Back 5 against Arsenal?

[PhoneymcRingRing]

I don’t usually like us to play a back 5 but we looked when we switched to it against Villa, Burn and Liv can play and the same time. Arsenal are going to do us big time if we start with the same team we usually start with.

What do you reckon?

[toptoon]

I agree. We shut the door v Villa when they were attacking on the wings. One thing, we’ll need Bruno at 8 otherwise we won’t offer a threat.

[Zippity]

We were talking about this in the pub tonight.

One thing we agreed on was that surely he won't start with Burn as part of a back 4.

We also agreed that Miggy offers the sum total of fuck all now.

[toonviking]

One thing we agreed on was that surely he won't start with Burn as part of a back 4.

I wouldnt be too sure about that...

[Jammy89]

One thing we agreed on was that surely he won't start with Burn as part of a back 4.

I think he will.

The thought of Burn against Saka is slightly terrifying.

[Magzer]

I'm fairly confident we'll start with a back 5 against Arsenal.
We will need to strangulate their wing play.
I know Eddie says we go into every game to win but against Teams like Arsenal, especially at the Emirates, we need to be clever and not play into their hands.

[Nufcian]

I think 5-3-2 (Miggy dropped) would be the ideal setup to play on Sat.

They have a lot of goals from corners, possibly the most in the Prem, so Burn would definitely be an asset as we are playing a team that scores from corners a lot.

We’ll likely need to hit them on the break, assuming Isak doesn’t start - which for me would be madness starting him or even playing him as we’ll likely be speaking pressure and trying to spring a counter attack… which is probably the worst conditions to bring someone back from a groin strain - then it would be down to the likes of Gordon and Barnes to run with ball and likely shoot themselves… Miggy has pulled off some worldies when he takes a shot on the fly, but give him time to think about it and he’ll f**k it up 19 out of 20 times… and likely we won’t have that many chances.

[Zippity]

I would just worry that such a defensive setup would allow a team as good as Arsenal too many chances.

[Sclox]

However I look at it, theres fk all in this game for us. We are playing in London against a very good team bang in form while we are struggling at the back,...and everywhere really . Damage limitation for me all day 4, 5 or fking 10 at the back we will concede a few, but 5 with a big counter attack mentality i would be my choice. Its all we can do. That said we will probsbly win 1 nil playing a 4 with Burn scoring.

[Ragatino]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBPeHsMzTXc

Craig Hope discusses the possibility of a 3-5-2
Schar-Botman-Burn
Tripz - Tino

Would sure thing up no doubt.

Legs up top are needed so we'd have a front two that can explode forward onto long balls from Schar, Botman, Bruno.

If Isak is fit, great, if not Barnes & Gordon will have to make do.