Citeh v The Arsenal, Sunday 31 March, 16.30 GMT

[Mac76]

I do think this is a likely title decider in the sense that if we lose it will not just lose us the lead but reinforce that we can't beat our direct rivals away from home

I think we need to win this to have a real chance at the title because we have so many tricky fixtures in April that we're bound to drop points elsewhere.

Starting Zin in this game would be suicide so it has to be Kiwior and we should also start with Jorg, with Rice in his more forward role.

Assuming Martinelli is fit I'd start with Havertz up front and keep Trossard back to bring on later on.

So:

Raya

BennyWhiteWhiteWhite Salibaaaa! Gabriel Kiwior

Jorginhooooooo

MartinOdegaardOiOiOi RiceRiceBaby

BukayoooooSaka KaiHavertzScoresAgain Martinelli


...but it will still be 3-0 Haaland hatter :(

[The Wengerbabies]

Must win.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don’t think this we need to prove we can beat our rivals away from home stuff has much merit

Guardiola has won five league titles but has won only once against Liverpool at Anfield in eight seasons, losing four times

Klopp’s only league win at City was in 2015 when Manuel Pellegrini was in charge of City


But for me it’s academic anyway, in my opinion we aren’t going to win the title not whilst Arteta is here.


We’ve lost the last seven times at the Etihad in the league and under Arteta we’ve lost five out of five games there in all competitions…scoring only once in that time.

It seems a bit fanciful in the least talking about this as a must win game


A draw would be a result better than we could hope for, but I don’t think we will get that either

City 2-1 Arsenal

[Mac76]

I don't think you can put it on Arteta except in terms of his inexperience, I think he's working through his faults although a big test is whether, now Zin appears to be fit again, he recognises Kiwior is our first choice LB now

I don't think we'll win anything this season, but lose at Citeh and it's all over, win and at least we make more of a fight of it this time

Plus while I get your Citeh/Liverpool point we need to make a real statememt and give the team real belief

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-2 Arsenal tbf.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don't think you can put it on Arteta except in terms of his inexperience, I think he's working through his faults although a big test is whether, now Zin appears to be fit again, he recognises Kiwior is our first choice LB now

I don't think we'll win anything this season, but lose at Citeh and it's all over, win and at least we make more of a fight of it this time

Plus while I get your Citeh/Liverpool point we need to make a real statememt and give the team real belief

Kiwior isn’t our first choice left back, primarily because he isn’t a left back

If we were to play anyone at left back I’d prefer it be Tomiyasu. Long term i suspect the first choice will be Jurrien Timber

I agree I wouldn’t start Zinchenko in this game as it we will have to play far more defensively, but he will have a part to play despite your unhealthy fixation on him, in games where we need someone who links better with the attacking players and is one of the best passer on the ball in the team along with probably Jorginho


Arteta is not a good coach, he’s at best a mediocre one who has benefited from a very generous transfer outlay and even then he’s wasted so much of that money on luxury signings and in areas we didn’t need. The lack of money from player sales is definitely at least partly his fault.


He’s very good tactically and he would be an excellent asset to any coaching set up, but he lacks the type of personality where he can overcome the fact that players don’t really respect him because of his average playing career.

You see the interviews and it’s all about how impressed they are with his tactics and the different way they do things, there’s no real liking of him as a person.

[Mac76]

Well obvs I meant Kiwior is the best of those available :rolleyes: although tbh I think he now gives Tomi a run for his money

but in any case Tomi won't be sufficiently up to speed to play this one I'd have thought, plus why disrupt the rhythm of a team that is playing well?

Oh and Zin's passing is generally mediocre and frequently appalling, he maybe plays a useful ball once or twice a game

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well obvs I meant Kiwior is the best of those available :rolleyes: although tbh I think he now gives Tomi a run for his money

but in any case Tomi won't be sufficiently up to speed to play this one I'd have thought, plus why disrupt the rhythm of a team that is playing well?

