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In Brief – Very Brief – Frankfurt Preview

Sep 18th, 2019 by 'holic

My least favourite preview post of the season. Why? I haven’t a clue who Emery will pick, and that obviously informs the pound. Frankfurt could be our toughest away game in the group stage but the players left at home tell a story.

Let me hazard a guess at the starting eleven. Emiliano Martinez to start behind Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, and Sead Kolasinac. If I am right there I would pair Lucas Torreira and David Luiz in front of them. Get Luiz out of our box and the ‘captain’ out of the team.

The midfield trio will be a real poser. Perhaps Joe Willock, Emile Smith Rowe, and Reiss Nelson? Don’t be surprised to see Bukayo Saka start up front with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench if really needed.

Forgive the brevity of the preview, but I know nothing of Frankfurt other than they sit ninth in the Bundesliga after two wins and two defeats in their opening four matches.

The ‘holic pound

Not a clue. I’m guided by the odds. 1-2 to the Arsenal is 17/2. That’ll do me.

Have a great one ‘holics.

Posted in match preview | 52 Drinks

52 Responses to “In Brief – Very Brief – Frankfurt Preview”

  1. on 18 Sep 2019 at 8:27 pm1Countryman100

    Sorry to hear you’re not feeling at your brightest and best David. Let’s hope the team put a smile on our faces tomorrow. A reminder to all that’s a 6pm UK time kick off.

  2. on 18 Sep 2019 at 8:43 pm2Mark Earle

    Thanks Dave,

    Be kinda ironic if we get a clean sheet with your suggested line up, I I sorta like it though. A win with a weaker side should put pressure on certain individuals in the first string side.

  3. on 18 Sep 2019 at 9:20 pm3Goonerholic

    Thank you both.

    I’m sure I haven’t nailed it Mark, for once, but I don’t think I’m that far out.

  4. on 18 Sep 2019 at 9:56 pm4Cynic

    Probably the ideal length for a Ropey League match preview.

    Hope you’re feeling better soon!

  5. on 18 Sep 2019 at 10:13 pm5Goonerholic

    Thanks Cynic.

  6. on 18 Sep 2019 at 10:27 pm6In Brief – Very Brief – Frankfurt Preview – Arsenal FC News

    […] Trackback URI | […]

  7. on 18 Sep 2019 at 11:58 pm7Silly Second Yella

    Emery: Are my methods unsound, Silly?

    Silly: I don’t see any method at all, sir.

    We talked about other things like

    ashtrays, belt buckles and women’s knees but mostly about Arsenal

    He’s a scapegoat number one and there will be number 2 and 3

    and then…maybe…

  8. on 19 Sep 2019 at 12:07 am8OsakaMatt

    Thanks Guvnor.
    Hopefully a 17/2 winner will
    help aid a swift recovery. Or
    even a 17-2 win.

  9. on 19 Sep 2019 at 12:41 am9OsakaMatt

    Papa and Ozil rested means
    they play against Villa I
    suppose. I’d have dropped
    Papa this weekend.

    UE has apparently said he will
    put out an experienced side.
    Not sure what that means as
    we don’t really have enough
    players for an experienced XI
    but on the positive side it means
    Frankfurt will have no clue what
    to expect either.

  10. on 19 Sep 2019 at 3:39 am10OsakaMatt

    Frankfurt lost their last game
    2-1 to Augsburg after being 2-0
    down at half time.
    Their coach said “we were
    disappointed with our first
    half performance. We didn’t
    defend well against quick balls
    through our lines and were
    poor in transition”
    Are they us?

  11. on 19 Sep 2019 at 5:44 am11Mark Mywords

    Holic,
    A bit of a revolutionary line up! Emery desperately needs a win after Watford. He will go with his first choice players.

  12. on 19 Sep 2019 at 8:18 am12TTG

    Holic
    Hope you’re feeling better ASAP.
    It’s impossible to read Emery’s mind and I’ve stopped trying. Hopefully I won’t stop caring. I think he will start Auba or Pepe upfront . I won’t predict a score because it is impossible to do so. Let’s just not lose

  13. on 19 Sep 2019 at 8:40 am13Vinay Prabhakar

    No Ozil as he is rested??? wonderful Unai, wish I have a job where I can rest like this and get paid even half he earns. If you don’t want to play him, you should have sent him out and borne the costs than do this.

    We will stick to our playing from the back method, we will play reiss nelson on the wings which really will make him wonder how is he not punished for an atrocious 30 odd minutes he had at Watford, we will play Ceballos as it won’t be that “hot” there and he will wonder why was he subbed Sunday as he is from Spain and the weather there would be even hotter than at Watford, well never mind, unai knows.

    I am sorry that I feel this way towards emery, he is our club manager and really wants him to succeed but who will tell him that whatever he is trying is not working or he does not have the players to make it work.

