The Arsenal game (September 4th)

Suedesi

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So the Gooners are firing on all cylinders, leading the table after 3 games and the atmosphere around their club is overwhelmingly positive. Whereas we had two dreadful matches followed by a much needed tonic against the scouse and trending in the right direction.

We've got to play Southampton and Leicester but the game I'm really looking forward to is Arsenal at Old Trafford. I really think that match will set the tone for our season and shape the top 4 fight - also the transfer market will be closed by then as well so no more distractions hopefully.

I think it'll be good to see if Arteta is hype or the real deal but I'm fully confident we can smash them. Plus it's always fun to beat the Gooners in a match that might mean something for a change after a decade.
 
Suedesi said:
So the Gooners are firing on all cylinders, leading the table after 3 games and the atmosphere around their club is overwhelmingly positive. Whereas we had two dreadful matches followed by a much needed tonic against the scouse and trending in the right direction.

We've got to play Southampton and Leicester but the game I'm really looking forward to is Arsenal at Old Trafford. I really think that match will set the tone for our season and shape the top 4 fight - also the transfer market will be closed by then as well so no more distractions hopefully.

I think it'll be good to see if Arteta is hype or the real deal but I'm fully confident we can smash them. Plus it's always fun to beat the Gooners in a match that might mean something for a change after a decade.
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If we drop more points before then I'll not be looking forward to this one. Hopefully we are closer to them after 3 straight wins. Doubtful.
 
Arsenal have beaten who they should beat while we lost against who we should beat and beat who we should have lost against.

I'm not convinced by Arteta at all, the hype is pretty hilarious for someone who has won diddly squat.
 
Let’s take one game at a time, still a week or so of the transfer window and we’ve had one good performance whilst ETH is still trying to implement his tactics and system into this squad so for me I’m only thinking as far as Southampton.
 
Will be irrelevant unless we win the next 2 games before it which is unlikely.
 
My brother unfortunately is an Arsenal fan and it’s always a fun fixture when we play them. I’m hoping after the Liverpool game we’ve found our feet and start getting points on the table and smash those Gooners. Hopefully they go back to being Arsenal and have dropped points by then…
 
Leftback99 said:
It depends what you class as unlikely. Bookies put it around 26%.
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Well let’s hope Manchester United can cause an ‘upset’ then by recording shock victories over Southampton and Leicester.
 
It won’t be something to look forward to if we drop points v saints or Leicester
 
They have 2 extremely winnable games before us in Fulham and villa at home while we play Southampton and Leicester away. Good chance they're on 5 straight wins heading into our game, while ours are away and quite a bit harder. Long way to go but it'll be looking like a must win for us already to drag them back.
 
We can't look that far ahead. We don't even know yet who will be added to and sold from the squad (Arsenal as well), and injuries may crop up for either club, so it's way too early to be thinking about the Arsenal match.
 
Well I am a bit biased, but I assume both managers will be telling their players take it one game at a time, whilst also thinking ahead.

I think Arteta will be telling Xhaka and Odegaard to test out DDG with some long range speculative shots early in the game, which was something Liverpool didn't do surprisingly. De Gea must have been nervous going into such a massive game on Monday night after what had happened last time out, so I don't know why they didn't.

Many people are suggesting United will change tactics for the Southampton game, but I'm not so sure. ETH obviously told the keeper not to even try to mess about with it near his own goal and dropping Ronaldo and Maguire also worked too. So I expect the same again this weekend and whilst it continues to be successful even up to and including the Arsenal match, Casemiro for McTominay and Anthony up front though. Geckpo on the wing maybe? (I have just heard that Rangers have knocked his team out of the CL qualifiers, so he might want to go to you now).
 
Arteta seems a bit soft. He's done a great job with that team though, they might be a special group.
 
We need to get past the next 2 games and play the way TH wants us to play. That win on Monday was 90% oleball. TH wont want to change everything he believes in and I expect will revert to how we played Brighton and Brentford, but hopefully the first sign of madness rule doesnt happen.
Arsenal have built a decent team and if we can beat them, then we are back on track.
 
What hype is there around Arteta? I think he's done a good job but never seen anybody over hype him. Just reference to it on RedCafe.

They've outplayed us a lot of times in recent years, so it'll be interesting to see if we can assert dominance this time.
 
Leftback99 said:
It depends what you class as unlikely. Bookies put it around 26%.
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Considering there are 9 possible outcome-combinations in total, equal odds would be 100/9 = ~11%
LL
DD
LD
DL
LW
WL
DW
WD
WW

Bookies don’t think it’s as unlikely as you seem to think.
 
SuperiorXI said:
Arsenal have beaten who they should beat while we lost against who we should beat and beat who we should have lost against.

