Can Outsiders Deliver At The Twenty-First Attempt
Feb 2nd, 2019 by 'holic
Our 2-1 defeat of Manchester City in the 2017 FA Cup semi-final was proof positive that if we approach the match with a positive attitude allied to a degree of determination we can beat arguably the best team in the country. Since that memorable day though we have met four times, scoring just one goal and shipping eleven.
We are outsiders at the Emptihad, and rightly so, but I hope that Unai Emery has shown them the video from January 2015 when a team that included David Ospina and Matthieu Flamini beat City 2-0 at the same venue. Santi Cazorla scored one and made one that day, and we defended doggedly. That’s what we need to focus on pre-match this weekend.
Of course we have defensive issues right now but the team have had another few days to work on a solution. Without Bellerin, Koscielny, Sokratis, and Holding, and with Ainsley Maitland-Niles a doubt the only possible change from Tuesday night’s team is Carl Jenkinson for Stephan Lichsteiner. It looks as though Emery plumped for experience on Tuesday but it’s unclear if Lichsteiner is capable of playing twice a week. Expect Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, and Sead Kolasinac to be retained in front of Bernd Leno.
In midfield it would be a surprise if we didn’t start with a trio in front of the defence of Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka, and Lucas Torreira. Could Aaron Ramsey be preferred to Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil to sit behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette? If the latter pair get it together a surprise could just happen.
City’s defence of their Premier League title has been frustrating, most recently of all that defeat at struggling Newcastle in midweek. A wounded animal may come out with a ferocious attack, or may just be sulkily licking its wounds. Which will we face? One thing in our favour is that City will be without Kompany, the glue that holds their defence together.
The ‘holic pound
My best advice given we haven’t won an away game at a top six rival in twenty attempts is only bet a small amount if you can afford it. I won’t be risking the usual punt on this one. City, as I said, are rightly the hot favourites at 3/10 and so rather than seek a correct scoreline I will simply grab some of the (boosted) 19/2 available against an Arsenal victory. That is a big price in a two horse race when the favourite has fallen unexpectedly this season already.
Here is hoping we also get a glimpse of what Denis Suarez brings to the party, likely from the bench. Have a good one, ‘holics.
58 Responses to “Can Outsiders Deliver At The Twenty-First Attempt”
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Number 1………..
Nice preview H. I must say that I’m more than a tad nervous about tomorrow. Our best defence is decidedly average. Playing third choices back there against a Citeh side that has rather a potent attack fills me with dread. I just hope that they have an off day and that we have anything but. They are also a wounded animal and that also does not bode well.
I don’t expect Ozil to start. I would think that Suárez will start on the bench. As for the rest????
I hope we can turn in a Chav/Spud type performance. Anything less could be problematic.
who’s ozzzzzzzzil?
Hey, Pep
we’re gonna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJw3BQ80aXw
A brave preview Holic. I have the same foreboding I had before we played Liverpool at Anfield and sadly expect a similar result. Having lost Bellerin for nine months and given the cover we have for him I’m amazed that we think the likes of Lichsteiner and Jenko can go up against Sane. Couldn’t we have borrowed a half decent right back?
I’m not quite tuned into Unai’s thought processes yet.
Still after the Rams win the Super Bowl the Kroenkes are going to prioritise Arsenal winning the Champions League …..yeah right
Xhaka is apparently out tomorrow as is AMN
Thanks Guvnor, a sobering read on a
Sunday morning.
Kos has travelled with the team so
I assume he’s available.
2-1 to The Arse.
I’d attack and play…..
Leno
Licht, Mus, Kos, Nacho
Torreira, Xhaka (Guendouzi)
Suarez, Ozil, Auba,
Laca
But I don’t think UE will.
Just watched the cracking 6 Nations rugby game in Dublin between Ireland and England , brilliant performance from the boys in white,attacking and defending the advantage line with ferocious intensity from the first minute to the last for a thoroughly deserved win.
If we play with the same fervor at the Etihad, anything is possible,but sadly i just cannot see it happening.
An honorable defeat is the best i am expecting.
Anything better would be a major shock.
Sounds like you missed the game from Murrayfield (sorry, BT Murrayfield as all of the Scottish team have been rehearsed to parrot), Clive?
Some brilliant attacking play which saw the team in dark blue soar to a 30 point lead. THEN, some Arsenalesque defending in the last 20 minutes which gave the team of my second national heritage hope that progress is being made by the Azuri.
Is there such a thing as an honourable defeat? Will we see some signs that progress is being made? Will Kronke’s other team win the Souperbowl and help him to slurp his way along the path to his next billion?
I’d like one of these three but I’m not holding my breath.
P.S. I too thought England played superbly in Dublin. 🙂 (Don’t tell Steve).
Clive from the previous drink, I’m alive and kicking, thanks very much for asking, as are the dishlickers!
The general mood of recent drinks have been somewhat depressing, but after we’ve hammered the citizens this afternoon everyone will be happy again!
On a more realistic note, any fallout from this afternoon’s likely outcome should be tempered by the fact that we will probably take nine points from a possible twelve this month.
At the Emirates during the first game of the season, we had a torrid time coping with their speed and pressing.
I expect the same tonight.
Hoping against hope that we can keep it scoreless long enough to make them jittery forcing some errors.
Tall order.
Great to hear all well Mick.
3 very winnable games after this one as you point out.
Ian,
I think Scotland relaxed a bit with the game well won.
Remiss not to mention the Welsh with a gritty win in Paris against a tough French side.
It’s going to be a cracking series,and the World Cup looms ever closer on the horizon.
