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Official Arsenal team to face Molde – Willian and Pepe start

Arsenal and Molde have both won their opening two Europa League games and a win for either team will see them sit atop the group with maximum points.

Mikel Arteta’s men will be feeling very good at the moment, the win over Man Utd will surely have lifted confidence to a new level and while the first-choice team will not start this evening you can be assured that the entire squad is on a high right now.

Beating Molde will not be overly easy, they are doing well domestically and are unbeaten in their last six competitive games, they appear to be an organised team, however, Arsenal should beat them this evening. It would be a huge surprise if they do not.

Do you like the team that Arteta has gone with this evening?

Leave us your comments below and maybe predict the score at the same time.

Also, if you go to the official Arsenal website here you will be able to get live commentary text and radio.

JustArsenal predicted line up (for comparison) here
JustArsenal match preview here

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191 Comments

  1. ESR not even on the bench!
    I thought he would start.
    I’ll start the formation guessing game……. 2-3-5 😜

  3. Why does Leno start? I thought Runar did a good job last game! Why have we two goalkeepers on the bench and no Balogun? Sometimes I dont understand Mikels decisions. Sorry my english are verry bad, Im from Norwey.

    1. @Coyg213

      Your English is actually better than you thought. My worry is the spelling of the name of your country. That’s the ONLY conspicuous error in your English.

      Norway should be the correct spelling in English.
      😀

      1. Thanks. I think you just trying to be nice, but I appreciate. 🙂 Plus I’m using auto correct and that helps too I think.

        The game tonight was changed when Mikel played Xhaka more offensive. But I still don’t understand why Runar didn’t play tonight and why Balogun was not on the bench. But overall good game from the lads. We march on. Next, back to pl and get a 3 points from Villa. COYG

    2. As usual, 3-4-3 when we don’t have the ball and 4-3-3 when we have. I hope for 4-2-3-1 when we’re attacking though

  7. 3-4-3 without ball…
    Kolasinac will drop down as LCB and Xhaka will take place as LB
    And with ball Xhaka might play as defender of deep lying Midfielder and Kolasinac will push forward as LB

    1. I hope it’d be:

      3-4-3 without the ball:
      ………………………. Leno
      ……….. Mustafi . Luiz . Xhaka
      Niles . Willock . Ceballos . Kolasinac
      …. Pepe … Nketiah … Willian

      4-2-3-1 with the ball:
      ……………………… Leno
      Niles . Mustafi . Luiz . Kolasinac
      ……………. Willock …………. Xhaka
      Pepe ………….. Ceballos …………. Willian
      ……………………… Nketiah

      1. Your 3-4-3 looks more like our shape, with the ball. Kolasinac would push up as a wingback and Xhaka would stay back on the left to make long passes.

        Without the ball, I don’t think Kolasinac would be pushed further forward than when we have the ball. Don’t think Xhaka would be defending behind Kolasinac when we don’t have the ball

      2. I think Balogun should at least have made the bench He’s been told he has a future at Arsenal and then not named in a 23 man squad that don’t make sense It’s a match Arsenal should win at a canter do why not give Balogun and Smith – Rowe if fit a run out It will be a dull match with nothing learnt at end of it A disappointing selection

    1. Oh and Leno makes a blunder and we all chat for the next 16 weeks how Martinez shouldn’t have been sold

    3. Some chance Arsenal not even scored more than seven in a match since 1948 and with our attack not likely to for years

  13. I was expecting to see some of the young players play, we are playing at home for God’s sake against a molde team who is not up to a championship level team and we already have 6points, I was excited when I read that we have three 18years old in the team. How exactly are we going to know if that new keeper is good or not, even if we are not going to use him in the later stages of the competition we should have at least use him in this kind of matches. I love Arteta buy some of his decisions I will never understand

  15. Oh jeez Karen Carney commentating again… 😩 Not like I can mute it, as the dog is terrified of the fireworks!

    Kolasinac looks like he’s shed a couple of pounds 😍

      1. 😂😂😂 You’re right, Dan! Have you done your predictions yet? Oh wait.. you’re having this week off 😂

  21. Why have we got a left footed winger on the right wing and a right footed winger on the left wing? Whatever happened to getting to the goal line and crossing into the box so no one is offside rather than stopping then moving backwards and making your cross easier for the defender?

