Arsenal @ Aston Villa Sat, Feb 18 4:30am PT / 7:30am ET / 12:30 GMT USA / Universo Absolutely pivotal match for this team. Things have gotten a bit slippery and it feels like they're staring a title wave in the face. Is it time for Mikel to pull out the old light bulb? Let's see what happens.
Intentional pun or not it does feel a bit like a tidal wave is upon us. I vaguely remember the light-bulb scene from All or Nothing last season, but hopefully what came after it was some sort of creative solution and results... yeah? p.s. Thanks for stepping up Silva
Arteta needs to do something different. When a team is in a slump, doing the same thing over and over and over isn't how you get out of the slump. Try Trossard at ST. Try Zinchenko in MF if Partey is out. Because if we don't arrest this slump, forget 1st, forget 2nd, ManU and NewU will be breathing down our necks.
Not sure if anyone noticed, but Reiss was on the bench against City. I'd like to see him get some opportunities.
We look a bit tired, physically and mentally. I’m ready to see a little shake up. Rest Eddie and use Gabi or Leo centrally? Saka’s been playing well but we risk overusing him so maybe Vieira or Nelson? Alas Mikel will probs do none of this.
And once again, like Everton, like City, teams that wait for us to get drawn too high up the field absolutely murder us on a direct counter attack. Its becoming a very big problem.