Arsenal have already had two problems from the international break, with both Mo Elneny and Sead Kolasinac ruled out of Sunday’s game at Leeds due to being tested positive for coronavirus, but now we have been devastated by the news that Thomas Partey will also be unavailable after sustaining a thigh strain during our infamous defeat against Aston Villa.
The Arsenal official site doesn’t give any indication of how long Partey’s rehabilitation is going to take, so he culd be out much longer than we expected.
So it is now looking like we will be returning to seeing Xhaka and Ceballos return as our midfield pairing, which is a shame as many of us were thinking that Elneny and Partey were going to be first choice after their excellent display against Man United.
One bit of good news is that Pablo Mari is now rejoining group training and we may finally have another central defender for Mikel Arteta to choose from in the near future.
Another little boost is that Gabriel Martinelli will also be back in contention very soon, as the latest report from Arsenal says: “Gabi has also progressed very well is working well in group sessions and aims to integrate into squad sessions over the next two weeks.”
All I can say is that I hope Ceballos and Xhaka will be enough against Leeds, but I think we are going to want Partey to get back to fitness as quick as possible as we have even tougher tests ahead..
Leeds players are extremely fit and continuously move about the pitch…I see Xhaka struggling
Xhaka and Cebalos will not strike fear in the Leeds camp, and sadly so, it will serve as an impetus for Leeds to have a ferocious go at Arsenal… This game isn’t the time for an all out attack, instead, Arteta should abide with a counterattack approach… Different from what many may think.. It should be:
Auba, Laca, Pepe
AMN, Xhaka, Cebalos, Bellerin
Tierney Gabriel, Holding
And in the end, we simply wait and hope!
The mighty Arsenal has to park the bus against newly promoted Leeds??!!!!!
What is mighty about your Arsenal? We are talking about a Leeds team that will clearly outwork your mighty Arsenal. Most teams that have sliced Leeds open did so using the counterattack… Moreso with Xhaka and Cebalos, both very slow in advancing the ball, what do you expect?
This isn’t rock bottom. But its pretty close to it. Being an Arsenal fan has always been about playing of the front foot.. not we counter attacking newly promoted sides. Its official. We are a mid table team.
I hope it’s not the 3-4-3 again, we are so stale and lifeless in that formation. If we persist with this nonsense, it’s no surprise we will struggle to create any chances, get overrun in the midfield, and play too much of the match in our half of the pitch.
Time to mix things up, try a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 to breathe life into this team.
Xhaka and Ceballos just have to give their 100% all and they can produce a good performance.
I want to see Aubameyang play through the center.
Saka, Aubameyang, Pepe,
Willian,
Xhaka, Ceballos,
Tierney, Gabriel, Holding, Bellerin,
Leno.
This players can win Leeds on their day.
Leeds were very bad in defending.But their attack is strong.
If we are to win we musy take our chances
Against arguably the fittest team in the League we need fresh “legs” like Willock and AMN .I do hope Arteta will revert to a flat back four but, in any event, I suspect he will rest Saka after his exertions with England and leave out Laca and Willian who have been poor for some time.I think he will line up with a front three of Auba. Nketiah and Pepe although not necessarily in that order.
1-0 win for U23s.. ESR with the goal. Balogun saw red 😬
Now roll on Sunday…. so glad football’s back 🙂
I’d rather play Maitland-Niles in that position. Xhaka is just bad news for Arsenal
Don’t think Arteta favors AMN for his reasons I guess. Despite being a better defender than Hector, faster and better defender than Xhaka, and better on the ball than both.
I’d like to see AMN in midfield to be honest, not like the midfield could be worse, or doesn’t need a shakeup.
We can’t sit back on our heels and invite attack. No Willian please, no 3-4-3. We need directness, pace and creativity:
Saka Auba Pepe
Ceballos Xhaka Maitland-Niles
Tierney Gabriel Holding. Bellerin
Or even
Auba.
Saka Pepe Nketiah
Willock Maitland-Niles
Tierney Gabriel Holding Bellerin
Very very worrying that Xhaka may be playing, a disaster waiting to happen. But injuries and illness forcing the nightmare scenario.
Will be glad to see Xhaka back in starting 11. He is our most influential player and biggest leader in team after Luiz!
Want to see
Leno
Bellerin holding Gabriel Tierney
Willock maitland-niles Saka
Nelson Nketiah Aubameyang
Will probably see
Leno
Holding luiz Gabriel
Bellerin xhaka ceballos Tierney
Pepe lacazette aubameyang
Its bad news as both Partey and Elneny will not be playing. My line up would be:
Lenno
Belerin Holding Gabriel Tierney
AMN Willock Ceballos
Pepe Auba Saka
Only worry is that Saka is exhausted and if MA decides to rest Saka, than the front 3 could be
Pepe Nketiah Auba