Athletic Club Bilbao vs Arsenal, Estadio San Mames, Tuesday 16th September, KO 17:45 GMT

[HCZ_Reborn]

Thought I’d create this thread as noticed that they’d lost at home to Deportivo Alaves (not to be confused with Deportivo a Coruna). Not sure whether this or Clubbe Brugge will be our second hardest away game (probably this in fairness).
Apart from Nico Williams his older brother Inaki, and Aymeric Laporte I don’t really know any of their players. I know that they will only use players that come from the Basque region of Spain (Inaki was born in Bilbao even though he represents Ghana at international level)

Zubimendi, Merino and in the unlikely event that he features Odegaard are unlikely to get a warm welcome from the home side given they have all played for local rivals Real Sociedad (Arteta’s boyhood club).


Anyway 3-0 Joseba Exteberria hat-trick

[Letters]

Hmm. Tuesday. Not sure if that means it's on Prime? Don't they have the Tuesday games?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Hmm. Tuesday. Not sure if that means it's on Prime? Don't they have the Tuesday games?

Yeah but they are showing the Spurs game because it’s an 8pm KO

[Letters]

I saw they were showing the Spurs game. I thought they showed multiple games, no? :unsure:

EDIT: Just seen the kick off time :doh:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

They were the worst side we played pre-season so don't expect the game to offer up much.

We'll be ok, but I really hope we can see more synergy in the team and more progress so we'll be in the right mood to take on Citeh.

[Marc Overmars]

An awful United team beat them 7-1 over 2 legs, so I’d like to think that this game shouldn’t be a problem for us really.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nico Williams apparently is out.

They've had someone banned too I think but I can't remember who.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Nico Williams apparently is out.

They've had someone banned too I think but I can't remember who.

He offered very little when we played them earlier and TBH I'm glad he turned us down severally.

Anyway, with Mosquera, Zubi and Merino, I doubt there are any surprises they could spring on us.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Rice returns but not really evidence of rotation rather Arteta producing the same midfield stodgefest as at Anfield

Im going to be dead from an aneurysm before this guy fucks off

[KSE Comedy Club]

Should be a good 10-0 to us tonight.
Goku & Eze Hatters with Merino and Zubi chipping in.

I expect nothing less :oldboy:

[Mac76]

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Eze, Madueke, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Hincapie, Norgaard, Dowman, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard.

Still no start for MLS... really?!

anyway, 3-0 Berenguer hatter

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Eze, Madueke, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Hincapie, Norgaard, Dowman, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard.

Still no start for MLS... really?!

anyway, 3-0 Berenguer hatter

Why can't Arteta think outside the box??

I had a feeling he'd play 3 DMs, mainly cause his eye is on the Citeh game and he's never trusted Nwaneri.

But would it kill him to try Eze as a 10 and play Trossard on the left. FFS we're playing Citeh at home and we can't bore our fans to death with 3 DMs once again!!

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

It's a case of one step forward and 3 steps back!

It seems the only way to get joy back into this team is to actively hope some players get injured so Arteta is forced into loosening up and taking some risks!!

Its really annoying.

[Mac76]

But would it kill him to try Eze as a 10 and play Trossard on the left.

He clearly thinks such actions would be fatal, judging by the way he avoids them...

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don’t think it’s even being afraid, I think like Simon Cowell and women, it just doesn’t cross his mind

Or like the links between MMR and Autism, he just thinks of it as absurd.

This is a guy who is so utterly convinced of his own beliefs that he cannot conceive of alternatives

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

He clearly thinks such actions would be fatal, judging by the way he avoids them...

Whats annoying me is he's limiting his options for the Citeh game which is obviously more important.

We won't lose to this lot, I know that and the whole world does too.

Try and experiment now while you can, and don't fill us with the drivel that injuries limited your options so you couldn't play the way you like against Citeh as that's obviously not the case anymore!

[KSE Comedy Club]

I can’t stand this idiot!!!

