Morning all, and glad new yr.
We start 2025 with a tough away journey to Brentford. Regardless of a latest 2-0 defeat to high-flying Nottingham Forest, they’ve the joint finest house document within the Premier League, garnering 22 factors from their video games up to now – stage with Liverpool (and simply 1 level greater than us).
A characteristic of their performances at house this season has been quick begins and early targets, one thing we’d like to concentrate on, and it would inform our beginning XI to an extent. When he picks his staff right this moment, will Mikel Arteta carry Riccardo Calafiori again into the fold at left-back, or persist with Myles Lewis-Skelly? They’re going to share the video games in January, that’s a no brainer given how hectic the schedule is, however maybe sticking with the participant who has a little bit of kind and rhythm is likely to be the suitable name when dealing with Bryan Mbeumo on Brentford’s proper.
I think we’ll see a change in midfield, with both Thomas Partey or Mikel Merino most well-liked to Kai Havertz in there, however I anticipate the German to maneuver up entrance with Gabriel Jesus dropping to the bench. The damage state of affairs means we now have virtually nothing in reserve. Ethan Nwaneri was the one nominally attacking sub we had in opposition to Ipswich, and whereas that’s most likely a threat you may take for a house sport in opposition to a staff within the backside three, it’s worthwhile to have some strategy to change the sport in fixtures like this, so beginning Havertz and Jesus collectively doesn’t make sense to me until the Brazilian is chosen in one of many extensive positions.
That stated, I anticipate Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli to play on the flanks, and Arteta was fairly fascinating on the Belgian who he known as a ‘bit of a moaner‘ … however in a great way! These two are those on whom a heavy burden falls within the absence of Bukayo Saka. After all goalscoring is a collective duty, however their output this season hasn’t fairly been the place we’d need it, so upping that through the Zero Saka weeks goes to be essential.
I believe we are able to anticipate Brentford to press excessive, so which may present alternative if we are able to bypass it and use the house that leaves behind. They’re good at it although, they do in an brisk and coordinated means, and even in the event you do beat it, they’ve such good organisation they drop again rapidly and make it onerous to interrupt them down. This sport final yr was a battle, it took a really late aim from substitute Kai Havertz to take all three factors, and I don’t anticipate it to be any simpler right this moment.
Let’s hope we are able to kick off the brand new yr in the suitable means, with efficiency, however most significantly all three factors. This sport feels a bit bizarre, out on an island of types by way of timing, with everybody else having performed two or three days in the past. I don’t know if that makes it any tougher or pressurised, however it’s a bit odd. Anyway, it’s what it’s, we now have a job to do, so let’s hope we are able to do it effectively.
Proper, I’m gonna depart it there for now. We have now a preview podcast available right now on Patreon. Be a part of us later for live blog coverage, plus you’ll get the match report, aim clips, response, participant scores and rather more over on Arseblog News.
Till then!
