Loss UEL R16 2nd Leg: Arsenal 1 (3) v 1 (5) Sporting CP (2) | Thursday, March 16 | KO: 20:00 GMT | BT Sport

@A_G

Spoiler: And look who we play next, ffs...

Spoiler: Only kidding, good guy is our Hector...

 

[Mohamed7]

To be honest I would go stronger in this than the away leg.

Firstly we don't have to travel. So that travel element won't play a part on the players in terms of tiredness. Also we play at home against Palace. Not away to say a team in the North of England or something.

I would also prefer to be maybe a couple of goals up, and them think the tie is over and then make the changes, to doing it the other way. Bringing players on needing to win the game.

Also we have the international break after Palace.

So something like:

Turner
Tomi
Saliba
Gabriel
Zinchenko
Jorginho
Xhaka
Vieira
Saka
Trossard
Martinelli.

Saka and Martinelli to come off after 60-65 mins if we can for Jesus and Nelson. Maybe Tomi switches to LB and White comes on for Zinchenko.

I don't particularly want us to need Partey or Ødegaard.

But definitely go strong and try and win the game in 60-70 mins and rest the last 20. This isn't as easy a game as some people thought it would be.

People may think that less games is better but getting put out of this competition at home will have a bigger impact on these players than some may think.

Exactly my thoughts

 

[MikeVinna]

I’d like to see about half the team rotated. With 5 subs you can still make changes to get to full strength or rest everyone depending on the situation.

Turner

Tomiyasu Saliba Gabriel Tierney

Vieira Jorginho Xhaka

Nelson Trossard Martinelli
​

 

[Gunners1616]

Not sure about starting Trossard after he just came back from that groin injury... Jesus also just came back. And Saka clearly needs a small rest.

Let's hope Eddie gets back for that one.

I can see a trio made of Nelson - Eddie - Martinelli.... which is a bit light weight so we would have to start Jorginho/Xhaka/Ødegaard behind them.

 

[Riou]

Ramsdale
Tomi-Saliba-Gabriel-Tierney
Jorginho-Xhaka
Nelson-Ødegaard-Martinelli
Trossard
​

...like Turner, good lad...but Aaron is just a better keeper, business is business.

Good chance to rest Saka and Partey, while want to keep Tomi and Kieran with some match sharpness Incase anything happens to any of our defenders...but bar, that first team, plus give Jesus at least 30 mins here too.

Lehmann (54) Campbell (50) Toure (53) and their starts in brackets in 2004...if we want to win something this season, we need Ramsdale/Saliba/Gabriel near these types of figures in all comps (plus Partey to play at least in all our remaining league games)

Take this game too lightly on Thursday and we could be out, can't be having that.

 

[A_G]

**** sake

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

**** sake

This guy will be handing out cards like confetti.

Tries to make every game he refs about him too. Proper attention seeker.

 

[Riou]

I miss Mike Dean, tbh.

 

[Paperino]

I miss Mike Dean, tbh.

Did a brainless chimpanzee hack your account?

 

[Batman]

**** sake

Euro Mike Dean. Jesus Christ.

 

[Squillaci]

We can't concede as many goals as we can score and we will score 3 at least.

 

[Nunowoolmez]

Turner
Tomi Saliba Kiwi KT
Viera Jorginho Xhaka
Nelson Leo ESR

This team should get the job done, but it gives us a very strong bench if we need to use it.

 

[NZgunner]

I like the team in the post above - would like it if we could rest Xhaka as well, but not any options really.

Don't hate me, but I would actually rather lose this game to give ourselves the best possible chance at winning the league. The longer we stay in the comp the more seriously we have to take it, and the more likely it is we play someone like Utd.

 

[boonthegoon]

**** sake

Fs Somebody is gonna get a red

 

[GoonerJeeves]

This feels like a game in the Carabeo. It's difficult to muster a lot of excitement for this.

 

[Dutch D]

Lahoz is such a ****

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

I don't care about the EL but if you want to progress I'd bring Gabriel and Ramsdale in and put Saka on the bench. That's a decent trade off.

Kiwi and Turner looked like liabilities in the first leg.

 

[drippin]

I wouldn't drop Turner for this. I would in the final if he doesn't improve until then.

It's important to have some match sharpness for the 2nd keeper, in case Ramsdale gets injured. Also it would affect him mentally and confidence if he gets dropped because of one bad pass or something. Ramsdale has made similar passing mistakes in recent times when passing from the back.

 

[The_Playmaker]

-----------------------------------Turner
Tomi------------Saliba------------------------Kiwior---------------Tierney
------------------------------Jorginho
----------------Vieira-----------------------Xhaka

Nelson----------------------Jesus----------------------ESR

Trossard for ESR if he isn't ready. Probably the best minutes you can give Jesus. Slower pace, less physical. 60 minutes would be good.

 

[jones]

**** sake

Good thing unlike the actual Mike Dean Lahoz doesn't give a **** who's on the pitch he'll **** everyone over. Sporting fans should be bricking it same way we are

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

I wouldn't drop Turner for this. I would in the final if he doesn't improve until then.

It's important to have some match sharpness for the 2nd keeper, in case Ramsdale gets injured. Also it would affect him mentally and confidence if he gets dropped because of one bad pass or something. Ramsdale has made similar passing mistakes in recent times when passing from the back.

If Turner doesn't improve until the final, we're probably not going to be in the final mate

He's a decent shop stopper but he's nervous / poor playing out from the back.