Arsenal’s “Combination” team from Stevenage Rd; they’re an excellent team, a draw over there is not the disaster it was pictured out to be). How could it be otherwise given the length of our injury list? Demanding consistency under those circumstances is just nonsense.
    Now … Bukayo, and “my” solution (singular intended)
    First, I liked the “Ipswich” lineup, and I don’t agree with those writing Martinelli “failed his audition” – he created the only goal of the game, didn’ he? But …
    … the WTW opensup in 48hrs, and there’s one player I think the Board should consider spending (big, even) on, that’s Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush. He’s Salah’s age when Liverpool signed him up, and just like him he was given time to mature (relatively) “under the radars”, but now he’s coming of age. I watched several Eintracht games – first, because I wanted to see how Ekitike was faring , I like the lad – but it’s the young Pharaoh who shone brightly every time. He has all it takes to thrive in the PL: bravery, strength, speed, lethal with both feet, inspiration-creativity … He’d help us out on the right in Bukayo’s absence, but then he could slide over to the left and – imo – do better there than Trossard-Marti (I like him – how could I not? – but I think he has plateaued/reached his ceiling …)
    So … we’re in for a thrilling second half of the season, starting Friday – a tough assignment it’s gonna be.
    Have a great night with your loved ones come Tuesday, and …
    COYG of course

  • Welcome back, Duke of Normandy. Glad to hear you are improving and great to read your refreshing insights again.

    I think this Liverpool side is Klopp’s with renewed energy and purpose. I agree with you that Slot Machine is a good manager, but let’s see how they will deal with adversity when it will come their way.

    That Marmoush chap sounds interesting; I’ll check him out.

    Keep trucking buddy and bon annee to you and loved ones.

  • Barcelona failed for a 2nd time to register Dani Olmo so he’s likely to go out on loan, I’d like to see him in an Arsenal shirt from January even if it’s a loan for 6 months.

  • And so, as 2024 ends the media’s recent flavours of the month Chelsea – by flavours of the month that’s anybody except Arsenal – and the media’s ‘greatest show on earth’ known to us as ManUtd, both lose, for Chelsea it’s two in a row, for Man Utd I’ve lost count. But unfortunately the media’s greatest love affair, Liverpool, are still getting all the breaks. We can only hope that 2025 brings about a reversal of all the Scouse good fortune…

    Still, we can always laugh at Tottenham, they never fail to amuse.

  • Woohoo, le garcon is back in town. Missed you, mate.

    Let’s bring in Marmoush and Olmo (or Zubi in the summer) in January, Isak in the summer and smash the next five seasons.
    Beginning with the Bees.

    Happy New Year you slow coaches up in the North. 2024 is going out under a blood red sky down here in “Last, loneliest, loveliest”.

  • Happy New Year Stu, we’ve still got another 12 hours 56 odd minutes to go up here in the cold north.

    I wonder where we’ll be and how we feel re: Arsenal in a months time?

  • Myles Lewis-Skelly

    Maldini Kacurri

    Ismeal Kabia

    Jack Porter

    Josh Nichols

    Tommy Setford

    All debuted this current season by a manager who doesn’t like youth.
    Looking forward to who he brings through in 2025?

  • A months time, Kevski? Our “finger will still be red with the prick of an old rose”. We’ll be walking in a Gooner wonderland, mate. We’ll be singing on the pavement while Mikel’s in the basement mixing up the medicine. We’ll be thinking of ’98 when we, after being 13 points off Manure at Christmas chased them down to win the league. We’ll be strutting the dance floor with the bloodied scalps of the Bees, Seagulls, Barcodes, Red Devils, Spuds, Villains, Pugeri, Wolves and the Blanquivermells hanging from our belts. We’ll have one foot in the EFL final, be 2nd in the CL standings, 2nd in the EPL just 5 points off the scousers, and… Bukuyu will be well on the mend.
    We’ll be “one step closer to knowing”…

  • Roll on January then Stu, we’re just under 3 hours away from 2025 but I like the cut of your jib.

    I’m just sitting listening to the busker outside of Kings Cross Stn singing songs to cut your wrist to, I bet he’s an absolute champion at parties.

    Happy New Year all you BK’rs.

  • Haha Kev, I think your knowledge of human beings’ behaviour is way up there with the Kiwi pastor.

    Really looking forward to the game later on.

