So for this exercise, we will imagine a 4231, which is the most used formation by Arteta…but bear in mind that we could end up playing as a 433 or 442…so in your post, feel free to put your ideal set up…
So who would be our double-pivot
Who will be dribbling on our wings and who will play the astute pass in the middle of the park?
So blog away my friends…
At this stage, the voted squad is:
Ryan – Bello, Holding, Mari, Tierney (or Cedric) –
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Saka Partey Elneny Martinelli
Hoping that Tierney training, means Tierney playing for first half. (Also Chambers playing instead of Bellerin.)
Not sure why the polls didn’t come through on this post…sorry about that…
Am so upset about PSG’s performance, loss and attitude…can’t stand sore losers…I d sell Neymar in a heartbeat…I d only keep:
Navas – Marquinhos, Kimpembe – Verratti, Paredes, Di Maria – Mbappe
Everyone else can be sold almost…maybe we can keep Gueye and Diallo too…
Navas – RECRUIT, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, RECRUIT – Verratti, Paredes – Di Maria, RECRUIT, Mbappe – RECRUIT
And Pochetinno is a real loser. I can’t believe we got rid of Tuchel, T.Silva and Cavani to get Pochetinno, Danilo (who is a DM that played CB) and Icardi…Our Sporting Director Leonardo really has a lot to answer for
If Tierney is not fit I have no doubt Mikel will play Xhaka at left back, but I really wish he wouldn’t.
My midfield three is:
Xhaka – Partey – Odegaard
Although it’s really:
Xhaka – Partey
Odegaard
with two attacking wide players either side of Ode.
I d like to see us in a 442…so…
Saka, Partey, El Neny, ESR for me
Thanks RC
It’s difficult to know how to play this game. For me we got it wrong in the first leg in not going with a more attacking line up and pushing for away goals.
They are king in 2 legged European ties and the away game is very different to an away EPL game where you may go a bit more conservative.
We should have played with 1 DM and 4 attacking behind a number 9 and gone for it more as I think we had 3 or 4 goals in us had we done so. Now we have to worry about them scoring more than 1 and we don’t do game containment that well.
Having said that as LBG pointed out they were more dangerous down the flanks so maybe we shouldn’t play a double DM shift and should play Saka and Martinelli either side of ESR and Odegaard.
Kind of like your 4-4-2 RC but more of a 4-1-4-1. Saka and Martinelli will give us that extra bit of cover defensively down the flanks as well as contributing going forwards.
So it’s as follows for me in midfield :
—————————- Partey
Saka ——- Odegaard—— ESR ——- Martinelli
I recognise that this may trespass a bit into the forward choices because Saka and Martinelli could be considered wing forwards in a front 3 but for this purpose I have considered them more wide midfielders.
Ideally Partey and Ramsey
But will settle for partey and odegard/ESR
For me, we don’t need Odegaard tomorrow…
I like the idea of the 4141 though but maybe with different players..
For my front two, I would play Martinelli probably…and then the last spot would be for Auba or Laca…
The one player I feel bad about omitting is Pepe…
Fred
Ramsey!!!??? Back in that central midfield, No8, position that he and Oxlade-Chamberlain thought was their destiny! You will be telling us next you want Walcott as centre forward!
Your specs are showing through again.
As first on, I made no qualification of my four in midfield choice. So briefly, like RC, I would not use BOdegaard on Thursday and instead, in advance of forward selections would play Emile centrally behind, I suppose, Aubang, given Laca is not fit and Balogun doesnt exist currently.
2-0 at half time please Gunners.
Well as I voted for Saka at left back I can’t have him up front as well even if having two of them would be amazing, so my centre mids are Partey and Xhaka, on the flanks Smith Rowe and Pepe, with Odegaard floating in the hole/No.10/between the lines, something like that, Martinelli on the bench.
I am still so upset about PSG…especially the players’ attitude and then the staff is saying we played well…This club is annoying me this year…still, it is my home team but boy oh boy…!
