Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

[PleaseNotPoll]

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Sunday 24th September 2pm
Premier League
Emirates Stadium​

No injury news yet, but Sessegnon, Gil, Bentancur and Whiteman are probably all still out.
Perisic joins them, unfortunately. Lo Celso is being assessed and may rejoin the squad.
Neither side has any suspensions.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son, Soloman.
Subs: Forster, Emerson, Dier, Davies, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Perisic, Johnson, Richarlison.

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Magalhaes, Zinchenko; Vieira, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Subs: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Jorginho, Havertz, Smith-Rowe, Trossard, Nelson, Jesus.

Ref: Rob Jones. VAR: Paul "Kieran's Dad" Tierney.

TV: Sky Sports.

How would you like to line up for this one and how do you think we actually will line up?

 

[The Huddlefro]

8/9 of the team pick themselves. Probably more like 9. Wonder if Emerson will get a nod at RB for more solidity, though Ange seems to want us to defend by having the ball, so maybe he picks Porro anyway as he’s a better footballer. Richy might have played himself into an outside shout of starting at 9 with Son on the left, this is the kind of game he’s always up for in a big way, though we might prefer to have him as an impact sub and keep Sonny’s pace central if we might have less of the ball and need more of a transitional threat. Last one is Johnson, whether he gets a go over Solomon. The latter has been decent the last couple of games but Johnson is quicker and more physical which might suit this game.

I hate this fixture and just have a feeling this will be a reality check. Would much rather have had Liverpool at home before an away NLD.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

8/9 of the team pick themselves. Probably more like 9. Wonder if Emerson will get a nod at RB for more solidity, though Ange seems to want us to defend by having the ball, so maybe he picks Porro anyway as he’s a better footballer. Richy might have played himself into an outside shout of starting at 9 with Son on the left, this is the kind of game he’s always up for in a big way, though we might prefer to have him as an impact sub and keep Sonny’s pace central if we might have less of the ball and need more of a transitional threat. Last one is Johnson, whether he gets a go over Solomon. The latter has been decent the last couple of games but Johnson is quicker and more physical which might suit this game.

I hate this fixture and just have a feeling this will be a reality check. Would much rather have had Liverpool at home before an away NLD.

Zinchenko is more likely to be pressed into a mistake, which makes Porro the best player to do so - although that has me wondering if we balance that by having Davies at LB. Come to think about it, Porro and Johnson doubling up on our right would surely pin Zinchenko back

One thing I've seen suggested from a tactical standpoint is we start Sonny as a CF against more open teams as he'd get space to run, while Richy starts as CF against teams who play Brexit Ball as they'd not give Sonny that space...but then again, Richy is the sort of player who can aggravate their backline

 

[Dier Hard]

Buzzing for this, always will be for a NLD even if I’m pessimistic over getting a result. This is what football is all about though and why I pity teams that don’t have a genuine rivalry in the game.

Ange won’t park the bus so the prospect of Emerson or Davies starting is extremely slim - as it should be too. They’re both steady and reliable players but there’s already a clear and significant gap in quality between starting and backup FBs. Credit to Porro too because I had concerns about him playing FB but he’s been impressive so far under Ange, the defensive aspects still need considerable improving but he’s on the right track.

Richarlison without Perisic is like a fireman without a hose. We’ll get very little out of starting the Brazilian now if we can’t call upon Perisic at any point.

So that said, same XI from the last two games for me, only potential change I’d make would be Johnson for Solomon, that raw pace could be deadly in a game like this.

 

[The RDBD]

Looking forward to this one with a great deal of interest,
In particular :

1. Exactly the dame message as for the fixture last season.
On the "season compass" this game is a "free throw" ,
and only a result worse than 3-1 should raise eyebrows.

2. In terms of the system, this will be the first time this
season the playing out will face some serious pressure.
Given this is only match week 6 I do not think the squad
is currently not fluent enough to be error-free,so I
expect this is is how goals will be conceded.

3. In terms of manager, this is a first test of pragma over dogma.
The above is nice and the long-term destination, but this
is an NLD (he at least has "Old firm derby" experience) .

 

[Left on the Shelf]

Same 11 for me too.

I don't expect anything from this game. In fact anything other than a loss would be something of a surprise. The Goons are a season or two ahead of us in development and have improved in a couple of positions on last season.

The loss of Perisic is a downer, as it strips us of the most obvious Plan B. Oh well....

All I ask at this stage is for the lads to show the same level of commitment and passion for attacking football that they have shown so far. This will be a challenge for our new team and a strong performance, regardless of result, will only help the development.

