Arsenal 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[CSA96]

So...

[CSA96]

 

[trousers]

[beatlesaint]

RM will be absolutely gutted by this news !

[Football Special]

9-0 

 

Only joking, we're due a league win away at Arsenal 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Bizarrely as there’s no chance of winning, this is one game where 70% possession would be a good thing to stop an absolute flood of goals against, so I’m fully on the Russball bus.  With no Captain Jack to select we might see the dependable Manning re-introduced as he knows how to pass backwards and sideways very reliably thus proving we have the players to execute Russ’s master plan.

Can’t see any hope of us scoring a goal so… 5-0 Arsenal. It’s going to be ugly.

[bangkoksaint]

I feel sorry for those that have spent their hard earned to go and watch this. 

[bpsaint]

I believe the appropriate term is “going in dry”.

[Andy Hill]

This is when we go bottom (and stay there).

[djg]

Arsenal -4 at 5/1 .... Got to be worth a few quid on that

[Baird of the land]

Abk in to a back 5. Hopefully a recall for Kwp too. 

[Turkish]

Who else is buzzing for this one? Great game of premier league soccerball against the Gunners of London. What an opportunity to play this great side in the amazing Ashburton stadium one of the Europes finest stadiums, where i understand the refreshments are champions league level. 

 

last time we played there after re-promotion we got served up 6-1, pretty sure it was 5-1 at half time. I spent the second half down stairs in the bar with the DEF, part of me sadistically not wanting to leave early in case we saw a record defeat. Maybe we will see a premier league record set on saturday, which would be an honour to hold another record in the worlds finest soccerball league.

[Football Special]

50 minutes ago, bangkoksaint said:

I feel sorry for those that have spent their hard earned to go and watch this. 

Don't feel too sorry for us, it's a day out with your pals have a few shandies in some good old London pubs, the game is just part of the day 

[AlexLaw76]

Gabriel and/or Saliba to score from a routine set piece

[Football Special]

4 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Who else is buzzing for this one? Great game of premier league soccerball against the Gunners of London. What an opportunity to play this great side in the amazing Ashburton stadium one of the Europes finest stadiums, where i understand the refreshments are champions league level. 

 

last time we played there after re-promotion we got served up 6-1, pretty sure it was 5-1 at half time. I spent the second half down stairs in the bar with the DEF, part of me sadistically not wanting to leave early in case we saw a record defeat. Maybe we will see a premier league record set on saturday, which would be an honour to hold another record in the worlds finest soccerball league.

Remember that one mate, think Yoshida came on for his debut and had to be shown where to stand for a corner, some of the defending was up there with what we've seen this season 

[Sheaf Saint]

Urgh. Do we have to? Can we not just forfeit the match and take the 3-0?

[Turkish]

15 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Remember that one mate, think Yoshida came on for his debut and had to be shown where to stand for a corner, some of the defending was up there with what we've seen this season 

yep that's the one, first visit to their new ground. Really good day on the beers with the lads but we were absolutely dreadful, defending was shambolic. Forgot about that with Yoshida but that is true, that did actually happen 🤣

[Suhari]

This could be an absolute confidence-crusher. Best to get rid of RM beforehand and treat it as a free-hit.

[Jack]

16 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Urgh. Do we have to? Can we not just forfeit the match and take the 3-0?

I’d 100% take a 3-0 defeat at this stage 

[Midfield_General]

Any sensible person would abandon any thoughts of trying to play out against their world-class energetic press, put nine men behind the ball, station someone quick on the half-way line to try and nick a breakaway, and just try to get out of there without a humiliation so we can move onto trying to get something from the Leicester game. 

After last night's absolute shambles, Christ only knows what Russ will do. He's lost the plot, so if he sets us up in a mental way, we concede early and our heads go down again they like keep doing, then it could be a cricket score if they're in a ruthless mood. I hope we're keeping Ramsdale wrapped in cotton wool this week because he might be the only thing keeping it vaguely respectable. 

Genuinely dreading it now. 

[Disco Stu]

To be at least competitive you need to keep a disciplined shape and hold a defensive line. Russell doesn't know how to coach that so I'll go 5-0 Arsenal.

Edited 1 October, 2024 by Disco Stu

[Galway saint]

At the moment we average a goal every other game so would rather save our goal for the Leicester match as might be of more use 

[Mr X]

4 minutes ago, Galway saint said:

At the moment we average a goal every other game so would rather save our goal for the Leicester match as might be of more use 

I'm not sure it will be much use when we always score less than our opponents! (Ipswich aside) 

[Nemi]

It will be our best performance of the season, we’ll go toe-to-toe with Arsenal and we’ll get the first goal. Martin gets kept on for another week.

Final score: Arsenal 2 (Saka 87, Trossard 90+5), Southampton 1 (Downes 12)

Edited 1 October, 2024 by Nemi

[Lee On Solent Saint]

This could be horrific. Arsenal will see this as a massive opportunity to improve goal difference. That could be the deciding factor for the title this season. 

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, Baird of the land said:

Abk in to a back 5. Hopefully a recall for Kwp too. 

I didn’t realise it was possible to disagree with such a short post three times, but I do.

[Pamplemousse]

We'll do what Rotherham did to us last season... maybe?