Oh and Zin's passing is generally mediocre and frequently appalling, he maybe plays a useful ball once or twice a game

It really isn’t, the main problem with Zinchenko is he dithers too much on the ball. Players like Kiwior are better at tackling and interceptions than Zinchenko. Zinchenko’s overlap with players like Martinelli means we have more attacking verve on the left hand side rather than it always ending on the right side with defenders doubling up on Saka.

[Mac76]

It really isn’t, the main problem with Zinchenko is he dithers too much on the ball. Players like Kiwior are better at tackling and interceptions than Zinchenko. Zinchenko’s overlap with players like Martinelli means we have more attacking verve on the left hand side rather than it always ending on the right side with defenders doubling up on Saka.

That may be the theory but it isn't the practice

Yes I forgot his dawdling on the ball which has or nearly has cost us a goal in most games

[HCZ_Reborn]

That may be the theory but it isn't the practice

Yes I forgot his dawdling on the ball which has or nearly has cost us a goal in most games

No it is the practice, you just refuse to see it. Just like when you refused to acknowledge our set piece variation had been good for most of the season.

[Marc Overmars]

We’re clearly in a much better frame of mind than when we had this fixture last year but this still remains our Everest.

Hopeful of a result but we’ve all been around the block long enough to know this could be a terrible day at the office too.

[Mac76]

No it is the practice, you just refuse to see it. Just like when you refused to acknowledge our set piece variation had been good for most of the season.

That's because it hadn't been...

[HCZ_Reborn]

That's because it hadn't been...

The stats clearly tell a different story, and a clearer and accurate one then what you claim to have seen with your own eyes

I could see for myself that for the first half of the season we were effective from set pieces when trying to deal with sides playing a deep block

[dostoy]

If Arsenal are going to win the PL then this game especially at this stage of the season, is a must win.

If Arsenal are at full strength and Man City have a few injuries then it might be a draw, otherwise Man City will win.

I would like it if I was wrong.

[Mac76]

If Arsenal are going to win the PL then this game especially at this stage of the season, is a must win.

If Arsenal are at full strength and Man City have a few injuries then it might be a draw, otherwise Man City will win.

I would like it if I was wrong.

It looks like we could possibly be missing Gabriel, Saka and Martinelli, if we get Tomi back he could play CB or LB (with Kiwior at CB if the latter), but missing both our first-choice wingers would be a big problem

[HCZ_Reborn]

It looks like we could possibly be missing Gabriel, Saka and Martinelli, if we get Tomi back he could play CB or LB (with Kiwior at CB if the latter), but missing both our first-choice wingers would be a big problem

Even if Saka was dead he would start as an animated cadaver

Martinelli didn’t expect to start, think he will be on bench

Gabriel? Not sure

[Marc Overmars]

Losing Gabriel would be a terrible blow but I think even if he’s got a little issue I can’t see him missing out. The partnership with Saliba is too valuable to lose for a game like this.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Saka with the Arsenal squad, don’t know about Gabriel Martinelli or Gabriel Magahat


Update - Gabriel Martinelli is in the squad

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They all are I thought.

[HCZ_Reborn]

They all are I thought.

I think you’re right (I certainly hope you are)

[HCZ_Reborn]

Hearing that Jesus is starting? Wide left

[The Wengerbabies]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKAXAsZXgAACVn3?format=jpg&name=large

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City: Ortega, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, De Bruyne , Bernardo, Foden, Haaland
Subs: Carson, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis.

Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus, Havertz.
Subs: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Martinelli, Nketiah.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Ortega, Gvardiol, Akanji, Diaz, Ake, Kovacic, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Eight centrebacks on the pitch. :bow:

[Mac76]

Under the circumstances that's a good starting 11 for us, Martinelli is a big miss but Jesus probanly the right option with Trossard to give us a good option off the bench

[HCZ_Reborn]

Under the circumstances that's a good starting 11 for us, Martinelli is a big miss but Jesus probanly the right option with Trossard to give us a good option off the bench

They are both on the bench (Martinelli and Trossard) but in terms of pace, I agree it makes sense starting with Jesus

[McNamara That Ghost...]

