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There needs to be changes brought in for this game
Havertz coming in for Trossard will be automatic, and I have to say actually I think we missed the way he holds up the ball.
Martinelli needs to be dropped. One of my favourite players but he’s been awful for ages. Nelson or Smith Rowe deserve a start.
I’d drop Odegaard as well.
Team
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Havertz, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Nketiah and Saka
Arteta needs to be braver in his selections and trust more players.
Martinelli should be dropped, no doubt about it.
Jesus is not available, so I just pray he won't be tempted to listen to that voice in his head that tells him Havertz can lead our frontline. Eddie preferably should start, or at worse Trossard.
While I do agree that Captain Marvel is also largely responsible for the obvious overplaying and pointless tippy tappy we've witnessed in the last few games...I'd still start him, but yank him off instantly I see he is reverting to type.
If we're going to go down, lets go down knowing we gave the whole squad a chance to show what they are made of.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs: Ramsdale, Cedrid, Tomiyasu, Jorginho, Elneny, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Trossard, Jesus.
One of those voices telling him to play Havertz up front would be mine. Jesus is on the bench.
The stupidest thing he’s done with the lineup is playing Kiwior for Zinchenko. Yeah I get Zinchenko annoys the fuck out of most of us, but there’s no doubt that Kiwior cannot play left back, he’s a centre back…he’s not good with the ball at his feet and he gets done for pace easy than Zinchenko
TBH, I only have faith in one player in our attack and that's Saka.
Yes, he's been average to, but even at his lowest ebb, he still offers a threatening directness all the others seem to be incapable of.
I agree Kiwior isn't an LB but he's still more solid than Zin ( and yeah who isn't), I hope he has a good game.
As well as the chronically under-used Nelson, I hope ESR gets decent minutes in this game, he deserves it against Liverpool we could really need him
Well at least Havertz isn't playing upfront!Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Zinchencko has been shit for a while, however I'd still start him over Kiwior today, seeing we need as much creativity as possible.
Not sure how Martinelli continues to start. Would have played Trossard for him.
Eddie for Jesus is interesting but the problem is Eddie will end up doing Jesus’ job anyway when we need proper centre forward play.
He really isn’t, I have to say Zinchenko hasn’t done a lot wrong lately. Could he have held up Salah better for their equaliser possibly but defensively he’s not done too bad of late. Against West Ham he was guilty of overplaying but frankly who wasn’t.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac76
I’m guilty of this as well but you have a habbit of being definitive about players….and not changing your mind come what may. I said back in October I wasn’t impressed with Tomiyasu but he proved me wrong and I think he’s been our best full back this season but unfortunately he’s always getting injured.
Never been a fan of Rice, but I think even though I’d prefer a more direct box to box player I can’t deny how well he reads the game.
I think Kiwior should be playing to give Saliba or Gabriel a rest
Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Willian, Iwobi; JimenezQuote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Subs: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Wilson, Ballo-Toure, Pereira, Muniz, Lukic, Diop
Calf issue for Zinchenko. Again.
Trossard was the worst player on the pitch on Thursday and he’s been rubbish for a while now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
The thing is, when Martinelli comes in as a sub, he rarely does badly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
This fixation that Arteta has that players can play out their bad spell is a bit funny if you ask me. He should probably call a friend (hopefully an experienced coach) who could give him some advice.
He’s still done a lot more than Martinelli has this season tbh.Quote:
Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn
Also with Zinchenko and Jesus not playing, service to Martinelli is likely to get worse today........
Quote:
Originally Posted by 21_GOONER_SALUTE
I don’t think it’s so much playing players back into form it’s more about not trusting the players in the squad. Trossard I get because he lacks the raw pace of Martinelli, and he sees Nelson more as an impact sub. I think Nelson has been a bit muted this season, now possibly it’s because he’s not getting the starts to get going but I haven’t seen anything from him that suggests that he’s gunning for Martinelli’s position.
The thing is, it’s not an inexperience thing. Every coach of Arsenal in my memory has persisted with players I think could have been dropped. Emery, Wenger, Rioch and Graham.
Just noticed Tomi is on the bench.....was it to soon for a start???Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Trossard doesn’t fit well on the left, he’s arguably our best player technically but doesn’t have the raw pace to get in behind defenders. Martinelli seems to lack confidence and that’s why he cuts inside more than he should. But then he’s not been helped that often Jesus or Nketiah aren’t making the runs into the box, Jesus because he’s more interested in getting involved in play outside the box, Nketiah because he’s not very intelligent and can’t read the gameQuote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
Given his injury record, almost certainlyQuote:
Originally Posted by 21_GOONER_SALUTE
Also he'll be away for the Asia Cup so probably pointless really.
Unless he isn't in the squad.
Whatever is behind his thinking, its hurting the team and IMO the player as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn
He did quite similar for Havertz, and I think he thinks he got that right. But I don't agree that most people see it the same way i.e. Havertz is now a "success" because Arteta persisted and played him into form.
Anyway, here's wishing our Robocop manager all the best...at least for today.
:haha: even the Zin fanboys are saying he's "off form" (which he isn't, they're just seeing what they refused to see before, i.e. he's just not good enough and makes tons of mistakes)Quote:
Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn
Odegaard shoots from outside the box :faint:
Good effort from Odegaard!
Saka scores, will it count?
Sakaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SAKA!!!
Gabriel flattens Iwobi :lol:
Raya just about saves from Jimenez
Raya saves from Jimenez.
Comfortable save albeit Jiminez couldn’t adjust himself to get pace or directionQuote:
Originally Posted by Mac76
Willian :lol:
he spilled it but fortunately not too far for any Fulham player to reach itQuote:
Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn
Feel like there’s not great understanding between our players in attack
And Kiwior and White getting beasted down the wings
Raya pulled up
Well done Martinelli.
Jiminez equalises, poor from Kiwior
great goal by Fulham tbf
1-1 Jimenez. Bollocks.
:rolleyes:
Good ball in, but White nor Rice tracked the run of Cairney, and Kiwior didn’t read the ball to intercept