PSV vs Arsenal, Tuesday

RocktheCasbah

Can't work out how to get an image in, but the Smith is back in training.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/gallery-preparing-psv-london-colney

goon

So desperate for him to make it. He’s got a real chance now for some mins with Vieira out and Arteta committing to attacking 8s.

Don Pacifico

HomeSteak I kinda love that lineup but I also think it's hugely dysfunctional. I'm all for rotation and giving the youth players a run-out but I think you have to give them the platform to perform well otherwise you risk a detrimental experience that sets them back more than it builds them up.

There's too much inexperience and too much Cedric in that back four to get a cohesive performance so I'd be surprised if we don't see two of White, Saliba in Gabriel starting.

RocktheCasbah

goon yeah, agreed. Obviously!

Just seen that Emile made the plane, so hopefully he can get some game time and start building back ~~better~~ to where he should be. Looking at us on Saturday evening, it feels like his return may be quite timely.

Qwiss

goon he's exactly the sort of player you want coming off the bench at the moment too. He's an accelerator and makes us more direct. May not always be what Mikel wants but there are times it'll be important. I really hope he can stay fit for most of the rest of the season.

Pepe LeFrits

Mikel's in good form

lorddulaarsenal

DiabyKungFu how did we get on?

DiabyKungFu

lorddulaarsenal how did we get on?

Not totally sure. I think the only reason I knew that there was two Thierry Henrys out there was because one of them scored and then another one came up to him to celebrate. I guess that's somewhat positive.

goon

Qwiss

I dunno. Maybe he won’t win the ball in the air like Havertz does or make the same back post runs, but both are quite vertical players who excel off the ball and get in goalscoring positons.

I think he’s the perfect alternative for the left 8 role.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Big Willie would the right back be able to get the ball to them though?

lorddulaarsenal

Excited to see Smith Rowe return. With the evolution of the team he has one trait in particular which I think now suits our game. The ability to carry the ball in to the box with drive

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

lorddulaarsenal think he could do well at LW(F) like he did a few years ago, too.

lorddulaarsenal

Yes I’d be willing to try him there again. Would make us narrower down that side but we might get more combination play.

Martinelli appears to been reset back to factory settings

lorddulaarsenal

—————————Rice
————-Odegaard——Havertz
Saka—————Jesus————-Smith Rowe

Would bang

Pepe LeFrits

Nwaneri, Walters and Sousa are the only youth teamers to travel to NL. Think Arteta's selection tomorrow is going to inspire a mini melt down.

Pepe LeFrits

I guess best case is:

Ramsdale
Cedric Walters Kiwior Sousa
Elneny Jorginho
Nelson Nwaneri Trossard
Nketiah

Guess we'll probably see something stronger though

Panda

Definite starters must be Ramsdale, Kiwior, Jorginho, Elneny, Trossard, Nketiah and Nelson.

The other 4 spots will probably be filled by Gabriel, White, Havertz and Cedric knowing Mikel.

Asterix

Why the hell am I seeing people starting Cedric????

My guess is that Raya will play, as will one of Saliba or Gabriel. Ben White probably too. Plus one of Sake or Martinelli.

Mikel's a stubborn guy - you have to be at this level.

He's said that he has to rotate but that he still has to play a strong team to try and win the game.

My guess

Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Kiwior
Jorginho Elneny
Nelson Trossard Martinelli
Eddie

Daz

Asterix he still has to play a strong team to try and win the game.

Except he literally doesn't have to win this game. If he doesn't take this golden opportunity to both rest as many first team players as possible and give a run out to squaddies/youth then it's big black mark against him in terms of squad management and ability to prioritise the right things.
Any injuries (whether as a direct result of playing this game or through unnecessary loading) to first team players will be far more detrimental to our objectives than a loss in a dead rubber match.

KingslandBarge

                Ramsdale
      Cedric White Gabriel Kiwior 
             Elneny Jorginho
      Nelson  Smith-Rowe  Trossard 
                Nketiah

Not sure if Walters, Sagoe Jr, Nwaneri etc will start. I can only envisage them coming off the bench depending on how things are going.

Burnwinter

Pepe LeFrits Lichsteiner?

Lulz, I was already smiling but I lost my shit at this.