FA Cup | Arsenal - Newcastle | Sat, 17:30 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

FA Cup | Arsenal - Newcastle | Sat, 17:30

goon

Let's go for No. 15. Some ridiculous stat going around that we've lost just 3 of our last 38 FA Cup games or something. Hopefully we keep that run and our current run going. Given the first team have been taken over by kids we can probably field quite an experienced line up here.

Gabriel is back and so is Partey. I'm not sure what benefits the latter more, some mins as a sub or around 60 mins from the start, or being ultra cautious and leaving him out for another week or so altogether, but I'm minded to think that if he's fully fit he's fully fit.

I'd go with:

Leno

Cedric - Luiz - Gabriel - AMN

Ceballos - Partey

Pepe - Willock - Martinelli

Balogun

Yeah, it will probably be Eddie up top, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Willian get some mins either.

banduan

Can't we just keep the cup?

banduan

Nelson and Partey have returned to training. Would like to see the former start and the latter come in for fitness.

Qwiss

Can't see Nelson starting. He's behind Willian, Pepe and Martinelli who should all get some game time here. If Pepe doesn't start this he probably wont be here at the end of the window.

KingslandBarge

Nice pic. Lets keep this winning run going. Cedric against ASM? Not sure about that one.

Klaus

I'd love to see Eddie up top with Smith-Rowe and Martinelli in the team. He's the sort of striker who thrives on movement and we've had very little of it around him this season. There should be lots of good combination play there.

Agree with Qwiss about Pepe. If Arteta doesn't start him in a game like this he'll signal to everyone that he doesn't want the player, and I can't see him staying either in that case. It's one thing to lose out to Saka who's in the form of his life, but if you get benched in an early FA Cup round for a 32 year old Willian it's nothing but a fuck you from the manager and a cue that you should just leave.

I think he'll start though, both him and Willian. It's probably gonna be Marty who gets benched.

Don Pacifico

Based on the latest update today, I took it that Gabriel hasn't returned yet so seems unlikely he'll feature on Saturday? Also liked they were cautious about Partey's chances of being involved too.

Claudius

Great OP, Goon, as always.

Leno

AMN - Chambers- Luiz - Cedric

Ceballos - Partey

Pepe - Willock - Martinelli

Nketiah

I think Cedric should play left back. F-him. Play Nketiah as well.

Thuis lineup really suggests that Balogun and Nelson both need to go on loan. They can come off the bench but can't get enough time if they are behind this group

Anzac

I don't like Willock as CAM & would rather play 433 or 442 if that is our cover for ESR at #10.

EDIT - after the news of the loan and it's implications, the Cups become a LOT more important as likely being our best road into UEFA comps as a Cup side rather than a league team.

lorddulaarsenal

Size of Overmars’ shirt

GooneriC

Had one those in XL , would look crazy now lol

Qwiss

Anzac wrote:
I don't like Willock as CAM & would rather play 433 or 442 if that is our cover for ESR at #10.

We should play 3 of Pepe, Willian, Martinelli and Nelson behind the striker. I think the natural choice there is Pepe right and Martinelli left with one of the others at 10, I'd go Nelson but I'd be absolutely shocked if Arteta picks both Pepe and Nelson to start this game.

KingslandBarge

Qwiss! wrote:
I'd go Nelson but I'd be absolutely shocked if Arteta picks both Pepe and Nelson to start this game.

You willing to make a friendly non-monetary bet on this?

Claudius

Nelson feels the best fit. But he appears to be the forgotten man.
The rapid separation amongst our young forwards and AMs has been interesting

MistaT

Nelson seems closest to ESR's skill set.

Tad slower on the ball, as he's so confident with it, but he's always available and covers the pitch fairly well.

----------Auba--------
Marti -- Nelson -- Pepe

I'd be open to giving Balogun the CF start if we think it'll convince him to stay.

QuincyAbeyie

Balogun
Marti Nelson Pepe

is very good for a kids + fringe players lineup.

Sicario

Quincy Abeyie wrote:
Balogun
Marti Nelson Pepe

is very good for a kids + fringe players lineup.

I would go with that as well.

Fact/jinx of the day: Hector Bellerin has never lost an FA Cup game for Arsenal

Clrnc

Great. Last time you gave a fact like this about Arteta never losing a cup game mid week or something Runarsson happened

Tam

Not sure I'd trust Nelson to have an impact through the middle.

Is there no desire to see Martinelli more central?

goon

I've mooted Nelson in the middle a few times. He doesn't have the intelligence of ESR to find space, but he has the technical ability and the ability to link play. I think it's worth a try personally.