Here we go again…It s back to EPL football and to start the week-end, we are treated with an interesting encounter between Arsenal and Villa at the Emirates.

It is safe to say that Aston Villa had a good season last year and are still playing well this year although they are letting in a bit more goals than before, which is hampering their ability to pick up more points. They love to play with width and have some devastating players in Bailey and Traore but also have a good GK in Martinez who has blossomed into one of the top 5 GK in the league…

We may be missing Saka tonight, which may force Arteta to play Pepe or Laca from the on set. I d also like to avoid seeing Odegaard next to Partey as part of our double-pivot. He needs to play higher up the pitch if he plays at all. Now, given the opposition, we need pace on the width and good recovery when we lose the ball. If I were Arteta, I d really consider playing Pepe, ESR, Martinelli and Lacazette from the on set. I know it leaves Auba out but I think he d be great later on the game….

So here is my preferred line-up: Ramsdale – Tomy, White, Gabs, Tierney – Partey, AMN – Pepe, ESR, Martinelli – Laca

We are playing on a Friday, which until two years ago was good as we had won 7 in a row but the last two years were less kind. We are playing Aston Villa who is amongst the top 3 teams to have beaten us at the Emirates and who has beaten us 3 times in a row in the league now…

I expect a nervy game and the most likely outcome to be a high scoring draw like a 2-2 again but I am hoping for a 2-1 victory…

COYG!

In the end, we can say that we did not deserve more than a draw given the fact that Palace dominated the game from the moment we took the lead through Auba’s goal until the 70th minute…We even basically rescued 1 point thanks a late stoppage time goal, courtesy of Lacazette…

The performance was disappointing on many levels:

1. Why did we go to sleep after scoring the goal? We were really good in the first 15 minutes.
2. How can we concede soft goals like this?
3. Partey was having a stinker yesterday but Odegaard was even worse. Why is Arteta insisting in playing them as a double pivot? Where is El Neny? What about AMN? Or why not play Lokonga from the on-set…Odegaard can not pay as an 8. He is limited to play as a 10. That is a fact.
4. Is Tierney low on confidence going forward?
5. Tomyasu, Lokonga and Gabriel also were off their usual selves yesterday
6. What happened to Pepe after he created the first goal? Started brightly, fell asleep with the team and then woke up again when Laca came on.
7. Arteta’s changes were rather positive but does he tell the squad to sit back after scoring the first goal?

On the other hand, I felt like Palace was a team that was playing rather well with Edouard and Callagher in particular form. Vieira is definitely creating a strong team with a decent game plan. I hope they stay up and have a good run in Cups.

Ramsdale – 5

Tomy – 5

White – 5.5

Gabs – 5

Tierney – 5

Partey – 4

Ode – 3

Pepe – 5

ESR – 6

Saka – N/A (Lokonga – 4)

Auba – 5.5

Laca – 6.5

Arteta – 4

Definitely an opportunity lost to land 3 points at home but given the way the way the game panned out, we re lucky to get a point out.

Now regarding the referee, the second CP goal could have been cancelled since there is indeed a small foul on Lokonga but the most importantly, CP should have played with 10 men after McCarthur senseless kick on Saka’s leg. What were the Refs and VAR doing?

Anyways, I think that Laca reminded us on why he is such an important piece of our system.

Next game:

Ramsdale – Tomy, White, Gabs, Tierney – Partey, AMN? – Saka, ESR, Auba – Laca

On one side, Palace will be coached by P.Vieira – one of our legendary and most decorated captains. Since he left the club, we are still search for the “New Vieira” not only for his amazing football skillset but also for his personality on the pitch and as a captain. If you were to ask to make an ultimate AFC starting XI, there is 99% chance that it will include Vieira…His coaching career has not hit the same heights yet but he has a definite game plan, which is very much based on fast transition so his teams do not hesitate to attack from the wings with fast players or to play long balls to an anchor point who can hold up the play and then link with his teammates. Clearly, C. Palace is a team with good players all over the pitch but not great players. They re playing more consistently and are only 3 points behind us…Guaita, Guehi, Schlupp, Kouyate, Zaha, Edouard are the ones to watch for sure but Ayew and Benteke have also bothered us in the past…

On our side, Arteta will hope to see a resilient, solid and accomplished display from his team. It seems that he has found his defensive set up. There are still some question marks around his team’s ability to create and score goals but with ESR’s recent outings, there is an overall sense of optimism. I think our team will also be hard to beat but it will depend largely on our wings players (full backs and wingers) and central defenders. If they are disciplined enough, I think we can sail through another home victory. So despite not being our most decorated captain ever, Arteta has a better squad at his disposal and seems to improve his tactical nous and he may well get one over Vieira on Monday. COYG

Predicted line-up for AFC:

Ramsdale – Tomy, White, Gabs, Tierney – Partey, Lokonga – Saka, Ode, ESR, Auba

Preferred line-up:

Ramsdale – Tomy, White, Gabs, Tierney – Partey, AMN – Saka, ESR, Pepe (or Martinelli) – Laca

I think that ESR would be able to control the game so there would not be a need for Ode and I think that Pepe or Martinelly could hurt Palace’s defense with their pace while Laca could force them into making mistakes.

