The 20/21 Season

Partey isn't a proper #6 either. He's more Vieira than Petit, if you will.

He is good at defending, though. His stats for aerial duels, interceptions and recoveries are all good (in the context of Atletico's system, at least). The real boon from this signing is the dribbles and take-ons. He trumps all our other mids in that.

So he's a player who can come deep to collect and then carry the ball through the lines which gives us an excellent alternative for when we can't pass out. He can break into the opposition half, has a good range of passing (he plays as a 10 for Ghana) and enough tactical understanding and discipline to position himself well in transitions. Simeone called him one of the best in the world at doing that.

He's a flexible players and that's probably why Arteta wanted him. He can play different roles depending on the situation e.g. if Ceballos goes forward he can drop in, or if Ceballos/Xhaka go deep he can step up. We've been crying out for a mid who can carry since Wilshere/Ox left too.

I'm not sure if his signing means an instant transition from back three to back four. The back three is part defensive insurance, part extra man during the build-up phase at the expense of an extra player during midfield consolidation/chance creation. It's a cover for the limitations of players like Holding, Luiz and Xhaka.

It's not really about formations with Arteta so that shouldn't matter much if it's 4-3-3 or 3-4-3. It's more about zones with him. I think he is really inspired by Pep's in-field wingbacks tactics so i really don't think he will be eager to go to a 4-3-3 anyways.

Although i wonder who gets benched between Xhaka and Ceballos?

I would try this on fifa

RealGunner wrote:It's not really about formations with Arteta so that shouldn't matter much if it's 4-3-3 or 3-4-3. It's more about zones with him. I think he is really inspired by Pep's in-field wingbacks tactics so i really don't think he will be eager to go to a 4-3-3 anyways.

Although i wonder who gets benched between Xhaka and Ceballos?

I would try this on fifa

Not really sure I am looking forward to that formation.

Saka wins his first England cap tonight. Playing LWB.

Maitland-Niles on the bench.

Eddie Nketiah has surpassed Alan Shear and Francis Jeffers as the record goalscorer for the England u21s.

City today.

Teams:

Leno; Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka; Pepe, Aubameyang, Willian

Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; Rodri, Bernardo, Foden; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling

Aguero


Interesting Arteta went with Auba upfront. No Luiz is a big concern

Good choice keeping Auba in the middle. Willian should be drifting in the centre with Saka providing width on the left side.

I have been fed all week, NoThomasNoParty

Late change: Holding tweaked his hammy during warm-up, so Luiz is in.

1-0 City. Sterling.

We had started pretty aggressively but we got the press a little wrong and left our defence isolated against City's forwards. Bellerin and Leno both suspect.

Two massive chances for Saka and Auba.

We're in this game. Just need the front three to up their games.

We're playing well. Could have been leading at half-time. Don't understand the complaints.

Yea it's a great performance.

I'd sub Willian or move him on the left. Not sure who would be better to bring Eddie or Lacazetet

Shit second half performance. Wtf was said at half-time?

Felt like we could have gotten something tonight but we were too scared to take risks in 2nd half. Also disappointing from Arteta to keep the same shape even while City were shutting up shop.

Not an ounce of creativity on that bench though lol.

I mean I was thinking it would be better bringing AMN than anyone else

Arteta is too scared to attack and impose our game on to the opposition. Also no one between the lines. A line of xhaka ceballos saka and then a line of auba willian pepe, between these lines was the city midfield and defence, hence no connection between our mid n fwd line.

Ceballos playing deeper than Xhaka on many occasion. Saka was playing with Mahrez. Willian playing a false 9 type role but not creating space for Auba or Pepe. Flase 9 should attract CB. LWB should hold RB and Auba runs in behind but it didnt happen once. But our LWB was in our own half marking mahrez. Whenever saka came forward with tha ball we came close to scoring

Although the quality of the opposition was enormous. We really could have gotten something out of the game. Saka and Auba chances were very good. The most problematic thing was that Arteta didnt respond, if he did it was to avoid another goal rather than exploit the opposition.

Gabriel is amazing. Bar a bad pass he was very very good. He can stabilize our defence. Him and Partey should enable Arteta to switch to back 4.

Saw a lot of positives even if we could have afforded to take more risks.

The fact that we're talking about this fixture as one where the points were there for the taking rather than an inevitable thrashing is (and no one likes to hear this after a loss) progress. Same goes to when we've played Liverpool as of late. The past six months + no fans have helped a lot and I think we'll be seeing better results and performances as the team continues to gel and Partey and Gabriel become established starters.

I'll be more concerned if we can't string results together against Leicester, United and Villa.

Team against Rapid Vienna tonight.

Leno. Luiz, Gabriel, Kolasinac, Cerdic, Elneny, Partey, Saka, Pepe, Lacazette, Nketiah.

Amazingly this can be a 4-4-2.

Nah, 3-4-3 all the way.

Yea Jay is right. Arteta wouldn't go straight to a 4-4-2. Interesting anyways, let's see how Eddie does in the Auba role.

We need to put 4 past them in either case