Too Soon To Start Jesus... Surely!? | Brentford vs Arsenal | Predicted XI

Having not played for Arsenal since the Sevilla away game, Gabriel Jesus got 90 minutes against Argentina. We've debated that on Forever Arsenal. We know the Martinerd guard is back after a hip injury and the goalkeeper debate is finally settled for at least a week. Let's go into it and predict the XI with Turkish and with Robbie and we start, of course, with the goalkeeper. By the way, we are here at the amazing GTEC Stadium, the home of Brentford. Has been for a couple of years. We had one bad night here. We've actually had a couple of bad nights. Yeah, it was a bad one. Apart from that, we've had some good times. It's a great stadium, man. Yeah. Great little stadium. What was it all about? 17,000, is that right? I think so, yeah. But to me, you know, I mean, the atmosphere is fantastic. You know, the fans here are fantastic as well. It's one of them grounds where you come to where, you know, there's no drama, there's no grief. You know, I mean, the fans are really, really good. You know, I mean, they're really, really fair in their assessments of how the games go and that, you know what I mean? So I'm looking forward to it. Yeah, and it's a brand new stadium, but it's got the old school feel. And I like old school stadiums. There's more soul in an old school stadium than these new commercially built ones. So yeah, big up Brentford. I saw the groundsman over there a minute ago, right, sort of measuring up. All right, and I was wondering, is he sort of trying to reduce the size of it? You know, they've got them long throws going in. Yeah, that's a good point. To be fair, no, I think he weren't. He was just measuring up so he could cut those sort of lines into it, the intricate lines. But expect a lot of that on Saturday. Yeah, the long throws, the directness. Well, the goalkeeper who's going to have to deal with them isn't the one who is familiar with it, and that's David Rye. Obviously, he's played in this stadium many times. We know that he's not cup-tied. What's the term? He's ineligible to play because he's technically still a lone player from Brentford. So Aaron Ramsdale, I'm sure a lot of fans will be thinking they can distract him for parts of the 90 minutes after some of the comments he made, bless him. David Rye is going to be the chant from the Brentford fans, isn't it? You know, he's going to be getting that all game. But he relishes that. Yeah, he does. That's what he loves. He feeds off of that. And I'm so glad to see that he's in the team for Saturday. I know people have been criticising his dad for what he said, but it's his dad. You know what I mean? It's his dad. His dad's going to be emotional about the situation that's happened. It's not really Ramsdale that's come out and said that. I don't think there's nothing wrong with what his dad said. You know what I mean? So, you know, I'm glad. You don't think it'll affect Arteta's decision to play him in this game? You don't think he'll think, I want things in-house and all that? No, he'll play. He'll play. If Karl-Heinz starts this game, then that's what you're suggesting. That's what I'm just putting out there. No chance. Ramsdale will start this game. If Ramsdale starts and does well, then I want him to then start the next game. It's got to be fair. It's got to be fair in how he's done. You know what I mean? David Rye, the last couple of games, has been all right. But, you know, if Ramsdale starts and does well, then he keeps his place. Why not? OK, let's move to right back then. Ben White. For me, one of the first names on the team sheet. That's how much he's come along in the last, what, two years now? Yeah. When he first came in, there was a lot of doubts, especially from myself. But now, you know, I look at him and I'm comfy seeing Ben White there. He gives, you know, he gives 100% every match. Yes, you know, this season he hasn't been as good as he was last season. But I think that's because of tactical changes all around more so than it is an individual performance. So Ben White, for me, 100%. I'm glad that, you know, whatever happened with England happened. So he doesn't go on international breaks. He doesn't seem to care. So why should I? You know what? I hear it. So we may as well go straight into the centre back. So I think the left back is the bigger debate. So I'll just say it. Saliba and Gabriel are going to keep their places. We're not expecting anything surprising there. I did say on Forever Arsenal as well, big up to Gabriel Magalhaes, Martinelli and Jesus. So we're all starting games for Brazil in big games against Argentina. I just think that's a great thing for Arsenal. I know what you mean about Ben White and the England squad. I kind of want them getting that rest. But if you are going to play, then there's like a pride that comes with them starting games for the Brazil national team. Playing for Brazil is different to playing for England as well. Listen, I hear it. So let's do the left back, you know, debate. I kind of want both your takes on this. Tomiasu, I don't know. What are you thinking, Robbie? Tomiasu for me. This is a game for Tomiasu. You know what I mean? We all know what Brentford are. They're very direct, lots of long throws. So you need a lot of height and physicality in the box when you haven't got the ball. They're very good on the counter-attack. And as I said, they're very good in the physical battle. That's what they do at the time. That time when we came here and they beat us, that's what they did. They basically bullied us. They roughed us up. They got stuck into us. And by the way, what? None of that back four was playing that night. Probably maybe Gabriel was playing, maybe. Yeah, yeah. But, you know. No, was it Pablo? I was married. Was it Pablo Mari? I remember he had a bit of COVID. I think, I'm almost sure. Nah, wasn't it? It was Mari Chambers. Mari