Arsenal face Chelsea at home this evening, looking for a win and three points for the first time since the start of April.
Here are the official line-ups.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Jesus
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Holding, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Martinelli, Nketiah
Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Fofana, Silva, Chilwell, Kante, Enzo, Kovacic, Madueke, Aubameyang, Sterling
Subs: Mendy, Badiashille, Chalobah, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk, Ziyech, Havertz, Felix
Muy interesante…VAMOS!
Let us give it a go COYG
Holding’s Arsenal career really over if he’s been dropped for Kiwior. Think CB needs to be a 2nd-tier priority signing for the summer, but here’s hoping the young lad shows a bit more tonight. COYG!!
Kiwior is better than holding me thinks. More will be revealed
For me, Holding will always be that 20yo who did Diego Costa like a kipper in the FA Cup final. Been rooting for him ever since but its just not worked out.
The pressure is off. Let’s play football and learn.
Like I said…
Why is martinelli always the one sacrificed for Trossard. If we’re being honest it should be Saka.
Well, that’s definitely changing it up. Not sure Holding has been poor enought to merit dropping for Kiwior, but maybe a move for the future. Similarly, Martinelli has arguably been better lately than either Saka or Jesus. But good to see things shaken up a little.
COYG!
It’s unfair on Martineli.
No idea what games you been watching holding has been poor he changes the way players around him are playing due to his shortcomings.
Can we infer that Partey and Holding were the problem against Schitty?
Good call to bench holding. Defence has been all over the place since he came in. Not entirely his fault, just he is very limited. Xhaka has been average for some time now for me. Partey alongside Jorginho would have gained more control of middle me thinks. I have a feeling we may struggle tonight against a team that have been useless and scored one goal in last 8 games I think. More will be revealed COYG
Why do Arteta and the coaches only make changes when it’s too late?
Xhaka at LB last year, ditching Trossard this one, it’s just baffling.
What was it about our form in the last month that lead them to believe their lineup against €ity was going to get anything other than an absolute pasting?
Nothing, no, I thought so.
Sorry, I’m still not over that game.
Let’s smash this lot tonight at the very least.
Unfortunate for Martinelli to lose out to Trossard but again the Belgian is such a talent and deserves to start. Personally, I would have dropped Jesus. But Mikel knows best. Partey has been a shadow of himself lately and Holding’s career at Arsenal appears untenable. But will the one Polish lad cope his first EPL start for Arsenal?
I wouldn’t have minded seeing a front line of Gabi, Jesus, Trossard
What did Martinelli do wrong? Drop Jesus, play Tross up top. Or rest Saka, Nelli has been the best attacker of the last few games imho.
He is also a very good option to have off the bench. Get Azpilicueta on a yellow card and unleash Martinelli down that flank.
I agree, but unless he’s a bit under the weather or carrying a knock, I think it’s harsh he’s been benched.
Not much but neither has Trossard. Maybe fresh Martinelli against tired legs later on isn’t a bad idea.
The continued benching of Tierney is baffling.
He doesn’t fit Arteta’s profile, KT is an old school overlapping full back, that’s not how MA wants his fbs playing. I love KT and sadly I think he will leave in the summer for (deserved) regular first team minutes.
Zinchenko has hardly set the place alight the last few games. Undroppable because Arteta can’t take the risk of being proved wrong.
I Hate Chelsea
Best comment in the thread so far !!!
Of course Chelsea get Aubameyang out of mothballs to start this one. He can still score goals when motivated, and he will be motivated for this one. Hopefully we can shut him down.
Probably nothing more than just Fat Frank having trouble finding an actual 9 in their roster to write into the “Striker” box on his team sheet.
I’ll bet the end of his crayon got well nibbled while he worked that out.
Loving the changes. Deserved ones. Partey hasn’t been on it and Holding just not athletic enough to play the style Arteta wants, not his fault. Just don’t get the Martinelli thing. I don’t get why he’s always sacrificed when a change in the top 3 is done, scoring continuously in this poor run in.
I think this about spells the end of Holding’s Arsenal career that a left footer is being preferred to him on the right of the two centre backs. He’s not been really bad but we haven’t looked as solid without Saliba. Let’s see how Kiwior does. Jorginho is an odd call for me but he knows that lot inside out. Just have to hope he’s up for it. Good to see Trossard selected and I hope Smith Rowe gets some decent minutes off the bench. He’s so effective and I find it a little mad he hasn’t been getting game… Read more »
Think Holding is a bit unsuited to the role unfortunately. Saliba and Gabriel are both quick, aggressive and good on the ball. Take that away and it seems to bugger up the whole team a bit.
and we’ll see about Holding in the summer.
That was a response for chepetin, below…
A bit dramatic about Holding.
We’ve got a new signing and I’d like to see him start. If you look at the fixture list – Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton, Forest, Wolves – those are all top teams except for Chelsea, so clearly this is the game to give him
Forest and Wolves are top teams? On what planet?
That all was a bit of sarcasm. Taking a dig at Chelsea
We need to hand Chelsea a real thrashing, Arteta needs to give the fans something after losing top spot to citeh
Strange lineup. I hope it does not come back to bite us. I’d go with Martinelli and Trossard, and drop Jesus. Our midfield could be overrun with Enzo, Kovacic and Kante.
I won’t lie, I don’t feel good about this. Maybe it’s the strangeness of it all.
Seems like a very risky defensive line up for a game we have to win to keep any pressure on Man City.
Some Arsenal fans are the strangest people on earth
You want the manager to ring up changes. The manager rang up changes and you’re all complaining
Two left footed centre backs, what is this witchcraft!!!!🤣
Interesting, not a word about facing Auba – nobody wanting to tempt fate after Theo?
COYG!!!
Hey ! Partey has been poor ditto Holdings effect on the team! Martinelli has been brilliant better than Saka & Jesus has pulled no trees up !!! That being the case ? Go on there Arteta change it up good call I’d have supported whoever he chose but one thing I would say ??? Zinchenko needs to stop thinking he’s Messi & remember his primary function !
Please people, Zinchenko’s marking again
Tierney needs to come on earlier in games we’re well on top