Arsenal take on Leeds United at the Emirates in the FA Cup 3rd round this evening.
As expected, Mikel Arteta has made some changes to his team. Here are the official line-ups.
Arsenal: Martinez, Nelson, Luiz, Sokratis, Holding, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ozil, Pepe, Lacazette
Subs: Leno, Mavropanos, Ceballos, Willock, Saka, Martinelli, John-Jules
Leeds: Meslier, Berardi, Ayling, White, Douglas, Gotts, Klich, Philips, Harrison, Alioski, Bamford
Subs: Casilla, Cooper, Dallas, Casey, Davis, Stevens, Costa
Strong XI
Luiz and Holding both in a three. I predict really assured performances from both.
Personally I’d like to hammer home the system Mikel wants to play on the reg without messing around with formations too much. But Arteta could start Mustafi as a number 10 right now and I’d find a way to back his decision.
COYG!!!
Anyone can clarify if Leeds are playing a near full strength team as well?
Is that a 3-4-3?
3-4-1-2 I would think.
Urgh, that looks like an Emery lineup. Hope it doesn’t play like one. Come on you rip roaring reds.
Man
Guendouzi and Xhaka together.. Lets see if Arteta can get right what Emery couldn’t in 18 months
3-5-2?
Not as many changes as expected, strong line up. Obviously taking the cup seriously. Looking forward to this, it’s a good feeling. GOYG!!!
A few changes but not the folks I thought he’d rest. Laca, Ozil and Luiz/Sokratis probably could have stayed on the bench. Here’s to hoping we get up early and can have them come off!
Holding right back?
Stronger first 11 than I thought we’d go with.
Fancy Pepe for a hatrick, 6-0 Arsenal.
That’s a very strong and very offensive line-up – I’m looking forward to a lot of goals! Can’t figure out the formation, though, is it maybe a 3-4-2-1? Whatever it is, I hope Bielsa can’t figure it out either.
I have to add, I got quite a laugh out of the BBC live text’s attempt to stir up some shit followed by an almost immediate retraction. 10:59 No Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the squad at all, the winter transfer window is open, any reason to be concerned, Arsenal fans…? 11:01 Not according to the man himself! The Arsenal captain has used his programme notes to address rumours linking the striker with a move away from the club this month, saying he is committed to the Gunners. “I would like to react to some of the rumours that are going around… Read more »
Marca’s top team of the first half of the La Liga: Oblak (Atlético Madrid); Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Piqué (Barcelona), Diego Carlos (Sevilla), Gaya (Valencia); Ödegaard (Real Sociedad), Fede Valverde (Real Madrid), *** Cazorla (Villarreal) *** ; Suárez (Barcelona), Messi (Barcelona), Benzema (Real Madrid).
*** Legend ***
Oh Santi Cazooorlaaa. I miss the guy, we need to bring him back in any way, as a coach, or make him return a la Bobby Pires, just staying around the team once he retires (Would love to still have him playing for us tho, gosh I miss him and Rosicky)
Holding !!!
No Bellerin, I hope it is not another setback? He was kinda announced by the official club Twitter account.
biesla would be so effing confused at how exactly arsenal are lining up…
tbh, I don’t think much confuses Bielsa. He famously fielded a 3-3-1-3 when managing Chile…
Did they win
It’s a very strong line-up. COYG!
Any idea if it is Leeds first team or reserves?
It’s a bit of a mix. The keeper Meslier and defender Gotts are making their debuts, and other defenders Berardi and Douglas are not normally starters. But they’ve got their normal top attackers Harrison and Bamford playing … although they’re missing their second-leading scorer … some guy called Nketiah.
I thought that maybe Willock will come in for Xhaka and Ceballos for Ozil (Martinelli for Laca). But it looks like we are taking this very seriously and maybe also fitness of those mentioned isn´t up to scratch just yet so come on Arsenal with no injuries hopefully.
We’ve been drawn away to Bournemouth in the fourth round.
Assuming we can win
I think it was a good assumption.
Kolasinac is a beast. I was impressed with his effort against United, playing well while carrying an injury. How he is fit to play tonight I don’t really understand. With Teirney taking time to settle in, it’s nice to see Kolasinac on form.
Not sure about Nelson and Pepe together Might work well or they might just get in each other’s way
Stronger than I anticipated, I assume it’s because we’ve got longer to recover for the weekend
Based on what we’ve seen so far, I doubt it very much
Eugh, thank god for Bamford
Fitness issues visible, as Arteta said. Seems like 3 at the back doesn’t work for us at the moment. It disbalances everything. Let’s hope we can beat Leeds.
I’m getting an impression that Arteta is much more smarter then we could’ve imagine…
Well I heard that arsenal might be in for the Norwich rightback Arrons, think we could do with his energy and skill tonight!! Holding looks rusty, Xhaka had some not so good moments but has settled, Laca is lacking in confidence but both Nelson and Pepe look good when they get the ball but the problem is that ain’t happening enough!!!
P.s I do hate the way the commentary team as so obviously pro Leeds!! YAWN
It was great to see Sokratis beating two Leeds players on the right wing near the end of the match before they hauled him down. Commitment until the end.
I thought he did well on the right side of a back 3, but that said I do look forward to having Bellerin fit and everyone’s favourite Greek Papa at CB.
Kinda similar to past perfomances under Mikel, a bad half and an amazing half, but not his fault, is obvious the players have serious fitness problems. Perfomances have improved dramatically under Mikel, but is still early days and I don’t wanna get my hopes up too much nor jump into a bandwagon, I’m just happy the team is playing well and let’s hope may long continue, he is slowly and steadily make me eat a big humble pie