Good morning from Islington, and we tackle Brentford at house right this moment.
After two successive defeats, and with Man Metropolis developing on Wednesday, we very a lot have to get again on observe this afternoon. The very fact we play earlier than Metropolis tackle Aston Villa tomorrow permits us to place slightly stress on if we take all three factors, however make no mistake, we’re going to need to work arduous and be very near our greatest to do it.
Though we beat Brentford pretty comfortably within the first recreation this season, I feel it’s honest to say they have been under par that day. It’s not that we weren’t good, we have been, however a facet that has hammered Man United, crushed Man Metropolis and Liverpool, and drawn with Sp*rs and Chelsea have been nowhere close to their degree. They’re unbeaten within the Premier League since October (World Cup break however), so we should always anticipate them to be robust to interrupt down right this moment.
From our perspective, the loss towards Everton could have stung, no query, and the response to it’s one thing Mikel Arteta addressed in his press convention, saying:
Actually optimistic. We sat collectively, mentioned the sport and what occurred. The opponent performed their half and you need to congratulate Everton for what they did on the day. It’s true that there have been issues we didn’t do like in different video games and that’s the explanation you lose soccer matches. There’s all the time a possibility to bounce again, present the character that we’ve got and the way a lot we would like what we’re combating for.
At house, with a 3pm kick off, in entrance of a raucous house crowd, can be an excellent solution to get again on observe. It will likely be fascinating too to see if he makes adjustments for this one. On the one hand, there have to be the temptation to choose the strongest doable workforce to construct confidence and get the win; on the opposite, the looming prospect of Metropolis and the necessity to flesh out the competitiveness of this squad also needs to be a consideration.
As I wrote earlier within the week, we’ve got to change into a workforce that’s greater than 12/13 gamers, and the power to make assured adjustments – versus rotating/resting – goes to be necessary. For instance, Ben White (who I really like) hasn’t been at his finest within the final couple of video games, so do you give Takehiro Tomiyasu a begin at proper again? Possibly usher in Kieran Tierney at left-back to maintain him concerned and to offer Brentford one thing completely different to consider on the left? Leandro Trossard beginning would remind Gabriel Martinelli that he’s received competitors in that place after a few video games the place he too struggled to seek out his finest kind.
Which isn’t criticism of any of these gamers, however we are able to’t choose the identical workforce for each single recreation. It will get predictable. Neither is it taking something without any consideration towards superb opposition, merely utilizing our squad to the utmost. So, I’m curious to see what the supervisor does a bit afterward, and whether or not we see this workforce reply. We’ve completed it earlier than this season, so there must be confidence that we are able to do it once more.
Arteta says:
The response of the workforce has been very good this week and tomorrow we’re going to place in an awesome efficiency in entrance of our crowd to attempt to win the sport.
Let’s hope so.
Proper, I very badly want some espresso that isn’t lodge room espresso, and presumably some breakfast too. See a few of you pre/post-game, I hope. There’s a preview podcast right here in case you have time this morning too.
Come on you reds!
