Manchester City vs Arsenal [FA Cup] 27/01 8pm GMT (ITV1)

[The Wengerbabies]

Big test. With over a week before the next league game, we should go with a strong side.

[Mac76]

3-0 Haaland hatter against an Arsenal 'B' team

then we can focus on the league :)

[Marc Overmars]

Depends what team we put out but I do think this will be a defeat and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a heavy one either.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Depends what team we put out but I do think this will be a defeat and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a heavy one either.

Yeah I think we are mostly all reconciled to that.

No one likes a defeat, but there are defeats and Defeats

[IBK]

Yeah I think we are mostly all reconciled to that.

No one likes a defeat, but there are defeats and Defeats

This. A narrow defeat with no injuries is just fine with me. The main thing is not to be crushed psychologically before the league game...

[WMUG]

Going to this, so would quite like to not get battered.

A goal would be nice, too.

[Mac76]

The main thing is not to be crushed psychologically before the league game...

Which is why it needs to be a weakened team, so we have that as an excuse

I really hope Arteta sees sense on this one

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I absolutely loathe the idea going out of tournaments is something to be desired so a win pls.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I absolutely loathe the idea going out of tournaments is something to be desired so a win pls.
:gp: No excuses, we've even got time to rest...lets win this and keep the double alive.

But whatever happens...pls no replays!

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah I don’t agree with sacking it off completely but I would like to see certain players in the squad used. Last season we suffered at the end because no one was given the chance to step up and we can’t make that mistake again, with the stakes even higher now.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Respectfully disagree, what I’m reading is that Elneny could be out for the rest of the season and if you think City players wouldn’t target Partey in light of that I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t care if we get humiliated, No Saka, No Partey, No Martinelli, No Odegaard, No Saliba, No Gabriel, No White tomorrow.

[Niall_Quinn]

3-0 Haaland hatter against an Arsenal 'B' team

then we can focus on the league :)

???

Why bother focusing on the league if you can't stand up a performance against the team who will be the major rival in that league? If this is a serious turnaround for the club, and fans GENUINELY believe it, what difference does the the tournament make? The opposition is there to be beaten, regardless.

I'd be extremely worried for the league if the results ends up 3-0. If I was still into it. The reverse if the team puts in a decent performance and beats the gypos, having beaten 3 other rivals in recent weeks.

Sounds like you don't believe in Christmas but still want your presents.

[HCZ_Reborn]

This isn’t something new, teams have always prioritised one competition over another. If you go back 30 years it was clear it was the reverse and we played our strongest team in the cups and for any league fixture that ended up being re-scheduled and played midweek it was a case of putting out a weakened team.

Three years ago, Liverpool were much further ahead in terms of points than us and ditched the cup competitions.

If we had the strength in depth City have, it would be totally worth going toe to toe with them but we don’t. The one thing I like is that it feels to a degree that we are trying to get that strength in depth but when we literally have no cover for Thomas Partey to risk throwing away everything we’ve done this season on a one off cup tie is fucking nuts.

[Letters]

Respectfully disagree, what I’m reading is that Elneny could be out for the rest of the season and if you think City players wouldn’t target Partey in light of that I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t care if we get humiliated, No Saka, No Partey, No Martinelli, No Odegaard, No Saliba, No Gabriel, No White tomorrow.

I don't think we should go too weak but I'd be happy of one or two of the above start on the bench. We don't want to lose momentum or get hammered.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don't think we should go too weak but I'd be happy of one or two of the above start on the bench. We don't want to lose momentum or get hammered.

We could play our full strength side and get hammered there’s no guarantee

Plus as I’ve said, if I was a coach in second place and the team in front of me was five points ahead with a game in hand. And I was hosting that side in the cup, I absolutely would tell my players to target their key midfield man….nothing outrageous like flying tackles, two footed challenges but just kicks and niggles and trips..something that could cause an injury.

Playing Partey is just not worth it, and without Partey we lack a DM completely with Elneny currently injured so that would leave us vulnerable. I don’t think even a heavy loss would affect our league momentum. We lost by two goals at home to Brighton in the league cup and three days later we comfortably won away at Wolves.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City: Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Ake; Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Grealish, Mahrez, Haaland.
Subs: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Phillips, Cancelo, Laporte, Alvarez, Silva, Palmer.

Arsenal: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Vieira, Trossard, Saka, Nketiah.
Subs: Ramsdale, White, Zinchenko, Saliba, Kiwior, Lokonga, Odegaard, Marquinhos, Martinelli.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Vieira, Trossard, Saka, Nketiah.

Oh for fuck sake. Arteta going back to spastic mode

So you play Partey when you have no other backup for central midfield (either use Zinchenko or Lokonga…sorry this fixture should be a write off) and you spend almost twenty million on a centre back and play fucking Holding

Absolute and complete prick

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not our strongest XI but not throwing it really.

[Marc Overmars]

Don’t mind that team tbh.

