⚽ Spurs vs Arsenal, League, Sunday 2pm

Pepe LeFrits

Football

Asterix

Lol - we just giving up now pep or does this reflect your general mood today? 😉

QuincyAbeyie

Not particularly looking forward to taking them on with our skeleton crew, but would be great fun if we managed to beat them away without a midfield.

Claudius

Looking forward to this. Thinking cap time for Arteta.

Pepe LeFrits

Asterix reflects me not wanting to be the person who has start match threads as well!

Don Pacifico

I've been trying to think 'glass half-full' about this one and my take would be that Arteta's expressed intent with squad building is to have versatility and variety in the way we play. Whilst nothing about the injuries we face is optimal, it doesn't mean there aren't options for us in terms of how we set up.

Could be interesting...could be miserable. 🤷

Asterix

I suspect we will see Jorginho, Partey and Havertz in midfield, as we have more options to cover the front three. Saka will start, and probably Trossard, then I think it's down to Martinelli and Sterling for the final spot.

Options off the bench will be limited.

goon

We will be fine. Reckon we may sacrifice some control and play a little more on the transition, which may actually suit us for this game.

FEBravo

It's good in terms of narrative that expectations will be lower for us in that one given the absences. Will play in our favour

Panda

We are fucked. I'll be shocked if they don't manage to beat us. I'd happily take a draw and 0 injuries. Will be absolute hell watching this. Tempted to skip it.

lorddulaarsenal

Panda really?

I’m confident about our chances - Sterling, Saka and Havertz will feast

Kel Varnsen

Ødegaard is out 3+ weeks.

Claudius

Kel Varnsen crazy times. Just awesome to go into city without Odegaard’s pressing.
I’m fine with internationals. Just annoyed that this guy had a niggle and he not only went but had to keep playing. I feel like managers like Solbakken just lack a spirit of partnership. Fully optimising for themselves in the immediate term

Panda

lorddulaarsenal Yeah currently arranging a lovely day out to avoid it 😂

I hope you are right though! 😄🙏🏼

invisibleman18

From the balls that Partey and Jorghino get them? Would snap your hand off for a point at this stage.

RocktheCasbah

The emotional bit of my brain goes all of our first choice midfield is out of this game, I can't see anything other than 2-0 Spurs happening.

The logical bit of my brain goes, we can still field a midfield of Partey, Jorginho and Havertz - granted, not ideal off the back of an international break with limited time for Arteta to create connections within the 3 - but it could be enough. Spurs are not having a good time this season and we are, generally, far superior to them. It's obviously going to be difficult, but this game is more than winnable.

Have I got the 2 sides of my brain mixed up?

Gunner89

Partey & Havertz are nailed on in midfield

Hopefully Jorginho is not the third, remember him mugged off when Spurs got a point at home

RocktheCasbah

Gunner89 Hopefully Jorginho is not the third, remember him mugged off when Spurs got a point at home

Yeah, but he hadn't kicked a ball for us at all when he - ohhhhhh, wait a minute...

Insert "WE'RE ALL DOOMED" klaxon here!

lorddulaarsenal

I think we’ll see Timber instead

USArsenal

It's just hugely back luck that we lose Merino and Ode (as well as Rice because of that ridiculous red card) for the Spurs game. And only Rice will return for the City game. That's our entire first choice midfield for Spurs. (I consider Merino first choice once he's healthy again).

Burnwinter

Plenty of variation of results when Spurs play. They're quick and dangerous, but high risk since Postecoglou took over.

Suppose they may play Sarr, Bissouma and Maddison again in midfield. That's a prickish and effective but not exactly terrifying prospect. If we do go with Havertz I think we'll try a mid block on them and stand off a fair way when we press.

I'm going to be on a long flight to Rome when this is on. Booked it before the fixtures came out.

Claudius

We have so many ball playing defenders. Something tells me we are going to play 5 at the back. Or at least 5 defenders. And then we can add a bit more attacking variations as the game progresses.