So the first big day of a two-match crunch week under Arteta’s reign, with Sheffield United visiting the Emirates today and then an away trip to a rejuvenated Chelsea on Tuesday. And we have to do both without the striker that scores 75% of our goals.
It’s a big ask for Arteta after just a month in charge. But we can live in hope for now, and there is the possibility that the home support will lift the team to great new heights. But, going by Sheffield’s form this season, they are going to be a very hard nut to crack. The only away games they have lost so far was at Liverpool and Man City, so they are brimming with confidence and have high hopes of making the Top Six after promotion only last year.
So, let’s look at their away games to get us started….
So now here is our home form this season….
So those figures don’t make it clear that there is only going to one winner today, and with both sides drawing a large percentage of games, that may be the sensible prediction again today, and may even be considered a good result without Aubameyang.
Other than our top scorer’s suspension, of course most of our injury list is made up of defenders, with Chambers, Tierney, Bellerin and Kolasinac all missing, so we are back to our making up the numbers with Maitland-Niles and Sako likely to be our full-backs, with Sokratis and Luiz likely to be in the centre.
The midfield is likely to be Torreira and Xhaka, with Ozil in behind the three front men. I was hoping to see Martinelli start today alongside Lacazette, with either Pepe or Nelson on the left wing. After Arteta’s comments today I’ll say Nelson to start, and Pepe to come on later to shake things up.
So here is my starting XI….
Leno
AMN – Sokratis – Luiz – Sako
Torreira – Xhaka
Ozil
Martinelli – Lacazette – Nelson
We may not have Aubameyang, but I am sure we will score with Martinelli in the side, but I also believe that with the home crowd now getting belief in Arteta and the team again, they will be our twelfth man and urge us on to a confidence boosting 2-1 win today.
What do you think?
Admin Pat
Sako is not a good full back, so cannot fulfill wing back. He has not developed enough physically. But if we have to, we have to. I would definitely play Martinelli. That would give space to Lacazette. To play Nelson before Pepe is lunacy. Is it a new or full moon?
If Martinelli and Pepe both play I predict a win for us. United will find it harder to manage the greater intensity.
To bring up what Eddie, Jon, and Sue were talking about on another article. They were saying that they’re coming too fast and thick. The problem I had was I didn’t know who would be on which article because there’s a lot, I looked at recent comments to get an idea but that still won’t tell us if they are still in there, or which place has most users. Maybe if you could add one of those numeral yolks that tells you how many people are reading on each article, so you know where the traffic is. People might decide to stay on a certain one for longer, knowing that chances for discussions are higher. No biggie, just a thought.
👍
Yes, I’m hoping the home crowd can keep this up, it makes a massive difference.
Just got to my seat – I’m keen 😄 – lush view, the sun is shining… now all we need is 3 points! COYG…
Have a great afternoon.
That would have been me 50 years ago.
Thanks Ingleby 😊👍
How about a front 3 Martinelli -Laca -Pepe. Wouldn’t that make more sense?
we arsenal have the best young players in the country. and it is fabulous seeing ARTETA nurturing players like Nelson, martinelli, Nketiah, saha and believing in them. ARTETA will be a fabulous manager. Look what he did at City. he is a fabulous motivator .
Seàn
We can’t win two games in a roll all season long. Since Arteta appointed on December 20th, we lost & won one, 3 draw! That’s 6 points out of 15!
It is no change at all, 15 games left, we will then add 18 points to our total. Next we play at Chelsea and Burnley. I see us lose 2 and draw one. Or we can drwa 2 and lose one, oor possibly lose all.
We will be in any case officially beyong 15th spot, fighting with hungry desperate teams to survive!
As positive I want to be, we simply can’t change our cycle with same formation and no top CB such as Koulibaly handed to us! Wenger said it, just as Henry and if Klopp can also recently state that Arsenal can fight for title when they fix defense as they done! That Vanjick move is what he means, feakin Koulibaly to close that door and boost all defense!