₦airaland Forum

dominique:
Our next game is on Wednesday, just 3 days from today. I doubt if Saliba will be back, Gabriel M certainly won't be back. We need to make the best with what we've got available.

Going forward, till Trossard gets back Eze should start on the left wing and Martinelli should come in as a sub. He (Nelli) makes better impact as a substitute than a starter

I agree Eze should start on the left wing pending when Trossard will be back. Martinelli can always come on from 65 minutes upwards to give the attack a breath of fresh legs.

Odegaard should be made to play AM as it's obvious Eze will need considerable amount of time to settle if he will ever excel in that role at Arsenal.

I think Mosquera-Hincapie partnership got a baptism of fire in that Chelsea game. They will come good with time.

The result is one we will all like to forget, but it's definitely not a bad result against a fellow London team that is sitting second on the log

Akinbahm:
Welcome back

Didn't go anywhere tho, I've always been here reading posts I just didn't have enough time to share my thoughts and do follow up posts.

Been busy with family and personal development, I will definitely be posting more often now as time permits Sha

dominique:
Age is just a number for some players. Trossard doesn't look like one that'll run out of steam by next season. If we need to offload any of the 2 LWs, it should be Nelli

Arteta still have use for martinelli because of his marking ability

The fact that we all saw the 1-1 draw more as a loss and Chelsea fans saw the same result as a win definitely shows how far we've come as a team.

We played the game without our regular CBs and Trossard our RW who has been smoking hot was out due to injury. That alone turned the tide or the clash immediately the team list was out.

As much as we all love to see arsenal win 38 out of 38 matches, this Chelsea game is just a reminder that it won't happen. What is left now is for areta to devise a means to rotate the squad especially this busy December period with jam packed fixtures so we can amass the most points whether other teams win or drop points.

It is only when Arteta and the team fail to do this that our criticism of the team will not be harsh and misplaced. The team played like 3 big matches within the space of few days and amassed 7 points out of possible 9. Kudos to them but they can do better.

As many people have been saying, there are a lot of positive things to take from the match. We can't expect things to always go our way.

Let's continue to keep our heads high. We Are The Arsenal!

Brentford is our next victim.

BlueRayDick:
I agree Eze should start on the left wing pending when Trossard will be back. Martinelli can always come on from 65 minutes upwards to give the attack a breath of fresh legs.

Odegaard should be made to play AM as it's obvious Eze will need considerable amount of time to settle if he will ever excel in that role at Arsenal.

I think Mosquera-Hincapie partnership got a baptism of fire in that Chelsea game. They will come good with time.

The result is one we will all like to forget, but it's definitely not a bad result against a fellow London team that is sitting second on the log

If possible, Arteta should rest at least 5 keys players (and bring in) ahead of this weekend's Aston Villa match; Rice (Merino), Timber (White), Calafiori (MLS), Saka (Madueke). Mosquera and Hincapie should continue to partner at the centre to strengthen their partnership, they really tried against Chelsea considering that this is their first time playing together. Gyokeres should start at the centre, Eze at the left, both to be replaced by G. Jesus and Martinelli respectively. I hope to see Nwaneri and Nørgaard make cameos in the match.

Fixtures over-choke this December, this is the time we need to flex our squad depth to its fullest maximum

iamoyindamola:
Arteta still have use for martinelli because of his marking ability

He is younger and has the pace but he's not as clinical as Trossard biko. Trossard might leave next summer and he'll be an asset to whichever team he joins

dominique:
If possible, Arteta should rest at least 5 keys players (and bring in) ahead of this weekend's Aston Villa match; Rice (Merino), Timber (White), Calafiori (MLS), Saka (Madueke). Mosquera and Hincapie should continue to partner at the centre to strengthen their partnership, they really tried against Chelsea considering that this is their first time playing together. Gyokeres should start at the centre, Eze at the left, both to be replaced by G. Jesus and Martinelli respectively. I hope to see Nwaneri and Nørgaard make cameos in the match.

Fixtures over-choke this December, this is the time we need to flex our squad depth to its fullest maximum

Good idea
He should just play the entire second squad and use gyokeres and odegaard

iamoyindamola:
Good idea
He should just play the entire second squad and use gyokeres and odegaard

The idea looks good on paper but we must not joke with Brentford who has been in good form recently. I think we should start with our strong eleven considering we lost points at stanford bridge. We can’t afford to lose another point tomorrow. Those players may be subtituted once the game is wrap up.

mine3112:
The idea looks good on paper but we must not joke with Brentford who has been in good form recently. I think we should start with our strong eleven considering we lost points at stanford bridge. We can’t afford to lose another point tomorrow. Those players may be subtituted once the game is wrap up.

