Thursday 5 November 2020 Ashburton Grove USA TV: UniMas (en espanol) & CBS All-Access 3:00pm ET We should still be on a confidence high after taking 3 points from Old Trafford for the first time in 14 years. But that just makes this cup fixture a little extra slippery. The two undefeated group co-leaders (separated only by GD) meet each other for the first time ever. And having just daggered Solskjaer’s current side, we turn around and try to do the same to his previous team. I expect ample rotation, but not quite back to the XI that beat Dundalk. Certainly Elneny cannot humanly be expected to play this one, PED’s or not. Perhaps something like this: Leno, Kola, Gabriel (if Luiz isn't ready), Mustafi, Cedric, AMN, Xhaka, Willock (if that MF balance works?), Nelson, Eddie, Pepe.
Badum! Ya know, I was thinking of putting some kind of clever pun into my OP, but it’s obvious now that there was no need to do that!
I had a boss who would say "And_ROOS gives it his Arse and All" when I would work in my gunners gear. ********ing hated that guy.
Here's the text of Arteta's presser from yesterday: https://www.arsenal.com/news/arteta-elneny-willock-molde-and-more If you have a few minutes read it (or watch it). And then think back to what these pressers were like with Emery. I often remind myself of that and I am quite thankful to have Mikel Arteta performing this job now! His good qualities comes through and in a very well articulated way. p.s. He had some kind words about Willock. I wonder/hope if we'll see him in the XI today. IIRC he was terrific on his last start.
0-1 Molde. Saw that coming. After Leno kicked it long in haste after the preferred method of building out from back didn't work. Long range shot. Keeper should've probably gotten to it. p.s. Anyone else out there? Watching?
Nketiah puts it in the net after some good build-up. But it's ruled out for clear offside. Molde are very well organized, just like Arteta said. But they're pressing higher than the mid-block he advertised. This has caused us some difficulty both in building out from the back, and also in finding a way through their compact defense. It's looking like the boss is going to earn his money in order to find a way to turn things around in 2T.
You mean our goal? We got the ball on our 6 and quickly ran it upfield. Willian, Xhaka, Pepe were involved until it was centered to Willock who was just about to make contact when the defender beat him to it and scored an OG. Thanks mate! But we completely made that happen with good CA football Willock's been a bright spot for us offensively today.
Xhaka playing some beautiful through balls tonight. But that time Kola, the recipient, wasted it right near the end line. Then Willian played a not dissimilar direct pass to his attacker in the box, who this time was.... Luiz! Seems like a theme there no?
54' Kola wide open in front of goal and skies it over!! Ugh. TBF the keeper's deflection came to him suddenly and it bounced high in front of him. But... he shoulda buried that!!!
Molde seems to have largely given up on their high-pressing from 1T and are now in a pretty low block. So we're getting lots of time and chances in their end, and we just need to be on guard for their counters.
62' 2-1 to the Arse! Another great play by Willock which induces an OG by Sinyan. Meanwhile... Saka on for Willian, and Cedric for AMN.