Well it is absolutely imperative that Arsenal continue their winning run and progress to the Quarter finals of the Europa League, but despite the Gunners only managing a draw in Lisbon, I think that Arteta will still make quite a few rotations to the starting line-up.
To be fair we certainly have a hell of a lot of quality on the bench nowadays so we should still have more than enough firepower to get through despite Eddie Nketiah still not being available. As Martin Odegaard said yesterday: “We did some things in the game that we normally don’t, and we know they have quality so they will punish you for any mistakes. We gave away some simple balls and we can’t afford to do that.
“So I think it was a bit too open and we didn’t play with the control that we normally do.
“On the other side, we showed a lot of good things as well, so if we learn from what we did wrong, put that right tonight, then we can fix it here at home.
There is no doubt that Sporting are very quick on the break so we will have to make sure the defence is solid, so I think Saliba and Gabriel will be back after Kiwior was given his debut last week.
Turner was a little criticized after last weeks game but I think he will keep his place, and I think Ben White will be back and Tierney is hopefully recovered from his illness last week.
Odegaard was also sick, but I think he will return alongside Jorginho and maybe Fabio Vieira will be kken to face Sporting too.
Up front, I think maybe Arteta will play Jesus, but he surely can’t play the whole game, and I think Trossard, Nelson and Martinelli will be in the starting XI and Arteta will have options to change things around later on.
As long as we keep tight at the back to start with, I am sure we will make inroads as the game goes on.
So my team prediction is…..
Turner
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney
Odegaard, Jorginho, Vieira
Trossard, Nelson
Martinelli
What team would you choose to make sure we get a result tonight?
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Probably going to have to be a strong side to make sure of qualification,I expect something close to our PL set up except maybe Turner and something different up top .
Turner
Tomi, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney
Jorginho, Odegaard,, Vieira,
Nelson, Jesus, Martinelli
Saka needs a rest. Change fullbacks but keep centrebacks.
4-2-1-3 with Jorghino and Xhaka sitting.
Pragmatic 0 – 0 draw is sufficient for us with CP at the weekend.
Turner
Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney
Jorginho, Xhaka
Odegaard,
Nelson, Trossard, Martinelli
You have to keep Partey, Jesus and Saka on the bench just in case.
0-0 draw won’t be enough as away goals don’t count
Why goalless draw??
Either team has to win this game to get through…
There is no away goal rule anymore in CL and EL
So each goal has same weightage irrespective whether it is been scored home or away…
Why goalless draw??
Either team has to win this game to get through…
There is no away goal rule anymore in CL and EL
So each goal has same weightage irrespective whether it is been scored home or away…
Why goalless draw??
Either team has to win this game to get through…
There is no away goal rule anymore in CL and EL
So each goal has same weightage irrespective whether it is been scored home or away…
@Perry and Kedar
So used to going out on away goals in the past that I completely forgot about the changes to the rules.
Thanks for reminding me.
Turner
Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney
Jorginho, Trossard
Odegaard
Nelson,Jesus, Martineli
Ramsdale
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney
Odegaard, Jorginho, Vieira
Trossard, Saka
Martinelli
Tuner;
Tomi’ Saliba Kiwior Tierney;
Nelson Vieira Xhaka;
Saka Trossard Martinelli.
Final score-line @full-time is: Arsenal 2-0 Sporting CP.
This why a Manager’s job can be tricky and be a headache
But I guess seeing them in training will help the gaffer in decision making
If the away-goals-rule was still in place then shuffling will not be an issue
But as that isn’t the case u need a team that can win it …u know the 11 u can trust
That aside
Jesus is back
Trossard is beginning to really blend, he sheds the goal-creation-weight off our right-side (all Fulham goals came from our left)
Martinelli seem to be getting the goals presently
Saka is the star-boy
So will Jesus be directly integrated back to the 11 or he has to fight to for it