Crystal Palace vs Arsenal 21.12.2024 - KO 17:30 GMT

[HCZ_Reborn]

This is really a no ifs, ands or buts must win. Stop worrying about controlling the game and worry about winning it. They are solid defensively, have the ability to cause problems coming forward in attack and they are in good form

The last two games at Selhurst Park have been wins that were hard fought, chances were at a premium so we will have to make sure we take the chances we create. I would rather play Odegaard and Nwaneri, or failing that two up front than two holding midfielders, would be better to get into a lead and then look to hold onto what we have (which we are more than capable of)

Realistically we need to not only win but hope Spurs are capable of beating Liverpool. On one hand Spurs are a car crash defensively, on the other hand Liverpool have conceded 7 goals in their last 4 games.

Also would help if that awful Everton side continued their trend of beating Chelsea who have become quite the irritant.

[Letters]

I hope we win, tbh.

We really have to. I know you produced the "in all competitions" stats and they were, surprisingly, comparable to last year. But that must be in part because of a better record in Europe. We are well down on points compared with where we were last season. We cannot keep slipping up if we're serious about a title challenge. We have to put a run of wins together, starting here.

[Mac76]

3-0 Eze hatter

I do feel like Palace, especailly away, are a bit of a banana skin for us but obvs no room for slips now, must win etc

[Marc Overmars]

1-1

[HCZ_Reborn]

I hope we win, tbh.

We really have to. I know you produced the "in all competitions" stats and they were, surprisingly, comparable to last year. But that must be in part because of a better record in Europe. We are well down on points compared with where we were last season. We cannot keep slipping up if we're serious about a title challenge. We have to put a run of wins together, starting here.


No it’s not Europe, 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in both


It’s more the league cup, where as last season we’d played twice lost one and won one. And rather than the third fixture we had this season, there was the charity shield (which we won on pels but was technically a draw)

But even if you take the league, we are six points worse off but there isn’t a great deal of difference. I think as I say we lucked out more often with last minute goals but aren’t demonstrably worse than first half of last season….a) we weren’t great then either b) I think on balance we had harder fixtures this season

[HCZ_Reborn]

Anyway, team id pick for tomorrow

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Nwaneri, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz, Saka

Subs

Jesus, Trossard, Partey, Sterling, Jorginho, Merino, Kiwior, Tierney, Neto

[Letters]

But even if you take the league, we are six points worse off but there isn’t a great deal of difference. I think as I say we lucked out more often with last minute goals but aren’t demonstrably worse than first half of last season….a) we weren’t great then either b) I think on balance we had harder fixtures this season
Interesting. We’re not as much worse off than I would have guessed and we definitely have had harder fixtures. We have dropped silly points but we did in the first half of last season too. Hmm. Need to start winning soon now though

[The Wengerbabies]

Must win

[HCZ_Reborn]

Team to play Palace: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Odegaard, Havertz, Martinelli, Jesus, Saka

[HCZ_Reborn]

Calafiori on the bench, along with Rice


Not mad keen on this lineup because it seems to suggest Havertz playing at 8 (hopefully I’m wrong)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Team to play Palace: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Odegaard, Havertz, Martinelli, Jesus, Saka

Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Kamada, Sarr, Mateta
Subs: Turner, Ward, Nketiah, SChlupp, Chalobah, Doucoure, Devenny, Kporha, Agbinone

Arsenal subs: Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Havertz in midfield nonsense again.

[HCZ_Reborn]

So did a quick check about our record of coming from behind to win away games (our seeming inability to do so bothers me, but equally as I said it’s a record that pre-dates Arteta even)

So of the current 19 other teams in the premier league we have never come from behind to win (on the road) against Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham, Brentford, Palace, Wolves, Newcastle, Man United or Ipswich when conceding the first goal (in the premier league)


Of course a bit of a misleading stat as many of these teams haven’t been in the premier league the length of time we have, and in many games the goals they do score are consolation goals after having the shit kicked out of them.


But for me it highlights the importance of not conceding first

[HCZ_Reborn]

Havertz in midfield nonsense again.

I feared as much

Arteta will change the lineup but he won’t change the one thing that needs to be changed…the system


Today why not go bold and play two up front (in such a situation you’d want Rice sitting in front of the back four rather than Partey). The one thing that’s almost guaranteed with Havertz at 8, is not being quick getting forward and Martinelli being isolated again

[Mac76]

How do we know he won't play two up front?

It could be this:

Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel MLS
Partey
Odegaard
Saka Martinelli
Havertz Jesus

Btw if Rice isn't playing in this he must be in a bit of didficulty still, more than they're saying

[HCZ_Reborn]

How do we know he won't play two up front?

