I'm sure without Kanté, Kepa, Chilwell, James, Koulibaly, Fofana, Azpilicueta and Zakaria we will be able to field a totally competitive team.

On a completely unrelated note, can Loftus-Cheek play at right-back?

Too many injuries, not playing well, Arsenal in great form. Anything can happen in this sport, but we really are up against it.

We are getting an absolute pasting here.

Guess Potter will be back to the side that lost at Brighton probably, based on those injuries.

Least it isn’t a noon kickoff on a Saturday to ruin our entire weekend. 
 

Expecting some more of the same from the usual underperformers who miraculously continue to get selected. 

An absolute battering incoming if we’re not at our absolute best. 

Arsenal are genuine title challengers, this isn’t some flash in the pan thing.. they’ve got a good thing going, Edu/Arteta made all the right moves recruitment/system wise and it’s starting to take shape for them. Just hope Boehly can get a bigger budget version of what they’ve done started here, hate saying that about Arse but it’s true. 

Am expecting us back to the back 3

 

Kepa

 

Chalobah

Silva

Koulibaly 

 

Dave/Pulisic

Kovacic

Jorginho 

Cucurella

 

Mount

Havertz

Sterling

I'm totally down with parking the bus if we manage to get 3 points. Auba should not be anywhere near starting, although he'd have a point to prove, so throw him on after 60 minutes.  Back 3 pick itself if they are fit, no more Sterling at LWB, or Pullisic at RWB unless we are chasing the game. Mendy makes me nervous, for his poor kicking and lack of intent to combat aerial balls.

Last season we were favorite and we lost, hopefully it change this weekend.

 

It's unusual for them coming to the Bridge and being top of the table, we will also have a bit more rest as they play today.

No predictions or team suggestions from me though it is about time we got 3 points from our home fixture against them.

 

I am well up for this even with a depleted team, from what I have seen of Arsenal of late they are beatable especially at The Bridge. 

If we're looking for comfort, Potter's record against Arsenal is actually pretty good (this includes the away win and home defeat in the Europa League as Östersund manager):

He has more wins against Arsenal than against any other Premier League side other than Brentford. 

 

Mendy

Chalobah Silva Koulibaly Cucurella

Jorginho

         Kovacic Zakaria        

Pulisic                   Sterling

Aubameyang

 

31 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

Mendy

Chalobah Silva Koulibaly Cucurella

Jorginho

         Kovacic Zakaria        

Pulisic                   Sterling

Aubameyang

 

That's a huge gamble putting Chalobah at RB up against Martinelli. Trevoh hasn't got the build for that job.

If we have no proper RB for this game then we have no choices, play RLC on the wing and a back three.

I wouldn't start with Auba either,  not in form, goes missing, other options available.

                          Mendy

     Chalobah       Silva          Koulibaly 

                      Jorginho           

RLC        Kovacic     Zakaria    Cucurella

                          Gallagher

                       Broja

 

1 minute ago, coco said:

That's a huge gamble putting Chalobah at RB up against Martinelli. Trevoh hasn't got the build for that job.

If we have no proper RB for this game then we have no choices, play RLC on the wing and a back three.

I wouldn't start with Auba either,  not in form, goes missing, other options available.

                          Mendy

     Chalobah       Silva          Koulibaly 

                      Jorginho           

RLC        Kovacic     Zakaria    Cucurella

                          Gallagher

                       Broja

 

Like you, I want a powerhouse and technical midfield three. 

I thought about a back 5 on top of it, but it restricts our attack immensely and I can only see Potter making changes right away. 

I don't know. Personally, I'd gamble Chalobah vs Martinelli just show that we play a comfortable set up. 

Unfortunately, we will be torn to shreds. Too many injuries and a manager that doesn‘t really instill confidence with his puzzling tactics. 

17 minutes ago, coco said:

That's a huge gamble putting Chalobah at RB up against Martinelli. Trevoh hasn't got the build for that job.

If we have no proper RB for this game then we have no choices, play RLC on the wing and a back three.

I wouldn't start with Auba either,  not in form, goes missing, other options available.

                          Mendy

     Chalobah       Silva          Koulibaly 

                      Jorginho           

RLC        Kovacic     Zakaria    Cucurella

                          Gallagher

                       Broja

 

Might as well play RLC as a RB then. Playing a back 3 v Arsenal is asking for trouble as they play a high line, Martinelli & Saka will just pop up in pockets behind the WB & pull the CBs around. Our CBs bar Chalobah also don’t have the legs. 
If we want to get something out of the game we need a back 4, and play a trio of Sterling, Pulisic & Auba to exploit their high line. 

A back 5 is going to start and end in frustration. 

It's been sussed out by almost everyone. 

36 minutes ago, coco said:

That's a huge gamble putting Chalobah at RB up against Martinelli. Trevoh hasn't got the build for that job.

If we have no proper RB for this game then we have no choices, play RLC on the wing and a back three.

I wouldn't start with Auba either,  not in form, goes missing, other options available.

                          Mendy

     Chalobah       Silva          Koulibaly 

                      Jorginho           

RLC        Kovacic     Zakaria    Cucurella

                          Gallagher

                       Broja

 

It is a gamble, but he can manage it.

15 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Might as well play RLC as a RB then.
If we want to get something out of the game we need a back 4,

RLC is also not the build for RB.

We kept a clean sheet for 537 consecutive minutes with a back three this season under Potter.

8 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

It is a gamble, but he can manage it.

Your another one that's been harping on about square holes and round pegs under Potter, so don't be a hypocrite and put RLC at RB.

1 minute ago, coco said:

Your another one that's been harping on about square holes and round pegs under Potter, so don't be a hypocrite and put RLC at RB.

Not RLC, he would be terrible to play there. I meant Chalobah. Trev can play as a right back. He has not played it often, but can play there.

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

Not RLC, he would be terrible to play there. I meant Chalobah. Trev can play as a right back. He has not played it often, but can play there.

I disagree mucker, Calobah has never played at RB as far as i can remember, he's 100% CB in a 2 or 3, if you think about all the decent RB's, they're all quick on the turn, fast acceleration, stay on their feet, Trevoh does stay on his feet but he's not quick enough to play RB imo.

It doesn't really matter what we think anyway, Potter will probably play a back 3 and 4 at some point on Saturday.

4 minutes ago, coco said:

I disagree mucker, Calobah has never played at RB as far as i can remember, he's 100% CB in a 2 or 3, if you think about all the decent RB's, they're all quick on the turn, fast acceleration, stay on their feet, Trevoh does stay on his feet but he's not quick enough to play RB imo.

It doesn't really matter what we think anyway, Potter will probably play a back 3 and 4 at some point on Saturday.

In his youth days Trev played there. Is not ideal, but if our other option is RLC...

26 minutes ago, coco said:

RLC is also not the build for RB.

We kept a clean sheet for 537 consecutive minutes with a back three this season under Potter.

Come on mate. You know as well as I Kepa was a huge reason for that. 

That being said, you could tell we were riding our luck bar the Milan and Wolves game.