Thankfully the interlull is over and the Arsenal players are back on the day job. There, fortunately, also do not appear to be any reports of injuries to our international travellers. These frequent interruptions to the Premier League programme have become much more a source of irritation and anxiety than an opportunity to view better football, as the quality of club and international football has become inverted, at least when it comes to the Premier League, as TTG observed in his interlull post.
Pleasingly, several of our players were rested for their nation’s second World Cup Qualifiers during this interlull, namely Eze, MLS, Calafiori, Martinelli, Gabriel and Mosquera. Of those who played, Madueke was man of the match (at least imho) and scored a lovely goal for England against Serbia while Rice had an excellent game providing two assists from corners and was unlucky not to score from several shots on target. Ødegaard played 90 minutes for Norway, is reported to have been back to his best, scoring a goal and providing two assists in their 11-1 romp against Moldova. On the other hand, Gyökeres had only a single shot on goal in Sweden’s surprise defeat to Kosovo but at least put 180 more minutes into his legs to compensate for the absence of an organised pre-season and provided an assist in their earlier game. Timber had a 30 minute run out as a substitute in the Netherlands’ victory over Lithuania while Trossard played an hour for Belgium in their 6-0 victory over Kazakhstan but did not score or contribute an assist. However, Merino added to his goal in Spain’s earlier game by scoring an impressive hat-trick in their 6-0 victory in Turkey in which Zubimendi played 70 minutes but didn’t add to his assist in their earlier game while Raya sat on the bench again. On the other side of the world, Hincapié is reported to have had an impressive match, beginning as an overlapping left back then moving to left centre back as Ecuador beat Argentina 1-0 in the early hours of Wednesday morning UK time. Meanwhile, in the Under-21 Qualifiers, Nwaneri is reported to have had an outstanding performance, was awarded PotM and scored in England’s 2-0 win in Kazakhstan. It seems to have been a very productive and problem-free interlull for our travellers.
The visit of Nottingham Forest begins a tricky run of fixtures with City and Newcastle on the horizon. After our undeserved narrow defeat against Liverpool just before the break, we need to take all three points from this game. Our record against Forest since their return to the top tier in 2022 is cause for optimism with 3 home wins by scores of 5-0, 2-1 and 3-0 and a solitary 0-1 loss, a 2-1 victory and a 0-0 draw in our away fixtures.
The elephants in the room are, of course, the Demis Roussos doppelgänger and his newly acquired coach, the Greek Australian genius, formerly associated with that lot up the road, Ange (Second Season Silverware) Postecoglou. It’s impossible to predict the impact that ditching Nuno Espirito Santo will have, a sacking in which our former Director, Edu, seems to be somewhat implicated. I hesitate to suggest that a ‘new manager bounce’ will be unlikely given the timing and rumours of internal unhappiness but it does seem unlikely. Our fat Aussie mate has had little time to inculcate his footballing philosophy which, with the suicidal high line he played at the Lane of Shame, is the polar opposite of the serried ranks of the middle and deep blocks favoured by Nuno. I have seen this change-over described as trading a counter-attacking style for a possession-based approach – we shall see! It’s worth recalling that counter attacking was the style with which Ange surprised the Mancs in the UEFA Freight Rover Trophy through which Tottnumb blagged their way into the Champions League. Ange may even be prudent enough not to tinker with Forest’s established game style for this first game given his limited time with his players but I do hope he cannot resist confusing them with his football philosophy and Antipodean homilies. Go on, mate! It’s just who you are!
