Thursday, March 28, 2024

Xhaka in for Vieira the only change: Man City v Arsenal team news

Arsenal travel to the Etihad this evening, looking for a first away win at Man City since 2015.

Here are the official line-ups.

Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo, Grealish, Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer, Lewis

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus

Subs: Turner, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Trossard, Nelson, Nketiah

Follow the game on the Arseblog live blog

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I miss santi cazorla

We are doomed with that CB pairing

Doctor Perceptron

This Arsenal CAN win this match. Will they? Let’s find out!! Go Gunners!!!!!

I miss santi cazorla

All hopes lie on Jesus _/\_

I think our best hope of winning lies on Saka and Martinelli each having a near perfect game.

ArtetasForehead

Why? I believe in the boys.

Billymac

Would be more confident if they had a left back who was a left back to help them out. I suppose we’ll have to hope Zinchenko can cause City enough damage to justify leaving a space at the back.

Arron

We’re all doomed. Life ends the same for each of us. As for the game: ??? COYG!

Eric Blair

We’d better try to outscore them then!

Heavenly Chapecoense

Hope we’re never 2-0 up !

He’s got no hair but we don’t care...

Why are you thumbing this down? You can’t possibly think that big Norwegian lump was shivering in his boots looking at it?

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

Because according to many here, Holding is a very good CB, who is better than Canavaro, plus he had a great FA Cup final against Diego Costa about 6 years ago

Deano

Have to believe, COYG!!!!

Momozemio

🙏
And our captain becomes an Arsenal Centurion tonight, here’s hoping for a Martinclass🔴⚪️

ArtetasForehead

Everybody behind the team today!!!
The lads really deserve all our support!
This is a successful season no matter the ending!

Arron

Well said. It’s about competing and fun. Total success!

Maniac

Our away support has been outstanding all season. I have no doubt that they will be showing the team exactly how we all feel today. COYG!

ArtetasForehead

Holding to score equaliser at ’89 and burst into tears along away fans!!!

Kentish Gooner

Holdinho masterclass incoming.

Kentish Gooner

Also, I’m serious. Reckon he’s got a good game in him.

Kentish Gooner

I lied. Game over.

He’s got no hair but we don’t care...

Ahahahaha. I love Bobby but no chance.

Der32

No Ake at City’s LB. Let’s hope Saka has a big night, he’s due an epic performance.

Bleeding Gums Murphy

Very concerned about holding but if he can have a decent game and the others play as they can, we can win this. Come on you gunners.

DefaultGray

Is there a single one of Citys XI who cost less than 50 million? Honestly hate them, COYG!

Kehny

Manuel Akanji

Sagebrush

We will have oil one day

mikey

oh no holding

Frosty

*oh, no holding back!

Frosty

Today I wear my brown pants.

Eric Blair

I’ve been wearing my brown pants every game since the Liverpool one, they’re going to need a good wash tomorrow.

El__Chapitan

Stay frosty!

Fatgooner

It’s nice to go into a game with absolutely no expectation other than a defeat: anything we get out of this game will be a massive plus.

I’m nice and relaxed 😎

Eric Blair

Enjoy it buddy!

Nainsley Aitland Miles

But you expect defeat in every game!!

Enjoy the game pal.

Billy bob

Shame, I had hoped we’d go down the 3-4-3 route!!!

MojoJojo

Bad strategy to repeat the same tactics and team selection. Happy 2nd place.

Up4GrabsNow!

COYG! That is all!

Master Floda

Their bench is ridiculous.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we defended deeper and tried more long balls today. Basically what they did to us in the reverse fixture.

Paul

Mik has faith in his players and doesn’t play Football Manager or what ever it is that many fans play. COYG.

Henkamp

Don’t think starting Zinchenko at LB in such a big game is a good idea. Even Guardiola — attack minded as he is — used to bench him in these big games.

Henkamp

Was really hoping we do something different. Well, I am not expecting much from this… just like I was not expecting much from Chelsea away last season. But look how that turned out!

