It has been a bad start to the season for the Gunners under their new manager Unai Emery. After a 2-0 loss to Manchester City on the opening day, Arsenal crumbled to a 3-2 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge despite showing a lot of character to fight back from two goals down.
As it stands, Arsenal have failed to collect any points from their first two games and this lacklustre start may come back to haunt them in the latter part of the season if they fall short of a top-four finish.
There have been some positives to take from the two games and Emery should be looking to experiment with his team dynamics to change the club’s fortunes. Arsenal face West Ham at home on Saturday and it si be a must-win game for Arsenal to bring their campaign back on track.
Arsenal were hit hard by the Achilles injury to their first choice centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who will not be available for selection before the end of this year.
Left-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles suffered a minor fracture to his left fibula and is expected to be out for about six to eight weeks. Sead Kolasinac is still nursing his knee injury and will not be back before October.
Emery does not have too many alternatives at the back to experiment with, due to injuries. This is how Arsenal should line up for their weekend clash against the Hammers.
The 36-year-old has been backed to retain his spot as Arsenal’s No.1 ahead of new signing Bernd Leno and the former Chelsea man has not disappointed. Even though he hasn’t particularly looked comfortable with his feet, he made a few good saves against Manchester City and Chelsea. He is expected to retain his position in goal.
The Spanish international made his first start of the season against Chelsea and looked quite composed and reliable at the back. Emery should be happy to play him, considering that Maitland-Niles and Kolasinac are both out with injuries.
The German has had a torrid start to the season and has looked very shaky at the back. He was turned inside out by the quick and pacy Manchester City attack in the first game. In the second game, he looked out of position at times and failed to combine well with his defensive partners. However, with Koscielny out injured, Mustafi will start.
The Greek hasn’t been very solid at the back but has done better than his fellow centre-back Mustafi. He has struggled against quick opponents and has failed to add that much-needed solidity to the backline. However, Emery is likely to hand him a start.
After a disappointing first game against Manchester City, the Spaniard showed some improvement in the second game. He needs to get better in terms of attack as well as the defence but is expected to start against West Ham.
The new signing has made a few mistakes but has made up for it with his work rate in the middle of the park. He was impressive with his pressing in the midfield and had a good outing against Chelsea. Emery should give him another start which will help the player to get accustomed to the playing style.
The Uruguayan should replace Granit Xhaka in the defensive midfield position as the Swiss international has had a very bad beginning to the season. He lost possession way too easily and failed to add any sort of cohesion to the midfield. Torreira has impressed by coming off the bench and has looked much more comfortable in controlling the tempo. Emery should hand him his first start of the season.
The Nigerian international was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up in the previous game but justified his selection by scoring a goal. Overall, he was impressive with his energy and made good runs in the attacking third. Emery should give the youngster another start.
The former German international had a bad time against Manchester City where he lost possession very easily but showed a little bit of improvement against Chelsea. Aaron Ramsey has looked decent as well but Emery should opt to start Ozil.
The midfielder has blown hot and cold so far. He did not have any significant impact in the first game but looked more proactive in the second game as he bagged a goal and an assist. Emery is likely to hand a start to the midfielder.
Read More: This could be the right time for Pellegrini to unleash his £22m star signing against Arsenal
Emery has backed the former Borussia Dortmund man to spearhead Arsenal’s attack ahead of Alexandre Lacazette but the Gabon international has failed to repay the manager’s faith in him. He has looked off-colour in both the games and has struggled with his finishing. Although Lacazette has looked more active coming off the bench, Emery is likely to start Aubameyang.
Experiencing a live football match in a stadium is genuinely remarkable. The atmosphere differs significantly from watching on a screen. The energy and excitement are contagious, immersing you in the game like never before. If you're gearing up for your inaugural football match, knowing what to expect is essential. The sheer intensity of being surrounded by hundreds or thousands of passionate fans can be overwhelming. To ensure you make the most of this unique experience, here are some tips for first-timers: Secure Tickets Early Getting tickets is crucial, especially for popular events like the World Cup or highly anticipated matches. Buying online is often the most convenient method. As the season progresses, ticket demand increases, leading to quick sell-outs. Prices can vary based on team popularity, stadium quality, and other factors. You can think about buying your tickets in cryptocurrency. Consider using USDT but first understand tether meaning to know how to go about it. If you have a specific team or player you want to see, plan accordingly by checking their schedule and securing tickets early for the best experience. …
FRANCE WIN 14-0 🤯Les Bleus score 14 (FOURTEEN) times vs. Gibraltar for their biggest-ever win.…
Aston Villa are having a very fine season so far in the Premier League. The…
The Premier League run-in, the backend of the title race for Manchester City sees them…
Everton is having a bad season so far, from their poor form in the league…
Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…