Friday, March 29, 2024

Xhaka and Tierney return, Lacazette ahead of Auba: Everton v Arsenal team news

Arsenal take on Everton tonight at Goodison Park, looking for three points after the disappointment of the Old Trafford game.

Here are the official line-ups.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Mina, Allan, Doucoure, Gray, Townsend, Gordon, Richarlison

Subs: Begovic, Kenny, Holgate, Delph, Iwobi, Tosun, Gomes, Gbamin, Branthwaite

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette

Subs: Okonkwo, Holding, Cedric, Tavares, Sambi, Elneny, Pepe, Nketiah, Aubameyang

Follow the game on the Arseblog live blog

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Jules

fuckin hell say what you will about Granit mans a fuckin beast…

Jules

“hoping to be back in full training by the new year” or smth like that. I mean well done is all i can say! hopefully the partey-xhaka duo does us well, it’s probably the most promising midfield duo we have and they’ve always done decently together. COYG!

Futsboller

Agreed, but damn, I don’t think this is at all fair to Sambi unless the latter is carrying a bit of a knock and needs a rest.

The lineup has to sting for Auba, too, but he knows why. I hope it sparks this team and the captain into their best form.

yen

Arteta has to put in some minutes into Xhaka’s legs before Partey’s departure to AFCON.

Yes, you could argue he could ease him into action more continually though.

Daveo

Don’t get it either (Sambi not playing). He was near flawless against Newcastle.

But I get the Auba swap. He shouldn’t just be picked because he’s fit. Form has to play a role.

Alan Sunderland

Sambi not playing is definitely a bit baffling. Maybe he’s not fully fit, he certainly didn’t do anything to get dropped.

Mpls

Sam I is playing well and earning his spot, but if we look at it objectively he’s probably way ahead of his expected involvement. It’s a very busy stretch, so he’ll definitely get his playing time.

Daveo

He’s 22yo. People treat him like he’s 16…

Brady’s bunch

If anything partey is lucky to be starting after the last game.

Daveo

Or it was the wrong decision to break up the konga-partey last game?

Tankard Gooner

GX might not play the full 90 today, at least I hope not. Sambi should be coming in the second half. Xhakha can be eased in over the whole of December now.. That’s sweet!

The Far Post

Think Xhaka would not last the whole 90. Looking for Sambi at half time or 60 min. Is ESR carrying a knock? Have not been following the news.

JP2

I believe it’s a possible groin issue

Man Manny

There are enough games to go round. Lokonga will have his fair share.
It’s not about fairness, it’s about getting Xhaka ready to contribute also.
I see reason with Arteta.

Bleeding gums murphy

It’s just mental for me. Lokonga has man of match performance against Newcastle and not started since. Xhaka walks (excuse the pun) straight back in.

Goonerink

I’m more surprised that partey wasn’t dropped for xhaka than sambi was

Daveo

Partey-Konga have been building something – a few bumps (liverpool) but some excellent games together. Almost like Arteta broke that up last game to open precisely this pathway for Xhaka…
I really thought Mikel was learning from his over-dependence on mediocre “experience”…[sigh]…

goonero

AMN hasn’t played a minute since he won MotM either. Pretty weird slecetion priorities from Arteta

DPK

AMN should be demanding a transfer. Waste.of his time staying if having done nothing wrong, he is behind someone as limited as Elneny again.

Daveo

We’re playing at an absolute snails pace in this first half. Pedestrian. Just asking to concede on the counter or through the press.

myrtle

Ohh dear me. No more Xhaka, please dear god above. It’s not even the new year. Win, lose or draw, I’ve had enough of this bloke in our shirt.
Typical Arteta rushing back his safety blanket after one defeat. Sambi has done nothing at all to deserve being dropped.

goonero

He has the tenacity of a venereal disease

Brady’s bunch

And the speed of a three legged dog

Daveo

And the temper of my older brother

Dinosauras

Saka also – always seems to be back playing after little injury scares

Gio

Is this a joke? Xhaka is really playing? wtf?

Paul

Xhaka? WTF?

C.B.

But ESR missing so we can’t do the Xhaka and ESR chant….

Karse

Quite suprised to see that many changes tbh

A M

good to see kt back! hopefully the xhaka-partey midfield works out well, and let’s hope we score 3 or more goals. don’t like the lack of goals even in games we comfortably win in, more goals are good for the goal difference and all
COYG 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Rocastle7

And just like that all Sambi’s good work is forgotten. Great to see Martinelli starting again tho and Laca up top, Come on you Reds

BigArse

Ahhh, just as I predicted.

Graeb

Can you let us know Lottery winning numbers too 😉

Mpls

Sure, I’ll get back to you right after the draw.

I’ll be Sam-Bert Lokonga

I hope it’s a win, not a draw.

Kenyanarse

Very very Interesting Lineup. Feeling Confident. Welcome back Xhaka

Dan

Xhaka starting? Blimey.
Glad he’s dropped Auba, it was justified. I don’t hate that front four

Rocastle07

Wow, was not expecting this line up, good see Tierney back, he will have something to prove, good to see Martinelli keeping he’s deserved place.

Graeb

Thought he might have tried Pepe up front or alongside Gabi. Fan of Laca but not sure he gets in box enough to hit with early passes.

Nate

LETS GOOOO!

Martin

Decent squad to win the game. I think Xhaka has been rushed. But good to see him on the pitch

Rocastle07

Who will be Captain?

Daveo

Who else!?

BongoGooner

Xhaka

Reiss Neverseen & the DicTeta

Most likely Lacazette

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

Wow! Obviously “non negotiable” doesn’t apply to Xhaka.
Mikel’s pet walks straight in.
Does the decline of our season begin here?