That said - I would ****ing luv it if our lads stuck it to them on their own pitch! That would be a real statement.

COYS!!

 

[SarrMan]

Not particularly optimistic about this one. I think arsenal could punish some of the playing out from the back but on the flip side, you know arsenal won’t sit back so could suit our more attacking game. 100% there’ll be a few goals in the game.

They’re two years ahead of us in their rebuild though so don’t think a defeat is a sign of anything to negative although I know you’ll get the usual suspects coming out of the woodwork with their bubble burst comments etc.

 

[Spurf]

It's an odd feeling coming into this game because we know we should not expect anything from it. We are just 5 games into a season with a new team and a new manager but there has been no talk of gelling. Our new team seem to have slotted together almost seamlessly. The players have behaved like lions who have been set free from a very restricted cage to run and hunt freely across the savannah. Or perhaps more appropriately like Trojan Warriors released from their wooden horse to plunder Troy.
We know we are entering the domain of a more experienced team who have shown themselves to be well ahead last season. I just hope we will ignore all that and take the fight to them, whatever the outcome. No Italian/Portuguese cagey cagey showing respect. Run at them Spurs, frighten the life out of them, dare to do!

 

[Alfie Conn]

Caution needed for this game, all out Angeball and I think the arse have the means to take us apart, that's not to say we go to the game with the attitude we carried in the jose/conte eras

 

[BrunelGunner]

The fact none of you are confident or banking on a result from this game makes me even more nervous. Feels like we're in for a nasty surprise when people don't expect it .

 

[The Changing Man]

The fact none of you are confident or banking on a result from this game makes me even more nervous. Feels like we're in for a nasty surprise when people don't expect it .

You have been here long enough now to know that we are not a confident bunch at the best of times, we have an awful record at your place (Highbury and Emirates), and you have been very resilient so far this season without maybe reaching the highs of your early season form last season, this maybe the game for you to kick on. I think there will be goals and we might well score first, but that has happened many times at your place and we still end up losing.

 

[Dier Hard]

The fact none of you are confident or banking on a result from this game makes me even more nervous. Feels like we're in for a nasty surprise when people don't expect it .

I think the pessimism over the result stems from the fact we all acknowledge we're two months into a rebuild, coming up against a side that is practically almost there in terms of where you can be without City-esque spending.

You have the edge in quality as it is at the moment but it's more the team cohesion that I think massively separates us and that comes with lots of experience playing together. 7 (arguably 8) of our best XI under Ange were either not here or unfavoured by Conte and whilst we've been really enjoyable to watch, if we properly dissected our performances we can pick out weaknesses that a new team playing together is going to have, weaknesses that I think a good side like yourselves will be able to exploit.

Come the reverse fixture later in the season, if we continue playing and improving like we are, I'll naturally back us to get a result at home, as I would against anyone.

 

[Dier Hard]

Lo Celso out for another 2-3 weeks by the looks of things. What a signing.

Gil still out for 2-3 weeks, which feels worse now after Perisic’s injury.

Doesn’t sound like Veliz is too far away from potentially playing for the first team though, Ange says he wants to give him one or two more U21 games, so presumably after that we get to see Messi’s heir in action.

 

[BrunelGunner]

You have been here long enough now to know that we are not a confident bunch at the best of times, we have an awful record at your place (Highbury and Emirates), and you have been very resilient so far this season without maybe reaching the highs of your early season form last season, this maybe the game for you to kick on. I think there will be goals and we might well score first, but that has happened many times at your place and we still end up losing.

I think the pessimism over the result stems from the fact we all acknowledge we're two months into a rebuild, coming up against a side that is practically almost there in terms of where you can be without City-esque spending.

You have the edge in quality as it is at the moment but it's more the team cohesion that I think massively separates us and that comes with lots of experience playing together. 7 (arguably 8) of our best XI under Ange were either not here or unfavoured by Conte and whilst we've been really enjoyable to watch, if we properly dissected our performances we can pick out weaknesses that a new team playing together is going to have, weaknesses that I think a good side like yourselves will be able to exploit.

Come the reverse fixture later in the season, if we continue playing and improving like we are, I'll naturally back us to get a result at home, as I would against anyone.

You both make some excellent points are very balanced in your analysis.

I know you've not beaten us at our ground (in the league) since 2010, but records are there to be broken. And let's be honest, there is going to be a time where you will eventually win at The Emirates again. Obviously I hope it will be a long, long while before this occurs, but I'm realistic enough to know that you have some very dangerous players and we are leaky at home, so you just never know what will happen.

