Villarreal vs Arsenal (EL)

[Powderfinger]

Pretty huge match to try something completely new. I like the idea of putting our best players on the field. But I’m a little afraid that Arteta might be pulling a Pep and tinkering too much in a big cup tie.

[Leper]

One thing we do know about Emery is that he analyses the opposition obsessively and sets his teams up to try and counter them. Playing a system we haven’t used before will have him soiling himself.

[NeedCoffee]

We should piledrive this mid-table Spanish team.

[Leper]

@Powderfinger

Pretty huge match to try something completely new. I like the idea of putting our best players on the field. But I’m a little afraid that Arteta might be pulling a Pep and tinkering too much in a big cup tie.

As Auba clearly isn’t fit, the alternative is Nketiah starts up front on his own. No offence to Eddie, but no thanks.

[SDGooner]

If it’s true what most people seem to think, Xhaka on the left, we not really tinkering that much in comparison with the last few weeks. Just Pepe on top…

[Leper]

@NeedCoffee

We should piledrive this mid-table Spanish team.

We’re lower down in the league than they are.

[Flexo]

Pepe upfront? Okay then.

[AW49]

Can’t blame him for straight up using his best available players in the front 4. They all deserve to start on recent form tbh. Hopefully Auba can give us 30 or so minutes and Laca/Tierney are available for the 2nd leg.

[NeedCoffee]

@Leper

We’re lower down in the league than they are.

Yeah, but it’s La Liga. Not exactly the most competitive league.

[Powderfinger]

Its interesting that other than United all the other EL semi-finalists have essentially pissed their league seasons away and desperately need to win the competition.

Villarreal are 7th after losing their last two. Roma also 7th after 1 point in their last three matches. And of course us.

[Pires]

Wasn’t so hyped about the europa league until I just realised we have a chance to play United in the final.

I’d absolutely LOVE IT to beat United in the final. Would add massive weight to the trophy, at least for me personally.

COYG!

[Joshua]

@TheSpecialCnut

Arseblog it’s doing that ambivalent bs of “Maybe, maybe not, let’s see more”

The worse one it’s YankeeGunner, because you can see that he doesn’t rate Arteta but it’s too much of a coward to say it.

I prefer the “maybe, maybe not, maybe go fuck yourself” from The Departed.

[Cristo]

Classic Marky Mark

[GC-Maniac]

Fucking Pep regen.

[GC-Maniac]

@Leper

One thing we do know about Emery is that he analyses the opposition obsessively and sets his teams up to try and counter them. Playing a system we haven’t used before will have him soiling himself.

That’s bang on btw.

[Great-White-Gooner]

@SDGooner

It’s a big occasion, but an actual courageous manager would have given the chance to Martinelli up top. Disappointing decision making once again.

Not sure I agree tbh, I think it would’ve been easy to start Nketiah but he doesn’t rate him enough and has just gone without a striker. I’m glad that Pepe is actually getting picked here, he’s not the worst option to have up top without a fit Auba. We’ve got enough creativity with Odegaard, Saka and ESR all in there as well.

[Midfield_Maestro]

Martinelli reading the teamsheet

[GC-Maniac]

Martinelli was pretty bad against Everton up top tbf.

[Great-White-Gooner]

@Leper

One thing we do know about Emery is that he analyses the opposition obsessively and sets his teams up to try and counter them. Playing a system we haven’t used before will have him soiling himself.

Exactly, this has surely factored into the decision making here. The fact that no one had a clue what this lineup was going to look like ahead of time was a good thing in my eyes.

[NeedCoffee]

You put Martinelli in front of Odegaard, ESR, Pepe, and Saka and you’ll get different results, IMHO.