Arsenal take on Man City at the Etihad this afternoon, looking to take points off the Champions early in the season.
Here are the official line-ups.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, Savinho, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Nunes, Foden, Lewis, McAtee
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Martinelli, Saka, Trossard
Subs: Neto, White, Kiwior, Kacurri, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Jesus, Sterling
COYG
Pep team selection tells me he knows he’s in for a tough game.
Exactly my thought. But Grealish not staring is a surprise.
My fear is that TP5 is done as a top level footballer. Hopefully, he can roll back the years today with a metronomic performance and that will help us a lot!
He’s started 5 games as defensive midfielder and we have conceded one goal. He’s still a very important player for us.
Would love nothing more than a repeat of a top 5 match for me as a 15+ years Arsenal supporter–Abou Diaby bossing Liverpool
Think every Arsenal fan who has supported for 15+ years would remember that performance in a heartbeat! He was simply unplayable that day.
So haaland destroys Saliba, no yellow, way worse than trossard, trossard red, not only that but +7 mins in +6 mins injury time. This shit is a fucking scam.
What’s the news on white?
Been looking everywhere online and don’t see anything. He’s on the bench so maybe tactical?
Heard he has a knee issue, probably the same thing he was playing through last season. Clearly fit enough for the bench though so hopefully nothing major
He’s has been his usual top self last two games. Timber likely going to play RB and California at LB
Shame we loaned out Reiss Nevada, would’ve been useful on that bench
Timber was bought as a right-sided defender, to cover for and compete with White and Saliba (okay, I don’t think anyone is really going to compete with Saliba unless Maldini or Puyol make a comeback, but the cover part is right).
Maldini played on the left
If he were playing for us, he’d play where Arteta told him to.
Likely City think he’s not very good defending 1v1 and they’re going to target our full backs with wingers.
I think Ben White is a fraction of the player he is when Odegaard is ahead of him. I think this makes sense as a tactical move in what is on paper the toughest game of the season.
According to the Guardian, he has a minor (unspecified) injury.
Maybe just rotating? Maybe he’s red zoned after Thursday game. Hopefully
I would prefer Jorginho instead of Partey. Partey is making me nervous. Hopefully Havertz will play up front and not in the midfield. Let’s hope for a good result.
THAT back 4 is SEXY, you know? COYG!
Breaking up the band in the back 4? Just when I thought I was at max pre match butterflies. I gotta lie down. COYG!
Will be interesting to see how Saka does without White and Odegaard. Crossing fingers.
No crossing balls onto Kai’s head!
Feels like we are always carrying a passenger with Partey
Not today. He was immense in the 2nd half, always ready to pop out to put pressure on the ball.
Hmm
Rodri off, no De Bruyne and now CALAFIORI!
I’d barely got the words; “That’s handy, they’re nowhere near as good without Rodri” out of my mouth too.
They will never let us have a fair fight. Cheaters
No way. Trossard was a stupid cxxt. He is on a yellow and going into his back late and deliberate and then kicks ball away.
Still doesn’t warrant a sending off! For a ref who had the “common sense” to not “want to ruin it” and not sending Kovacic off against us last season, he seems to ALWAYS be quick to send off our players! Michael Oliver is a bent, corrupt cvnt. And so is the PGMOL.
Can someone tell these c*nt refs that they’re not stars of the show?
There is that, but then Trossard has been a right bellend there, making a shit challenge like that when he’s already on a yellow.
The 2nd yellow was for kicking the ball away; something Doku got away with earlier in the half of course.
And Silva did the same… Just before we took our freekick in the buildup to the opener!
Same as against Brighton. City player kicks the ball away and nothing. Arsenal player kicks the ball and instant red.
I’m no conspiracist, so it has the be PGMOL incompetence.
When you can’t tell the difference between incompetence and corruption, it’s the latter.
After that send off for Trossard while refusing to book Doku for the same thing, how much more proof do we need that PL refs are paid for this season.
It’s hard to not think something is up with the referees and Arsenal. referee allowed play in excess of the 6minutes extra time, and then gave a red for what offence?! I am really lost.
Siege guys! Siege mode now!
CORRUPTION
PL confirmed it was for kicking the ball away. Doku? They don’t give a shit. I can only laugh at these corrupt bastards.
It did cross my mind at the start that Michael Oliver would find a way to help Citeh as usual. He has a proud history of doing exactly that. I suspect he’s not done yet today. It’s a real shame
Sorry to say it lads but I think Trossard has to hold his hands up for that one.
I thought the most agregious decision this weekend was going to be Vicario playing basketball outside the area with not even a yellow. I was wrong of course.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is corruption. They only apply this rule to Arsenal. Restarts are routinely delayed in every other match, and yet only Arsenal players are ever sent off for it. It’s either a) the most bizarre coincidence of all time, or b) money.
Every week it’s some cunt from Manchester ruining everyone’s time. Pgmol are as corrupt as city’s accounting.
We are fucking heroes, Nulliver is nothing to speak of.
please it’s time to stop moaning about refrees and talk sense into our players. Refrees don’t like us and it’s been a known fact since united ended our 49 unbeaten run. But it’s not an excuse for our players fo be foolish. why did Trossard kick that ball away? that was stupid and foolish. In a very intense game like this… there’s no excuse to do that. Jesus came in and was also acting up delaying their corner and it impacted the game as more time was added for that delay. Refrees are inconsistent but players should start taking responsibility.… Read more »