Going to be interesting how certain players fare against better opposition in the next several weeks. 

On 14/10/2023 at 10:21, STATS said:

Need to beat them. They will go in as favourites but we need to get over this hoodoo. They have done the reverse on us now. We used to beat them for fun.

Feels like we've come full circle. I remember they used to beat us for fun up until that CL Quarter final. I hate it so much more now, I didn't so much then as they had world class players. But losing constantly in recent years with players like Nketiah and Xhaka putting out big performances really pisses me off.

Edited October 16, 20232 yr by AlexTommo

Even Bellerin turned up against us.

After our so called "easy run" playing against the weakest sides in the league, I actually think we will massively benefit coming up against teams that are here to actually play. Since pre-season all our best performances since Poch has come in has mostly all been against teams that have come here to play and not just sit back and defend, which Poch is known to struggle with. Games like Brighton (twice) and Liverpool are the games we have looked best in overall and those were 2 of the only teams who came here to not sit back. 

Actually think we are in for a good game this weekend! I don't expect us to batter Arsenal or anything, but I expect a good performance even if we do end up narrowly losing. The optimist in me thinks we can steal a result assuming our key players are fit and available to play

I don’t see a game after an international break as likely to be an accurate guide as to progress. 

Big win double this weekend. A Chelsea victory over the Thunderbird puppet and his goon army by 3 clear goals, and England to turn over the Springboks with a 15 point margin.

Lump on people.

 

 

The wife says I really need to stop drinking at lunchtime!

Both Caicedo and Enzo will be assessed after the return to the country for general fitness and overload risk.

Carney has suffered a setback, as has Chalobah incidently, so not an option to cover for either. Likely a Lesley and Conor pivot if Enzo and Caicedo are out.

Reece and Broja also both out.

The club stock piling talent not looking so silly anymore. 

16 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

The club stock piling talent not looking so silly anymore. 

Given our injury troubles and ending up with recent benches having 2 keepers and youth team players Poch was never going to pick, maybe not enough lol.

I stand by that is Caicedo is not at the very peak of his powers we get beat here.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

I stand by that is Caicedo is not at the very peak of his powers we get beat here.

No Caicedo isn't enough. We are facing an Arsenal side so cohesive in how they operate in build up and off the ball, it'll be tough to better them at this moment in time. All we can hope for is the players turn up and provide the same effort we saw against Liverpool. 

35 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

No Caicedo isn't enough. We are facing an Arsenal side so cohesive in how they operate in build up and off the ball, it'll be tough to better them at this moment in time. All we can hope for is the players turn up and provide the same effort we saw against Liverpool. 

He is enough to give us a chance, without him at the top of his game they dominate any of our other midfielders and that is game over imo.

It's their wingers we need to worry about.

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

It's their wingers we need to worry about.

Martinellli and Saka are gonna run riot

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

It's their wingers we need to worry about.

 

34 minutes ago, KonaKai Blue said:

Martinellli and Saka are gonna run riot

Saka vs Colwill, and Martinelli vs gusto. 2 good battles there. 

Bigger concern is will Silva and Disasi be pulled in to no man's land if the full backs get beaten?

So long as Caicedo shuts down the supply again we have a chance.

Caicedo isn't playing anywhere near the supply for Saka and Martinelli however, given they directly receive the ball from their defenders. Caicedo's job will invariably be to stop Odegaard getting around the box.

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

 

Saka vs Colwill, and Martinelli vs gusto. 2 good battles there. 

Bigger concern is will Silva and Disasi be pulled in to no man's land if the full backs get beaten?

So long as Caicedo shuts down the supply again we have a chance.

I am not sure how Caicedo can shut down the supply to winger as dm. 

After winning the last 2 league games the pressure has perhaps eased off the team a bit. Hopefully they can continue the improved run of form in this game. We've had a poor record against Arsenal in recent years, despite being higher placed than them in the league most of the time up until last season. Would be great to get a win against them at the weekend, but I am at least hoping for another positive performance from us.

9 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Caicedo isn't playing anywhere near the supply for Saka and Martinelli however, given they directly receive the ball from their defenders. Caicedo's job will invariably be to stop Odegaard getting around the box.

That's key. It's scary how often he ends up unmarked around the box.

5 hours ago, dermott said:

That's key. It's scary how often he ends up unmarked around the box.

What I notice with Odegaard is that he is a key first half player. Tends to fade away in the second half and becomes easily frustrated, IE forcing shots and misplacing passes. 

On 16/10/2023 at 09:50, Bob stark said:

Last time we played Arse, with just an simple overload, Enzo was completely lost (People blamed this on Lamp though 🤭🤭). 

Will poch play 433 medium block or maybe Enzo as 10 to solve this problem? 

Martinelli vs Cucu is also a big problem. 

 

I would be very surprised to see Cucurella at RB and I hope that does not happen. Gusto or James will start at RB and will be coped with dealing with Martinelli. Really hope Caicedo starts this at all costs.

Bookies make Arsenal favourites which is understandable and I know this is weird to say why I am hoping this may point towards our favour but it is rare to see a big team lose to another big team at home 4 seasons running, which is what will happen if we lose on Saturday. Eventually the results have to swing in our favour against them...

On 18/10/2023 at 21:54, axman2526 said:

 

Saka vs Colwill, and Martinelli vs gusto. 2 good battles there. 

Bigger concern is will Silva and Disasi be pulled in to no man's land if the full backs get beaten?

So long as Caicedo shuts down the supply again we have a chance.

I'm so nervous now. First time in almost 20 years that I genuinely feel Arsenal are clear favourites. Can't see how we win unless they have an off game and or our attack manages to have a superb finishing display.

Can't see us winning tbh, Arteta always has our number. 

But if we can put in the effort that we put in against Liverpool I'll be happy, I don't want us to be whipping boys for Arsenal again which is something I'm sick of seeing when we play these guys. 

I think we will get something out of this game, although it's next to impossible to predict a result after international break. Usually teams have a slow game after beating City, it's like climbed to the top of the mountain, you will take a break physically even your head says not to. I trust Poch knows how to get a result by making the necessary adjustments, unlike last season where we got beaten twice and never looked like threatening.

3 hours ago, KonaKai Blue said:

I'm so nervous now. First time in almost 20 years that I genuinely feel Arsenal are clear favourites. Can't see how we win unless they have an off game and or our attack manages to have a superb finishing display.

To be fair they have beaten us most times of late even when they were sh*t and we were a lot better.

Is up to Pochettino to figure it out. They are the better side, but they better side does not always win.

7 hours ago, KonaKai Blue said:

 or our attack manages to have a superb finishing display.

🤣🤣🤣