YouThee

We can hurt this City team. Our slump is over with that comeback against Southampton

FMT

Hmmm…Man City’s line-up might just work in our favour. Without Walker, Martinelli might just have a good game down that left. Becos, Walker is fast and able to recover whenever Martinelli breaks. Without him, Martinelli might be able to take advantage of City’s highline.

I can’t breath…🥵

Pookins

Walker is playing

FMT

Oops! I missed that!
I was hoping he wouldn’t play Walkers. This has always been Pep’s strategy against us.

Well, let’s see how it goes.

Alex

Walker is playing mate

Nainsley Aitland Miles

Xhaka back is critical. Wondering if Xhaka and Jesus will play deeper tonight. Instead of the usual 4-1-4-1, more 4-2-4.

Heart says 1-0 to The Arsenal.

But head says 0-2 to City.

Got a nagging feeling there’s gonna be a red card tonight though; really hope we stay calm and don’t throw the game away on a sending off.

Qwaliteee

With the obvious exception of Saliba’s absence (I won’t mention his replacement’s name because too many haters on here will wet the bed) we have got our strongest starting XI in our normal formation. Good; let’s keep that continuity that got us to tonight in the first place. I’ve seen more daft concoctions on here than an Ice Cream menu – thank God we have Xhaka back. Expecting big things from Odegaard and our two illustrious wide boys – and I hope Jesus has packed his scoring boots because we are going to need them. We can do this. Believe.… Read more »

Sheldon

Saka’s gona rip Akanji a new one if we can get the ball to him quickly

Nady

Use this game to complete the Southampton comeback, guys! COYRRGunnerrrs!

Nainsley Aitland Miles

There was a debate at work; is a draw a good or bad result for Arsenal?

I think bad, because it then means relying on other teams to take points from City.

Arsenorf

Let’s hope Mikel’s got them in the right frame of mind : play to win. I would have gone all guns blazing, with Jesus in the ‘Xhaka role’ and Eddie up front to give his all in the first half. Erase any doubts at the back by going straight for their jugular. Get the lead and re-assess at half-time 😉

foggy

Should gave been a back 3 Tierney Gabriel Holding – same as our FA Cup win except Gabriel for Luiz. Graham knew what to do in 1989. Oh well hope Im wrong COYG

He’s got no hair but we don’t care...

You’re not wrong, you’re right. We all know he should do that and take holding out. Poor management.

He’s got no hair but we don’t care...

I hope I’m wrong.
I hope you guys end up thumbing me down in your droves as usual.
But
Playing holding again is finally going to rip that plaster off that’s papering over the cracks of the draws we’ve been getting and could result in a spanking tonight.

He’s got no hair but we don’t care...

1-0, It begins.

Leon

If we had Saliba we would have a chance.
Holding came from Bolton and that’s his level.

He’s got no hair but we don’t care...

Another holding mistake and they were through again.

Leon

I like holding – a great professional but not a player you can rely on in a championship run in.
A world class centre back and left back are essential in the summer because to win trophies you will need to ride out games like this. Good things ahead for Arsenal 😊

Ealing

Or play KT at left back already

Leon

Again I just don’t think he is as defensive as we need but still a better bet..

Pat Rice and Beans

Annnnnnnnnnd you’re right 👍🏽

Blablaio

Arseblog is censorship.

Ealing

Could have been 6-0 by half time

Pat Rice and Beans

Holding is a joke.

Ealing

He’s been passed four times leading to as many shots on goals

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

I hope he never plays for Arsenal again, after this season

FMT

I didn’t think we would do well playing our the same style and tactic. Becos, as we have spent the time studying City, Pep would have done same of us.
I would have been more hopeful if we changed the game style and tactic for this game. Just this game. Mix it up. Make us unpredictable.

Well, we leave to fight another day.

Kudos boys!

Henkamp

My thoughts exactly. Arteta showed he can coach a low block to devastating effect in his early days. Why NOT do something similar for this game? Defend deep and find a way to get Martinelli running at their defense?

Oh well, what do I know?

He’s got no hair but we don’t care...