None of that being friends in the tunnel shit for this one please.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

There's loads of it. :lol:

[Mac76]

They are both on the bench (Martinelli and Trossard) but in terms of pace, I agree it makes sense starting with Jesus

It'll be because Martinelli's not fit to play the full 90

[Mac76]

COYG! :scarf:

[HCZ_Reborn]

It'll be because Martinelli's not fit to play the full 90

I think we are talking at cross purposes. I assumed you were saying Trossard could be brought on to replace Jesus but I’m saying well Martinelli is on the bench as well. He’s not played in almost a month so agree not fully fit

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jesus scuffer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rocky. :bow:

[Mac76]

I think we are talking at cross purposes. I assumed you were saying Trossard could be brought on to replace Jesus but I’m saying well Martinelli is on the bench as well. He’s not played in almost a month so agree not fully fit

I didn't say Trossard would replace Jesus necessarily, he can also play at 9 or elsewhere

[Mac76]

We just can't keep the ball atm

[Marc Overmars]

We just can't keep the ball atm

As expected.

We’re playing the only team in the league that we’ll have to expect long periods without the ball.

[Mac76]

Why TF is Jesus marking Haaland when Citeh get a corner?!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Big chance for Ake.

[Mac76]

As expected.

We’re playing the only team in the league that we’ll have to expect long periods without the ball.

We're giving it away a lot though

[Mac76]

Saka puts the ball neatly into Ortega's hands from a corner

[Mac76]

Guardiola just walks away from his assistant while he's ranting on :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

This is torturous not having the ball. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ake off injured, Lewis on.

[Marc Overmars]

Ake off injured.

Pretty much a second string back line for City. Would be a huge shame if we can’t pluck out a result.

[Mac76]

Jesus wide again

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jesus drags wide.

[Mac76]

Raya messing about

[Mac76]

We're trying to walk the ball in ffs

[Marc Overmars]

Raya’s kicking has been dreadful

[Mac76]

Raya’s kicking has been dreadful

We've generally been poor, it's hard not to conclude that we freeze in these games

[Mac76]

Jesus keeps drifting in, we've no width on the left

[HCZ_Reborn]

We've generally been poor, it's hard not to conclude that we freeze in these games

Maybe but City not exactly been that great either, a lot of probing

[Mac76]

Awful first half but we're still in it anyway

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT.

Absolute shitfest. I am totally fine with that.

[Marc Overmars]

We’re not a counter attacking team so it’s hard to see where a goal is going to come from unless City get sloppy and we begin to press.

But 0-0 at HT is fine.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Awful first half but we're still in it anyway

I think it’s been awful for both sides, City have controlled possession which is what you’d expect but Ake aside have created very little

It’s concerning because they are more clinical than us and we are prone to losing a moments discipline and conceding sloppy goals. Like against Porto. But despite all this Gary Neville bluster, even with Liverpool winning today I don’t think we need to win.

[HCZ_Reborn]

0-0 HT.

Absolute shitfest. I am totally fine with that.

:gp:

[HCZ_Reborn]

We’re not a counter attacking team so it’s hard to see where a goal is going to come from unless City get sloppy and we begin to press.

But 0-0 at HT is fine.

For me it’s weird. Not saying at all that we should be a counter attacking team but in games like this, we absolutely have the players in order to play on the break.

Jesus is doing the thing Martinelli does which irritates me by cutting inside. Though I’ll give him some leeway as he isn’t a wide player, he got played wide for city but always came inside for them

[Mac76]

Actually Martinelli generally stays wide, he only cuts inside when he has the ball, without the width he gives us we're not so dangerous from that side, some of Kiwior's forward passes have been poor, but in his defence he's not much to aim for without Martinelli there

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Just wide from Kovacic.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Actually Martinelli generally stays wide, he only cuts inside when he has the ball, without the width he gives us we're not so dangerous from that side, some of Kiwior's forward passes have been poor, but in his defence he's not much to aim for without Martinelli there

But that’s what I’m talking about. Martinelli cutting inside in possession…drives me up the wall

[Mac76]

Jorg :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Close for Jesus.

