The new Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is in a difficult position, having lost his top goalscorer for 3 games, including this and a crucial trip to Chelsea, and he has explained how gutted Auba is at not being able to play. “Auba has been around, he was very sad after the game.” the Boss said on Arsenal.com.
“He was disappointed that he left the team with 10 men. It’s an action that is completely accidental in my opinion. He’s been superb under me, he’s trained really well, he’s working so hard. He’s scoring goals and has probably been the most important player on the team. So to lose him, obviously, is really bad news for us.”
He was then asked if he thought that Auba’s absence would weaken the team. “I don’t know. I haven’t experienced it. I hope not, I hope we can play better and even win the games and he will be pushing for that as well. Players have to step up. You know, when one of your big players is not there, they have to take responsibility. I’m sure when they’re not playing, they want a chance and they talk. It’s time to talk on the pitch, not outside. You come on there, you make the impact that he made and you assure me that you are as good as him or even better. You have the chance.”
Obviously Lacazette is the favourite to replace Auba, but how can Arteta help him to regain his scoring boots? “You can help him by talking to him and giving him confidence, but that ball has to end up in the net. I think that’s the best medicine for strikers. What we have to try to do is put Laca in positions where he can have as many opportunities to do that as possible during a game.”
So it sounds like Arteta is sure that Lacazette will be starting, but who else may be able to pitch in with goals? What about Martinelli? “He’s having an impact every time he’s coming on, but it’s not just him. It’s others players like Reiss and Nico too, so whoever players there on Saturday has to step in and has to be thinking that they need to make the difference for the team.”
So, there is no mention of Nketiah, so perhaps Arteta doesn’t intend to play him against Sheffield. But for me, I think we have to start the game with Pepe, Martinelli and Lacazette for now.
What do you think?
So much talk and speculation.
I’m over it.
Seems forever since we had a game.
Please lets play some football.
Roll on Sunday 4am (our time)
COYG
Yes can Wait to discourse some football tired of reading recycled news
Lacazette and Martinelli will definitely start. But not sure about Pepe, because he lost the ball possession many times in the first half of the Palace game
Exactly but still people think pepe had a good match because he had that one good shot which forced the palace goalkeeper to a superb save.
Just watch the bench cam video to how much MA was frustrated with pepe.
Pepe has great potential and he needs to train harder to unleash it.And for the shf utd game if kola is fit i would play saka as LW and martinelli as RW
Nelson and Pepe seem to be the same type of player that can’t seem to do magic with their other foot.
Aside Nelson defensive minded, I think he and Pepe are still unable.
SAKA balls uniquely more; he should be used ahead and maybe subbed later.
Ceballos should be introduced as-well.
Lacazette and Martinelli for me should start.But I find it difficult to chose between PeP and Nelson because they both have their weaknesses. But due to Nelson defensive ability and is more agile he can also score I prefer him.
I’d definitely start Saka ahead of those two for Sunday..
He’s more direct and quicker with the ball
Martinez, Nketiah, Pepe
Martinez…… Martinelli
laca+Gabriel+pepe can do the magic.
Lets big it up for Just Arsenal for their stance on the evironnment with the continuous recyling !……beats my recycling by a country mile! 😆
Martinelli-Lacazette-Pepe
seems pretty obvious. Laca and Pepe need to step up and start scoring and stop ruining promising attacks in the final third. Auba seems to be our only player that actually puts the ball in the back of the net.
I am sure Laca will find his firing boots on Saturday. As for Nketiah, he can come on as a sub or if Laca is still misfiring. Pepe and Martinelli should also contribute with their firing boots.
nketiah can play from the like as he’s quick too
A major issue with Arsenal over recent seasons has been the lack of goal scoring threat from midfield. Ozil now always looks to pass, doesn’t run on goal and rarely shoots, notwithstanding his technical skill. Xhaka also appears to have lost his shooting ability, which before he came to Arsenal, was one of his major attributes. Guendouzi and Torreira (to be fair it should not be his role) rarely score goals. Therefore the forwards Arteta selects need to be on song during Aubameyang’s enforced absense.
Time will tell.
It boils down to the fact that our midfield, collectively, are almost as ineffective as our defence. WE HAVE ALMOST ZERO GOALS FROM MIDFIELD, SINCE RAMSEY LEFT.