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Confirmed Arsenal team to face Man Utd – Gabriel back in defence

This is a massive game, one that Arsenal have to win and this is the team that Mikel Arteta has selected today.

Arsenal simply must pick up all three points at the Emirates this afternoon, we cannot afford to fall too far behind Man City so early on, it’s hard enough when we are ahead on points, never mind when we are lagging behind.

This game is also about pride and making sure that we do not have to listen to endless gloating from United fans and pundits, they love nothing more than getting one over us, especially in our own backyard.

Arsenal vs. Man Utd games are usually tight and fiery affairs and today’s clash should be no different, Arteta will need his big men to stand up and be counted.

Let us know in the comments below what you think about the team that the manager has selected and what your predicted score is.

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202 Comments

      1. If Ronaldo still played CF for Man United, we wouldn’t have to worry about their high-press and counter-attacks

          1. Yet he always score against us, at every post you just come up with some ridiculous opinion just to stir up replies

    2. Gai, I hope Havertz isn’t minus 1 against ManU midfield. I thought Jorginho and Rice will man the midfield for us to make it difficult for united. I would have also prefered Trossard to Matinelli. Wan Bisaka won’t be easily beaten by Matinelli but Trossard is trickery.
      The good thing is Arteta has a good bench when changes is required. I am glad to see Gabriel in defence that’s what depth offers a coach. Hopefully we win I am positive.

      1. Yes, I also thought Jorginho and Trossard would be starters. Havertz would likely contribute a lot because he’s a big game player

        1. God Almighty

          Where do u get these things u say

          So how was “The Big Game Player’s” performance today?

          Still our worst performer every weekend

          And always look better after he’s substituted cos that’s when we actually become a team of 11 players

      2. Havertz confidence is terribly low , he might be good player but we can all see his body language, looks like this signing is going to terribly cost us if he don’t get his confidence back. At present he doesn’t seem to be aware where he is playing, he seems totally lost. Media might have contributed to loss of confidence but thats the truth at the moment.

  2. Only concern is Havertz
    We are starting the game with 10 men as Havertz is not contributing anything…
    So it will be very tough day for our men

    1. He’ll be okay today

      But their midfield Super Superior to our’s (without Partey & with a ??? [whatever Kai is at the moment])

    2. Havertz could make us win second balls in the final-third more often, but only if Odegaard and Saka make more long diagonal passes

    3. How can any professional football not hit that on target, he couldn’t even touch the ball. Thats all down to confidence, otherwise even a softest of touch would have a goal. So its true that at the moment team is playing with 10men.

        1. We all saw how game went on after Havertz was replaced. Arteta knows, everybody who watch football knows how its going on with Havertz at the moment. Arteta kept on playing him till 75 mins so that he wont lose more confidence by taking him off early but nobody can deny the truth. And in this world, no job is guaranteed. Arteta keeps his place as long as he is getting results. After all these spending and expectation he wont be given same amount of time that he got previously. I hope Havertz gets his confidence back, plays well and Arteta keeps his job and Arsenal win trophy. But as we know margin of error in EPL is very low and even slightest of mistakes can cost us what we have been asking for.

  4. Gabriel is back in defence because Party is injured. Thanks to Pep wannabe. He played Timber out of position until he was injured now Party.

      2. Apart from the 289 days lost in total before this injury, while being played very much in his correct position

    3. I think Kroenke signed him because he was poor man’s Guardiola and he’s still doing a good job at Arsenal

      1. I wonder what would be the reactions be if Arteta instead went for high octane pressing like Liverpool. Then we’ll have poor man’s Klopp. Poor man’s Morhinho, Conte and the list goes on. He will never be just Arteta in any case. Sounds like a classic dismissal by virtue of someone’s inexperience.

