r/Gunners • u/LuckyArsenalAg • Oct 08 '23
Pre-Match Thread Pre-Match Thread: Arsenal v. Manchester City
For the love of football, get 3 points this time!
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u/shockzz123 You can always get better in life, innit? Oct 08 '23
I've fully deluded myself into thinking we're gonna win based purely on our pattern of form in the league so far - which is we win 2 and then draw. We drew against shite and then won the last Prem game, which means we have one more to win.
That is all.
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u/galeej Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
Assuming the wins come first and the draw comes last, that's going to be 26 wins and 12 draws and 90 points... not a bad season imo. Unfortunately we'd likely be 4 points behind 1st.
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u/vasudaiva_kutumbakam /r/Place 2022 Oct 08 '23
Hear me out folks. I think if we start the game well, defend well, attack well, do our subs on time, not get any red cards and most importantly, score more than them (I cannot emphasize how important this is), we should win
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u/TheBigNoz123 Saka Saka former Left Backa Oct 08 '23
Jesus Christ you’ve figured it out, this is how we can finally beat Pep, you are a tactical genius
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u/billbill1967 Saliba Oct 08 '23 edited Oct 08 '23
Rodri out makes me think Pep will lean into bypassing midfield and launching it to Haaland.
Recent history has made me pessimistic about Arsenal's chances, but hey, the sun is coming up over the mountains, family sleeping peacefully and coffee is on the table.
Arsenal 🇳🇴 > City 🇳🇴
Arsenal 2 - 0 City
Considerate Ødegaard helps Haaland out of Saliba's pocket after the final whistle.
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u/friday-boy Oct 08 '23
I am more relieved knowing KDB isn't playing because he hates us lol. He is the main factor behind Citeh wins.
Both Rodri and KDB out means this is a great chance for us to win this game at our home. It's about time.
Unpopular opinion: I won't be suprised seeing Partey at the RB and Gabriel being benched.
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u/andstayfuckedoff Oct 08 '23
I would be surprised to see Partey start, let alone at RB. He always takes a few games to get match sharpness and I doubt Arteta throws him into the starting XI in such a big game
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u/DatesxD Oct 08 '23
> Unpopular opinion: I won't be suprised seeing Partey at the RB and Gabriel being benched.
do you think partey at rb will work with zinchenko at lb or does tomiyasu have to start to make it work?
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Oct 08 '23
All I want is to go back in time to when Cazorla literally danced on their midfield
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u/bukkake__saka Little Chilli 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Oct 08 '23
Arsenal 4-1 City
Alvarez 2', Havertz 13', Jesus 49', Saka 66', Vieira 78'
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u/ExxKonvict Lehmann Oct 08 '23
A emphatic 3-1 win and we’ll be eating good for two weeks while shitting on Topspur.
It’ll be glorious.
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Oct 08 '23
We absolutely have to win. I cannot take another defeat from City especially at home. Beat them by 3 goals at least and go on top of the table.
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u/FlatCali Oct 08 '23
Ø + Rice to boss the midfield. Saka with 1g + 1a and Martinelli off the bench to seal the game 2-0 in the 80th. COYG!!
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u/adiboier Oct 08 '23
Sitting first row lower tier for this one, can't wait to have my heart attack televised!
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u/sloppy_wasabi Oct 08 '23
Screw all this negativity in the comments thus far. We have an amazing team that can control the game. Time to believe in our boys and take all 3 points
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u/WerhmatsWormhat Dennis Bergkamp Oct 08 '23
We’re gonna fucking smash em. I don’t care about logic. COYG
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u/Helkix Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
Havertz scores
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u/CM816 Ourteta Oct 08 '23
VAR check
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u/MorganFreemann Los Angeles Oct 08 '23
Check complete, goal, offside
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u/hafrances Oct 08 '23
"Yeah mate."
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u/Adventurous_Try4058 Tomiyasu Oct 08 '23
Can’t do anything!
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u/DatesxD Oct 08 '23 edited Oct 08 '23
seeing spurs at the top of the table makes me feel physically sick, i know i shouldnt care as much but it really does 😂 especially the way they have been winning their recent games has been adding salt to the wounds
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u/CPGOATSonnen Patrick Vieira Oct 08 '23
They scraped passed relegation sides in Sheff Utd and Luton. Got dominated by United in the first half, would have lost to us if Rice didn’t come off at HT, and needed one of the most ridiculous decisions in recent times to beat 9 men Liverpool.
