A R S E

[Skullflower]

Does anyone have a glimmer of hope for this game?

I don't.

 

[peterhague]

I've got Sanchez as my FF captain right now, so that's something.

😉

 

[LeTallecWiz]

@Woland says we win. So we win.

 

[Skullflower]

This is the kind of game where people are always saying how much we could do with a drogba (after the game when we've lost). Let's see.

 

[Gary25]

Can will start and I fear he'll get the run around.

 

[Skullflower]

Benteke will get isolated obviously

 

[gkmacca]

We've gone there the odd time in the past with a really weak-looking team and surprised everyone with a draw or even a win. So here's hoping we wreck their expected selfie-fest.

 

[Woland]

Arse are one of the strongest sides in the league, title contenders, but no match for us. They are at home and they're full of diving twats so they could fluke something, but in all probability we'll batter them.

 

[Mystic]

I can see rash tackles from Coquelin as he gets frustrated as Coutinho schooling him, and Benteke bullying Koscielny and Mertesacker as Per (pun 100% intended), but unfortunately I expect Arsenal to take us apart at the other end. We might get a 1-1 out of the game, but 2-1 to the Arse is much more likely.

 

[Buddha]

Diamond. Benteke and Firmino (then Ings) running riot. Coutinho pulling the strings. Another clean sheet.

0-3.

 

[Mors]

Take the draw now obv, but I fancy Benteke to do alright against that defence of theirs.

 

[Rosco]

I think they're a contender this year but now doesn't seem to be a bad time to play them.

I can see us getting a result

 

[cloggypop]

We are going to batter them 1:0 with a dead jammy undeserved goal.

 

[Frogfish]

I think they're a contender this year but now doesn't seem to be a bad time to play them.

I can see us getting a result

This.

 

[Mystic]

I think they're a contender this year but now doesn't seem to be a bad time to play them.

I can see us getting a result

Out of curiosity, why is now a good time?

 

[doctor_mac]

I'd answer, because, like everyone, they haven't properly clicked. They got dicked by West Ham at home and could easily have dropped points against Palace. Yes, we're not playing well either but I suppose it could be worse.

 

[Red Astaire]

It will be a draw that we should have won. You see how I cleverly mixed tenses there? Even I was impressed by that.

 

[Nir.Barak]

We have to hope the Staff can make the players look like something resembling a team in one week, if they manage, we have every chance.

 

[C/O]

We're going to get beat worse than Athensruarai if he was a step child.

 

[Athens]

We're going to get beat worse than Athensruarai if he was a step child.

Who's that?

 

[leftpeg]

I really think we'll get something from the game. If Henderson's fit I'd go as far to say I think we'll win.

 

[Whaddapie]

This is the time to get them... They're not setting the world on fire themselves lately. I think we'll get a point out of it. And I think we'd all have taken 7 of 9 to start the season. Finger crossed.

 

[dmishra]

How will they line-up?

I reckon:

-------------------------Cech
Bellerin---Mertesacker-Koscielny-Monreal
----------------Coquelin---Cazorla
-----------Ramsey---Ozil----Sanchez
-----------------------Giroud

Major individual threat is Sanchez - it's a good job we'll have Clyne against him, who'll do a much better job than Johnson.

Ramzey and Ozil can be dangerous in that pocket, but I think the real man is Cazorla who makes them tick. Stop him, and kick the shit out out of Ramsey, Ozil and Giroud (who're all soft).

It's why I think we should press Cazorla rather than defend deep against Ramsey, Ozil and Giroud. That central trio doesn't have enough pace to warrant setting up deep against. Make it difficult for Cazorla to play, and you ruin most of the basis of Arsenal's attack.

 

[dmishra]

I'd definitely do the 4-4-2 diamond (changeable into a 4-3-3). Back 4 remains the same

--------------Can
-----Milner------Henderson
------------Coutinho
------Firmino----Benteke

Instructions to Milner and Henderson to make Cazorla's life hell. Can at DM is a bit dodgy against a good team, but like I said none of Arsenal's central attackers have much pace, so hopefully Can's lack of pace won't be a huge issue.

Coutinho to start in the hole, but if required (to avoid Coquelin marking him), he should have the liberty to move left and let Firmino drop into the hole.

Instruct Benteke to rough up Mertesacker and Koscielny at every opportunity.

Firmino to have a free role, and wreak havoc as he pleases.

 

[Fabio]

They'll beat us 2-0

 

[Mystic]

How will they line-up?



I reckon:



-------------------------Cech

Bellerin---Mertesacker-Koscielny-Monreal

----------------Coquelin---Cazorla

-----------Ramsey---Ozil----Sanchez

-----------------------Giroud



Major individual threat is Sanchez - it's a good job we'll have Clyne against him, who'll do a much better job than Johnson.



Ramzey and Ozil can be dangerous in that pocket,[hl] but I think the real man is Cazorla who makes them tick[/hl]. Stop him, and kick the shit out out of Ramsey, Ozil and Giroud (who're all soft).



It's why I think we should press Cazorla rather than defend deep against Ramsey, Ozil and Giroud. That central trio doesn't have enough pace to warrant setting up deep against. Make it difficult for Cazorla to play, and you ruin most of the basis of Arsenal's attack.

He most definitely is, he always seems to have a blinder against us as well, so we definitely need to keep him under check.

 

[Markeh]

we're gonna futtbuck them

 

[dogboy]

This is the kind of game where people are always saying how much we could do with a drogba (after the game when we've lost). Let's see.

Eh?

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

I wonder if we would / could man-mark Cazorla, like we did with Fabregas in the home game against Chelsea last season. On that occasion, Henderson sacrificed his attacking game and shadowed Fabregas, who had had a great start to the season. Henderson kept him quiet. It isn't a tactic that we've used since then, but I wonder if it's worthwhile to spring that surprise again, assuming Henderson is available for selection. Cut away the supply to and from Cazorla, and that makes Sanchez come deeper to collect, taking him further from where he can do damage.

I think Wenger will stick Sanchez on the right and try to exploit Gomez's inexperience. For that reason, I'd prefer Ibe's pace and strength in this game even though he didn't play well against Bournemouth. Give him clear instructions to focus on making us solid in our half and help Gomez, while Coutinho and Clyne exploit Monreal's slower pace on the other side.

This made me think that the Bournemouth player position merry-go-round could've been a dress rehearsal for this game. Not starting Coutinho in the centre yet allowing him to roam into that space means that he doesn't get shackled by Coquelin from the start, and also allows him to feed Clyne on the overlap into the space behind Monreal. If Coquelin goes out to follow Coutinho, then Firmino or Lallana gets the space they need in the middle.

 

[superchimp]

We'll lose this.

Arsenal looked very very good albeit slightly naive at the back vs Palace.

This is exactly the kind of game Lovren for me will get found out in too.

3-1 them.