Arsenal latest news: Merino’s message | Arteta’s United decisions | Arsenal predicted XI

Hello everyone and welcome back to Inside Arsenal.

In today’s show I preview Arsenal’s FA Cup third round clash with Manchester United looking at what Mikel Merino and Mikel Arteta have said ahead of the game and giving my Arsenal predicted XI.

0:00 - Intro
1:28 - United preview
4:45 - Merino's message
8:25 - Arteta's decisions
10:25 - Predicted XI
12:15 - Your views

[mattl]

Again, the ONLY sane, insightful, intelligent arsenal content creator out there, in a sea of toxic stress charles is the beacon of rationality

[ewmaestro]

Hi Charles, why is it that Arsenal allow opposing fans to be in the lower tier. At Newcastle and some other PL stadiums, this is not the case...It is a disadvantage to the Arsenal players, and presents an advantage to opposing teams. This needs to be rectified by the club's hierarchy.

[louieee]

Saka is our only true world class player. Without him we are lifeless. He is the heartbeat of this team and his injury is having a similar impact to how City are without Rodri. Even if we spend big we won’t get anyone near the level of Saka. I’m usually an optimistic fan but it feels like this season has been destroyed by injuries.

[KyleGrindell]

Hi Charles. I’m sure you’re not looking forward to doing your show in the morning but. It was obvious we needed an attacker before. But now, with the amount of injuries we have. Signing one isn’t going to be enough now. We are at the stage where we need 2 extra bodies before this season gets any worse

[stevewilson]

Are we the only team that gives the away supporters a huge slice of the main viewing area allowing them to have a big effect on the overall atmosphere??

[jellybellyjellyvision]

Hi Charles, on the safety advisory board dictating that arsenal had to let United fans have the lower tier, if we had put them at the top of the stadium, how is that different from how Newcastle handle away fans at St James’s?

[nungiceman]

I think we need a Bergkamp or a Rosicky more than a striker. We're not moving the ball quick enough. We're not creating chances. We have no penetration in the middle.

[tomclarke]

Good selection Charles2-1 to the Gunners. 🇮🇪🇦🇺👋👋

[BobbyBalls]

Very concerning performance, our attack is so one dimensional and predictable, we have no threat through the middle, literally our only threat was from putting crosses in to the box and hoping someone gets a header in.
From the first whistle our play was slow and predictable, then UTD scored and only then does Arteta start waving his arms asking the team to play quicker, and what happens, we score. Why does it take us going behind for the manager to ask us to play quicker. Arteta can’t be happy with how we were playing before we conceded surely?
And Kai…………I like Kai, he’s a very good player, but you can’t be a striker for a top team and miss the the 3 huge chances that he’s missed this week. I walk with 2 crutches but I’m fairly confident that even I could have scored at least one of those chances 😂

[morgan]

Don’t worry guys i saw us winning in my dream, do not fret

[cathalwalsh]

I can't believe the negativity around the club and Arteta at the moment. The injuries and luck we've had is ridiculous how can people watch these 2 games and think we shouldn't have won both and blame Arteta. Hating Havertz isn't the answer either the problem is he's our only dangerous attacker and it's him or nothing right now. Everyone has bad games I feel another xhaka situation unravelling

[austinmwamba]

Charles Watts the motivational speaker

[Naheed_Ahmed]

That summer transfer window was worse than the window in which we only signed Cech. I dont understand how can we reconcile that end of season speech Arteta gave with that window and think yeah this will get us over the finishing line.

[arsenim]

Im worried about this game. I can see it going to ET which would be problematic for the NLD.

[AaronAlexandre-mcnw]

Pure disappointment from yesterday's performance. We got every chance to win and we just threw it out of the window. Man Utd deserved winners. Don't want to get into who did worse and point out individuals, every single player on the pitch yesterday was at their lowest point. Our summer window now needs to be re-assessed and declared as a clear failure as none of our summer signings made an impact during most of the season. Sterling the few bright side of the game, he deserves a spot in the NLD but he would have started anyway due to Jesus's injury. Hope nothings too serious about Jesus injury and same goes to Jorginho and Timber. But, signing a striker or winger or both in this window is a big must NOW. I don't know what Mikel is planning for next summer but whatever that is we need to fast forward that plan to winter or break the bank. Our season just literally blew up in less than a single week with 2 games due to lack of lethal attackers up front.

[apollian]

You loose Smith Rowe, Nelson and Nketiah, 3 attacking players and only bring in Merino and Sterling.
The math doesn't add up.

[jaydee]

Any mathematicians wanna work out the odds of getting Liverpool and United in the first round of the fa cup two years on the bounce? While city Salford Liverpool Stanley? I smell something dirty.

[Alvin-jrot]

Charles, I know Havertz wasn’t brought in as a striker but at some point we have to demand more from the highest earner at the club.

I don’t understand Mikel’s obsession with him- he misses too many opportunities in front of goal and now isn’t even getting into positions to score.

[Gorganahfikark]

Thank you Charles. Great show as always. Maybe I am alone but just checked and noticed that in the US, the game will be on espn plus which requires a subscription. In normal times I wouldn't even hesitate to subscribe and watch but if I am honest I don't have the need to watch. It has been more a slug over the past few games and something is clearly off and the football isn't exciting Wish the team well but they are just not firing for me so I will opt out of this one

[TshiamoTati]

Hi Charles,

I have a feeling Thomas will start on the bench so that he can come on at RB later in the game to allow a bit of rest for Timber before the NLD.

Predicted XI:

Raya

Timber Saliba Gabi Cala

Rice Ødegaard Merino

Jesus Havertz Martinelli