10 Sep 2020 21:21:10
Line up predictions for Saturday!
Emi
Bellerin Saliba holding tierney
AMN Cabellos Xhaka
Pepe Auba
Nketiah
Can see gabriel instead of holding but think he will get the nod for the experience in Prem
So hard to leave laca, Saka and Nelson out but what a bench either way!
{Ed047's Note - what about Willian?
10 Sep 2020 21:31:53
Saliba and Holding in a back 4? Not sure Mikel will go for that and much much less sure I want him to.
10 Sep 2020 22:16:36
Emi
Bellerin Saliba Gabriel tierney
AMN Xhaka
Ceballos
Willian Auba Saka.
10 Sep 2020 22:18:00
Luiz injured and Gabriel will be barely match fit. I reckon he'll stick with a back 3 or 5 however you look at it.
Saliba Holding Tierney
Bellerin and AMN as WB's.
10 Sep 2020 22:28:07
Looks like Emi is on his way to Villa : (.
10 Sep 2020 23:33:31
I personally make Glen much closer to what will actually happen.
It would be weird if Mikel abandoned his 3 at the back preference in favour of a Holding and Saliba pairing given lack of maturity experience and partnership between them, especially given Holding has been so much better in a 3 than a pairing in the past.
11 Sep 2020 06:37:30
Exactly Gunner he has to keep it as consistent as he can so he'll stick with what's worked for the season opener I reckon. Then as players become fit and so on we can experiment. It's important we get a good result to kick off the campaign.
11 Sep 2020 07:29:14
Definitely Glen, keep it as uncomplicated and as familiar as possible especially when not at fill strength, the last thing we need is to kick off with a defeat and worse still a defeat where the defence is chaotic. Let's get some points on the board and hopefully a positive vibe going.
11 Sep 2020 08:16:25
Yeah 100% mate. We need a solid performance to start off. Away matches are critical for us this season if we are going to make ourselves serious contenders for the top 4. Listening to Talksport this week we have been hugely disregarded by most of the pundits and fans so we have a big opportunity here. The majority don't even see us finishing in the top 6 so. let's make this season count.
11 Sep 2020 09:56:37
I think that's this seasons big challenge Glen, to get people to us seriously again. Ultimately I know it doesn't matter what others think but there opinions are based on what they see and have seen so if we shoe everyone that this really is a new Arsenal then hopefully we will change how people see us.
I'm really pleased with the introduction of new non Arsenal coaching blood as I feel it shows we are open to change and learning from others.
11 Sep 2020 11:09:34
Yeah I agree mate and tbh, if Arteta has had an input with this and has partly selected them to be part of his coaching staff then i'm all for it. Despite what others think, he's already demonstrated how he wants to move forward on and off the pitch. The players know what's expected of them, they understand what is in Arteta's terms 'non-negotiable' and they are slowly learning how he want's the team to play. The morale and togetherness that he has created as well is wonderful to see. It's how they react to poor results which is one of the keys to our success this season. That and consistency in our performances week in, week out.
11 Sep 2020 12:18:11
If we go into next season looking a real force again I will be over the moon Glen, if it happens this season so much the better but as long as there is real genuine prolonged progress on the pitch then it will be good enough for me whether we finish 4th or 7th.