Man City away is a tough ask even with a full-strength team. On our day we can beat anyone, but as you point out ‘Holic those days are few and far between away to top-six teams.
Any combination of results between our and Man U’s game that keeps us from slipping to sixth might be the best we can hope for today.
Three at the back, Lichsteiner at right back ?
Suarez, Ramsey and Ozil on the bench
Maybe Liverpool away will look like a good result
Leno,
Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal
Lichsteiner, Guendouzi, Torreira, Kolasinac
Iwobi, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
That’s a ratbag looking team.
We’re bound to win.
Am I comfortable with the team selection? No.
Can this team deliver? Yes.
Unai & his men can avoid fancy stuff and give Pep’s men a hard knock. Whatever happens, they shouldn’t even think of a possiblity of losing this one.
Hope Suárez & Ramsey gets in to produce some fantastic stuff.
COYGs!
So no Xhaka, what happened to him BTW?
Not looking forward to this one it has to be said.
Shit for brains defending
Can we restart please? ?
I’m not convinced with this team selection I would have played Ramsey from the start, he has been our best player of late.
Useless
Playing out from the back should go with a very robust manual. And Iwobi should be made to read every single bit of it and explain to all academy players.
I’m sorry to be the resident voice of doom but this is going to be a wild ride and not in a good way. This could be anything . I’m amazed at the team he picked
Get in Kos. Now fckn defend
Super Kos!
After the first 5 horror minutes we looked ok. City can be taken. If, big if, we had the good Ozil
I’m amazed at the team he picked
Ditto, but only in terms of picking Lichsteiner and Iwobi. I would have picked Ramsey and Jenkinson.
I know Jenkinson is not the answer but he’s a better guess than Lichsteiner 🙂
In his defence, however, it can’t be easy to play your game when you’re having to tell Iwobi what to do all the time AND trying to organise the back line, as he appears to be doing.
We’re hanging on.. not exactly in quiet desperation.. but quite well
Spoke too soon. More terrible defending
We keep giftin Aguero easy easy goals, wtf man
What is wrong with the Arsenal players marking City players? Were they asked not to get close to them?
We’re playing without a right back.
Whoever picked out Guendouzi for signing, please find a couple of more like him.
Just when you think it’s safe to
open your eyes.
Gift them a goal start and then
another boost just before half time.
Pity, we did well to get level. Still,
we can do it again COYGS!
This is a very strange game . We’ve shown some spirit and quality but if you have to field Lichsteiner in a game like this you will be pulled apart when they attack down the left. I’m still hoping we can continue to be competitive and keep it respectable.
How is Iwobi and Lichsteiner still in this game? Please bring on Ramsey and Suarez and revert to a back four.
The difference between the teams is that City know what to do in the final third and we appear disjointed if not clueless in advanced position. Not surprising they have created more chances and are leading.
Abysmal team selection should be a hand ball
3-1. It was coming and more in store. Iwobi is useless and so is Lichsteiner. All their attacks have come from the left.
Fuck it.
Emery has stopped making early subs?
It’s true though, it was coming
Tonight’s selection is on Emery, should have started with the changes about to make, all of us saw this
Licht should’ve been subbed of course
We are slow in passing the ball take absolutely ages in making the decisions to pass
@42 Totally on Emery, but why take out “the Tank” when Lich is literally throwing the spanner into our wheel?
Another defender injured? What’s new? ?
In all honesty we are chasing shadows here!
Guess Emery had this game marked as lost in his books
Yep Mustafi has had it!
Easiest hattrick Aguero will ever score, a joke
6th in the league is really where we belong
How was Torriera not fauled there?
Thank God for that final whistle ??
It was a one sided match and we were largely outplayed except for a brief period in the first half. Cannot lose heart as we just did not have the resources to take on City. Next year’s game against City will show if we have progressed after a transfer window.
Too early to judge Suarez who looked technically good but will take time to settle down to the physicality of the league.
All in all, just the day I expected.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Could be worse, Arthur.
We could be back in the bad old days when top four was crap. The FA Cup wasn’t with winning nor was the Shield. We only ever but always qualified for the last 16 in the CL, then we flew aeroplanes telling the boss to fuck off and counted the days down till his contract ended.
Things are better and brighter now 🙂
I’d actually given us a pretty decent shout for today as its two teams who like to play football and attack in the right way.
And for the first half that is exactly what we got, an exciting free flowing game with defensive mistakes (us) good football (both) and a genuine feeling we could still get something out of the game.
That sucker punch of a goal just before half time changed something because in the second half we got a team that did not know how to attack (us) defend (us) or have any cohesive idea of what the hell they should be doing (us) it was pitiful and painful to watch.
This is a team with a lot to prove and at the moment all they are proving is that all the old problems are still there, the tippy tappy football we are trying to play especially from the back is just not working and we need to adapt to a more controlled style of play.
I thought Matteo again showed great composure for the majority of the game and he was one of the very few highlights of the game, I’m still utterly bemused by Iwobi getting a starting berth all the time as he is always making costly mistakes, Alexander and PEA were almost completely useless…..again.
Ramsey and Suarez came on and could do nothing, the whole team demeanour was one of resigned acceptance, I want to see my Arsenal team fight tooth and nail for every inch and this team just do not do that.
What has happened to this supposed resilience that saw us outscoring every team in the league in the second half, it has completely vanished along with the fake confidence we had during that hollow unbeaten run.
Emery needs time I accept that, but he seems to be as tactically clueless as Wenger, as unsure about what works as Wenger and as lost for ideas as Wenger.
I apologise if my comments offend anybody as that is never my intention but this was an absolute travesty the way we played or rather did not play in the second half.