Fulham vs Arsenal | Sat, 12:30 | it's back! - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Fulham vs Arsenal | Sat, 12:30 | it's back!

goon

We've got our Arsenal back...

It's back. The start of another slog to achieve a top four finish and I think it's crucial to get a good start. Sadly still in empty stadiums but it should help us here.

Expecting us to stick with a 3-4-3 for now. It's hard to pick a lineup without knowing what fitness levels are like so I'm going to go with something that's probably pure fantasy:

Saliba - Luiz - Tierney

AMN - Ceballos - Xhaka - Saka

Pepe - Laca - Auba

Didn't have the heart to drop either Leno or Martinez. I love Leno but I don't think Martinez has done anything to warrant being dropped either, so I dunno 🙁

I think Hector and Holding may start though. But I'd be weary of playing too many players who might not be here this time next month.

Anyway, Fulham are not Chelsea, City or Liverpool so this might be a tough game, but I'm hoping for a confident performance and if Fulham still have Tim Ream at centre back we should be putting 8 or 9 past them really.

I'm going to go for a reassuring 3-0 win.

Claudius

Thanks, Goon.
Is it about a top 4 finish or is it about moving the team forward in terms of how it functions? Remember that we had a few gorgeous goals that we all rave about, but the offense is still very rudimentary because it is dependent on a few basic moves of progressing balls down the flanks with, at best, a late switch of play. We need to build variety into offence, which will also help us get variety in goal scorers.

And then defence, we need to work on set piece defending mainly. Working on offense will relieve defense substantially. I think marked improvement on these measures is what we should be looking for this season, much more than a top 4 place.

Burnwinter

Think we'll win this, and the summer has felt positive (even though actual squad changes have not totally set the world on fire so far in the window), but I'm maintaining full mid table realism.

Would be interesting to see a few minutes of Gabriel, who I think has been training with us, or a few more of Saliba in this match, even if neither starts.

Thanks for putting the match time in the thread Goon, be good if we could do that this season, helps me plan as I'm in a weird timezone.

Burnwinter

Nice thoughts Claud. It's all about getting some of the fast-changing components of our first team settled and firing.

I think I agree with your general take. Up front it's about getting Pepe delivering and getting the likes of Saka and Willian into form and understanding around Auba. In midfield we really need one or more signings because we're short on depth and quality. At the back we should hope to sort out our best defence sooner rather than later given we now have substantial competition for places.

KingslandBarge

Would be nice to see a back four. Something like below:
Martinez; Maitland-Niles, Holding, Luiz, Tierney; Xhaka, Elneny, Ceballos; Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang.
Subs: Leno, Kolasinac, Saliba, Soares, Willock, Willian, Lacazette.

banduan

I'm wondering if we played with a back 4 and tested our 4-2-3-1 in that Villa closed door friendly. Would explain the secrecy.

Mirth

Not keen on facing a newly promoted side as the first game of the season tbh, I suspect it'll be a close game.

TambourineMan

Hope we stick to the 343 until we get our midfield targets in.

Clrnc

Scott Parker's team is positionally very disciplined and fast on the counters.

But we have our number on Fulham. No worries. We have always won our first match of the season if it's not at home

Qwiss

Mirth wrote:
Not keen on facing a newly promoted side as the first game of the season tbh, I suspect it'll be a close game.

At least theres no crowd to push them on.

goon

It will essentially turn into a 4-3-3 when we have the ball anyway.

jones

Great photo

KingslandBarge

Bellerin's furrowed brow, slug hug is a bit intimate but nice photo.
How about this moment from the same game?

Great transition goal

Anzac

KingslandBarge wrote:
Bellerin's furrowed brow, slug hug is a bit intimate but nice photo.
How about this moment from the same game?

Great transition goal

Also typical of Wengerball even if it did come under Emery.

goon

Luiz possibly out for this and possibly long term too according to Orny. Holding likely to start and stay.

Probably means a start for Saliba or Gabriel too I’m guessing, I mean there’s literally no one else.

Clrnc

That explains why we are keeping hold for Holding. Makes perfect sense now.

HomeSteak

Yep, Luiz out for 6 weeks. He got injured in the Liverpool game and made it worse in training(why was he training injured?)

Don Pacifico

That's a shame - not so much because I like Luiz but more because we can't monetise our unused assets/give them experience elsewhere.

KingslandBarge

goon wrote:
Probably means a start for Saliba or Gabriel too I’m guessing, I mean there’s literally no one else.

Was wondering if we'd see an academy CB on the bench even before finding out about Luiz's injury, given Medley is loan too.

speedy

@[deleted] I'd imagine with one days prep before the game he was sore everywhere after. Which probably stopped him realising that one of thr pains was more serious until it 'went'