It could be this:

Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel MLS
Partey
Odegaard
Saka Martinelli
Havertz Jesus

The fact that there’s precedence for Havertz playing at 8, and there isn’t for Arteta changing up his beloved system

Don’t get me wrong, I’d love it if we did (although as I’ve said I think Rice would have been better starting than Partey in this instance) but Arteta strikes me as too much of a control freak to let go and change things up so drastically in the middle of the season (especially when only a week ago he refused to bring on any extra attackers against Everton and made like for like subs)

[Mac76]

Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

JESUS!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Stunning assist from Gabriel.

[Mac76]

too casual from Saka and Ode there

[Mac76]

LaCroix's scoring there is he's on target

[Mac76]

Then Arsenal nearly do a Southampton

sort it out lads

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 Sarr

[Mac76]

1-1 ffs - we're all over the place defensively - why can't we get defence and attack right both in the same game?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

JESUS WHAT THE FUCK!!

[Mac76]

Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :haha: :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

We’re so tame at the back now.

[Marc Overmars]

Jesus at Christmas. :bow:

[Mac76]

Raya saves point-blank but we're getting into such a mess at the back it's unreal

[HCZ_Reborn]

Looks to me, the problem is Partey…we need Rice in there giving the back four protection

[Mac76]

Doesn't look good for Saka

[Marc Overmars]

Saka hamstring? :rose:

This season is a bit of a disaster on the injury front.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Let’s not pretend we haven’t been playing Russian Roulette with Saka’s fitness for some time

[Mac76]

Why the hell is MLS marking Mateta in the box, he's a foot and a half shorter than him

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jesus has become Romario again all of a sudden.

[Mac76]

Timber booked for taking an age over a throw again, idiot

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gabriel header on to the bar!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

HAVERTZ!!!

[Mac76]

1-3 Havertz!!!

[Mac76]

Jesus assist :lol:

[Mac76]

Martinelli shoved over in the box but ofc it's not a pel because it's Arsenal

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-3 HT.

Strange game. :lol:

[Mac76]

1-3 HT

Good at times going forward, but awful at the back

[HCZ_Reborn]

1-3 HT

Good at times going forward, but awful at the back

As you (or someone) said, it would be nice to get the balance right

I think with a two goal cushion it might be an idea to take off someone like Havertz and bring Rice on. Leave Jesus on to exploit any potential space on the break

[McNamara That Ghost...]

More likely Rice comes on for Timber as he is on a yellow and Partey to RB again for a shambles. :bow:

[Mac76]

a shambles once again at the back, wtf

[Mac76]

I'll say it again, MLS marking Mateta in the box is ludicrous

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Double save from Raya!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Havertz and Lewis-Skelly off, Calafiori and Rice on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

MARTINELLI!!!

[Mac76]

1-4 Martinelli!!

so nearly a Jesus hatter though

[Mac76]

Eddie on to save the day for Palace

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It'll be quite bizarre if this is the game we give out an almighty hammering.

Haven't been all that impressive really. :lol:

[Mac76]

It'll be quite bizarre if this is the game we give out an almighty hammering.

Haven't been all that impressive really. :lol:

In a way it proves the point a lot of people have been making, i.e. you need another goalscorer to help you win even on the not-so-good days - if Jesus can keep this up than great, although I fear it's come at the wrong time as it will deter us from seeking more attacking threat in the January window

[HCZ_Reborn]

In a way it proves the point a lot of people have been making, i.e. you need another goalscorer to help you win even on the not-so-good days - if Jesus can keep this up than great, although I fear it's come at the wrong time as it will deter us from seeking more attacking threat in the January window

Yeah I must admit it’s a mixed blessing :lol:

One of the few mates I have who actually supports Arsenal (as opposed to Spurs, West Ham or in most cases not interested in football) states that we have no strikers at the club. Technically he’s right, neither Jesus or Havertz are out and out centre forwards.

[Mac76]

Auba got red for a tackle like that Clyne one

[HCZ_Reborn]

Absolutely cynical. What’s the need for a challenge like that at 4-1 down especially. Spiteful

[McNamara That Ghost...]

RICE!!!!

[Mac76]

Rice!!! what a strike

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Is Rice calling for the GTS?

[HCZ_Reborn]

He’s put the game to bed….cheeky sod :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Palace 1-5 Arsenal, FT. :bow:

[Mac76]

Could have been very different given how bad we were defensively at times but good going forward - i'll take it ;)

[Marc Overmars]

Fantastic win and great to see goals from the forwards too.

[Niall_Quinn]

Auba got red for a tackle like that Clyne one

Oh what? Are they making up the rules on a week by week basis again? No change there then.