Arsenal's DEPLETED Squad Faces Huge Derby Test | EP 826 

@1:05:05 THANK YOU CLIVE. We HAVE to play our game. Were not going to press like headless chickens. We will pick moments and press high when we can. If not, we fall into our mid block like we do normally. We have plans for this. Even last year when we had 30% possesion... its not because we didnt press, its because we adhered to a game plan that we knew would work. Lets enforce our dominance in the same way that any top club in the world would. COYG

Paul won 'the most sense per word' in this one. I needed this one with all the madness on the internet. 👍

Thanks guys. Watching this pod made me refocus on the talent that we do have available which ultimately matters more than how great the players we're missing are. I was lamenting and now I'm stoked, if a little angsty still.

with all the missing midfielders our biggest prob will still be taking our chances, imo thats where our troubles lie

Arteta out! (On the pitch to play 8)

Therapy 😬

Ødegaard may be the Norse God of Arsenal's midfield, but at times he does lose the ball because he holds on for too long, not take a shot when he should and misplace passes. He is human and therefore replaceable. So whoever does will do his own thing and it may be enough, even better on the day.

Tbf Ødegaard was ineffective in the same fixture last season, one of his rare “bad” games. Set pieces and lightning quick counter attacks will win us the game. Same S*urs, Same Toilet, Same Shit. COYG🔴⚪️

Odegaard isn’t going to be as big a loss as people might think. I think people are going to be surprised

One thing for sure, there will be a lot of turnovers not having Odegaard protecting the ball. The defense need to be on point

I agree with Clive. I would play Zinchenko at LB so that we have a good ball handler since we will be without Odegaard. And I would play Timber in midfield to match up against Tottenham vertical runners and movement. I would play Martinelli to add protection to Zinchenko but can be a threat in behind. Havertz drop in midfield and G. Jesus from the front so we still can force mistakes with our press when Tottenham is out of structure. I would save Jorginho & Calafiori for the Atlanta game.

cowards route? Erm....NO! Now is the time to be bold. That said. It is not as bad as some think. Players cover space together. TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More. Yes, we are missing our two best midfielders this derby. The players who come in are capable, we have a squad. Edu has been recruiting Swiss Army Knife Players for 4 windows at Mikel's approval. When I used to coach, no matter who we had in the game, we played the same way. Totally different level, I get it. Yet, my players knew phases, they knew queues and they knew that our attacking shape came from great defensive shape and understood rest defense in attack. They knew 10 x 10 = 30 and that is how I will end it. High pressing with two and potentially 3 new players (Sterling) is no problem. Proper vertical compactness equals Jorginho and Partey never covering more than 5 yards if they position themselves correctly. And there are 9 other players to beat...understand this. WE still have the BEST back 4 on planet earth...we do. And it improves if we line 4 CB's across the back by adding Califiori. They are professionals, they know the system and they know the nonverbal queues in each phase of play. I drew 10x10 yard boxes all over the field and my players knew I wanted only 30 yards of vertical compactness. Then I taught them how to move box to box with situations of when to overload one box and leave another to win the ball. There are all sorts of phase of play things to teach from that blueprint and a comments section can't get into it; yet, the point is if 16 year old's who are not worldies understand, all the players Mikel brings in at the very least will understand how to play The Arsenal system, The Arsenal Way, on Sunday. It doesn't mean we will make all the plays; yet scrapping the system is the worst possible thing we can do and that is the point of this message. Go there to win. Press them. BOSS THE GAME. BE bold.

Guys, don't underestimate who devises the strategy. Merely, we will be aware of this and will adapt the strategy accordingly. The question is, how will Mikel adapt? and win the game.

Partey played the full 90 against Villa and if we’re being honest he’ll do the same again against spurs

Partey and Jorginho just need to be like the xavi and sergio busequets tactic. rotate recycle and basically nullify their press to start the match. Then we need trossard and havertz to push them back with their intelligent runs so martinelli and saka are the spare players and they can use their clinical nature to finish chances. Timber should start. We need to think of this game in 15 minute cohorts and change game state as needed. If we are two nil up, bring Kiwior on. Ben White is going to be the most important player on the pitch for us.

Teta signs.

Tross-arrrrrrrrd

Did anyone mention the importance of set pieces? Especially after last season’s game

As we get older it's difficult to see the future but that's coming from an old Arsenal fan I like Mikel but if we don't win anything in the next 3 years has the plan worked and when do we break up this relationship and if Ethan is thought of as an Oodegard replacement then if Mikel does not trust the kid then don't put him in the squad Ethan in my opinion has to play.

You guys are over-egging the age thing with Ethan. If he suits the way we want to play the best, and arteta trusts him, he should start. Same way klopp trusted his academy when trent was out and matip got injured. Last year jorginho came in with tons of experience, and gave the ball to Maddison for an equalizer. A partey-jorginho midfield has no legs defensively. I pray we don't start like this. It's the only midfield that would make me panic. The other suggestions from this pod were fine. I'm giving arteta the benefit of the doubt. Real test.

Why don’t we play calafoiri left, timber right and Ben white holding midfield… Shen he started with us at CB he also went on those great midfield splitting runs and the boy can defend too

Spurs struggle when teams give them the ball and sit back. Arteta needs to swallow his pride and let them dominate possession

Allegri is out there 🤓

Jorginho and Partey cannot start together. They don't cover enough ground on or off the ball and with Odegaard absent, the gap between them and Havertz or Jesus would be too big. Zinchenko continues to be underrated, he is the best creative force after Odegaard. He starts next to Partey.

I guarantee it that Havertz will play Odegaard role and Trossard will play striker! That is what Arteta will do!

Just because Trossard was bought in January window, doesn't mean he is any less of an Arsenal player. Same goes for jorginho. This reads tired to me.

Here we go! Lunchtime Goonerness.

I just realised Eliot's room and clothing is blue on blue. I'm worried now - is he a spurs mole 🤔

Tired of hearing "single point of failure" now. We get it you said something clever and it came true just let it go now.

Martinelli....Havertz......Sterling Timber....Party......Saka Lewis Skelly....big Gabie....Salaba.....Rice

Thanks Paul 😢please don’t mention players names and injuries or suspensions again

Childish.. bit I was like #69- giving me a bit of solace ahead of this NLD… what an injury messss

If Jesus is fit , I would play him 60 minutes on the weekend with Havertz at right 8. If hes not fit, then Trossard and Havertz up top in the 4 4 2

No you can't

Elliot is a wealth of terrible takes 😂. Its so funny.

Is it just me or do arsenal always get bundle injuries that pile up the pressure? It’s always multiple players in the same position or area of the field.

Merino Odegaard and Rice missing with 2 left slow and old means its a lot to get over. Maybe Timber even? Calafiori was a weapon to change attack angle and he is injured too. We haven't looked great so far so maybe this crisis galvanises us and we get out of it. Lets see what Arteta comes up with. He is conservative by nature or Odegaard comes off and Nwaneri on when Martin was limping about one up. Folk think Vieira loaned because Arteta trusts Nwaneri but does he. He starts seasons trying to manage squad better but ends up overplaying his trusted players. We haven't looked quite as secure so far. Martinelli on form would have helped if its a park the bus and break 😂.