Raya
Saliba Gabriel
Saka Odegaard

plus whoever else

Panda Timber-Saliba-Gabriel-MLS

My worry with this is that we’ll end up double inverting again instead of freeing up Timber to play ball down the right.

      lorddulaarsenal

      He’s right, it works if you’re able to pen us back and get us defending in our own half. It’s one of the reasons why we’re pretty poor at counter attacks in those situations despite acres of space in behind. It’s the one part of our game I dislike.

        Yeah, but he is only partially right. Its not that Saka doesnt like to defend. He defends very well, and started his career as a defender. It is just more work to do both, but that is the same for any forward that has to track back. It also is true for people playing against us.

        Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

        You don’t I guess, but Arteta likes at least one of his fullbacks to be reserved, and he obviously prefers that role for Timber given his experience. And MLS naturally likes to venture into midfield, which in turn pushes Merino high and wide instead.

        If you had a more conservative full back on the left, Merino can stay in that midfield role and Timber can just bomb forward on the right.

          Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert that midfield was fairly woeful more often than not when we used it last season. I just want to see Partey back in midfield. Our results this season with Partey in midfield or not is a pretty stark contrast.

          • goon replied to this.

              Oh man, hope we can get some midfield control with that team.

              Have to win today no excuses being only 3 points ahead of this city is a bad indicator in general. This fixture has been a tough one in the past but have to find a way to get the result.

              Let's see if Jesus can hold it up while Havertz and Martinelli make runs. I'm sure that's what the plan was in summer 2023.

                jesus and havertz really looked like they'd more synergy on paper as a 1-2 punch. jesus drops in and links up, havertz makes runs beyond. let's see some of that today

                Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert we need Jesus getting onto the second ball after Kai wins it from our long kicks too. Usually Saka is the only one who does that regularly. If Jesus can set Saka free a bit more it'd be great too.

                    JESUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSss