27 Jul 2020 09:02:00
Morning All,
Here is my predicted line-up for the FA Cup Final.
Martinez,
Holding, Luiz, Tierney
Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka
Pepe, Laba, Auba.
I think that's our strongest line-up of players but having Tierney in a back 3 and Saka as a wing back, certainly doesn't maximise their potential of being on the pitch.
We do have Sokratis who could play at CB but clearly Arteta wants to play KT or Kolasinac instead due to being left footed. That was a key thing that Arteta wanted hence the Mari signing but with him out, he obviously feels that having a left footer in the left CB position of the back 3 is more important than having CB knowledge if you like.
I really do hope that next season we can manage to field 11 players in their correct positions every week but for now, let's keep everything crossed for the final!
27 Jul 2020 09:28:21
I would have Sokratis b4 I’d have holding.
27 Jul 2020 09:55:28
For me Holding is a very decent player in a back 3 but totally out of his depth in a back 4 and so should be played or left out based entirely on formation.
I totally agree Glen shoehorning players into positions isn't ideal at all and hopefully we will set less of it next season.
27 Jul 2020 10:19:00
I guess the trouble with that Gunner is consistency and match fitness. He needs a real run in the team but injuries and inconsistency are hindering his career with us at the moment. Maybe him and Saliba could form a decent partnership for us but I still see it being Saliba and Mari tbh. It's very much formation dependant of course because if we stick to a back 3 then Luiz, Mustafi or Holding can fill that final spot. I certainly don't think it's a formation that MA wants to play and i'm sure he'll change it as soon as he feels comfortable that we can be solid enough with a back 4.
27 Jul 2020 10:44:00
The thing for me is Glen.
How would we all feel now after the season we've just had and the one before it if Arsene or Emery were still in charge?
If it was poor old Arsene I doubt we'd notice playing behind closed doors much because by now the stadium would probably look like that anyway.
And if it was poor old Emery we'd be pulling our hair out after 2 full seasons and absolutely no improvement what so ever.
But with Arteta who is yet to have a full season hope springs eternal and next season is to be looked forward to rather than dreaded as it would have been if we'd been facing yet another Arsene or Every repeat.
Arteta is still very much an unknown quantity and although some might have their doubts about him but at this moment in time 100% of Arsenal fans are behind him hoping he's the man, time will tell of course but between now and then we have hope if nothing else :-)
27 Jul 2020 11:32:54
Yeah very true mate. Arteta is a breath of fresh air which is why I like him. He understands exactly what he wants from the players in training and on and off the pitch and if you can't comply with what in his terms is 'non-negotiable', then unfortunately your involvement will be limited. Even Ozil who has been very much excluded from MA's plans, speaks highly about the vision of MA. 350k a week or not, I would still speak my mind if I wasn't happy.
People can compare him to Pep and so on but that isn't a bad thing at all. He conducts himself well to the media as well which is perfect. He just needs time and as long as we see improvement from the boys with signings that show clear signs of us moving forward then i'm happy.
27 Jul 2020 13:34:42
Martinez,
Bellerin, papa, Holding, Luiz, Tierney
Ceballos, Xhaka, AMN / Torriera
Pepe and Auba
62 - Holding played great in a back 4 when he played next to an organiser / leader. Next to Luiz it’s trouble. think it’s more about the partnership than anything else. Although, not sure we have much choice due to injuries
Need to win the midfield battle on Saturday hence a hardworking defensive selection from me.
27 Jul 2020 14:03:44
I think Arteta deserves exactly the same season and half Emery got and if we are not better at the end of next season than we are now then he should face exactly the same fate as Emery experienced. Of course we all hope he will have proved himself to be someone who can have unquestionable improved us by the end of next season and be at Arsenal for many years to come but we can't make excuses for Arteta if he fails to make a difference.
Let Arteta be judged equally is my motto mate, if he really is good enough he won't need anyone to make excuses for him.
27 Jul 2020 17:56:21
Hi SY mate, I can't remember what game it was in Emerys first season but in one particular game Holding was so bad in a back 4 that every Arsenal fan, neutral and pundit couldn't stop talking about him as he made awful mistake after awful mistake, it was incredible how poor he was that night and probably as bad as I've ever seen any player have, but as all players have the best game of their lives at some point in time Holding definitely had the worst game of his career that night, but it happens.
I'm not sure who his partner was that night but it wasn't David Luis because he was at Chelsea that season. Mate your Luis obsession is getting worse, luckily for David Luis he's unaware of it or I think he'd be hiring a 100 strong team of security guards and put them soley on 24/ 7 SY watch.
27 Jul 2020 23:13:07
True but that post was not a dig but rather supporting Holding ðŸ‘.
28 Jul 2020 09:16:42
Fair enough mate 😎.