Onto the Champions League with its weird new format (bring back the knock out two legged champions only European Cup! I realize Arsenal wouldn't be in that if they did it, don't care). Trip to Bergamo on a Thursday (barf), to play Atalanta who current sit 8th in Serie A with 2 wins and 2 losses. 3 PM Eastern/9 AM Hawaii/5 AM Friday AEST Paramount+ for live streaming
Personally I'm looking forward to seeing us face off against 8 different European opponents over 5 months knowing we are competing for points across a 32 team league. Every single result will matter. With the old format, we played 3 teams twice over 4 months knowing we only needed to finish second in a 4 team pool that always contained 2 teams inferior to us. I anticipate the "group stage" will be a lot more exciting with the new format. It's more of a "league" and results of other matches outside of our "pool" will be far more interesting along the way because they will impact Arsenal's position in the league.
I don't love that there are more games, but the format is way more interesting. The group stage was ********ing boring for 90% of the teams in it. Also like that there's no real benefit or protection for being in a higher pot. Much more egalitarian.
Towards the bottom of this article on ESPN.com, they published a Mock Table of what this year's Champions League could look like after 7 games, illustrating just how significant match week 8 could be for 15+ clubs in the table. Even after 7 rounds, there are only 2 clubs guaranteed to go directly into the knockout round. And they also included the list of tie breakers, which, sadly brings back everyone's favorite tie breaker: Away goals.
we have to play away in Italy on Thursday City gets to play at home tomorrow and we play on Sunday.....this is bologna
It will be interesting to see the level Rice brings to this game and the next vs. City. If he is worth the £100 we paid for him--I believe he is, and I believe he knows he is--he will do everything he can in Italy and Manchester to see we win both matches.
I hope this is where we see him go up a gear and really show why we paid what we did. Rice was excellent last year but we haven't seen his peak and often you see players take a year when switching clubs to really elevate their game. This would be a great time for Rice to basically become our next Vieira and just dominate the midfield. Partey and Rice start, who joins them in a midfield 3?
I doubt Partey starts. He played 180 minutes with Ghana then a full 90 against Tottenham. He will probably be on the bench.
Probably a similar setup to Tottenham with the lack of numbers in midfield. Rice and Jorginho with Trossard playing anywhere from CF to CM.
4-4-2 like we played against spuds..... - Rice & Partey at CM with Partey coming off for Jorge around the 60-65 min mark - Backline likely the same as spuds - W will likely be Saka & Marti/Sterling. I would personally start Marti & Sterling and bring Saka on in the 60-70min mark and possible Trossard as well if they both need a rest. - Jesus & Havertz at forward with the option of Trossard or Nwaneri coming on in the 2nd. If Nwaneri comes on you likely switch to more of a 4-2-3-1. I would be inclined to want Havertz off at 60-65 if possible given how much he ran in the last outing.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus. Subs: Neto, Porter, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Gower, S. Oulad-M’Hand, Trossard, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji. https://www.arsenal.com/news/team-news-rice-and-jesus-start-atalanta Certainly a choice.
Even the broadcast talent aren't up to speed on the new CL format. The announcer just stated 32 teams, when it is in fact 36 teams competing in the CL now.
Glad to see we are able to wear our red home jerseys in this match vs. Atalanta. UEFA has deemed the amount of blue in our home kit is just under the threshold.