Arsenal take on Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates this evening. As expected Unai Emery has heavily rotated after our 3-2 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.
Here are the official line-ups.
Arsenal: Martinez, Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney, Torreira, Willock, Ozil, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Martinelli
Subs: Macey, Bellerin, Bola, Burton, Ceballos, Saka, Balogun
Nottingham Forest: Muric, Cash, Figueurido, Ribeiro, Chema, Silva, Johnson, Carvalho, Lolley, Adomah
Subs: Smith, Milosevic, Grabban, Ameobi, Sow, Gabriel, Mighten
Is it me or is that just about the most exciting line up in about 14 months from Emery?!
Ozil in the reserves! Oh dear oh dear…
So he’s not suitable for away games. And not suitable to travel for Europa Cup games. And it appears he’s not suitable for home premier league games. So that just leaves this fixture. Interested to see if he bothers tonight.
The question is who leaves first Ozil or Emery…?
I think Emery will leave first…at the end of the season.
Ozil will likely leave at the end of next season…when his contract expires.
Emery becomes surprise new real/ barca manager and signs ozil
How about both hand in hand?
Off into the sunset
Why would Emery leave? The knee jerk reactions after just 7 matches is toxic and sickening
+1
I don’t think it’s knee jerk bro. It takes a good coach less than half a season to establish a recognisable style.
By the third game, we saw what Conte was about at Chelsea; ditto Klopp and Pep.
But this man Emery, he is tactically all over the place.
He can’t even choose a captain!
That is a weird way to look at it, “if he bothers tonight.”
This is disrespectful, whatever is going on behind the scenes must be bad. Either that or Emery is a terrible man manager sidelining one of the best no.10s in the league because of his (Emery’s) ego.
Very tough to justify “one of the best in the league”
Even tougher when he barely gets any game time.
he got his game time.
Best no 10 my arris
Ozil is finished at the top level!
Out of the top six clubs, only Man City still employ number 10’s and David Silva / De Bruyne do a lot more for the team than Özil does. They track back, they hustle, they sit deep if they have to.
It’s not necessarily Özil’s fault but there just isn’t room in modern football for a player who does nothing but create a few chances if he’s in the mood.
UE is not suitable to coach Arsenal.
Based on what? 7 matches on and only 1 defeat to Liverpool. New players finding form and defenders coming back from long term injuries. For heavens sake give him some time.
Well, at least he’s in the starting line-up
Strong team. Can’t wait to see Tierney and Holding! COYG!
Personally don’t understand not staring Saka. I would have thought it would be good to get him back in after he was sacrificed after the AMN red, just for confidence, cohesion and to confirm he is next in line after the big 3.
Not a big complaint though, other lads need minutes too I guess. #COYG
He played 90 minutes five days ago and 45 minutes two days ago. He’s only 18, common sense not to over play him. Well he’s on now for the second half, and may even get another start next week at United.
I guess Bellerin is starting vs United after getting a half hour tonight?
Maybe, but even if not fit to start, I don’t want to see Maitland Niles against united. Would pick Chambers ahead of him.
I write the first team out in my notes before every game, and this is the first time I’ve correctly predicted Emery’s starting 11.
I’m happy the back4 looks here to stay, you need to build stability+structure over a period of time.
With all this young talent, I’m more excited to view this match than our regular football!
So glad Auba isn’t on the bench – he’s earned a break. Removes the temptation to use him.
Where’s our Corporal, Forest?!
In
He injured himself so he doesn’t have to play against us
All wrapped up in this gunners bedding
I’ll scan the home crowds. He’s bound to be somewhere…
I’m surprised that he’s not starting Xhaka
I wonder why he considers him a player of some worth
Gotta keep our talismanic captain fresh for Old Trafford
Who is in the striker role I wonder? Reiss/Martinelli?
Martinelli is the striker. RN and ESR on the wings behind him.
Fascinating! I assumed he was a left winger and not a striker.
When you assume you make an ass out of u and me
Xhaka and Luiz should play these games eventually when Holding and Torreira are fit enough
Torreira is fit I guess
Must be the youngest average age we’ve fielded … err … ever?
At least since the late Wenger years. I remember 2008-2011 we fielded some young teams.
I knew that Emery would play Mesut in this game to try to humiliate him, he did the same thing last season. I hope Mesut plays a blinder. Emery is a horrible coach and has a nasty, spiteful side to him, the sooner he’s fired the happier I’ll be.
I was thinking nasty, spiteful when I was reading your post.
Agree with Vonnie, if you can’t work Ozil into your side you are a mediocre manager. He’s still one of the top players on the team – and Arsenal are hardly playing thrilling, all-action football without him. A better manager would know how to use him.
No. He’s not. He really is not. When was the last time he won Arsenal’s player of the year? He has only won that once in his time here… He’s just some guy who did very well at Madrid, in a league less strenuous than the Premier League and in a team that could accommodate his lethargic approach. We are neither that team nor in that league. We cannot afford Ozil. Ship him off as soon as we can.
An interesting one. Let’s see how this pans out. COYG!
Ah, the Corporal has a can’t play against his team clause in his contract!
Should really swap Mustafi (to RB) and Chambers (to CB).
We have tried Mustafi at CB enough.
Musti’s our inform centre back. Have some respect!
Shockingly Musti did well at CB and Chambers did well at RB and later at LB. Got an assist on both flanks. Conventional wisdom upended.
I’m really pleased with that line up… for some reason I don’t think Mesut Ozil is.
Hopefully, Ozil shows tonight exactly what we’ve been missing going forward… Emery has previous when it comes to a clubs “biggest” player… Still waiting to see a clear strategy/method of his play after well over a year…. Faith/trust has gone.
‘Emery has previous when it comes to a clubs “biggest” player…’
PSG having a beautiful relationship with Neymar since Emery left proves your point presumably
Exactly. Neymar flourished once Emery left. Ozil will obviously be lethal if utilised behind Pepe, Laca and Auba…
Oh dear
Almost a goal a game since Emery left?!
Massive game for Nelson actually, Saka seems to have taken his spot so it’s really on him to impress. Big for Torreira as well, surely auditioning to replace Xhaka
As Xhaka is a deep lying midfielder and Torreira a DM there is no comparison. They play well together
Agree, but seems to have taken his spot…?
In a matter of one, barely two games, a month into a new season.
Good lord ….
When did Reiss Nelson even have a spot
No Tyreece John Jules? I hope he’s not injured.
Otherwise I like this squad a lot, hope they really put up a good performance.
As someone who watches more Celtic games than any club outside Arsenal, I can’t wait for Tierney to get started. He is top quality
15 minutes delay aargh
The pressing is incredible, this team has a better backbone. I am loving this. Good one there Emery
Must say Ozil played well tonight. The team looked balance when Smith-Rowe came off. Midfield worked well together protecting the defense and aiding the attack. This is how the team should be.
I didn’t fancy that Ozil sub. We were not under attack from Forest, I’d have subbed Torreira. That was heart wrenching.
Man of the match you ask? Easy. Calum Chambers
Quality performance, super game to watch… the boys did amazing… we have some top class wonder kids
Just how good was Chambers tonight?
Chambers was top notch
Just back from the game, my first at the Emirates for three years, and what a great one to get back into it again. Chambers was outstanding, Tierney made a really impressive debut and Hector got a very emotional welcome back from the crowd. We’ve got a bright future ahead of us.