Match Day Thread Arsenal V Leeds Utd

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Arsenal v Leeds Utd
Monday 6th January 2020 20.00 | Emirates Stadium

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta will be looking to build on the 2-0 victory over Manchester United on New Year’s Day as his Gunners team welcome Championship leaders Leeds Utd at the Emirates in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.

The Spaniard recently claimed that the FA Cup is an important competition in Arsenal’s history and that he would be taking it seriously.

In contrast, Leeds may see the BBC televised game as nothing more than a distraction as the Whites main objective of the season remains automatic promotion to the Premiership.

Pablo Hernandez remains Leeds only injury worry. The 34yo veteran play maker will remain in the Thorp Arch treatment table for the next fortnight.

Tyler Roberts, Adam Forshaw and Jamie Shackleton have all been training for the last fortnight, and although maybe too soon for Forshaw, who has been sidelined for most of the season, there is no reason why both Roberts and Shackleton won't start the game.

Berardi and Douglas are also expected to play a significant part of proceedings as will fringe players such as Dallas and Alioski.

During Arsenals Pre Match Press Conference, the Spanish legend was asked to comment on Mondays opponents.

On what is different about Marcelo Bielsa…
Just what he gets out of his team, how he makes them fight and challenge and run and compete, and never give up in any game or any circumstances. He generates that belief in the players, those demands and that is why, in my opinion, he is one of the most successful managers.

On every manager wanting to do that…
Yes, but to do that consistently every three days, at that level, is very different. And for me the best thing is that when you talk to players that had him as a coach, the words that they have for him are always positive. They were better players after [playing for him], better people, they understood the profession better.

On whether he expects Leeds to be in the Premier League next season…
I do, yes. The way they play, the manner they behave, I follow their coach for a long time and I know how tough it will be to play against them.

 

Arsenal hold the record for most FA Cup wins (13 with 8 in the PL era).

They also jointly hold the record for most appearances in the final (20).

Shows they always take the competition seriously and rightly so.

Most on here though don't want to bother giving it a go...

Didn't we beat Man U and then go on to achieve promotion ? Yes that's right, not only did we cause the shock of the round by winning at Old Trafford as a L1 club, we then went to White Hart Lane 20 days later and achieved a highly creditable 2-2 draw.

In the 10 years since, we've repeatedly put out shadow teams in both cup competions, achieving virtually nothing along the way. However our scintillating form in the 2nd half of those seasons has made it all worth while hasn't it ?

Sorry but I've been banging this drum for a very long time now...success and momentum are so important to the fragile nature of the professional footballer, give them any negative vibe at all and they seem to lose all confidence at the drop of a hat.

 

We look better under Arteta, but too soon to tell if it is because of his changes or just a ‘new manager bounce’ scenario.

will be a good game - not sure if we will play our regular starting lineup or go for youth.

 

I have a feeling Arteta will put out a strong side, Arsenal are not going to be fighting for a top finish this season, they might have one eye on 4th but the doom and gloom for them this season would be forgotten if Arteta took them to another FA cup win.

 

O

OK now here's a thing. Kick off times are all listed on BBC site as 1 minute later for every game and if not a mistake is it to allow for a minutes applause for all who have left us this year. (not including the Wallies of course).

 

It's to do with raising awareness for mental health.

As I continually pray for you all, no further comment is necessary.

 

You've been great in the last two games...much more than new manager bounce.

The players obviously needed some direction and are thriving on clear and concise instructions...at least that's how it seems from the Sky TV sofa in our house.

Impossible to accurately predict anything until we see the teams, however if we were to go full strength and you rested a few, then it would be game on !!!

 

Does anyone know if Marcos is going to the game...with his half and half scarf on ???

Only joking buddy (if you ever read this sh**e anymore).

Spoke to the lanky streak of p*** yesterday and hopefully he'll be up for a few games before the season is out.

 

Couldn't care less this season about the cups.

Get through it injury free and no replays and I am happy.

Give the reserve keeper a run out as we might need him soon. FFS give Klich a week off, he's done 18 month solid now. Bielsa was saying that Gotts has been unlucky, well chuck him in then and reward him with Arsenal away. Get Cooper out and put Berardi in just because Cooper is always pulling muscles.

Other than that, just get through it unscathed

 

Emu, if there was any evidence whatsoever that resting players resulted in improved results (for us) then I would concur...unfotunately it's the contrary which has more credence.

We even lost the match directly after going out of the Caraboa Cup FFS.

Yes that's right, our one and only (to date) home league defeat came directly after giving most of the players a rest so they could recuperate for the more important forthcoming fixture.

 

I'm not after wholesale changes Jammy.

Cooper has only just come back from injury and he seems to pick up little niggles regularly recently. Berardi could do with minutes to keep him sharp. We are going to need him. U23 football isn't the same.

Klich played every game last year and this so far. Throw in the international games and he must be nearing 80 games since the beginning of last season. Add in the Gotts deserves a game (Bielsas words) then it's a simple switch.

Keeper situation could easily change with Kiko getting a lengthy ban. What better game to put the French lad in to integrate him to the first team.

That's 3 changes. One rested, the rest all with the second half of the season in mind.

 

Sing Happy Birthday at 7th Minute

Just saw this on FaceBook:

"On Monday the 6th it would have been my beautiful nephew's (Toby Nye) 7th birthday but sadly after a long fight with the dreaded neuroblastoma he lost his battle a year ago on the 12th of January, he was a mad Leeds fan who was also a mascot for them and attended all matches he could.

I will not let my little warrior Toby be forgotten and will try everything to keep his name out there so I am asking if all Leeds fan can sing happy birthday to our little Leeds United angel on the 7th minute at the match on Monday.

Please help me make this happen and spread the word if you will, thanks everyone."


Footnote - Leeds captain, Liam Cooper took a special interest in Toby and was often seen carrying him around at Elland Road or visiting him at home and/or hospital.

I like to think Arsenal fans will be happy to contribute also.

 

Oooh no...

Safety first at all costs, we can't possibly risk Meslier picking up a red...no no no

 

Fine by me but I would also note that;

We play at home on the 11th and we could all sing his name or some other form of tribute on that date.

 

Final thoughts for tonight,

Every home game I'm seeing lots of young faces...not just in the family stand but all around the ground.

It's great to see, and this has increased significantly since we become more successful and are challenging at the top of the table under Bielsa.

Obviously especially pleasing to me, is that my boy (age 12) is now absolutely Leeds crazy. The last 2 seasons for him have been amazing and he now lives and breathes every kick as much as any of us.

So for him, plus all the other youngsters who'll be staying up late on Monday to watch us against a top team, probably for the first time, I sincerely hope we put on a good show.

 

If I remember rightly did we not almost blow promotion that season after beating the scum when we were miles ahead?

 

Let's respect the fa cup play our best team,
Injuries,tiredness bla bla, all teams have the same,
If your not in it to win it don't bother playing it.

 

That's quite true...good job we had the confidence and belief from those FA Cup performances to fall back on when needed.

Do you really think players who bottle it, do so because they didn't get a rest the first week in January ?

 

The more valid point is we don’t want anyone injured.

 

I agree 2020, we don't anyone injured.............how's the eyesight by the way....