Or maybe not. 6-0.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

1 minute ago, Pamplemousse said:

We'll do what Rotherham did to us last season... maybe?

Or maybe not. 6-0.

Well thank fuck you haven't done your usual thing and predicted us winning easily which usually means the opposite happens. Take note Dave Fizzy 

[chownie20]

433

 

Ramsdale

 

KWP (toss up with Suga)

THB

Janny B

Taylor

 

Lallana (Les off bench)

Downes

Fernandes

 

Dibling (Arma off bench)

Tall Paul / Drogba / BBD / Pelle / SRL

Archer (Fraser off bench)

 

 

[Baird of the land]

19 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I didn’t realise it was possible to disagree with such a short post three times, but I do.

Fair enough. Imo we showed more defensive stability with 5, which seems the pragmatic priority away to one of the top 3.

[LGTL]

This could be anything. 5/6/7 entirely possible. What’s the fucking point?

[CB Fry]

We were playing some nice stuff before their fifth went in. And then half time disrupted our flow a bit.

[ErwinK1961]

2 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

Any sensible person would abandon any thoughts of trying to play out against their world-class energetic press, put nine men behind the ball, station someone quick on the half-way line to try and nick a breakaway, and just try to get out of there without a humiliation so we can move onto trying to get something from the Leicester game. 

After last night's absolute shambles, Christ only knows what Russ will do. He's lost the plot, so if he sets us up in a mental way, we concede early and our heads go down again they like keep doing, then it could be a cricket score if they're in a ruthless mood. I hope we're keeping Ramsdale wrapped in cotton wool this week because he might be the only thing keeping it vaguely respectable. 

Genuinely dreading it now. 

I think it’s pretty obvious really. He’ll understand that we need to be ultra aggressive defensively against such a tough opponent. Therefore he will name 7 defenders on the bench to demonstrate this, whilst naming only 1 in the starting XI.

[SaintsBarry74]

I'm worried about this game. I'm not sure we'll 'dominate' possession against these.

[Oldandtired]

Watching the Arsenal PSG game what is already obvious is how well and in what numbers Arsenal press.

Gulp…

[derry]

3 hours ago, Football Special said:

Remember that one mate, think Yoshida came on for his debut and had to be shown where to stand for a corner, some of the defending was up there with what we've seen this season 

Didn't he come on at full back.

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, Oldandtired said:

Watching the Arsenal PSG game what is already obvious is how well and in what numbers Arsenal press.

Gulp…

It's fine. Russ has told us before that he doesn't need to do his homework on our upcoming opponents, and that all we need to do is focus on playing our own game.

Nothing to worry about.

[VectisSaint]

3 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Gabriel and/or Saliba to score from a routine set piece

Sadly Jimmy is no longer with us.

[Harry_SFC]

22 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

It's fine. Russ has told us before that he doesn't need to do his homework on our upcoming opponents, and that all we need to do is focus on playing our own game.

Nothing to worry about.

Watching the game tonight I'll be shocked if it's less than 6. Arsenal mastering the high press and scoring set piece goals for fun. 

[Give it to Ron]

Just a reminder for those going by train it’s buses from Central to Park Way on Saturday- last week was chaos there

[RedArmy]

6-1 Arsenal

[Oldandtired]

6 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

6-1 Arsenal

Where is the one coming from?

[Whitey Grandad]

Just now, Oldandtired said:

Where is the one coming from?

Own goal 

[Patrick Bateman]

I can see it now; "I thought the boys were magnificent in keeping it down to 7, could have been a lot worse. Very happy with Harwood-Bellis in the 9 role as he's our top scorer, he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet tonight though and I wanted Onuachu at full back to add some height, he was unlucky scoring 4 own goals. I feel happy we're learning"

 

[Football Special]

Last time we were relegated Arsenal couldn't beat us, take some inspiration from this , Martin could give Selles a bell for some tips , whatever happened to Alcaraz? 

 

 

Edited 1 October, 2024 by Football Special

[SWLondon Saint]

Watching the PSG game, Arsenal are actually quite direct a lot of the time. They are quite happy to send it long then win the 2nd ball or counter-press to win it back high. It's kind of the Ralf Rangnick Red Bull template. Several times Arsenal smacked it into the corner then had 5 players press. That would basically destroy Russball if they just did it all match....

[Green]

Given his post match comments about going back to the previous players (having said they’d had a chance and not taken it), presumably that means a Smallbone recall (if fit), Aribo (thought he did okay in the second half and has some physicality), Armstrong (?), Stephens (suspended but would have been recalled), and who else will he bring in? 
 

Positive past encounters away at Arsenal: a draw in the last league meeting (albeit from 2 goals ahead twice), beating them in the cup including a Clyne wonder strike, a battling draw (Forster masterclass), in our other PL relegation season we drew (again after being two up), any other positive past visits?

[pingpong]

Should be an option to concede a 3-0 defeat.

[Andy Hill]

This could get really ugly. We will be lucky to get nil.

[SaintsBarry74]

The Leicester keeper made 14 saves against them, and judging by the highlights, nearly all of those were world-class. He earned a 9.7 rating and was named MotM, yet still conceded 4 goals from their 36 attempts, yes 36 fucking attempts on goal.

This could be another one of those 9-0's.