Arsenal take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this afternoon.
Here are the official line-ups.
Nottingham Forest: Navas, Worrall, Mangala, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White, Niakhate, Yates, Aurier, Danilo, Lodi, Felipe
Subs: Hennessey, Toffolo, Surridge, Johnson, Kouyate, Freuler, Dennis, Boly, Ayew
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Xhaka, Jorginho, Partey, Odegaard, Trossard, Jesus, Saka
Subs: Turner, Holding, Walters, Tierney, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Bandeira, Nketiah, Cozier-Duberry
What?!
You know Arteta has unfinished business with Xhaka at LB.
He’s got two games left to make it work.
I guess he feels Xhaka can play the Zinchenko role of coming into the middle and really doesn’t want to go with the type of setup that Tierney is most effective in (that obviously work well last week).
Can’t imagine anything else but a Zinchenko-like position for Xhaka where Gabriel’s role will also be covering the left flank, so that would be more like a 3-6-1?? Still my heart is bleeding for Kieran…
Partey plays the inverted full back…Tierney hasn’t mastered the role….may not have the tools….kiwior sits back…..not much to lose now I guess…pre season has started already…. beginning to accept that Tierney will go…..
Is that Tierney done then?
KY has been done for ages sadly
KT !
Ironically, KT could use some lubrication to fit into that CM role.
I guess that slipped out.
Given that Zinny, Tomiyasu, Xhaka and potentially Kiwior all seem to start in front of him, I’d say he’s already whistling ‘Fog on the Tyne’ under his breath…
Well thanks for getting *that* into my head for the rest of the afternoon
Sorry!
Such an ear worm.
Surely not Xhaka at left-back?!
Left back? How old-fashioned! We don’t bother with those anymore
My mistake!
I suspect he’ll be playing the Zinchenko role, i.e. supporting the midfield from that position as and when.
Makes sense.
I know it doesn’t matter, but I’d hate to see City win it without playing a match.
COYG!
Xhaka left back?
Xhaka as left-back?
3-4-3?
Could it be a back three of White Kiwior Gabriel?
With Saka and Trossard wingbacks?
No
I’ll have to watch the match to know what Arteta is up to.
Yeah I was going to just watch it on Teletext but now I’ll have to watch the match.
Is that still a thing?
NAM would answer you but freeserve only give him 60 free minutes of internet a month…
3-2-2-3 formation?
Sp*rs are just bring greedy now, can’t they save some defeats for next season?
Don’t worry, they’ll have plenty for next season too
I have wondered if Partey can take Xhaka’s role, moving forward. Maybe we get a preview of it today
Guys, this isn’t the the ‘xhaka at lb’ thing of two years ago- when we see him listed in that position with the current side, then we can be pretty much certain he’ll be spending as little time out there as possible.
Do you think Arteta is taking some inspiration from Peps recent winning formula with this formation?
first thing that came to my mind
I would love to see a back four of:
Party (inverted) – White – Gabi – Kiwior
Well you your wish. On the evidence of the first 45 minutes I hope anything else you wish for in life doesn’t turn out as disappointing! 😀
Interesting. Xhaka at LB although let’s be real here…. Forest are shite and if we can’t beat them with Tierney at LB, who is a more than capable player, then that’s kind of mad. What this does tell me is that LB will be an area we look to buy in during the summer with Xhaka set to leave and Zinchenko’s injury record. The aim will be someone who can replicate Zinchenko’s game.
I think for next season, when Zinny is out we will play Caicedo at RB/CM instead and have Kiwior or Tomi as LB/CB and invert the whole thing.
Ok Partey at RB it is… nevermind.
I don’t know but I’ve seen Ordegaard give away the ball at least twice leading to goals against this season. And passing straight to opposition
That’s true
Odd that we can’t invert from the other side. Have KT doing the white role, whilst Partey tucks from the right. Makes sense right?
Only successful summer transfer business can ensure we won’t just start fast and falter at the end again.
Tierney or Nelson need to come on at half-time. We’re not doing anything on the left hand side.
First half dross
Odegaard doing a brilliant impression of the invisible man.
Comparable with Kevin de Bruyne?
Don’t make me laugh..
I really like Odegaard but he plays well when the opposition allow him to – to be a great player like KDB you need to be able to turn it on when you need it. Odegaard is meant to be the captain and leading by example but he is invisible today. Very disappointing captains display.
Saka matched him so far
Arsenal settling for runners up.
This has all the feel of a meaningless end of season kickabout.
The tactics were baffling, and our attacking players have done very little.
You want to end the season on a high for the next season – ending the season on a high.
Still, they have got to get back to London to feed that dog.
Pathétique
Personally ESR & KT should mess up Artetas hair & tell him to fuck off! Piss poor management
I hope those who paid the craziest reselling ticket prices will enjoy the last game. Greedy times.
I didn’t actually know we could be so bad. Quite incredible way to end the season really.
We need a goal scorer who can score goals.
Two world class central midfielders
A top class left back and a world class right footed centre back.
We also need competition for Saka who has done very little for quite some time.
And the right fucking attitude.
What a spineless performance.
Arteta has taken a season where we performed well and ended up making us a laughing-stock, with performances like today and bringing in that fucking dog.