Premier League, Matchday 17 The last match before the holiday gauntlet is a ho-hum encounter against the defending champions. City sit 17 points off Liverpool at the top of the league, despite a goal differential just 3 goals worse than Liverpool. City enters this game in a relatively poor run of form, with just 3 wins from their last 8 (at Dinamo Zagreb, at Burnley, v. Chelsea) but, like us, had the opportunity to rest most of the first team during their mid-week European match. Still, they're likely to be without some of their heavy hitters, with Ederson ill, and Laporte, Stones, Sane, and Aguero nursing injuries. As for Arsenal, the injury list is beginning to pile up, as it always seems to at this time of year. Xhaka, Tierney, Holding, and Ceballos are all out, with Bellerin and Pepe likely to miss out as well. The injuries don't help an Arsenal team that has an atrocious record against City in recent years. Since Arsenal's last win v. City (FA Cup semifinal in 2017), City have won all 5 encounters with Arsenal, outscoring the Gunners 14-2. In sports, however, there's always a chance, no matter how slim. 538 gives us a 15% chance to win and 17% chance to draw. 1 in 3 to get a result despite our season - that's something. Kickoff is at 11:30 AM Eastern (1630 GMT) on NBCSN and Telemundo. COYG
So many times recently when Arsenal were playing the lower table teams and looked awful i'd think "any good team would completely batter Arsenal". I think we'll probably see that tomorrow. If Arsenal play like the 1st half vs West Ham....yeesh. Hopefully Freddie comes out to play and doesn't go ultra defensive. That being said, I think we'll end up with Arteta as Arsenal manager after this.
I haven't totally given up on us before a ball is kicked. We have a small chance. BUT... It's gonna take some boldness in tactics and application. And some luck. I know we're playing at home, and don't quite have the ideal squad to play the way we did in 2015, and we've gotten rid of Santi but I would hope that Freddie has revisited this match at Eastlands from back then: We actually did the double over them that year, one year before Pep came.
As for the XI, he's likely to rotate back to the team from the game before last, or close to it. Forwards are seemingly the most obvious choice (assuming all are still fit, and assuming our backline is a foursome):: --------- Auba --------- Gab --- Ozil --- Pepe Midfield, because of recent injuries, I guess would be: Guen --- Torreira Defense might present the biggest question marks: Kola --- Sok* --- Chambers --- AMN* (*assuming they were subbed off last game for rotation rather than injury?) Of course he might shake that up a bit by going with a back three/five. Regardless... COYG!!!!
I loathe Pep and hate watching his teams play. His defense is just foul the other team all the time and dare the refs to call it straight. Plus he's a CL choker.
Homie, he’s won 2 cls and was a nats fart from winning vs Tottenham last year and Liverpool the year before
Plus the only reason they didn't threepeat b/w 2009 and 2011 is because both: 1) the refs conspired and 2) a freaking volcano. May miss this game because I'm on vacation and I'd rather not be depressed on vacation.
I'm not confident but hopefully the boys try. Please Pepe, Auba and Martinelli again with Ozil in behind them. Midfield two most like Torreria and Guendouzi I really don't want to see Joe out there. Back 4 or perhaps a 5 with two wings and 3 in the back. I would be thrilled with a draw let's just not get embarrassed.
Sure Pep is a historically great manager. But as a person, at least the person we see in interviews or behind-the-scenes TV shows, he seems to have very little redeeming value. He's a jerk. Not as bad as Jose who's a complete pr1ck, regardless of whatever whitewash he's trying to do at the moment in North London. I generally don't relish seeing other managers (or their teams) lose, but for those 2 gents I easily make an exception.
Yeah he does seem to stand up for those repressed, even when his "bosses" might tell him he should be quiet, e.g. Catalans. And that does have redeeming value. But what I was talking about was how he speaks and how he conducts himself on camera, which is the bulk of what I see and know about the guy. Again, I'm not arguing that he has been a great manager/coach. Meanwhile, Come on You Wolves. And Armand bloody Traore.
🚨 Two changes from Monday night 🚨➡️ @seadk6 & @MatteoGuendouzi⬅️ @kierantierney1 & Granit Xhaka#ARSMCI— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 15, 2019
As for the line-up, I don't usually make predictions but I nailed this one. I guess it being so obvious helped both.
1-0 City. We look promising in the first minute with a dangerous Gab foray. Then 30 seconds later City show us how to do it. And WTF is Kola doing trying to lower his head away from KdB's shot????