Prediction: 2-1 for AFC.

Goals from ESR and Saka for us and Edouard for CP if we play in my preferred line-up

Goals from ESR and Tierney for us and Edouard for CB if we play in Arteta’s preferred line-up

COYG!

For a third successive season since joining us, Saliba is on loan. This time in Marseilles. He has become an automatic starter there and his displays get a lot of attention and appreciation. He is now also the captain of the U23 French team. In particular, people are praising his anticipation skills and his ability to play out from the back. He could be more commanding especially in the air and also physically but overall, he is in a good space now.

While his development is taking a positive turn, Ben White and Gabriel are starting to forge an interesting partnership. Both of them are older than Sailba but they are still very young especially for central defenders. They are also more accustomed to the EPL jouts.

Knowing that the squad also includes Holding, Mari and Chambers, it seems that Saliba would have to settle for a fight for his place in the starting XI. Given his age and talent, shall we just extend him at the end of the season and then ship out one out of Holding and Mari to tell Saliba that he can be a squad player. Or do we loan him out again but this time in the EPL? Or we do sell him if we can recoup our initial investment.

Who knows what the future holds for Saliba? but for sure he is really establishing himself in the top 15 of CBs in the French League, a league where there are some quality CBs like Marquinhos, Botman, Dante…

A few years back, Guendouzi had us raving about his heart on the pitch and his courage on the ball. He played a lot, definitely beyond his years but his fiery persona fueld by his impetuous youth on and off the pitch led to some hairy moments, including the one with Maupay that sealed his fate with Arteta and ultimately with AFC.

From then on, he was moved to Berlin where he had a decent season and is now loaned to Marseille where he will be signing in January on a permanent deal as his contract with us would come to an end in June 2022.

In Marseilles, Guendouzi found a club, a coach, a team and a fans that love fiery characters and where he can be a key clog in the midfield. He had a very bright start of the season even scoring a goal and earned selections at youth and senior level with the French squad. But following his bright start, he is also now showing some signs of frustration and bad habits where he thinks he can do everything in midfield. Sampaoli is clearly trying to help him play better and more effectively but at 22, Guendouzi is still learning.

Guendouzi was raised in PSG academy before joining Lorent and then Arsenal and he recently stated that Marseilles is the most historic and popular club in France and that his past with PSG was just due to him being born near PSG…

So in any case, seems he has finally found a club that accept him with his flaws and his qualities.

Maybe in 2-3 years, AFC will regret letting him go but for now, it is best for everyone to see him flourish in Marseilles and who knows what the future holds?

Bonne chance Matteo but Allez Paris! Marseilles est tragique!

So how do you feel about Guendouzi?

Imagine that all of a sudden, Kroenke decides to finally massively invest in our club or that he decides to sell to a mega-consortium with unlimited funds…Edu and Arteta are given a blank check for one player and only for a player that can play in the midfield next to Partey, money is not an issue but they can only pick one player…

In this fictional scenario, who would you like Edu-Arteta to pick?

1. Ngolo Kante
2. P. Pogba
3. J. Kimmich
4. L. Goretzka
5. W. Ndidi
6. K. Philipps
7. D. Rice
8. Rodri
9. Fabinho
10. Jorginho
11. Verratti
12. Casemiro
13. Modric
14. Busquets
15. Gavi
16. Foden
17. …

There are so many options…so would you pick?

Ramsdale – Tomy, White, Gabs, Tierney – Partey, ? – Saka, Ode, ESR – Auba

It is a very tough choice but I d hesitate between Pogba, Kimmich and Kante. Pogba is playing at a very high level this season, Kimmich and Kante are so hard working and reliable…But ultimately, I think I d go for Kante because of his work ethics and humble disposition…

Arteta has opted to play in a 4231 set up again this season.

