Legend
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14K
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over 16 years
next EPL game could well be the litmus test as to how well we are playing.
Legend
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15K
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almost 17 years
Yes.
We've had a series of tests and this is the next, and biggest one. 
I feel Spurs was a pretty big test given they'd had the wood on us of late, but yet we were expected to win. And we won well. Leicester away was a big test, and then actually I felt Watford was a test too. We had a goal overturned, we missed a penalty, it felt like one of those games where they were going to pop up and win it with some late pressure. But we did manage to get the goal, and keep the clean sheet. 
I don't expect us to be able to win at Anfield, a draw would be an amazing result. If we lose, it's not back to square one, it's a loss away to a high class side. I just dont want to see a flat performance and a hiding. We have to be better than that. 
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Another international break, blurgh.

Worst part of our current form is all these extra lads getting called up including ESR & Gabriel last minute.

I’ve been thinking about future upgrades needed. With Laca in his last season and no extension on the horizon, and Auba in his second to last season and likely not to be extended, what will we need to do to replace them?

In the wings is Nketiah who is likely to go, Balogun and Martinelli.

I don’t see Balogun/Martinelli ready to take over those roles immediately.

So who do you go for? Ideally an experienced striker bringing the best of Laca/Auba to the fore?
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
Well we’ve been linked with both Vlahovic and Isak- the young gun Swedish striker. I’d be happy with either. While they aren’t experienced, they fit the current transfer policy. And would offer something different to our current crop of young attackers
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
ESR & Ramsdale both made their debuts tonight for England. 6-0 at half time. Saka scored but it got given as an own goal. Pitch is shark, could be a few annoying and unnecessary injuries tonight.

Edit; ESR got a goal before being subbed off. What a season for the lad!

Edit2; Saka has scored. Just need the clean sheet for Ramsdale and it’s a perfect night for the Arsenal boys.
Starting XI
2.1K
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4.3K
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over 11 years
ESR made his debut in the previous game, but first start. Think that's the first time I can recall 2 Arsenal players scoring in the same game for England in all my time of following football so that was pleasing. Possibly may have happened with some combination of Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Welbeck who all played for England at the same time but can't remember it.
Couldn't have been a more comfortable debut for Ramsdale. Don't think he was even in the frame of the screen in the 2nd half let alone touch the ball.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Nice to see 3 arsenal players start for England, wonder when the last time that happened was. Invincibles era maybe? Perhaps not actually. Might have to go back to 2002 or earlier, Cole, Campbell and Seaman. 
Unless by some fluke three of Wilshere/Walcott/Ox/Welbeck all started a game at some point, but I seriously doubt that. 
Huge game on Sunday. Is Partey fit? Liverpool have a few injuries, could get a sniff if things fall our way. 
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
Feel like this one has loss/draw at best written all over it. Their form hasn't been all that flash but we are only just starting to show glimpses of what our squad is capable of. This will be the true test of the back four and Ramsdale.
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Back to ESR & England his link up with Abraham is a real “what might have been” moment. Wish we had grabbed him before Roma did.
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Liverpool game will be difficult, need a formula for this tough away games. Annoyingly KT has played a lot for Scotland this window so unsure if we’d want him to start this match.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Would love to have Tierney for this one to help on that left side. Salah and TAA are fit and are absolutely lethal. Tierney might not be right up at the byline much during this one. Well either that or AMN/Partey will spend a lot of time drifting to that side. 
Hopefully we can cope on the other side with Robertson out and Mane having a few niggles. No Firmino is good for us, he has often done well against us in particular. 
Liverpool's midfield is weakened, which we desperately needed given ours is as well. 
Man this is a massive test for our defence. 
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
yeah Id rather have Tierney on the left, sitting back a bit more than normal. Tomi too on the right, we'll need the back four to keep the likes of Salah and TAA out of the box.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
If Partey is fit then I'd go Partey/Lokonga in midfield, if not then AMN/Lokonga.
I would be considering taking out Laca for Odegaard, but it's a tough one. Laca often plays well against Liverpool but I feel we'd do well with a third midfield body. Odegaard isn't as tenacious as Laca but he's a smarter presser, and helps the team work together in that way, which will be important in this match. 
I think it's important to leave Saka and ESR in their current roles, I really hope Arteta doesn't bring in Pepe and shuffle the whole lot around. 
I think Pepe is also suffering for only being able to play one role well. Arteta likes to put ESR a little more central sometimes and bring someone else onto the left side, but Pepe's inability to play there means we usually shift Saka over. Saka is just way more effective on the right for me though. I hope Arteta doesn't continue to mess with that. 
Starting XI
2.1K
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4.3K
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over 11 years
paulm
Nice to see 3 arsenal players start for England, wonder when the last time that happened was. Invincibles era maybe? Perhaps not actually. Might have to go back to 2002 or earlier, Cole, Campbell and Seaman. 
Unless by some fluke three of Wilshere/Walcott/Ox/Welbeck all started a game at some point, but I seriously doubt that. 
Huge game on Sunday. Is Partey fit? Liverpool have a few injuries, could get a sniff if things fall our way. 
While I couldn't remember multiple Arsenal players scoring in the same game for England I was pretty sure I could remember having 5 or 6 in the squad and most of them on the pitch in the same game around the time we had the "British core." I remember being quite excited about it thinking of Wenger's old comments that "I will give you a good team one day." 
After a little bit of research including going through my post history on another forum I've found it. In 2014 in a Euro 2016 qualifier, ironically also against San Marino, Chambers, Gibbs, Wilshere and Welbeck all started and Oxlade-Chamberlain came on at half time meaning there were 5 Arsenal players on the pitch for England until Welbeck was subbed off at 66 minutes and the rest completed the game. I thought I could maybe remember a game when there were 6 on at the same time, possibly those 5 plus Walcott but can't find it.