3 fucking DM’s again :doh:

[Mac76]

dreadful ball from Gabriel there, set up a chance for Bilbao

[KSE Comedy Club]

He’s gonna kill these players, they are all spending too much time fucking defending

[Mac76]

Rice booked already

[HCZ_Reborn]

Mikel Jauregizar?? That just sounds like the Basque equivalent of Mick Jagger

[Mac76]

Corner to Bilbao, it's been nearly all Bilbao so far, but then with a defensive Arsenal lineup I guess you've got to expect that

[IBK]

Great from Timber and Noni...

[Mac76]

Gyok header, just wide

[KSE Comedy Club]

Gabby headbuts Goku :doh:

[Mac76]

Gyok got a real crack on the head there,quite a bit of blood...

[KSE Comedy Club]

Goku transforms into Terry butcher

[HCZ_Reborn]

Bilbao Baggins player trying to get Rice sent off

[KSE Comedy Club]

Lovely tackle from Eze

[KSE Comedy Club]

Why didn’t Timber just put the ball in the fucking box???

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT. :lol:

[Mac76]

Hmmm, not convincing, we're dangerous on the wings but the lack of direction and control in the middle of the park is palpable, Merino typically anonymous - Nwaneri on for the second half please

[HCZ_Reborn]

No reason why he shouldn’t have started (Nwaneri). If he wanted to bring Rice in fine but just bench either Merino or Zubimendi.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I must admit, I underated Bilbao a bit, they've been pretty resolute which makes me wonder how they allowed a pathetic Man U to get past them in the Europa last sesaon.

There isn't much to say about us. All I know is I will activey start campaigning for Arteta to get sacked if he persists with these 3 DMs thing when we have a variety of options.

I haven't seen one single benefit of having all 3 of them on the pitch today as Bilbao has run through us similarly like Liverpool did with us usually stoping them at our final third, as anyone who has watched could predict.

We do not dominate the center with all 3 of them and they add notting to the creativity we need to create let alone score.

Instead, all I notice when all 3 of them play is that it feels like we're brawling, and to make matters worse, were not really dominating them physically either.

The funny thing is if you watch Eze, he's already drifting all over the field (which I know is secretly pissing off Arteta), so it makes me wonder why a "world class" manager insists on not making players play to their natural strengths.

Like I've said severally, at heart Arteta remains the scared Rookie we interviewed all those years ago, showing he still doesn't have the life experience, or in this particular case, the courage to manage a club that insists on winning games and trophies.

[Mac76]

c'mon Arsenal

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gyokeres header wide.

[Mac76]

I haven't seen one single benefit of having all 3 of them on the pitch today as Bilbao has run through us similarly like Liverpool did with us usually stoping them at our final third, as anyone who has watched could predict.

We do not dominate the center with all 3 of them and they add notting to the creativity we need to create let alone score.

Instead, all I notice when all 3 of them play is that it feels like we're brawling, and to make matters worse, were not really dominating them physically either.


Yup :good:

[Letters]

c'mon Arsenal

:gp:

[HCZ_Reborn]

I must admit, I underated Bilbao a bit, they've been pretty resolute which makes me wonder how they allowed a pathetic Man U to get past them in the Europa last sesaon.

There isn't much to say about us. All I know is I will activey start campaigning for Arteta to get sacked if he persists with these 3 DMs thing when we have a variety of options.

I haven't seen one single benefit of having all 3 of them on the pitch today as Bilbao has run through us similarly like Liverpool did with us usually stoping them at our final third, as anyone who has watched could predict.

We do not dominate the center with all 3 of them and they add notting to the creativity we need to create let alone score.

Instead, all I notice when all 3 of them play is that it feels like we're brawling, and to make matters worse, were not really dominating them physically either.

The funny thing is if you watch Eze, he's already drifting all over the field (which I know is secretly pissing off Arteta), so it makes me wonder why a "world class" manager insists on not making players play to their natural strengths.

Like I've said severally, at heart Arteta remains the scared Rookie we interviewed all those years ago, showing he still doesn't have the life experience, or in this particular case, the courage to manage a club that insists on winning games and trophies.

