Arsenal, riding a 1 match unbeaten streak, head back home to the Emirates Stadium to take on a world class Brighton team. Brighton have won their last 2 games (that's allowed!?) and are only 4 points behind Arsenal and in 16th place. Time- 215 CENTRAL, 315 EASTERN Channel- NBC Sports Main talking point- Will Mustafi start again? Highlights from the last meeting Next for Arsenal is Brighton at home. Last time this minute happened: 🙄😖https://t.co/3Ls2xenkBX— AfcVIP⁴⁹ (@VipArsenal) December 2, 2019
Time to start Martinelli for Laca. Pepe and Ozil as well. Chambers and Holding at CB Tierney and Bellerin at FBs Willock in MF as box god box , the Uruguayan as DMid 4-2-3-1
Don't forget that Brighton just locked up their new wizard-like manager Mr.Potter to a +2 year contract extension. After only 6 months on the job no less.
On today's Arsecast, Andrew suggested his preferred line-up right now, which would be a 4-2-3-1 (which I have to say is also the formation I find myself going to when I try to figure out our jigsaw). But specifically here's what he wants to see: Leno Bellerin-Chambers-Luiz-Tierney Xhaka*-Torreira Pepe-Ozil-Martinelli Auba *However a few mins later he was defending Guendouzi against Xhaka, but perhaps not to the point of amending his line-up. So my question: Is there anything really way wrong with Andrew's XI? - Sokratis & Mustafi are benched in favor of Chambers... those 2 haven't exactly covered themselves in glory of late - And Holding is left out, presumably because of fitness (he wasn't even in our squad yesterday) - Pepe is included I guess because of his assets which we've discussed in other threads, overlooking any implied training problems he's had - Laca being benched is perhaps the most truly controversial, debatable decision? But for me I understand it
I like that lineup. Question- Would Luiz in midfield, maybe alongside Torreira, be THAT much different than Xhaka? Both slow footed, poor defenders that can make long passes? If anything Luiz seems stronger on the the ball/less likely to be muscled off. But I guess that would basically be a back 3, unless torreira covered the back 4 and Luiz pushed up a bit? Leno Bellerin Chambers Holding Tierney -----------------------Torreira ----------------Luiz -------------------Ozil Pepe----------------------------Martinelli ---------------Auba .
Freddie basically admitting about the lack of foot speed and athleticism that is basically killing us in defense “on whether criticism of defence is justified... No, I think my players try to defend. Of course you can have different types of players in the squad. That's just a fact, that you have different types of players. We've had a gameplan we've tried to execute and I want to defend. Of course we need to try to find solutions. If players are not super quick and we say, 'You've got to sprint for this or that', that's going to be difficult for that player. In general terms, we try to put out a structure so that everybody knows what to do. The main thing I saw in the game is that we let them get into situations where it was just a sprint. It was not about football or technical stuff, they just went in a competitive sprint with our player. We want to stop that.”
Clive on the Arsenal Vision podcast has harped about this for over a year now. He points out that Henderson, Milner, and Wijnaldum aren't technicians -- they're runners/sprinters.
He's somewhat right (they're all somewhat skilled). But this works because TAA is skilled enough to be an integral part of Liverpool's attack, and because their three forwards are all top 15 players.
I'm no expert but when I heard about Amazon buying EPL rights, I recall it was for UK only. If you can't watch it on NBCSN there's always Livesoccertv.com? p.s. For NBCSN, my guide says the match coverage starts at 2:30, so I wonder if they're gonna show the first half of SUFC-NUFC before switching over to the KO of our game at 3:15?
Just saw that Bellerin has had a tight hamstring so he's iffy. And Holding is supposedly ruled out (presumably b/c of knee) but for some reason he's not been showing up on our Team News page. But Dani is listed there and will not be in the squad.
🚨 Three changes from Sunday 🚨🔙 Bellerin and Sokratis return🇺🇾 Torreira comes in🤝 Laca partners Auba#ARSBHA— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 5, 2019 Mustafi played his way out of the 18, Willock somehow didn't, Tierney still planted on the bench, ditto Pepe. Happy to see Torreira, baffled to see Xhaka.
Happy to see Mustafi out, Torreira in. And Bellerin... that's a pleasant surprise! (pray for his hammie) Not sure what I think about Willock in the XI Obviously the idea of dropping Laca wasn't really in the cards p.s. Apparently they are going to show the Sheffield-Newcastle match when it starts at 2:30 and then cut away after 40 mins. I guess that's better than 45 mins of talking heads.
I suspect Ozil on the wing like with Germany. My Crystal ball says willock and Laca gets subbed when we arent penetrating enough and Martinelli and Pepe come in. Moving Auba inside and Ozil center with the subs on the wings. Bar any injuries, unexpected cards... The trick is cracking the first goal otherwise this team can be hard to break down.
Well this is a much more drilled team we are facing. So in theory until the basics are done well and the formation chemistry is built up we will still look bad imo. Not to mension we have to build confidence and break the streak.