Arsenal v Villarreal May 6th 2000 PM GMT: Page 3 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Arsenal v Villarreal May 6th 2000 PM GMT

Klaus

goon wrote:
Elneny had a decent game against Newcaslte but I just think in a game where we may end up needing to score a few goals against a team you can bet will sit back, having ESR in there to combine with Pepe and Odegaard will be vital.

I just think there's going to be a big risk of getting done in on a counter by the most in-form player in Spain. Partey hasn't taken a full sprint since he arrived in London, I think. We need someone who can clean up and shut down passing lanes.

I think we have to be brave and make a decision on Smith-Rowe rather than trying to gimmick him into midfield. For me he's slightly ahead of Ødegaard at the moment, and I think he'll score if he starts as a 10. Otherwise he should be on the bench imo.

flobaba

Wait, why can’t Cedric play left back? He’s not comfortable there, but he is serviceable. We need Xhaka doing Xhaka tings in that midfield, so we don’t have to contemplate El Neny or Ceballos and can focus on going forward and not plugging holes in 2 positions rather than one.

goon

Cedric cost us a couple of goals playing there and his passing percentage is atrocious.

I want us to play a move expansive game personally. Let Odegaard and ESR do their thing in a 3 man midfield and we can compensate by pressing high up the pitch. If there's one thing I've seen is that playing conservatively is often what bites us in the arse.

DKGooner

I don't get why we haven't tried Gabriel at LB ahead of Xhaka as would still be a left footer but a more natural defender in the position. Switching to a back 5 again seems rather pointless and having Gabriel at LB allows Xhaka to return to CM where he is a more reliable option than experimenting with Odegaard in a deeper role.

jones

Yeah Gabriel has decent feet and good pace, much more natural choice at LB. Maybe he doesn't feel comfortable there but at this point needs must

Coombs

That's essentially the same argument for using Xhaka.

Keep Chambers and Xhaka back a bit and play ESR, Odegaard, Pepe, Auba, and Saka as the attacking 5. Chambers and Xhaka can step into midfield next to Partey. Feels like the best way to score goals.

Don Pacifico

Klaus wrote:
goon wrote:
Elneny had a decent game against Newcaslte but I just think in a game where we may end up needing to score a few goals against a team you can bet will sit back, having ESR in there to combine with Pepe and Odegaard will be vital.

I just think there's going to be a big risk of getting done in on a counter by the most in-form player in Spain. Partey hasn't taken a full sprint since he arrived in London, I think. We need someone who can clean up and shut down passing lanes.

I think we have to be brave and make a decision on Smith-Rowe rather than trying to gimmick him into midfield. For me he's slightly ahead of Ødegaard at the moment, and I think he'll score if he starts as a 10. Otherwise he should be on the bench imo.

For what it's worth, even if it's not his normal game, Elneny can contribute in the final third (Welbeck's goal in particular showed good vision and execution).

Qwiss

Coombs wrote:
That's essentially the same argument for using Xhaka.

Keep Chambers and Xhaka back a bit and play ESR, Odegaard, Pepe, Auba, and Saka as the attacking 5. Chambers and Xhaka can step into midfield next to Partey. Feels like the best way to score goals.

I think Chambers and Xhaka together leaves us lacking when we go forward. We need at least one fullback who can get forward.

How about Saka at LB and Pepe-Ode-ESR-Auba for the front 4. Xhaka-Partey midfield.

Klaus

Don Pacifico wrote:
Klaus wrote:
I just think there's going to be a big risk of getting done in on a counter by the most in-form player in Spain. Partey hasn't taken a full sprint since he arrived in London, I think. We need someone who can clean up and shut down passing lanes.

I think we have to be brave and make a decision on Smith-Rowe rather than trying to gimmick him into midfield. For me he's slightly ahead of Ødegaard at the moment, and I think he'll score if he starts as a 10. Otherwise he should be on the bench imo.

For what it's worth, even if it's not his normal game, Elneny can contribute in the final third (Welbeck's goal in particular showed good vision and execution).

Yeah, agreed, I think he usually tries to play the ball forward under pressure unless he's being instructed otherwise.

Xhaka is the one you can't rely on to do that. He needs it on his strong foot under no pressure, otherwise everything breaks down. Every time I see an opening glued shut because he has to move the ball to his left before he plays a pass I die a little bit inside.

QuincyAbeyie

Wasn't Tierney in a fight against the clock to be ready for the first leg? Any reason he's suddenly not expected to be ready for this either?

HomeSteak

Quincy Abeyie wrote:
Wasn't Tierney in a fight against the clock to be ready for the first leg? Any reason he's suddenly not expected to be ready for this either?

Today was his first training with the group. He was doing work outside and Arteta said he is ahead of schedule so journalists jumped the gun and said he will be ready. But he is not...

Coombs

Qwiss! wrote:
Coombs wrote:
That's essentially the same argument for using Xhaka.

Keep Chambers and Xhaka back a bit and play ESR, Odegaard, Pepe, Auba, and Saka as the attacking 5. Chambers and Xhaka can step into midfield next to Partey. Feels like the best way to score goals.

I think Chambers and Xhaka together leaves us lacking when we go forward. We need at least one fullback who can get forward.

How about Saka at LB and Pepe-Ode-ESR-Auba for the front 4. Xhaka-Partey midfield.

It makes a lot of sense, but he hasn't played there in a while and I don't see Xhaka in midfield offering anything other than some stability. Fine if we were going into the game with a 1 goal lead, but we're down and need to score. I'd probably play him there, that being said, but whatever we do it has to get our most dangerous players forward and into the box.

banduan

I'm mainly hoping for Emery to overthink this one without even needing to.

Sicario

Luiz could be fit for tomorrow:

GooneriC

banduan wrote:
I'm mainly hoping for Emery to overthink this one without even needing to.

I am hoping Arteta doesn't overthink an overthinking Emery

KingslandBarge

Leno

Bellerin - Holding - Gabriel - Saka

Partey - Elneny/Xhaka

Pépé - Ødegaard - Smith-Rowe

Aubameyang

Claudius

Sicario wrote:
Luiz could be fit for tomorrow:

Looks like we finally have those horse placenta pills that teams like Spurs take to get their players fit again after a week.

Coombs

I wouldn't mind:

--------------------Leno
Chambers---Luiz---Gabriel---Xhaka
--------------------Partey
---------Odegaard---Smith-Rowe
Saka---------Aubameyang--------Pepe

even if it's not necessarily the team I'd pick myself. Smith-Rowe to overlap Pepe, who plays more as a striker, and Odegaard to interchange with Saka with Chambers overlapping. Xhaka steps into midfield to support Partey.

Sicario

Guys all I can say is mentally prepare yourself for tomorrow.

Going to be one hell of a stressful night but we can still do it.

Asterix

KingslandBarge wrote:
Leno

Bellerin - Holding - Gabriel - Saka

Partey - Elneny/Xhaka

Pépé - Ødegaard - Smith-Rowe

Aubameyang

Yep, Saka at LB seems sensible to me. He's played there a reasonable amount, he has the pace to defend their attacks and to hurt them on the counter. Then bring Martinelli off the bench for Smith Rowe in the 65th minute.

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