I'm not convinced by Arteta at all, the hype is pretty hilarious for someone who has won diddly squat.
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He won the FA cup
 
SuperiorXI said:
Mickey mouse. LVG won it and got sacked.

I'd take it at United mind... but it's not elite.
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Hadn't qualified for CL though had he. I'm curious to know if ETH has the same contract as they've all had since Moyes, get into the CL or lose your job. Some people say not, because he has such a big rebuilding job on his hands and he will get more time. But it wouldn't surprise me if the owners have got him tied to that non-negotiable target because 2 years running with no Champions League has big financial penalties does it not, to do with Adidas. Its also why they are going crazy in the transfer market now backing the manager 100% with Anthony and Casemiro and the ones from earlier in the summer too, so he hasn't got any excuses.

I think United will be fine for top-4 this season, I have a funny feeling Liverpool are going to have a terrible time as the players had so many games last season, possibly 7-10th for them. Spurs will be Spurs so a top-4 of Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Man United would be my prediction and possibly United above Chelsea in 3rd.
 
Want to beat these ****'s more than any other team

The most arrogant delusional fanbase of all PL teams. By far. Also the most arrogant delusional Manager that Ole has finished above twice but Arteta is the Messiah.
 
Man utd can easily beat the no3 to no7 clubs in the league when the players feel like rising up to the occasion.
 
Tigersam said:
Hadn't qualified for CL though had he. I'm curious to know if ETH has the same contract as they've all had since Moyes, get into the CL or lose your job. Some people say not, because he has such a big rebuilding job on his hands and he will get more time. But it wouldn't surprise me if the owners have got him tied to that non-negotiable target because 2 years running with no Champions League has big financial penalties does it not, to do with Adidas. Its also why they are going crazy in the transfer market now backing the manager 100% with Anthony and Casemiro and the ones from earlier in the summer too, so he hasn't got any excuses.

I think United will be fine for top-4 this season, I have a funny feeling Liverpool are going to have a terrible time as the players had so many games last season, possibly 7-10th for them. Spurs will be Spurs so a top-4 of Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Man United would be my prediction and possibly United above Chelsea in 3rd.
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I'm seeing it that way too, City running away with the PL trophy and Arsenal, Chelsea and United in that order to round out the top four -- with Liverpool getting their act together and possibly pushing United into fifth. Spurs have started well, but I'm not sold that they can sustain the kind of run they'll need be a top four club at the end.
 
Tigersam said:
Well I am a bit biased, but I assume both managers will be telling their players take it one game at a time, whilst also thinking ahead.

I think Arteta will be telling Xhaka and Odegaard to test out DDG with some long range speculative shots early in the game, which was something Liverpool didn't do surprisingly. De Gea must have been nervous going into such a massive game on Monday night after what had happened last time out, so I don't know why they didn't.

Many people are suggesting United will change tactics for the Southampton game, but I'm not so sure. ETH obviously told the keeper not to even try to mess about with it near his own goal and dropping Ronaldo and Maguire also worked too. So I expect the same again this weekend and whilst it continues to be successful even up to and including the Arsenal match, Casemiro for McTominay and Anthony up front though. Geckpo on the wing maybe? (I have just heard that Rangers have knocked his team out of the CL qualifiers, so he might want to go to you now).
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If we want to pressure De Gea we need to press him and force him to go long and give the ball right back. Not a fan of 'testing' keepers by shooting form range for the sake of it, sure if the shot is on take it, but I would rather we continue to isolate the opposition wingbacks against Saka & Martinelli.

My biggest concern is Partey who might not play. If not, Zinchenko next to Xhaka is a double pivot with Xhaka checking his runs forward. Tierney at LB and I think Tomiyasu should get the nod ahead of White at RB.

Hopefully United try and press us. We have more then enough technique to beat the press and get Saka and Martinelli away
 
Yeah testing De Gea by shooting from range is a great tactic, as De Gea is a terrible shot stopper :smirk:

(And I know Xhaka scored a flukey one 4 years ago)
 
Suedesi said:
Yeah testing De Gea by shooting from range is a great tactic, as De Gea is a terrible shot stopper :smirk:

(And I know Xhaka scored a flukey one 4 years ago)
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By my count Xhaka has three long range goals against De Gea. Most recent one was last year.
 
Last year we were AWOL collectively, so I don't recall. We generally beat you when it counts though, so I expect an Arsenal capitulation on Sunday
 
After Liverpool there’s no one in the league I enjoy United beating more than these lot. Hope we can smash them
 
If Maguire will plsy, we are fecked with all their movement and speed.
If not; we will trash them.
 
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