Unai Emery has to get his team selection right for must-win game at Leicester City.
There is no getting away from the fact that Unai Emery cannot afford to lose against Leicester City on Saturday. If he does then the pressure on him from some of the fans will be immense.
The thing is this, Arsenal has a very strong squad and have the players to win this game but the team selection, tactics and formation have to be spot on.
Under normal circumstances when Arsenal play midweek in the Europa League the players that featured would not be picked at the weekend in the Premier League. I am not sure that will be the case this weekend.
The game was fairly local in terms of travel, it was Portugal not Azerbaijan and it was on a Wednesday.
As usual, it is always a bit of guesswork with Emery’s team selections. But I do try.
In goal Leno is a given and to some extent so is the defence. I do feel he will start Tierney even though the Scottish international started against Vitoria. Luiz and Sokratis will most likely start in the centre, Emery trusts them for some weird reason. Bellerin looks good to start on the right.
Midfield is generally tricky but due to injuries, internal problems and the opponents I think it is fairly straight forward this week. Guendouzi is an almost certain starter and for me, so is Torreira. With Ceballos now sidelined it looks nailed on the Ozil will start. I am also of the opinion that Joe Willock will be given a start.
I am not convinced that Emery will start Pepe, he just will not go too heavy in attack away from home. He is a pragmatist after all. So, Aubameyang and Lacazette up front.
Predicted lineup
Leno
Tierney
Sokratis
Luiz
Bellerin
Torreira
Guendouzi
Willock
Ozil
Lacazette
Aubameyang
Of course, Emery could pick a team with as many as six changes to my predicted lineup but when taking everything into consideration I am fairly confident I will be close.
It doesn’t matter if you select the Messi Ronaldo and VVD without a clear plan and understand from all parties you’re just relying on lady luck.
That’s a good prediction, he will play a diamond formation again with Guenduozi as the base.
Btw Emery should figure out how to fix our defence, look at Arsenal results this season below. We always score in every match, even when we were struggling to get a shot on goal. Imagine what if we are solid defensively.
November 2019
Wednesday 6th November
Europa League
Vitoria de Guimaraes 1 – 1 Arsenal FT
Saturday 2nd November
Premier League
Arsenal 1 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers FT
October 2019
Wednesday 30th October
Carabao Cup
Liverpool 5 – 5 Arsenal FT Liverpool win 5-4 on penalties.
Sunday 27th October
Premier League
Arsenal 2 – 2 Crystal Palace FT
Thursday 24th October
Europa League
Arsenal 3 – 2 Vitoria de Guimaraes FT
Monday 21st October
Premier League
Sheffield United 1 0 Arsenal FT
Sunday 6th October
Premier League
Arsenal 1 – 0 Bournemouth FT
Thursday 3rd October
Europa League
Arsenal 4 – 0 Standard Liege FT
September 2019
Monday 30th September
Premier League
Manchester United 1 – 1 Arsenal FT
Tuesday 24th September
Carabao Cup
Arsenal 5 – 0 Nottingham Forest FT
Sunday 22nd September
Premier League
Arsenal 3 – 2 Aston Villa FT
Thursday 19th September
Europa League
Eintracht Frankfurt 0 – 3 Arsenal FT
Sunday 15th September
Premier League
Watford 2 – 2 Arsenal FT
Sunday 1st September
Premier League
Arsenal 2 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur FT
August 2019
Saturday 24th August
Premier League
Liverpool 3 – 1 Arsenal FT
Saturday 17th August
Premier League
Arsenal 2 – 1 Burnley FT
Sunday 11th August
Premier League
Newcastle United 0 – 1 Arsenal FT
Leicester will use five midfielders, hence Arsenal should counter their tactic and it’s time to force the Gunners to work with 4-3-3:
…………….. Leno
Bellerin . Mustafi . Luiz . Tierney
…………….. Chambers
……. Guendouzi ……… Willock
Pepe …………………. Martinelli
……………. Aubameyang
Sokratis is better be replaced with Mustafi, because I don’t he can cope with Vardy’s pace. Aubameyang must play as a false nine like Firmino and accompanied by our lethal inverted wingers, Pepe/ Martinelli
@gotanidea
You know it’s really bad and rock bottom when fans start reminiscing about dead-wood like Mourinho, Wenger, Ozil, Mustafi etc.
Emery, what a legend. Got everyone wishing for the return of Wenger, Ozil, Mourinho, Mustafi etc.
Never thought things would ever get this desperate. But genius Emery just gone and done did it.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
😂
I like this team, it could do well with the right tactics and some coaching. I have wanted to see Chambers as DM since beginning of season, but alas, it is probably a forlorn hope.
👍 although Ozil should start over Willock, on current form, if Arsenal wants to come out fast. Willock can always come off the bench.
Socrates has lost his pace and is now forced into clumsy challenges. Mustafi is fighting hard for a return.
