Raya has been good but if he wins the golden glove then he should probably give a finger each to White, Saliba, Gabriel and Rice keeping the thumb for himself.
Impossible to know if we'd have been just as good with Ramsdale as he could have improved from last season as well. That debate has been over for a long time though but whether Raya is the best we can do can be debated in the summer.
On today, it does worry me slightly if we have Kiwior and Zinchenko at LCB and LB as Villa will park the bus and hit us the counter. No Luiz or Kamara is a big miss for them but I'm sure McGinn will be charging around smashing his arrse into everyone around him. I'd put Rice at DM and then have a front 5 of Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard and Saka and effectively have 3 pressing 10s like we did for a few games up to Porto away before bringing Trossard out.
Hopefully the Gabriel rumours are just rumours. Think it was because he wasn't in the "training photos".
Yeah I expect him to play, I think Arteta may have talked up Kiwior a bit more if there was any actual doubt.
Raya has been good but if he wins the golden glove then he should probably give a finger each to White, Saliba, Gabriel and Rice keeping the thumb for himself.
Impossible to know if we'd have been just as good with Ramsdale as he could have improved from last season as well. That debate has been over for a long time though but whether Raya is the best we can do can be debated in the summer.
—-
Raya definitely has the defence to than for this. Look at the top chasers, full of ex Arsenal players! Makes you wonder how either of Leno or Martinez would’ve fared with this brilliant defensive unit in front of them.
Raya worried me in the midweek, his rush out firstly and then the early dive for the penalty, which against a top PK taker like Kane is criminal.
Win this and if we go out Wednesday, which i hope we dont, would be favourites for the league? 5 winnable cup finals.
Long way to go though, today feels like a huge challenge. Tired legs and minds on the CL vs a team who are setup perfectly to counter with a manager who has a point to prove.
I guess it depends on the manner of the defeat. A 2/3-0 loss would be quite demoralising or an end to end game that goes all the way to penalties could be quite draining.
If we the squad was fully fit (as much as players can be at this stage of the season) I'd be more confident but we have Jesus, Saka and White playing with injuries whilst Partey and Zinchenko are kind of rusty and not exactly 90 minute men. Who knows with Tomiyasu, they're either being super careful with him or his calf is still a real concern.
Douglas Luiz is banned for this one, and they have long term injuries to Buendia, Cash, Ramsey and Mings.
--------------------------------------------
Isn't Cash back for this game? Thought it was Kamara and Ramsey they're missing. Either way, with Douglas Luiz also out, we're playing against a weakened midfield and will have no excuses not to overrun them in this game.
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Golden Gloves...
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posted on 14/4/24
Raya has been good but if he wins the golden glove then he should probably give a finger each to White, Saliba, Gabriel and Rice keeping the thumb for himself.
Impossible to know if we'd have been just as good with Ramsdale as he could have improved from last season as well. That debate has been over for a long time though but whether Raya is the best we can do can be debated in the summer.
On today, it does worry me slightly if we have Kiwior and Zinchenko at LCB and LB as Villa will park the bus and hit us the counter. No Luiz or Kamara is a big miss for them but I'm sure McGinn will be charging around smashing his arrse into everyone around him. I'd put Rice at DM and then have a front 5 of Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard and Saka and effectively have 3 pressing 10s like we did for a few games up to Porto away before bringing Trossard out.
posted on 14/4/24
Hopefully the Gabriel rumours are just rumours. Think it was because he wasn't in the "training photos".
posted on 14/4/24
Yeah I expect him to play, I think Arteta may have talked up Kiwior a bit more if there was any actual doubt.
posted on 14/4/24
Raya has been good but if he wins the golden glove then he should probably give a finger each to White, Saliba, Gabriel and Rice keeping the thumb for himself.
Impossible to know if we'd have been just as good with Ramsdale as he could have improved from last season as well. That debate has been over for a long time though but whether Raya is the best we can do can be debated in the summer.
—-
Raya definitely has the defence to than for this. Look at the top chasers, full of ex Arsenal players! Makes you wonder how either of Leno or Martinez would’ve fared with this brilliant defensive unit in front of them.
Raya worried me in the midweek, his rush out firstly and then the early dive for the penalty, which against a top PK taker like Kane is criminal.
posted on 14/4/24
Win this and if we go out Wednesday, which i hope we dont, would be favourites for the league? 5 winnable cup finals.
Long way to go though, today feels like a huge challenge. Tired legs and minds on the CL vs a team who are setup perfectly to counter with a manager who has a point to prove.
posted on 14/4/24
I guess it depends on the manner of the defeat. A 2/3-0 loss would be quite demoralising or an end to end game that goes all the way to penalties could be quite draining.
If we the squad was fully fit (as much as players can be at this stage of the season) I'd be more confident but we have Jesus, Saka and White playing with injuries whilst Partey and Zinchenko are kind of rusty and not exactly 90 minute men. Who knows with Tomiyasu, they're either being super careful with him or his calf is still a real concern.
posted on 14/4/24
Douglas Luiz is banned for this one, and they have long term injuries to Buendia, Cash, Ramsey and Mings.
--------------------------------------------
Isn't Cash back for this game? Thought it was Kamara and Ramsey they're missing. Either way, with Douglas Luiz also out, we're playing against a weakened midfield and will have no excuses not to overrun them in this game.
Page 1 of 1