Arsenal face Olympiacos in Athens this evening, in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16.
Here are the official line-ups.
Olympiacos: Sa, Lala, Sokratis, Ba, Reabciuk, M’Vila, Camara, Bouchalakis, Valbuena, Bruma, El-Arabi
Subs: Karagyris, Tzolakis, Fortounis, Hassan, Androutsos, Masouras, Drager, Holebas, Sourlis, Randjelovic
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard, Willian, Saka, Auba
Subs: Ryan, Hein, Holding, Cedric, Chambers, Mari, Elneny, Ceballos, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Lacazette
Seems that Willian is a pretty much guaranteed starter ever since having that decent game against Leicester :/
If only he could tell Martinelli what he’s got on Arteta…
If only one or two of you had an original bit of “insight”.
If you want insight read Stillman. It’s all cock jokes and merriment in the comment section bro.
Maybe Martinelli needs to go to Dubai for 5 days without telling the club, then play like he doesn’t care and tell the world how much he misses his old club, he’s tried everything else
He’s been playing well. I’ll support him.
Don’t worry your favourites are likely to play against Spurs.
Played well for all of one match….
My favourites are those who play well, or at least try, week in week out
Lemonade?
Willian has had about 120 minutes all told (if that) of decent football and starts again. Arteta is determined to justify an absolute terrible decision which he was very much part of. It may well cost him his job. If fans were in stadiums it may have already
Great, we’re back to willian over ESR (and martinelli and pepe) 🤦🏽♀️
Given Arteta’s propensity to not change that should be the team until luiz or Xhaka’s next Red. And cue arteta quotes about willian turning games and his amazing form.
ESR literally just got back to training the other day, probably being rested for the NLD. Chill and support the team, I miss Martinelli too but come on
Fully agree!
Utterly disgraceful team selections week in week out. So so unfair agains Pepe and Martinell
Leicester was an ok performance, but for me the most dangerous we have looked this season was that first half against Wolves: Pepe Auba Saka.
That is the front three that the opposition do not want to see. If I’m the opposing coach I’d want Willian starting all day. I just don’t get it Mikel, I just don’t get it. He is too conservative and that is leading to the fine margins going against us every week.
Exactly this. Well said NKetibag.Willian will play no matter what his form is. I really want to back MA but I find it so hard with the decisions he keeps making.
If Willian doesn’t perform again and we get badly beaten tonight then it’s time for Arteta to go. Pepe had to start tonight. This tie is our season: why is he wasting time with Willian?
GO WILLY
Arteta stands by Willian, Xhaka, Luiz. Arteta trusts experience to potential.
As long as he gets the results, I can’t complain. However the last league game was potentially crucial to the run-in.
What results has he been getting? We’re 10th in the league and out of 2 cups
Technically those are still results.
Overall for the season it’s been below par for sure. I was thinking of his selection for Leicester game which I wanted to complain about.
My main point is, while Arteta says selection is based on form, time and again he has shown its actually experience (good or bad), is what he prefers, even with players who necessarily don’t want to be here (Willian and Xhaka)!
ESR is probably being treated with caution with his return from injury, which I think is something we can all agree is a reasonable approach. I suspect (hope!) that Willian will lose his place in the starting XI once ESR returns. Having said that I think Pepe has shown enough in recent matches to be starting more often (I thought he should have started against Burnley), but today’s lineup is maybe also influenced by being the away team, which probably means Arteta is looking for more “technical security” than an improvisor like Pepe.
How is xhaka still getting a game
Because since his suspension he has been a key player and has formed a good partnership with Partey.
One rule for Xhaka, a different rule for Ceballos. Granted Dani himself is not without fault but I remember him saying that Arteta was the reason for renewing his loan. I wonder if he regrets saying that now.
He’s making his bosses see how much we need a quality midfielder next season
Who else do we have in midfield really. Bearing in mind the spurs game on Sunday as well. If anything xhaka is more useful in European games compared to that prem intensity. He still needs to go in the summer but really our midfield bar partey is sub par.
Didnt like the selection
but, im not the coach, so
COYG
COYG!
I would have had Pepe or Lacazette over Willian but hey ho
Despite his upturn in form its very questionable starting Willian over Pepe. That aside, I pretty much look forward to Willian’s performance whenever he does play which is pretty much everytime since his upturn of form because I do want him to come good. Coyg!
Is it a good idea to mix the centerbacks all the time? Hope so an COYG!
FUCKING Willian.
Better make sure you two finish up before kickoff then.
If it meant he’d miss this match I’d take the hit!
Well, if you play your cards right, he might just end up with a season-ending muscular strain.
What does Pepe have to do to get ahead of Willian? 🙁
Play better. Not scuff the ball when given the golden ticket as he did at Burnley.
How about comparing goals and assists between the pair in their last 5 games rather than one miss?
How the hell Willian is getting place after series of pathetic performances.. odegard need to be improved to get place.. should have included smith rowe and martnelli/pepe
Who is Hein?
He’s mates with Carl & Bud
Mart Poom reincarnated.
Estonian international keeper. 2 additional always chosen for European matches.
So Runnarsson is 4th choice now? My word that bubbled has popped.
Willian will start every game for the rest of the season just because he played a 5 yard pass against Leicester. Meanwhile our young 75m signing and Brazil wonder kid sit on the bench. It boils my piss.
Just relax.
Pepe has been inconsistent at best and Martinelli is being protected after his injury and subsequent bad reaction in the warm up for Newcastle.
Willian has done well recently and not just for his assist. His general play and demeanour is improved.
