Having somewhat surprisingly deployed a back three in our last away game in Europe, Unai Emery appears to have no plans to repeat that for Thursday’s encounter with Sporting.
The Arsenal head coach hasn’t ruled out using it again, even if it lasted just 45 minutes of the Qarabag tie, but says tomorrow’s game is not the time for experiments.
The Portuguese side have won eight of their eleven games so far this season, while the Gunners have defensive worries which pretty much preclude the change of formation.
With Sokratis only returning from injury, Laurent Koscielny and Dinos Mavropanos sidelined, and without Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac who could fit into a back three if needed, Emery’s options are limited.
Asked if it was something he was thinking about at his pre-game press conference, he said,
“It’s not the best for us because our composition with the players tomorrow I think we are going to continue tactically how usually we do, but for the next matches it could be a possibility to do that.
“We are finding the best combination, the best tactical idea so we can do our best performance and sometimes, some matches they are a very good moment to try different options.
“For us first this competition is very, very important and the opposition tomorrow is a very good team with a very good experience in this competition and with good players.
“Sporting changed players and also the coach this year but for us in this moment we are two teams both in the first position and our mind is to arrive first in this group and to continue in our way thinking how we can improve.
“This is a very, very big match and important for our confidence and to try to continue working tactically on the things with the players with a lot of respect for them.
“We want to win against Sporting.”
Let’s win then relax more for the remaining games.
Like Sp*rs, who can relax now in the CL, but winning instead of losing and drawing.
Spurs can still finish second in their group, but let’s remember that whoever finishes third will drop into the Europa League. I’d rather avoid other English clubs, so I’d prefer Inter Milan.
Sporting are no mugs. Bas Dost is a lethal finisher and will punish any mistakes. Bruno Fernandes is tipped to be the next Ronaldo, so watch out for him and Sporting have one of the best academy’s in Europe.
start Xhaka at left back
He sounds like Google Translate
He was googling & translating as he went along (up in his mind anyway)
If our back line looks ropey tomorrow? Let’s just worry about going the one way and blow these fu*kers away with our superior firepower.
I like him me.
“We want to win against Sporting.”
I can totally get with this sentiment. Let’s do it boys!
Why is this site posting articles about rvp. Please stop beacause that looser is not a true gunner. He won nothing for arsenal. I got more respect for sanchez. At least he won 2 f.a. cups for us
You still haven’t gotten over RVP.
Last time out we beat them 3-0 thanks to a George Graham brace… 49 years ago in 1969