Can The Gunners Respond against Rennes?
Mar 13th, 2019 by 'holic
A Thursday night in March. It must be the Europa League again, but we need to produce a performance to repair the damage done in Rennes last week if we are to book our place in the quarter-finals. Unai Emery seems to be in a positive mood ahead of the match.
“We do have confidence that we’re going to give a very big performance tomorrow and go through to the next round.”
Much though most, I suspect, would like to see an unchanged team from Sunday we will be without the suspended Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Presumably that will mean a recall for Shkodran Mustafi? Petr Cech will likely start in goal. Alexandre Lacazette’s successful appeal against the severity of his suspension means we could play he and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang together again.
We had a good look at what Rennes can do last week and will be aware of the blistering pace of Sarr and the guile of Ben Arfa. The French side will have gained confidence from their 3-1 triumph last week but it should be remembered that until Sokratis was sent off we were in complete control of the match and looking to build on our one goal advantage. That away goal may yet prove crucial.
The ‘holic pound
I’m basing my punt on this match on the selection of Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil as well as Lacazette and Aubameyang. They gave Manchester United a torrid time at the weekend and Rennes will not fancy facing our most attacking line-up. With a two goal advantage we can expect Rennes to be safety first and hope to utilise the pace of Sarr on the occasional break.
The bookmakers make 2-0 home win the favourite at a best price of 13/2 and that would be enough to take us through on away goals. I’ve been bullish for some weeks now and I have taken 8/1 against us winning 3-0.
It will be good to watch an 8pm kick-off in this competition again. Hopefully that will encourage a nearly full stadium and a positive atmosphere. I wish those of you that are going a very enjoyable evening.
Have a good one. ‘holics.
77 Responses to “Can The Gunners Respond against Rennes?”
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I didn’t see last week’s game but Holic seems to have summed it up well. The sending off changed the game . We need a committed performance from team and crowd tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it after Sunday which was a very happy if wet day!
I like 3-0 to us and a great touch would be Laca turning in a match-winning performance
Evening H
I can see only the 2 changes for this one,as you have alluded to.
Play the same format from Sunday,unless Mikki is fit,and he did train today,which might give Unai food for thought,although i can see Mikki among the subs,as the tactics worked so well on Sunday,particularly in the wide areas.
Important that we don’t go all gung ho at the start,and leave ourselves open to the counter which almost brought us undone against Utd.
You only have to look at Juve’s disciplined effort last night,to show how it’s done.
So yes show attacking intent,but keep the back door closed to stop counter insurgencies.
Keep a clean sheet,and we have a full 90 minutes to get the job done,so no need to rush around trying to finish it off in 5 minutes.
Cool heads and full professionalism should prevail,with the players confidence sky high after big win at the weekend.
Evening both/all.
Clive, I am close to writing a piece about Mkhitaryan who has gone from nobody to somebody in recent weeks. If he were to start tomorrow, and if we keep the formation from Sunday, he would have to replace Maitland-Niles.
Fine preview Guvna. I really hope that your bullishness and punt are amply rewarded. The starting XI from Sunday with the mandatory replacement for Sokratis and the voluntary selection of the ‘cup keeper’ may well be capable of delivering that result. But we need to keep 11 men on the pitch and as Clive observes, it’s critical that we keep the back door firmly closed from the start.
It’s good to have Laca back and that could well be decisive.
COYG
Very good performance by Liverpool in Munich tonight. The presence of four English sides in the last eight of the CL shows which League is the strongest in Europe at present . I’d like to see the Totts play ManUre.
The fat fraudster Ulli Hoeness might reflect that his very uncreative team might well benefit from the talents of Ozil who he so reviles
Interesting conundrum H
AMN played so well against Utd,would be hard to leave him out,and if Mustafi does replace Papa in a back 3, i would much rather have the extra defensive nous of AMN on that side of the pitch as extra insurance.
Of course Unai could confound us all yet again with a different line up altogether,but somehow i doubt it this time.
One for Ned and the Monks,
Given Pool are winning in Munich,have we ever had 4 EPL sides in the last 8 of the CL before. ??