    Happy New Year to you all. Here is hoping for a long spring of OGAAT victories this year.

  • Happy new year, to you all, boys! Hopefully, the year affords us some magical moments, including reining Liverpool in and up-ending them as far as the title race is concerned.

  • Great to know you are on the mend, LeGall. Look forward to having you back.
    Your 5-point assessment of the gap with Liverpool, at the moment, made interesting reading. I am particularly in agreement with No.3, seeing as I had equally made that point too, in not so many words. What’s more, the PGMOL appears to have reviewed the decision to show a yellow card for stopping quick free kicks; this, after it had cost us points early in the season, as our boys were issued a raft of second yellows, while other sides got away with it.
    That rule was always going to be revised as there was a thin line between knowing clear cases of deliberate prevention and erroneous offences, as it was for both Trossard and Rice. Still, our boys needed to curb the habit of entering defence mode each time we go one man down, and I’d want to think they have now.

    Liverpool just need one bad defeat and they will be brought right back down to earth. Season is still a long way to go, but we have to be perfect too. Tough run ahead.

  • Thanks Eris, Total and Kev. Had a lovely news day 6 a side with a bunch of old team mates, some who had flown in from Oz. Snapper curry for dinner and a good sleep in anticipation of todays game.
    Nwaneri is the man, what an opportunity for the youngster.

  • ARSENAL
    Starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Merino, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Jesus

    Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Tierney, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Rice,

    BRENTFORD
    Starting XI: Flekken, Roerslev, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter, Janelt, Norgaard, Yarmoliuk, Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Wissa

    Subs: Valdimarsson, Schade, Jensen, Meghoma, Konak, Maghoma, Ji-Soo, Yogane, Arthur

  • Yeah, a great chance for Nwaneri to show what he’s made of. A shame how or bench has turned from a very strong one to one shorn of attacking subs.
    We must be busy in this window.

  • We started with dominating possession but conceding so early has had s rattled. We seem to have lost some structure and look worried whenever they come forward.

    I would like to see us take risks with passing into space and wold like to see a bit more from Martinelli.

  • We can’t afford to drop points now and that must be plying on the minds of the players. Does Calafiori offer any more than MLS?

  • 1-1, Gabby Jesus poacher’s header, after their keeper parried a Partey sizzler!

  • Emotionally being put through the wringer is the life of an Arsenal supporter.

  • We are playing with the handbrakes on; holding back which I put down to the fact we have 9 games to navigate in January alone.
    There’s also some nerves OT there not the least of which is David Raya, who is returning to his old club, playing for the first time for Arsenal on that ground.
    Rice or Jorginho on for Merino and Trossard late on.

  • Hard work but the boys are doing everything they can do. The Ode’s lft foot is numb, it seems. So many bad crosses and passes. Merino is working hard to do the Kai thing. Ethan is doing OK. Is Calafiori fit enough to play?

    I hope there will be more space for Arsenal in 2nd half. Brentford are defending very well until now.

  • I didn’t see a handbrake in our play, Eris. But they are set up to counter us, and we need to be weary of that (and it already cost us).

  • “The wringer”. That dates you, Kev. My mum had one, too.
    Great recovery save from David. Fine shot from Thomas and a poachers goal for our Jesus.

  • Two quick goals and it’s 1-3 to the Arsenal. Merino probably needed his goal as he didn’t look settled in this game.
    Gabby misses by inches, from Martinelli’s lay off.

  • TA, I feel some of the players are playing within themselves. We can be more intense than this, even with their threat on the counter.
    I put it down to the need to conserve energy.

  • Credit to the players because it just wasn’t working 1st half but they kept going and finally we got the breaks.

    Delighted with our three goal scorers because we’re going to need more of the same from all three of them during Saka’s absence, so a confidence booster for them.

    Special mention of Ethan, maybe we already have the understudy to Bakayo and can spend our dough elsewhere.

    Anyway all we can do is win our games and trust in providence.

    Yeah Stu, the good old days eh?

  • Just had a look at Liverpool’s fixtures for January and they look quite tasty!

    Some awkward away matches including the League Cup 1st leg at the Toilet Bowl.

    I guess it’s gotta be now if they’re going to slip up…

  • Morning Eris, did you notice the difference in the way we played once we scored the third goal? I think that’s when the handbrake was used for the first time.