You are under rating our second squad with gyokeres and odegaard, that squad can finish top4

iamoyindamola:
You are under rating our second squad with gyokeres and odegaard, that squad can finish top4

You may be right but I believe our ambition is not top 4.

mine3112:
You may be right but I believe our ambition is not top 4.

I know but one game at a time, we have 8 games in December
We need all the available fresh legs, the way we played Chelsea we appear fatigued
Zubi, rice and calafiori were all over the place

Congratulations to Saka and Tolami on their Engagement

Our Starboy doing starboy fhingz

mine3112:
The idea looks good on paper but we must not joke with Brentford who has been in good form recently. I think we should start with our strong eleven considering we lost points at stanford bridge. We can’t afford to lose another point tomorrow. Those players may be subtituted once the game is wrap up.

Aston villa are much tougher opponents than Brentford, we need our key players fit and well rested to face them at their villa park. We'll be playing twice a week for the entire month of December. If the squad is not rotated as much as possible, the players will burn out and start dropping valuable points.

Dammit city just scored! If the scores stay the same they'll be just 2 points behind us. Brentford and Aston villa matches are must wins

DystopianMuse:
SEE UNA TITLE CHALLENGERS CONCEDING 4 GOALS. LOL
BUT THERE WON'T BE MUCH NOISE AS IT IS NOT ARSENAL

Had to import this quote from the Fulham Vs man city match thread. If na Arsenal concede 4 goals like this, we won't hear the last of it. Hats off to Fulham football club, from 1-5 to 4-5 against a top team like city, stuff of champions! Massive accolades to our boys there Iwobi, Chukwueze and Bassey

dominique:
Had to import this quote from the Fulham Vs man city match thread. If na Arsenal concede 4 goals like this, we won't hear the last of it. Hats off to Fulham football club, from 1-5 to 4-5 against a top team like city, stuff of champions! Massive accolades to our boys there Iwobi, Chukwueze and Bassey

Same SHII against poor Leeds and they have struggled in every game Haaland didn't score except this. But no there won't be think pieces, the whole English media won't say SHII as it is not Arsenal. Stupid pundits.. But I know they won't survive same way Liverpool was doing "champions stuffs" in the first 5 games of the season

The second goal conceded by Ramsdale is the reason Arteta released him

BlueRayDick:
Didn't go anywhere tho, I've always been here reading posts I just didn't have enough time to share my thoughts and do follow up posts.

Been busy with family and personal development, I will definitely be posting more often now as time permits Sha

It'll end in praise... between been more than 10 months I saw Jodera post too, hope all is well with him?

Akinbahm:
It'll end in praise... between been more than 10 months I saw Jodera post too, hope all is well with him?

He may be busy with life outside Nairaland.

DystopianMuse:
Same SHII against poor Leeds and they have struggled in every game Haaland didn't score except this. But no there won't be think pieces, the whole English media won't say SHII as it is not Arsenal. Stupid pundits.. But I know they won't survive same way Liverpool was doing "champions stuffs" in the first 5 games of the season

Within the space of a week they have conceded 8 goals from teams in relegation zone and a struggling German team but biased pundits are still singing their praises that they're title contenders. That's how they were hailing Liverpool at the beginning of the season when they were scrapping out late goals until everywhere burst. E go soon burst for them like pool, let's see what the pundits will be saying by then.

dominique:
Within the space of a week they have conceded 8 goals from teams in relegation zone and a struggling German team but biased pundits are still singing their praises that they're title contenders. That's how they were hailing Liverpool at the beginning of the season when they were scrapping out late goals until everywhere burst. E go soon burst for them like pool, let's see what the pundits will be saying by then.

