Morning all, and blissful new yr.
We start 2025 with a tough away journey to Brentford. Regardless of a latest 2-0 defeat to high-flying Nottingham Forest, they’ve the joint greatest residence document within the Premier League, garnering 22 factors from their video games up to now – stage with Liverpool (and simply 1 level greater than us).
A characteristic of their performances at residence this season has been quick begins and early objectives, one thing we want to concentrate on, and it would inform our beginning XI to an extent. When he picks his crew at this time, will Mikel Arteta convey Riccardo Calafiori again into the fold at left-back, or stick to Myles Lewis-Skelly? They’ll share the video games in January, that’s a no brainer given how hectic the schedule is, however maybe sticking with the participant who has a little bit of kind and rhythm is likely to be the proper name when going through Bryan Mbeumo on Brentford’s proper.
I think we’ll see a change in midfield, with both Thomas Partey or Mikel Merino most popular to Kai Havertz in there, however I anticipate the German to maneuver up entrance with Gabriel Jesus dropping to the bench. The damage state of affairs means we’ve got nearly nothing in reserve. Ethan Nwaneri was the one nominally attacking sub we had towards Ipswich, and whereas that’s most likely a danger you’ll be able to take for a house recreation towards a crew within the backside three, you could have some approach to change the sport in fixtures like this, so beginning Havertz and Jesus collectively doesn’t make sense to me except the Brazilian is chosen in one of many broad positions.
That mentioned, I anticipate Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli to play on the flanks, and Arteta was fairly fascinating on the Belgian who he referred to as a ‘little bit of a moaner‘ … however in a great way! These two are those on whom a heavy burden falls within the absence of Bukayo Saka. In fact goalscoring is a collective duty, however their output this season hasn’t fairly been the place we’d need it, so upping that in the course of the Zero Saka weeks goes to be vital.
I believe we are able to anticipate Brentford to press excessive, so that may present alternative if we are able to bypass it and use the area that leaves behind. They’re good at it although, they do in an lively and coordinated method, and even in the event you do beat it, they’ve such good organisation they drop again rapidly and make it arduous to interrupt them down. This recreation final yr was a battle, it took a really late aim from substitute Kai Havertz to take all three factors, and I don’t anticipate it to be any simpler at this time.
Let’s hope we are able to kick off the brand new yr in the proper method, with a great efficiency, however most significantly all three factors. This recreation feels a bit bizarre, out on an island of types when it comes to timing, with everybody else having performed two or three days in the past. I don’t know if that makes it any tougher or pressurised, however it’s a bit odd. Anyway, it’s what it’s, we’ve got a job to do, so let’s hope we are able to do it properly.
Proper, I’m gonna depart it there for now. We’ve got a preview podcast accessible proper now on Patreon. Be a part of us later for stay weblog protection, plus you’ll get the match report, aim clips, response, participant scores and rather more over on Arseblog Information.
Till then!
