After our first setback in a while, we face a big game in the Europa followed by hosting a Nottingham Forest side buoyed by a massive win over Liverpool.
If we can avoid defeat on Thursday we will secure the all important top spot. That will mean we avoid a two legged extra round against Champions League drop-outs, and will also mean the game against Zurich is meaningless and allow mass rotation (not sure Arteta will take that option though).
PSV were pretty poor at the Emirates, and suffered a shock defeat to Groningen at the weekend.
Forest have been a bit of an irritant to us in recent seasons, with a couple of FA Cup wins over us. However, both were at the City Ground and we smashed them 5-0 and 4-0 in the league cup in recent years. Arsenal have won 6 of the 10 Premier League clashes between the clubs, with Forest winning just 1. The last time Forest got a win at Arsenal was in 1989 - a 3-1 victory that helped set up the most dramatic conclusion to a season ever and an Arsenal title!
Saturdays game may have been an indication that the mass of new players are beginning to gel, or it may be a one off. They had gone 9 games without a win before that, and have only picked up 2 away points.
It will be interesting to see how much rotation there is for PSV. Turner, Tierney and Holding very likely to come in. Nketiah is sure to start, along with Vieira and Sambi. Reiss Nelson, who spent a successful year in the Netherlands, should play instead of flogging Saka, Martinelli and Jesus. I think Marquinhos also deserves a run.
Then back to the strongest XI for Forest.
Big week?
posted on 25/10/22
I want Tierney for the Forest game, would Tomi be playing also ?
posted on 25/10/22
Hoping Zinny will be available for both tbh. Maybe a sub run out on Thursday then start vs Forest.
posted on 25/10/22
Having Zinchenko back would make a big difference. There have been some issues in the last few games - some surely down to a bit of fatigue, but generally it felt like the shape hasn't been working as well, and we haven't had as much control as we should. For example, many times Gabriel came forward with the ball on Sunday and had no passing options. That's one of the key things Zinchenko offers - technical quality in the build up on that side of the pitch.
Also I think the Tomi at left back thing should be left for special occasions only. He did a great job on Salah but he hasn't offered a lot there since.
We can definitely get back on track this week. It feels like we are going to have to limp to the World Cup break a bit, and as per your article on that DJ, the WC might not be too bad for us, with only a few key players likely to go deep as far as I remember (although with recent injuries for Brazil and France that's potentially changed a bit).
posted on 25/10/22
Agree that Tomi should only be playing left back in specific circumstances. Interesting what will happen with Tierney in the long, he can't be happy with the current situation.
posted on 25/10/22
Lets hope for a Salzburg win so they would have to field a strong side just before our game