We do really come at the age thing from very different perspectives, I think when it comes to coaches…the evidence is largely in the last 20 years or so, that coaches are at their best in their 40s. Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto at 41, Guardiola was 38 when he first won the treble with Barca. I think the older you are, the more likely you become stuck in your ways. Arteta has many flaws, but he really doesn’t lack for confidence. There might be an element of lack of trust in other players but that’s more about him being a control freak than being afraid.

So whilst I think Arteta is stubborn, single minded etc I don’t think it’s a result of being green behind the ears. As for life experience, he spent his playing career in Spain, France and the UK…so he’s been more than prepared to embrace different challenges.

[Mac76]

How does the Bilbao number 4 not get booked there?

[Mac76]

Madueke has already become our only idea of how to attack, getting the ball every time

[KSE Comedy Club]

Oh fuck off Arteta!!!!

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Arteta is an idiot.

Trossard should have been on ages ago.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Honestly I’m sick of this manager.

The front 3 have no support from midfield as they just sit back in a line, then he takes off Goku to play Merino in the 10 and Trossard up front.

The guy is fucking clueless

[KSE Comedy Club]

Arteta is an idiot.

Trossard should have been on ages ago.

Yeh for Merino or Rice

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Am I seeing things, or is Trossard actually playing as the striker??

[Mac76]

Honestly I’m sick of this manager.

The front 3 have no support from midfield as they just sit back in a line, then he takes off Goku to play Merino in the 10 and Trossard up front.

The guy is fucking clueless

tbf Gyok did have a knock and I don't really rate Trossard - or Martinelli - playing in the no. 9 position - it might as well be Merino if stops him ambling around the midfield

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Yeh for Merino or Rice

I thought he'd move Merino on top and play Eze through the middle....what sort of idiot do we have coaching this team??

[Mac76]

To still not bring Nwaneri on is a joke though

[McNamara That Ghost...]

MARTINELLI!!!

[Mac76]

Martinelliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I give up with this coach.

[Mac76]

nice work from Leo to get the ball to him

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strong benches. :bow:

[Mac76]

Cala took a big kick there, if MLS doesn't now come on, we know Arteta's put him in the reject bin

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mosquera's running back. :blink:

Blimey.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

TROSSARD!!!

[Mac76]

2-0 Leo!

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I really thought he wouldn't score after delaying the finish for so long!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Strong benches. :bow:

Seconded

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Athletic Club 0-2 The Arsenal, FT.

Fantastic.

Brilliant stuff.

[Mac76]

2-0 to Arsenal FT

Good win thanks to the subs, but had to save it after an underwhelming 70 minutes, he can't start that midfield three again

Also I don't know what's going on with MLS and Arteta but it looks like times in the past when he's frozen players out, maybe MLS has had too much to say in the dressing room

[HCZ_Reborn]

2-0 to Arsenal FT

Good win thanks to the subs, but had to save it after an underwhelming 70 minutes, he can't start that midfield three again

Also I don't know what's going on with MLS and Arteta but it looks like times in the past when he's frozen players out, maybe MLS has had too much to say in the dressing room

Maybe there’s a rota for who feeds Win and he forgot his turn :lol:

It’s a strange one though, I don’t think MLS had a particularly great pre-season and I generally think Calafiori is a better player going forward. But I do think he deserves more game time than he’s had.

[Marc Overmars]

Missed the game but that’s an excellent result. 3 points and a clean sheet away in Europe, perfect really.

Well done to Martinelli and Trossard, if they can play themselves into form from the bench then our depth will be incredible.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Missed the game but that’s an excellent result. 3 points and a clean sheet away in Europe, perfect really.

Well done to Martinelli and Trossard, if they can play themselves into form from the bench then our depth will be incredible.

When you do watch the game, skip the 1st half, in fact, skip the whole game and just watch the goals.

It was nothing more than a barn yard brawl where Arteta waited for them to get tired and brought on more muscle (though describing Trossard as muscle is quite a stretch).

After 6 years and endless heartache, it seems this will be the "sophisticated" tactic to win the treble.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I won’t lie, I do prefer Trossard’s Perving on Girls with his imaginary binoculars celebration to Gyokeres’ “Or perhaps he’s wondering why you’d shoot a man before throwing him out of a plane” celebration

Personal preference innit