        1. He didn’t have managerial experience, but he’s been showing that he’s better than some experienced managers like Gerrard, Lampard, Rodgers and Conte

          1. Did someone say Arteta is better than Conte?

            5 league titles with Juventus

            1 Premier League title with Chelsea in his first season in England

            1 League title with Inter

            I laugh in French… hua hua hua hua hua

    4. Timber’s injury had nothing to do with being played in the position he was in, same with Partey, it’s obvious you don’t like Arteta, so why bother with silly remarks, why wind yourself up, leave the football to people who know what they are doing

  5. God help us, with Havartz United will break our pressure and kill us in the counter. If Partey is indeed injured for three months we are fucked. Jorginho probably better option today than Havartz.

  6. No real surprises, he was never going to drop Haverz anyway. Lets hope the penny drops with Haverz. The bench looks solid and plenty of options though.

    1. On a side note, i dont think the utd team looks that great. Martial as striker? It doesn’t look like a typical utd team.

  7. There are different reports about partey, some say couple of weeks, 3 weeks and 3 months. Shame he is injured but isn’t that why we spent 100m on Rice because partey cant stay injury free for a season.

    2. The plus is we have stopped the pissing about with the defence. The only minus is it is the first game this season they have played together. It often takes an injury to sort out the things that are not working.

      1. Always thought putting partey at Rb was not for Havertz but because arteta wanted to play both rice and partey and he didn’t want to play 2 pivot and sacrifice 1 attacking mid. Unfortunately we dont have the opportunity to wait for either the team to gel or the experiment to fail.

  8. This is the best possible line up, this is a game for Rice and Havertz to stamp their superiority.

    Wish we had a physical player like Rice or Barella to help in midfield but it is what it is.

  9. I’m not too optimistic about this match.
    My main concern is about our left side, played by both Havertz and Zinchenko at the same time.
    Just hoping we won’t be too exposed down that side.

    Imo, with an injury prone Partey we’re still short in midfield.

  10. Havertz keeps his place.
    Let everyone both in support and not watch this game carefully and be honest if it won’t seem we are playing a man short.
    Arteta is a good coach, but he hasn’t won much to make him unmistakable.
    His tactics are great, glad we have him, but he makes errors too like all coaches.
    This his stubbornness with starting Harvertd when it’s clearly obvious he isn’t ready may be his undoing.
    We will support Arteta and the entire team but we love the club more and it’s wrong to lose preciuos points unnecessarily just to play Harverts into form.
    It doesn’t take a coach to see thwt we are playing poorly and it’s frustrating because everyone sees we can be better if we can get the personnel selection cum team balance right.
    For me and most, Harvarts form says he starts from the bench.
    It’s not him not scoring goals or assisting, it’s his effort. Rice, Timber, Zslobollslai and other hefty transfers didn’t need a minute to settle. Jesus and many other players don’t score and assist as often as we’d like, but their effort and around play is what supporters appreciate. Fans will naturally support you cos you play for their club, but your effort is what earns you their love.

  11. Arsenal.com are showing Trossard, not Nketiah, leading the attack line. Which lineup is the authentic one?

  12. As far as I am concerned this game is giving an arsenal win at 2-1. Havertz is needed due to his height. Let’s stay positive. Arsenal fans are the reason why opposition clubs price our players for peanuts. If rice was at manU I’m sure the narrative would be different. COYG

  13. it’s a very nice selection,when you choose zinc on the left ,and Hertz play in middle it’s better, because zinc will be moving in middle to allow Havertz move forward.I have feeling today is Havertz vs manchester he is going to score and makes his name again.The reason iam betting on him, he is underated and he will not be defended like our two wings and he will have so many chancesand today he will put it in the back of the net

  15. I think Trossard should start ahead of Martinelli.

    If Hervatz doesn’t play well today, he may start using the bench in the coming weeks.
    The gaffer has been linient enough.

  16. Hopefully White and Gabriel are match fit and sharp, wouldn’t be surprised if they aren’t! Hoping they connect well with Rice/Havertz because they also haven’t played together much.

