Wednesday 11 December 2024 Ashburton Grove USA “TV”: Paramount+ 3:00pm ET On paper, this looks to me to be a close matchup, maybe even a grudge match... AFC & ASM are in quite similar situations this season. Both sit 3rd in our domestic leagues, and 7th & 8th in the UCL table, separated only by GD. But, after a very bright start, Monaco did just have their first UCL defeat to Benfica, last time out, and at home. Will we see old boy Flo Balogun? Just back from a dislocated shoulder. Me being so UK centric, I only really recognize him & Minamito from their squad. But to be where they are, they must have others who are quite good. Arsenal still struggle with injuries, most recently at key spots like LCB (Gabriel), LB (Calafiori, Zinny). None of those 3 even made the bench yesterday so that doesn’t seem a great sign. Rice's toe & hints that Partey’s playing a bit “impaired” in the last match or two, plus him being forced into RB is far less than ideal. And Ode picked up a painful ankle knock yesterday, which he soldiered through. I find this match very hard to call. I hope that means we blow them away 4-0
We will win, but its the how we win that is important. Right now Mikel is leaning too hard on control, the consequence being we aren't generating quality open play chances and have now become too overly reliant on either corners or Ode/Saka to make things happen. Hopefully we see a personnel and some structure change, take the handbrake off and get back to Arsenal of old. Would love to see LMS or Tierney at LB and Timber at RB, get Partey back into midfield with Rice and play Nwaneri with Ode off the bench if he isn't right. Or maybe try something really wild and run Sterling at L8, he can find passes maybe he can help unlock Martinelli. At the moment it feels like we keep trying the same thing and getting disappointing results. Wild that we see Arteta try something wild with Partey RB but won't roll the dice with a change at LW/L8. Arsenal to win 3-1.
Someone commented that Jover has been such an unmitigated success that maybe we should be looking for an open play coach? Badum!
Hmm... you're a day early dude. Seriously, you're makin me look forward even more to my next visit Bring us GOOD LUCK and THREE POINTS!
Guess we are gonna field a 2-5-3 tomorrow..... Notable absentees from Arsenal’s open training session this afternoon:Ben White ❌Takehiro Tomiyasu ❌Gabriel Magalhães ❌Riccardo Calafiori ❌Oleksandr Zinchenko ❌Jurrien Timber ❌Thomas Partey ❌ pic.twitter.com/oWMeftrkuD— afcstuff (@afcstuff) December 10, 2024
Oh my. Let's pray that Timber & Partey are just getting much deserved days off. EDIT: Just read Mikel's comments from today and he said this, which throws a bit of cold water on any prayers: "We have to manage a lot of the players, so they’re probably not going to be fit for tomorrow and are a doubt" p.s. That picture is odd because last I heard Tomi had gone back to Japan to get his head right, or something like that. Maybe he's back? And rearing to go?!
A win vs. Monaco should make top 8 a formality, given our last 2 fixtures vs. Zagreb and at Girona are against bottom table teams. Although it's kind of crazy Zagreb are above PSG and Real Madrid in the table.
I honestly wouldn't mind seeing either Keiran or Miles start/play at LB, assuming they're fit of course. And if that happens I would hope/expect that the crowd would be massively and vocally supportive of them.
Arteta has said that Tierney is ready and he will get opportunities. https://t.co/xWPkwGiGZF— Kaya Kaynak (@kayakaynak97) December 10, 2024
IDK about pre-match but I've been there post-match... after that amazing late winner by Nelson against Bournemouth. Even with that jubilance I was able to get in. So you might too??
Just heard Julien Laurens talk about Monaco: Young team, with intensity going forward Good at set pieces But doesn't give them much chance against a strong Arsenal XI* *But one has to wonder how strong an XI we will really be?
I hope Arteta doesn't take too many risks with injured players today. A point would be fine given our remaining two fixtures v. Dinamo Zagreb and at Girona (who are terrible this season), and a loss wouldn't be devastating.
Miles gets the call at LB!! Love incoming from all directions. Crossing serious fingers for the lad. p.s. Timber is at least on the bench, but still that could be a concern going forward if he's picked up a stubborn niggle/ p.p.s. Your screenshot seems to have leaked a tad early... hopefully it's accurate.
Will be interesting to see where Rice & Merino play. Some websites have them at 6 & L8, and others at L8 & 6. I'm guessing the latter... Merino at 6. Edit: Now that match has begun, it looks like I guessed wrong.