Four points from two difficult fixtures this week is a good return. However, games are coming thick and fast at the moment so no time to dwell.
Fixtures
PL - 08/12/18 - Huddersfield Town - Home
EL - 13/12/18 - Qarabag FK - Home
PL - 16/12/18 - Southampton - Away
EFL - 19/12/18 - Spurs - Home
PL - 22/12/18 - Burnley - Home
PL - 26/12/18 - Brighton - Away
PL - 29/12/18 - Liverpool - Away
PL - 01/01/19 - Fulham - Home
FA - 05/01/19 - Solihull/Blackpool - Away
It will be interesting to see how Mr Emery uses his squad over this period. Expect the Europa game will see Koscielny, Monreal, Elneny and a lot of kids, while the Spurs game will probably see heavy rotation.
With Holding injured and Koscielny not ready yet, it is unlikely we will stick to 3 at the back for this weekends game. If Ozil is available then switching to 4-2-3-1 seems inevitable.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is a very useful player in this sort of situation, as he can fill in at left back, midfield or a wide attacking role.
We lead the stats in distances run during games, which raise the question of whether we can keep this up for the season. This period will be a test of this, and another question is if Torreira will need to be rested. In his first PL season, which is seen as tougher than Serie A, burn out is a possibility. The problem is, of course, he is very important to our play and has no real like for like replacement.
The likes of Bellerin, Mustafi, Xhaka, Iwobi and Aubameyang have also played a lot of minutes this season, so again Emery may be looking at drops in their workrate.
The next four PL fixtures look easy on paper, 3 of the bottom four to play, and maximum points has to be targeted. However, it is easy to come off two tough games and lose intensity and performance levels and be the victim of a shock result.
Intriguing period ahead of us.
The Christmas Schedule....
posted on 6/12/18
Comment Deleted by Article Creator
posted on 6/12/18
Dele boy
Is that as in Dele Alli who made six passes in the whole of the second half of which four were from kick offs? 👌
posted on 6/12/18
Comment Deleted by Article Creator
posted on 6/12/18
Dele Alli is so mediocre
posted on 6/12/18
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 6/12/18
Arise, Sir Jenkinson.
posted on 6/12/18
Gonna be a tough December. Luckily we've got the tough games out the way until the 29th. Just have to hope for no more injuries.
posted on 6/12/18
So Arsenal play Fulham on the 1st of Jan then have to play again as soon as the 12th of Jan? That's ridiculous. Don't other leagues get like 11 days off as a winter break to recover, where as in the Prem they have to play on the 12th after playing on the 1st. No wonder England didn't win the world cup with so little rest like that. Disgrace.
posted on 6/12/18
comment by Colin Boylan (U1734)
posted 28 seconds ago
So Arsenal play Fulham on the 1st of Jan then have to play again as soon as the 12th of Jan? That's ridiculous. Don't other leagues get like 11 days off as a winter break to recover, where as in the Prem they have to play on the 12th after playing on the 1st. No wonder England didn't win the world cup with so little rest like that. Disgrace.
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5th
posted on 6/12/18
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Colin Boylan (U1734)
posted 28 seconds ago
So Arsenal play Fulham on the 1st of Jan then have to play again as soon as the 12th of Jan? That's ridiculous. Don't other leagues get like 11 days off as a winter break to recover, where as in the Prem they have to play on the 12th after playing on the 1st. No wonder England didn't win the world cup with so little rest like that. Disgrace.
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5th
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Lol Aubamayang and the like will be shattered from checking the Solihul score on their phone from their lounger in Spain. It is something that is glossed over in this lack of winter break noise. All very convenient.