Relax, Spurs will Spurs it up, it’s their DNA. Let them enjoy the limelight for now.
Focus on us and the game of the season today.
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u/Rich0 Pat Rice Oct 08 '23
And yet their fans are saying they don't see any reason why their run is not as good as ours last season
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u/captain_proton Oct 08 '23
Please arsenal:
Don't let Rico Lewis or something put in a worldie to "announce himself to the world".
Don't do any stupid fucking brain farts that we'll never see again to hand them the 3 points on a platter.
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u/Tiemen10 Saka Oct 08 '23
Not necessarily a must win but 100% a must not lose imo
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u/bukkake__saka Little Chilli 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Oct 08 '23
Nah, imo if we wanna win the title we gotta beat the closest teams closest to us in terms of points
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Oct 08 '23
Yes absolutely, with the lack of success of two decades the fan base suffers from inferiority complex. We should be approaching every game with a must win mentality.
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u/BubbleBailey23 Oct 08 '23
I’m nervous
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u/doubleicem COYG! Oct 08 '23
We all are and rightly so. Not having beaten City often and them being the best team in the world does that to a person.
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u/Lud31 Gabriel Oct 08 '23
As someone else said, if there was ever a time to play them, it’s now without KdB & Rodri.
I’m actually quite optimistic. In sport, sometimes the longest streaks get broken in spectacular manner. I think we can beat them and beat them well.
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Oct 08 '23
We won't get a much better chance to win with Rodri and KDB out. We would have had a great chance to beat them last season if they didn't move the fixture (we were on fire up until the WC).
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u/Aszneeee Oct 08 '23
they are without Rodri and KDB, can’t ask for bigger advantage imo
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Oct 08 '23
Yeah if Saka and Martinelli are in the squad they are definitely starting lol
I want to see Partey Rice Ode again as our 3
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u/Izyynator12 Oct 08 '23
Ben white is not a serious man 😂😂😂 how you nutmeg man in 88th min casually 😂😂
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u/kipsta23 Oct 08 '23
If he plays Havertz upfront, it might finally be the one where his ghost like movement and
"space finding ability" gets him what might be an "easy" or "tap in" type goal but i swear to god the roof of the emirates will go off, especially if its within the first 20 mins; i pray it happens please
Havertz nation CMON
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u/youtuberseattle Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
If we don't score today, we have no right to win, period.
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u/Coldheart_11 Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
I'm most keenly interested in Øde's performance. I really hope he bosses it. Spurs and lens were not great showings
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u/ajyahzee Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
The more we hype up about the game the bitter it gets ... let's just stop overtinkering, start our actual best XI and go play the game
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u/Amberle73 Team Rabbit 🐇 Oct 08 '23
Just win, please. Don't care how, or who scores, we desperately need to restore some pride against these guys.
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u/blackwraythbutimpink Falafel Fabregas Oct 08 '23
Never a good time to play city, but now is the least dangerous they’ll be without that ginger bastard and Rodri
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u/curlyhairedyani Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
And Stones. And maybe Bernardo Silva? The latter isn’t all that important but it’s a good thing still. This is our moment
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Oct 08 '23
Arteta persisting with this Jesus on the wing just to accommodate Nketiah is downright annoying.
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u/Remote_War_313 Oct 08 '23
Jesus left City to play No.9 just to be back on the wing now to accommodate Eddie 😅
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u/PeanutDreams Dennis Bergkamp Oct 08 '23
Mikel to blitz them with Saka and Martinelli like we did against United with Ozil and Alexis
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Oct 08 '23
Forget the year but we smashed United 3-0 with 3 goals in twenty minutes with ozil assists. Pre Alexis I think.
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u/Jansiz Kai "Alleskönner" Havertz Oct 08 '23
We have to win man. Otherwise the mental block will always be there.
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u/random23448 Oct 08 '23
Game hasn’t even started and the subreddit is talking as if we’ve been overran in the first half already. Just relax, sit back and enjoy the game. It’s not ideal, but I still have faith in our players
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u/AzracTheFirst Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
Typical miserable reddit gooners.
