Arsenal v Monaco
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Confirmed Arsenal team to face Monaco – Lewis-Skelly starts

Arsenal welcome French giants Monaco to the Emirates this evening in the Champions League and this is the side that Mikel Arteta has selected.

As things stand, Arsenal are tenth in the standings, and if they were to remain in that spot, they would face a playoff. This is why it is imperative for them to finish in a top-eight position, making nothing less than a win acceptable this evening.

Monaco are a strong side; they are currently third in Ligue 1 and eleventh in the Champions League standings, tied on points with Arsenal. Additionally, they have already beaten Barcelona this season in the UCL.

That said, Arsenal are the better team and are playing at home, which is why they are the hot favourites to win this game. Adding to their advantage is the rich vein of form they have hit recently, and all indications suggest that tonight will be a good night for the Gunners.

However, any drop-off in performance will likely be capitalised on by the French side. Monaco is expected to set up for the counterattack, deploy a low block, and look to frustrate Arteta’s men as much as possible.

This game promises to be a classic European tie, full of potential pitfalls. But if Arsenal play to form, they should secure the win, hopefully by a comfortable margin.

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85 Comments

  2. Absolutely ridiculous while I haven’t got anything against Lewis Skelly, if we needed it confirming then this is it.

    Tierney is definitely finished at this club. How with the injury situation were currently in Tierney still doesn’t get a game is completely beyond me.

    I said in an earlier comment in the day, that Id be the first to gun for Arteta if Tierney didn’t start tonight’s game, and I’ve kept my word.

    Arteta has treated Tierney so badly, that I for one wouldn’t blame him if he turned around to Arsenal and said that he will just see his contract out. And that the club are not going to get a penny for him, and that if they want him out then they’ll have to buy out his contract.

    Although I don’t know how long he’s got left on his contract. But as far as I’m concerned, Tierney doesn’t owe Arsenal a thing, and he especially doesn’t owe Arteta a thing.

    The way Arteta has treated him, is exactly the same way he treated Smith Row. Bad management. (Embarrassing).🤷‍♂️😣🤦‍♂️

    1. KT has been finished at Arsenal for 3 years, it took this long for you to work it out?

      100% makes sense playing a youngster with a future at the club ahead of KT

            1. That’s a good question. They see their fellows name and thumbs up a post probably without even reading the comment since most of the apologist posts leaves a lot to be desired.

        2. to boost his resale value and last resort should we have injuries

          it is clear, for several years now, KT has no future at Arsenal, it is so obvious, why cling on to the past?

    4. Well said Derek.The final act in the humiliation of KT has been carried out by Arteta, despite earlier indications that he would play him.I have had doubts concerning our Managers tactical nous for some time, but as a person, he has lost my respect.

      1. Grandad,

        Thank you for your kind words.

        Smith Row suffered the same fate as well remember.

        Certain fans on these forums have a dig at me for my constant sniping at Arteta, but when you see some of the decisions he’s making it only strengthens my belief, that if we don’t win something this season, then he needs to jog on.

        Grandad, watch some of them come for me now.

        1. Now this looks a lot more balanced than what we had at the weekend. I’m especially rooting for Myles. Hope he has a big performance.

          1. Already made a difference – I do think he can be a real top player. Very comfortable on the ball, rarely loses it, strong and can win the ball and he can pass. My only question would be how well he plays the left back position defensively (positional sense) as I am not much good a judge of that and he definitely looks like a central midfielder when he has the ball

            1. I think the fact that he looks strong enough in duels against older guys tells me he’d do just fine defensively. He looks so composed as he did for that goal.

      2. Grandad you nailed your colours to the mast regarding Tierney from the outset and it’s hard to take when the manager disagrees with you. We will have to see where all this leads.

    5. It’s why I will never like Arteta again. The horrible treatment did not start with Tierney he has done that countless times to previous managers players.

      He has chronic injured players too but we don’t see that mistreatment do we?

      I can neither relate to Arteta’s Arsenal way nor do I want to. Authoritative and dictatorship with favoritism on top yet an empty cabinet to show for it!

    6. Derek- do you see how ridiculous sounds now after watch the game? That’s why you are not the manager. Just enjoy and support the team

  4. Still decent line up. But we can’t deny we are going to miss Timber and the Pathey midfield abilities such as ball distribution and occasional goals. I hope Rice play 6 and Merino plays 8.

  5. That left side of defence still a big worry. Throwing in a teenager in there …just hope he won’t get overwhelmed

      1. You’d rather we lose today so you get Arteta fired? You know what? We are not losing today. When will you get it? Arteta is Arsenal’s manager, not you. He plays whoever he wants to play, not who you want to be played.

          2. The trouble is when you are so vociferously against a player or the manager- should it come back to bite it can make you look a bit of a ….

            1. ” . . . a bit of . . . ”

              That looks a bit of injustice for playing ellipsis in place of a word on fire.
              Play the word!