Prior to that it would be going back to Seaman, Adams, Campbell, Keown, Cole era.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Nice research ajc. I love that kind of stuff. 
Man it all seemed so positive for that english core once upon a time. 
Welbeck, Wilshere and to a lesser extent Oxlade-Chamberlain have been ruined by injury. Gibbs really just didn't push on and get better. Chambers has proven to be useful but not a world-beater. 

Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Partey is fit. Perhaps:
                   Ramsdale
Tomiyasu-White-Gabriel-Tierney
    Saka-Lokonga-Partey-ESR
                  Laca-Auba
Two areas of contention for me would be potentially Odegaard in for Laca, to pack the midfield a bit more and provide more distribution on the counter, and maybe AMN or Elneny in for Lokonga if we want to shore it up a little more in there. 
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LATo4EzTNM&ab_channel=LADbibleTV

Wrighty interviews Arsene as part of promoting the new Invincibles film. Nothing new, but still fun to watch. 
Marquee
1.5K
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5.2K
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over 16 years
kwlap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LATo4EzTNM&ab_channel=LADbibleTV

Wrighty interviews Arsene as part of promoting the new Invincibles film. Nothing new, but still fun to watch. 

That was good. After watching that, I watched this documentary on Ian Wright and David Rocastle and having grown up during this era, it was a great watch. Especially the period around 1989 and THAT night at Anfield which is highlighted. Some great interviews including George Graham, Michael Thomas and Tony Adams. I'm not ashamed to say as well that I got a bit teary eyed a few times during the bits about Rocky. It also has a great 90's soundtrack. Well worth the watch if you have the time.
Rocky & Wrighty: From Brockley To The Big Time – Full Documentary - YouTube
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
1-0 after 45. Tonnes of possession for liverpool, they were always going to score after 10 minutes of 87% of the ball. Good header from Mane, but poor from Tomi and white who both gave him space.
The flash point between Klopp and Arteta was coming, Mane has been making some ridiculously late hits - he could be looking for a red in the second. 
we need to come out hard in the second.
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
and that was not the start to the second we needed, our playing from the back today has been woeful.....
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
Very tough second half to watch. Not really at the races any more. 
Legend
2.3K
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17K
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almost 17 years
Load of sharke today. Need a response against Newcastle next week.
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
terrible second half - we folded, need a big response against Newcastle and then hope united havent gotten rid of Ole and we grab a good win there.
Legend
2.3K
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17K
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almost 17 years
theprof
terrible second half - we folded, need a big response against Newcastle and then hope united havent gotten rid of Ole and we grab a good win there.


Think we’re out of luck with Ole.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Mane was filthy from the first minute with that tackle on White. Arteta was right to kick off about it. 
But then once that did kick off, the atmosphere and intensity went up a level and we were found wanting. 
Our young defence showed their age unfortunately. They went well until that flashpoint and then things started falling apart in possession. Lokonga was a nightmare in that ten minutes after halftime, so many giveaways. Tavares was a bit unfortunate as he did well to win the ball and get out of the corner, before promptly gifting it to Jota for that goal. 
Ramsdale went very well again, but I must say for two of the goals it seemed like he actually could've done better. Still, very harsh to fault him, what a keeper he looks. 
Gabriel actually did very well on Salah, it should be noted. First time in a while I've seen a CB able to keep up with his twists and turns without being put on his as*s. 
It's easy to forget that we have the youngest squad in the premier league, and our defensive players in particular are very young, hopefully they will learn from the experience.
There's daylight between Man City/Chelsea/Liverpool and the rest of the league in my opinion, and we are clearly not ready to challenge that, given our results against those three this season. But we shouldn't get too down about this. After those three teams, none of the crop after that have shown anything to suggest we can't challenge for fourth. Gotta pick ourselves up and go again now. 3 points vs Newcastle is an absolute must, then a huge trip to old trafford. Bugger that Ole has gone, needed him to hold on for 2 more games hahaha
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Interesting to see what he does today. I’m leaning towards swapping Laca and Odegaard around, I think Laca is more impactful from the bench while Odegaard offers more technical security from the off.