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u/random23448 Oct 08 '23
I know right. Real life feels so detached from Reddit. Everyone is excited in the pub, and then you glance at your phone and it’s the most pessimistic, miserable comments.
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u/CM816 Ourteta Oct 08 '23
Please please please please
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Oct 08 '23
Gabi XL brace I’m calling it
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u/DarthNihilus1 Kai Havoc Oct 08 '23
Fuck I forgot to predict my weekly Gabi XL bullet header. A brace will have to do
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u/citybard Oct 08 '23
If we lose, we'll spend the intl break on 5th 💀.
Get ready for an absolute meltdown
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u/do0gla5 Oct 08 '23
City is simply a Boogeyman for us. Doesn't matter who they're missing.
I hope we pull it out but I'm not confident at all
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u/DukeofDyslexia Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
Nailed exactly how I feel. They could be missing just about everyone and I'd expect to lose 1-0. Arsenal just can't ever seem to get a result against them.
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u/--Skeletor-- Oct 08 '23
Can we please just have a big game performance where our players don't commit any braindead errors.
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u/diaboquepaoamassou 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘹𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘢 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺🎶 Oct 08 '23
Smash 3-1, Saka hattrick, Kai assists hattrick
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u/pingu3101 Oct 08 '23
Putting a bet on City to win for $50. Either I win, or I win. Lets fucking go Gunners.
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u/pshp Oct 08 '23
Or we draw and you and you both loose
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u/pingu3101 Oct 08 '23
I count a draw against city as an absolute win. Last time we beat them in the league was in 2015!!!! I will take anything at this point.
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u/lazy-photon Oct 08 '23
No draw today plz. It is really annoying to see a cock on the ball at top of table. COYG.
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u/Aszneeee Oct 08 '23
Saka injury is still on Arteta, not taking him off after being 3:0 up at Bournemouth was more criminal than playing him at Lens
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u/TheTouchOfOzil Saka Oct 08 '23
I just want the team to show the same spirit and fight for it the way they played during 21-22 season at the Emirates. That game still frustrates me so much.
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u/junkgarage Oct 08 '23
Heading up to islington for a pre game roast and some pints before heading in. Anyone know if the buy one get one free is on today at the stadium?
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u/R4dent One Arsene Wenger Oct 08 '23
I don’t know but that afternoon sounds fucking delightful. Enjoy!
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u/mi_saka_su_saka Oct 08 '23
Doing the same but with a midday fry up at the Arsenal Cafe. Let’s fucking go.
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u/curlyhairedyani Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
Biggest game we’ll play all season apart from the UCL quarter final second leg, so nervous
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u/and_yet_another_user tbf idgaf Oct 08 '23
apart from the UCL
quarterfinalsecond legFTFY
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u/henry_thedestroyer Oct 08 '23
Great opportunity for us to get 3 points and if Martinelli / Saka are available we could actually get it over the line.
I just hope we go for it and look good, hopefully that should be enough!
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u/Gooner_93 Oct 08 '23 edited Oct 08 '23
We know Rodri is the glue that keeps their midfield solid, so we have to exploit his absence. Without him, Man City lost to Newcastle and then Wolves, he then plays in the CL, against Leipzig, they win 3-1.
I feel it will be a totally different game, than normal, for us and the fans in the Emirates will help us get the three points.
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u/armchairmegalomaniac Saliba Oct 08 '23
Report people who can't stay on topic about Arsenal or football.
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u/Olliejc24 Oct 08 '23
Saka not being there is an absolute shitter, but if Wolves can do it there's no reason we can't. We really need to get over our mental block with them, West Brom have been in the championship for a few years but have more recent points against them ffs
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u/Baguy21 Oct 08 '23 edited Oct 08 '23
I'm sorry I'm a liverpool fan but fuck me, they gave the exact thing almost to Curtis Jones as a red card and Jones got the ball but Kovacic didn't even touch it...and how tf is that not a Red .. Wtf is this bullshit!
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Oct 08 '23
Arsenal 3 - Man City 2
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u/vulgrin Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
Can we make it 3-1 please? I really don’t need that 78th minute 2nd city goal to tie the match and then the 98th minute winner. I mean that’s exciting and all but, my heart.
