Matchday 3: Liverpool vs Arsenal - Sunday Aug 31, 16:30 GMT: Page 5 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Matchday 3: Liverpool vs Arsenal - Sunday Aug 31, 16:30 GMT

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

I think Calafiori will start but if we happen to be really under the cosh, MLS will come on for him at HT or even sooner.

Nwaneri or even Merino are more likely to start in midfield than Eze considering our new boy hasn't even played yet and this is at Anfield.

GooneriC

5 at the back Saliba Gabriel Calafiori with Timber and MLS . Zubi and Rice CM. Eze Gyok and Nwaneri in the attacking positions. Full on strangleball from the off and then we send on Martinelli Madueke and the Dowman later on.

CPM

Martinelli and Merino both start for me. Merino scored home and away against Liverpool last season if memory serves. And Martinelli plays well against Liverpool too. We need experience, physical intensity, and duel winning at Anfield, at least to start. Eze can come on at 70' to score the winner in stoppage time.

RocktheCasbah

CPM where are you starting Merino?

I think a Zubi-Rice-Merino midfield will leave us pulling the wool over our own eyes. As I heard Wrighty saying earlier, we have to go there with the intention to win.

For me, that's Eze into midfield with Rice and Zubi - if Odegaard doesn't make it. We're already without Saka (and, in this situation, Odegaard), why would we voluntarily leave our next most dangerous attacking midfielder on the bench?

I'd get it if he'd only just signed, but he'll have had a week training with us by the time we kick off.

Qwiss

CPM I'm wondering how willing Arteta will be to there we a completely new front 3 of Madueke, Gyok and Eze. Feel like he might play Martinelli just to have someone more familiar with our press, shape, etc Think Merino will come off the bench but wont start.

The fun thing is its very hard to predict our line ups now. Last season it was almost always pretty obvious.

flobaba

RocktheCasbah I agree.

I'm 99.9% certain Arteta will disagree. He will start Merino.

awooga83

RocktheCasbah my sense as well, we will need some attacking quality and without Saka I don't think we have much else without Eze involved.

CPM

RocktheCasbah People are sleeping on Merino. He makes things happen with goals and final passes, he's not some clogger. A bit of the clutch gene in him. He's not agile and is slow in the turn, yes, but playing higher up the field helps reduce the problems from that.

RocktheCasbah

flobaba I have more faith in super Mik than you. Eze all the way. 😃

flobaba

RocktheCasbah you have much to learn young Padawan.

RocktheCasbah

CPM He's not agile and is slow in the turn, yes, but playing higher up the field helps reduce the problems from that.

It's that lack of agility and slowness on the turn which concerns me, Anfield away is not the ground for battleships. At least, I don't think so.

Less of a concern if he plays up top, but I can't see that happening and I don't think it should either.

QuincyAbeyie

CPM this sounds like Merino the striker to me, not Merino the midfielder.

CPM

RocktheCasbah With 'higher up' I meant playing Ødegaard's position in front of a double pivot.

RocktheCasbah

CPM yeah, okay, that's what I thought you meant initially. I hate the idea to be honest, but let's see.

Klaus

If Merino had been in Arteta's plans I reckon he would have gotten on against Leeds as soon as Martin went off, to get some match fitness. It was Ethan who came on instead though. That felt like a statement in line with what was reported when he extended his contract: he's considered a central player now, not a winger.

Merino's probably 3rd choice at best, and will be 4th choice this season once Eze has settled. Think he'll be on the bench as striker backup on sunday since Martinelli will probably start on the left.

flobaba

Klaus I actually believe Arteta when he speaks of his teams/players as not being first choice or second choice. He is an inherently super conservative coach - I would be extremely & pleasantly surprised if Merino doesn't start to replace Odegaard. He played upfront last time we were at Anfield, and was unfortunate to pick up a red. This time he will lead the press and join up with Gyokeres upfront.

Eze to come on later in the second half to freshen and open things up if the game plan isn't working out.

Gazza M

QuincyAbeyie starting merino in midfield at anfield would be a mistake.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Unless Martinelli is being sold, I'm quite certain he'll start in this match.

Big Willie

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert Unless Martinelli is being sold, I'm quite certain he'll start in this match.

As he should.

tazmania

Martinelli - Gyok - Noni
Rice-Zubi-Odegaard

The rest picks itself. If Odegaard is injured, Eze comes in

lorddulaarsenal

Part of me wants us to let Dowman play and fuck Liverpool up real good

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