Forest have several very familiar, talented players in Gibbs-White, Anderson, Hudson-Odoye and Wood and solid defenders in Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo and Williams who along with glove butler Sels gave Forest one of the best defences of last season. By the end of the window they had brought in 13 senior players. They have added some midfield grit with the loan signing of Douglas Luiz after his unhappy spell in Italy. Other major signings include: James McAtee (£30m), a 22 year old ‘number 10’, whom Pep allegedly wanted to retain and whom City fans fear will become a second Cole Palmer; Arnaud Kalimuendo (£26m), a 23 year old French striker who scored 40 goals in 113 appearances for Rennes and is an athletic, high pressing striker who runs into channels and stretches defences providing a contrast in style to target man Chris Wood; Dan Ndoye (£35m), a 24 year old Swiss winger, who scored 8 goals for Bologna last season plus the winner against Milan to lift the Coppa Italia and had two assists and scored a goal playing on the left wing for Switzerland in their two games last week; Nicolo Savona (£13.4m) a 22 year old Italian right back/centre back with 40 appearances for Juventus last season, scoring 2 goals and who was included in the Italian national squad in 2024. The Forest squad will not include Alex Zinchenko as he cannot face his ‘parent club’ but will include Omari Hutchinson, also once of this parish – a club record signing from Ipswich at £37.5m! Hutchinson appears to be a rolling stone, gaining his latest move, this time only one year after his purchase by Ipswich, on the strength of a good Under-21’s Euro tournament despite his less than effective season in Ipswich’s brief Premier League cameo. The lad will be disappointed at being omitted from Forest’s Europa League squad.
Our visitors opened their season with a competent 3-1 home victory over Brentford then fought out a 1-1 draw at Palace. However, thereafter the coach’s peri-match interviews appear to have had an effect on morale as, in their last match before the Interlull, they crashed to a feckless 0-3 home defeat to a West Ham side that had themselves hitherto looked totally abject this season.
Forest have clearly added several more talented players this season and despite their backroom upheaval still carry an offensive threat, if we aren’t careful, but many players are just in the door, can barely have learnt each others’ names and hopefully the core of their team are in the midst of a tactical brainstorm which renders them less effective on the field. I suspect their back four will still prove difficult to penetrate and while I doubt whether Forest can transform into Ange’s attack focused kangaroos in a matter of days, they do have players who can hurt us if we let our focus drop.
The Arsenal squad have one longstanding absentee, Jesús, one medium term absentee, Havertz, one short-term absentee, Saliba, and two doubts, Saka and White, respectively recovering from a hamstring tear and an ankle knock. Both may be available after late fitness tests but while White may make the bench and get a late run out, I hope we hold Saka back for the City fixture. I have heard nothing, at the time of writing, about Nørgaard but expect him to be fit for selection. I anticipate that the same back four and midfield will start as faced Liverpool after 5 minutes but I would start Eze in place of Martinelli up front. Mosquera, who captained the Spain U-21’s for their first match but did not feature in their second (hopefully rested), fitted into the centre of defence seamlessly against Liverpool and should do so again against Forest. Hincapié may make the bench and may even make his debut as a late substitute for Calafiori but both unfamiliarity with his new team mates and long-haul travel count against the exciting Ecuadorian starting this one.
To add threat to our left flank Calafiori should be encouraged to overlap Eze as he drifts into the ‘inside left’ channel. Hence I don’t think MLS will start as he has been more inclined to move centrally, while I would bring Martinelli on after 60 minutes to use his pace against the Forest right flank. Meanwhile, I expect Madueke to wreak havoc on their left flank with his pace in combination with Timber and a re-invigorated Martin Ødegaard. It will be interesting to see how well Eze and Gyökeres link together as the latter drifts left and the former drives centrally. We have additional offensive options in Merino, Timber (oops!), Trossard and Nwaneri if the opposition defence proves stubborn to our openers. My starting XI would be:
Raya
Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori
Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice
Madueke, Gyökeres, Eze.
I suspect that the disarray that I hope to see in the Forest ranks will not come about and we will face a team more determined not to concede in the hope of taking a point rather than one following their new coach’s attack-attack mantra while leaving themselves open to the Arsenal’s silky play. However, we really must move the ball faster than we did last season and take advantage of transitions through speedier ball movement and a determination to get into the opposition box. Hopefully, Ødegaard’s recent successful interplay with Haaland has triggered an instinct to create the kind of opportunities upon which Gyökeres can thrive while the inventiveness of Eze and the pace and directness of Madueke should consign the arc d’ennui to history.
As you will have deduced, I expect a closer game than we would like but I would be delighted with an early 2-0 lead for the Arsenal followed by a masterclass in game management.
The Holic pound? You can get 6/1 on 2-0 to the good guys but the value punt looks to be 28/1 on 3-2 if you’re prepared to give up the clean sheet.
Enjoy the game, Holics wherever you are watching.
COYG
Cheers, bath. Especially given the upheaval there, I don’t know what game to expect. It might be very tight, or we could run riot early doors.
So I’ll place a virtual pound on 6-0 :-p
Since I don’t think we have signed Quinten Timber, is the second, attacking Timber ‘Trossard’ ?
Ollie @1, well spotted, ol’ eagle eyes. Oh la la! Sorted. Thank you.
Great job, Bath !
Apparently both White and Norgaard were in the training photos so are presumably available.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for my first visit to the HoF for far too long. Several parts of me have never been before !
I need to re-learn the words to “We love you Arsenal, we do” and “Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal 🎵🎶🎵” – does anybody have them ? 😉
Heh, Trev. Enjoy your return to TNHOF, you and your new parts!
Cheers Ollie – we intend to !
Firstly thanks for an excellent preview Bath. Your analysis of the Forest additions underlines how much money was spent in the Window and how much stronger the League is. Forest have signed some useful players and now have the Antipodean tactical genius in charge .
Patience will be in short supply at THOF but it’s unrealistic to expect the team to gel when we have had so much change and players spread all over the world over the past ten days. Nevertheless I expect us to win, and 2-0 is a realistic forecast .
Finally I’m delighted you will be back Trev and hope to catch up with you during the season. To all those going, enjoy yourselves . I’m being a chauffeur to my wife who has a hospital appointment so won’t be there myself .
Nice going, Bath, and a good assessment of a team that we should beat, if not necessarily easily.
Trev: try to hold your parts together (Matron!)
An excellent preview Baff, thanks.
The SIL has again come up with the goods in the shape of tickets for tomorrow. Partly to avoid the excitement of the year before last, but mainly because of the lunchtime kickoff, I’ll be heading off to that London in half an hour or so.
Any win will do me, but the sounds of a loud Swedish “click” would be particularly welcome.
UTA
Have a great time Trev!
Great stuff from Keenos
C100@10: Thanks for the link, a very level-headed piece from Keenos.
My meta worry about the Chelsea charges is that the club will suffer no more punishment than a fine, given the mitigating circumstance of having held up its hand as guilty, but that that will then become a precedent for Citeh, despite them only not holding up their hand to anything but putting both of them around the PL’s throat.
Comprehensive, fact-filled and level-headed preview! Thank you Bath.
The business of football is a genuinely strange one.
I don’t think either Ange or Edu ever imagine they will be singing together, with the Piraeus Pirate playing the choirmaster. High line please Ange, show them how to play the beautiful game!
I suspect Wilo will start, back to training as he is. And Mosquera will take the field in Bilbao in the midweek. Otherwise that ought to be the starting lineup.
Ødegaard to Gyökeres, goal!
2-0 is rather too realistic and likely. An unlikely but welcome 5-0 again would do nicely. 🙂
Cheers TTG, Ned, C100 – can’t wait – been far too long.
I was flicking between the cricket and the ladies game . Both were rather one sided but we went behind in the WSL due to a real blooper by our keeper . But the team got stronger and stronger and ran out 5-1 winners . Nine goals and six points in two games !
And England’s batting was sensational too !
300 in 20 overs against a decent team was just astonishing.
Thanks Bath, an excellent preview.
The team looks about right but MA has a lot of options these days even with
the injury list. I am hopeful for a 3-0 win but anything will do especially after
an interlull
Thanks for the link @10 C100.
It was a good read and easy to agree with.
There was a comment below the piece from a reader suggesting
that all the points Chavski won be reallocated to the sides
they played – a nice thought although I don’t think it will happen.
The * should be very busy this year or next.
TTG @6 above, I hope patience is not in short supply. Most of the impatience seems to come from those who would wish us ill – the media, AFTV, those kind of self-important actual non-entities. I’m very much looking forward to the game, although the first game back after interlull we are usually operating at significantly below our usual levels of on-field coherence, and the atmosphere at 12.30 is usually pretty subdued, probably due to the lack of available quality imbibing time.
Trev@3 – welcome back to TNHoF complete with shiny new parts. Let’s hope they bring us luck. Don’t let Bath mislead you too far from the path pre-match. Stick to just the one Negroni….
TTG @14 – I watched the first 10 minutes of the ladies game last night and had to switch over, so poor was it. Then I decided to give it a try for the second half and bloody hell were we good. Russo’s first was a rocket and Blackstenius goal was quality too. Foord was excellent and Caldentey flitted about ethereally like a modern day Fabregas.
First game of the season for me today and can’t wait. COYG.
Thanks Bath
Ange mania is running riot again here in Oz so I hope we smash Forest by at least three to shut the fawning local media up for at least another month.
The early kick off means a 9.30pm kick off here so no early morning call and time for a cold beverage or two. Happy days,
UTA.
CER
Enjoy the match !
I know what you mean about the first ten minutes yesterday. Van Domselaar’s error was huge but it was a wet swirling ball. She fumbled the cross but then slapped it into her net! Who’d be a goalkeeper ? As we were clearly prevailing in the cricket I enjoyed much of the second half and as you say we completely controlled the game . Renee Slegers is rotating the squad as she has multiple options but I was also taken by the fact that she worked out tactics for the second half in the rain because the dressing room was too small – and she got it right !
Ahh, so that’s why she sat in the dugout at half-time!!
Cheers Baff!
Hope you have a cracking day out Trev!
Eze starts by all accounts.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Eze, Madueke, Gyokeres
Subs: Kepa, White, Hincapie, Martinelli, Trossard, Nwaneri, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman
I see we’re looking for some of that Spanish national team midfield magic today. Merino hat trick anyone? Superb bench.
No ‘Teta/Arse excuse-laden nonsense BS nitwittery re new manager bounce, referees & new balls – please. We’ve done the dough, & denuded & fixed (fingies crossed) last season’s shortcomings.
Let’s go smasH ‘em … UTA!
That will do very nicely.
As easy a win as one could have hoped.
Well, apart from the usual injury, hope Martin gets his shoulder properly sorted…
Yes, a very relaxing day that I hope Trev. bath and CER enjoyed muchly.
Zubi and Merino made me not miss Sir Declan which I didn’t think was possible.
File that under routine win. More a dead cat bounce from Ange than a new manager bounce.
“Zubi, Zubi, Zubi, Zuuuuuuuuuuubi …”
Ire
We were rather good today, very good in snatches in the first half and for the first half of the second half and thoroughly deserved our 3-0 win with three well constructed and well taken goals. At times it looked as if our pacy wingers were going to tear the opposition apart.
Looking good. Imagine how good we will be when our players get to know each other!
Holy moly we were good.
Can the people who created the petition please stand up and let us know who you are?
Hello Darkness, my old friend,
I’ve come to talk with you again…..
ThacMadueke bloke, he might be able to play a bit.
Anyone?
Anyone?
The silence of the talentless.
I know very little about football but I was excited about Noni coming to us in the Summer. I also thought we should have gone for Gykores when he played for Coventry.
SP@34 describes us all.
Apart from the feckin eejits that thi k they know better than Arteta.
nicely won. good call, matt@16!
considering we haven’t gelled yet, and missing as many as 5 starters, we looked efficient and penetrating. some of our one-touch was schweet. noni as motm, and an excellent cameo from trossard. zubi was brilliant.
onwards!
and apologies, baff. a fine preview. you called their newbies well, they looked promising and on a different day would have threatened.
thank you!
My 2 cents are that we were rather good in moments, but mostly had Forest comfortably under control for the whole game. They just couldn’t get going. Raya had only one shot to save. Madueke was a deserved MotM, but Zubimendi would have been an equally worthy recipient—the pint-sized Gilberto. Eze looked threatening. Gyokeres ran tirelessly and still managed to get a tap-in and hit a post. Nwaneri did well after coming on for Ødegaard; his vertical passing, especially to Madueke, provided fast transitions once we had recovered the ball. Mosquera was again impressive deputising for Saliba. Gabriel was Gabriel and pulled off one incredible headed clearance in the second half that seemed to defy physics. I read some jibes that the second-season trophy Ange would win for Forest would be the Championship. Forest should be too good to go down, and they aren’t often going to be smothered like they were today.
i thought mosquera passed the ball beautifully today, inside passes that set us on our way (to eze, to cala, to mø/nwan, etc.). it’s early days, but i dare say he may be a better passer than willo….without being any less of a defender. a great buy, especially at £13m.
>>>>>>>