Morning from a really moist and windy Dublin.
Soccer is again and we face Nottingham Forest at house. On paper not essentially the most difficult recreation we might have had, however given their kind to date this season (and maybe ours), positively not a foregone conclusion by any means. Mikel Arteta was surprisingly forthcoming concerning the health of his gamers yesterday, and there was excellent news and a smattering of unhealthy as he supplied updates.
Based mostly on what he stated, it seems to be as if we’ll have Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori all obtainable right this moment. All of them skilled, to various levels, and the supervisor sound fairly constructive about their involvement. I additionally thought he was fairly fascinating on Martin Odegaard who, after enjoying 96 minutes in his first recreation again, had a little bit of a response. Arteta stated:
After such a very long time not enjoying he wanted time to recuperate. The ankle reacted and different areas of the physique with a lot load going into it. It wasn’t supreme, however he’s been OK, the final day and a half he’s skilled with the workforce and he’s feeling good, in order that’s actually constructive.
I don’t suppose it’s in any respect surprising that it took loads out of him. To go from 0 to 100 on his first recreation again wasn’t supreme, however as we now go right into a interval of the season with a recreation each three or 4 days, it’s going to be essential that we handle his load fairly fastidiously. That stated, I count on him to start out right this moment, and it wouldn’t shock me to see us line up as follows: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Havertz.
There are potential tweaks after all, however as I wrote yesterday, I believe a slight shift within the midfield stability is value making an attempt, and right this moment appears like an honest day to present {that a} go. At house towards a workforce that can sit deep, deny us area, and look to hit us on the counter, I don’t suppose you want a aspect with each Rice and Thomas Partey. And whereas I don’t suppose you may classify Mikel Merino as an attacking participant per se, he does have the power to get into the field, the timing of his runs into the world is usually good, he supplies an aerial menace in there too.
That leaves the supervisor with choices from the bench, ought to he want to alter issues within the second half, however nevertheless we go about it right this moment, three factors are a should. We’re again at house, and the supervisor was clear about what’s required:
It’s about constructing momentum, getting outcomes and getting back-to-back wins. That might once more create the vitality that we’d like with all the good issues that we’re doing. Tomorrow and after each break, and particularly we’re going to get into the Christmas interval, we all know that there’s something particular in that interval and you need to generate that momentum. We really feel that it’s the proper second now for us to start out.
As for the opposition, they’re flying excessive to date this season. Chris Wooden has scored as many as Mo Salah, and with gamers like Anthony Elanga, Calum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White, they’ve loads of tempo and direct operating, significantly on the counter. So, how we handle these moments of transition can be key, in addition to making an attempt to interrupt down a reasonably cussed defence. Forest have the second finest defensive document when it comes to targets conceded to date this season, and we’ve struggled somewhat bit relating to scoring (though with 18 targets we’re simply 3 behind leaders Liverpool, so it’s not as unhealthy because it has felt).
An early objective for us right this moment could be supreme. I don’t suppose it’s the case it might make Forest go gung-ho, however they’d have to come back out a bit at some stage, and hopefully that may simply give us the area we’d like for extra.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. Don’t neglect the preview podcast is offered proper now on Patreon. Be part of us later for reside weblog protection, plus you’ll get the match report, objective clips, response, participant scores and far more over on Arseblog Information.
Come on you reds!
