Early kickoff here. Almost a week off, and then another week off after this. Interesting to see how we play when we don't have a game every three days. TV: NBCSN Time: 7:30 AM ET Also interesting to see who plays at right back given Zaha. I'd play AMN in this match because he's better defensively.
You're on the ball @mebeSajid... and I agree with everything you've said. AMN at RB or maybe even Sokratis?! But probably not Bellerin who's gonna take more time sadly. Of course the Arteta project will take time, but if we don't see improvement in these next 2 matches, with lots of opportunity for training time leading up to them, I will find that slightly depressing. I know, I know...
We just have to double zaha with either rn or Pepe working super hard their other offensive options are shit, bar mileghcchvcgbic pens
I think Zaha is going to play with a chip on his shoulder bc of how things went over the summer. Hopefully Pepe will up his game as well to prove the point that arsena made the right choice. If Pepe can keep zaha’s fullback busy then Zaha will be isolated, drift inside and we can double or triple him. Spread some tactical fouls among those four right sided players high up the pitch and hope that Sokratis can get in Zahas head and take him out of the game mentally. without contribution from zaha, we should walk it. Palace were terrible at home last season, had that continued? I think Arteta’s time in charge starts now for me. I didn’t want to judge him too much because of the opposition and the lack of training time, but he has nearly a full squad and some days of full training. I especially will be interested in the first 20 mins. curious to see if the players are really buying into what Arteta is selling.
Not so fast there, Bellerin is not a shoe in for that spot he is going to have to compete with AMN. Didn't Ayew score on us last time? Zaha is not their only goal scoring threat. I can see Townsend, Ayew or even Bentenke being problems for our defense. I love this Arteta love and I'm all for it and what he has done so far but people need to calm down we are still 10th and a side that is mediocre. Says we are favorite to win this game by 55% which is odd because we are terrible away and it's a London derby but we shall see. Wonder if we go with the 4-2-3-1 again with all 4 ballers playing like they did vs Yanited.
Bellerin is world class. If he's competing, he's leaving. AMN doesn't even want to play fullback. Bellerin is our right back until he isn't.
He wasn't even world class before he got injured. You can't be a RB who can't defend and be WOrld class. And his runs and offensive contributions are overrated. AMN owns that spot now and Bellerin needs to compete or I'll take good for $ for him right now.
Bellerin world-class? Even by the numbers AMN has always been better than him defensively, and since his injury Hector doesn't have any pace anymore. Especially if they stay with having RB play as an inverted wing back, Hector is not beating AMN for that spot
Disagree with that last bit. Bellerin's passing is very good; better than Maitland-Niles' right now. His numbers indicate a kind of auxiliary playmaker in attack rather than a marauding wide man. I think he's perfect for what we've seen of Arteta's system so far. He needs a lot of work defensively, to be fair, but so does AMN. Setting up a structure so we don't have so many individuals' weaknesses exposed and Arteta's history of success with individual instruction should help both of them immensely in that regard.
This. Important to note that Bellerin is a much worse 1 v 1 defender, and that's the kind of thing that's hard to fix.
Agree. And if bellarin has lost a step, which early on it looks like he has, he might as well move to midfield anyway.
Man, Mikel is way consistent in his XI... 4-2-3-1 and chosen personnel. Not to mention playing style. He's the anti-Emery!
Good start. Positive forays and I love how we're contesting every 50/50 ball. And winning many of them
Zaha vs AMN? 23' and I haven't noticed a single incident between the two. Of course they've barely had the ball in our half Edit: At 24' I finally witnessed one. Ball over the top which Ainsley dealt with confidently.
I'm up at West coast time! Great start by us. I like the consistency with the lineup. Let's get one more before the half.