Inhaaaaaaale… breath out… inhaaaaaale… CuuuuuuuKAAAAAAW… CuuuuuuKAAAAAW… channel that inner eagle you powerful beast. š¦
Quite simply put, if you are not preparing mentally for this game to the sweet shrieks of eagles, can you call yourself elite?
Categorically, no.
Here is a video so you can prep.
Barclays Premier League Day is here. In a few hours, Arsenal will roll out for a season opener against Crystal Palace.
Patrick Vieira is no mug when it comes to coaching. He’s aged down the Palace squad, he’s brought some Wengerball to the Selhurst Park Turf, and he wants to kick on this season after making some shrewd summer signings. Paddy signs street footballers that entertain, he moves on those fancy Youtube comps we all like, Palace are going to be trouble this season.
… that said, word has it their preseason was a bit of a disaster because they went to Aus and loads of their players were anti-vaxxers. They only took TEN senior players there. So who knows, maybe we’ll be more fit, you can hide anti-vaxxers in the US no problem.
Last time we went to Palace, it was after an international break that Partey and Tierney went to, they promptly picked up injuries during the break and during the game and we were beaten quite badly in the first half. I’m not sure we deserved to lose over the 90, but we did, so there we are.
What is different this time?
Well, we’re still missing both our first-team fullbacks, but this time, we have much more capable back-ups. Ben White will slip in for Tomiyasu, he’s been really impressive there so far, but Zaha is a different ball game. At left back, we’ve got ELITE cover in Zinchenko. A player that knows the league, can play the system better than Tierney, and is more than ready to stake a claim.
Midfield will be Xhaka and Partey, same as last time, except one didn’t go out partey-ing after a World Cup qualification. Cut it however you like, those two together have a great connection, and they’ve been very impressive this preseason. They are extremely brave and I do think the more advanced Xhaka is starting to pay dividends. He’s contributing to the assist tally, he won’t be there all season, but he’s less exposed in more advanced positions, and he’s adding a bit of boldness to his passing. I think we all forget that you are never too old to improve at your craft.
Odegaard will captain and drop in as a #10.
The frontline we’re going with tonight will be very different. Saka will occupy the right, Martinelli will take up the left, and Gabriel Jesus will be playing through the middle.
I cannot tell you how different life is going to be this season. Even if we have a bad game tonight, what you won’t see is a freeze in the frontline. Finally, we have the specificity in every position we need.
We have 5 defenders who can play through a press and pick out Hollywood passes. We mostly had that last season, but if you don’t have runners, what’s the point in having longball specialists.
There’s more chaos in our forward line this season. Gabriel Jesus is a nightmare, he comes deep and he’s problematic, he goes wide and he’s a nightmare, he’s standing still and he can create something, in the box he’s ahead of everyone, this guy has changed the game. Last time we played Palace, we had Lacazette who lacked power, speed, and ability in front of goal.
The biggest shift we have tonight is winnertivity. Two players can make a huge difference on nights like tonight. Zinchenko and Jesus have done it consistently at the highest level. They understand patience, they know how to dig deep, and their experience will inspire the young kids around them.
Johnny made a great point on the Before the Whistle. I’d much rather Palace in the heat of August than on December 27th in the freezing rain.
Ideally, we don’t go a goal down this evening, I’d rather not test our abysmal record of clawing back, but I am less worried about that part of our make-up than I was last season.
Last season was the worst start imaginable, COVID and late business nearly killed this project before it started, this August is the chance to put some points on the board and make amends.
11 points from the next 5 games would be very, very good. 7 points from the next 3 would put us top 4 before the international break. That is where we need to be. I believe we can do it.
Before I leave.
I’m very excited about this season, as fans, we’ve been through a lot. Finally, it feels like there’s a bit of structure at Arsenal, a boatload of ambition, and we seem to have the right people driving the vision.
This season, we have to learn a few lessons from what happened last year:
There will be downs and they will feel very painful.
There will be long runs that will feel like we’re title contenders.
