{"id":12305,"date":"2025-11-25T17:03:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T17:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12305"},"modified":"2025-11-25T18:39:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T18:39:53","slug":"bayern-large-our-squads-got-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12305","title":{"rendered":"Bayern Large Our Squad\u2019s Got This!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Before we\u2019ve had anything like enough time to bask in Sunday\u2019s glorious destruction of the self proclaimed, ahem, european (please note the small \u2018e\u2019) champions from the smelly end of Seven Sisters Road, the Arsenal are back in business tomorrow evening. More on that later when we take a look at the Arsenal team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready or not, Wednesday evening sees us return to Champions League action at the Emirates. A glance at the league table will tell you there is only one team currently placed higher than the Arsenal, and that at the narrowest of margins. That team, as if you didn\u2019t know, is Wednesday\u2019s opposition, Bayern M\u00fcnchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both teams have played 4 matches, won 4 matches and sit tied on 12 points. Their goal differences are also identical at 11. Bayern\u2019s lead is awarded by virtue of having scored 14 goals and conceded 3 while the Arsenal have scored 11 and conceded 0. A further glance at the stats reveals how similar the teams\u2019 performances have been so far. Bayern have had 53% possession and passing accuracy of 88%. Arsenal have 58% possession and passing accuracy of 85%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bayern, so far, have beaten Chelsea, Pafos, Club Brugge and PSG while the Arsenal have seen off Athletic Club Bilbao, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid and Slavia Prague – so similar levels even of opposition. We should, therefore, be in for a close contest with little or no room for error. Exactly as you would expect at the pinnacle of the world\u2019s hardest club competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth mentioning that in the previous round when Bayern were drawn against PSG, the trip wasn\u2019t always straightforward for some of their fans. One German fan flying into Paris was halted by a French customs agent who demanded of him,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Name?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Hans Mueller.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Place of residence?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Munich.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Occupation?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“No, I\u2019ve just come to watch a football match this time!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turns out that Mueller is a vet – actually an ex German soldier who took to caring for sick animals when he retired from the armed forces. He now refers to himself as a Veteran Aryan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history – or not <\/strong>
It seemed to me not a million years since I last did a preview on Bayern. A check through the archives proved that it was only nineteen months ago, in April 2024. That post contained a deep – for me, although Ned\u2019s monks might poo-poo the idea – dive into the Bavarians’ history. I will spare you a repeat in favour of concentrating on the Arsenal at a time when we all genuinely need to appreciate what we have right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember, very consciously, repeatedly telling myself in the early 2000s that we were watching a world class team, the like of which we may not see again for a very long time. Or ever again, in fact. It was and remains a tragedy that the Invincibles squad never quite managed to win the European Cup. Our current squad is the closest we have had by far. The work put in by Mikel Arteta and more recently Andrea Berta, and the commitment shown by the owners since they acquired full ownership should, if continued in the same vein, ensure our genuine competitiveness for years to come. However, we know all too well that nothing is guaranteed in football so let\u2019s make hay while this particular sun shines and concentrate on our team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the absence of a history piece, I thought I\u2019d share with you the gist of an interview with Mikel Arteta on Sky Sports last Saturday. The interview was conducted by a young chap called Joe Tomlinson. He was unknown to me but he did a good job of exploring the more personal side of the manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arteta talked of the importance of leaders, mentors and role models for the young players in the squad. He refused, predictably, to single out individuals in our current squad but instantly named Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique as those who most helped him when he moved to Barcelona from the Basque country at the age of 16, and stressed the importance of such seniors to our own academy players. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interview revealed that he speaks six or seven languages – something he regards as a necessity to settle in whichever environment he, or anyone else, finds themselves if they want to truly integrate and understand their working group. That began for him at 16 when as a young Basque he could not understand the Catalan he encountered in Barcelona and immediately set about learning the local dialect – really a separate language. It\u2019s not then hard to imagine how that ability helps him to so clearly order and organise his thoughts and plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His own youth experiences, playing in big teams from a very young age, have clearly shaped the way he tries to look after the youngsters in our squad now. However, as always with Arteta, the care comes with a realistic warning: \u201cthey have to accept the standards, otherwise they cannot be a part of what we are trying to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything you see and hear from Mikel Arteta convinces you that he can, and will, emulate his own erstwhile mentors. That\u2019s why