    P.S- Emery says he will announce his 5 captains after the forest game, you can announce that our defence will be named captain the day they keep a clean sheet.

  14. on 19 Sep 2019 at 8:43 am14Barack O'Barman

    Comparing Wenger’s last 43 games vs Emery’s first 43 games averages (via Sky Sports):

    AW’s last 43 PL games UE’s first 43 PL games
    2.02 Goals 1.88
    1.23 Conceded 1.37
    15.7 Shots 12.4
    6.3 Shots on target 4.6
    11.3 Shots faced 13.8
    3.9 Shots on target faced 5.0
    61.1% Average possession 57.9%
    84.4% Passing accuracy 83.4%
    11.1 Tackles won 9.5
    1.9 Expected goals for 1.6
    1.3 Expected goals against 1.5

    Considering how poor we were in Wenger’s final season generally, these are interesting statistics..

  15. on 19 Sep 2019 at 12:35 pm15North Bank Ned

    Hope you are feeling more chipper, ‘Holic.

    We cannot take this game lightly. It will probably be our most difficult fixture of the group. Qualifying for the knock-out stages will be that much less certain if we lose.

    They have a Germany U-18 midfielder, Patrick Finger, who, if he plays and scores, would have the tabloid headline writers salivating.

  16. on 19 Sep 2019 at 1:59 pm16Lagrange

    @ 14

    Those statistics are even more interesting if we remember the toxic and utterly destructive atmosphere under which most of AW’s last 43 matches took place, both home and away, in complete contrast to the enthusiasm and goodwill afforded to the modern, master tactician last season.

  17. on 19 Sep 2019 at 3:30 pm17OsakaMatt

    Ozil played his first 70 minutes
    of the season at the weekend.
    He will play again this Saturday.
    A player just returning from an
    several weeks out shouldn’t really
    be playing 3 games in a week.

    I’ve seen that described as
    baffling, unbelievable etc.
    Seems common sense to me.
    I wish UE had left Auba at home
    as well.

  18. on 19 Sep 2019 at 3:34 pm18OsakaMatt

    I’m looking forward to the 5
    captains announcement.

    I’ve looked through and there’s
    no way we have 5 leaders
    in the current squad.

    I’m wearing my Arsenal away
    kit and waiting by the phone
    Unai.

  19. on 19 Sep 2019 at 3:38 pm19Trev

    Ropey League blues, Holic ?

    No surprise there – we should have been playing Tuesdays and Wednesdays this season.

    Line-ups, tactics ? We can’t guess the first and the second we know only too well.

    Time for the manager to decide on the “how” in order to give the “who” a chance.

    If we’re in this thing, let’s win it.

  20. on 19 Sep 2019 at 4:22 pm20Cynic

    Ozil has been training as normal all summer, hasn’t he? Apart from a few days away from the club after being involved in that car jacking incident, he’s not been injured and should be fully fit and ready to play.

    That he isn’t either speaks volumes about how Emery sees him, or about his own attitude if he has decided for himself to cry off for whatever reason.

  21. on 19 Sep 2019 at 4:36 pm21TTG

    Team announced and as many have said we couldn’t have guessed it although we got the defence close. The indispensable Xhaka is playing with Torreira and Willock and Smith Rowe and Saka start. Sadly we have to risk Auba. Silly to let Eddie leave on loan . This game would be perfect for him.

  22. on 19 Sep 2019 at 4:48 pm22bt8

    Arsenal: Martinez, Chambers, Luiz, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Willock, Smith Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang.

    Subs: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Nelson, Ceballos, Martinelli, Pepe.

  23. on 19 Sep 2019 at 4:50 pm23TTG

    No Holding in team or on the bench. No defenders other than AMN who says he isn’t a defender on bench. Maybe Holding is ill or has had a training setback. But then I’m importing logic into an Emery selection

  24. on 19 Sep 2019 at 4:51 pm24OsakaMatt

    @20
    Fair point except of course it
    wasn’t a few days.
    As you say though UE sees
    him as a valued asset and
    doesn’t want to risk him.
    Speaks volumes to me.

  25. on 19 Sep 2019 at 4:54 pm25OsakaMatt

    Good to see ESR back.
    And Saka get a start.

    I hope Mus is right back
    and Calum in the centre.

  26. on 19 Sep 2019 at 5:21 pm26Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    OM @24

    With that view of things what do you make of Auba’s inclusion? (I’m not saying the manager is wrong to leave Ozil at home but I’m genuinely interested in what you think of the inclusion of other important players, especially Auba)

  27. on 19 Sep 2019 at 5:24 pm27Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    Also, if Ozil now has to start against Villa, who thinks we will see him in the same line up as Ceballos again? That would not be my first pick

  28. on 19 Sep 2019 at 5:51 pm28Trev

    Playing Aubameyang is such a risk. Why not play Pepe in the middle – we have Nelson and Martinelli on the bench who can play wide.