Key is not to get too carried away with the bad or the good times. We’ll be up there at the end of the season, then it’s a roll of the dice who has enough to kick it over the line.
Also… just remember that every team will have down moments.
It is easy to be there for the good times, but as you’ve seen from that documentary, our fanbase is most important to the players when we’re there for the bad times.
The journey is always better than the destination. Enjoy the feeling of being underdogs. Eat up those predictions tables that have us behind Spurs this season. Take names and numbers of the people that doubted The Arsenal.
Right, that’s me done.
We will be ON THE WHISTLE at 10pm BRITISH time this evening.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube so you get the notifications, or just tune in below.
I donāt watch the Bundesliga but how good is this Moussa Diaby really?
Man is only 5ā 7ā, he doesnāt give us that option of attacking aerial balls
He’s comparable to Saka lightening fast very tricky good production. Huge fan he was always a preference for me over Raphinha cause I think he’s outstanding.
If this Arteta fella dares to lose. Iām telling you there will be some self righteous hell on here and theyāll be right Coz they are geniuses, they know heāll fail at some point and theyāll be able to finger point exactly why. They come on here from Spain, from all parts of the distant corners of the UK , some show there Arsenal support by supporting Tottenham , some may send their children on here. Thank goodness for all these sane ( they have their release certificates) rational posters on this site. . Remember to ignore that loud mob… Read more »
Is there a point in there somewhere.
Chelsea just paid Ā£60 million for Cucurella
Todd Boehly meets every stereotype of the American tourist, the types that pickpockets love to meet.
Marko
Donāt bother. Attention is oxygen to some.
Cheers Samesong. Weather is amazing over here.
Yeah Cucurella is a quality player but paying Ā£60m is outrageous. I’d want a Marcelo clone for that sort of money on a LB.
“Arteta can easily sustain the high press/pace part by subbing his fullbacks and one midfielder every game early in the 60th minute. Sub Ode for Lokonga/Vierra, Partey with Elneny, Tierney for Lokonga etc.” I wanted Sambi in for Xhaka yesterday, especially on the yellow. Even Iron man Xhaka can come out to freshen the energy. It really sucked that our most likely subs depth was unavailable though. Smith Rowe, Vieira, Tomiyasu… and we need to use Sambi at 8 or 10 when ESR not available. Was great to have Tierney though, gotta love him. Him as depth makes me feel… Read more »
Mitrovic wasn’t even that bad in the PL IIRC, did he not score 12 goals?
Decent return for a shit side.
Mane was a huge player for Pool.
Diaz is quality too but Mane was another level, and he was a bonafide big game player which Pool will sorely miss imo.
And I am not convinced that Nunez has elite potential. Firmino is well past his best but was a much better player than Nunez is for his first few seasons in Liverpool.
Dissenter
“Todd Boehly meets every stereotype of the American tourist”
lol I was in a train one of the uk big cities a few weeks ago. Glasgow.
There was this American girl around 18yo would say.
She was reporting that her phone had been stolen.
She was with a male friend another American around the same age.
She looks at him and nods.
Yeah my travel companion has had his phone stolen as well.
City may have some of these problems too, like Liverpool
Theyāve been successful without a striker, now they have to play through Haaland. It;s going to take some time to make those readjustments.
Liverpool are missing Maneās guile and aggression. Diaz is every inch as good as Mane but he doesnāt have those two qualities.
If Fulham can get Mitrovic in a scoring run, they will have a very good chance of surviving
Mitrovic has had a phenomenal record in the championship and so many bites at the premier league. One season, it has to come right.
Eh… then he isn’t every inch as good? š¤£
Anyone still complaining about the performance last night needs to look at Liverpool stuttering away against Fulham, my most accounts an easier opponent that Palace
Wenger Eagle
I get your point.
On the footballing side, Diaz comes across as a phenomenal player.
Itās those intangibles that he doesnāt have ā¦just yet.
Mane knew every cheating trick in the book and did them with an innocent smile on his face. He knew how to dish out punishment to defenders.
