Arsenal take on Aston Villa at the Emirates tonight, looking to continue the 100% start to the season.
Here are the official line-ups.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney, Sambi, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus
Subs: Turner, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Holding, Smith, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Marquinhos, Nketiah
Aston Villa:Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Kamara, Ramsey, Bailey, Watkins, Buendia
Subs: Olsen, Chambers, Augstinsson, Young, Douglas Luiz, Iroegbunam, Coutinho, Archer, Ings
Best of luck Sambi…prove you worth
Can’t wait for the new sambi song that will pop up
Lets all do the Lokonga, Lets all do Lokonga, La la la la, la la la la
Sambi? Again? Have we won any match where he started in that position? I’m surprised Miguel azeez who’s supposed to be a specialist in that position isn’t on the bench…..we had all summer not to find ourselves in this same position that cost us 3consecutive matches… Alright,sambi go out and prove me wrong!!!
I’d have rested Saka and played Emily.
Is rotation not an Arsenal thing?
It’s the last thing I genuinely wonder about with Arteta. Rotation and substitutions are not apparently his bag.
That will start next week in the Europa League.
Hoping for changes at half time. Have to field fresh players n the strongest lineup for the united game.
Considering we’re up 4 by half time, that seems reasonable
Not too worried about them. They play tomorrow night so they’ll have about less time to recover before they play us.
Not really. Thec3 points on offer tonight count just as equally as those against manu
It’s the prem and we’re already down in midfield. This would be a terrible time to rotate.
Any of White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, or Jesus who doesn’t sit out against Man U will have played 3 PL matches in 8 days.
If we started ESR or Tomi or even Eddie we could have reduced that number.
Put the points on the board while we can.
I think we’d be a pretty good shot to put points on the board with ESR and Tomi in the lineup.
Come on Sambi!
Côme on Sambi! Have a blinder and stake your claim. This is your chance. COYG!!!
Who’s the other smith?
Matt Smith, 21 year old midfielder. Was on the bench for the 2020 FA Cup final and has won more medals than Harry Kane.
everyone posting on this site has the same number of winner’s medals as harry kane
I have more.
Do we have a secret Arsenal player or ex-player here as an avid Arseblogger?
Na, he won his school’s under 12s tiddly-winks annual tournament.
4th year science project. A collection of leaves. 😀
You forgot the Audi Cup.
Based
Makes me laugh every time someone mentions Smith has more medals than kane.
It is funny as fuck!
Didn’t he go on loan?
No that’s Tom Smith, goalkeeper, gone to Bromley on loan.
Matt Smith, I think
Matt Smith.
But not the Doctor.
Or the Duke of Edinburgh.
Matt Smith.
Who already has one FA Cup Winners medal more than Harry the Window Licker.
Zinchenko hurt still from celebrating? Haha
Let’s go boys! Big three points. Glad to see Sambi getting a start. Some great options available in the bench too!
The celebration police took him into custody. Hopefully he’s bailed out in time for Sunday’s game.
A shame that prick Richard has the keys
Granit’s got the keys, he’s the only one his mum trusted with them since he was about 12.
I forgot if Sambi is any good it’s been so long
He was good in the pre-season friendlies but that was playing more advanced in a #8 position.
I have complete faith in him, very neat and tidy with the ball.
He was found wanting last April and May in the absence of Partey.
Arteta eventually replaced him with Elneny and the midfield tightened up considerably.
Let’s hope Sambi is more on it tonight, he needs to be.
Arteta really needs to learn how to rotate. This is not sustainable.
That bench is just not potent enough.
Imagine if Jesus picks up a long term injury.
Thank god we kept Sambi. There were rumors he could be going to Ac Milan few weeks ago. Hopefully this will be his chance to shine.
coutinho and ings both on the bench and mings starting? yes please
Would have preferred white in the holding position really can’t trust lokonga too error prone and slow on the ball.
We need the three points and I think this team selection can certainly get them. Interesting to see what Sambi can do.
I’d really like to see Jesus on the scoresheet. He’s had a good start with a fine all round contribution to the team but goals are his thing and one (or, maybe, more?) against Villa would be great tonight.
Arsenal 4-0 A.villa
God help us if we have to rely on Sambi for most of this season.
ARTETA: GO AND BUY A MIDFIELDER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!
Sambi is a good young player and he’ll be fine with the support around him.
FATS: SHUT THE FUCK UP AND SUPPORT THE TEAM!!!
Well said. We have to trust young players in their positions. It would take a long time for his confidence to recover if we were to pick White there ahead of him
I wouldn’t assume that Sambi’s inclusion tonight excludes bringing someone in, albeit with limited time remaining now. It’s an opportunity against a team that’s not in the best current form (which may mean nothing) for him to show what he can do. Let’s see.
Or rely on a defensive midfielder like Partey who seems to be made out of biscuits.
For once, Fats, you are spot on.
Will be the toughest game yet, with Villa backs to the wall and fighting back. I smell a 2-2 draw
That’s a fair point. Villa will have been read the riot act by their manager and they will certainly be the “underdogs” tonight – sometimes potentially dangerous. That said, I think we’ll get the three points but we need more clinical finishing than was shown against Fulham.
Nah, Arsenal 2-0.
OK boys, let’s keep the momentum going and make it 5 out of 5. Plenty strong enough squad to get the three points.
Let’s hope Sambi is up to the task.
COYG
Let’s Sambi!
Best of luck to Sambi.
We definitely need a new central midfielder as Thomas is clearly far too injury prone.
Who is “Smith”?
Ok, seems Matt Smith, #72
An audition? Let’s see what Sambi’s got
I hope sambi proves us wrong
Proves who wrong ?
He’s been tidy so far. Definitely looks the part he has a smoothness about his play.
What is smith
Fuck me Odegaard is on another level tonight ❤️
And how was that not a penalty. Mings wrestled Saks to the floor. Couple of Vila players lucky to still be on the pitch.
What a game though. All that Vila violence and we are up for it!
So much pressure with only one goal. I feel anxious.
Btw how Mings lifting of Saka not a penalty???