Arsenal - Watford | Sunday, 2pm - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Arsenal - Watford | Sunday, 2pm

goon

Last game before yet another international break, real chance to go into the Xmas period on a high.

West Ham play Liverpool while United play City, so if we win there's a decent chance we end up joint 4th or even 3rd on points alone.

The game feels like a bit of a banana skin, I guess they all do or will, until we can prove that we can turn these games at home into routine wins.

Tierney is being assessed, but I don't see much point in rushing him back.

The line-up is a tricky one. Do we leave it as is? Do we got back to a 4-3-3 to cram more forwards? Do we stick with Laca?

For me I'd go with this:

Ramsdale

Tomi - White - Gabi - Nuno

Partey - Lokonga

Saka - Ode - ESR

Auba

Laca starts huffing and puffing after around 40 mins, so just bring him on instead especially if we're struggling. Partey needs a proper partner I think and it doesn't seem to work in a 3 for him, plus I don't really want to move ESR from the left wing at the moment either.

3-0, routine win.

Qwiss

I'd just play the same team as the last 2 weeks. If the fixture list was a bit tighter I could see a reason for switching it up but we need to keep a winning formula while its available to us, even against Watford.

Anzac

Qwiss! wrote:
I'd just play the same team as the last 2 weeks. If the fixture list was a bit tighter I could see a reason for switching it up but we need to keep a winning formula while its available to us, even against Watford.

This, let alone one of the criticisms of Arteta last season was he hardly played the same starting XI in consecutive games.

Anzac

goon wrote:
Partey needs a proper partner I think and it doesn't seem to work in a 3 for him, plus I don't really want to move ESR from the left wing at the moment either.

IMO the issue with a 3 man midfield is both Partey and Lokonga are both better suited to playing with a more defensive minded partner as opposed to playing that role themselves.

Burnwinter

Love that lineup Goon.

We should have some sort of Arsenal Dickhead Index dating back to the 90s. Our current first XI with Xhaka out is one of the most likeable, man for man, that I can recall us ever having.

QuincyAbeyie

Partey injured again it seems..

HomeSteak

Well this is not good

KingslandBarge

Partey was in yesterdays training pictures. I know a lot can happen from there all the way up to announcement but trust his omission is precautionary or short term. Many on here wanted to see Maitland-Niles getting a start in the middle and that wish has been granted. I don't necessarily trust the combined work rate of this paring across the 90.

Pepe LeFrits

Fuck sake

Come on Arsenal

Burnwinter

AFCON preview lineup …

QuincyAbeyie

KingslandBarge wrote:
Partey was in yesterdays training pictures. I know a lot can happen from there all the way up to announcement but trust his omission is precautionary or short term. Many on here wanted to see Maitland-Niles getting a start in the middle and that wish has been granted. I don't necessarily trust the combined work rate of this paring across the 90.

None of the people who wanted AMN to start wanted him to start in Partey's place though. If this is wish-granting it's some monkey's paw shit.

Burnwinter

It's as relaxed a chance to impress as Maitland-Niles is going to get this season. Up to him now.

jones

Yeah against Watford at home should be fine. However Partey missing makes the whole team immediately look on the verge of collapsing

Klaus

Ainsley will be fine, it's Lokonga I'm worried about. Bloke's too easy to press.

Qwiss

How did Partey go from barely missing a game for Atletico to missing so much for us. We don't even have midweek games.

Anyway against Watford we should still be able to win. And I'm impressed Arteta hasn't fallen back into playing Elneny.

Big Willie

On the plus side Xhaka continues to keep being left out of the match day squads.

Burnwinter

We genuinely don't have much footy this season, though. Maitland-Niles needs games to maintain his value and actually have a career. If he impresses under fresh instructions, perhaps he can compete with Sambi.

Don Pacifico

Klaus wrote:
Ainsley will be fine, it's Lokonga I'm worried about. Bloke's too easy to press.

On the flip side, both still have a fair amount to prove in terms of defensive awareness and consistency in distribution.

We knew we'd have to field this CM pairing at some point but continues to underline how thin our options are in the middle of the park. Still wonder whether Chambers should be an option there as the more defensively minded partner.

Burnwinter

Big Willie wrote:
On the plus side Xhaka continues to keep being left out of the match day squads.

I know he's not always an awful footballer, but I'd be happy never seeing Xhaka start for us again. Him being out and an unbeaten run has gotten me enjoying watching Arsenal.

est

Big Willie wrote:
On the plus side Xhaka continues to keep being left out of the match day squads.

Long may it continue.