I’m sure Liverpool supporters will be analysing the Fulham game after the match and discussing areas where they expect to see improvement going forward.
What nasty unloyal fans they are those Liverpool lot.
Knew I should have waited until the end of the game. The point though was that away games are not going to be easy for the most part
Dissenter
Mane was much faster than Diaz. He was Pool’s fastest forward and the only one that had the beating of basically any defender barring freaks like Kyle Walker in a foot race.
He also showed up in most of the bigger games and outshone Salah.
Nunez looks an absolute menace. Fulham need to pick it up.
Haaland v Nunez comparisons are inevitable.
Fully expect Haaland to outscore him but good start for the Uruguayan.
VvD is so shaken by Big Billās performance that heās giving away penalties.
Ishola
“But he hardly changed the sway of the game single handedly did he when he came on.”
creating a goal , creating a clear cut chance for saka one minute later and stopping Andersen from making anymore than the 12 balls over the top of our defence, all in 10 minutes on the pitch…..if that doesn’t constitute single handedly changing the sway of the game , then i don’t know what does.
Wenger Eagle
I think Diaz was the fastest of the quartet [salah, mane, Diaz and Jota]. from January last season
āDiaz recorded a speed of 35.5 km/h whereas Salah’s highest speed reached 33.2 km/h. Mane and Jota who are also very quick are an extra 0.9 km/h behind the Egyptianā
Diaz looks very fast
Iām not sure thatās translatable into much, Bellerin was super fast and couldnāt Ross the ball to save his life.
WE,
My money is on Nunez. Havenāt seen enough of either of them for a detailed comparison but Nunez just seems like a better fit for his teamās system. I think I read somewhere that 40%+ of Haalandās goals last season came from counters where heās running at defenders. Wonāt be too many of those at City.
Ishola
“Oh my god Pierre is on his Eddie N mission again.He will be asking for Jesus to be replaced by him in no time”
No , but i do expect Eddie to be a permanent fixture in the side when Arteta realises AGAIN what a mistake it is to only use him for 10 minutes here and there.
lol Pierre has waited hours for the Eddie N comeback.
We get it Pierre.
You are a very, very big fan of Eddie N.
His contribution was maybe not as dramatic as you imply but if he can come on and contribute positively in the later stages of games then that is good for the team.
You though will probably want him to come in and take Jesus place in the team lol.
Super sub it is for Eddie N for enough matches this season.
Pierre do you seriously think that Eddie N at this stage is going to replace on a permanant basis Jesus in the starting XI barring injury or Jesus completely stinking the place out?
I too think Nonez will outsource Haaland
Scamacca will surprise people too. Heās well suited for how Westham plan and Antonio will draw defenders away from him.
Scammaca and Antionio as a front two?
Two big dudes there.
Going to occupy opposition defences this season.
Ishola “You though will probably want him to come in and take Jesus place in the team lol.” You are lol ing at yourself for making such a stupid assertion .. But there could( and i say could) be a case for only using Jesus for an hour or so as there is a possibility that he runs out of gas due to the high intensity of his game. Jesus may( and i say may) be a player who needs to play with high intensity to remain effective as it was noticeable that he started magnificently in the opening exchanges… Read more »
Ishola
ā Scammaca and Antionioā
Then add Bowen to that.
Scamacca
Bowen- -Antonio
Pierre is right.
Jesus wasn’t even jogging for a long time before he came off. Walking, heavy legged.
Arteta too stingy with subs as usual. I was hoping he’d be different this season.
For Jesus health as much as any other reason. Eddie is a very good 2nd choice.
If he’s fit, use him and keep Jesus fresh for a long campaign.
Ishola
“Pierre do you seriously think that Eddie N at this stage is going to replace on a permanant basis Jesus in the starting XI barring injury or Jesus completely stinking the place out?”
You’re making it up as you go along, read my words , no I don’t think jesus will be left out of the starting line up for Eddie..
Well you used the word permanent Pierre tbf in regards Eddie N.
