PB

Surprised we've not leaned into the freshness of Trossard and Gyokeres.

Saka, Merino, Eze front three lacks pace to threaten Villa in behind.

Arsenal down to Marli Salmon (who just turned 16) as only backup defender.

All new back four again.

White having to do back-to-back 90s.

Going away to Villa.

Crazy considering the defensive depth we had.

Saturday is about these two 🪄

Against the backdrop of a mishmash defence and tired midfield, Ebere Eze and Bukayo Saka are fresh and capable of moments of magic to get us the points.

🙏 to Liverpool for taking points off Sunderland

MLS & White can have the Brugge game, and at least one of them the Wolves (h) game next week too. That's the chance for those players to sit down.

Give White the starts vs. Brugge & Wolves (h). Shown he can do it today and let Timber fully sit down next week.

I'd give Norgaard those two games too.

Gyokeres back should allow for Merino to deputise more Rice minutes (might need to do just that on Saturday).

vs. Villa

Raya
Timber Saliba Hincapie Calafiori
Zubi Rice
Saka Eze Leo
Gyokeres

Fingers crossed on Rice, Saliba and Leo

I know Merino is on fire, but we need freshness in front of Rice-Zubi to help them. That would be a completely fresh front 4.

So much to digest from that:

🔹O & White come through strong with 90 mins under their belt
🔹Clean sheet with a much-changed defence, Raya brilliant
🔹Saka, Eze only 30 mins

🔸Rice, Mosq injuries
🔸Rice, Zubi look tired & needed on Sat early kick-off

Villa have won 12 of their last 14 games. Next up for injury-depleted Arsenal, Villa (a).

I cannot express how much relief I felt when that Saka goal went over the line

This had all the ingredients for a late sucker-punch

Sitters missed by Merino and Saka

Tired midfield getting stretched

Extra injuries and all change in defence

Brentford set-piece threat

😅

Hincapie and Timber are wide CBs or FBs. We're now having to play without an out and out CB and a brand new pairing, again.

Let's hope Saliba is back for Saturday.

Our three out and out CBs all injured. What is going on man.

Fabulous work from the fresh right-hand side of Madueke and White, the latter grabbing a brilliant assist for Merino who heads in decisively again!

Our greatest bench of all time?

Would like to have seen one of Eze/Saka on the wings, and Gyokeres start but otherwise happy with the XI.

Not convinced Odegaard/Merino pair gives us enough central force.

Important Martinelli and Madueke perform, big opportunity for them.

Bournemouth are quietly on a terrible run. Down to 14th. Chelsea & Man Utd next.

Seeing far too much complacency for tomorrow's game. So much change already at heart of our defence.

I'd keep changes to Odegaard & Gyokeres + Saliba & Leo (when fit) to come in over the next two, then use Brugge & Wolves games as chance to significantly reduce load on likes of Timber, Saka, Rice.

I think he could work well in the Rice role and also alongside Rice in more of a double pivot.

MLS weaknesses
Crossing, Defensive awareness, 1v1s (all key from our LB)

MLS strengths
Ball carrying, key passes, athleticism (all key from our CMs)

When you look at the lack of relief available to Zubimendi and Rice and the quality at LB in Calafiori, Hincapie, (Timber) + couple that with the struggles MLS has at LB (1vs1, defensive awareness), surely it is worth giving MLS some midfield time?

Didn’t count him as arrived into the season

True, I forgot Merino though

Rice, Timber, Zubimendi and Calafiori are the only Arsenal outfielders that have not been injured this season. We are only 13 games in.

Timber has stopped Gyokeres scoring a last kick winner.

Like the Sunderland draw, Arsenal inches away of winning at the death.

Gutting.

How on earth was there only 4 added minutes in that second half?

Ref will be desperate to even it up, so those on a yellow have to be extremely careful.

Might be worth removing 1 or 2 on a yellow, Odegaard for Zubimendi?

Good game state to have Gyokeres and Jesus back on the bench.

To have the best CB partnership in Europe out, so we have to play a duo who have had one game together to date, sums up our luck.

But we still have lots of quality. Great to see Jesus and Gyokeres back on the bench.

To have the best CB partnership in Europe out, so we have to play a duo who have had one game together to date, sums up our luck.

But we still have lots of quality. Great to see Jesus and Gyokeres back on the bench.

They'll play together centrally at times, and Eze minutes from the left but

Eze & Havertz
Odegaard & Gyokeres

Pairings in the #10 and #9 could be so good, compliment each other really well

Next 6, Sunday is huge.

Between Brugge / Wolves games, there big chances to rotate. Need to get some on the fringes up to speed.

xG
Arsenal 2.72 - 0.69 Bayern

Big chances
Arsenal 7-1 Bayern

Massively deserved Arsenal win, fantastic performance, particularly second half.

Last season we run Saka into the ground til 90 mins, ultimately degrading his overall performances and increasing his injury risk.

This year we have game changers on the bench.

All this with all three of our strikers still out injured btw.