Arsenal are scheduled to take on Manchester City in a blockbuster clash this weekend and they will be coming off the back of a hard-fought win in midweek. Cristhian Mosquera was one of the stars of the show against Athletic Club last time out and his recent performances will put him in strong contention to start this weekend.
In fact, the most logical selection alongside Gabriel would be the Spaniard and this is due to his form and a recent injury to William Saliba. The £13 million summer signing has certainly defied expectations so far. He came on for Saliba in the 4th minute at Anfield and hasn’t put a foot wrong at the heart of defense. The fact that we haven’t even felt the absence of such an important player is testament to how seamlessly he has fit in. The young Spaniard certainly deserves his plaudits, however, I think William Saliba should come in for the Manchester City clash this weekend.
Why Saliba Should Return
The Frenchman returned to first-team training prior to the Nottingham Forest game last weekend, while he was named among the substitute’s bench in midweek. The in-form Erling Haaland is almost exclusively the only reason I think Saliba should come in.
Haaland has been a man on a mission in recent weeks. He has scored 12 goals in his last six appearances for club and country, a run that includes five goals in a single game against Moldova. The Norwegian’s form will be a huge concern heading into the encounter and that is exactly why William Saliba should make the starting lineup.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five matches against Manchester City in all competitions and even though Haaland scored two goals in those encounters, the Norwegian was largely kept at bay by the formidable duo of Gabriel and Saliba. Haaland usually targets the weaker defender to play off and I’m not necessarily saying that Mosquera is a ‘weak-link’, but he’s certainly a less imposing presence than Saliba. Mosquera is also less superior in the air and considering that is one of Haaland’s strongest attributes, the inclusion of Saliba would make a lot of sense.
Balancing Form and Fitness
There will obviously be a need to ease the Frenchman back into the fold and Mosquera’s form will certainly encourage it. However, the aforementioned points cannot be ignored surely?
Do you agree gooners? Let us know in the comments.
Benjamin Kenneth
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That’s a big call, one that MA will have to make. Saliba and Gabriel have handled Haaland pretty well to date but he is in fine form at the moment. Which is better a 100% fit Mosquera or 90% fit Saliba? Big, big call.
This is really a tough call. I will say that experience in this league matters a lot and the mental ability to cope in tough situations with man city will need a Saliba. If by second half Saliba has issues, Mosquera will replace him.
This one will be a huge call as the poster above suggests, but the gaffer will not resist the temptation to play his mind games here.
Saliba experience could be crucial in a fixture of this magnitude.
The Big question is, will Arsenal release the handbrake and throw caution to the wind on Sunday, I think they will
Saliba must start if he and the medical staff believe he is ready to go and MA believes he is a better selection than Mosquera (which I would agree with here).
My suggestion:
Martinelli Gyokeres Madueke
Eze Rice Odegaard (if avail.-otherwise Nwaneri)
MLS Gabriele Saliba Timber
Raya
MLS?
I just feel he is better able to limit Silva or Savinho with their speed and quickness. I believe he would be more able to open the door for Martinelli & Eze. Whoever plays I hope they are in the more traditional LB role and not some kind of roaming X man.
To be truthful Gabriel is the guy that handles Harland , Saliba only cleans up any mess Harland tries to make if/whenever he manages to escape the choke hold of Big Gabi. Yes Saliba should start if anything he understands the magnitude of the game and knows what is at stake better than Mosqera who would approach the game as if it’s any other game.
Only if Saliba is fully fit to play
I’m not too worried about Haaland, because he wouldn’t be able to shoot if we can dominate Man City
Man City’s most dangerous attacker is Doku, who’s become extremely confident after making a lot of successful take-ons in the last two matches
Madueke should work hard to help Timber marking Doku
@Gai, I think Diku can be handled he hardly had any joy plating against Arsenal. He has never made an assist or score against Arsenal. If Mosquera plays, he has been helping Timber on the right.
The alternative is to have Saliba play CB while Timber is sacrificed for Mosresca to play as RFB Doku won’t be able to handle Mosquera. physicality
Arteta has options. No excuse not getting the points at home. This kind of points will matter in the Race for title.. Gai, Liverpool musnt be given a breathing space.
I would rest him. I think they should rest him a bit longer even if he’s fit. Play him for a few minutes and Increase game by game. Ease him in. We aren’t starving for quality defenders
I think that Arsenal will need to be right on it this weekend. City will still be hurting from their last visit, and will have a score to settle.
Don’t be surprised should Haaland score to see him do his sit down celebration to make a point to a certain Mr Skelly.
If Saliba’s fit, I would like to see him back in the line-up for this one. But if not, on the evidence so far I’m sure that Mosquera can handle both himself and the occasion.
Let’s hope Saliba is motivated and hasn’t been unsettled by Mosquera’s displays. This is the competition we asked for as supporters let the best man/player win.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So far Mosquera hasn’t put a foot wrong and he’s brimming full of confidence. He’s also fast and good in the air contrary to what the poster said up there.
Gyokeres.
Eze. Nwaneri. Madueke.
Rice. Zubimendi.
Calafiori. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
Arteta –
Gyokeres.
Martinelli. Merino. Madueke.
Rice. Zubimendi.
Calafiori. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
We have many players now in every department. Last week we played Odegard while he was not fit, Why is the manager doing this?? So Ssliba must rest and recover well and so is Odegard. I think we still need another striker for good competition
I don’t think having a fully fit Saliba or not will be a problem for us, Benjamin. His replacement has been as solid as any player in our team. The key to this game is being brave and going for the jugular, which means, please do not pair up Merino and Zubamendi in midfield. I wasn’t impressed at all with City playing against Napoli. Even with 11 players on the field, Napoli would have been toothless. A bunch of old men really. Again as against Liverpool, City are there for the taking. If we can’t do it, it will mean that something has gone wrong in the summer window, or someone has not done their homework properly.
And let’s not forget that we have had two additional days to recover in comparison.
If Saliba is available then he should start.
Knowing that we have a great back up for him is a huge bonus. If for instance Van Dyke was returning from injury, it wouldn’t matter how well his replacement had performed, he would simple walk back in to the team. IMHO the same applies to Saliba.
My point e.j.s. is that Saliba is not the key to us winning this game but rather revolves around us winning the midfield and creating chances.
I don’t believe we should sit a player of Saliba’s level who is ready/fit to play and who’s currently deciding whether to accept our contract offer.