Morning. A fast Saturday one for you.
As anticipated, Mikel Arteta was giving little away relating to the health of Bukayo Saka, saying solely that he’s ‘in rivalry’ for tomorrow’s recreation. There have been some makes an attempt to get him to be a bit extra expansive in regards to the state of affairs, however he did his normal job of enjoying his playing cards so near his chest he now has a tattoo of the 9 of diamonds above his left nipple.
There’s a picture for you.
Elsewhere, The Instances reported confidently that Saka had been ‘declared match’ for tomorrow, so we’ll simply have to attend and see. Neither end result could be a specific shock to me, however the proof will probably be when crew information drops tomorrow. Or when the individuals who camp outdoors the crew resort on the day of the sport report Saka’s presence or absence. Or when one of many Fantasy Soccer accounts who by some means have the crew information hours earlier than matches these days does a Tweet that may ship individuals in raptures/despair [delete as appropriate].
Thomas Partey will probably be within the squad, and past that there doesn’t appear to be the rest to report. I hoped for a Martinelli miracle, a return to coaching forward of a giant recreation through which his qualities could be so helpful, however I don’t suppose that’s doubtless. Arteta wasn’t even requested about him, which makes me suppose his absence is simply taken as learn at this level.
Anyway, extra on all that in tomorrow’s weblog after we preview the sport right here.
In the meantime, Oleksandr Zinchenko has mirrored on Arsenal v Man Metropolis, video games he performed in throughout his time as a Metropolis participant. And he mentioned:
It was at all times a pleasure to play right here as a Metropolis participant. Aside from the superb crowd, they at all times had superb grass on the pitch. It’s a pleasure to play right here. I don’t keep in mind getting cramp enjoying right here due to the standard of the pitch.
I don’t know why this made me chortle a lot, however it actually did. I get the remark in regards to the superb crowd – that is now his crowd in fact – however the concept that the one different optimistic factor he may point out about Arsenal is the well-known carpet. I simply love the concept that poor high quality grass provides Zinky cramps.
“Mikel, there was no Oleksandr Zinchenko within the crew this afternoon. Was {that a} tactical resolution, utilizing Takehiro Tomiyasu in that place to provide you extra presence, whereas on the opposite facet Ben White’s overlapping runs enable Bukayo Saka to function in these inside attacking pockets the place he’s so harmful?”
“No. He went out to heat up however that’s some dangerous grass on the market and he couldn’t proceed.”
The discourse round Zinchenko has been fairly fascinating this season. As ever, you’re taking stuff you see on social media with a pinch of salt (a a lot smaller pinch by the best way as hardly anybody appears to be utilizing Twitter anymore, or a minimum of I barely see anybody that used to frequent it, and I’ve nearly zero replies to something except I dig down by way of the search perform), however he stays a key participant for the supervisor.
We speak about him a bit on the Patreon preview podcast, and the way vital he’s for us to play out from the again and break between the opposition’s traces, and whereas there have been one or two moments this season, I feel there’s extra consciousness from him with regard his defensive duties. It’s not his strongest level, clearly, however I’ve been a bit bemused by the rivalry I’ve seen on the market that he’s been actually poor this season. Anyway, let’s hope the grass is to his liking tomorrow, and he may also help us get one over on his outdated crew.
The Patreon preview podcast is right here for those who want one thing to take heed to, and elsewhere I did a factor with my pal Rog from Males in Blazers which you’ll watch beneath. For now, have one.
