Clrnc wrote: Every pre-match thread when we visit Etithad is always full of positivity. 😆 I will take a draw easily
Every pre-match thread when we visit Etithad is always full of positivity. 😆
I will take a draw easily
Yeah I would a draw now, but if we can nick three points, it would give a tremendous boost to everyone. Especially now you may have even more competition for the top 4 positions.
KDB is out according to Sky, good news.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/12105643/kevin-de-bruyne-out-of-man-citys-clash-with-arsenal-on-saturday
I'd take a draw too but City have been shit this season. We shouldn't be scared. If this was at home I'd be quietly confident but you know, its not so I'm not. 😆
Guardiola said KDB is out
KDB out, Partey in
KDB will play. It's us, guys.
Our new potential capability in transition and midfield strength/physicality means we are better able to use our pace in attack to open teams up, as seen in the recent games involving MC, LFC & MU.
https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/OvAWBOcjxE-BWjH1pxSP_g/Show/Arsenal-dominate-Manchester-City-in-surprise-combined-XI
https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/r6LkGTn6_U-8HcAiFGOYnQ/Show/Premier-League-team-news-and-prediction-Man-City-vs-Arsenal
My mistake on Tierney. I had read he was out but clearly that wasn't true.
Leno Bellerin Luiz Gabriel Tierney AMN Partey Xhaka Willian Lacazette Aubameyang
GK, Holding, Elneny, Ceballos, Saka, Pepe, Nketiah.
Cedric playing U23 football today. Quality investment that
Gazza M wrote: Cedric playing U23 football today. Quality investment that
Raul's most memorable legacy.
I don't think Partey will play today except perhaps as a sub. I'm not expecting too much outta this, a draw would be grand.
If we go for it I think we'll have a good chance to win, like Leicester the other week, but I can't see Arteta do that. He'll play for a point and hope that we press them enough to shake out a chance or two. Xhaka, Elneny and Willian will start.
the way we play now sometimes makes you feel like we're relying on jammy goals. But more often the case when we do score they're things of beauty. Arteta knows how to coach them to produce these goals but it seems doesn't dare to take the risks needed to make them happen more frequently.
Yeah, sounds accurate. Some have floated the idea that adding a stronger defensive spine will get us to open up more going forward, and I think we'll see between now and January if that is really true. Gabriel and Partey are strong improvements in their respective area.
It's probably too much to ask for an ambitious attacking performance against Manchester City either way in fairness, but I'd be willing to take a beating just to see us try being more fluid going forward.
The “things of beauty” are mostly as a result of individual (Aubameyang’s) finishing quality to be fair. Absent those, we’d be plodders.
Klaus wrote: ...but I'd be willing to take a beating just to see us try being more fluid going forward.
...but I'd be willing to take a beating just to see us try being more fluid going forward.
Oh, that way lies madness.
Similar frustrations got me wishing us out top 4.
I don't really get how those situations are similar. You wanted us to drop out of the top 4 just to bring on some change, whereas we're likely to lose against City no matter what we do. I'd just like to see us back our attacking players as much as we do the defenders for once.
League is so competitive right now that every point counts. We will eventually play pretty football. I’d rather take an ugly win than an eye-opening defeat today. I doubt Arteta goes home and thinks this is classic stuff
Claudius wrote:I’d rather take an ugly win than an eye-opening defeat today.
I’d rather take an ugly win than an eye-opening defeat today.
Anyone would take a win, but I don't think we're more likely to get one by playing ugly and defensively, especially after Leicester just showed what could happen when you press them from the front instead of obsessing over how you're going to cope with their pressure. It's all moot though, whatever happens happens.