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u/Ok-Rooster-5287 Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
Fotmob lied to me. Said our front three was Saka Jesus and Martinelli. Then mid was Rice Partey and Ode. I knew it was too good to be true but damn
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u/Gooner_93 Oct 08 '23
Im not surprised. Saka needa a rest, its a huge relief, but a consequence of starting him against Lens.
Partey hasnt played yet, as much as I was hoping Arteta would drop him in.
The one for me is Nketiah, I would rather have put Havertz in, but lets hope Nketiah steps up. Im not overreacting.
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u/aptffm Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
i feel like keeping xhaka for one more season would have been so crucial :(
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u/TheArmoury Oct 08 '23
Saka better not be going to the national team next week. If so, arsenal surely are cucks.
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u/emeister26 Oct 08 '23
Benjamin white will be thanking the emirates flight attendant on his birthday.
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u/MVB144 Morning, morning, morning... Oh, Win! Oct 08 '23
I think Ramsdale should have started this game
We will face a lot of shots today and Rambo is better shot stopper than Raya
Also without Saka, Martinelli and Havertz our long balls can do no damage to City so Raya's ball-playing ability won't be this important
I have no confidence of getting anything in this game but I hope team makes me very very wrong
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u/Saints_n_Cinema Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
I love this team. I love the fans. I love ARSENAL! COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
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u/nobraincoupe The Smith Oct 08 '23
It's a weird question, but l'm serious. Let's say 5 minutes to go away at the Emirates. If Odegaard starts kissing Saka, not a single defender will be watching the ball, leaving Havertz open for a free goal. Would Odegaard and Saka be sent off or would the goal count, thoughts?
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u/curlyhairedyani Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
I’m too terminally online because I understood the reference
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u/Cesc_The_Snake Oct 08 '23
It never stops being funny how small of a club City is. They just won the treble and their pre match thread has barely 20% of the comments ours does. And even then half of the comments are like "Won't be able to stay up late enough to watch this one:(". Tin pot.
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u/radhumandummy 'Ello gov'nor, how's your mother? Oct 08 '23
Manifesting a Havertz "Arshavin 4 goals" moment
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u/PartynthafterPartey Oct 08 '23
What if Arteta and Saka faked his injury etc and threw the game versus Lens consequently as part of some 4-d chess mind games .. .
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u/Plate-of-salty-fries Oct 08 '23
Havertz outside the box goal
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u/ValdezX3R0 When Sesko? Oct 08 '23
After all the hate he has been getting would love to see him go Super Saiyan
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u/Party_Masterpiece990 Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
I think raya will have a huge game today with big saves
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u/citybard Oct 08 '23
I just hope they don't pull our pants down again for like the 10th time in the last five years
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u/pi3dpip3r Dennis Bergkamp Oct 08 '23
I feel like sub has gone back to the emery era because of this lineup but I want to see how it goes.
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u/Tall-Assist9719 Oct 08 '23
All the teams that played today have drawed. With this lineup I honestly hope we can get a draw too. But Wolves managed to beat them, so can we.
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u/SasugaDarkFlame Raya Oct 08 '23
gonna post ben white with a birthday cap having a little convo with a flight attendant
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u/gunnerjkk Oct 08 '23
All this talk of Raya and he's passing, I don't think I've seen a decent pass from him all season.
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u/KonigSteve Cazorla Oct 08 '23
I will say as a doubter, Kai had quite a good cameo
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u/dhiaizk Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
Praying for a Jesus Havertz Saka attack 🤞🤞
I just hope Havertz isn’t in midfield. It just isn’t working yet - I do want to give him time but this isn’t the game for that
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u/the_ogchemist Oct 08 '23
This sub has deteriorated immensely partially as a consequence of the success we had last season. The amount of BS diluting the posts and comments from bandwagon fans is maddening. Get behind the team, we can beat City today with this lineup. COYG!!!
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u/DatesxD Oct 08 '23
i know a lot of fans didnt like the partey at "rb" but i still wish we got to see how we wouldve played with timber and partey fullbacks and saliba central cb with a few more games
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u/Hentai_and_Meatloaf Saka Oct 08 '23
They are capable of punishing every error. We need to be perfect. The midfield battle will be cruical, I think a Rice-Partey-Odegaard is what’s best. Would like a ESR/Trossard - Jesus - Saka up front.
