Morning and happy game day!
Football sort of returns today as we face Manchester City in the Glorified Friendly Shield.
Long term readers of the blog will know I do not think the Community Shield is a trophy worthwhile shouting about. It is just a step up from the Emirates Cup.
Not really sure when fans began celebrating the Community Shield and counting it as a genuine trophy. My gut is it was in and around when Jose Mourinho was putting up 3 fingers to signify how many trophies he had won whatever season it was.
Today is basically the final preperation game before the season starts properly next week, and Mikel Arteta has some selection headaches.
Aaron Ramsdale will start in goal. That is one thing I am sure of. Whilst William Saliba and Gabriel will be the central defensive partnership. But who is playing full back will be Arteta’s first selection decision.
With no Olexsandr Zinchenko, Arteta must decide whether to go for the other natural left back – Kieran Tierney – or go with one of his right backs.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber have both seen game time at left back in pre-season, as has centre back Jakub Kiwior. But whilst KT has not yet started a game in pre-season at left back, he has played in all 5 games and no one sle has played more minutes:
KT: 194 minutes played at left back
Timber: 132 minutes
Kiwior: 109 minutes
Tomiyasu: 46 minutes
And who he picks at left back will impact who he has available at right back and vice versa.
If the decision at left back is KT, then that will see Arteta have the choice of Ben White, Timber and Tomiyasu at right back. And likewise if he goes for White at right back, it free’s the other two up for left back.
I think he will go with Ben White at right back (he has started 3 out of 5 pre-season games) and then I think we might see Jurrien Timber get a run out at left back.
As it is only a pre-season game, I would expect both Tomiyasu and Tierney to come on with around half an hour to go.
The midfield is also filled with uncertainty, with only Martin Odegaard assured of his position.
The recruitment of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz gives Arteta an attacking and defensive option when setting up his midfield. I expect us to go with Rice, Havertz and Odegaard in games we dominate, and Partey, Rice and Odegaard in games where we need a bit more defensive steel.
If this was a regular game versus Man City, I am sure Arteta would go with the defensive option and play Partey and Rice. But as this is pre-season, I think he might test out that more attacking midfield. Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard to start, with Partey coming on at some point which will push Rice further forward.
Bukayo Saka starts. It will be a toss up between Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on the left. I imagine Martinelli will start and Trossard will be a supersub this season.
With Gabriel Jesus injured, Arteta will stick with Eddie Nketiah leading the line, although he does have the option of Trossard and Havertz.
When Partey is bought on, it might actually end up being for Nketiah and we see Havertz pushed further forward as a striker.
You’re allowed 6 substitutions in the Community Shield, so Tomiyasu, Tierney, Kiwior, Partey and Trossard should all see some game time. The 6th will be a toss up between Jorginho, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira.
Ultimately, the result does not matter.
Last season, Liverpool destroyed Manchester City and then finished 22 points behind them.
I am just looking forward to a good day out at Wembley. Some beers with the mates. And hopefully a bit better weather than yesterday!
UTA!
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 