I think we might have had 3 once from memory. ??
Also could the Monks advise the last season we had 60pts from 30 league games.
Closest in recent times i would suspect would be the season Leicester won the Title.
Agree with TTG on having Manure face the Nomads in the next round thereby ensuring one EPL fourth place contender getting sent home. Would hate to see a fifth or sixth place EPL side win CL and thus squeeze out the Arsenal if we place fourth.
Gottah give ’em a Rennes for thems Monet … nuffink much Toulose, surreally – ent it.
Given Chelsea have a 3 goal buffer for 2nd leg of EL tie tomorrow,and not counting Burnley who went out in the EL qualifiers, do we really want to be the only top 6 EPL side in Euro comps this season,not to make the Qtr finals. ??
Just win baby.
Nice stuff H.
Personally I would start with the same starting 11 as we did on Sunday. Minus Sokratis obviously. Torriera I’m sure will play a part at some stage.
As others have stated, a clean sheet is a real necessity. That will be interesting considering we are battling the Mustafi factor.
3-0 to the mighty Gunners. Bring it on.
God I miss the Reverend. I wonder what he’s up to these day???
Thanks for the scene setting Guvnor.
I have no idea who UE will pick
recently. If it was me I’d go with
Cech
AMN, Mus, Kos, Nacho
Torreira, Xhaka
Mkhi, Ozil, Auba
Laca
Harsh on Aaron and Kola but I
think Ozil and Mkhi will be better
at opening Rennes up early and
Nacho/Kos will be safer covering
Sarr on the break.
We can always bring Aaron on later
and also use Kola/Iwobi to attack
down the left if caution needs to be
thrown under the bus.
I’d like to go through but it’s not
the end of the world if we don’t.
Then we focus on getting 3rd and
not playing on Spudsday nights next
season.
He’s not the only one missing Stevo, we have lost a fair few quality patrons over the years for I’m sure a variety of reasons.
All the more reason for us to keep the lamplight burning.
Totally agree Clive @ 13.
Too many to name and I won’t try. But, nostalgia winning out for a moment, I will give a shout out to N7, whose stuff was always the bee’s knees.
Anyway, a drink for all the old comrades who have found their way to pastures new. And, with a big European tie tonight, I’m glad for the reminder that there’s a lot in this bar more important than whether we win football matches. Cheers.
I’ve woken feeling poorly , gone not in the fetlock but the intestine. That’s as far as I will go detailwise. Given the weather and the fact I go on holiday at the weekend I suspect I will watch this one on the telly. But my support will be undimmed .
COYG !
TTG.
Lasagna for dinner last night? ?
Two-fisted drink to Reverend AL and N7.
Extra drinks for Snowy, Uply, Lars, Ollie and Tabs. Not to forget anybody or to empty the barrel of course. 🙂
Gents.
I was referring to the drink @8.
Thought that had a touch of The Rev about it…..
Or am I just way off track???
Clive@6: 2015/15 was the last time we had 60 points after 30 games. Ended the season with 75 and, ‘Holic note, third place.
On your other question, this is the third time four EPL clubs have been in the last eight of the CL. 2007-08 and 2008-09 were the other two.
bt8b@18: A few more scoops from the barrel for H2H, Lurky, Porco Rosso and Cannons of Rhetoric
And a bowl for Öskar the dog.
Much appreciated Ned.
I’m never that far away, just not so active. Been a never-ending plate-spinning exercise the last 6 months with growing but still young offspring, studies and a sideline keeping me out of mischief pretty consistently.
Tonight feels exciting.
Of course a stroll from 3-0 up is easier on the nerves but when Arsenal are forced to come out of their shell we usually get a spirited performance.
Keep it tight, lads, and blitz them from the off. Hopefully Rennes will be too shell-shocked by half time to make much of an impression.
TTG@15,
I sincerely hope that your clacker valve is in full working order, for it may be severely tested during tonight’s match!
Thanks, Holic !
