FA Cup: Third Round| Arsenal vs Leeds United | Monday 6th January | KO: 19:56 | BBC One

[bergholt]

The most important thing for Arteta right now is to get the players playing his way. That’s not helped by bringing in a whole new 11 for the cup, so makes sense this is a strong lineup.

We should win this comfortably. Martinelli to come on and score.

 

[Riou]

Auba's captain's notes in the program look pretty good...

"I would also like to react to some of the rumours that are going around about me in the media. People like making up stories and they should focus on what's happening on the pitch. They talk too much and it does my head in!
I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club. I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs."

Auba has had enough...

 

[CJJ]

Auba's captain's notes in the program look pretty good...
...
I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club. I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs."

Honestly, i find those words way over the top and hard to genuinely believe. I don't believe he deep down "loves this club". I don't see any reason he'd have any strong feelings. Since he's gotten here we've hardly done anything for his career.
But i guess its comfortable words for the gullible.

 

[OnlyOne]

Two strong teams @Rex Banter got his wish.

 

[Fallout]

if it's indeed 3 CBs, i'm extremely curious to see if arteta has concrete ideas re: ball progression from the back.

under emery we were so poor building out in that formation that i lost total confidence in using it.

unlikely to be the case, but i can also see a universe in which holding plays RB and it's standard 4231.

 

[MikeVinna]

Auba's captain's notes in the program look pretty good...

"I would also like to react to some of the rumours that are going around about me in the media. People like making up stories and they should focus on what's happening on the pitch. They talk too much and it does my head in!
I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club. I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs."

Very positive message. Hope he stays for a long time and manages to bag some silverware. His poachers instincts could see him being useful for us well into his 30’s.

Wouldn’t have minded seeing Mesut as captain but Laca’s ability to draw fouls could prove useful now that he has the license to say something about that to the ref.

Hope Pepe/Laca/Özil work some magic tonight. Laca/Mesut could use a goal.

 

[Rimaal]

@GDeep℠ is basically a taller version of him.

Whatever he promised to pay you, you can expect it when hell freezes over.

 

[Lady_Gooner]

Going to work instead of watching Arteta Ball. Sad!

 

[A_G]

The 4th round draw will take place in 15 minutes, thought they usually do it after the match

 

[Jackie_Treehorn]

Honestly, i find those words way over the top and hard to genuinely believe. I don't believe he deep down "loves this club". I don't see any reason he'd have any strong feelings. Since he's gotten here we've hardly done anything for his career.
But i guess its comfortable words for the gullible.

Hey call me gullible all you want. It's pretty clear to me that he likes to win and he likes to be a catalyst with a positive attitude in this squad. And that went sour for months. His celebrations - both when he scores and (on the admittedly rare, as of late, occasions) when others score - have always seemed genuine to me.

He's a professional who's been given the captaincy of one of the great clubs in the premier league. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[DanDare]

Totally understand playing a strong team. Arteta has only won one game

Wants to build a strong foundation and to instil his ways in the team. Only get there playing the players together

 

[Red London]

Taking the momentum route, I like it.

He could have rested a couple players though. Kola is injury prone + our only LB right now, Xhaka has been playing a lot, and so has Luiz

 

[Red London]

The 4th round draw will take place in 15 minutes, thought they usually do it after the match

I wonder if the players know the next opponent in these kinda scenarios, shouldnt matter in the slightest but I wonder if coaches block the info out until after the game.

 

[OnlyOne]

Not that keen on the line up really. Not that arsed about the cup either though tbf.

 

[Red London]

Not that keen on the line up really.

In what way? Not enough rest?

 

[CJJ]

Not that keen on the line up really. Not that arsed about the cup either though tbf.

sigh..

 

[CJJ]

In what way? Not enough rest?

He prob wanted us to field the entire academy and say fck the cup.

 

[MikeVinna]

Not that keen on the line up really. Not that arsed about the cup either though tbf.

I’m actually only interested in the cups. Both the FA Cup and the Europa League could bring some glory to a lost season. The league is done anyway. I don’t see us getting top 4 and I don’t see us getting relegated. Where we end up in between that is of no concern for me.

 

[MutableEarth]

Auba has had enough...

Riou posting wrestling memes again?

 

[Red London]

I’m actually only interested in the cups. Both the FA Cup and the Europa League could bring some glory to a lost season. The league is done anyway. I don’t see us getting top 4 and I don’t see us getting relegated. Where we end up in between that is of no concern for me.

I wouldnt be so quick to write it off. Yeh its a long shot but if we string up a few wins in games we should be winning it could leave us close to the top4