  17. Looking at the bench of Utd (as well as the xi), game should be wrapped up early on. If we manage to get one or two goal lead within 70 min, last 20 min might give us some unforgettable moments, as both Casemiro and Erickson might run of steam.

  18. I am surprised some of y’all actually believe the coach inferring Harvertz betters us or will come good.

    A player that is sluggish lanquid player, lazies about, slows our transition and attack, passes mostly back passes or sideways, strolls around doesn’t press, doesn’t disposes any one, not known for through balls or killer passes forward.

    And our coach haven misjudged this particular buy, in denial, is defending the player, blaming other players behind him, trying to convince us not to believe our eyes or his track record for 3 years in the epl.

    Why aren’t we frustrated with Rice, Jesus or Zinchecko? Are they perfect? No, but they put in the requisite effort.

    A 65million platter doesn’t need time to settle in. Rice didn’t need one, neither did Trossard or Zinchenko.

    You know what? Fix Trossard or Jesus in this Harverts position vacated by Xhaka and see the difference in play. Only 30mins of him out of the side showed us the Arsenal side passing with pace, fluid and feared last season!

    Man City trashed same Fulham by the way.

  19. Partey injury is actually a lifeline for havertz. If we play well and havertz also play well then it shows our struggle isn’t because of his inclusion rather because we are still adapting to the new system.

    Basically the same system that got us a title challenge with rice havertz replacing partey xhaka.

  21. We are Pretty slow at the moment
    We are not getting much of the ball
    We need to get more of the ball
    Horrible from Havertz
    Shit man

  24. Is Havertz really a footballer???
    How can you miss you such big ball
    You are not playing the game with Tennis ball to miss that

  26. This Chelsea fraud is gonna be a bigger flop than pepe, the writing is in the wall.

    Why do.we keep going back for their junk players.

        1. I despair with you HH
          I’m trying to listen on Arsenal audio whilst enjoying my holiday in France and all you can come up with is pathetic criticism
          Being, as I am, unable to watch the bl**dy match, I’m reliant on what the Arsenal Audio delivers
          Satisfied?

  37. Havertz will sack Arteta; since he’s chooses to be senseless at this stage of our project. Someone needs to investigate this signing of Havertz, is Pepe not better than this shit of a player?

  39. Great goal!! But enough is enough. Why the eff is Havertz playing?? Gets to start every game delivering stinker after stinker.

  40. I have been one of those who have defended Havertz and asked for more time. However, I really can’t defend him in this game so far. He needs to put in a real performance for the rest of the game if he wants to keep the wolves away!

    2. I believe stats never tell a full story of a player or game but the eye test never lies .
      A 65 million player who doesn’t even know what position he plays speaks volumes . Havertz isnt half the player Pepe is.You have ESR, Viera, Trossard , hell even Nwaneri are all better players in what ever position Havertz plays.

  43. We have such a great team which is ruined by Havertz!

    330K per week and we are asked to cheer him and be compassionate with him trotting and jogging. I will take that compassion where it’s needed.

  45. Those who defend Havertz just compare how he presses compared to Odegaard, Martinelli, and Saka

  46. Arteta was doomed again by Chelsea.

    And why the hell was he put on 300k per week, pretty much every player in our team and bench is worth more than this no body.

  48. This commentator keeps saying, united a little fortunate there. How many times do they need to.be fortunate before one questions the ref?

  50. Im sorry but havertz has no clue where and what to do in this team. I can forgive the miskick but he’s offering nothing to Martinelli. He’s literally being bypassed in the build up.

  52. WOW!!!! Can Haverz get any worse. Missed a sitter, gave a poor pass away that led to a goal. Total lack of quality to the bloke. So far a waste of 65 mil and Arteta has to admit he was wrong and get him off. Dreadful. And our football is pedestrian. Utd look awful!!!!!!!