False nine and inverted wingers ha ha, can’t help it gotanidea, you do make me laugh. Tell me, is a false nine what we used to call a deep lying centre forward? A bit like the position Alfredo de Stefano used to play for the great Real Madrid side of the the early sixties lol. Yeah, although he wore the nine shirt, he used to sit behind Luis del Sol and Ferenc Puskas, more like a playmaker than an out an out front man, because if it is it’s the last place I want to see Auba. You must understand, with his pace you need to play Auba on the shoulder of the last defender. Secondly, inverted wingers? what’s their position? Coming in off the wings and clamming up the middle. If you’ve got a quick front man like Auba you need width. Tell me, where do you get all these wonderful positions from, was it that foul mouthed pundit Carragher. you know, the guy who spits in the face of little girls, sure I heard him refer to a false nine recently. Sorry Admin to bring up that disgraceful behaviour. I just don’t want people to forget.
He’s been explained what a false 9 is, but refuses to accept it.
Cesc playing for Spain as a striker at Euro 2012 was a false 9. Hazard playing for Chelsea as a CF was a false 9, etc
Auba CAN play as a false 9, but you’re wasting his best qualities to use his ‘only’ good ones.
I don’t think any kind of selection will make any difference.
As long as our manager (Emery) does not seem to know what the hell is going on himself then what is the point?
Emery has run out of ideas and he’s got as much influence on the team as us the supporters at the current juncture. I have a really bad feeling that Leicester as going to humiliate us.
Imagine Flippin’ Leicester has a us Arsenal fans all resigned to a comprehensive defeat before a ball has even been kicked.
How the mighty have fallen.
It is so depressing. Same old resigned feeling like we had in wengers last 7 or so seasons.
😒
Nope with Wenger it wasn’t about mid or bottom table clubs
How about some credit to Leicester City. They have won the EPL more recently than Arsenal, or Liverpool, Spurs and Manchester United for that matter.
I think there’s 4 players who you know will start every week, unless injured/banned. Leno, Sokratis, Luiz & Auba. The rest, is anyone’s guess!
Surely you’ll be spot on this week, Martin! I like that line up.
I would go 352
Leno
Socratis Chambers Holding
Pepe torreira Gouendouzi luiz Tierney
Auba lacca
Or 343,dropping pepe and putting Ozil in behind the front 2.
I think we wilk go 3 at the back but only my opinion.
I think he will indeed go with 3 – 5 – 2 or 3-4-1-2 as it seems by playing Tierney midweek, he will go for Kola against Leicester. And Leicester away, he will not use Kola as a LB, but as a LWB.
But Holding on the left does not work (Holding as such doesn’t work right now, but give him some time after his injury)
This could be his team against Leicester away:
——————–Leno———————–
——Chambers—-Sokratis—-Luiz————-
Bellerin—-Guendouzi—-Torreira—–Kolasinac
———————-Ozil———————
————Lacazette—–Aubameyang———–
I do believe that Diogenes’s 3412 will be the squad in Saturday. Emery will play Guendouzi no matter what.
You can’t give what you don’t have. That Summarises Emery. Even if he picks the right system, he will utilize the wrong players and whenever he selects the best players then he will utilize a wrong system. The result proves my statement. See you after the match on Saturday so we can get the analysis on ‘How We Lost The Match’. Hopefully that will be the last straw that breaks the camel back.
@Admin Martin.
Your Arsenal PL starts away to Leicester tomorrow are good and strong. But save Bellerin and Tierney who will from the 2 full-back positions come forward to attack as wing-backs I have not seen any specialist right and left backs in your starting XI for the match. But don’t you think this will handicap Arsenal in attack at the 2 wings during the playing of the match?
And if Lacazette who has not scored in as in 3 matches for Arsenal including a start since he was back from the sidelines to not be highly efficient in the matches to score and gives assist? But was he the one that provided the assist to Aubameyang to score in our last home match against Wolves in the PL? But if he’s not started to lead the line in our tomorrow’s match, who else Emery will start instead to lead it? Aubameyang? But Emery will start Auba in the match from the right side as a left winger if Saka is not starting. Right? But at right wing who else beside Pepe can efficiently start from there as a specialist RW? None beside him I think. But he played the full 90m of the rain soaked match away to Guimaneas last Wed in the Europa. And therefore he should be thought to be tired or fatigued to start the Leicester match. But he didn’t show any sign of tiredness in the Guimaneas match. Did us see how he raced forward with the ball centrally toward the Guimaneas half at the very death of the match, but was flagged offside? I think like the ex-Gunner Ramsey who was noted for his stamina in his playing for Arsenal, Pepe also looks to have stamina. But Emery knows him better than I do. But nevertheless, I am starting him in my predicted front three for Leicester.
My predicted Arsenal 4-2-3-1 formation starting XI and the 7 Gunners I have on the bench for Leicester are as below.
Starts:
Leno;
Bellerin Chambers Luiz Kolasinac;
GuendouziTorreria;
Pepe Ozil Saka;
Aubameyang.
*Pepe and Auba can interchange positions during the match.
Bench:
Martinez AMN Sokratis Tierney Willock Smith-Rowe Lacazette.
I think my starts and bench are perfectly okay to beat Leicester and they will beat them. But only if Emery agrees with me to adopt starts my bench for the match. But would he? Let’s wait to see.