    Having said that, Mikel did say after the game that a few players had started despite feeling ill, and maybe that is what you spotted.

  • To be honest, considering how some of our players probably felt, it makes it all the more admirable how they played, and the result.

    It’s a bit too early to expect Ethan to step in every game and play 70 minutes plus at his age and his stage of development but we could see the beginnings of a career that could very much follow the direction that Bakayo’s has had up till now which makes us very lucky.

    The last time we had multiple talents coming out of the academy as we have at this time is probably the late 1980’s which shows how unusual it is and how difficult it is to step up from youth to Premier League level.

    Our young players are very very special

  • Indeed, goals change games (or, the approach to it). We did game management and showed a kind of maturity, doing so, that was not usually associated with Arsenal sides.
    I did spot something and if it is down to the reported illness, it makes it even more commendable. The second half was much better than the first, for sure.

  • It will come down to Sunday 11th May, as it did on 26th May, 1989.

    Corinna’s going a Maying

    By Robert Herrick
    Get up, get up for shame, the Blooming Morne
    Upon her wings presents the god unshorne.
    See how Aurora throwes her faire
    Fresh-quilted colours through the aire:
    Get up, sweet-Slug-a-bed, and see
    The Dew-bespangling Herbe and Tree.
    Each Flower has wept, and bow’d toward the East,
    Above an houre since; yet you not drest,
    Nay! not so much as out of bed?
    When all the Birds have Mattens seyd,
    And sung their thankful Hymnes: ’tis sin,
    Nay, profanation to keep in,
    When as a thousand Virgins on this day,
    Spring, sooner than the Lark, to fetch in May.

    Rise; and put on your Foliage, and be seene
    To come forth, like the Spring-time, fresh and greene;
    And sweet as Flora. Take no care
    For Jewels for your Gowne, or Haire:
    Feare not; the leaves will strew
    Gemms in abundance upon you:
    Besides, the childhood of the Day has kept,
    Against you come, some Orient Pearls unwept:
    Come, and receive them while the light
    Hangs on the Dew-locks of the night:
    And Titan on the Eastern hill
    Retires himselfe, or else stands still
    Till you come forth. Wash, dresse, be briefe in praying:
    Few Beads are best, when once we goe a Maying.

    Come, my Corinna, come; and comming, marke
    How each field turns a street; each street a Parke
    Made green, and trimm’d with trees: see how
    Devotion gives each House a Bough,
    Or Branch: Each Porch, each doore, ere this,
    An Arke a Tabernacle is
    Made up of white-thorn neatly enterwove;
    As if here were those cooler shades of love.
    Can such delights be in the street,
    And open fields, and we not see’t?
    Come, we’ll abroad; and let’s obay
    The Proclamation made for May:
    And sin no more, as we have done, by staying;
    But my Corinna, come, let’s goe a Maying.

    There’s not a budding Boy, or Girle, this day,
    But is got up, and gone to bring in May.
    A deale of Youth, ere this, is come
    Back, and with White-thorn laden home.
    Some have dispatcht their Cakes and Creame,
    Before that we have left to dreame:
    And some have wept, and woo’d, and plighted Troth,
    And chose their Priest, ere we can cast off sloth:
    Many a green-gown has been given;
    Many a kisse, both odde and even:
    Many a glance too has been sent
    From out the eye, Loves Firmament:
    Many a jest told of the Keyes betraying
    This night, and Locks pickt, yet w’are not a Maying.

    Come, let us goe, while we are in our prime;
    And take the harmlesse follie of the time.
    We shall grow old apace, and die
    Before we know our liberty.
    Our life is short; and our dayes run
    As fast away as do’s the Sunne:
    And as a vapour, or a drop of raine
    Once lost, can ne’r be found againe:
    So when or you or I are made
    A fable, song, or fleeting shade;
    All love, all liking, all delight
    Lies drown’d with us in endlesse night.
    Then while time serves, and we are but decaying;
    Come, my Corinna, come, let’s goe a Maying.

  • Happy New Year, fellow BK’ers!

    Let me bring a short snapshot from the GN5 memorial competition at half time of the PL season.
    To start with the proverbial frog to swallow: at the moment we are being outperformed by the AI players.