    Good to see the centre back dream team included – Mustafi and Luiz ??

  29. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:16 pm29Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    Loving Emi’s long kicks

  30. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:26 pm30ATG

    Trev,

    It’s good to see Unai is using his players to their best possible positions. Pepe should there getting used to his new team mates!

  31. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:35 pm31Countryman100

    Saka and Willock combine for a beauty

  32. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:35 pm32OsakaMatt

    GSD,

    I am annoyed we’ve started
    Auba. Seems a pointless risk
    for a Ropey League group game.

    As for Villa – I’d start with Dani and
    Torreira as CMs and play Ozil in front
    of them. I know it’s risky but Dani is
    certainly no worse a defender than
    Aaron and we played with Aaron/Xhaka
    behind Ozil before.
    I don’t think UE will, just what I’d do.

  33. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:45 pm33ATG

    Some great saves from Martinez too

  34. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:47 pm34Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    It’s a good game for the young attacking players. Frankfurt giving them lots of easy stuff and with more experience and composure we would have scored a hatful. But it’s great that we have scored one and not yet been punished for some slow decision making at the crucial moment. All young players need games like this.

    At the back we are awful and giving away so many chances. Usual suspects, but even Torreira has not tracked his man properly on a couple of occasions.
    Mustafi has not got any better.

    I have long rated Martinez and his first half display has been as good as we can hope for our number 2 keeper playing his first game of the season.

  35. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:47 pm35OsakaMatt

    Kola, Saka, Willock all did well
    for the goal.

    Riding our luck but 1-0 to The
    Arsenal will do nicely

  36. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:51 pm36Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    OM.

    Cheers. I dunno what I’d do if Ozil has to be in the team. I’d always want him at 10, I just can’t see the point of him on the wing. I guess I’d play Willock or Nelson on the left, Guen and Lucas at centre mid and bench Ceballos. If we (cough, cough) looked solid in the first half I’d bring on Ceballos as an 8 in the second half.
    Auba up top. Pepe on the right.

  37. on 19 Sep 2019 at 6:52 pm37Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    Has Mustafi aped Kola’s hairdo?

    Can we get Xhaka in on that too? That way we can all spot the liabilities at a glance.

  38. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:11 pm38scruzgooner

    thought chambo did well in the first half, looks good early in the second. not sure about kola or mustafi, too much faffing about. love love love joe willock. the run he made for auba to kick into the defender’s leg was brilliant.

    glad the folks who are laying down with injury on our side aren’t hurt.

  39. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:11 pm39OsakaMatt

    GSD,

    Agree with you on the front three,
    we’ve got a few young options on
    the left.
    Just don’t think we’ve the players
    to look solid so may as well attack.

    Hit the bar! 2nd half is end to
    end stuff

  40. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:11 pm40scruzgooner

    and, holic, i hope this game is making you feel a wee bit better. sorry to read you’re under the weather.

  41. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:16 pm41Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    Tough night for ESR.

    John Hartson compares Xhaka’s ‘we were scared’ comments to Mr Arsenal’s willingness to speak harsh truths to those who needed them. No words.

  42. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:17 pm42TTG

    The game is ridiculously open . We need to be compact and wecare anything but

  43. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:17 pm43Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    Scruz @ 38. That was the best piece of play of the match. Willock is quality

  44. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:38 pm44Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    Chambers. Good game

  45. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:40 pm45scruzgooner

    gsd@43, yep, i agree. on both counts. he’s the first midfielder we have had in a while that combines the tenacitygooooooooaaaaaaallllllllllll

    saka!

    the tenacity with the skill with the strength…

    well in young bakayo!

  46. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:40 pm46OsakaMatt

    Saka you star!!
    2-0

  47. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:42 pm47OsakaMatt

    Get in Auba

    3-0 might be a touch
    flattering 🙂

  48. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:42 pm48scruzgooner

    gsd@44, agree as well.

    and, sorry, bukayo.

    we still have time to ship a goal to 10 men and win holic his goaaaaaaalllllllllllll….great piece of defending and nice patience. wow. saka’s pass to auba top class.

    to win holic his…well, not any more.

  49. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:44 pm49Countryman100

    Buyako Saka.

    Born in Ealing, made in Hale End.

    Two assists, one goal.

    Ladies and gentlemen, a star is born.

  50. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:48 pm50scruzgooner

    countryman, yes. and none of esr, willock, or sako, looked out of their depths.

    a future midfield of amn, willock, and torreira?

    job done, leading the group!

  51. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:51 pm51Goonerholic

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  52. on 19 Sep 2019 at 7:53 pm52Cynic

    Forgot we were playing early, missed most of it, switched it on and watched about 15 minutes, went to peel spuds, missed the last two goals.

    Shit etc.

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