Chambers played in that game, yeah. Gabriel may have played. He may have played. But listen, you need a good, solid back four against them. This is not the game, in my books, for a Zinchenko. This is the game for, you know, Tomi Asu. You can't bully. You can't out-muscle. You can't rough him up. He's perfect for this game. And he's been brilliant this season as well. Yeah. So to me, at the moment, he, in every game, is first to my starting. Unless we're coming up against a team that's got an extreme low block, then maybe I'll start with a Zinchenko. But for me, I know what you think, but Tomi Asu. I completely agree. Isn't their biggest threat Mboma as well? And he tends to kind of, whether he starts there or not, he floats over to the right-hand side for Brentford. And, you know, if that's their biggest threat, then you put a good defender in front of him. You know what? I echo all that. It's actually the obvious choice, Tomi Asu. Listen, he might go for Zinchenko because he wants that control. And I hear that. What he does on the ball, you know, breaking down. Because we've got to think about breaking down a team like Brentford as well, who have got a very good defensive structure. But you're right. Like, Brentford will offer a threat, especially at home. They're so lively here. Tomi Asu on set pieces and on Mboma, I completely agree. Zinchenko looked distraught with Ukraine not making it through to the Euros. They do have a playoff. But, you know, yeah. And listen, you could say the same for Gabriel and players like that because Brazil lost at home to Argentina. You know, they're going to get heavily criticised for that. But no, it's definitely Tomi Asu for me this game. It's no-brainer, really. All right. Well, the midfield gets interesting. Get in the comment section. Let us know the XI you want to see. And otherwise, build on the AFTV Plus app. You download the app, you'll find the XI selector. You've got our goalkeeper back for there. What would you do with the rest of the XI? Tag us on socials. We want to know your thoughts. There's plenty more on the AFTV Plus app as well. It is your chance to have your say on Fan Zone with a click of a button. It is that easy. And you can chat to us after the game. Let's build our midfield. Does Erdogan come in for you guys after the hip problems he's had? But he is really fit now. You know, I looked into what the Norwegian manager said. He didn't confirm Erdogan would be ready. He assumes he will be ready. I don't think he got, you know... He didn't get selected for the international break, so he didn't get any minutes. But it does bode well that Norwegian manager's saying he should be ready. Do we start him? Is it hip? Is it concussion? I don't know. What is it? Oh, yeah, because there have been a few different... I think it's a hip injury. Yeah. I think Arsenal might have just played it super safe to make sure he didn't go on international duty. So you think they made the concussion thing up? Who said concussion? Did Arsenal say concussion? No, because I heard that. I heard a rumour about concussion as well, that he had a bit of concussion as well. Oh, ball in the face. He's training or something like that. So... But if he's fit, to me, he plays. OK. But you know what? Vieira's best performance in an Arsenal shirt has probably come against Brentford away from home. That is true. And he scored a beauty for the third goal last year. Certainly one of his best. Yeah, OK. Or you could put a shout in for Kai Havertz as well. I knew he was going to say this. Because you know what it is, right? It's the physicality of the game. The physicality. So I'm talking about... Well, would you play him up front, right, midfield, left, central midfield, left back? No, so I'm saying you could put a shout... You could put a shout... Yeah, I know. He scored a banger from left back for Germany as well. But I'm saying like... The reason why I'm saying that, right, is that... Yeah, we still won the game, mate. And he conceded a penalty for our winner, yeah. So how about we delve into that? Yeah, you're all 2024. This predicted 11 might go left. But what I'm saying with the Havertz thing is this, right, is that when you're coming up against a team like this, that they're very physical, very direct. As I said, you know what I mean? They can win a corner from like halfway between the halfway line. And that's coming in as a long throw. With his height and physicality and his good prowess in the air, he's another guy that can help out in defence as well as attack. So you can drink... You bring him back. All of a sudden, you've got a lot of height at the back. You've got, you know what I mean, you've got our back four and you've got him and you've got Declan Rice. And that's why I'm thinking it could be a game if... Personally, my feelings would be all the guard if he's fit. But if he's not, I play Havertz. Okay. That'd be me. That wouldn't be me. Yeah, I get what Robbie's saying. But I just think... Listen, Kai Havertz has shown more off the ball and more in a physicality sense than he has done on the ball in a creative sense. But I also look at Kai and I think to myself, will Brentford be weary seeing Kai in a starting XI? I don't think so. Even with those attributes that he has shown for us. Remember the game against Newcastle, where again, that's a team that really puts it on you. He helped out a lot and he stood up in that, you know what I mean? And that's all I'm thinking. They really are a team that is similar in the way in which they play. You know how I counted that? You're right, but then we created nothing against Newcastle and he's also there to create and that's where he lets himself down and he's let us down and Arteta down so far. I think Havertz will probably start the game in Mikel Arteta's mind, but not for me. In midfield, I know the three I'm going for. OK, we've got to try and wrestle with the