[Mac76]

We need to make changes soon, Martinelli if fit or Trossard for Jesus, he can't hit a barn door today

[Marc Overmars]

The forwards need to be pressing more. We’re giving them too much time to play through the lines.

Can’t just rely on Rice and the back 4 staying strong because the amount of the ball City have the outcome is probably inevitable.

[Mac76]

Get up Grealish you diving c***

[Mac76]

Tomi and Partey coming on ...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jorginho off, Partey on.

Kiwior off, Tomiyasu on.

[Mac76]

We're playing for the draw by the looks of it

[Mac76]

Jesus gets a stupid yellow for obvious timewasting :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jesus booked.

[Mac76]

All over the place in our box

[Mac76]

Leo coming on

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jesus off, Trossard on.

[Mac76]

Total shite corner from Rice

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka off, Martinelli on.

[Mac76]

Raya booled for timewasting, this is such a shite performance

[Mac76]

Another shite corner from Rice, we can't afford not to create decent chances from corners FFS

[dostoy]

It's not a shit performance. Look who they are playing and away from home.

There is no doubt though that both teams don't want to lose more than they want to win.

[Mac76]

It's not Citeh's fault if we constantly misplace passes and mess up our own set pieces though is it?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 FT. On we go.

[Mac76]

Decent draw given we played like a mid-table pub team at times

[Mac76]

For the most part we were very good defensively though

[Marc Overmars]

Satisfied with that. Don’t think we ever really set out to win the game but we shut them down just like we did in the home game too. The perks of having a solid defence, I don’t think many teams have clean sheets home and away against City tbf.

4 points taken off Liverpool and City. We’ve done our hardest work, now it’s just about composure and focus. One game at a time. Come on you Gunners!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Decent draw given we played like a mid-table pub team at times

I think the result was more important than the performance.

It’s possible that if we had a top striker we could have won. But mid table pubbing or not, this is markedly different to the game last season which was shameful. You know I have my differences with Arteta but I think he got it right today, safety first. This is a side that’s not lost at home since 2022.

As the Other Mac said, we go on

[HCZ_Reborn]

Satisfied with that. Don’t think we ever really set out to win the game but we shut them down just like we did in the home game too. The perks of having a solid defence, I don’t think many teams have clean sheets home and away against City tbf.

4 points taken off Liverpool and City. We’ve done our hardest work, now it’s just about composure and focus. One game at a time. Come on you Gunners!

:gp:

[dostoy]

It's not like playing Sheffield Utd, you have to adapt.

Man City had a lot more possession but that's to be expected.

A very good point I think although City were weakened slightly but still very difficult to beat.

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's not like playing Sheffield Utd, you have to adapt.

Man City had a lot more possession but that's to be expected.

A very good point I think although City were weakened slightly but still very difficult to beat.

Weakened in defence, but they had the players in midfield and up front to really hurt us and they didn’t

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gabriel and Saliba are absolute monsters.

Held everyone off to allow other players, like Odegaard to receive it off them.

[Mac76]

I think the result was more important than the performance.

It’s possible that if we had a top striker we could have won. But mid table pubbing or not, this is markedly different to the game last season which was shameful. You know I have my differences with Arteta but I think he got it right today, safety first. This is a side that’s not lost at home since 2022.

As the Other Mac said, we go on

Yes i think Arteta was safety first which is fine, especially as we couldn't get our rhythm going forward

Don't think Saka is fully fit btw, I'd very much hope he's rested for the Luton game

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yes i think Arteta was safety first which is fine, especially as we couldn't get our rhythm going forward

Don't think Saka is fully fit btw, I'd very much hope he's rested for the Luton game

Who would you play there? Vieira?

[Mac76]

Possibly, he can play well in that position

[HCZ_Reborn]

Possibly, he can play well in that position

Yeah it’s not a bad shout, weird centre of gravity for me. But actually if we can get more out of him in that position would save us money in the summer

[The Wengerbabies]

An utterly drab game.

Okay result.

[Niall_Quinn]

Reckon it'l be 0-0

[Niall_Quinn]

Reckon it'l be 0-0

Me :bow: