How do you preview a game of this magnitude?!
Seriously, how? It’s just so unbelievably huge. What a game we have in store for us tonight. Having said all of that, I’ve barely thought about it at all this week!! That’s a mad thought, isn’t it? Possibly the biggest game in Arsenal’s recent history and I’ve not given it much thought!! After listening to a number of Arsenal podcasts and reading a few blogs here and there, I don’t think I’m alone in this either.
There is obviously some fairly significant context to this though. Winning your first Premier League title in 22 years, after finishing 3rd in 3 consecutive seasons will naturally grab your attention. It’s been a mad, mad 7-10 days! Since Bournemouth got that all important point against Manchester City it’s felt like one big party, with mad celebrations at the training ground, outside The Emirates, in various clubs in London and then again at Selhurst Park when we were actually crowned Champions. It’s easy to see why some Arsenal fans have been a bit preoccupied of later, but now the day is finally here and it’s time to go to work!
What will Arteta do?
The lineup is very, very intriguing. What on earth will Mikel Arteta decide to go with?!
As usual, there are some decisions that are absolutely nailed on. The spine of David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel and Declan Rice will take up their usual stations, as will Bukayo Saka on the right wing. The rest though, I think there is a genuine conversation to be had, which is an amazing place to be in.
At right back, Jurrien Timber has been declared fit to start and despite not playing since March, I think he will start this one. He’s just so good in those 1v1 situations, it’s worth the risk. Cristhian Mosquera will enter the fray at some stage as Timber clearly won’t be able to last the full 90 minutes. If we get just over an hour out of the Dutchman, that would be fantastic.
At left back, based on the minutes saved at Palace, it looks like Riccardo Calafiori is going to start. I have no problem with that, as Calafiori has been excellent this season, but I would have preferred Piero Hincapie to start as he’s stronger defensively. Still, not a bad option to have from the bench!
Into midfield is where it gets really interesting. Martin Zubimendi has been a huge player for us this season, can you leave him out? I think with the form of Myles Lewis-Skelly, you don’t have a choice. He has to start alongside Rice, to give us that option to punch through the centre of the pitch. Ahead of them, another tough choice. Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze. Just for his pressing alone, I’d go with the Skipper. We’re going to need to run and run against this top quality midfield and I don’t know many better than Odegaard at this, so he gets my vote and I think he’ll get Arteta’s as well.
Out on the left, do you try and fit Eze in out there? We’ve seen Eze lose players in transition a couple of times this year and given that it’s Achraf Hakimi that he would be tasked with tracking down our left, I’d be worried about another Matty Cash incident with Eze out there. Leandro Trossard has done enough to keep his place and then I’d go Kai Havertz up top. Viktor Gyokeres can count himself extremely unlucky to drop out, but he’s been excellent from the bench this season and that’s where I see him doing the most damage here.
Prediction time!
Time for the ultimate question – will we have enough to get a second trophy onto that open top bus for the parade?! It’s going to be tough, but I can’t go against this team. Not after all they’ve done this season. I’m going for a nervy 2-1 to The Arsenal. Come on Arsenal, bring it home…