[kafta]

I trust our manager to have the right game plan. We should be able to hit them on the break, and i do trust our backline.

If we're looking for pace up top, i guess Martial should start if he's fit, otherwise maybe Rashford up top with Garnacho on the wing? Although i do like the impact of Garnacho coming off the bench.

DDG
AWB Varane Shaw Malacia
Fred McT
Bruno Eriksen Rashford
Martial

 

[Slevs]

You have to keep in mind they're gonna do the same thing they did a few seasons back and man mark Bruno and Eriksen (Pogba in the previous game I'm talking about).

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Fred marking Odegaard by playing next to Eriksen is a bad idea because by marking a player, he will roam or be out of position many times to follow his man meaning you expect Eriksen to be the holding or be more discipline in defense like Casemiro was vs City. Which in my opinion won't work.

 

[Slevs]

Partey is definitely going to man mark Bruno.
Fred is gonna man mark Odegaard.
That leaves Xhaka vs Eriksen in the middle. It will depend on how much Fred can mark Odegaard (think Park Ji Sung on Pirlo tight) and how much Bruno can escape Partey.

 

[Remember the geese]

Play McTominay as a CB while you’re at it

I'd rather he didn't play at all.

 

[Desert Eagle]

Great preview of the game

 

[Hughes35]

Casemiro being out really changes things.

I'd like to see:

-------------------------------------------------------------De Gea-----------------------------------------------------------------
AWB-------------------------------Varane----------------------------Martinez---------------------------------------Shaw
---------------------------------------------Mctom-----------------Fred-----------------------------------------------------
Bruno--------------------------------------------------Eriksen-----------------------------------------------Garnacho
-----------------------------------------------------------Rashford--------------------------------------------------------

I think that's our best team for games like this. Pack the midfield and hit quickly on the break with the pace of Rashford and Garnacho running in behind.

Some really interesting individual battles, In particular:

Shaw V Saka
AWB V Martinelli
Erikesen V Partey
Mctom or Fred V Odegaard

If both teams turn up, it could be a great watch..... Hopefully Arsenal don't turn up.

 

[MonkeysMagic]

With Arsenal due to play City twice, the pressure is on them to get 3 points. My main concern is that our team does not (yet) possess the capability to retain possession under pressure, and we will be under a lot of pressure, meaning the turnover of ball and siege to the penalty box.

If we could see out the first 30 min (not too dissimilar to what Newcastle) I think we have more in our arsenal to hurt them!

 

[VP89]

Great preview of the game

This is such a wank preview
Rashfords position is wrong and based on mental gymnastics from a ten hag statement.

Also he's not playing two left footers at holding midfield. Martinez hasn't played CDM for a long time.

 

[DanNistelrooy]

Same lineup and tactics as vs City but with McTominay in for Casemiro (assuming Martial is fit)

 

[Real Name]

People need to let go of an idea Shaw or Licha will play DM. It wont happen.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Martinez wont be randomly thrown into a major game playing in a position he's yet play for us.
He'll likely be on the bench or at CB with Shaw being asked to play in his more familiar role.

----------------------------DDG--------------------
AWB----------Varane-----Shaw--------Malacia
------------------------------Fred---------------------
-------------Bruno------------Eriksen------------
Antony------------------Martial--------------Rashford

Dont want to see a McTom+Fred midfield partnership. Even though McTom did reasonably ok in that role when Hag initially arrived you certainly feel, what with Arsenal's impeccable form this season and tactical awareness, they'll rightly target his naivety in that role.

 

[horsechoker]

People need to let go of an idea Shaw or Licha will play DM. It wont happen.

Never say never but its unlikely, especially in this match.

 

[dal]

---------------------------DDG--------------------
AWB----------Varane-----Martinez--------Shaw
-----------------Mctominay—Fred—————
-------------————Bruno—————-------------
Antony-----——-Weghorst—------Rashford-------

Garnacho Ericksen Martial in reserve.

Weghorst played really well I thought.

Ericksen impressed be with his stamina against CP, I think though against arsenal he’ll be better coming off the bench as will Garnacho.

 

[justsomebloke]

I wonder if we will see the same 4312 formation that we used against City? Safety in numbers in the midfield.

 

[Real Name]

I wonder if we will see the same 4312 formation that we used against City? Safety in numbers in the midfield.

I think its a must, especially against Arsenal type of midfield and how they play. Even with 3 in the middle we'll have a ton of problems given Casemiro is playing but with just 2 in midfield we would be eaten alive in midfield.

 

[justsomebloke]

---------------------------DDG--------------------
AWB----------Varane-----Martinez--------Shaw
-----------------Mctominay—Fred—————
-------------————Bruno—————-------------
Antony-----——-Weghorst—------Rashford-------

Garnacho Ericksen Martial in reserve.

Weghorst played really well I thought.

Ericksen impressed be with his stamina against CP, I think though against arsenal he’ll be better coming off the bench as will Garnacho.

Really? I don't really see that. Not much involved in attacking situations, and certainly did not seem to provide much of a spark to how we functioned collectively in the final third. Of course, that was just the first game which you can't draw too many conclusions from, but I do not think that was a promising start. And certainly not one to warrant a starting berth in an away game against the league leaders. Martial is to my mind clearly a much better option, if he's fit. And if he isn't, then Rashford up front with Garnacho on the left looks like the obvious option.

Also don't see why on earth we'd rest Eriksen and play McFred in the midfield, if we're going 4231.

