Finesse
Well-Known Member
Not sure about playing all three of them here especially when not fully fit, think we still need directness of one of Martinelli and Pepe, especially as we should be setting out to score at least two goals. Would do Saka, whoever is more fit between Ödegaard and ESR, and I just slightly favour Martinelli over Pepe for this one.
ESR trained today. I expect him to start in the midfield meaning Saka moves to the wing. Arteta has a tricky decision to make with Martinelli and Pepe on the wing. I would love Martinelli to play due to his ability to press high and keep the defenders busy with his runs and direct play. However Pepe has been playing well and has the experience needed and Arteta may go for that.
Our best chances have been created based on our ability and insistence of playing from the back. Yes it has also been an achilles with the goals we have conceded due to unforced and forced errors in the process. However fan and media pressure , stats being pasted all over the web may have forced the team to go safe. Over the past few games we have been booting it away and our creativity deep too..... badly. It must change. Arteta and the team must be brave and keep doing what we did before and playing from the back. In the long run , we can only get better , and in the summer address how we can bring in defenders and midfielders who can fit into the system.
I want Mari to start this game with Xhaka on the left. It works well with our ability to play from the back and beat the press. If we can beat the early press and keep playing from the back , we have enough upfront to score goals. Once we beat the press and have space running into the opponents half , we have enough in Saka , ESR , Pepe , Laca to convert chances.