Would rather Partey didn’t start but considering the level would drop off a cliff I suppose we still want to maintain a chance of winning the game.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Not our strongest XI but not throwing it really.

Oh we are…by playing Holding against Haaland we are bending over backwards, dropped our trousers and underwear and pre applied the vaseline

It’s the worst of both worlds. Playing a hopeless centre back and risking our most important player to injury. Absolutely moronic

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Thought ESR would feature.

Injured again? :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

ITV's programme is on now. :popcorn:

[Mac76]

Oh we are…by playing Holding against Haaland we are bending over backwards, dropped our trousers and underwear and pre applied the vaseline

It’s the worst of both worlds. Playing a hopeless centre back and risking our most important player to injury. Absolutely moronic

Agree with that, Holding is suicide and that means we shouldn't be playing Partey nut with Elneny injured maybe that swung it

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City players surrounding the ref. Fine incoming?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great effort from Tomiyasu!

[Marc Overmars]

Holding. :haha:

Felt Haaland behind him and shat the bed. Doesn’t bode well.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Tomiyasu.

Holding. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trossard is quite fast.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trossard draws a save!

[GP]

Trossard is really good.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I like Turner a lot.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Some strike from De Bruyne but goes wide, not by much though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Haaland getting beaten up by Holding. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trossard. :bow:

Unlucky Eddie.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What was Tierney thinking? :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

There’s no way Holding is coming through this unscathed. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Is Stones broken?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The answer is yes.

Laporte will come on for Stones, eventually.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT.

Not much quality about really. :lol:

[Mac76]

We need to sub Holding at HT, he'll never make it through the second half

[GP]

Created the better chances 1st half.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

The bogeyman doesn't look that scary eh.

We've had the better chances but both teams haven't been great.

I don't know what we've done to stop Debruyne playing but its been genius.

IMO our squad players have performed below average.

Holding needs to come off now and thank God we can use the yellow card as an excuse.

I think at this moment I'd take Odegaard coming in for Viera.

Both Trossard and Turner are the exceptions as they have done pretty well so far.

We could really win this game if we do the right subs or Citeh make a howler.

So far, I'm proud of their effort.

But please, please....no replays!

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Created the better chances 1st half.

Yup totally agree with this

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saliba and Lokonga coming on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Turner. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mahrez off, Alvarez on.

Lewis off, Walker on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Vieira skews it wide, had so much time.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 Ake.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Zinchenko and Martinelli on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nearly Nketiah!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Odegaard on for Saka.

Bernardo Silva on for De Bruyne.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-0 FT. Out we go.

[Marc Overmars]

FT 1-0

Not a bad effort but the expected defeat.

On we go, to more important things. Don’t think we have anything to fear when they come next month.

[Mac76]

Totally fine with that, a close game and not our first team

Let's hope Citeh get Man U in the next round

[HCZ_Reborn]

FT 1-0

Not a bad effort but the expected defeat.

On we go, to more important things. Don’t think we have anything to fear when they come next month.

Yep

It’s weird not even feeling slightly disappointed.

But nothing to feel disappointed at, even a game you could tell the players weren’t 100% focused on winning no one really let themselves down…no injuries to our players.

I think the only disappointment is the FA cup has been a special competition for us, but have to prioritise

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

FT 1-0

Not a bad effort but the expected defeat.

On we go, to more important things. Don’t think we have anything to fear when they come next month.

A real shame, taking off Partey and not bringing on Zinchenko to keep up our passing rhythm sealed our fate.

On to the next one like you said.

[Marc Overmars]

Lokonga is really shit. Hopefully he’s sold in the summer.

No wonder we’re after Caicedo.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Lokonga is really shit. Hopefully he’s sold in the summer.

No wonder we’re after Caicedo.

He’s terrible…definitely needs to go

[Xhaka Can’t]

A bit of a snoozer.

We’ve learned however, that we’ve not much to fear from City.

[Mac76]

He’s terrible…definitely needs to go

I thought Lokonga was reasonably tidy, but agree we could sell, along with Holding who is not up to it I'm afraid. Just hope Partey wasn't subbed at HT because of injury

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I thought Lokonga was reasonably tidy, but agree we could sell, along with Holding who is not up to it I'm afraid. Just hope Partey wasn't subbed at HT because of injury

Yeah he got tidy, but that only occured immediately City scored and stopped the press.

Try and watch the 2nd half again, he absolutely does nothing when City were in possession ....at a point I stopped watching the game and just tracked his movement, he just kept marking space and seemed not to know where to stand when their was danager and we we were not in possession. When he did get the ball in our half and Citeh activated their press, he seemed petrified, couldn't create space for himself nor turn when facing our goal (this in particular really upset me).

But then Citeh scores and stops the press and we see a whole different Sambi getting involved in our play.

This game has made me clearly see that Partey and Zinchenko's incisive way of beating the press and passing it out, is the engine to all what we've been getting right this season. Switch it off and we are toothless, especially when playing from the back.