⚽ Villa away Satters 12:30

lorddulaarsenal

We’re gonna wash that City loss right outta our hair!

Trossard to start please.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

I want to see:

Ramsdale

White
Saliba
Gabriel
Tierney

Odegaard
Jorginho
Zinchenko

Saka
Trossard
Nelson

Tam

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert I'd like to see Zinchenko start in midfield for us but I don't think it would work. Replacing Xhaka would push him too far forward and I think our shape and progression of play would suffer as a result. Firstly, we'd lose that from a deeper position as Tierney would change our approach, and we'd dilute Zinchenko's influence pushing him that far forward. I don't think he could play the Partey/Jorginho role as he's not defensively sound enough for that position on his own.

Big Willie

Should let @Pepe LeFrits start doing matchday threads again. Ever since he stopped we've been dropping points.

RocktheCasbah

I'm at my uncle's tomorrow for this one. Save yourselves all the trouble and do something else with your day, we're nailed on to lose.

Gazza M

the narrative suggests we go down in a jaded, feeble heap here, but this team been full of surprises this season. let's see what happens

JazzG

We have been way off last few games, this is a massive test for us. Forget about the Title and everything else, just need to focus on getting our game up to scratch.

Kel Varnsen

JazzG We have been way off last few games, this is a massive test for us. Forget about the Title and everything else, just need to focus on getting our game up to scratch.

Depends on what you mean by "way off". Most "domination indicators" are similar to previous matches this season. We generally dominate possession, we get the ball in the into dangerous areas and we have more open play shots than the other teams. Just like we did earlier this season. The main difference is that we're no longer dominating xG. This is also my main impression from seeing the matches. We are able to bypass pressure and get the ball into the areas we want to, but from there things seem to clog up.

mohan

I hope we get out of the rut we are in .

goon

Partey sounds like he could be back, I wouldn't risk him regardless though.

I'm also going to go against the grain and say I wouldn't change too much on here, I feel like we need some stability rather than lots of changes. I'd leave Xhaka in so the midfield isn't altered too much and then maybe play Trossard over Gabi. White can come back in too.

Big Willie

goon I'm also going to go against the grain and say I wouldn't change too much on here,

Agreed. I'd probably only bring on Trossard for Marti and possibly Tierney for Zinchenko.

RocktheCasbah

Sounds like we might have Emile back on the bench, that'd be a big boost

goon

Lovely sight.

HomeSteak

ESR back in the squad. He can finally start his season. Partey out again.

The way things are right now, lets just hope Unai beats himself with going ultra defensive. Otherwise, I don't see us getting more then 1 point. But if we somehow get 4 points from this and Leicester we will be on track. After that we should have Jesus and Partey back and the football we play will be better.

lorddulaarsenal

We’re winning this. Wounded animal and there’s nothing Ezri Konza or Callum Chambers can do about it

Clrnc

We HAVE to win this. Turning point of the season like last year at the shit lane

QuincyAbeyie

Clrnc biggest game of the Emirates Era.

Claudius

Sooooo,
Other than that unfortunate Everton game, our last few matches have been against the top 6 teams in the league. And we’ve dropped about 2 points relative to City since Xmas if we win today. So just hold our nerve and win. And keep it moving.

Win today and there is no crisis. Just a team ploughing through a hard part of the schedule. Lose or draw and we raise questions.

KingslandBarge

COYG
How great was Leno's ET save at Villa Park last March? New occasion, want new heroics.

Gazza M

probably nothing

QuincyAbeyie

Gazza M I still have PTSD from those two matches.