Champions League: Atalanta - Arsenal @20:00 UK Time - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Champions League: Atalanta - Arsenal @20:00 UK Time

HomeSteak

Thursday night Champions league, fuck off.
We start the new CL season, away in Italy.
They started the season pretty meh, 4 games in the league, got beaten 2 times, won 2 times. Even a 4-0 loss in there, vs Inter. Also lost the Real Madrid Super Duper Cup. They are missing: Godfrey, Scalvini, Scamacca, Toloi. Only heard about Godfrey and Scamacca.

We have a big list, Tierney (lol), Merino, Odegaard, Tomyiasu(lol), Zinchenko(lol). Califiori and Saka are listed as doubtful.

We play City on Sunday, so maybe even if Saka is almost there, let him rest up. Same for Odegaard....

Raya

White Saliba Gabriel Kiwior

Jorghino Rice
Trossard

Sterling Harvertz Martinelli

No need to force Timber and Partey, they are injury prone and I don't think they can take 3 full games in 7 days. So let them rest up for City. This first 11 should do the trick. And if fit I would like to see Califiori as well in place of Gabriel.

awooga83

I originally was of the view with this game sandwiched between Spurs and City we should probably divide our resources appropriately and potentially look at some rotation. But on reflection we need to start with confidence and a statement of ambition and go full out with our best team injury risks or not. This change of view is nothing to do with me getting a ticket to this game and I absolutely would have thought the same if I didn't😂

If Saka has any question marks around him then I think we should protect him ahead of City and presumably Rice replaces one of Partey or Jorginho. We should still have enough to try not to concede and then it becomes can we nick a goal but a draw isn't necessarily disastrous.

HomeSteak

awooga83 hehe. have fun man

Claudius

I like the OP.
My thinking is that Partey and Timber are important pieces that need to load management. So rest them.
Would be great if we got Sterling or Jesus to start, but I would be surprised to see them both go from 10 minutes to 60+ minutes. So I expect Saka to start this.

USArsenal

Claudius

Jesus in the CL seems to be a very different animal than Jesus in the Prem. He usually seems to do well in the CL, so maybe he starts this one.

Don Pacifico

If we have injury risks, then we should strongly consider rotating. The season is long and better to rest then for a single game rather than lose them for multiple. The squad options are by and large good enough to cover most absences.

lorddulaarsenal

Because if this new bloated format it’s easy to forget the importance of this game

Qwiss

lorddulaarsenal it's not that important. The CL has been gutted of any real importance until the knockouts. There's is no chance we won't go through.

Clrnc

We should focus on City. This is a game we can lose tbh

Don Pacifico

Clrnc I don't think it's even about losing, it's about trusting the squad depth where we have it.

RowJimmy

We want to win this game. Momentum and confidence are important. But we need to protect a few players - Saka, Partey, Timber. So I'd start:

Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Calafiori
Sterling Jorginho Rice Martinelli
Jesus Havertz

This 442 was our starting position last week and I think it continues while Odegaard is unavailable. Kiwior if Calafiori is not ready. Leo off bench early second half for whoever is tiring.
Havertz feels like someone who can play 100 minutes twice a week indefinitely.

MistaT

Merino out really has fucked us.

I do think you need to rest Partey so he's fresh vs Man City. But that means we need to play Jorginho three times in a week, which feels like a great way to wear him down.

Sterling over Saka feels really easy, and someone of his guile should be able to slot in decently.

------------- Raya ----------------
White -- Saliba -- Gabriel -- Timber
------ Jorginho --- Rice --------

Sterling --- Havertz --- Martinelli
-------- Jesus ----------------

Not too fussed by Havertz or Jesus leading the line, and I would imagine they'd rotate back and forth quite a bit anyways.

Tactics

I'd go:

Martinelli---Jesus---Sterling
--Rice-Jorginho-Trossard--
Calafiori-Gabriel-Saliba-White
-------------Raya

Big Willie

--------------------- Raya ----------------
White -- Saliba -- Gabriel -- Timber
--------------------- Rice --------
---------Nwaneri--------Havertz
Sterling-----------Jesus ---------Trossard

Solid enough to get us at least a draw, enough firepower to win the game and Rice gets to showcase his abilities playing from deeper like many want. And it gives a chance to Nwaneri to play. I know it won't happen, and we'll end up with something like

--------------------- Raya ----------------
White -- Saliba -- Gabriel -- Timber
--------------------- Partey --------
---------Havertz--------Rice
Saka-----------Trossard ---------Martinelli

By which point we'llbe completely knackered when we face City.

Mirth

3 away games in a row is absolutely disgusting

Big Willie

Mirth 3 away games in a row is absolutely disgusting

Got another 3 coming up in November with Newcastle, Chelsea and Inter away. We've been set up.

Claudius

Big Willie light work.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

We are more focused away from home so I don’t mind it actually.

Mirth

I reckon Odegaard will make a surprise appearance this weekend

samthegooner

Mirth This won't age well...

HomeSteak

Mirth famous last words. He is out for a few months

Mirth

samthegooner 😭