Emery playing 3 a the back on the midweek should be a clear sign that He can’t fix our defensive issues, so I think He will use it again,
leno
chambers.sokratis.luiz
bell..torr..will..sead
………Ozil
….Laca…..Auba
Start with both Leno and Martinez in goal and we might nick a draw!!
😂😂👍
Excellent, Roachie 🤣🤣🤣
@Admin Martin.
Your Arsenal PL starts away to Leicester tomorrow are good and strong. But save Bellerin and Tierney who will from the 2 full-back positions come forward to attack as wing-backs I have not seen any specialist right and left wingers in your Arsenal starting XI for the match. But don’t you think this will handicap Arsenal in attack at the 2 wings during the playing of the match?
And if Lacazette who has not scored in as in 3 matches for Arsenal including a start since he was back from the sidelines but has not been highly efficient in the 3 matches he has played to score or give assist? But wait a minutes, was he not the one that provided the assist to Aubameyang to score in our last home match against Wolves in the PL? But if he’s not started to lead the line in our tomorrow’s match, who else Emery will start instead to lead it? Aubameyang? But Emery will start Auba in the match from the right side as a left winger if Saka is not started. Right? But at right wing who else beside Pepe can efficiently start from there as a specialist RW? None beside him I think. But he played the full 90m of the rain soaked match away to Guimaneas last Wed in the Europa. And therefore he should be thought to be tired or fatigued to start the Leicester match. But he didn’t show any sign of tiredness in the Guimaneas match. Did us see how he raced forward with the ball centrally toward the Guimaneas half at the very death of the match, but was flagged offside? I think like the ex-Gunner Ramsey who was noted for his stamina during his playing time for Arsenal, Pepe also looks to have stamina too. But Emery should know him better than I do. But nevertheless, I am starting him in my predicted front three for Leicester.
My predicted Arsenal 4-2-3-1 formation starting XI and the 7 Gunners I have on the bench for Leicester are as below.
Starts:
Leno;
Bellerin Chambers Luiz Kolasinac;
Guendouzi Torreria;
Pepe Ozil Saka;
Aubameyang.
*Pepe and Auba can interchange positions during the match.
Bench:
Martinez AMN Sokratis Tierney Willock Smith-Rowe Lacazette.
I think my starts and bench are perfectly okay to beat Leicester and they will beat them. But only if Emery agrees with me to adopt my starts and bench for the match. But would he? Let’s wait to see.
………….Leno
Bellerin..Holding..Luiz..Tierney
Torreira……………Guendouzi
………….Ozil
Pepe……………….Martineli
………..Aubameyang
@Innit.
I’d consider Lacazette more than martineli.
Martineli should come as a substitute.
👍 👍
Aubameyang…
Martinelli, Lacazette, Pepe…
Guendouzi, Torreira…
Tierney, Luiz, Holding, Bellerin…
Leno.
Subs – Saka, Ozil, Willock, Chambers, Kolasinac, A. M-Niles, Martinez.
What team should Emery pick?
A good one….🤔
The side needs experience.
————-Leno—————–
Bellerin–Sokratis–Mustafi–Tierney
——-Torreira——-Luiz——–
————–Ozil—————-
—–Auba——Laca——Pepe—–
4-2-3-1
The front three can press, and should do so with passing lanes poached by Ozil, who is deceptive in making idiots think he is lazy. The speed of the wing backs should create more interceptions. With Luiz and Torreira There are subs to come up front when they are tired. Martinelli can also be used as his recovery at the break will be excellent. Pepe is needed for the shots from set pieces and also from long range outside the box. That will allow for more space to run into with Ozil having more options at his disposal.
Ozil has to play 90 minutes and finish the game, but no pressing duties. He should be intercepting, and then transition to attack, creating chances for the front three. Ozil can have the pick of three FWDs. He can also go wider crozz in for headers or full blooded shots with Luiz running behind him on occasion and Mustafi for the rare surprise. Having Torreira act as the extra defender at all times would help let Luiz and Mustafi deliver an aerial attack too.
Torreira and Luiz should boss the middle with tough tackling. Luiz can also pass well, and play in set pieces along with Mustafi. Occasionally, Luiz can come in to put in a cross. The link play with Ozil is essential as both Luiz and Torreira can dribble and pass. Luiz to Ozil will be pair to watch, as both are highly experienced, and playing together as AM/CreativeMF will allow them to use each other’s strengths. Torreira
The two central defenders should not attempt to play from the back, rather send the ball for the forwards to chase. If there is not pressure, then play from the back. It is essential to keep a clean sheet, but the tactics should support that effort.
Very surprised people picking Bellerin, he hasn’t looked at all sharp when he has played and is apparently struggling to get his pace back. His type of injury takes months to recover from and chambers has done well at right back, this season.
I suspect Emery may deploy Chambers as a DM to pick up Maddison, but if he selects Luis and Socratis they will be exposed by Vardy’s pace.A draw would be a good result for us.
A draw would be a good result. I know that wont suit people but that is realistic.