Loss Premier League: Manchester City 4 - 1 Arsenal | Wednesday 26th, April | KO: 20:00 BST | BT Sport

Last night was not good enough and we must not repeat the mistakes we made if we must get a result here. Even a draw will be good enough.

We just need to abandon our principle but you know Mikel will never do that. He's so obsessed with winning his own philosophy rather trying to be pragmatic.

Even Pep sacrificed possession when they came to the Emirates earlier in the year. We have to pragmatic. We have to protect Holding like a group of wildebeest would protect their youngest calf.

Prediction

Man city 0-1 Arsenal

COYG!

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

We'll need do something different here to be more solid defensively and more solid in midfield Partey RB Jorginho CM and White CB.

I'll go 3 at the back but that mean Ødegaard will be dropped that won't happen.

Ramsdale
White Holding Gab
Saka Partey Xhaka Zinchenko
Trossard Jesus Martinelli.

This will give us better control in midfield and be more solid defensively but Odeegard wont be dropped and Arteta likely wont try this

 

[Tir Na Nog]

Need to run City ragged in this. Press like made men and make them chase us all over the pitch when we have the ball. They'll be starting to feel it with all these games they're playing. Also need to make sure it's a tough game for them knowing they travel to Fulham a few days after.

Yeah I can see the argument for sitting back but it'll make City feel a bit comfortable if we just concede possession. We need to make it as uncomfortable for them as possible. As you say they're playing a lot of games even Pep has been vocal about his worries. I don't think we're gonna be favourites no matter what strategy we deploy but we need to show the energy and aggression which has brought us to the dance. I feel like any passive approach or overly defensive approach based on the opposition puts a negative mindset into the players straight away especially because we're not used to it.

 

[LuanNguyen]

Be pragmatic like the Fa cup semi-final.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Pressing city high works when you have Saliba but without him you cant leave Haaland isolated with Holding. We did well against them in fa cup until we made changes in 2nd half but things different now

 

[Tir Na Nog]

You can't just flick your fingers and become Simeone's Atletico. We never play pragmatically in terms of sitting deep, throwing in an extra defender, not pressing. We have to find a balance. I think of Liverpool game at the Emirates, we mixed it up but still pressed like animals. I don't think we can lose that because its part of the identity of the team. That's not saying press for 90 minutes but we cannot just allow them to be comfortable in possession.

 

[Nunowoolmez]

Pls pls pls do it. Eddie to come on to fluke a dramatic winner.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Is it time to switch to a double pivot? Our defence has been leaking, we need something to shore it up.

 

[celestis]

Theo doing the pep talk for Arteta

 

[Beany]

I have a feeling that if someone is going to be the hero it will be from an unexpected source - a Nelson, Eddie or maybe even ESR late on. Time to go all in on red…

 

[Sapient Hawk]

7th minute:

Rodri, against all odds, gets a red card for a disgusting tackle. Phillips has to deputize but, given he's been practically missing the entire season, is not operating in concert with the rest of his team-mates.

35th minute:

John Stones brings Martinelli down in the box for a penalty. City remonstrate with the ref but it's legitimate.

36th minute:

Martinelli tucks it away for his first goal from a deadball situation this season.

84th minute:

Saka bamboozles Laporte & sends the ball fizzing into the box for Trossard to nutmeg Ederson for a second that kills City.

Full time:

City 0 - Arsenal 2

 

[Riou]

This is probably the last game this season that kinda actually matters for Arsenal, tbh...so **** it, if this is to be the end this year lets go out kicking and screaming...death or glory one last time!

Lets win the latest meeting at their ****hole just like we won the first one...




...the thought of Jesus recreating that Freddie celebration with the fans as he bags the late winner

 

[Rasmi]

This will be such an anticlimax. We had to go there with 11 point advantage so they feel pressure. Now we have to win. I think it will be 4-1 with city missing a lot of chances. This team is done

 

[freeglennhelder2]

Start Trossard.

<EOM>

 

[asukru]

I don't care who starts as long as they put in a shift and show they want this! Our boys need to make things right here and I am sure they know that. I don't even care if it's a dodgy 1-0 win. I will take any scoreline and any win lol please guys get the job done and let's go on a run to cap off a crazy PL season.

 

[HaffBR]

Martinelli --- Jesus ---- Saka
----------- Ødegaard ---------
------- Partey -- Jorginho -----
Xhaka - Gabriel - Holding - White
------------- Ramsdale --------

Xhaka at least is good on the duels, I was think about Tierney too if Xhaka isn't ready or something.

Second half Trossard for Jesus.

 

[TheGreatWright8]

Theo doing the pep talk for Arteta

As nice as that is to hear from Theo deep down he knows he's talking ****e

 

[TheGreatWright8]

Defend like we have in the last four games and City will run riot prob 5-0, but in all seriousness that prediction can easily transition into reality knowing how leaky the defence is.

Arteta needs to tighten up big time.

 

[EmeryCouldnt]

I think the team should go the Amsterdam and have a mushroom journey to figure this game out. It’s our only hope.

 

[Farzad Stoned]

With Holding starting 5-1 City Haaland hat trick. We haven’t had an old school Arsenal CB comedy show and disgraceful romp for a season i suppose we are due.

 

[Farzad Stoned]

The guy has turned the entire defense, goalkeeper, and Partey into crap since he started. No joke i called Xhaka Chernobyl last year but Holding is worse than Mustafi. I hated Mustafi more than any Arsenal player but i would rather have Mustafi than Holding in this match. He can’t start for any premier league team