[Olecurls99]

DDG dropped ?
Fouled for the first goal and the second was a deflection.
I did say after the Sheffield game he needed dropping, but that was knee jerk after a bad game, he is our best keeper and he must start.

He didn't even have a go at the referee after being fouled. He's being targeted for corners because he's clearly not up for them.

 

[GoldTrafford99]

Oh it's not bad. Lots of players capable of playing the quick one touch football that we'll need to break Arsenal down. Might also have worked against Sheffield but alas.

Except the other team also have eleven players...

So, who's gonna protect that back four? And who provides the double protection for the full-backs?

You will never see that eleven starting...

 

[Olecurls99]

Except the other team also have eleven players...

So, who's gonna protect that back four? And who provides the double protection for the full-backs?

You will never see that eleven starting...

The other team are gonna play 11? Get outta here.
Fred as the holding midfielder. Like a young Ngolo Kante. Donny and Pogba will be there beside him shifting the way Sheffield did so comfortably against us. I'm not suggesting they remain up around their box when Arsenal have the ball.

 

[SirScholes]

Yep. Full backs will provide the width. We don't really have wingers in the squad my friend. I suppose we could ask if Giggsy and Kanchelskis are doing anything.

We have players that operate in wide areas though and we only have one full back that is any good at attacking.
Your line up offers up a very one dimensional plan of attack

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Really can’t call this game.

Our record against them is absolutely abysmal. 1 win in 6 and that came in the FA Cup when Ole was firmly at the wheel.

Surely we are due a win against this lot.

 

[RedIan]

Fred/McT should be utilised in this game imo. Arsenal are on a good run and we need to back up our dodgy defence.
I’m hoping he plays Eric but i suspect Lindeloff will play.
Cavani has to start ahead of the hapless Martial with Rashford on the left...

 

[Crustanoid]

We really don’t do well against them. They will play like Brazil 70 in this game. Or one of our defenders will royally cock up.

 

[crossy1686]

They'll park the bus and get a result and Arteta will be a tactical genius again...

 

[hubbuh]

Fred/McT should be utilised in this game imo. Arsenal are on a good run and we need to back up our dodgy defence.
I’m hoping he plays Eric but i suspect Lindeloff will play.
Cavani has to start ahead of the hapless Martial with Rashford on the left...

Fred absolutely needs to play. We should have played a Pogba - Fred - Bruno midfield on Wednesday, but I'm not sure he'll risk that today as it might leave us vulnerable at the back. This is the sort of game I'd also love to see Bailly play, but it feels unlikely (small niggly injury as well as Ole's preference for the Lindelof - Maguire combo).

 

[Counterfactual]

What happened to that bloke we always played, "Penalty". He's gone AWOL for almost a month and we need him back.

 

[red_de_pologne]

Fred absolutely needs to play. We should have played a Pogba - Fred - Bruno midfield on Wednesday, but I'm not sure he'll risk that today as it might leave us vulnerable at the back. This is the sort of game I'd also love to see Bailly play, but it feels unlikely (small niggly injury as well as Ole's preference for the Lindelof - Maguire combo).

I thought he was said to be fine and ready for Arse?

pretty sure it's going to be

DDG
AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw
McTominay Fred
Rashford Bruno Pogba
Cavani​

 

[Random Task]

Can't wait to beat this lot this afternoon and get our title challenge back on track.

 

[Olecurls99]

We have players that operate in wide areas though and we only have one full back that is any good at attacking.
Your line up offers up a very one dimensional plan of attack

I would suggest that the players we have don't operate very well in said wide areas. Rashford just turns back and never really turns players on the left because he doesn't have a left peg. Martial rarely takes anyone on either. And same for Greenwood. They all come in and bunch it up. At least Donny looks useful when he's in tight situations.

 

[hubbuh]

I thought he was said to be fine and ready for Arse?

pretty sure it's going to be

DDG
AWB Bailly Maguire Shaw
McTominay Fred
Rashford Bruno Pogba
Cavani​

I hope so! That's the team I'm hoping for. Looks good for the win I reckon.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

A must win. If we want to be taken seriously in this title race we have to be beating Arsenal. Think what the teams we’re competing with would do i.e Liverpool and City they’d twat this lot, we need to do the same.

 

[Random Task]

I would suggest that the players we have don't operate very well in said wide areas. Rashford just turns back and never really turns players on the left because he doesn't have a left peg. Martial rarely takes anyone on either. And same for Greenwood. They all come in and bunch it up. At least Donny looks useful when he's in tight situations.

Greenwood is the most natural striker of the three. The trouble is he very rarely (if ever) gets to operate from the central striker position, often throw out to the right due to a lack of alternatives in that area, or simply to squeeze him in the side somehow.

I don't think we'll see the best of him until he is given an extended run in his most natural position.

 

[VeevaVee]

Just seen a montage on football focus with a mixture of old clips going into new of our games with Arsenal. Really hit home how football isn’t as good these days.

 

[big rons sovereign]

DDG dropped ?
Fouled for the first goal and the second was a deflection.
I did say after the Sheffield game he needed dropping, but that was knee jerk after a bad game, he is our best keeper and he must start.

