Midfield Duo Returns as Arteta fields a strong starting 11 vs Girona

 By Danong

The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League phase wraps up tonight with the Matchday 8 fixtures played simultaneously.

Arsenal will be looking to end the UCL group stage on a high as they take on the Spanish side Girona at the Estadi Montilivi stadium. In 7 games played on the European stage, our Gunners boast 5 wins, a draw, and a loss.

Last time out, Arsenal beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 to book a spot in the round of 16. Even so, I don't think they'll be complacent. They'll be looking to maintain their impressive form of not conceding from open play in the UCL.

They’ll also be keen to extend their 4-game unbeaten run and remain unbeaten in 9 games away from home across all competitions.

Girona's Struggles

Girona come into this game on a poor run. They've lost their last 3 matches in all competitions and have only won 2 of their last 11 games.

Their Champions League form is also worrying; they've only won once and have lost their last 4 Champions League games without scoring a goal.

They have nothing to play for in the Champions League as they're already eliminated (31st in the table).

Perhaps they'll play for pride and look to stun Arsenal for a perfect turnaround to their poor campaign.

Arsenal Team News

Merino and Odegaard were in training on Tuesday after missing the 1-0 win over Wolves. Havertz, who looked drained at full time on Saturday, was also training.

However, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White, contrary to reports, weren't in training. So, like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, they'll certainly miss this game.

If Merino and Odegaard are available for the game, they should play to get them up to speed. Havertz, Rice, and Timber should be rested ahead of a tricky run of fixtures against Manchester City and Newcastle.

Predicted Arsenal Line-Up vs. Girona

- Raya
- Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
- Jorginho, Merino, Odegaard
- Martinelli, Trossard, Nwaneri

This line-up looks very strong and is expected to finish the league phase of the revamped CL with a win.

PL Star's Latest Heroics Push Arsenal Toward Big-Money Move

 By Danong

Arsenal has been heavily linked with Alexander Isak as a marquee signing for summer 2025 (though Newcastle will be looking to offer their star man a new lucrative deal by then). 

Performances like the one he had against Southampton justify why the Gunners might be willing to break the bank for the Swedish international.

On Saturday evening, Isak was once again the hero as Newcastle managed to beat Southampton. The Saints took a 10th-minute lead, looking to stun the Magpies. However, Isak wasn't going to let that happen.

After a VAR review awarded a penalty for Joe Aribo's foul on him, Isak converted the penalty in the 26th minute to equalize. 

Then just four minutes later, Jacob Murphy teed him up inside the box, and he rolled the ball into the bottom right corner past Alex McCarthy. Sandro Tonali's third goal early in the second half ensured Isak's efforts didn't go to waste.

If Arsenal wants a tried and tested Premier League striker to massively upgrade their attack, they shouldn't look further than Alexander Isak.

Performances like the one against Southampton are a stark reminder that he may be one of the best out there, and there should be no ignoring that.

Alexander Isak vs. Southampton:

- 80 minutes
- 2 goals
- 19/27 (70%) successful passes
- 1/2 successful long balls
- 2/3 successful dribbles
- 4/9 duels won
- 9.2 match rating (Sofascore)

Isak has now scored in Newcastle's last 5 away games. Brentford, Ipswich, Man Utd, Tottenham and Southampton.

In the last 15 games, Isak has 16 goals and 4 assists, making him the most in-form Premier League star.

Looking at other Arsenal striking targets:

Matheus Cunha (22 league games, 10 goals, 4 assists),

Benjamin Sesko (18 league games, 8 goals, 2 assists),

Viktor Gyokeres (19 league games, 22 goals, 4 assists)

Maybe Gyokeres is more productive than Isak. However, the fact that Gyokeres wasn't pursued last summer and this winter is quite telling. 

Perhaps the Arsenal scouts feel he isn't a perfect fit for this Arsenal team and there's a question mark over whether he can be a hit in the Premier League.

Darwin Nunez was a top goal-scorer in the Portuguese league but hasn't been able to replicate that in the PL.

If Isak was leading our attack against Wolves, before Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially red-carded, we'd have probably a lead to hold on to.

Don't you think so?