Need to bounce back and lock in another 3 points at home.
Legend
2.3K
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17K
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almost 17 years
brumbys
Interesting to see what he does today. I’m leaning towards swapping Laca and Odegaard around, I think Laca is more impactful from the bench while Odegaard offers more technical security from the off.

Need to bounce back and lock in another 3 points at home.


Well there you go, spot on.

Big win needed here. Make a statement before heading to the North East.
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
2-0, made it look hard in the first half, but I think the magpies made it really tough for the first 30 - they pressed high and were very physical. Ramsdale's save, again top drawer.
I was concerned that Arteta didnt make wholesale changes after Liverpool. I though Tierney would be at LB at minimum. Instead Taveres played really well, pity he left his shooting boots on the bus.
I guess we'll see changes against Man U on Friday morning..
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Cracking goals for that win. Really increased our speed of passing and interplay in the 2nd half to open them up and the finishes were spectacular.

It was good to see a bit more variety in our chance creation against a defensive block. Last season a match like that would have seen the horse shoe of death reappear while we banged in crosses for the defenders to clear with ease.

Hoping United exhaust themselves tomorrow against Chelsea. While I’m worried about them getting a manager of his quality I’m hoping it’ll take a few games before he makes much of an impact.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Lineup for Friday? I wonder if Laca will come back in for Odegaard, and perhaps Tierney for Tavares? Not a dropping as such, more a rest/rotation and "horses for courses" approach? I wouldn't be surprised. 
Marquee
1.5K
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5.2K
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over 16 years
Sad to hear the passing of Ray Kennedy. He was before my time but a member of the 71 Double team before going on to have a fantastic career at Liverpool. 
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
paulm
Lineup for Friday? I wonder if Laca will come back in for Odegaard, and perhaps Tierney for Tavares? Not a dropping as such, more a rest/rotation and "horses for courses" approach? I wouldn't be surprised. 


Surely KT comes in. I know there was some surprise from some Gooners about him not starting against Newcastle, but it made sense for me that he was being saved for this match. 
Not sure about Laca for MO. I think MO should start as he gives us more mobility in midfield while also offering an attacking outlet as well. 
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Might be controversial, but I think we need a new 'big away' strategy which isn't trying to impose ourselves but rather us actually focussing on the counter.
My ideal is a 4-3-3 with a false 9.
lineup.png 129.87 KB
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
not sure about Auba out wide, he has the pace for sure but it's not his role. ESR would be the better option with Auba instead of Lacazette and Odegaard with Lakonga in the middle.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Results went our way this morning.
Lose tomorrow and we stay 5th, we can't be overtaken.
Win and we go top 4. 
Marquee
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over 16 years
That’s the thing, I don’t trust Auba’s link play and his instinct is to run in behind. With a false 9 you need them back to goal dropping between the lines.

Auba’s finishing is out of form and I’m wondering if a return to the wide areas will put him in a position to reset 🤷🏻‍♂️
theprof
not sure about Auba out wide, he has the pace for sure but it's not his role. ESR would be the better option with Auba instead of Lacazette and Odegaard with Lakonga in the middle.
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
KT on the bench and Elneny to start. Didn’t see either of those coming. With Elneny, maybe that means we will sit deeper and look to counter. 
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Tavares has actually taken Tierney's spot. Never saw that coming, feel very nervous about it as I'm a massive Tierney fan, but to be honest you cannot argue. He's there on merit. Tierney was out and Tavares took his chance, he's been very impressive.
Lokonga has been decent but error-prone. AMN has been his usual self - occasionally brilliant but inconsistent throughout matches. Elneny probably deserves this chance if he's been training well. But it does expose our enormous midfield problem with Xhaka injured. Partey and Elneny will be off to Afcon shortly.
Ramsey loan???? One can dream. 
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
God our touches are horrific atm
Starting XI
2.1K
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4.3K
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over 11 years
On what basis is that not a goal? His own player stood on him and the whistle hadn't blown until after the ball was in the net.

Edit: Correct decision.

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