Man United vs Arsenal 09.03.2025 - KO 16:30 GMT

The first thing that comes to mind is that this is a fixture that’s been given a billing that it really doesn’t in all truth deserve, I actually think our game against Forest was a bigger game than this. The other thought is that we are both in the same boat in regards to struggling to score goals. We have no strikers and the only competent striker they had was sent on loan to Villa for being a naughty boy.

I fear that games like PSV lull us into a false sense of security, my Arsenal supporting mate who hates Arteta where as I only dislike him was saying to me that the reason we couldn’t score against West Ham and Forest was because we weren’t ambitious enough in terms of pushing up (i don’t think we did push up any higher against PSV than those teams, I just think there was less protection for their back four). I have come into conflict with people here because I do not believe there was anything we could have done to score goals other than some fluke shot that deflected in. Whilst the system we play slows things down and allows teams time to get back into position, I think ultimately as I say it’s shuffling deckchairs on the titanic and I’m not sure we are capable of drastically changing the way we play in any event.

Ultimately PSV for our first three goals were able to get back into defensive shape, but they were too inept to cut out rudimentary crosses, passes or even clear their lines. I would expect better from a non league team let alone one in the premier league. Would love to be wrong, but I do not expect goals in premier league games before Saka’s return and therefore the object has to be not to give away silly goals.

Have no doubt that United will just stubbornly sit in a low block and look to catch us when we’re high up the pitch.

I don’t know and I don’t really care for this fixture, guessing 0-0 or maybe a narrow defeat for us.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Have no doubt that United will just stubbornly sit in a low block and look to catch us when we’re high up the pitch.

I don’t know and I don’t really care for this fixture, guessing 0-0 or maybe a narrow defeat for us.

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I know they beat us in the FAC and I didn't see most of that game, but from what I heard that was a bit of a fluke and in general I'm not sure they're good enough to get away with a low block, in any case surely at home to a traditional rival they will have to come out a bit, or maybe that's just naive on my part?

If they do try to be a bit more positive, then if we can play like we did against PSV, against that Man U defence I'd be disappointed if we couldn't find the back of their net once or twice.

But we need to allow for a soft pel ofc, which Fernandes will put away, plus Garnacho is very dangerous so White/Timber will need to watch him closely

But as long as we don't see Zin versus Amad we might be ok

But still, 3-0 Fernandes ;)

I hope we win, tbh.


I'm expecting it to be a slog.

Chido Obi-Martin could start apparently.

Would be quite galling if he were to make an impact.

1-3 I reckon.

It’s also Arteta’s 200th league game in charge of Arsenal

Of the previous 199

We’ve won 118

Drawn 36

Lost 45


At Home

Won 65 drawn 17 lost 17


Away from Home

Won 53 drawn 19 lost 28

Goals scored : 378 (1.9 per game)

Goals conceded : 201 (1.01 per game)


Clean sheets: 76 (38.2%)

Calafiori in for Lewis Skelly as the only change from midweek

Another interesting stat is that we’ve underperformed our XG slightly this season (this surprises me as I often think we don’t create enough)

But our average XG this season is 2.07

And our average goals per game is 1.88

Bit different to last season where our average XG was 2.22

And our average goals per game was 2.39

Oh also Martinelli is on the bench