I bet all Arteta and his boys want to do against the Saints on Friday night is win and bounce back from the disappointments their last two league outings have turned out to be.
The clash against Southampton comes immediately after Arsenal failed to dispatch West Ham at the London Stadium, that game ending in a 2-2 draw, just like the Liverpool game before that. Some issues have been raised about what Arteta has been doing wrong, but for this piece, I’d like us to discuss Arteta’s lineup and the many questions that have been asked about it.
We recently discussed how Arteta ought to start being ruthless with his line-up and ought to tweak things up. Well, against Southampton, he ought to make some changes. I wouldn’t recommend many changes. Of the starting lineup that Arteta deployed against West Ham, I’d recommend Arteta make two changes: bench Bukayo Saka for Leandro Trossard and also bench Kieran Tierney for Oleksander Zinchenko. A starting eleven of Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Holding, and Zinchenko; Partey, Odegaard, and Xhaka; Trossard, Gabriel, and Martinelli, should take care of a struggling Southampton.
As for Saka and Tierney, I’d be bringing them on around the 60th minute of the game, and not just them alone; I’d also give Reiss Nelson adequate minutes and also Jorginho. For the subs, Saka will replace Trossard, Tierney will replace Zinchenko, Nelson will replace Martinelli, and Jorginho will come in for Xhaka and form a double midfield pivot with Partey.
With these subs and Jesus finishing his first game since returning, I’d say Arsenal is comfortably winning. What about you?
What would you change in the lineup above?
Darren N
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I very happy that Man city progressed to semis in champions League and will have to play both Leeds United and Everton who are fighting to stay in the pl in between their champions League game against Real Madrid this two pl games plus ours at the Etihad stadium might decide where the premier League trophy will go.
Ain’t it a shame though that we have to depend on such things when we should have been out of sight?
👍Naftali and Mikee19, I’ll be keeping my money in my pocket, while living in hope!
We’ve seen how ineffective Trossard and Nelson were, when they started the games as conventional RW
If I were Arteta, I would still keep Saka as we don’t have another specialist inverted RW. Unless Arteta would like to try Cozier-Duberry in that position
Zinchenko should be a starter if he is fully fit, because we need his creativity to break Southampton’s defense
Oh yeah I think this is very sounds great because if Saka seat on the bench for trosard if he comes in ,by the 60th minutes of the game Saka and tieny will be the game changer that will be great but arteta should be very careful because if he lose this Mach again that’s mean we lose the trophy 🏆 for guadeola Man City I know that we are gonna win the game arsenal 3 :0south that’s 3:0
I’ve heard on TalkSport news that Zinchenko is still out injured.
…and unlikely to play.
Jax, solves one selection issue.
Saka should have been taken off for trossard against West Ham nothing to do with the penalty miss he had a very poor game all round while Martinelli at least looked a threat everytime he had the ball and out the 2 of them was more likely to score or create opportunities for others!
Kinda agree. Yes,, bench Saka. Maybe not even use him. I’m a huge supporter of Granit Xhaka,, but I’d bench him too. He’s been non existent in the last two matches. Can play Jorginio(probably spelt his name wrong) in place of Xhaka. Bring Zinchenko back in. Naturally Trossard in for the replaced Saka. I’d be happy with a huge score line with no goals conceded whatsoever. That’s so important. As for substitutions, they need to be made early, not in the 80th minute. By now Mikel Arteta should be off his ‘L’ Plates and training wheels one would think. We need to be killing matches off in first half. It’s ridiculous when Arsenal are high up on the leader board for created chances,,, yet we are not taking our chances and putting them away. Come mid week, Manchester City won’t be conceding too many chances, I know that for sure. Whatever team Mikel Arteta starts with against Southampton, the lads need to play the 90 plus minutes with passion,,, not on sheer emotions. That’s been one of our downfalls of late. There are absolutely no excuses for dropping points. For the past month we’ve only been playing once a week. God knows what’s going to happen next season playing Champions League football,,, we’ll be kicked out and playing Thursday night football (Europa League). I don’t think that’s being overly critical
Zinchenko out for Southampton game also Saliba who is likely now out for the season.
Arteta should know that sub is done at around 60 minutes not 80 when all players are tired in the field
If we do not finish Champions this season, it is my contention that it was because Arsenal would NOT pony up the Fee for Caicedo in January!!!!
Before we played Liverpool, Partey had reportedly got a “knock”, but he played regardless, since we have NO recognized back-up for him..
He was certainly not at his best during that match!!!
I suggest he carried that knock thru to the game against West Ham, where Rice did his best early on to exacerbate Partey’s problem.
Again, Partey was NOT at his best in that match either.
It will be interesting to see what the dynamic duo do in this Summer’s transfer window!!!
(I will emphasize again that I do not see Rice as a back up for Partey, so let’s hope that the “Brains Trust” understand that!!!)
Sadly I can see Arsenal going after coverage for other positions, leaving only enough money to buy a cheap and cheerful CDM, and all our aspirations for next season will evaporate……..
I am, and still remain, a hopeful Arsenal Fan
Personally, I believe it’s a case of gamble or nothing. Zhivchenko in midfield, Tierney at fullback Xhaka out and more game time for E.S.R. Forget Viera as even a bench option. Send him somewhere where he can work on his physicality and whatever else needs to be done to improve his involvement in a game.