Long is a bit hit and miss as a striker, but definitely a workhorse. Would like to see him start instead of Mane.
Also, he's a bit of a diver, which is not what we want at Honest Saints. The last diver we flogged to our rivals at the first opportunity we got, of course 😊 (I'm talking about Lallana).
I agree, Long to start and Tadic to play down the left and not allowed to get near taking corner kicks, I am sure we have someone that can put the ball into the right areas!
It always annoys me when a pro footballer can't deliver a decent corner into the box. It can't be that hard surely.
When he arrived he was a diver, but I think he's reining that tendency in a bit. Also, he's a raw talent, and hopefully still improving.
Long and Cork in for Pelle (I know...) and Morgan, Tadic on the left. Though Cork is a very good player I think without Morgan away at Arsenal after a physically and mentally sapping game three days earlier we may struggle to control possession and not just in midfield, I think Graziano's biggest problem in his late two games is poor hold-up play. Fairly clear what the plan would be, get the ball to in particular Tadic but also any of the midfield quickly after winning the ball, look to put the ball in behind quickly for Long and Mane. Might effect us if we can't get attacks off quicky, but we've struggled with that in the last couple games anyway and Long is a good player in his own right. Also if we need goals late, which is a fairly realistic prospect, then I think bringing on a fresh and hungry Pelle to bully tired defenders may suit us better than putting on one of our two threats to get in behind when the opposition is likely already playing deep and shutting up shop in this instance. Really I think we need to be looking for opportunities to rest in particular Pelle and Tadic, this seems like a good opportunity for the former whilst possibly leaving us better off.
I would definitely play Mane for this one. He was excellent in the League Cup game. But try him on the right, with Tadic on the left.
Sorry Tom but I think that Long's experience would be a better option, tough game where often experience could make the difference. Long played well against City.
you need to get at them because, as Corporal jones would say, 'they don't like it up 'em'. This game is a six pointer and Arsenal have been for the taking for a few seasons they don't have the quality or fight they had in the Henry/Viera era and Wenger is a great coach but very one dimensional, if you try and play them at their game you won't get anything out of it, this is far more of a test than Man City were as I don't think anything would've stopped you losing that, they have quality players across the pitch who performed, whereas arsenal is a winnable game.
So the team who hasn't conceded any set-piece goals plays a team vulnerable to set-pieces. Pelle to score?
U21's won 1 0 tonight Seager in the 91st minute, one comment made was that "Targett is above this level!"
Arsenal have no fit left back apparently. Metro reckon Koscielny or Chambers is likely to play there but I'm sure I remember Flamini playing there a few times when he was first at Arsenal.