    1. Declan I wanted to say the same thing but I didn’t want people to say I’m complaining, is it that arteta doesn’t know Pepe best position or what. I think the boy is even confused, today he play as a left winger tomorrow as a right winger.

      1. Thought about the same and there they are switching the sides. But don’t think it is helping Pepe. Anyone noticed Pepe crossing with his right foot (when playing through the right side). Is he trying (or forced) to change his natural game?

      2. Should have save it – saw the ball for a long time before he entered the goal. Alex is more solid keeper who should have play this game. Would like to see him in leq game, he deserves that

    2. After Leno played the ball up field…

      -We didn’t win the 1st ball
      -We didn’t win the 2nd ball
      -3rd player had so much time and space + a fantastic shot

      Hardly Leno’s fault

  28. Wow … those old familiar faces playing football that could grace any Sunday pub game … pathetic to a man

    1. It’s only fitting that they’re an Europa league squad now. Lol. I really thought ceballos would improve the way he did after lock down last season.

      1. To be frank though, the attackers are instantly passing it back to fullbacks whenever they do get the ball in a good place. I guess the whole team underestimated the opposition and are now regretting that, lol!

    2. Too many average players in our side William has been a flop so far this season Ceballos is not the answer to create and Pepe been a big let down Xhaka is not a player to help win a title Nketiah will be a good championship striker not Premier league material Who would have thought Elneny would be in favour well there are five reasons noted plus throw in a very average Lacazette and that’s why we are not going to be challenging for top honours any time soon

    1. So bad I am glad you are missing out,😂😂
      Jokes aside back to the continuous backwards and sideways passing, and whatever chances we have had (2, I think) we have not been able to take.

      1. Oh it’s on match previews 🤔
        Some weeks it’s on news and sometimes on opinion pieces .
        Oh well found it now 👍

        1. Nice one, Dan 👍
          (I finished ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ – was good. Now onto ‘The end of the f*****g world’ 👍👍)

  33. It’s so slow and pointless … none of the players are really first team quality which speaks volumes for the squad

  35. Playing well but slow just unlucky with an amazing finish. One thing is coming clear day by clear we need a good winger as well. Pepe is Gervinhio 2.0 (u always get a bit extra in next version) and Willian (less u say better). Where are all those Arsenal fans hiding? who were portraying willian as hazard. I remember some of the fans who objected to signing this Chelsea discard grandpa where told we don’t know anything about football and they were making fun of Chelsea fans after one game. In ur face to all those fans, the dude can not even find a player from run of three.

    1. Willian has been bad since his Fulham game. I think the Old trafford game finished his quota of good performances this month😂😂

      2. @Sid bro, he was pretty avg at old Trafford as well. He did nothing special and had a pretty avg game.

        1. Yeah now that you say it, he was avg. We still have a chance for a good performance this month then😂😂

  36. I’ve always tried to defend Pepe and give him a chance to settle….but he’s getting worse i think 🤔

    Maybe give him a run on the LW? Who knows

      1. I think we should sell him save some money on his wages. He is like that bad car deal where you go into a showroom to buy a car with all inclusive extra packages that other car makers charge you extra for then sign a big long PCP only later you realise why they what you bought was cheap and why brand name matters. Same happened to Arsenal we left Zaha and went for cheap installment option called Pepe.

        1. Spot on Mohsan. Emery kept saying he wanted Zaha, but Raul wouldn’t listen. Apparently he was trying to work an angle for himself too if rumours are to be believed about the pepe deal

    3. He and Xhaka are very horrible to watch I’m almost crying everytime Pepe holds the ball. I want to back him but I think we should start exploring ways to sell him, I don’t rate Nelson all that much but he is better as it seems.