Navas, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Paredes, Verratti, Di Maria, Mbappe can stay as starters and then Diallo, Danilo, Gueye and Herrera as subs and the rest can be shipped out…
Against Villareal I’d play a 2,3,2,3
Leno
Xhaka, Odegaard
Saka, Nketiah, PEA
Partey ESR
Pepe, Lacazette, Martinelli
Based on a rotating futsal formation of 2 teams on the same side.
strategic formations is not my strong point. Not sure what is actually?
Brilliant line up VP. Dont put yourself down. There is obviously a tactical genius in there.
RC. I would like to secure Odegaard as I feel he has shown real quality and the ability to effect games in a short space of time. Normally it takes some time to do this in the EPL so I can only see him getting better and he could be a big player for us if we get him.
I would move to playing 2 hybrid number 8 types like City do so he could partner ESR in midfield. It doesn’t need to be either or. However, if Madrid make it too difficult to get home then we need to think about an alternative.
Like you I am pleased with Pepe’s progress and feel he is also showing he can be a big player for us. We could still play the 4-1-4-1 with Pepe instead of Odegaard by playing Pepe wide left and partnering Saka with ESR in the centre.
In fact such is Saka’s ability I think he could be as effective, if not more so, in a central attacking role as a right sided attacking role.
If we cant get Odegaard I think I would look to use Saka more centrally and bring in a left footed wide right attacker to cover that position. I like the lad Raphael at Leeds.
I’m thinking of taking up technical, tactical ballroom dancing, and appointing 2 or 3 of you guys to advise me.
I can virtually hear you all shouting for your particular preference — 4231 – 4231 – spin it – 2323 – keep your knees together – there we go – 4141 – 4141 – rotate now – 442 – 442 – damn you — remember – put your left leg in – put your left leg out – in out – in out – shake it all about – football is all about the Okey Kokey – luckily we don’t need a GK – just as well – neither are good enough.
Can’t wait for tomorrow. 😳
I really need Arsenal to win to lift me up from the PSG disaster…
Aww RC 😞 I was expecting better from PSG, albeit have to take my hat off to City – they were really good. Is this their time??!
I think we’ll just edge it tomorrow (garlick, stakes and all 😄). Our main man Auba to score!
Totally random but whatever has happened to Le Coq? I haven’t come across that humour anywhere for such a long time…
Sue – yesterday was a PSG disaster except for about 25 mins in the first half…There is a big rebuilding to do…it should be done around Mbappe rather than Neymar.
Navas – RECRUIT, Marki, Kimpembe, RECRUIT – RECRUIT, Paredes, Verratti – Di Maria, RECRUIT, Mbappe…
It is a false 433, more like a 4312 with Mbappe playing high up on the left and off the CF. Di Maria coming in the center from the right hand side…Big summer coming up for PSG too…
Unai
Granit is certainly “extraordinary”.
No fix formation:
(GK)Leno; (RB/RWB)Cedric, (CB/RB)Chambers, (CB)Mari, (LB/CB)Xhaka; (DM)Partey, (CM/AM)Ødegaard, (LWB/LM/LW)Saka, (CM/AM/RW)Smith-Rowe, (RM//RF/LF)Pépé, (CF/LF/RF)Aubameyang
Bench: Ryan, Okonkwo, Gabriel, Holding, Bellerín, Tierney, Elneny, Willian, Nelson, Martinelli, Nketiah, Lacazette
JM
Think you may have Lineofdutyitis!😉
And so matchday. Another most important game of the season!
Amazed at team selections made on other sites ( and ours, actually!) And this selection could be the future making or breaking of MA, IMO.
By that, I mean if, as other sites maintain, Mikel picks Xhaka and Bellerin as fullbacks, together with Gabriel, I feel we will not go through tonight. Hope I’m wrong, that Tierney, Chambers and Mari play and that we are 2-0 up at half time. COYG.
Thats it Red, you put your left leg in, your left leg out and you shake it all about.
New post coming up shortly…
New post