 

[DRJosh]

I'd stick Martinez in midfield with Shaw as CB alongside Varane. Only way we stop a lightning fast Arsenal

 

[justsomebloke]

I'd stick Martinez in midfield with Shaw as CB alongside Varane. Only way we stop a lightning fast Arsenal

I've been wondering if that's in the cards, when we need an alternative to Casemiro. Guess we're about to find out.

 

[Drizzle]

I know a lot of us armchair managers get excited about sticking Martinez in midfield but it's clear ETH is not interested in that. It'll be McFred and Eriksen midfield 3 with Bruno posted at RW.

 

[dal]

Really? I don't really see that. Not much involved in attacking situations, and certainly did not seem to provide much of a spark to how we functioned collectively in the final third. Of course, that was just the first game which you can't draw too many conclusions from, but I do not think that was a promising start. And certainly not one to warrant a starting berth in an away game against the league leaders. Martial is to my mind clearly a much better option, if he's fit. And if he isn't, then Rashford up front with Garnacho on the left looks like the obvious option.

Also don't see why on earth we'd rest Eriksen and play McFred in the midfield, if we're going 4231.

Martial is a complete liability, can’t be trusted, I think Ten Hag will agree, he could opt for Rashford up top however.

 

[yamo123x]

Need to stop Odegaard, everything goes through him and Saka.

 

[TheGodsInRed]

I hate to say it, but we need McFred back for this game. Can't get away with both playing Bruno and Eriksen without Cassemiro. Defense will be too exposed with Fred roaming as he does. Keep Fred on Odegaard and McT can watch the space when Odegaard takes him out of position.

Just need them both to have one of their rare 10/10 games.

 

[Ayoba]

We've run out of steam. Playing City then palace and now arsenal in a week is just too much for this team. Without Cas I dont think we stand a chance. Arsenal are flying and well rested.

A good battle but arsenal will come out on top, 2-0.

 

[Speako]

I'd stick Martinez in midfield with Shaw as CB alongside Varane. Only way we stop a lightning fast Arsenal

Yep, me too, 100%.

 

[justsomebloke]

Martial is a complete liability, can’t be trusted, I think Ten Hag will agree, he could opt for Rashford up top however.

Er, what? He's been very good this season and is seen by EtH as an important first team contributor, he's said so on multiple occasions.

 

[Member 125398]

Counter attacking masterclass with added shitehousing incoming. 3-1 United with an Arsenal red card.

 

[captaincantona]

I think ETH has this. Expect Shaw at CB and Martinez to step in for Casemiro with Fred and Eriksen in midfield and Bruno on the right again. Martial up top and Rashford on the left.

If we can get Garnacho on for a tired Martial a bit earlier to run at a tired fullback - he will make the difference.

I have no doubt - we are going to beat them. It’s gonna be a wonderful performance.

 

[justsomebloke]

I hate to say it, but we need McFred back for this game. Can't get away with both playing Bruno and Eriksen without Cassemiro. Defense will be too exposed with Fred roaming as he does. Keep Fred on Odegaard and McT can watch the space when Odegaard takes him out of position.

Just need them both to have one of their rare 10/10 games.

Yeah, because closing down the space is something McT does really well.

In my opinion, we're not straightforwardly more solid defensively with McT and Fred than we are with Bruno and Eriksen. It will be about composing the right balance and working collectively. 4312 would not be a surprise, with Eriksen as the "1".

 

[Sammy McIlroys fan club]

As has been said earlier this will be similar to the City game. Fred to man mark Odegard, McT in for Casemiro, he started against Arsenal in the win in Old Trafford as ETH mentioned after the Palace match. I don't think Martial will make it fitness wise so WW to start up front, his hold up play will be important as Arsenal will put us under a lot of pressure.

 

[Edwards6]

Need to stop Odegaard, everything goes through him and Saka.

Hopefully Fred man marking Odegaard like he did to De Bruyne

 

[prateik]

Arsenal have been great this season and they might beat us.. but I just cant take them seriously..

City, Liverpool... I'm nervous before those games. Arsenal.. not at all.

 

[Buster15]

Er, what? He's been very good this season and is seen by EtH as an important first team contributor, he's said so on multiple occasions.

Been very good is a bit of a stretch of the imagination. But hopefully if he plays, he will be as good as you claim he is.

 

[DRJosh]

Anyone reckon Sancho will be on the bench for this one?

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Ten Hag has said he does not view Licha as a defensive midfielder and he won't be played there.

 

[Champ]

Martinez will not start in midfield

If he did we'd get absolutely turned over!

 

[Lynty]

This is such a wank preview
Rashfords position is wrong and based on mental gymnastics from a ten hag statement.

Also he's not playing two left footers at holding midfield. Martinez hasn't played CDM for a long time.

I think they were more saying Rashford should be onthe right to exploit the space Zinchenko leaves when he drifts. Which is a fair point to make.

Martinez in midfield would be a surprise though, in such a huge game for us

 

[captaincantona]

Martinez will not start in midfield

If he did we'd get absolutely turned over!

I would try him in midfield before resorting to McT in that position. If we start with McT we need to play with Fred in next to him which completely negates Fred’s ability to press high and probably to keep tabs on Odegaard.
In short, McT in CDM changes our whole shape.

 

[Fingeredmouse]

Anyone reckon Sancho will be on the bench for this one?

I don't know, but we could really do with him back and in some sort of form.

 

[JustinC00]

-------------Rashford
----------------Bruno
------Eriksen-------McTominay
-------------------Fred
Malacia---------------------------Dalot
----------Shaw-Licha-Varane
-------------------DDG'


Subs: Heaton, Weghorst, Martial, Antony, Garnacho, Maguire, AWB, Lindelof, Sancho