      2. I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable with him being a wing back….

        Poor tackler
        Doesn’t track runner
        Holds ball too long

        Recipe for disaster for anyone that mY be required to defend

    1. Definitely onside….think its a difficult one for linesman to see who got thd touch to be fair on the officials but yet again another goal disallowed against us

  39. wtf is Xhaka doing, passing like that? Do we have a sideways long ball?🤣🤣
    And as I say that he helped create a goal,😂😂

  41. I think Leno should’ve been able to stop the first goal, but the boys replied nicely. Pepe is still killing our attacks on the right wing though

      1. His clearance was fine, but we lost two duels after that. He wasn’t quick enough to stop the shot though, despite seeing it from a distance

    2. I think some one needs to record pep’s recording and play it on repeat to Pepe all day every day…”get the ball pass the ball”..for God sales pass the ball pass the ball Pepe.

      1. Arsenal’s employees who scouted Pepe and the ones who approved Pepe’s transfer must be questioned. I believe they relied on stats too much when assessing Pepe

    1. Yes.. strange one it being disallowed… but will take an OG at this point all day long!!
      All to play for in the second, Dhoni! Will we see Auba??!

      1. Oh Kstix….what a question 🤯🤪🥴 I think Pepe just edges it…. cue the ‘Well stop moaning then, Sue” 🤣🤣
        How about you?

        1. i think they both have a missing piece from each other, Pepe is the finisher while iwobi is more mobile with the ball and passes better, it’s just the poor finishing for iwobi, that’s where pepe thrives.

      1. 😂😂 Mohsan!! I’d happily trade Pepe in for Zaha… wonder if Roy would be interested in a straight swap?!!

        1. Zaha’s ship has sailed and won’t return. Because we’ve got too many right-footed attackers who can play in his position, such as Aubameyang, Martinelli, Willian, Balogun, John-Jules and Nketiah

  45. Arsenal’s breakup with referees because of their lovechild-‘the offside goal’ continues this season,😂😂

    1. It can happen sometimes with on field decision making but how can you get that wrong with VAR is just unbelievable but then English Referees have to keep those high standards set by their ancestors (Howard Webb) lol!.

      1. Yeah, VAR is the one who instigated the breakup😂😂
        After Anthony Taylor cheated on Mike Riley with us in the FA cup final😂😂

  46. For everyone moaning about our style of play, the players are doing what the manager is wanting, even the sideways passing.

    We should be 2-0 up, bar a wrong referees decision and a great goal, stemming from the fact that Nketia, I believe, not being able to control the ball.
    That’s how I see it anyway.

  47. I wonder if somehow that tall striker from sweden can be fast tracked into the team? I am curious to see what happens if Eddie is paired with an imposing guy upfront. His pace and movement would benefit from that I guess.

    1. You spoiled him today with that weight comment😂😂
      He thought he became so thin he became Sterling😂😂

  52. Its obvious Ceballos is our only creative midfielder but why is he always sitting deep, is It the coach instruction or what.

    1. Imagine the headlines- “Norwegian minnows outgun Arsenal and score three against the North Londoners”
      😂😂

    2. I wonder whether him and Xhaka were playing with handbrakes on in the first half? They are more adventurous now.

  63. Great strike, difficult one to keep down on the first time shot…

    Willocks is having a really good game, hoping he can keep the form up against decent EPL opposition

  64. I don’t believe any other Arsenal player could have scored that goal – excellent from Pepe and Saka.

    1. They seemed to have a good partnership last season, hopefully this season we see a continuation of that more often.

    2. His left foot is magical when he puts his mind to it ,he gets unfair criticism because of his transfer fee ,but for me
      I look at his stats since he joined ,and that’s enough for me to know how good he can be .

      1. Thing with stats Dan is that even in mustafi’s worst season for us, opta stats showed him as one of the best in the epl

        1. 100% right Kstix….

          A famous quote “If you torture the data long enough, it will tell you what you want to hear.”

        2. But I’m talking about goals scored and assists not defending stats ,there is a big difference ,forwards are judged on just that and he proved it last season and he is proving it again ,and this is a player who is in And out of the team
          Give him a proper run in the league team and he will prove a lot of fans wrong

    3. I don’t think any player in our team can strike a ball better than Pepe. That is a stuff you don’t teach a player. Look at that pass to Willock. It is exquisite.

    1. Good to see someone happy when they score sue! Looks like we might start to see willock being more consistent 👌

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