You guys need to understand that until we win something tangible that is when the respect will come in, they have all supported us one way or the other and we let them down.
We are all hopeful things change this season if not it's same old story

The 2 aways games we drew this season if you notice our manager he was scared in the 2 games, that's because he wasn't expecting such intensity of game, either he underestimated his opponent or he has no answers to the opposition tactics
Compare it with the Newcastle game you have your answer

iamoyindamola:
The 2 aways games we drew this season if you notice our manager he was scared in the 2 games, that's because he wasn't expecting such intensity of game, either he underestimated his opponent or he has no answers to the opposition tactics
Compare it with the Newcastle game you have your answer

I don't think he's scared in any of the two games. The Chelsea game in particular, he did everything right considering the injury crisis we are experiencing at the moment; let's not forget we went into the match without either of our regular CBs. He didn't have his in-form LW and had to make do with Martinelli instead.

When we needed goals he brought in attacking players as expected. I don't think there's anything he ought to have done that he didn't do in that match. Perhaps if either of Gabriel or Saliba was in that Chelsea match we could've scrapped out a late win through corners or any other set piece like we did Vs Newcastle. In fact, Gabriel was the difference in that Newcastle match.

I think with Jesus and Havertz back in the team and Arteta saying Saliba's injury is just a matter of days, we should be getting the needed boost to go on a winning streak in the coming matches.

BlueRayDick:
I don't think he's scared in any of the two games. The Chelsea game in particular, he did everything right considering the injury crisis we are experiencing at the moment; let's not forget we went into the match without either of our regular CBs. He didn't have his in-form LW and had to make do with Martinelli instead.

When we needed goals he brought in attacking players as expected. I don't think there's anything he ought to have done that he didn't do in that match. Perhaps if either of Gabriel or Saliba was in that Chelsea match we could've scrapped out a late win through corners or any other set piece like we did Vs Newcastle. In fact, Gabriel was the difference in that Newcastle match.

I think with Jesus and Havertz back in the team and Arteta saying Saliba's injury is just a matter of days, we should be getting the needed boost to go on a winning streak in the coming matches.

He was, he took rice that could have helped him to the back to sort out the 2 cbs on yellow.
I dont have issues with that but zubi shouldn't have come in for the second half by adding a ball carrier since rice have been deployed deep.
The truth is he wasn't expecting such physical performance from them same with Sunderland, I hope now that odegaard is back those teams coming at us can collect wotowoto

iamoyindamola:
He was, he took rice that could have helped him to the back to sort out the 2 cbs on yellow.
I dont have issues with that but zubi shouldn't have come in for the second half by adding a ball carrier since rice have been deployed deep.
The truth is he wasn't expecting such physical performance from them same with Sunderland, I hope now that odegaard is back those teams coming at us can collect wotowoto

1. Taking Rice to the back was the most reasonable decision any coach would've taken in that situation. Your two CBs are on yellow and ur DM was already on Yellow card as early as the 5th minute of the game. Rice was the only one that had the skillset and wasn't booked that could step up to ease the defensive burden off the team. If Arteta had not done that, we would've lost the match and the fans would've blamed him for not taking the obvious decision to salvage things.

2. Zubi came off in the 57th Minute of the game which is just 12 minutes to the start of the second half. Let us not forget that Odegaard(ball carrier) who replaced him was just returning from an injury and may not be fully fit to play full 45 minutes running around doing both offensive and defensive duties. So Zubi playing 12 minutes out of the second half with his early yellow card may not really be out of place.

I think you misjudge effective game management for cowardice and lack of plan. We played that match with the odds against us the moment both Saliba and Gabriel were unavailable. There was nothing really physical about Chelsea's game other than unnecessary fouls which the ref rightly penalized them for . We had more ball possession and would've won if our attackers were more clinical.

Let's hope Odegaard coming back will help our attack play considering how Eze hasn't been really effective in that number 10 role with the way he hides behind players when Rice or Zubi has the ball expecting the ball will seek him out.

BlueRayDick:
He may be busy with life outside Nairaland.

Probably... I just miss you people constructive criticism with that touch of soft bants

Lineup is ok, timber and Saka rested. I expected him to start Gyokeres but I'm sure he'll be coming in in the 2nd half. Rice and Zunimendi need to be tested at some point. This lineup should be able to get maximum points

Lack of confidence from white he should be shooting and not squaring the ball

Goallll
Merino

Great assist from white

iamoyindamola:
Goallll
Merino

Great assist from white

That goal sweet die! The layoff by Madueke was wonderful.

Merino really knows how to score. He may not be a great midfielder but his goal scoring ability is really really great!

Merino is our top scorer in 2025
Mad oo