I didn’t watch any of the footie last night, but City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting certainly stands out. That Amorim chap masterminded quite a victory and it does make you wonder about what a capable manager might be able to do at Man United. Let’s hope that it was a one off. We played them season before last and it was 2-2 in their gaff followed by a 1-1 on our turf, so we know a bit about Sporting Lisbon already, although we’ll know a bit more in three weeks time, because we go there again and we’ll get even more of an up close  view of this Gyokeres chap. He’s bagged 23 goals in 17 games and you cans see why plenty of Arsenal fans are getting a little hot under the collar, especially when you add it to the 43 goals he got last season. Let’s see if interest starts to hot up for the 26-year-old but I suspect there’s a tipping point in which Arsenal won’t go near and it should certainly be the €100million price tag. Declan Rice was the closest thing to a sure bet which is why Arsenal paid the money. Gyokeres doesn’t reflect that.

But here I am 200 words in to today’s blog and I haven’t even started on The Arsenal, which let’s face it, is more important than anything else in the world of football (or certainly politics…). It’s Inter Milan away and after the shoddy display at the weekend, Arteta spoke to the press ahead of this one. He was asked about whether this period is a test for the club and of course he talked about needing a response. I don’t think anybody needs to tell him that though; this team needs to show that it is better than what happened on Saturday and my bigger concern is the performance more than anything else. I want the win, I would love us to make a statement in Milan against the current Italian Champions, but let’s not forget they got a draw in Manchester against City and have the same points tally as us – two wins and a draw.

It’s my birthday today and I’d really love to see three points as a birthday treat tonight, but even if we can’t do that, I want us to show up against Inter, because we didn’t against Newcastle. And it got me thinking about games on my birthday in the past. Historically, November has always felt like a ‘dreaded’ month for Arsenal; I don’t know why but I always feel like it’s a cursed month. Last season we didn’t play on this day, so I decided to look back on games played over the last 15 years or so on my birthday to see how we got on:

  • 2022 = Beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge with Gabriel getting the goal – I couldn’t watch as it was too early in the morning and I was in Vegas
  • 2019 = Drew with Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League away from home – a late equaliser after Mustafi (!) had scored for us on 80 minutes
  • 2016 = Drew with the Scum after Wimmer scored an OG and Kane got his standard penalty against us that he always seemed to get
  • 2013 = Beat Dortmond at Signal Iduna Park with Ramsey scoring – now that was one game I DO remember watching – Arteta was even captain that day
  • 2002 = Lost to Sunderland in the League Cup 3-2.

So basically it’s hardly a vintage time of the year for us and I’ve hardly had an array of historic memories to draw on for my birthday. It would be nice if the boys could make it so tonight though.

They’ll have to do it without Declan Rice though. Yep, even the guy who never misses a game is succumbing to injury this season, with Arteta also not confirming 100% if he will be fit for Sunday. There’s a few of the more well-briefed journo’s who are suggesting it is cautionary and hopefully that’s true; this game tonight is big, but in the context of the season it feels like Sunday is bigger so having him rest up for that is important. Martin Odegaard did travel, however, with Arteta confirmed he is now in full training. I can’t see him getting many minutes tonight though. He’ll not be match fit and it’ll be unlikely that he’ll be able to make too much of a material impact having just spent two months out injured. But having him back in the match day squad is big. It’s a real positive for us and whilst I suspect he probably won’t make the starting XI on Sunday either (he’s also been omitted from the Norway squad for the upcoming internationals, I think), having him able to even do 20 – 30 minutes on Sunday will be good.

So, our team for tonight then, what do we think it will be? Without Rice my gut feel is:

Raya

White   –   Saliba   –   Gabriel   –   Timber

Partey

Merino   –   Trossard

Saka   –   Havertz   –   Martinelli

Now, he could give it a bit of rotation in there and given that we’re up against an Inter team who will play with the desire for possession but quick build up play, it feels a little like the approach against the Scum could be something that Arteta has a look at. That day we had a base of Jorginho and Partey and whilst the Italian hasn’t played much, giving him minutes in Italy wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. That would mean you would need a bit more creativity in the more advanced midfield role though, so having Merino in there – somebody you’d expect to play to counter the duel-winning of Rice – doesn’t really work. But could he give a job to Nwaneri? We have to be close to this. He’s impressed every time he’s played, he was great against Preston, but was quiet against Newcastle when he came on. And with that in mind, I suspect Arteta will not use him from the start tonight.

I also think that Trossard’s form is such that he probably doesn’t warrant another start, but I think Arteta will see it that he doesn’t have too many options. Jorginho, Partey and Merino doesn’t give you running power and enough creativity. I still don’t think he wants to throw Ethan in just yet, Havertz in there could be an option with Jesus up top, but I think Arteta has Jesus on the naughty step right now, so I just don’t see it. So that’s why I think he goes with a more familiar look to the team like I’ve outlined above.

Inter will go in to this game with plenty of expectation and plenty of players who can do us damage. Martinez is their main man along with Marcus Thuram, who has eight goals this season. They will then look to use the pace of the likes of Dumfries/Dimarco to unsettle us as their wing backs. You’d hope that leaves space for Martinelli and Saka, but in Pavard and Bastoni they have two experienced international centre halves who will be well-aware of our threat out wide. Whether they double up on our wide men like Newcastle did at the weekend will be interesting to see.

It’s not going to be easy, it might not be pretty, but we need to see a reaction from The Arsenal tonight. Let’s hope we get one.

Catch you all tomorrow.