prediction here. So what would yours be? Ernesto Eugenio, Rice, Odegaard. OK, that would be my three. What would yours be? That would be if Odegaard is fully fit. Right, let's get Odegaard in that team. Do we all agree that he's going to start if fit? I think he probably is fit. Declan Rice is in there. The question is, is he going to play as a six with Havertz in there? So you've got two eights, a little bit of height as well. Would you get Jorginho in there so he can free up Rice a little bit? Jorginho's been... I think Jorginho could take his place. Safer option as well, Jorginho. Yeah, I think with Jorginho, while he has his limitations, you also know what he does give you. And you do know where... I think with Havertz, what we're understanding is... I mean, you just said it there and I'll build on it. Havertz, he's doing... The things he's doing well are the things I didn't... People told me he didn't have. Actually, commitment in the game, hard work, he's stuck in. I rate all that. I can't fault his effort. He's trying. We just need to see more quality on the ball. Hopefully we see that, but I agree. Declan Rice, then play as six. Get him into our midfield. That's our midfield three. Now let's build our front three and let's just start... Okay, let's start with the obvious one. Sack and Martinelli are likely going to keep their places. I think it's all obvious. Okay, go on. I mean, Trostad's last game, a goal and he created... He was part of creating the two goals in the second half against Burnley with his corners. He got an assist, a goal and what, you know, Ozil fans used to call a pre-assist. So he got all three in that game against Burnley. So he keeps his spot. Same way when Eddie scored a hat-trick, everyone expected him to keep his spot. I think with Trostad now, he keeps his... I'm not even thinking Eddie though. I'm thinking Jesus is back. It's just a turnaround. I would probably... Yeah, I'd probably go Trostad just for the fact that, you know... I think he'll be Trostad. Jesus, just back from injury. 90 minutes. Just played 90 minutes, you know, in Brazil. Physical game. Wednesday night as well, having to come back. Physical game, emotional game. Yeah, I would go Trostad as well. It's like a 10-hour flight as well, isn't it? On top of that jet lag when he gets back. Yeah. I hear that. Okay, but let me just put this in a different way. 12.30 kick-off. City-Liverpool. Points are dropped somewhere. Massive opportunity for Arsenal. Not an easy place to go. Is this not potentially seen as... Because every week we say this is a big game, it's a big game. But I genuinely believe this weekend is a big game. Because if you don't capitalise on the top two playing each other, it's just a wasted opportunity. And there's only one other time in the year this could happen. Is there not a temptation to go, if Jesus just is our best player, we've got to get him in that 11? Yeah, but I think a bit like what Turkey said, Trostad's been excellent in that last game. He did everything. He deserves his place, for sure. And he scored again on international duty. He looked really good for Belgium. I don't know how he done that. You know what I mean? Unbelievable. I'll show you after. I saw you play in America. I scored when I came off the bench, Rob. You were more Havertz than Trostad. I scored against Dennis Irwin in America. How many people can say that? Was that the one where Cecil dribbled past him and shouted? Cecil was trying to score for 17 minutes. I come on on a bag of goal. Then Cecil scores because I open up play. But you know, the less said, the better. That's actually a good goal. You know, he took it on his chest. Yeah, no, Trostad, I hear what you're saying. But I think if it was a, if Jesus would have played a game already, I would have said yes. But just for the same things what Turkey's are saying, I would start Trostad in this game. Yeah, I would start Trostad. I agree. I agree, he probably keeps his place. And then, of course, the bench starts to fend itself out a little bit. You've got the likes of Jesus available. You've got Vieira. You've got Havertz if he doesn't start. You've got Nelson and Keita. Don't forget, Jesus has shown this season that he can have an impact coming off the bench. There's a few games we've seen him come off the bench and we start creating. That's a really good point. He can come off the bench and he can go right or down the middle. That's the beauty of him as well. If he does come off the bench. And it is starting to look like a strong bench because players are coming back. So you would have the options in what you've selected there of having, you know, Jesus, Eddie and Keita, Havertz, you know what I mean? There are options, Vieira. So there are options all of a sudden. When everybody's fit, the bench looks good, you know? Yeah, agreed. So let's run through R11. Again, that we've built on the AFTV Plus app. Download it on your iPhone or Android device, whatever it might be. With the click of a button, you can join us on AFTV Fan Zone after the game. We also run them through the week and you can build your R11. There's so much more. Go check it out. It is that easy and free to do, most crucially. R11 is Ramsdale in goal. We know Ryan's cup type. Not cup type, ineligible, but it's a big opportunity for Aaron Ramsdale. White, Saliba, Gabriel and Tomiasu is the back four we're predicting to play. Erdogan, if assumed fit, with Jorginho and Rice making one change to the midfield there with Saka, Trossard and Martinelli keeping their places despite 90 minutes for Gabi Jesus in the week. Let us know in the comments section what you would go with. Download the app, as I mentioned. And of course, check out all the other preview content that's come out on the channel. And we'll be reacting to every kick of a ball live on AFTV, doing fan cams, the lot. We're keeping you covered here on AFTV. Catch you in a bit.