Standard Liege v. ARSENAL Our Europa League group stage concludes with a mostly-meaningless trip to Wallonia to face the 3rd-placed team in both this group and the Belgian Pro League. A win locks up first place in the group, while a loss or draw leaves us reliant on the result in Eintracht - Vitoria to parse out our final position. Failing to advance is mathematically possible, but it would take a wild set of circumstances for that to happen - 538 pegs our advancement chances at greater than 99%. The first match against Standard resulted in a 4-0 win at the Emirates with a brace from the real Gabigol and goals from Willock and Ceballos. Like that match, I think we're likely to see a heavily rotated team in this one, ahead of Manchester City's visit on Sunday. As with all Europa League matches, this one is not on English-language TV in the US, but will be available live on UniMas en Espanol, or on B/R Live (PPV English stream). COYG Kickoff: 12:55 PM Eastern, 1755 GMT US TV: UniMas, B/R Live (stream)
Maybe we should try someone young at left back because with Tierney looking to be out for some time with his new shoulder injury (dislocation?) we're down to Kola and who else? Sure I guess we could deputize someone like Luiz, Mustafi or (if he hadn't just played 90) Chambers, but wouldn't it be better to try someone young and fresh? Assuming we have someone like that in the reserves.
Tolaji Bola is the starting LB for the U23s. He's 20 and eligible for the Europa League B-list, so he could be added to the squad in time for Thursday. Not a bad idea, though I admittedly don't know anything about him. I'd expect something more like AMN to LB and Mustafi/Chambers at RB.
Yeah, I think you're right. AMN has had a nice long rest it seems, and he's still young, so he should be able to play multiple games in a week without much difficulty. And I'm now vaguely recalling that he actually played a bit of backup LB a year or two ago? So we could be looking at a back line of AMN, Luiz, Mustafi/Mavro, Chambers/Mustafi? Will be interesting to see how he goes.
He had 3 starts at LB last season - opener v. City (got hurt, subbed early), at Vorskla, v. Qarabag. He had 18 appearances on the left in Wenger's last season - 10 in midfield and 8 in defense. So he can definitely do it in a pinch. I'd much rather see a U23 brought up because 1) they're familiar with Ljungberg and 2) our defensive depth is barren all of a sudden, so keeping players fresh for far more meaningful games is a smart course of action.
Balogun, Burton, Omole and Bola also trained with first-team today. Presumably Balogun not fully fit yet after injury.— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) December 11, 2019 Bola missed last U23 game through injury but looks like he's fit again. He's an option at left-back.— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) December 11, 2019 Hopefully Bola is worth something, because Tierney is out until March. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...months-with-dislocated-shoulder-a4310826.html
Three months for a dislocated shoulder? Sounds awfully long to me. Does that sound reasonable to anybody with knowledge of that kind of stuff? Or is it wishful thinking on my part to think it has to be shorter?
I was partly surprised and partly not. Wishful thinking led to the former. Remembering how Theo was out a lot, before/after his shoulder operation(s), led to the latter.
I just assume that any Arsenal-related injury operates under the formula: normal recovery x 2 + 6 weeks.
It's down to the severity of the soft tissue injury. There can be a lot of nerve and muscle damage that takes time to heal. Given how much pain he was in and the way the injury happened it may have been an atypical dislocation.
Looks like Saka at LWB. Fun team today: 📋 Here's our team in Belgium tonight...🇬🇷 @DMavropanos handed a start🇫🇷 @MatteoGuendouzi returns to the XI🏴 @ReissNelson9 and @EmileSmithRowe both start🇫🇷 @LacazetteAlex leads the line🏆 #UEL— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 12, 2019
Playing out of the back instead of just punting it out, just almost did us in again. Coupled with a nervous botched pass by Mavro.
Disjointed. ESR forced a good save, but that's pretty much it. Mavropanos (understandably) looks rusty.
Saka has had our 2 best chances. The last one just blazed 2" outside the frame. He's playing more like a forward than a wing back. Surprised? Edit: ESR had another good chance, forcing the keeper into a good save. Still 0-0 though!
0-0 at halftime. 11 shots, 4 on target versus Standard's 5 and 1. Frankfurt leads 2-1, so we're currently 2nd in the group.
The final minute of 1T was quite interesting. First M'Poku literally catches a pass out of the air like a wide receiver. Not sure what was up there. It was sailing out of bounds but WTF. No hand ball awarded. Immediately we went on the attack, with guess who Saka with a dangerous shot that had to be parried. He then heads it on to Nelson who heads it toward goal, just softly enough for the keeper to catch it. We edged the first half, but have nothing to show for it. Sigh.
1-0 to Standard in the 47th after a half-hearted block attempt by Sokratis deflects wickedly past Martinez.
Start of 2T and guess what? 1-0 to Liege. Longish shot deflect off Sokratis so Emi has no chance. We've seen this show before.
Guendouzi is having one of his brainless games. Not influencing play at all, and rarely in the right position. Him complaining after losing possession following a 15-yard loose touch isn't what you like to see.
Sounds like it must have messed up some nerves. Thoracic outlet type stuff. Think they're probably being conservative with their time estimate though unless he tore rotator cuff(s) which is possible. Would point to underlying issues
62' Has Laca had a touch yet? Certainly nothing substantial I noted. They're owning the start of 2T like we owned the end of 1T. If we lose this match and finish 2nd in the group we could face one of the "big boys" jettisoning out of Champs League. And this team looks like it needs all the help it can get. So how about it lads, score 2 unanswered goals... against a team that sits 3rd in the Belgian D1.