You might well be right about the team changes but, personally, I hope the manager sticks with Leno in goal. It’s vital we don’t concede and, while Cech deserves full respect, he’s some way past his best and in Leno we have a keeper in superb form who’s looking like one of the finds of the season at a mere £20 million ! ?
DM@24
I hope so but tonight’s events will definitely test it. Particularly Mustafi!
UTA
UTB(ar)
Shots all round
Unai Emery’s red & white armoury!
Arsenal:
Čech (GK)
Koscielny (C)
Ramsey
Lacazette
Özil
Aubameyang
Maitland-Niles
Monreal
Mustafi
Kolašinac
Xhaka
UEFA announced that team anyway.
Come on Donner, come on Shkodran.
I’m starting to think Unai is letting me pick the team nowadays.?
Dave Emery
you’re awful
but i like you
Balls out selection from Unai after consulting with Holic. I think it is the right starting line up
Good to see you popping in, Porco Rosso.
3-4-2-1 line up with that team? Or even an old-school 4-4-2?
What are Cech and Kolasinac doing with those upside down hats on top of their names?
Great preview Holic,
Looking forward to the lads doing the business tonight if we are to be as slow as Bayern was last night then we might as well pack the bags now.
Like the sound of this line up too!
Come on Arsenal!
Sitting in the car right now and waiting for my son to finish his footy training he’s definitely getting into watching more games lately then again he’s not so little any more ?⚪️?
Get in, Auba!!!!
C’mon boys that’s one!!!
Auba!
(or so says the UEFA website and gedo seems to confirm it)
Similar start as first leg but I hope we don’t concede today. COYG.
If ksn thinks so too can Auba not have scored??
Confirmed 1-0
AMN scores!!! 2-0.
2-0 Maitland Nile’s header
AMN!! (UEFA says)
I thought Auba was offside too but we are due some luck too after everything went their way in the first leg.
UEFA, gedo and ksn. Quite the panel. Keep on going boys.
Bt8, arsenal.com confirms it too (2-0).
It was stupid and naughty of Auba to kick at the Rennes player. Could have been a card, maybe even red?
They are desperate and know that the only way to salvage the tie to is get an Arsenal player sent off. They are going down at every opportunity. Our players need to be careful and not foul unnecessarily.
arsenal.com provides minimal match commentary compared to the uefa site.
They are trying to fool the ref at every opportunity sly buggers!
After the two goals we’ve been a bit wasteful but overall we are in control.
Hard work done in the first 45.
No need to get too carried away in the 2nd half.
We don’t have to score again,they do.
So reinforce the defensive side of the game,they will have to take chances now,which allows us to hit them on the counter.
No need to chase the third goal too hard.
If we get one more all to the good.
But most important we control the tempo of the game,give them nothing.
Job half done
Let’s be having ‘em 2nd half
Mustafi wth are you doing almost cost us
Thanks, Bt8. I was saying that you don’t need any panel when arsenal.com confirms it.
Their guys are trying to get Laca sent off. Emery must sub those who are on yellow cards in the first half.
ksn, if arsenal.com confirms that Arsenal are leading 3-0 I will feel a bit better about it. 🙂
Couldn’t agree more, Bt8.
Time to get in some fresh legs and defend properly. Too finely poised for my comfort.
Miki and Owobi on, Ozil and Laca off
Mkhitaryan and Iwobi coming on for Ozil and Laca. Need someone defensive coming on for one of our midfielders.
uefa.com says 3-0!!!
Auba!!!! Well worked boys!!!
Yeah!!!! Another tap in for Auba and the subs make a huge difference.
Get in Auba!
Holic pound is on!
Now for the dreaded task of preserving the clean sheet.
Auba misses a sitter.
Auba misses an even easier sitter. He can be real shit player most of the time with goals from tap ins his only redeeming factor.
They have come close on two occasions and only offside has saved us. Auba’s misses shouldn’t come to haunt us. Nail biting last few minutes.
6 minutes of extra time?
We have done it!
It looks like Arsenal made it over the line but let me check another source …
Thank you, ksn. That renegade uefa.com post nearly gave me heart palpitations.
Winner baby! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>