08 Jan 2024 09:14:45
We will probably miss Endo more than Salah. The midfield yesterday wasn't great and persisting with Macca as a 6 will cost us. Front 3 without Salah was cemented in the second half, Diaz on the right, Nunez on the left, Gakpo through the centre and Jota to replace Gakpo or Nunez depending on game on 60 mins. Elliot is sub for the right wing. Without endo we just can cope with him in midfield unless we play 2 number 6’s in a 4-2-1-3. Elliot could play the 1.

1.) 08 Jan 2024
08 Jan 2024 10:10:36
Trent can replace Endo with Bradley at RB. Think I would prefer to see jota starting than Gakpo. Best finisher we have and good in the air.

2.) 08 Jan 2024
08 Jan 2024 10:13:14
We will miss Endo for sure but Macca or Arnold can do the job until his return.

It doesn't sound like a top class DM is available in January so we trick on with the options we have. They are still good options.

Plus I don't think Macca was that bad yesterday. I think it was more the dynamic with Gakpo in there and the press was off in the first half.

Once the press improved and Elliott replaced Gakpo, it all looked a lot better.

I much prefer Macca as an 8 too but I think I'd pick him at 6 myself in this spell until Endo comes back. Endo then takes back the spot. I'm not going to argue with people that say Bradley should come in at RB and Arnold to 6. It's a close call for me.

3.) 08 Jan 2024
08 Jan 2024 10:15:31
Macca's big weakness is people running at pace. He is good at other aspects, and his quality on the ball is especially useful. I don't think we will be tested as much defensively in the coming games as we were yesterday and hence he is bound to have better games. Further, it's pertinent to remember he just returned from injury. Also, Dom and Jones alongside him would help a lot, as both are physical beasts with never-ending energy.

4.) 08 Jan 2024
08 Jan 2024 11:52:46
I agree with everything that Kop Army has just said, adding only that I thought Mac Allister had a good game yesterday.

5.) 08 Jan 2024
08 Jan 2024 12:25:06
Let’s not forget Virg was missing yesterday. Endo has had some good games but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

6.) 08 Jan 2024
08 Jan 2024 12:50:36
I would play jones DM. Macca lacks pace and also really struggles when being receiving the ball and being pressed. Far too slow and weak - has been all season and not just yesterday. Much better receiving the ball in the pockets than with his back to goal.

7.) 08 Jan 2024
08 Jan 2024 12:57:34
The reason we struggled at first in midfield was due mainly to Arsenal's press which affected the way we wanted to build up from the back and led to the likes of Gomez, Quansah and Macca dwaddling on the ball a bit too much. I was not surprised with Macca as he is still coming back from injury while the rest just seemed to take a while longer to get a grip with the pace and intensity Arsenal brought in the first half, IMO.

Now as soon we came back from half time, our press was a lot better and Arsenal clearly could not sustain theirs anymore and with us going long to Darwin out wide, their press started to wane and it eventually fizzled out. We smelt blood and pounced after that.

At then of the day, we were resilient and disciplined in that first half and never lost our heads under pressure and played well enuff in that second half to create real, clear cut chances to win the game as the tactical changes and subs helped. On to Fulham on Wed.

8.) 08 Jan 2024
08 Jan 2024 14:01:18
The defenders were too slow to pass through the lines in the first half. They got the ball of Ali, hesitated and you could see the entire Arsenal team move up as a unit to put the press on.

Second half we started to pass it into midfield much quicker, before they could initiate the press and when we couldn’t we had Nunez out wide to hit the channel as an out ball.

You could physically see the belief draining from the Arsenal players as they started to chase shadows and by the 70th minute we were well on top with only Liverpool looking like winning the game.

We could even afford to blood a couple of Academy players and maintain if not increase our superiority. A great performance and a great result against all the odds.

9.) 09 Jan 2024
09 Jan 2024 10:14:59
Given Bradley played very well when he came on, would any of you advocate for Bradley at rb and Trent as cdm for a few games?

Might see us hold the width a bit better without the inverted role Trent does, as Bradley would be more of an attacking but proper rb - also it moves Trent into midfield then

Up front, I do like Nunez I have to say even if his goal output isn't as good as it probably should be - that being said, he works so hard for the team and his movement and workrate does cause issues with the opposition defence thta can be then taken advantage of. Was good to see the front ones rotate though in the Arsenal match, that alone can cause issues with defenders marking.