Arsenal vs. Sunderland @ 3PM on Sat

Gunner89

Discuss.

DiabyKungFu

I hope we win.

TambourineMan

Will take a boring 2-0 win. No injuries or unnecessary over exertion. A dull, easy 2-0 win please.

tazmania

TambourineMan what the tambourine man said.

I don't care who starts, even if Jesus does. 3 points and no injuries please

Burnwinter

Three points and no injuries, just so we can dodge the "Arteta doesn't rotate and it's costing us the league!" malarkey all over again (also it would probably be true).

Asterix

Will Granit still be out?

Qwiss

Asterix yeah supposed to be out for most of February.

I think we'll need some rotation here. I'd like to see Gyokeres rested, I don't think it suits him playing twice a week, I don't think his form improving as our other striker options have played more is coincidence. Wouldn't mind Kai starting up top with Ode in midfield for instance, they've great chemistry together. Ben White and Trossard should start too. I'd like to see Norgaard for Zubi but I don't think Arteta will make whole sale changes like that. Rice could probably do with a rest too but we can't rest both at once in the league.

I'd rather not rotate too much in the league but with Brentford away midweek I think this is our best chance to give some players a little break. All our league matches after that are really 100% starting line up games for a while.

Tam

Qwiss I'd like to see Norgaard for Zubi but I don't think Arteta will make whole sale changes like that. Rice could probably do with a rest too but we can't rest both at once in the league.

I don't really think we've got the options for resting both at once anyway, particularly if you're having Havertz start up to.

My guess is rotation would likely have seen Merino come in for games to spell both Rice and Zubimendi at different times, with Odegaard/Merino/Zubi and Odegaard/Merino/Rice being the midfields Arteta would have gone with. There's no upside to Merino being out, but I think as a result it's more likely Norgaard will get a bit of game time by default now just due to lack of options. Probably likely Norgaard would have got a run out in the Wigan game, but can't see it having been the case in league games.

Meatwad

i think we have enough rest days in between this one and the brentford game next thursday. rest them against wigan.

Panda

Meatwad We then have Wolves and Spurs away Weds/Sun. Would be good to get Odegaard back to give us another option.

I haven't forgotten that game at the Stadium of Light. I want revenge and hope the boys do too.

I'd go:
Raya
White-Saliba-Gabriel-Calafiori
Zubi-Rice
Eze
Madueke-Havertz-Trossard

RowJimmy

Panda
Oze should start this one, otherwise agree.
Would like to see Norgaard and MLS get some minutes if we have a lead.

Dom

It's going to be one of those 'it's a funny old game' weekends. If Arsenal beat Sunderland, City will beat Liverpool. If we drop points, Liverpool will beat City.

I also don't want any funky lineups. Play the strongest team possible in each league game until there's a double digit gap between us and City. This Sunderland team is physical and quick so we can't afford to rest anyone really. Brentford are going to be annoying too.

Claudius

Don’t really care who plays here

Coombs

RowJimmy Oze

Øze, our twin 8/10 fuck 'em up midfield.

banduan

isn't Ode still injured?

HomeSteak

banduan "minor injury" they said today, will be close for this one, but he might just make it.

edit: Timber injured as well and not training.

Qwiss

HomeSteak Ode, Timber and Saka all out of training. Gotta assume we'll go as strong as we can without them then. Expect Madueke and White to start which is a slightly dodgy right side defensively. Probably Trossard left wing. Then the questions are around can Cala start at LB? Will Havertz or Eze play in Odes absence? And who starts as ST?

Meatwad

HomeSteak
or timber could just be in a load management situation. zubi has missed training days before and then still played. training adds load to the players as well.

Pepe LeFrits

I'd go

Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Cala
Zubi Rice
Noni Eze Trossard
Kai

Qwiss

Pepe LeFrits I'd be happy with that given our injuries. I'd hope to see Norgaard on for Zubi around the 60 minute mark though. I'm very worried about how much football him and Rice are going to have to play in the coming weeks and months.

Qwiss

Meatwad Timber shouldn't start this.