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Pre Match Pre Match - Arsenal (H) - Sun 16:30

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Brizzle

Brizzle

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Proving I’m not a bot with mg erratic pre match thread timings

Huge game, could be our biggest and most important home fixture of the season and i truly feel we are underdogs.

Everything we have struggled against is everything Arsenal excel at. Set pieces, long throws and pacy counter attacks. All combined with a solid back line.

Something needs to change and we need to start on the front foot.

I don’t think we can drop Ibu as there’s no alternative but I’d be willing to consider it. Worth noting however he’ll he needed at set pieces.

Team for me is:

Alisson

Gomez
Konate
Virgil
Kerkez

Gravy
Macca
Szobo

Salah
Ekitike
Wirtz

We need a solid midfield that will cover defensively, and I’d give Wirtz more of a free role on the wing. Have Gomez act like a third CB and use Kerkez for width.

Tough one to call, could also make a strong claim for Bradders at RB but I’m worried we need Gomez’s defensive strengths - if he was fit I’d start him at CB!
 
Alisson
Bradley Konate Virgil Kerkez
Gravy Szobo
Salah Wirtz Gakpo
Ekitike

Macca hopefully fit enough to be on the bench. Could be a case for Gomez to start at right back.
 
Wirtz on the wing, aye?

anger-management-jack-nicholson.gif
 
Brizzle said:
Proving I’m not a bot with mg erratic pre match thread timings

Huge game, could be our biggest and most important home fixture of the season and i truly feel we are underdogs.

Everything we have struggled against is everything Arsenal excel at. Set pieces, long throws and pacy counter attacks. All combined with a solid back line.

Something needs to change and we need to start on the front foot.

I don’t think we can drop Ibu as there’s no alternative but I’d be willing to consider it. Worth noting however he’ll he needed at set pieces.

Team for me is:

Alisson

Gomez
Konate
Virgil
Kerkez

Gravy
Macca
Szobo

Salah
Ekitike
Wirtz

We need a solid midfield that will cover defensively, and I’d give Wirtz more of a free role on the wing. Have Gomez act like a third CB and use Kerkez for width.

Tough one to call, could also make a strong claim for Bradders at RB but I’m worried we need Gomez’s defensive strengths - if he was fit I’d start him at CB!
Click to expand...
Interesting points you make. Wirtz to displace Gakpo. I don't think Slot would agree with you and I don't think I would agree with you. Gakpo is still a rather significant goal threat and Wirtz is not. I think Wirtz needs time in midfield.

What to do with Macca and/or Wirtz is an interesting question. Gravenberch is proving irreplaceable as the only truly defensive midfielder (who has also started scoring goals) and Szoboszlai has been immense in the midfield with that splendid assist for Ngumoha goal, and when covering on the right back too. And is strong heading the ball. I think that Slot will look to play Bradley as a right back (if available). And I think that Gravenberch is the first person on the sheet in midfield, followed by Szoboszlai. And then the question for Slot is to choose between Macca and Wirtz. Or alternatively, to put Macca next to Gravenberch and choose between Wirtz and Szoboszlai.

Kerkez was clearly at fault for that first Newcastle goal. Appears to struggle with defensive headers and such positioning. Arteta might seek to exploit that.
 
There’s an argument to just bench Wirtz and play Gakpo LW and Szobo AM.

Arsenal will have Madueke & Timber down their right and our LB whoever it is will need support from Macca and whoever is our AM.
 
Brizzle said:
There’s an argument to just bench Wirtz and play Gakpo LW and Szobo AM.
Click to expand...
Yes. I'd agree. The only issue with that would be not to have Wirtz lose confidence in his early goings. He's the record signing. Slot might want to avoid the media labeling him a failure early on. I think that Slot will most likely go for the same formation and look to bring Mac Allister in as a sub given that he was slow joining the pre-season training and hasn't played much yet. That would probably be the most reasonable. After all, it is two games and two wins for Liverpool. Not like points were dropped.
 
i’m looking for some pragmatism from slot here, we’ve had 3 ropey matches so far with whatever he’s trying to achieve tactically. i’d love him to stick a pin in that, solidify the team, and try to exert some control over the game.

obviously macallister would be key to this and he might not be fit/available. bradders or gomez at right back if possible so we’re not losing doms energy in the middle.

i’m also starting to think about mo through the middle late game if we think ekitike isn’t fit enough.

one certainty though, we play like we did against newcastle again and we’ll lose.
 
Markeh said:
i’m also starting to think about mo through the middle
Click to expand...

I've had this thought too especially given that Ekitike is our only central option. He will need rest and tactically there is a need for another option, or some sort of a plan B. Jota, Diaz and Nunez served those functions last season.

Salah is very savvy with the ball, good passer, and a great goal scorer. If we don't sign Isak (and anyone else in that position) then I would mmmost definitely consider playing Salah through the middle. Or giving him a free role. Chiesa and Szoboszlai could fit on the right. Getting Salah closer to the goal I cannot see as turning into a bad thing. Diaz was similarly used last year while preserving Gakpo on the right.