Since he has arrived, he has acquired with Edu a lot of defensive-minded players:

• Ramsdale, Runaarsson
• Tomy, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Mari, Nuno

So that is 2 GKs and 3 Full-backs and 3 CBs…

This year he is fielding all his latest recruits plus our most reliable defender in the last 2 years when fit (Tierney) in the starting defensive unit:

Ramsdale – Tomy, White, Gabriel, Tierney –

Since the start of the season, this unit has conceded one goal in 4 games and also kept 3 clean sheets…

Arteta, and many managers, believe that to have a solid team, the defensive unit has to be strong. Of course, the team defends as a unit but still, the back 4 and the goalkeeper have a big role to play in protecting our goal so do you believe that we finally have our much sought after solid/robust/no-non sense defensive? Are we finally going to relax when opponents attack knowing that we will not have a defensive lapse or sill mistake is that defensive unit going to emulate its glorious predecessors such as:

Lehmann – Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole – OR

– Seaman – Dixon, Adams, Bould, Winterburn –

So what is your take? Do they have what it takes to be a “Famous Back 4”.

And does Ramsdale have what it takes to be our new Seaman/Lehmann?

I did not see the game but just the highlights and read the reactions from coaches, players and pundits alike and it seems that:

1. We played quite well
2. Spurs were quite poor

So ultimately, the result needs to be assessed against these two critera:

1. We played quite well with a good pressing, some good front-foot defending especially in the first half and lethal counter-attacks;
2. Spurs were just poor with and without the ball and Kane casted an isolated figure.

So the momentum has really turned from

• ecstatic Spurs’ fans who were top of the league after 3 games with convincing wins and a good game plan to deflated Spurs fan with 3 losses in 3 games with at least 3 goals conceded in each defeat;
• deflated AFC’s fans who were bottom of the league after 3 games with no wins, no goals scored and no real understanding of Arteta’s game plan to encouraged AFC fans with 3 wins a row, only 1 goal conceded and 5 goals scored…

The tables have turned and Nuno must be feeling the heat already…Arteta got some reprieve for sure but not everything was rosy from what I gathered since Kane could have scored from a free header, gotten a penalty kick too so…let us not yet scream on top of the roofs that AFC is a top 6 contender 🙂

Overall, it was a good week-end for us with Liverpool, Chelsea, Utd and Chelsea losing but we still have a lot to do to become genuine Top 6 contenders.

For what it is worth, Arteta has found:

• his starting GK as Ramsdale continues his good spell;
• his starting back-four with a special mention to Tomyasu who seems to have 3 lungs;
• his attacking unit by playing ESR on the left

Of course, the double-pivot is still up in the air due to Partey being injury prone, Xhaka being injury and red-cared prone…However, yesterday, it seemed that this partnership worked.

Auba was also involved in the game. Of course, this display is quite bad news for Pepe and Lacazette but ultimately, they will have to just push for a starting berth.

Great day for ESR and Saka and apparently, Tierney was also in fine form.

A well deserved win but let us be cautious and keep our heads down, work hard and hope for another good result next week at Brighton!

COYG! London is Red!

Finally, some AFC Football again! Since there are no cup games at the moment or European football for us this season, it seems we are having AFC Footie withdrawal symptoms…

So today’s game is so welcome! We are playing at Burnley who is also struggling. They are not a great team by any means but they work hard – direct football, long balls, set-pieces pressure… It will be important to be present in the duels, air and on second-balls (knock downs). Ultimately, we should have enough quality and fire power to see them off but we need to start on the front foot with a lot of…Intensity (Mikel’s favourite word). Holding, El Neny probably out and Xhaka is still suspended.

I would play a 343 today with the following line-up:

Ramsdale – Tomy, White, Gabriel – Saka, Lokonga, AMN, Tierney – ESR, Laca, Auba

I still can’t fit Ode in my team so not sure how Arteta does it…lol

Now Arteta would pbbly play:

Ramsdale – Tomy, White, Gabriel, Tierney – Lokonga, AMN – Saka, Ode, ESR – Auba

It is going to come down today to (i) Ramsdale aerial capacity/commanding his box, (ii) Lokonga and AMN to protect our box on knockdown ballsm (iii) on White and Gabriel to neutralize long/direct balls and then (iv) on Tierney, Saka to stretch the defense and Auba’s ability to finish chances. If Laca were starting, then I think ESR will score but I doubt Laca will start but he will come in and be a game changer.

I can see Laca and Auba score today but I am not sure we will win…especially if we play Ode and ESR together so I can see a draw at 2-2 or a hard fought 2-1 win for us.

COYG! Let us climb the EPL table, 3 points at a time