The Arsenal v Man Ure, Sunday 3 September 2023, 16.30

[Mac76]

0-3 Fernandes hatter

We might as well get this going, as it seems to me like this is not just another Arsenal v Man Ure match, but a real weather vane for the season.

Arteta has to change things drastically - by which I mean just play a sensible team and formation - his follies so far have meant we've been a hard watch, scraped a couple of wins but then failed to beat a side down to ten men at home. I should be looking forward to this game - last season I was - but not this time

While ETH's Moan U are not perfect you only have to look at how they came back from 2-0 down last week to understand the threat - I don't think we could ever do that with the current lineup and formation and tactics Arteta is employing

If we carry on how we are we will at best draw though my money would probably be on a defeat

Now Arteta has offloaded all our LBs we are in a right pickle in that position as i simply refuse to accept it makes any sense whatsoever to play Zin there - he cannot defend and caused the draw in the Fulham game - so I guess it has to still be Kiwior who isn't perfect but at least not a suicide bomb like Zin

Eddie has done enough to merit a start with Jesus on the bench to be a chaos player later on if needed

So maybe this:

Ram

White Saliba Gabriel Kiwior

Rice

Odegaard Vieira Trossard

Saka Eddie Martinelli

[HCZ_Reborn]

Team I’d play


Ramsdale, Kiwior, Gabriel, Saliba, Tomoyasu, Jorginho, Partey, Vieira (I’d rather play Havertz but think too big a risk), Trossard, Saka, Nketiah


Drop Martinelli, Drop Odegaard, Drop Rice, Drop White (especially given how badly he did when he came up against Rashford in this game in January)



Given I don’t expect Arteta to do any of the above, I think United will break their can’t win away at a top six issue that bedevilled us for so long and get a 2-0 win here. Don’t think there is enough variety or conviction in our attack to get goals and we will set up to concede on the break.

[Marc Overmars]

United are not very good away from home so we should be confident of getting a result.

I feel like the dull opponents we’ve had to start has also contributed to the insipid displays but I expect to see a much better showing here given the step up in calibre.

If we lose this then I would be very concerned at the trajectory we’re going to be heading in over the next few games which aren’t favourable fixtures.

[Letters]

weather vain

"vane", tbh

[Mac76]

"vane", tbh

I had a feeling that wasn't right

[Mac76]

Team I’d play


Ramsdale, Kiwior, Gabriel, Saliba, Tomoyasu, Jorginho, Partey, Vieira (I’d rather play Havertz but think too big a risk), Trossard, Saka, Nketiah


Drop Martinelli, Drop Odegaard, Drop Rice, Drop White (especially given how badly he did when he came up against Rashford in this game in January)



Given I don’t expect Arteta to do any of the above, I think United will break their can’t win away at a top six issue that bedevilled us for so long and get a 2-0 win here. Don’t think there is enough variety or conviction in our attack to get goals and we will set up to concede on the break.

I agree some of the players you mention dropping need to up their game (though not Rice) but you can see the difference Vieira made when he came on and i think Trossard, if played not as a striker but in support will have a similar effect and they should be able to get better performances out of people - I suspect Havertz' presence was at least part of the reason Martinelli struggled tbh

[HCZ_Reborn]

I agree some of the players you mention dropping need to up their game (though not Rice) but you can see the difference Vieira made when he came on and i think Trossard, if played not as a striker but in support will have a similar effect and they should be able to get better performances out of people - I suspect Havertz' presence was at least part of the reason Martinelli struggled tbh

It’s not about whether Rice plays well or not, it’s about how much he’s contributing and he’s not. It’s not his fault, we just absolutely don’t need him. We as I said somewhere else needed cover for Partey and Rice is just too inferior for that and it’s sadly not even close …If we play most teams away from home we sit deep enough that we don’t concede much so don’t need him, and at home he hasn’t got the pace to break up play on the counter.

I don’t know if I agree about Havertz bringing down the play of those around him, Odegaard it’s just not coming off for him…he’s trying too hard almost and then he gets frustrated and goes hiding. Martinelli is not doing enough when he does get the ball.

There has to be some reckoning for that and not just scapegoating one single player who is being played hideously out of position.

[Mac76]

It’s not about whether Rice plays well or not, it’s about how much he’s contributing and he’s not. It’s not his fault, we just absolutely don’t need him. We as I said somewhere else needed cover for Partey and Rice is just too inferior for that and it’s sadly not even close …If we play most teams away from home we sit deep enough that we don’t concede much so don’t need him, and at home he hasn’t got the pace to break up play on the counter.

I don’t know if I agree about Havertz bringing down the play of those around him, Odegaard it’s just not coming off for him…he’s trying too hard almost and then he gets frustrated and goes hiding. Martinelli is not doing enough when he does get the ball.

There has to be some reckoning for that and not just scapegoating one single player who is being played hideously out of position.

Your views on Rice continue to defy those of pretty much everyone else who watches him and yes I'm going to talk again about people who go to the game

Partey can be good but is unreliable and injury-prone

as for the comments on Odegaard / Martinelli yes I agree, but I think Havertz was getting in Martinelli's way a bit

As I've said before, it's not just about Havertz' position, overall he is slow to get to the ball and slow to react when he receives it, he looks like he's lost whatever pace he had, it happens sometimes

As for Odegaard, he looks really pissed off these days, it's pure conjecture on my part but I wonder whether, now Arteta's got his new toys in Havertz and Rice, maybe Odegaard feels sidelined, I don't know, we've already seen him and Rice arguing on the pitch and I wonder whether Rice as former West Ham captain is throwing his weight around on the training ground also

[mandela8]

So maybe this:

Ram

White Saliba Gabriel Kiwior

Rice

Odegaard Vieira Trossard

Saka Eddie Martinelli

12 men is a great idea, tbf.

Not sure why we've not tried it before.

[Mac76]

12 men is a great idea, tbf.

Not sure why we've not tried it before.

i was waiting for someone to spot my deliberate mistake