THIRD TIME'S A CHARM

Will Arsenals fortunes change in the league at the first time of asking?

Morning all, with Arsenal yet to get up and running in the league, could it very well be a case of third time lucky? Our last two league games have been uninspiring, but the lads did put in a performance again West Brom in the league cup to suggest, energy levels, confidence and cohesion could be returning to the team. All things that could be sucked away quickly in this game by doing something like conceding an early goal. No Raheem - Batistuta -Sterling - aerial displays today please.

It's well known that when Arteta comes up against Pep, he tends to over think things which makes for a very puzzling game, and again I believe in the last two against city we have seen a False 9 tactic poorly deployed. So can the penny drop this third time, and can we play with strikers to try an improve our negative goal difference. I think many fans who begged for us to play with a back 4 when the manager came in, would be okay with us reverting to a 3 at the back for this type of game. But would this be the tactical change Arteta is willing to make. Both managers seem to like engaging in mental chess for this fixture, only we lack the robust squad to back it up.

I’ve seen lesser teams get results from a City team busting with talent. Manage the first 20mins, keep compact, they grow frustrated and over commit and then hit them on the counter. We as Gooners know this game plan all too well, as even in our possession based, free flowing, free scoring days, Man United executed this plan on us every time. I've seen lesser teams to this to City, so we could too, no? I haven’t even touch on the fact it’s a Saturday lunch time kick-off, our favourite, yay!

I think the team line up will be a back 4 though. Tierney on the left, Mari, Holding, and Chambers on the right, with Leno returning between the sticks. Xhaka, Lokonga and I think Odegaard will make up the midfield as Odegaard was taken off kind of early in the midweek game. ESR could then be on the left with Saka on the right and Auba up top. However I think I'd prefer to see us play a 3 of Tierney, Mari and holding. Wingbacks of Tavares on the right and Saka on the left. Xhaka, Lokonga in the middle, with Odegaard and ESR playing ahead of them and Auba up top. Both teams have Pepe on the bench which seems harsh but, pepe, Laca, and Martinelli are still players I'd expect to make an impact from the side-lines.

Let's see how we fair, and at the very least see a performance full on effort and willingness to play, and impact the 90 minutes.