He's a total melt. His little tippy tap out to the space near the corner flag basically invited sheff United to have another go. He cowers on his goal line rather than attack crosses and turns his back on one v ones.
He's a great shot stopper but shite at everything else, teams have that figured and don't shoot anymore when they know they can just put crosses on top of him.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

The biggest kick in the teeth about the Sheffield game was it was so bad it’s given doubts to the competence of this team a ‘one off’ result shouldn’t.

We’ve had so many false dawns that another underwhelming performance has a feeling of inevitability.

I fecking hate Arsenal, I want us to win but I have no faith in this team to provide the result

 

[Shark]

Just seen a montage on football focus with a mixture of old clips going into new of our games with Arsenal. Really hit home how football isn’t as good these days.

Got the same feeling when watching clips of our 99 win over Pool in the FA cup before that match. It's really not the same

 

[Raw]

Got the same feeling when watching clips of our 99 win over Pool in the FA cup before that match. It's really not the same

I knew no fans would have a huge impact but it still surprises me how different it feels. Just doesn't have that same energy to it.

 

[Random Task]

Got the same feeling when watching clips of our 99 win over Pool in the FA cup before that match. It's really not the same

The lack of atmosphere in the game these days really hits home when watching old clips.

Even games from a couple of years back feel nostalgic.

 

[Leftback99]

Really don't see us getting a result. They have all the luck against us.

 

[AshRK]

Once a great rivalry which determined who would win the title has turned out to be a social media rivalry. Anyways hopefully the team is up for it and win the social media derby.

 

[Hammondo]

Really don't see us getting a result. They have all the luck against us.

Do they? In what way?

 

[AshRK]

Really don't see us getting a result. They have all the luck against us.

We never seem to turn up against them since Ole took over. Maybe we were complacent but today is no excuse for the team. If we turn up and play our A game then win is ours.

 

[Leftback99]

Do they? In what way?

They've not been good against us in any recent game but have won 3 out of 4.

 

[SER19]

Decent chance of going 4th with a loss. Shows how fine the margins are.

All those missed chances that real quality strikers would score add up.

 

[SirScholes]

I would suggest that the players we have don't operate very well in said wide areas. Rashford just turns back and never really turns players on the left because he doesn't have a left peg. Martial rarely takes anyone on either. And same for Greenwood. They all come in and bunch it up. At least Donny looks useful when he's in tight situations.

Rashford is only any use on the left
Martial and rashford are not strikers and never will be
You still haven’t solved how we would only have one player who would offer width in shaw

one of the worst line ups I’ve seen

 

[redshaw]

We seem to miss a lot they they get the deflections and luck in this tie. We really need to put Arsenal away today and make up for the loss in midweek. We used to have a good record against them.

Hopefully our frontline can spring into life as they've been poor for the first half of the season.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

The negativity in here ffs

We're far better than they are and with today's result giving us a timely jolt I expect a straight forward win

3-0

No chance.

we’ll either lose, draw, or win by 1 goal with a very nervy finish. There is a 0% chance this is a straight forward win. We don’t do straight forward wins.

 

[Olecurls99]

Rashford is only any use on the left
Martial and rashford are not strikers and never will be
You still haven’t solved how we would only have one player who would offer width in shaw

one of the worst line ups I’ve seen

You're fascinated with width. Bissaka can give width if it's so important to you.

I never said Martial and Rashford were strikers. I just said that they don't really provide width because they don't have left pegs. Width is overrated anyway. What's important is that we have creative players around their box when we have them pegged back. Donny Bruno and Pogba are our most creative players.

 

[Ronaldo's ego]

An unexpected loss to end a good run is hard to take but I expect us to bounce back against these lots today. 1-3 United.

 

[bdspeedy]

Has Ole ever cared what the fans think? How often have we been "positive Mc Sauce would be dropped after that last debacle"? Shaw? DeGea? Matic? Don't be surprised if we see Tony start. Ole is stubborn. He trusts and loves who he trusts and loves. Tony will come good. Of course, I said that for years about Phil Jones.

 

[Ronaldo's Mum Eh?]

If we don't start Cavani, we're not winning this game.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

Arsenal 2-0

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

I feel more lessons will be learnt after losing to Sheff Utd rather a loss today. These big games can go either way at times, but the loss to Sheff Utd should not have happened. Period.

For that reason, I think our reaction today will be good. We're away so it suits us too.

I'd go with:

De Gea

AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw

McSauce Fred

Greenwood Bruno Pogba

Cavani

We can bring Rashford on as a sub against, I hope, a tired Arsenal defence.

 

[Random Task]

Has Ole ever cared what the fans think? How often have we been "positive Mc Sauce would be dropped after that last debacle"? Shaw? DeGea? Matic? Don't be surprised if we see Tony start. Ole is stubborn. He trusts and loves who he trusts and loves. Tony will come good. Of course, I said that for years about Phil Jones.

Including Shaw and Matic in that group is a little unfair, particularly Shaw who's been our best player this season or thereabouts.

 

[Judas]

Absolutely bloody dreading this. We are better than them, and yet I have a sense of impending doom.

The thought of these mugs ending our away record as well, it just seems too obvious doesn't it.

 

[Matst1]

We seem to miss a lot they they get the deflections and luck in this tie. We really need to put Arsenal away today and make up for the loss in midweek. We used to have a good record against them.

Hopefully our frontline can spring into life as they've been poor for the first half of the season.

Haven’t beat them in two years