Match Thread Arsenal v Everton KO Sun 23 Sep 2018 4pm

[Ron Burgundy]

Playing our bogey team at our bogey ground, maybe this will be the day we break the duck.

Oh my mistake this is Everton, we don’t do that.

Summed up perfectly at the end there.

 

[eamo]

Always hate playing the arse since they have always been so much better than us. Big test for Silva to get us playing and have a go at them. Not expecting any points just hoping for a good performance.

 

[billyblue80]

I think we are getting beaten we never do well at Arsenal and the team is still like a jigsaw puzzle with the pieces scattered everywhere and some still unfound.

 

[billyblue80]

Surprised Marco hasn't played more of a flat three in midfield as he did at Watford. Our midfield is just wrong,personally I'd play Davies for his engine.

 

[Jeff Jones]

I can't think of any reason to think Everton will get anything from this fixture.

 

[efcjames]

I can see it being a similarly awful game to last seasons, just with us putting in more attacking effort

 

[BainesontoastNEW]

I can't think of any reason to think Everton will get anything from this fixture.

You're not on your Jeff Jones with this opinion.

 

[Blue Juice]

I hate playing on a Sunday as it is and I feel like what we're likely to serve up tomorrow is going to make it even worse

 

[boris]

I think we’ll win and I’m looking forward to it.

I’ve eventually got back to enjoying the games again after last season and I’m quietly confident I won’t be on the M6 before half time, as I was last year.

 

[nsno-chris]

The day that Arsenal’s attack clicks.

Damage limitation from the get go

 

[Blue Roo]

Let me get this straight. You want to play a diamond in midfield with Schneiderlin at the base because he’s good in the air? Because that’s necessary in a diamond midfield? There’s no way to play a diamond without a player at the base that isn’t good in the air? I’m sorry, but that’s just silly. Regardless, any formation that atttenpts to accommodate Morgan Schneiderlin in any way isn’t the right formation for us, that I am confident of.

Behind that, you think Davies, Gana, or Sigurdsson would play on the right? Have any of those players EVER played on the right?

Even beyond that, Silva is going to play with 4 in the back, he’s going to counter as that’s pretty much what he does, and he’s going to play 3 in midfield. He might play with a 6, 8, and a 10, he might play with two more box to box players and a 10, but that’s what’s going to happen. So not sure why are even discussing it.

Even MORE beyond that, there are a TON of variants of any formation so to declare a diamond midfield any more difficult to master than a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, which virtually every big team in the PL plays, is nuts. Cryuff played with a diamond all the time and it was absolutely every bit as difficult to play as Marco Silva’s counter attacking 4-2-3-1.

Hmm. Ok.
1. Y, the diamond can be played in many ways.
2. It's an advantage to have someone who is good in the air in that position esp if you have wing backs like Digne and Kenny and therefore aren't playing a flat back four. MS isn't that special in the air but he's better in the air than Gana - if you go with the sort of diamond I was describing. We currently have only 2 DMs. Not rocket science.
3. Right now I'm really hoping MS goes out and has a good game. He's not the answer to a top 6 posi, thats for certain. But any one that pulls on the blue shirt, when many wouldnt, deserves support. Even though it was a shambles, there's pride in the club to be had out last weekend as well - certainly a week of mixed emotions.
4. It's worth talking about and considering formations/tactics, not just because its what we as supporters who love the complexities and nuances of the game enjoy, but also because at this time the current system has led us down a very frustrating and demented cul de sac. Just going round and around. Discussing it at least provides one type of therapy for the tragic.
5. Silva hasn't played a proper counter all season. It's been slow, ponderous, agonising build up - the exact opposite of.
6. The right (or left) of the diamond in this type relies on Kenny and Walcott to provide the attacking width, while he preferably occupies the inside/half space of that combination. It's his job to get the other two in 1v1 situations not to run the chalk himself. So yes, Gana, Davies have played that role often, albeit in diff systems.
7. We'll have to disagree on the merits of the 4-2-3-1.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

Feel like we’ll get battered here but think Richarlison will score first. Similar to Rooney last season. Can see a 3-1 or 4-1 loss.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

The biggest worry against Arsenal will be our midfield 3 of Sigurdsson, Gana and Schneiderlin. Sigurdsson is the one first left by the way, the one who is hiding.

 

[Jamiednm]

I'm looking forward to not watching this. I suspect it will be a routine bumming for the boys in blue.

Just get to 40 points then move on - that's the motto for this season.

 

[RichardP]

The problem with being a blue is that we always live in hope, always believe that 'this is the game where we turn the corner', 'this is the game where our new signings click', this is the game where we break our winless run at Arsenal etc.

Let's be honest. It's not going to happen is it!

But I shall still be glued to Astro Super Sports 3 in Penang just hoping that 'maybe this time!'