we can approach the forthcoming game against Bayern Munich in a positive frame of mind. Let\u2019s not forget that wasn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bayern Munich<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Germans, with further similarity to our current fortunes, sit six points clear of RB Leipzig at the top of the Bundesliga. They are having it all their own way, as usual, and have rattled in 41 goals in their 11 league matches, one goal off twice as many as Leipzig. We are constantly informed that he who can lick his own nose is their top scorer with 13 goals in their 11 games, but he hasn\u2019t faced a force like Saliba and Hincapi\u00e9 yet. He is obviously a danger but it\u2019s to be hoped that the officials will be wise enough to his falling over and dangerous back making habits. Ex Gunner, Serge Gnabry is their third highest scorer with 4. Luis Diaz sits between them with 6 but he is suspended for 3 games for a foul that put PSG\u2019s Hakimi out of action for 6 weeks. He also scored both of Bayern\u2019s goals at the Parc des Princes in the 2-1 win before being sent off – all in the first half. The German press refer to him as a key figure in their record-setting start to the season. So good riddance to him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I considered doing the \u201cBayern play like this in possession and switch to that out of possession” thing and doubtless all roads will lead to Kane – but I just don\u2019t care. Mike Tyson once famously said \u201cEveryone has a plan until they get punched in the face\u201d, or, in more modern parley, Mr \u2018Orne, \u201cuntil they get Eze\u2019d in the box.\u201d So let them worry about how we play. And no, I\u2019m no Mikel Arteta, in case you were wondering! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arsenal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Chelsea this coming weekend, we could see a moderate amount of rotation. We fans probably consider that Premier League game as of more immediate importance with the prospect of a possible 9 point lead, and a top 8 finish in the Champions League already seemingly fairly secure. I\u2019m not at all sure Arteta would agree. He really does seem to be of a mindset where the next game is always the most important one. I definitely don\u2019t think he will interfere with the Saliba-Hincapi\u00e9 partnership. Other than that I wouldn\u2019t like to guess. However:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya; <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timber, Saliba, Hincapi\u00e9, Calafiori \/ MLS; <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zubimendi, Eze, Rice; <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saka, Merino, Trossard \/ Martinelli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t see any returning players starting but there could be minutes off the bench for MLS (who could actually start if Calafiori is carrying a knock), Martinelli, Mosquera at LCB or RB, and \u00d8degaard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or I could be completely wrong \u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I would like to do is to give a shout out to a couple of possibly less obvious players. I have been a critic of Leandro Trossard as a starter in this team and his contract \u201cupgrade\u201d in the summer maybe seemed a strange move in light of the players we brought in and the money we shelled out. So far, though, he has been a revelation – another goal on Sunday and a perfect assist laid on for Eze\u2019s third goal just the latest of his goal contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This stat surprised me – Arsenal have never lost a game across any competition when Leandro Trossard has scored:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 DDWWDWWWWWWDWDWWWWWWWWWWDWDWWWDW<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

32 games and counting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there is Mikel Merino. He\u2019s been asked to be a defensive midfielder, a creative midfielder, a striker and a substitute in his 15 months at the club. He does them all without comment or complaint. And he\u2019s pretty damn good at all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And after becoming only the fourth player ever to score a hat trick in a North London Derby, what can you say about Eberechi Eze ? Here\u2019s what Mikel Arteta said,\u201cThings happen for a reason. And after the international duty, he had two days off, and after one day he wanted to train. And he wanted to improve, and he wanted to do extra practice. And he was asking me questions about this and that. And when a player has such a talent, and his desire is at that level, then these things happen. And he fully deserves it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Eze\u2019s reply,\u201cIt’s crazy. It’s a special day for me, my family, and I’m happy to help the team to win. It’s so special, I can only thank God for it. For the opportunity to be here, be working and applying myself every day – it’s a special day in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, and anyone who thought he wouldn\u2019t be willing to defend \u2026..One of many special players in a special team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll stick my neck out and go for 3-1 to the Arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TV coverage on TNT in UK, Kick off is at UK 20.00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking of time and Munich reminds me – an older neighbour of mine once took his grandfather clock all the way to a specialist in Bavaria to be repaired. The repairer in the clock shop was an old German man. My neighbour explained that half of the movement in his clock seemed to be broken as it only went tik tik tik tik. The repairer took the clock to the back room of the shop and tied it with a rope to a chair. The old man then lit up a cigarette, took a big drag and blew the smoke in the clock\u2019s face. He set the cigarette aside, leant back, looked at the clock and said, \u201c Ve haf vays of making you tock!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy the game all!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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