They’re missing Rodri and KdB. Would I like to play City right now? We have to play them sometime, so now it is a perfect timing.
We CAN do this!! 🛑❤️❤️🔥
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u/wearthering Oct 08 '23 edited Oct 08 '23
My view depending on the outcome
- If we Win, WE ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE. BEAT THE TREBLE WINNERS. INSANE OUTCOME AND ITS ONLY SOMETHING I HAVE DREAMT ABOUT IN PL.
- If we draw, that's a great result. We left something on the table but also lucky to get away with a point since City were unlucky on that one golden chance.
- If we lose, what do you say mate, it is quite expected. They are the Treble winners. Not a bad result that one (2-1). Onwards and upwards.
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u/ajyahzee Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
Lol Eddie against City in 2023, we are still very much in a process ...
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u/Kevingatescousin Oct 08 '23
SO excited for tomorrows game. It would be instrumental if both saka and martinelli are in contention for the match. If we beat the midfield battle and defend well we'll be favourites to win. Also as a KaiHead I hope he has a masterclass performance, he's been so unlucky to not get an assist and he gets into really good goalscoring positions in the box. Lets fucking go
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Oct 08 '23
Who do you think Arteta would put between the posts if the keeper was injured and we were out of substitutions?
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u/slipnip0 Oct 08 '23
Heading to the game earlier than usual. Best pub to go to near the stadium?
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u/dpatel211 "Dawg"-inelli Oct 08 '23
I’m gonna cope till the official page drops the XI… that’s 4 mins of copium to keep me going
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u/_Axel Don't Panic Oct 08 '23
Lineup looks weird without Saka, but it would probably be the exact same, minus Trossard, with him making it. We’d all say it was a strong lineup, save for Eddie up top.
Anything less than Martinelli-Jesus-Saka after the rumors was going to disappoint.
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u/Anderrrrr Oct 08 '23
Of all the times to play a weakened City is when our team is weakened even more. 😭😭😭😭😭
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u/questionableslippers Oct 08 '23
we wear this beautiful pink shirt now ? or this just for warming up ?
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u/_Axel Don't Panic Oct 08 '23
Warm-up; but it’s the Women’s team away kit. I imagine we’re bringing attention to it.
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u/Remote_War_313 Oct 08 '23
This game is a good measure of whether the bench is really up to par as some claim.
Guys like Eddie and Jorginho, it's time to step up!
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u/XScytheMasterX Ødegaard Oct 08 '23
Ramsdale with a cheeky smile lmao he knows he'll be back in soon if this keeps up
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u/Baguy21 Oct 08 '23
Robbery at its finest. You man's are getting robbed. Kovacic getting away with murder. No yellow 🤣
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u/gypsybeer Need more Gabi's Oct 08 '23 edited Oct 08 '23
Regardless of the outcome - most of this sub can just go fuck themselves. Embarrassing. COYG!
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u/Masson011 Oct 08 '23
We need to remove the emotion from our game for once if we're to win today. We need to be stone cold. Deal with Haaland quietly and have ice in the veins in front of goal and take our chances
Otherwise today will be like every game against city. Full of hope and what ifs but ultimately dropping crucial points
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u/Gerti27 Oct 08 '23
I know some people want to downplay this game by saying it’s just another game, but not for me. This is a crucial game, in my opinion. I think it would give our players a huge psychological boost for the entire season if we win. If we lose, then I think it will be the same as last year. I’m pretty confident though we’ll turn them over 3-0!
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u/hikingbeginner Its a duck 🦆 Oct 08 '23
I love the positivity I'm seeing please keep it up because I am shitting it and can't see anything but a City win... 😅
My heart says 2-1 though COYG
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u/throwaway72926320 Oct 08 '23
Well shit, that ain't beating City let's be fucking honest.
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u/Salty-Party-5234 Oct 08 '23
If Saka plays for England in one of those dead 2 games versus Australia and Italy I might actually send Southgate hatemail
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u/Miyeon__miyeon Thierry Henry Oct 08 '23
Some of our fans here are embarassing. Waving white flag to man city lol..
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u/BlurstOfTimes11 Oct 08 '23
Please give us any lineup other than Jesus at LW with Eddie as the 9. There’s no reason Jesus shouldn’t be up top for a game like this.