Offical match day thread

Let me put this out there. After watching Martinez in goal yesterday again it just occurred to me. I tried to deny it because I like Leno but I feel much more relaxed with Martinez between the sticks. There is a security I feel that I don't get with Leno. Martinez looks to have come on and matured a lot. I am leaning towards a change in goal too. Sounds drastic but its how I am feeling about it.

All of us here think we are managers in our heads anyway, so after watching the games so far this season I have come to a conclusion. Which lines up with the approach I hoped we would adopt this season which is pace, energy and youth! Our experienced players are not living up to these principles apart from the strikers.
For me I think our starting right now 11 should be:

------------------Martinez---------------
Chambers---Mustafi---Holding-Tierney
--------------------Torreira-------------------
-------Willock----------------Guendouzi---
---Pepe-------Aubameyang----Saka---


I based this on what I have seen so far. Yes I would have Mustafi right. I think he gets a lot of unfair stick but most importantly I think he plays really well alongside Holding.

In an ideal world where everyone fit and playing at their best, my ideal team would be:
==============Martinez===============
--Bellerin------Chambers-----Holding------Tierney
--------------------------Torreira-------------------------
------------Willock------------------Guendouzi-------
--Pepe--------------Aubameyang----------Ozil------

This for me is a very balanced line up with Ozil behind the 2. The great thing about the squad right now is we can comfortably sub Ozil for Ceballos. Guendouzi for Xhaka. Auba for Lacazette. We can decide to be more expansive with wide attackers in Saka, Nelson and Martinelli. We can play 2 up front in Auba and Laca.

I would build the team around Martinez, Holding, Torreira and Willock. They would all be in any of my line ups as they represent what I want to see. Calm assuredness from Martinez and Holding. Work rate and energy from Torreira and Willock and the pace of our attacking players.

But what do I know?! What I do know is that he squad is quite strong and Unai has no excuses now.

 

Mentioned it before, but the mistakes being made weren't just down to one player. There was a whole host of players making individual errors which led to soft goals. It wasn't just Mustafi.

He actually played really well last night and he was good against Frankfurt too. He looks much better alongside Holding, because Holding is a ball playing CB who is very mobile, whereas Sokratis is a bit of a lump.

Also Chambers looked good at RB. He's not done well there before, but he could be good back up to Bellerin in that position. There's also the option of playing him as a DM which he did well when he was on loan at Fulham last season.

As for Martinez, really impressed. His distribution in particular is excellent and he's got a really good eye for initiating an attack from the GK position. I wouldn't put him ahead of Leno who I think is an excellent keeper, but it's great to have somebody who's pushing him for the No1 spot.

 

I agree this is the strongest squad we have had for a while. If there's no clear improvment this Season I think Emery should be replaced.

Yeah I like Martinez alot but would still go with Leno. They are the same age but I think Leno has the higher ceiling.

In terms of Mustafi, I still think he's too small and will always struggle in the more physical high pace EPL games.
He is also as we know accident prone.

Last Season Holding and Sokratis were paired together for a 22 game unbeaten run. If I were Emery I would be tempted to try that pairing again but with Bellerin and Tierney as fullbacks.

 

Liverpool away in the next round of the Carabao Cup...

 

So that’s ya out then

 

Hmmm, could have been better.

 

Arsenal XI vs. Standard Liège: Martinez; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney; Torreira, Willock; Maitland-Niles, Ceballos, Nelson; Martinelli

 

Good line up that. Great to see Bellerin and Tierney starting and looking forward to seeing Willock and Martinelli again.

 

Ozil doesn’t even make the bench again. Think it’s completely ridiculous tbh.

 

Presumably Saka will play against Bournemouth as he’s not in the team today. I’d have thought this was an ideal game to keep him in the team and continue to build his confidence but I suppose if he’s going to play in the league giving him a rest is ok.

Two week break after Bournemouth though so I’m not sure fatigue is that much of an issue

 

Good to see our better defenders continuing to come back from injury. Can’t wait for Holding, Bellerin and Tierney to be properly fit and back in the starting line up for league games.

 

Totally agree 3 of our future 4 in defence together, they are i hope going to make a real difference to the rest of our season.

 

Any decent stream links? cheers in advance

 

i usually use
https://www.vipleague.lc/football-sports-stream
just make sure you cancel any redirects if it tries

 

This second-string team looks far more balanced and play much better football than our starting 11.

What a difference Bellerin and Tierney make to our style of play.

Shoutout to Martinelli, who has looked absolutely quality so far. 4 goals already this season, and all of his finishes have been pure class. Early days, so don't wanna get ahead of myself, but it looks like Edu's plucked a real gem here

 

Lovely so far!

This bunch is very rubbish thou! But one can even see in a game like this why Mustafi isnt playing with us.

Weird seeing MNL as left winger.

 

I wonder if Martinelli will continue like this and get opportunities in other competitions this season. Seems to have a real eye for goal.

Martinelli and Saka could turn out to be really good. For there ages they are really impressive. Hope they can keep it up.

 

Pleasing first half, I know Liege are ****e but I'm loving the desire to chase down from these young guys, future looks bright!

ps. Anyone chasing a decent English comm's stream - https://www.stream2watch.ws/live/arsenal-vs-standard-liege

 

Can we ensure that Martenelli signs a long contract, say for 6 years with an option to make it 10, so we don’t lose this kid in next 3 years for **** all - he looks class

 

Martinelli with a fantastic feint and chipped cross for Ceballos to tap home for his 1st Arsenal goal.

What a superb performance from the young Brazillian!