For the reasons you've both mentioned, I firmly expect us to win this fixture too. But it has been a while since we were seen as the overwhelming favourite to beat you based on factors like quality and team cohesion. And that comes with more expectation and more pressure, which remains to be seen whether we will handle the occasion. We are a very emotional side. That has its positives, but it also has drawbacks too. If we concede the first goal, I do worry how we will respond and whether the players will try to overcompensate and overcommit, especially because of home crowd pressure. It could play into your hands.

I've still got concerns about midfield. Rice and Odegaard are the first names on the team sheet, but that third midfielder is where I worry about. Fabio Vieira looks like he's starting to come good, but is this the right fixture for him? Havertz, as you all know, I am not a fan of in the slightest. He did play quite well in midweek against PSV in fairness, but I still haven't seen enough from him to make me understand why we even spent £65m on him. His potential inclusion, when he'd be against a combative, athletic and powerful midfield of Sarr, Bissouma and Maddison, doesn't fill me with confidence.

I'm also conscious that you will be the best side we've played this season so far. Man United are an utter mess, yet they could have very easily left The Emirates with a result on another day. And although we're getting good results, I haven't seen us play with enough conviction and dominance in all phases of the game to feel like we're going to win this comfortably.

My prediction is 3-2 Arsenal. However, I feel like you're going to really make us work for it.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

We need a strong start to this one. Our first halves haven't been anywhere near our best.
We've been wearing teams down and getting the job done, but we can't keep doing that.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

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Bluff? Probably not.

 

[Dier Hard]

You both make some excellent points are very balanced in your analysis.

I know you've not beaten us at our ground (in the league) since 2010, but records are there to be broken. And let's be honest, there is going to be a time where you will eventually win at The Emirates again. Obviously I hope it will be a long, long while before this occurs, but I'm realistic enough to know that you have some very dangerous players and we are leaky at home, so you just never know what will happen.

For the reasons you've both mentioned, I firmly expect us to win this fixture too. But it has been a while since we were seen as the overwhelming favourite to beat you based on factors like quality and team cohesion. And that comes with more expectation and more pressure, which remains to be seen whether we will handle the occasion. We are a very emotional side. That has its positives, but it also has drawbacks too. If we concede the first goal, I do worry how we will respond and whether the players will try to overcompensate and overcommit, especially because of home crowd pressure. It could play into your hands.

I've still got concerns about midfield. Rice and Odegaard are the first names on the team sheet, but that third midfielder is where I worry about. Fabio Vieira looks like he's starting to come good, but is this the right fixture for him? Havertz, as you all know, I am not a fan of in the slightest. He did play quite well in midweek against PSV in fairness, but I still haven't seen enough from him to make me understand why we even spent £65m on him. His potential inclusion, when he'd be against a combative, athletic and powerful midfield of Sarr, Bissouma and Maddison, doesn't fill me with confidence.

I'm also conscious that you will be the best side we've played this season so far. Man United are an utter mess, yet they could have very easily left The Emirates with a result on another day. And although we're getting good results, I haven't seen us play with enough conviction and dominance in all phases of the game to feel like we're going to win this comfortably.

My prediction is 3-2 Arsenal. However, I feel like you're going to really make us work for it.

I think that’s generally the plan of Ange. He wants to win and win well but I suppose if we can’t win a game we’ll make sure the opposition has had to seriously earn it.

PNP’s tweet shows the thought process of Ange and it’s such a refreshing thing for us to see knowing he fully plans to go to the Emirates with the aim of dominating you, having had managers who practically **** the bed at the thought of a Spurs player crossing the half way line and only leaving 9 players to defend… it likely won’t pay off for this match but I love the mindset and if we’re to lose I’d much rather do so with a scoreline of 4-3 than 1-0.

 

[Spurf]

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[littleDinosaurLuke]

This is not an easy game to predict but Arsenal have been strong at home and I’d marginally back Arsenal’s attack v Spurs defence than vice versa. I wonder if Ange will remain committed to his attacking intent when it could leave Spurs exposed against a strong opponent.
Both teams have started strongly, but both have looked vulnerable at times. Like many derby games, it may come down to strength of character - taking chances and eliminating mistakes.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

Lo Celso out for another 2-3 weeks by the looks of things. What a signing.

Gil still out for 2-3 weeks, which feels worse now after Perisic’s injury.

Doesn’t sound like Veliz is too far away from potentially playing for the first team though, Ange says he wants to give him one or two more U21 games, so presumably after that we get to see Messi’s heir in action.

Messi's heir? Don't be ridiculous

He's clearly the second coming of Batistuta