    1. Yet Saka has been really poor, could have been sent off, missed a great chance to score, and you say nothing, Saka was also poor against Fulham as well

      1. Saka is a totally different propersition. How on earth can you compare Saka with Haverz. Rediculous!!!!!!!!!!

  53. Havertz made a bad pass to Odegaard, but White should’ve got closer to Rashford. Havertz should’ve been instructed to press instead of wasting Odegaard’s and Martinelli’s energy to do the high-press

    Arsenal also didn’t dare to press too much and to play from the back as Man United did. If we still lack the guts to do it, we would likely not win any major trophy this season

    If we don’t utilize Havertz’s height, we’d better play Vieira or Trossard in his position

        2. 1st there is confused Arteta who bought him without knowing how to use him and 2nd you who keep defending him after pathetic performance. How can the Manager of a big club like Arsenal not judge properly and decide to by Havertz. Even after watched him for more than 2 years in EPL. Pepe is way better than him. Looks like Arteta and Edu did some corruption with this Havertz transfer deal.

    2. Our style of play is not that anymore…
      Also Niketiah is doing pretty well though..
      Havertz need to be replaced by either, Jorginho, Trossard or Viera
      He is not producing anything…

  54. Arteta has got to take off Havertz for the players own sake. We all know he is useless it’s no use prolonging the agony.

    1. Never gonna happen as you know arteta he won’t admit to a mistake but you never know this could be the half he comes good
      I fancy a 2or3-1 but what do I know

  57. Why are people on Havertzs back? Saka has been the worst player. You can see how bad he is when teams stop him cutting in. He can’t go round the outside with the ball against any opposition.

    1. Saka is at least trying and he has proven his worth time and time again. Havertz has yet to prove he has ever seen a football in fact it’s starting to look like the rest of the team don’t even want to give him the ball.

  58. If we dont take the USELESS Haverz off, we will regret it. He his USELESS. Stop this good in the air crap, he is not cutting it. A bloody air shot from 6 yards when it was sitting there says it all. Get him off!!!!!

  59. Harverts is lazy about everything: shot, pass, jugging, running and even looks. Everything about him looks like slow motion

  61. The thing with Harvarts is not that he is not accustomed to his role, but that he is lazy and soft. And this is after 3 years in EPL. That most of all makes me think he is a total waste of money.

  62. What thehell has ahappened? We haveturned into a timid afraid to lose team. AND BORING WITH IT.

    NOT REMOTELY GOOD ENOUGH ALL OVER THE TEAM.

        1. He made contact with the defender but it was not a penalty. He neither dived nor did the defender commited a foul.

  76. Saka at this point needs to be benched . I dont blame the kid . Foden wasnt played every single game for 2 seasons straight .

      1. @sws Jesus can , Reis Nelson can , Pepe is still at this club, Trossard can . A draw in this match is simply a loss in my eyes . I will be honest Arteta still is learning on the job and we can clearly see the better manager of the two today.

  78. Arsenal season is done and dusted, season over and no title challenge. Top 4 battle here we come.

    Ain’t no one stopping City

  86. Why does the winning goal look scripted to me?? Anyways congratulations for the win. We still have a lot of work to do.

    The patient buildup will not always work like today.

  87. Right now even the most fanatic supporter of Arteta can now see what Havertz constitutes to this team.
    You can’t explain it out, a reason that justifies his continued selection as a starter.
    Said it right before the match that I wasn’t too optimistic.

  93. 1. Away matches will be difficult to win if we continue this form.
    2. Top 4 may not be achieved this season.

    1. Funny enough, our away form looks really good. My fear is the lethargy and lack of bite Havertz brings into the midfield/attack in contrast to Xhaka.

      We need to show more aggression early in games against smaller teams and bury the game early when playing at home. The patient buildup which worked well today might probably work for big home games like today’s. What a melodramatic display!

  100. The Ref tried to cheat his way to a United win but it backfired. Surely Arteta will now see we are a better side with Havertz on the bench. Saka whas been well below his high standards this season.

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