Morning from a really moist and windy Dublin.
Soccer is again and we face Nottingham Forest at house. On paper not probably the most tough sport we might have had, however given their kind up to now this season (and maybe ours), positively not a foregone conclusion by any means. Mikel Arteta was surprisingly forthcoming concerning the health of his gamers yesterday, and there was excellent news and a smattering of dangerous as he supplied updates.
Based mostly on what he mentioned, it seems to be as if we’ll have Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori all out there at this time. All of them skilled, to various levels, and the supervisor sound fairly optimistic about their involvement. I additionally thought he was fairly attention-grabbing on Martin Odegaard who, after taking part in 96 minutes in his first sport again, had a little bit of a response. Arteta mentioned:
After such a very long time not taking part in he wanted time to recuperate. The ankle reacted and different areas of the physique with a lot load going into it. It wasn’t superb, however he’s been OK, the final day and a half he’s skilled with the staff and he’s feeling good, in order that’s actually optimistic.
I don’t suppose it’s in any respect sudden that it took rather a lot out of him. To go from 0 to 100 on his first sport again wasn’t superb, however as we now go right into a interval of the season with a sport each three or 4 days, it’s going to be vital that we handle his load fairly fastidiously. That mentioned, I anticipate him to begin at this time, and it wouldn’t shock me to see us line up as follows: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Havertz.
There are potential tweaks after all, however as I wrote yesterday, I feel a slight shift within the midfield stability is value making an attempt, and at this time seems like a good day to offer {that a} go. At house in opposition to a staff that may sit deep, deny us area, and look to hit us on the counter, I don’t suppose you want a facet with each Rice and Thomas Partey. And whereas I don’t suppose you’ll be able to classify Mikel Merino as an attacking participant per se, he does have the power to get into the field, the timing of his runs into the realm is usually good, he gives an aerial risk in there too.
That leaves the supervisor with choices from the bench, ought to he want to alter issues within the second half, however nonetheless we go about it at this time, three factors are a should. We’re again at house, and the supervisor was clear about what’s required:
It’s about constructing momentum, getting outcomes and getting back-to-back wins. That might once more create the vitality that we want with all the good issues that we’re doing. Tomorrow and after each break, and particularly we’re going to get into the Christmas interval, we all know that there’s something particular in that interval and you must generate that momentum. We really feel that it’s the proper second now for us to begin.
As for the opposition, they’re flying excessive up to now this season. Chris Wooden has scored as many as Mo Salah, and with gamers like Anthony Elanga, Calum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White, they’ve loads of tempo and direct working, significantly on the counter. So, how we handle these moments of transition will likely be key, in addition to making an attempt to interrupt down a fairly cussed defence. Forest have the second greatest defensive document by way of objectives conceded up to now this season, and we’ve struggled a bit bit on the subject of scoring (though with 18 objectives we’re simply 3 behind leaders Liverpool, so it’s not as dangerous because it has felt).
An early aim for us at this time can be superb. I don’t suppose it’s the case it will make Forest go gung-ho, however they’d have to return out a bit at some stage, and hopefully that may simply give us the area we want for extra.
Proper, I’ll depart it there for now. Don’t neglect the preview podcast is offered proper now on Patreon. Be a part of us later for reside weblog protection, plus you’ll get the match report, aim clips, response, participant scores and rather more over on Arseblog Information.
Come on you reds!