Szoboszlai appears to be a workhorse that can fit anywhere. A great, great player. Extremely valuable with great motor.

So far, Slot has played Chiesa through the middle. As a Number 9. But I don't think Chiesa fits into that position. I think Chiesa would fit much better on the left side coming into the middle (as a replacement for Gakpo). But Chiesa can also do a job on the right side. He is a well-rounded player and more of a midfielder. He could work as a False 9 type a player but he lacks the motor, stamina and physicality to be out there shoving it out with PL sides. He could still be prone to injury.
 
Bournemouth game we missed Grav and in newcastle game we missed Mac10. Th arse game we have them back. I would be keen to play Dom at RB again and Jo at LB and see if it solves our defensive frailties
 
FullStop said:
I've had this thought too especially given that Ekitike is our only central option. He will need rest and tactically there is a need for another option, or some sort of a plan B. Jota, Diaz and Nunez served those functions last season.

Salah is very savvy with the ball, good passer, and a great goal scorer. If we don't sign Isak (and anyone else in that position) then I would mmmost definitely consider playing Salah through the middle. Or giving him a free role. Chiesa and Szoboszlai could fit on the right. Getting Salah closer to the goal I cannot see as turning into a bad thing. Diaz was similarly used last year while preserving Gakpo on the right.

Szoboszlai appears to be a workhorse that can fit anywhere. A great, great player. Extremely valuable with great motor.

So far, Slot has played Chiesa through the middle. As a Number 9. But I don't think Chiesa fits into that position. I think Chiesa would fit much better on the left side coming into the middle (as a replacement for Gakpo). But Chiesa can also do a job on the right side. He is a well-rounded player and more of a midfielder.
Click to expand...

Chiesa is no midfielder. Play him there and he'll get lost in the rush. He has to play further forward so the moments of magic he can still produce, like that great goal against Bournemouth, can pay off to best advantage. I also reckon Slot's right to play him centrally - he no longer has the pace to play out wide like he did in his pomp.
 
Wirtz needs time to settle but i'm not sure playing in our midfield 3 is the way to get the best out of him. Him being there reminds me of when we used to play coutinho in midfield. Good for creativity but made us lightweight. I see wirtz the same way. I'd rather him in gakpo's position with szobo, macca and gravy as our 3.
 
Thats not playing to his strengths though, and it also means we miss Gakpo's output from the left. In other words it makes us worse.
He's part of the attacking trio behind Ekitike as a starting position anyway.

Macca wont start this game given his fitness issues.
 
Glen C said:
Wirtz needs time to settle but i'm not sure playing in our midfield 3 is the way to get the best out of him. Him being there reminds me of when we used to play coutinho in midfield. Good for creativity but made us lightweight. I see wirtz the same way. I'd rather him in gakpo's position with szobo, macca and gravy as our 3.
Click to expand...
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't there a lot of talking about Wirtz being a no 10 and wanting the shirt pre completion/here we go?
 
I think it was more the vision Slot sold him when trying to sign him, in that he would be our nr 10 and that he would excel for us in his best position.
 
Hansern said:
Alisson
Bradley Konate Virgil Kerkez
Gravy Szobo
Salah Wirtz Gakpo
Ekitike

Macca hopefully fit enough to be on the bench. Could be a case for Gomez to start at right back.
Click to expand...
This will be the starting 11. I’m hoping that Macca and Gomez are fit enough to sub on second half (likely for Bradders and Wirtz) and that Salah’s told to do a little more defensively to help a rusty Bradley.

I also hope Ibou gets an absolute rocket up his arse from Slot and Virg, and Kerkez is left in no doubt how to defend a back post header.
 
Buddha said:
This will be the starting 11. I’m hoping that Macca and Gomez are fit enough to sub on second half (likely for Bradders and Wirtz) and that Salah’s told to do a little more defensively to help a rusty Bradley.

I also hope Ibou gets an absolute rocket up his arse from Slot and Virg, and Kerkez is left in no doubt how to defend a back post header.
Click to expand...
I just think that midfield will get dominated by arsenal imo. Wirtz isn't ready for the middle yet imo.
 
We're about to be found out. We're not getting a good return from Salah with no Trent passes releasing. Wirtz isn't on the same wavelength and it will take time. Kirkez is a disappointment and hoping it's bedding in issues. Too many changes in personell. The data might have indicated they were good fits but time is against us and we've had 2 tough teams so far and Arse is worst case scenario. Feel like we've got Rodgers in charge currently, and back to the mantra of we don't care about defense we'll just outscore you.

If we can get some steel restored into midfield with Mac Allister that'll help but he's not fully fit, neither is Gomez or Bradley and Konate needs to improve.
 
If saka was fit, I'll be more concerned. Eze playing could go either way.

We just need to be on it, more than any other game so far this season
 
Interesting read in terms of how we could set up in the future and that the signing of Isak could see us move to a 4-3-1-2.

Would make a lot of sense.

Alisson
Frimpong/Bradley Konate Virgil Kerkez
Szobo Gravy Macca
Wirtz
Salah/Ekitike Isak

Might see us transition into that starting formation going forward.
 
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