Category Archives: Arsenal

Tomiyasu IN, Jesus OUT as Arteta keeps an eye on Munich

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Anyone struggling to focus this morning?

Whilst I am trying hard to only look at the game ahead, it becomes very hard to do when I am also getting my shit together to fly out to Munich on Monday.

A busy day at work scheduled on Monday means I am having to get everything done today. Close up the bar, get the washing done, close the house down for my trip abroad and pack. That means I can not stop thinking about Munich when we still have Aston Villa to play today.

Today will not be easy. Villa are a top 4 team for a reason.

Yes, Manchester City thrashed them, but Unai Emery “threw” the game making wholesale changes. I would be very surprised if he does the same today. He will want to make a statement in North London having been cast aside over 4-years ago.

Today will be all about the midfield battle. It is Villa’s strength.

The midfield quartet of Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara has proved compact and hard working, but still with enough guile to create. They are weakened through Luiz’s suspension and Kamara’s injury, but Nicolo Zaniolo will likely step up as they transition into a 3 man midfield.

Villa are a huge threat on the break. They are probably the best counter attacking team in the league right now with Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby. We will have to ensure that as we look to play in Villa’s half and dominate position, we do not leave the back door open.

The ball over the top does not even need to be that great. Watkins has proved himself to be a willing runner, chasing everything. And Diaby and Bailey have the pace to quickly catch him up.

It is a given that Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel will start. I have a feeling we might see Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back to counteract Villa’s wingers who love driving centrally.

With no Kamara and Luiz, Villa’s midfield will look at little more lightweight in the press. Kamara sitting deep allows McGinn and Luiz to play higher up the pitch and put the pressure on. Tielemans is then given a bit more freedom to roam. For this reason I would look to start Jorginho. He should have time and space on the ball.

Ahead of him, it will be Declan Rice and Martin Odeegard. Again, Villa’s missing men will make it an interesting match up as McGinn and Luiz also tuck in alongside Kamara when things are on top. Zaniolo is classy on the ball, but he does not have the work rate of Luiz or Kamara.

Whilst I have said their midfield has been their strength, we might be able to overwhelm them in the middle of the park if they go for that midfield 3 of McGinn, Tielemand and Zaniolo. McGinn could be in for a tough day.

Up front will be interesting.

Bukayo Saka will start. And I think we might see Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli complete the front 3.

With an eye on Munich, I think Arteta will go with Jesus starting and Havertz on the bench. The German is much more dangerous in those closing moments of a game when we are pushing for a goal and the opposition are camped in the box. For that reason I think Jesus will be given a rest this weekend.

There has been a lot of talk this week about Leandro Trossard’s importance to Arsenal. He has proved to be a superb signing and a fantastic squad player. But I do not like him starting.

I feel the Belgium thrives in chaotic games. When things are a little less organised, a little quick and players have to do a bit more off the cuff. That make shim brilliant for those last 20 minutes when we are chasing a goal. I always thinks he struggles a little when he starts a game and the build up is slower and more accurate.

If my head is not fully in the game today, I am sure the players will be.

Manchester City’s big victory against Luton Town was utterly predictable and I expect Liverpool to beat Crystal Palace by a similar scoreline in the earlier kick off. Big wins for the pair will see them jump ahead of us and close that goal difference. For now we need to not worry about GD and just get the 3 points.

I think we can afford to lose one game between now and the end of the season. We just need to ensure that we can go to Tottenham and Manchester United with that chip still in play.

Get the 3 points, then focus on Munich./

Keenos

Mikel Arteta fully focused on Aston Villa challenge

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Morning from Suffolk! Spring is in the air as I write this with a coffee overlooking some brilliant gardens near Sudbury.

It feels like the calm before the storm of Munich away, but before then we have Aston Villa tomorrow.

For once, we go into a post-European mid week game with the advantage.

We played Tuesday against Bayern Munich, whilst a full strength Aston Villa face Lille in a tough game on Thursday.

It will be interesting to see what Villa team is put out today. Will Unai Emery “throw” the game by making lots of changes like he did against Manchester City? Or will he put out his strongest XI in the hope of showing up his former club.