As I mentioned earlier, very bad decisions at the back have cost us yet another of our best chances of winning the league.
First the time when Leicester one it and now it’s this time.
Will we get another chance?

Pat Rice and Beans

Don’t think so.
City is a deep pocketed club with the best manager of his generations + a well ‘oiled’ structure.
Newcastle plan is to become a City 2.0 with even more money.
Liverpool always a menace with Klopp and his philosophy ingrained in the club.
AFC had not one, but two freaking chances to win the title but bottled it.

YoungGun

Mentally weak this team. Two seasons in a row throwing away when crunchtime. People talking about Holding when White is getting cooked like fried rice by Grealish.

Bleeding Gums Murphy

My fear was playing holding would cost us. City have targeted him and it’s clearly worked.

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

A mentally weak team, doesn’t go from 5th to 2nd in 12 months. Lack of quality depth is what cost us

He’s got no hair but we don’t care...

Hope blogs and James really hammer home how much poor defensive management by Arteta without Saliba has cost us the title.

mrugunner

We all saw the team and knew what was coming. So did Pep.
Poor tactics from arteta again.

Nketibag

So predictable. Poor as F.
Pep changed a few things, Arteta? Na mate, just do what hasn’t been working again and leave one of your best players on the bench. Well done 👏

Rick_Sanchez

They are just better.

Ealing

Financial doping …

Mootilated

Chelsea spent 600m and they’re shit.

It’s not doping. It’s spending well and buying the quality in depth so you can rotate.

They have money, but don’t tell me it’s all about money. They don’t have a single player in their squad that wouldn’t walk into ours.

Ealing

just because there are two criminals and one is stupid, it does not make the other criminal innocent

Joy

Plonker

Mootilated

These comments have aged like milk 😂

ArtetasForehead

Holding to score equaliser at ’89 and burst into tears along away fans!!!

MoeG

Bottle job, nuff said

Vieiraera

That’s a silly comment considering what these kids have done this season

MoeG

They did great, but bottled the title. Blew a massive points lead, dropping points against much weaker opponents. Same thing we did last season. But no complaints from me the season was better then expected.

Bjorn

Could he have saved the first one? Anyway, we don’t deserv to get anything from this game.

mrugunner

Finishing second is way beyond what we all expected at the beginning of the season. It’s just the way we’re finishing that’s a bummer. And the hope from midseason to the gw30.

Leon

It’s the hope that kills you.
They say second would be good for Arsenal and it is progress but nevertheless to come so far.
At least make a fight out of it – are our front four even playing ?
The signing of top class defensive players must be the priority in the summer…
I feel sympathy for Rob Holding..

Ealing

Up creek without a paddle

Daveod

He earns 40k a week and has about much footballing talent as i did in my mid 20’s…..i drive a van for 600 quid a week. Sympathy should probably go elsewhere

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

600 quid to drive a van! You’re nicking a living

Daveod

😂😂😂 6 hour days aswell

Daveod

We didnt expect to be here, im so worried that our squad will feel demorilised (sic?) by finishing 2nd. We were fighting for fourth and played out of our skin for months and months, we over acheived……..more importantly we ACHEIVED what our seasons goal was! Lets strengthen lets build lets keep it posive GOYG

BillyKrystal

It’s so hard not to be demoralized by this. They are a good distance ahead of us still. This game doesn’t feel like a title bout whatsoever. Better to go back to reality now than last game of the season.

Leon

There is always a cretin that will down vote a positive comment l like this

Ealing

Odegard decides to pass KDB FOR FUCK SAKE

Deano

Well that’s it then, soft first goal which is going to annoy me for sometime, but they are simply better at every level.

Before the season started I was not optimistic of even getting in the top 4 and that has been achieved with games to spare. I just hope we can lay a marker down for next season with a strong finish.

We need to look into a few quality signings to boost the squad depth too.

RockyRog58

The “process” has been clear to see but a plan B less so ? Rob Holding puts heart and soul into the club but he changes the way the team plays Never going a season with 2 centre backs ! Sure that’ll be addressed but we still in all honesty need a Giroud type option up front
Sad we aren’t winning it proud of what we’ve done !

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