    2. not got many options at LB right now

      giving Timber a rest makes sense, then the youngster is the better choice (KT not kicked a ball in 6 months)

  6. Lewis Skelly is a midfielder never has been a lb way above jorgino level by the way Tierney is a fantastic lb when fit which is is now

  7. I still think that Tierney can come on during the match, but it is certain that even if Tierney were a starter, he wouldn’t be able to play the full 90 minutes. I just don’t know if I would risk keeping Partey on the right flank, but I also don’t know if I would risk putting another youngster there…

  8. Great to see Skelly starting in an important match. He is being molded to play the inverted LB and it is great to finally see him in action. Love Tierney but his fate has been long decided, he has admitted to never fully adapting to the inverted LB role and Arteta clearly has no desire to use a traditional LB so he’s stuck.

    As usual there is no winning with certain fans, Arteta get blasted for not playing youth like nwaneri but also get criticized for playing Skelly.

    1. Ackshay,

      Ordinarily I’d be delighted to see Young Skelly in the line up. But with the experience Tierney has and the clubs current injury list I felt that Tierney was the way to go.

      1. Tierney admitted he never adapted to inverted LB role which is Arteta’s tactics, and you are here crying over Tierney, fans like you can never be satisfied, no matter what.

    2. With respect Lewis Skelly is a promising young midfielder who is being played out of position when a seasoned Scottish international who is highly regarded as a natural left back is left on the bench?It simply does not make sense to me and I only hope the youngster does not get taken to the cleaners against a very capable Monaco side.

  9. A player has been training for a couple of weeks after being out injured for 5 months and people expect him to start. Maybe, just maybe, Mikel has learnt not to rush players back, like he did with Partey a few years ago, when he went off injured again in the first half in his comeback game.

  11. Well, I guess the manager will be a hero and a master tactician if we win and a loser with no ideas if we lose…. I’m sure we all want the latter.

    I do agree with Grandad and Derek regarding his treatment of Tierney however and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth…. just as it did with ESR and Ramsdale.
    There is a difference between these two and the likes of Aubemeyang, Ozil and Guendouzi, who one could say had a different situation with Arteta and some fans applauded him for his ruthlessness.
    But Tierney has been the model professional and I feel he is, not only humiliating the player, but making a nonsense about the claim he’s on the bench to showcase his fitness and value.

    1. Ken1945,

      Well said, It’s not the first time that Arteta has said one thing and then done the complete opposite.

      Grandad makes the point of Tierney being a seasoned Scottish International, and Arteta’s picking a kid who is actually a midfielder.

      What message are you sending the full backs if your picking midfielders to play both the full back positions.

      And there are fans that actually rate this joke of a manager. (Although they’re entitled to their opinion, that’s for those that get rattled if I’m not taking their opinions into account).

      1. Yes, I spotted that later on Neutral 😂😂😂
        It’s my age sir, I get muddled up trying to predict what MA will do next.
        All’s well that ends well and I wonder what team will start against Everton?!
        I’m not predicting anything!!

    3. I’m not seeing it as humiliation.

      Cedric sat on the bench throughout last season for what I imagine are the same reasons – he was pretty much finished at Arsenal but he refused to move on at less money. Tierney would have been loaned or sold to Sociedad if they’d been interested, but once again he was injured and they passed.

      He also admitted that he couldn’t adapt to the LB role the way MA plays it – inverted.

      It’s not Arsenal’s fault that he has these problems. He’s there despite the best efforts of everyone to let him develop his career as best he can elsewhere, probably including Tierney himself.

      In the meantime, he provides cover from the bench in an injury crisis, as Cedric did. He’s still an Arsenal player and the club is entitled to get some value from the money they pay him.

      There’s little point in being nostalgic over Tierney for what he did early on when the club was rebuilding, it’s a tough business and tough decisions need to be made. We have no idea how he is in training, how prone to further injury he is or anything.

    4. Ken1945:

      1st paragraph:

      ” Well, I guess the manager will be a hero and a master tactician if we win and a loser with no ideas if we lose…. I’m sure we all want the latter. ”

      Maybe you and some others.
      But certainly not all of us.

  12. Very disappointed with the team selection against Monaco Arteta has his personal favourites how else could a centre forward who cannot score and whose overall contribution is not good enough get the CF spot,Jesus does not deserve to play and poor Tierney is being mistreated im beginning to doubt Arteta.

  15. Agree with the line up .
    In a good position regarding going forward in the comp ,top 8 ATM no need to risk further injury.
    A draw would be a good result 3 points even better obviously.
    Unfortunately the CL as now turned into the comp every fan had a disdain for .

    1. I really rate MLS, and have since first seeing him. Just need to see him put under a little more pressure defensively to be sure of him at left back but he’s passed every test so far and he’s so so good on the ball. Never really looks under pressure.

