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ByTony Attwood
Really sorry about the delay in bringing this post, because of technical issues. But here we are…
Arsenal are reporting on Saka’s availability: “It’s not a serious injury. He’s evolving really well. He’s done a few things in the last two days. He wasn’t fit enough to play with the national team the second game but we are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon, he did some bits yesterday, so let’s see if he can make it on time.”
on Havertz’s fitness:
“He had a few issues and we’ve been dealing with that. He’s been absolutely brilliant, he has very good communication with the national team, with the manager. They understood the situation, we modified everything that we could do here and again if he trains well today he’s got a good chance to be fit and available.”
on Martinelli:
“Well with Gabby he landed yesterday afternoon here so we have very short time to be with him. Yesterday he went outside to do a little bit and see how he’s feeling. Again today will be another step to understand whether we want to take the risk if he’s fit because I know what the player is going to say – ‘I’m going to be fit for sure’.”
on White, Timber and Zinchenko:
“They are quite close, the three of them. Again today we’re going to have to try to push and see how it is because obviously we are getting stronger with the numbers, especially in our right side, but hopefully we have some positive news today and we have some players back for tomorrow.”
on Partey’s fitness:
Yes. Thomas is fit, yes.
The Guardian offers us by way of the team
Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Calafirori
Jorginho Havertz Rice
Saka Trossard Martinelli
although the way they space it out on the page 4-5-1 formation rather than the 4-3-3 that we are used to.
They then give us the substitutes list as being selected from Porter, Heaven, Kacurri, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Merino, Nwaneri, Partey, Jesus, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, with Neto being unable to play against his parent club.
Sports Mole have a nice line with “Top-half teams have proven to be the Cherries’ kryptonite in recent times”. “Cherries’ kryptonite” is not a phrase I have come across before but I guess we know what they mean.
They go for a 2-0 win for Arsenal with a team sheet reading
Raya;
Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori;
Merino, Jorginho, Rice;
Saka, Jesus, Trossard
so they reckon Havertz is not ready to play – and indeed nor is Martinelli. But Sports Mole’s readership have been voting 84% expecting an Arsenal victory.
Fantasy Football however goes for Arsenal suddenly opting for a 4-4-2 line up
Raya;
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori;
Trossar, Rice, Merino, Martinelli
Havertz, Jesus
For what it is worth I would expect 4-3-3 as usual, sine all the reserve players will be used to playing that and that’s why we have a 25 man squad.