Futsboller

Huh?

Der32

The fabled Xhaka-Partey axis starts tonight. All will be well again.

Lacaubapepe

So much hate bruh

Viju Jacob

Arteta has a death wish everytime he plays Xhaka and doesn’t seem to learn his lesson. The last time he brought him in straight after a red card + Covid and the last got injured. This is getting ridiculous and God help us.

Daveo

It’s the type of decision that he cannot win with. With Xhaka our ceiling is very clearly capped (4+ years of evidence). Pick him and we have to win. If we win he’ll feel justified and keep playing him and we’ll fall back into this mediocrity of shaping a team around his strengths and weaknesses which limits how attacking we can be, forces us left and slows our tempo. Xhaka is the crystal meth of drugs: Once you’ve had it you can never stop even after years (3 month injury) without it

Bleeding gums murphy

Well said. Thought there were positive signs with partey and Lokonga. Liverpool withstanding

Mpls

Or, with a more settled defense behind him Xhaka’s passing might add the ability to play forward between the lines, supplying Odegaard, switching play, and giving the link to attack we’ve been sorely missing.

Honestly I don’t know which of these scenarios will play out. Probably neither.

Daveo

Konga has looked every bit the passer of Xhaka and 1000x more mobile. I’d pick him all day everyday if I had a choice between the two.

Mpls

Well, in hindsight of the last couple matches, throw Partey in that pot and then think about what ails our mids. Xhaka did more to calm that area in 1 match than Partey has in almost all his appearances this season.

Lokonga has more drive and energy for sure. I definitely want to see him play, and will be happy if he succeeds Xhaka. But he also has left us stretched a bit and unstable in the back at times.

Pescetarian

Hope we pile on the misery rather than help kickstart their season

Poisen

Yes to everything but ESR not in the squad. Hopefully it’s just so he can rest.

BongoGooner

Elneny over AMN?

Daveo

Weird.
Is Leno injured too?

Graeb

Yes, although the cynic in me sees a timely groin strain ahead of transfer window.

Tomaury Bischfeld

I like that he’s getting minutes because we will need him come January. Whether he’s ready for them we’ll see tonight. For me though the future is definitely not Granit Xhaka and if we think it is we won’t be getting very far.

JP2

Very pleased to see Saka in as well. I wasn’t looking forward to a lineup without either Saka or ESR starting

Graeb

and FA Cup starts away at Forest.

Graeb

OK, downvote me for trying to keep people aware of our next chance of a trophy🥴

Sak, Lac, and Xhak.

Possession

Don’t talk bollocks. 😉

Nostalgic Gooner

AMN not even in the squad. He could have been lining up against us today!

Graeb

Just like Iwobi isn’t?

kasgood

Might well be later in the season along with Leno – somewhere

Teryima Adi

Where is Leno?

Reiss Neverseen & the DicTeta

Groin injury.

Reiss Neverseen & the DicTeta

What kind of internal procedures do they have at the PGMOL?

Mike Dean, a Tranmere Rovers fan, is refereeing a league game involving another Merseyside club. Not that it’s THAT big a deal but I thought match refs were limited to only officiating games outside of their fan-hood rivalry.

Walter White

Smith rowe out with injury? Hopefully just a precautionary measure

Kostas

Leno out?

Mpls

I think he wanted out in the summer window.

Cdm995

Can’t explain it but for some reason when I saw Gabriel I thought Paulista. That was a really scary few seconds.

Brady’s bunch

Back to playing horseshoe football I see

Bergkamp2wright

So dull.

Brady’s bunch

KT looks well off the pace.

Bleeding gums murphy

Arteta actually sent out nketia to warm up when saka was injured. What a fucking this man is

Torterrier
Bergkamp2wright

Trying our best to gift them a goal.

Deano

Thinking of walking out, dire first 27 minutes.

Deano

Disgraceful, how that is not a red is unbelievable.

Brady’s bunch

Mike dean

Deano

Attwell a joke to.

Bleeding gums murphy

Arteta is a joke.

Kostas

…aaaaaand then the goal is disallowed
……aaaaaaaand then we score….
Was it our first shot?

Kostas

If he doesn’t cut off a limb it doesn’t count

Daveo

Just a flesh wound

Naked Cygan

Wow!! What sh it tactics… everything is going wide…so predictable.

We used to attack.

Why is Mike Dean allowed to referee Arsenal? They could be given a penalty.

Jfmgunner

I love the effort Tavares has put in but hes still raw and for a while I’ve said I want the solidity and safety of Tierney back at RB. His crossing is one of the best attacking weapons we have. Its invaluable and leads to goals consistently. He has to start. But Tavares is no slouch and its incredible to have that depth.

Alan Sunderland

Think Martin Tyler’s going to cry

Daveo

Xhaka very lucky that goal was 2 inches off side. He was a pilon in the build up to that.

Alan Sunderland

He was mia

Daveo

And an absolute pilon for the winner. So glad he’s back.

Alan Sunderland

The winner was all about Gray, sometimes the other team plays better. Everton would have been very unlucky not to win the game.

Sagebrush

Yellow to Xhaka

Bleeding gums murphy

How can nketia come on in front of Pepe and Aubamayang. He ain’t good enough as it is and he leaving. Mental

Sagebrush

Wonder why he has sidelined Pepe for so long

Lacaubapepe

Replace Xhaka with Sambi now before a 2nd yellow, Arteta

Bleeding gums murphy

Replace Arteta me thinks

SarcasmB0t

If only our manager had had your foresight…

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