Arsenal are in Premier League action this afternoon, taking on Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Here are the official line-ups.
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Lukic, Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Jimenez
Subs: Benda, Castagne, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Perreira, King, Godo, Wilson, Muniz
Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber, Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Heaven, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Sterling, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Jesus
Calafiori just another Tomiyasu. The 2024 window was probably even worse than the Cech summer.
Damn I hope this take ages poorly
I think it probably will. Mostly because I think Merino is going to be a super important cog as the season progresses. I do think that the prem exposes players who have low level injury problems though. And maybe we need to consider that a little more when making signings. Yes, T5 was able to function perfectly well in the Spanish La Liga. But bring him to the intensity of the prem and he falls apart. The same with Calafiori. It’s one thing staying fit when you play at a snails pace for Bologna. But good luck with that when… Read more »
Hope it turns out an easy win. COYG
Doubt it but am equaly happy with an uneasy one. 🙃
That’s a difficult team there, Fulham, and one with a point to prove.
Adama Troure is a handful any day; Iwobi is in good form; Smith-Rowe will be up for this.
On our end, Kiwior is not Gabriel; Partey at RB leaves the RW one player short in attack.
If we get three points in the game, that would be the most precious three points yet.
We can do it, though.
COYG!!!
Zinchenko injured again?
Looks that way as he in not even on the bench. I think it’s clear that this will be his last season with us. It’s a shame as he is genuinely a good option to have in the squad, but we simply cannot afford to carry players that are so consistently unavailable.
And Tierney?! 😢
My bad, I see he’s on the bench.
Seriously wish a reporter would ask Arteta about this. He’s randomly absent every other week, then magically fit to come back again and play his customary 70 minutes without any issue, we get no detail or updates on what the cause of the problem is, and the cycle continues. Might have been tolerable in his debut season with lower expectations and no champions league football, but it’s the kind of thing we can ill afford playing two games a week across four competitions.
I don’t like TP5 at right back. But heres to an easy three points.
Arteta does seem adverse to giving Nwaneri or Lewis Shelly’s start just yet. Thought Lewis skelly could play left back and TP is them in his best position. This selection moves two players out of their best position. Massive game today. Everton at home, palace away, Ipswich at home after this. Could be joint top by end of this period. COYG
Apparently MLS is nursing an injury… It never ends!
Hopefully at the hour mark we’re in control and we see MLS, Nwaneri, and Merino
Gabriel, Jesus and Heaven on the bench. Just missing the donkey for the nativity play. Wonder if United would loan Maguire?
Certainly no virgins out there.
I have noticed that Nelly starts big games and Tross not so much….
Absolutely hilarious 🤣🤣🤣
Merino not ready to start still?
he has started. Are you expecting that he’ll start every match? He’s currently one of four players who are being rotated in the two midfield positions behind Odegaard. This is how a modern squad should work, and finally we have that.
Be brave, Be strong, Be lieve
I love you Arsenal
Lez do dis!!
What’s up with Gabriel? Arteta was saying he was going to see how he was in the press conference but not even on the bench again?
It sucks when our main striker is out
Bahahaha
A concussion is not to take lightly.
better safe than sorry, especially when you have such an excellent backup like Kiwior
Hope Emile doesn’t come back to haunt us…..he could give TP the runaround 🤞
Hate to say and I hope I’m wrong but that line up has me a bit worried.
No Califiori means Timber out of position, meaning Partey out of position. He doesn’t link well with Saka. Gabriel must have a concussion? Kiwior needs to be at his best. Like Blogs said, Martinelli is a better option over Trossard for defensive duties. Surprised Merino did not start over Jorgi.
Then there’s the Leno / Iwobi / ESR factor…
Signed,
Worried Gooner
(P.S. we might see Tierney get a few minutes today, I miss that lad!)
Timber is ambidextrous. He should be fine. It’s TP I worry about.
The whole Zinchenko fitness phenomenon is just nuts. You literally never seen him leave the pitch injured, and yet for basically half our games every season the team sheet comes out without him in the squad, and we all go “oh yeah, there it is again.” No wonder we bulk-brought in the full back area with Zinny and Tommy still in the squad.
What did Zinnny do now? Not on the bench or the injury list feels like discipline.
Hopefully Jorghino’s legs can cope with the pace from those quasi-Arsenal forwards. Doesn’t feel like the right game to have TP5 at RB but i guess it’s a matter of contigency.
0:3 would be a good outcome here but with Big Gabby out I’ll gladly take a 1:3
COYG
Calafiori seems to spend more time on the treatment table than he does on the pitch..
More defenders than I’ve ever know. And we’re playing midfielders in defence. What about MLS left back and Timber on the right?
Tierney and Martinelli, with Timber on the right, Trossard and either TP or Jorghino out