The Arsenal @ Sporting - 3/9

Kill

 

So do we have a striker?

 

I would guess Martinelli up top with ESR and Reiss splitting time on the left. But damn, we are incredibly thin right now.

Trossard's injury is believed to be minor/precautionary, but likely unavailable this week.

Not exactly the season where you want to rely on a youth academy player coming on, but what other options are out there?

 

Trossard has a history of groin injuries. He’s missed more than a month with them each of the last two years, iirc. Maybe that history is the reason we were extra careful and removed him before it became serious, or maybe it’s an indication he’s going to be out for several weeks. Hopefully the former.

 

We have Sporting x2, Fulham, and Crystal Palace before the interlull, in which Martinelli is not on the Brazil team. I’d expect we gut it out and have Reiss/Gabi/Bukayo with ESR sub for the next four matches but yeah, not much of a sub option after ESR. Could see KT doing left winger stuff again. Can’t really see them rushing any of Trossard, Eddie, or Jesus back before interlull either

 

Or we could do what I’ve been saying all along is our secret weapon: ESR false 9

 

Not until he can go 60+.

 

I’m okay with him starting and subbing Reiss on but yeah, sure

 

I’ve heard Jesus is traveling on Thursday, he may be closer than you are assuming. At one point there was speculation he’d be back for Bournemouth.

 

Hope so! Would be good to get him minutes before the interlull because our schedule is pretty full-on when we get back

 

Watch Brazil add him to the squad if he plays before then.

 

Might be why he hasn’t played yet.

 

Supposedly no KT (illness), Eddie or Trossard (knocks) tomorrow.

No Tierney, Trossard or Nketiah. All absent from training.

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) March 8, 2023

 

Not surprising all 3 are out, but what happened to Nketiah? I missed that one.

 

I believe he picked up a knock near the end of the last match he played a few weeks back.

Tonight I’m negotiating to see whether and where I can watch this. My P+ won’t work in UK without a vpn which I don’t have anymore. So TV? Pub? Then there’s the spousal negotiation, which may trump all. Wish me luck.

 

I've heard ankle. Not sure if game or training or how bad.

 

He’s been playing on a bum ankle and aggravated it when coming on against Everton

 

Polish journo claiming that Kiwior makes his debut tomorrow.

 

Saw an article saying Arteta is going to hold him back, so hopefully its just a 20min appearance.

 

Nketiah, Trossard, and El Neny are out.

 

German lawyer Tobias Stieler is the man in the middle for this game. He has refereed in the Bundesliga since 2012, and has been on the FIFA list since 2014.

From his 25 games across all competitions this season, he has shown 71 yellow cards but just one red. In the six matches he has officiated involving Engish teams in European competitions over the past few years, they have won all six.

Referee: Tobias Stieler (GER)

Assistant referee 1: Christian Gittelmann (GER)

Assistant referee 2: Mark Borsch (GER)

Fourth official: Robert Schröder (GER)

VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)

Assistant VAR: Soren Storks (GER)