Liverpool vs Arsenal (EFL Cup Semi) 13 Jan 2022

Discussion in 'Arsenal' started by NorthBank, Jan 13, 2022.

  1. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #1 NorthBank, Jan 13, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2022
    lfc-afc-efl.jpg

    EFL Cup – Semi Leg 1
    Thursday 13 Jan 2022
    Anfield
    USA “TV”: ESPN+ 2:45pm ET


    Now that the Scousers seemed to pull a fast-one with their Covid testing to get the semifinal legs rearranged, giving them some badly needed rest & recuperation, and giving us time to join the illness & injury bandwagon...

    Will this trip back up north be more punishment or some sort of miracle? I’d say odds are on the former. For one thing, the last time I “took the reins” we went to the Merseyside and shockingly came back with nada.

    I guess you might say that their 2 AFCON absences at FW are perhaps a bigger miss than our 2 in MF. BUT Xhaka getting Covid has thrown a large spanner into our plan for January. How Arteta is able to staff MF is going to be a major factor in the outcome.

    I just listened to his presser (https://www.arsenal.com/liverpool-mikel-arteta-press-conference-transcript-carabao-cup). I took slight comfort in his calmness about our squad fiasco and with his answers in general... very open and no testiness. Here’s a few team news tidbits:

    * Our player availability is very “volatile and uncertain... from day to day” due to Covid, injury & absences.

    * Granit was a maybe (as of his presser), BUT sounds like he hasn’t been (cleared to do) training yet, so honestly how fit could he be?!
    * ESR also sounds iffy, as he’s been left out recently due to injury/fitness.
    *
    And if today’s training photos are anything to go by, Tommy may also be a question mark? Although I did see Gabriel training (and I presume he’s back eligible after suspension).

    So it could very well be a hodge podge, with someone like Chambers seeing his first PT for 2-3 months?? Ugh.


    Expectations suitably lowered... here we go!
     
  2. TitoTata

    TitoTata Member+

    Jun 26, 2014
    Should be a great game to watch..

    Probably the best two teams to watch football-wise ... so together it can’t fail to entertain imho
     
  3. chjoak

    chjoak Member+

    Jun 17, 2009
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
     
  4. chjoak

    chjoak Member+

    Jun 17, 2009
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  5. And_ROOS

    And_ROOS Member+

    Dec 30, 2006
    Melbourne, Aus
    White has potential to be an excellent DM. Can dribble, smart passer, quick getting back, I floated it as an option next year if we get Saliba, that you could play a back 5 with Tierney, Saliba, White, Gabriel and Tomi, but have White push up into DM frequently.
     
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  6. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ugh, our MF options are even more challenging than we figured. Should be interesting at least!

    Is this where Arteta earns his pay?
     
  7. chjoak

    chjoak Member+

    Jun 17, 2009
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As of right now, I'm thinking we are gonna have to go 4-2-2-2. 2 of Laca/Eddie/Martinelli at ST, 2 of Saka/Pepe/Martinelli at W and 2 of Xhaka/Sambi/White at CM. Gonna be limited with subs as well.
     
  8. cooper7d7

    cooper7d7 Member+

    Feb 7, 2001
    CT
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Screenshot_20220113-101931_Samsung Internet.jpg
     
  9. TitoTata

    TitoTata Member+

    Jun 26, 2014
    Arteta could probably still do a job in midfield

    :)
     
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  10. chjoak

    chjoak Member+

    Jun 17, 2009
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  11. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That could be a great idea. If not exactly what I meant.
     
  12. And_ROOS

    And_ROOS Member+

    Dec 30, 2006
    Melbourne, Aus
    Would be getting Jack in for a game or two...
     
  13. GunnerJacket

    GunnerJacket Moderator
    Staff Member

    Sep 18, 2003
    Gainesville, GA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Might just be me, but the Prem is all that matters at this point, so I wouldn't play anyone in a fashion that risks their availability for the weekend. Any trophy would be nice and I don't want to foster a loss after a loss, but if the team were go after this Cup and end up missing out on Europe as a result then that would be inexcusable, IMO.

    Hoping for a win, but more importantly I'm hoping today doesn't hurt our league play.
     
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  14. TitoTata

    TitoTata Member+

    Jun 26, 2014
    Jack Wilshere is still only young as well

    He’s on the radio as we speak now - he has a weekly stint on TalkSport Thursdays 4pm to 7pm

    He’s brilliant to listen to !!
     
  15. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As much as I kind of agree, it doesn't matter what we think. Because it's Mikel's call, and many many times he's put out maximum strength teams when we felt we'd do otherwise. So that's what I expect tonight.
     
  16. CarlosKaiser

    CarlosKaiser Member+

    Arsenal
    United States
    Jul 30, 2018
    Kansas City
    Liverpool playing a strong ass lineup, with Salah and Mane unavailable.

     
  17. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    They haven't played a real game in 11 days (Shrewsbury doesn't count) and they have Brentford at home this weekend, so I'm not surprised.
     
  18. CarlosKaiser

    CarlosKaiser Member+

    Arsenal
    United States
    Jul 30, 2018
    Kansas City
  19. CarlosKaiser

    CarlosKaiser Member+

    Arsenal
    United States
    Jul 30, 2018
    Kansas City
    Odegaard tested positive for covid, cross your figures for the North London Derby.
     
  20. mebeSajid

    mebeSajid Member+

    Feb 16, 2009
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Saka's never getting a rest. Not sure it's possible for Arsenal to play a stronger team (though also not sure Arsenal could have played anyone else in the front six given ACN and COVID).
     
  21. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The squad news ain't good...
    • Tommy still out so we get Cedric again... ugh.
    • Xhaka is in but cannot be truly fit.
    • MO the latest Covid case, so Laca takes his role?
    • And Eddie up top? Can a fairly impotent youngster handle the weight on his shoulders??
    This might just be a killing.
     
  22. mebeSajid

    mebeSajid Member+

    Feb 16, 2009
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    This needs to be a total bus parking.
     
  23. TitoTata

    TitoTata Member+

    Jun 26, 2014
  24. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1' Cedric crosses and pulls a muscle in his hip. Good omen that.

    p.s. Can Ben White play both RB and CM at the same time?
     
  25. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    5' Gabriel almost scores on his own goal with a bizarre backpass. Hmm...
     

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