      1. I think both he and Nwaneri are showing bags of promise

        I’m currently looking at the Jesus assist which was excellent. If only he was as accurate on goal as he was with his 2 goal chances

  20. Jesus should have kept going, he could have scored.Instead he slowed down, angry he didn’t get the first through ball.
    🤨

  21. Excellent first half from EVERY player.
    Well done to MA so far, the crowd is fantastic and could the best be reserved fir the second half?!

  22. That was a lovely first half with our front 4 back to their electrifying best, Lewis Skelly showed great composure for the goal and Partey has been excellent. Couldn’t have asked for more apart from better finishing

  23. On another day,we could be 3-0 ahead,but I’m not complaining. I think Jesus just needs something to go into the net so that he can get confidence and composure. Besides the finishing,he’s played well.

      1. Ha ha! NYG
        A couple or three chances missed but overall it was a good night and Skelly seems more than happy to appear on the big stage

    2. Great result and fantastic performance. MLS was pretty impressive. Calm and composed, provided very good balance.

  26. We’ve been sussed in the dark arts SueP 👺👺
    I said before the game started, MA will be seen as a hero or a loser tonight – anyone who argues that he’s not the former really does have a personal agenda!!
    I stand by my view regarding Tierney’s treatment, but can ANYONE name our strongest eleven after this performance ’cause I can’t!!
    I wonder what MA will come up with for the Everton game?

    1. Ken1945
      I’ve tended to follow Arteta’s ‘nose’ for these things. He’s not always right but I do think he is following a plan – which won’t always work on a weekly basis but is his template for a more complete Arsenal in time

      1. He’s like Marmite it seems – but there is a middle road and that’s acknowledging both his successes and mistakes.
        Some seem incapable of doing that!!

        1. Very true
          At least have the decency to post when the going is good. Some of the hysterical comments BEFORE a ball was kicked had the hallmark of an expectation of a poor night. I’ve never shied away from posting about a disappointing result It seems they have had an early night instead of sharing the joy 😂

      2. MA says he selects based on what he sees in training, So the “best 11” would seem to be a combination of:

        1. The tactics he wants for the next match.
        2. The players who are playing the best(in training) in the roles he wants to put on the field.

        Since we don’t know either of those things (quite rightly – if we knew, the opposition would know too)… no fans will be in a position to say who should or should not play in each match.

        I can’t understand why fans rant that so-and-so should be playing when the key facts that lead to selection are not available to them. 🤷

        1. Good points.
          There are only 11 spots in the team. He sees the players regularly and so is far better placed than any fan.
          The noise around certain players is sometimes quite ridiculous.

        2. Neutral, we “rant and rave” because we are passionate about our club.
          It’s not because we have a vendetta against any particular player, manager or backroom staff… even the owner!!
          If we weren’t allowed to give an opinion, because we didn’t know what was going on behind closed doors, would sites like JustArsenal exist?

          We give our opinions and that’s all it is – if others want to make it a “us and them” situation, then I suggest they are the ones who are being ridiculous!!
          Tierney has been on the bench for three / four games now, so all the talk about what goes on behind closed doors is, surely, irrelevant?
          I give you the Ozil situation, where there was obvious conflict and he was quite obviously, ostracised… not the position with Tierney, so I voiced my thoughts as to why he was not being played – being told I was making a ridiculous noise, is both insulting and childish.

          I can assure you of this, no one enjoyed the result more than I did last night, the performance of MLS and MA’s perfect plan to beat a very good club.
          But I will still question what is going on with Tierney, especially as the manager himself has said he’s part of his plans! /

          1. Unfortunately, binary views such as “Arteta will be seen as a hero or loser” are reflective of the dichotomy which you now seem to criticise. The attempts to impugn the motives and credibility of the manager by making outlandish comments about his reasons for leaving out the likes of KT are also distinctly unhelpful.
            As it has been pointed out we have no idea how KT has performed in training and we do not know his level of fitness even if he has been able to make the bench.
            As you say you are free to give your opinions. However, you should know that they can be challenged.
            Being passionate is all well and good but just look back at some of the comments made before the game and consider what kind of comments would have been made if we had drawn or lost the game.

  27. Hey Derek, we won by 3 goals, you wanna say something? You’ve been complaining tirelessly before the match, maybe you have a thing or two to say now.

    1. Angelo,

      I’ve already congratulated them on the result.

      So, while I sometimes let my frustration get the better of me(my bad), I do give credit where it’s due.

      And the performance tonight was good overall.

      I also acknowledged young Lewis Skelly on his very mature performance for someone so young.

      Even though I was banging the drum for Tierney’s inclusion, I’m big enough and ugly enough to admit that.

      So yes I can come over as blunt at times, but as I said earlier, I do give credit where credit is due.

      And on the performance overall, I’m more than happy to do that.

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