Morning.
We’re in motion early at present, taking over Bournemouth at residence at 12.30. Mikel Arteta revealed in his press convention yesterday that the squad has a clear invoice of well being, giving him a ‘good headache’ as he makes his choice for this sport.
The large query is whether or not or not Jurrien Timber is able to come again into the fold. Having spent a lot of the season sidelined after his ACL damage on the opening day, he has a few look for the U21s underneath his belt, and when requested if – with simply three video games to go – he’d be capable of discover the rhythm required for top stakes fixtures, the supervisor replied:
We’re not going to know that till we throw him in there. It’s difficult as a result of there’s solely three video games to go. It means eight months of soccer, he’s performed solely 150 minutes of soccer with the under-21s.
It’s a query that needs to be resolved solely by throwing him on the pitch and see what occurs, and now we have to attempt to nail that call as to when.
Is there a much less Mikel Arteta phrase than ‘throwing him on the pitch and see what occurs’? He’s meticulous in his preparation, in order that doesn’t sound like the best way he would do it. It’s a honest query although – Timber’s high quality and recent legs may nicely be helpful, however it additionally wouldn’t be uncommon for a participant who’s out that lengthy to want time to stand up to hurry. With no margin for error in any respect, even from the bench, it’s one Arteta must give severe consideration to.
Final weekend’s subs for the derby had been: Ramsdale, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Martinelli, Jesus, Nketiah.
Which one would you drop out? On our preview podcast, Lewis prompt Eddie is the likeliest candidate, and with gamers like Jesus, Trossard, Havertz, and Martinelli all able to doing a job within the entrance three, that may make sense. Possibly certainly one of Vieira or Smith Rowe, however you may want midfield cowl so it’s tougher to make the case for them. Let’s see.
As for the group at present, we’d see a change or two. Bournemouth at residence feels a bit Zinchenko, however he might simply stick to Tomiyasu. Jorginho or Partey? Trossard or Martinelli? The remaining principally picks itself. One factor I feel Arteta does must pay a little bit of consideration to is how, within the first half of the video games in opposition to Chelsea and Spurs, we had been much more weak than now we have been usually. It might be merely right down to the dynamics of derby video games, which have their very own chaotic power, however I’m certain he’ll be eager for his group to stifle the opposition as we’ve seen a number of instances all through this season.
Neither is there any likelihood of taking at present’s sport evenly. Even when Arsenal are favourites on paper, now we have to do it on the pitch first. Requested about at present’s opposition at his press convention, and final season’s loopy/epic win, Arteta stated:
I’ve a special sport in my head for tomorrow however we’re going to should carry out very well tomorrow and be our greatest. If we do this, now we have a very good likelihood of profitable the sport. They [the players] know what’s at stake.
Bournemouth’s kind in the previous few months isn’t one thing to take evenly both. Since October, solely Arsenal, Man Metropolis, Liverpool and Villa have taken extra Premier League factors, they usually have actually settled into life underneath Andoni Iraola – like Xabi Alonso, one other Basque compatriot of Arteta. They’ve good gamers who may cause you issues, and there’s no query that we’re going to should pay shut consideration to how they’ll do this. They’re protected in mid-table, there’s zero strain on them at present, to allow them to come and have a go – which is what I feel they’ll do.
So, it’s as much as us to grasp that, to get on high, and to supply what we have to take the three factors. With Man Metropolis taking part in later, now we have to place the strain on them and see what occurs. It’s unlikely that they’ll drop factors at residence to a Wolves aspect whose supervisor is conveniently serving a touchline ban for them at present, however all we will do is win our sport and see what occurs.
As ever, you may be part of us later for dwell weblog protection, and also you’ll discover all of the post-game stuff on Arseblog Information too.
Proper, that’s it for now. Fingers crossed for later, come on you reds!
