It’s morning everyone.
Today is Chelsea’s away game. This is a game we must win. It’s not just because Chelsea is a hated club around the world and beyond. It’s not just because Man City lost again and Liverpool won again. But it’s been so long since we picked up three Premier League points that the last thing we need going into Interlull is another game that causes two weeks of sadness and reflection.
So far there is no clue as to whether Declan Rice will play or not. A broken toe, even if it’s just a minor break, seems like a serious problem. I haven’t noticed any updates on social media from people around the team hotel about whether he’s there or not. It wouldn’t be surprising if he played, but if not, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was the catalyst for Martin Odegaard’s first start since an ankle injury. The captain could get the nod either way, but Rice’s absence will make his presence even more important in the midfield trio alongside Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino.
Further, or more accurately, focusing on scoring or not scoring. We closed the gaps at Newcastle and Inter, and I think the second half in Italy was encouraging enough, but we still have to work on those issues. A midfield reshuffle could see Mikel Arteta deploy Kai Havertz up front with Bukayo Saka and one of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus or Leandro Trossard on the wings.
I think the Belgium international is comfortable enough to rediscover his abilities on the bench. Because in recent appearances, it didn’t exist to begin with. Raheem Sterling is missing today. He must be one of two Brazilian players as he cannot play against his parent club. I think it’s more likely Martinelli than Jesus, but we’ll see if the manager decides the team needs something different. Time will tell whether it is better.
Chelsea will be difficult and dangerous. They show a lot of pace and quality in the final third. I fully expect Cole Palmer to play after his injury concerns and he is clearly a dangerous player for them. We’ll have to pay attention to the way he falls into space – whether deep or high. But I am sure his threat will make the manager aware of his team.
But it’s up to us to find a way to win this game. Arteta says:
Winning is the best formula for everything. For energy, faith, confidence, noise inside, noise outside. To gain momentum, create a positive environment around you. all. It helps everything, even if you don’t deserve it.
I hope we deserve it, but I wouldn’t care one bit if we win and don’t. Okay, I’ll care a little bit, but not a lot. But if that were to happen today, they would need to rediscover enough of what made this team so impressive last season to come away with three points. I don’t think we became a bad team overnight. But we are not as effective as we used to be and we need to move on again. Perhaps the return of Odegaard and additional creativity in the final third will be the spark.
It’s a lot to put on a player who has been sidelined for so long, but as we’ve seen during his absence his importance and influence really cannot be underestimated, so hopefully he’ll be ready to play if called upon from this afternoon onwards. And when necessary, Arteta relies on players who can do it in the final minutes of the pitch. We overwhelmed Inter Milan in the second half by replacing functional central midfielders with strikers, so I think we have something to learn.
okay. I’ll leave it there. you can join us live blog That includes stuff we’ll cover later and everything after the game. Arceblog News.
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