Sideshow Luiz

Luiz is for sure starting. I think Pedro will be in for Willian, and Giroud will start. Expecting Kante and Kovacic in midfield. If Emerson starts, it means that Alonso was playing against Wolves because he's the rotation option (dare to dream).

First real test.

It's worse when you look at Gouendouzi playing so much for Arsenal. He's starting for them at OT.

Streaming this with the Arsenal-Utd match on the TV. The line-up surprises me. I thought Sarri would rest Kante for this match. I also thought that Emerson might start.

I never realized that he split opinion. I assumed that everyone knew he was class, on and off the pitch.

I posted my team line-up, but I was thinking.... Which match do we play our strongest team? Against City? We'd all take a draw right now, but 3 points against Wolves is essential.

I could watch that on my death bed and bring a smile to my face. My only regret is that I didn't buy one of their "Champions" T-Shirts that they were hawking before our match with them. I want one of those so badly.

I hate Liverpool. If Pickford was taller, he would have taken care of that.

I've been saying that TOO!!. People were going on and on about Arsenal having such a hard time trying to adapt to Emery after decades of Wenger. What kind of change? Playing from the back more? They weren't so different. We've gone from Jose and Conte to Sarri. arseanl also had the entire pre-season as they only had a few of their important players at the WC. Virtually our entire squad was there.

That's what I've been saying. We haven't made much progress since we started playing twice a week.

How the hell did Everton not score there?

Hazard - Morata - Willian RLC - Fabs - Kovacic Emerson - Luiz - Rudiger - Azpi Kepa Bench: Cab - Zapp - AC - Jorginho - Kante - CHO - Giroud Keep Kante and Pedro fresh for Man City, hopefully get Hazard off early.

I always root for a bus crash (between the 2 teams) that results in 0 serious injuries (because you can't cheer on injuries), just phantom niggles that won't allow players to play for the next 3-4 months. Always disappointed at kick off. Draw is the next best result.

The Emerson part is definitely popular. Zappa....I don't think it's a terrible idea in matches where we're going to have >70% possession, against real bus parking merchants.

No, neither do I. But, he's always the fullback on the bench. IIRC it's because of his "either sided-ness". You have to say though, he is the right option to have on the bench in order to change things up. If we're pressing for a goal, subbing him for Azpi is changing the game plan. Emerson for Alonso, is kind of like for like.

Zappacosta is usually the fullback option on the bench. Can play either side.

Yeah. It seems that Morata is a bench option, if you consider yourself to be a top club. Come on when you're up and the match is a bit stretched. That seems to be his role.

Had to miss this one. Sigh... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, I just saw that last night. Well, that's the whole game plan out the window.

CHO Morata Moses RLC Fabs Kovacic Emerson AC Cahill Zapp Kepa

No one is dumb enough to even come close to the wages he's getting.

I think he knows that.

There's no debate. That video looked better than most of his matches here, but it's still full of taking too many touches and late tackles. He would be even worse under Sarri-ball. No debate, he can leave. I wish him all the best, nothing against him personally. But, it would be better for his career to be at a different club.