Come on man. I agree that Willian has improved recently but that was from such a low bar that his improved performance are not even as good as Pepe’s not so good ones. Sorry for spreading negativity before a game. COYG
I personally wouldn’t select him but I’m not mad to see him play. I’ll support him tonight and every time he is selected though. No benefit to not!
Pepe has been in form in recent matches and although improved Willian is not nearly as effective
Hi Mikel. Nice to meet you, didn’t know you frequented Arseblog.
Bollocks, Pepe is the sort of player that starts to perform when he gets a rhythm. This only comes from a run of consecutive games, he has been playing much better. Arteta said that the team would be picked on performances but it blatantly isn’t that, well not as far as I can see anyway.
Other than Pepe for willian pretty much spot on – need to show that we are playing well by putting this tie to bed
I would have Cedric over Bellerin as well. On the other hand we have an important game over the weekend as well, so could see Cedric start in the weekend.
But if we see Willian, Bellerin, Xhaka all start against Spurs, I dont know what to make of Arteta.
Why wouldn’t Xhaka start. He’s been one of our most consistent players since his suspension
Xhaka is always an accident waiting to happen
that’s what he meant. he is consistent in his accidents
Willian is going to be Arteta’s undoing…
arteta is arteta’s undoing.. he needs to go if we dont go thru
Is Rúnarsson 4th choice at GK now?
He’s not in the Europa League squad.
Arteta loves Willy.
If Willian plays well tonight, will everybody agree to stop having a go at him? At least until he plays badly again.
I will but don’t hold your breath waiting for it to happen mate.
Nope because once someone is a favourite they can do no wrong and once they are hated that opinion is deep seated and immovable.
No, he has been babysat for too long, patience afforded nobody else
What do you class as playing well? A 5 yard pass that counts as an “assist” or a 25 yard shuttling run where no defenders come to him, and when the first one does he passes it to Auba who scores? For me this is not playing well, this is the absolute bare minimum to be expected from a professional footballer, let alone one on 250 grand a week at a skint club.
I’d love for him to play well. Fingers crossed.
Hope Martineli gets some minutes tonight
Was expecting to see Holding start ffs. Luiz, like Xhaka, has racked up massive minutes of recent. And we all know he is no longer as young as he used to be.
Sokratis playing alongside some of the Teletubbies tonight; Sa, Lala, Ba.
Awesome comment, made me laugh
I need to recalibrate to no longer being the ‘home’ side in Athens.
Its an away game in Europe, first leg, so I’d expect MA to be a bit conservative. How much stick would he get for going all out attack and losing? 5 subs means the approach can change later if necessary.
Whatever he does it will be wrong. Even if we win!
You’re setting yourself up for stick on here tonight Dave. I think you may be tonight’s Willian🤣
Yep, both did well
Oh Mikel, you are a stubborn, stubborn boy. Still good team overall. C’mon you gunners!
COYG !!!
Don’t know what can keep Willian away from Arteta
When James said Arteta was saving Willian for the Olympiakos game, the football gods laughed…
Hope Artera isn’t managing this club next season
Well, I guess we’re at the start of the “squeaky bum time” (as Sir Alex said) of our season as the next three games, against Olympiacos and Spurs, will determine whether we make any further progress or not in Europe or perhaps begin, at last, to slowly move up the PL. Plenty of discussion about the selection, as always, but it looks a pretty strong to me and there is a full compliment on the bench if/as needed. I suspect that it will probably be tough over the two legs though. Olympiacos are well ahead in their league, albeit not… Read more »
was pretty sure olympiacos’ team was sn original piss take
Come on Willian! prove us all wrong.
WTFillian
Arteta’s favoritism of Willian is so infuriating.
With play so much better without him I just cannot understand it
The fact that rubbish Willian is starting again is beyond me…
Oh ffs
Fuck me what does Pepe have to do to get a run of games?
Come back 12 years older.
i have come to accept that Arteta really just loves his willi.
luiz willian xhaka dear god this team is a load of shite
I’m finding harder and harder to warm to Arteta. Definitely not the kinda guy I’d fancy having a pint with. Stubborn stubborn man.
Henceforth Arteta will be referred to as the Willi whisperer
Sa, Ba and Lala? Are we playing the Teletubbies?!
Alright, you miserable fuckers. You’ve had your 10 minute whinge fest – now can we get on with supporting our club please (Willian included)?
i get the feeling we will play boring football again tonight with ESR out and willian in.
poor saka he’ll have to work twice as hard to create chances.
Xhaka. Again. Really?
Is Odegaard going to do anything positive in this match? Really disappointed in him so far.
I just got fkd 🤣
AHEM!!
He was terrible before and after the goal. Gave the ball away a lot and lacked any sort of communication.
Like the boys are competing for ‘who will mess it up’ tonight 🙄
Luiz really does have his moments.
Pedestrian so far, What’s happening to Hector did he lose it completely?
This is not even shooting ourselves in foot, we shoot ourselves in the arse!
Useless
Pricks.
I’m so sorry for Arteta, the man has the most useless players at his disposal 🤣
He selects them and tells them how to play. He does not understand that they cannot be trusted for that type of play
So in that case he should play without Ceballos, Partey, Xhaka, Leno, Bellerin from now on? They all are giving away stupid balls.
Certainly without Liz, Ceballos and Xhaka. If they keep making mistakes and you select them, what message does it send?
You mean the ones Arteta keeps picking over the ones who helped him turn it around from the game against Chelsea.
After 1.5 seasons if he has useless players, it’s on him and Edu.