    ChatGPT’s early candidate has the most points – 40 to be precise – however it has the only entry that has a 4 category offset (it listed Nottingham in the “5: Tested and found wanting” category, while they currently sit among “1: League of Champions”), therefore if you remember is supposed to get disqualified if the situation remains as it is.
    There is a tie at 2nd place between LeGall and TransferMarkt with 32 points. (If I replace the disqualification with -8 points then it becomes a 3-way tie with ChatGPT.) Interestingly LeGall and myself have a full 16-points quadruple match in the last 4 positions, but I happened to screw up the 5-8 position big time, while LG is haunted by Manchester United’s poor performance.
    There is a 3-way tie at 26 points with Eris, Stu and myself, while TA is right behind us – the only player who placed Forrest to the mid-table, thus didn’t get a 5-point deduction because of their toto-killing soaring, but was bitten in the butt by Bournemouth unexpected success as well as Tottenham’s lack of consistency.

    When it comes to the total league point and goal difference forecast, it turns out we all were overly optimistic. Our current 39 points at half way is extrapolated to 78, and our +21 GD is ‘only’ expected to double by the end of the season. Neither should make us particularly proud, but sitting at 2nd place, the undefeated streak of our last 8 games (W6, D2), and the fact that we are being followed by an unsustainable Forrest and Chelsea losing their last 2 games should give us the confidence to keep chasing Liverpool.

    Nevertheless, nothing is lost – regarding both the league and the competition. If the outliers turn their good or bad luck around there are plenty of changes in the que.
    I’ll be in touch after 10 more rounds.

  • You know what, central heating is great but there’s something to be said, when you’re in bed, for a good old fashioned hot water bottle when it’s below freezing outside.
    Keep warm everyone.

  • Question for you Total (and anyone else for that matter) but what have you made of Mikel Merino?

    Personally I can’t see it at times and then he does some good stuff and I think again, but what’s your assessment so far?

  • There is something about the manager of Brighton, a kind of haughtiness about him, he kind of looks down his nose at you and you really want to lump him.

    But he’s done a good job at Brighton and although I have no real idea I wouldn’t be surprised if he thinks he’s far better than Arteta and sees the Arsenal manager as quite a scalp.

    So tomorrow is going to be a really difficult game vs an ambitious manager who clearly feels he should be coaching a top CL club.

  • Kev, I think Merino is versatile and intelligent. He reminds me of Flamini who could also do all midfield duties without necessarily excelling in one particular role. He is ideal for giving the likes of Partey, Rice and even Odegaard a bit of a break, and I think he will score goals more regularly. Like Mathieu he is intelligent, reads the game well and has a strong physical presence.

  • Kev, when the rumors started, I had hoped Arteta was actually going for Fabian Ruiz, who starts ahead of Merino, for Spain. Arsenal thought differently so I figured he must see and/or know something I didn’t. I had to trust Arteta. So far, he has not brought any thing special but has been steady, classy at times, not shy in the physical battles, prepared to go into tackles and seems to want to play more.

    He hasn’t been a change maker but gets to do the simple things well enough. He tends to operate like he has more time on the ball than the EPL can afford so team mates have to issue the “man on” warning cry too often. He also lacks pace to chase back at critical moments in the game. I was not happy to see him jogging back when our defense was under attack, against Brentford.

    All in all, a good addition who can play in the 10 and 8 roles, but can’t trust him in the DM (6) role.

  • Brighton will be ready and I agree, there are a few mangers who like to prove how much better than Arteta they are, including the Brighton boss, Fabian Hurzeler. He will ensure his team are up for it and give us more problems than Brentford did but, we will be well prepared too. Any margin to win it is good enough for me. That will put Liverpool under immense pressure, as we will be only 3 points behind them, of course they would then have two games in hand.

  • Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus.
    Subs: Neto, Tierney, Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Odegaard, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji, Martinelli.

    Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan, Baleba, Ayari, Gruda, O’Reilly, Adingra, Joao Pedro.
    Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Webster, Moder, March, Enciso, Minteh, Mitoma, Rutter.

  • The virus has obviously taken a lot out of our players and Arteta is trying to spread his fit and available players as thinly as he dare with two games a week to negotiate.

    Need to have a fit and firing team ready to go in midweek.

  • Two young attackers on the bench. Would be good to see them play 20 minutes or so.

    Strong midfield and I guess we will sit deep and play on the rebound in the beginning. We are playing more or less with our second string attackers, with only Martinelli on the bench. Let’s hope those set pieces will do it fo4 us once more.