Isak's Masterclass Highlights Arsenal's Striker Dilemma: Even Arteta Can't Deny the Need

 By Danong

Arsenal versus Newcastle may not have been pretty for us Gunners, but it certainly opened our eyes to many things—like the glaring absence of a one-man-army striker like Alexander Isak.

In a game where our toothless attack was exposed, Newcastle walked out of the Emirates Stadium victorious, largely thanks to their star man, Isak.

It was as if the Swedish international was proving Arsenal pundits right, showing that the club should break the bank for his services.

Against our Gunners, Isak was a force to be reckoned with—running in behind, dropping deep, executing confident 1v1 dribbles, showing off his final pass, and finishing like a world-class striker.

He quite literally has everything, and I can comfortably say he’s the trickiest striker William Saliba has faced thus far this season.

If Arsenal were to sign him this winter, they’d surely be getting on board one of the most in-form strikers. With the uninspired performance Havertz put up against Newcastle, can we trust him to fire this Arsenal team to glory?

Alexander Isak proved to us last night that he is one player who could easily fire this Arsenal side to league glory.

Mikel Arteta couldn’t help but hint at the difference a quality striker like Isak offers a team. 

He said, “He was involved in both goals, unfortunately the two times that he had the ball in the box. And that’s what you have when you have real quality up front. They can make the difference. They’re very clinical.”

I wish his deal was as easy to do, but it looks like a £150 million swoop isn't something Arsenal is agreeing to this winter.

The whole team were clueless

 By 1970's Gooner 

Odegaard is way way below his best. He looks lost when he gets the ball and looks lost when he hasn't got the ball. 

The absence of Saka means that we have no real threat from the right and also renders Odegaard ineffective. 

Martinelli on the other side tries his best and looked better tonight but that's all really. He couldn't finish when he got through, going for the near post instead of going across the keeper.

Havertz was way off it having been ill in the last 10 days and contrived to miss an easy header with only the keeper to beat. The absence of a proper number 9 was way evident.

In defence Saliba and Gabriel were edgy throughout and Raya kept giving the ball away in the opening 15 minutes or so.

The difference between the two sides was that Newcastle had a game plan of blocking the avenues for Arsenal and knew exactly what to do to get the ball to their forwards.

Arsenal didn't know how to break their block and when they did didn't know how to get to scoring positions.

The whole team were clueless... except Myles Lewis Skelly 

Havertz in contention but will he start and who plays at right back?

By Danong

Arsenal travel to Brighton to take on the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium and really have to win to keep their title hopes alive and put some pressure on Liverpool who play tomorrow.

League leaders Liverpool have a commanding lead in the title race, 6 points ahead of the Gunners with a game in hand.

Brighton had a brilliant start to the season, but have struggled since then. They last won a game in November. Their results since then are disappointing.

For Arteta and the boys, they're unbeaten in 12 games with 9 wins and 3 draws.

Reports suggest Brighton could be without James Milner, Jack Hinshelwood, and Ferdi Kadioglu. Danny Welbeck and new signing Diego Gomez are not expected to feature. Mats Wieffer, Pervis Estupinian and Adam Webster could be available for this fixture.

Arsenal, on the other hand, will definitely be without Bukayo Saka, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Jurrien Timber misses the game due to suspension. 

Kai Havertz, who was out ill when Arsenal played Brentford, could return. Raheem Sterling could make the matchday squad, having returned to training.

The two major decisions to be made are whether to reinstall Havertz in the starting eleven and who will replace Timber at right back.

Arsenal's forward line is producing the goods so far with Jesus and Martinelli both scoring in the away win at Brentford. I would expect that they will continue as will Nawneri who deserves to keep his place in the team.

Havertz may return in the starting 11 as a left sided midfielder so that Partey can play at right back.

Alternatively Arteta may opt to keep Havertz out and continue with Merino in midfield.

I'd expect Arteta to play this starting XI:

- Raya
- Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
- Rice, Merino, Odegaard
- Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli

Arsenal have historically dominated Brighton, with the H2H stats suggesting so:

- Brighton wins: 8
- Draws: 6
- Arsenal wins: 17


I'm feeling confident and predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal, with an incoming Thomas Partey masterclass at right back.