As always, if we focus on ourselves, on our own game, we should win. but that does not mean we will.

Ahead of the game, Mikel Arteta said: “We will know the results but we’ll still have our duty to win our game which is the only thing that we can control.

“That’s happened a few times already and it’s going to happen again in the next few weeks, so we’ll just focus on what we can do, what we can control and make sure that we perform like we have to do against a really good side to try to beat them.”

When talking about the past, Arteta said: “Reflection done, Bayern gone. Now it’s Aston Villa – we’re only focusing on Aston Villa.”

When it comes to injuries, just Jurrien Timber is out. No one else is injured or suspended, although Arteta does his normal cagey answers insinuating some are struggling to make it. The fitness of our squad in the run-in has allowed Arteta to rest and rotate to keep everyone as fresh as possible.

On Timber, I would be surprised if we see him this season.

Our defence is in a good place, and replacements are also playing well. It does not make sense to bring him back. Better to allow him to continue his rehabilitation, play some U21 games, get a rest then a full pre-season before next year.

Manchester City and Liverpool also both play at home this weekend against Luton Town and Crystal Palace respectively. I do not expect either to drop points.

Tomorrows blog will be written from the train as I return from Suffolk to Islington. I apologise in advance for any spelling errors! UTA.

Keenos

Patino decides to leave Arsenal this summer as club focus on next generation

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Happy Friday! Well done for making it through another week.

Is that it for Liverpool? Not long ago I spoke about how it felt they were in a similar position to us last season – just getting through games, looking like they had run out of steam and about to drop off.

Now I am not saying I am right, but last night against Atalanta they were shocking. A 3-nil home defeat coming off the back of the weekend draw at Manchester United.

In their last 5 games in all competitions, they have won just twice against Brighton (2-1) and Sheffield United (3-1). Before this run, they also needed a 95th minute goal to beat Nottingham Forest.

Now I am not saying they will not win the league. They are clearly still in the title race and things can change quickly. But as we saw with us last season, momentum is a huge thing in football.

I expect them to win this weekend. Then they have those 3 Premier League away games in a row, followed by Spurs at Anfield. Sandwiched in between is the return journey to Atalanta.

The wheels can come off quickly, and they might find themselves out of the title race in a blink of an eye.

There is not much real Arsenal news floating about. Press conferences are today ahead of this weekend’s football, so we will blog about them tomorrow.

There is talk that Charlie Patino has decided to leave the club this summer. Not a huge surprise.

Patino was supposed to be the next big thing, in a long line of next big things. But like most of those before him, he has shown how hard it is to go from dominant youth team football to having an impact in the man’s game.

As a 15-year-old, Patino was part of the England youth set up alongside Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala. Whilst they have kicked on, he simple has not.

I have watched him on loan at Swansea City and he still looks lightweight. He has not really bulked him since that performance against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup back in 2022 which showed he was not ready for men’s football.

He has had two OK loan spells at Blackpool and Swansea, but has not dominated. The reports are he wants to see more first team football, but his performances over the last 2-years would not be good enough for The Arsenal.

We are at a different stage of our evolution compared to where we were 3-years ago. The level you need to be playing at if you want to be part of our first team squad is much higher; as seen with the reduced game time of Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson.

Smith Rowe is clearly superior to Patino, and if he is not seeing much game time, there is not much hope for the younger man.

Football at a youth level is very fast moving. One day you are the biggest prospect at the club, and within a blink of an eye you are in your 20s and there are other 17-year-olds everyone is talking about.

Ethan Nwaneri & Myles Lewis-Skelly are the pair looking to usurp Patino.

If the club think these lads have a higher ceiling, then they are better off investing time in them rather than Patino. A bit like when we cast aside Henri Lansbury to give Jack Wilshere more opportunity.

One thing you always have to remember is Arsenal’s coaches would have seen a lot more of Patino, and other youngsters, than anyone else. Whilst fans might cry on Twitter about them not getting a chance, they are basing their opinion on very little evidence.

Patino is clearly technically gifted. Someone will take a punt on him and we should get above £5m cash money!

Enjoy your Friday. Grab yourself a beer at 4pm! You deserve it.

Keenos