    CoyrrGs

  • Declan?

    He’s here, he’s there, he’s every flippin where…

    We have some quality to bring on and I’m sure that’s what we’ll do Total.

    Nwaneri showing some need to work on his upper body as Estupian is bullying him at times, just hold onto the ball son and keep possession.

  • If Merino scores from that free kick where he misses an almost open goal we don’t concede that penalty.

    Now Liverpool can drop points and it won’t hurt them.

  • It didn’t look a penalty to me Total but what do you expect from PGMOL?

    It’s up to us, you need to take it out of their hands and you do that by taking your chances.

    Anyway, it’s Liverpool’s now, as it was decreed when Rice, Saliba and Trossard got sent off.

    We need to win a cup

  • Feel bad for the boys, but it is a difficult place to visit and the manager considered us a huge scalp and went after the win. We won’t know whether it is a good draw, till the end of the season.

    Curious how the PGMOL reserves Arsenal for experimental rules interpretation. I have never seen a clash of heads given as a penalty. Most times, only after the clash of heads do refs recall play and restart with a drop ball. You will never get to see anything like that again, same as we haven’t seen anyone else get a second yellow for “preventing a quick free kick” since we suffered those two red cards early in the season.

  • Apparently Nwaneri was taken off at halftime due to a pulled muscle, so he’s out of the Newcastle game…

    Everything it seems is conspiring to stop us this season, just wait and see how we’re going to be stitched up at St James’ in the 2nd leg, we’ll need a 5 goal lead to stand any chance.

  • I don’t think we should be upset for getting four points from these two tough away games at this time of the season and with our injuries, etc. Pool will have a bad run at some point, and if they don’t then they really deserve the title and I have total peace with it.

    The boys gave everything and having dodgy referees is unavoidable, it seems. Still, it could have been worse, and let’s move on to Tuesday.

    Sleep well, with or without hot water bottle. 😉☺️

  • Total, so far we’ve been on the receiving end of some outrageously contentious refereeing decisions, decisions that assiduously seem to avoid Liverpool and those decisions have cost us 9 points, you simply cannot recover from that kind of duplicity in interpretation.

    It seems to me that Arsenal are not going to be allowed to compete, let alone win the league, it’s something the club has to contend with and that can only be changed by providing Arteta with the quality and size of squad that takes the officials totally out of the equation.

    I’m not sure that KSE has the will to do that if I’m being totally honest.

  • It would be interesting to know how Sports Bible choose and decided on which quotes to publish, that article seemed to admit that Saliba had actually made contact with the ball first and then use quotes to pretty state that it didn’t matter.

    Not a bible I would subscribe to Stu.

  • You are right, Kev, their comments are toeing a party line, but the video speaks for itself. My antipodean blood continues to boil.
    Liverpool have faltered and will do so again, we just need some good fortune with health/injury issues.
    Newcastle are in a rich vein of form, our lads will need to draw from deep to get a lead to take to St James.

  • ….and get a lead, we will, Stu.

    I feel this cup game played on the boys’ minds against Brighton, where they went for the win rather than get more goals. With some luck, we’d have a few fitter and the boost should get us over the line, over two legs.

  • Good question, Kev. I enjoyed the Wolves v NF game tonight. The home team were really unlucky today, but Forest play some lovely, calm yet deadly football under Nuno, a manager I have always valued (and how dumb are the Spuds to not even have given him a whole season?).

  • Cunha has a disciplinary issue and was banned for this game. No doubt, he would have made a difference had he been on.

  • Good news that Guimaraes is out for tomorrows game. May see Joe Willock in action as his replacement. Hard to pick our starting X1. If fit, Kai up top and Jesus wide right? I’d restore Thomas to the base of our midfield and find another solution at right back. Whoever marks Gordon will have a game on their hands. Hard to fathom that we have Ben, Justin and Tomi all unavailable. I wonder if KT could switch flanks?

  • Timber will be right back, Califiori left back. Yeah Partey back in the middle.

    Cunha was suspended…

    Total, I’ll do another post on the game, gotta keep the run going 🤞

  • Not only Timber but Marquinhos has been added to the senior squad with the No.27 shirt.

    I wonder what kind of message that send out to selling clubs and agents who are trying to take advantage of our injury situation?

    I did notice that Arteta in yesterdays presser emphasised using academy players when questioned about January signings!

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