“Permanant fixture” you said.
Hard to see that really with Jesus around now.
If Palace had equalised, Jesus would’ve ended up playing 90+ minutes, and that’s dangerous with nothing left in the tank for the last 20.
Ishola
“āPermanant fixtureā you said.Hard to see that really with Jesus around now.”
Not at all, let’s wait and see
Nigel,
IMO, thatās the biggest improvement in Artetaās management Iāll be watching for this season. Presumably weāll try to win Europa this season. If he doesnāt improve his rotation this season weāll be punished. That said, we finally have a bench that deserves some playing time.
Puts Arsenalās result in an even better light !
Ah it’s the old Jesus playing on the wing line again is it.
Ok.
“Ah itās the old Jesus playing on the wing line again is it.”
Not necessarily
Did Fulham perform well and above themselves or were Liverpool a bit rank?
Or Fulham had a stand out performer?
Some matches can be won or lost just by one player playing really well for the side.
Didn’t watch this game as you can realise.
VDV not covering himself in glory in this game by all accounts.
Told you 2 months back Liverpool will suffer this season
Eddie will get plenty of opportunities.
Having high octane forwards like Jesus, Eddie + Martinelli, will certainly mean rotation + players being subbed around the 65-70 minute point.
Expecting them to play with that level of intensity playing 3 games a week isnāt realistic, if we donāt rotate, weāll almost certainly break them.
Liverpool rank cos they lost? Fulham were good today. Don’t forget Liverpool made City look not so good last week.
Fulham were the better team. Pool solely relied on crossing to Nunez. No other plan.
Great win!
One negative. It was clear in the second half that some of our players were struggling physically. Arteta should see things like this and act accordingly ( sooner) Saliba looks fantastic. First 25 minutes played some great stuff.
Fulham providing first shock of the season.
Can we just admit that a win away from home is an achievement, regardless of how it is achieved.
Or one player playing well below standards can sabotage a whole side as well.
That’s the great thing about football.
So many permutations into why teams can win or lose a match.
Bit early Jonko for that assertion.
Bergkamp
Liverpool did not really do anything in the City match either. Were totally off the pace and only won because City did not have a proper pre season.
Ishola,
A bit of both. Liverpool didnāt have the sort of intensity you expect from them. Lost a lot of those duels where they usually turn over the opposition. But Fulham looked good. Mitrovic looks like he might finally be able to replicate his Championship form in the PL. Absolutely dominated TAA for that first goal.
Bob its not an assertion, it’s a prediction and I stand by it. The first match proves I may be right. That’s all.
Lovesausage
“Absolutely dominated TAA for that first goal.”
lol you don’t say.
Trent Alexander Arnold being involved in an opposition goal again.
I don’t think people realize how good Haaland is. Nunez is good he is better
Rich
Do you think it is good for the side to keep chopping and changing the front line as you are implying?
I understand changes for games against lesser opposition but keep on changing the striker as you imply by stating plenty of games for Eddie N suggests chopping and changing the striker for a lot of games.
Is that good for team chemistry and players gelling?
Ishola
At the rate both strikers charge up and down the pitch neither can play full 90 that regularly. Both will need rests and ir would be poor squad management to play Jesus in Europa league group matches and league cup when we have Eddie raring to prove his worth
I join the rest of the Arsenal family to celebrate our victory yesterday over Palace. It was massive not only because its the opening game if the season but because, we were made to look clueless by the domineering performance of the Viera tutored side. Our performance might not be great in the reckoning of many but I dare say it its the baby steps towards becoming a far better team than the drab we’ve been in recent years. Prior to the match, many would have taken a draw but what did we get; A win! The season is just… Read more »
Un
I already said that Eddie N should play the earlier Europa League matches and games in domestic cups.
What interested me in the Rich comment was “plenty” of games for Eddie N.
That would imply quite a few EPL matches as well.
I understand the notion of keeping players fresh but that can also backfire in regards the frontline gelling and getting an understanding by playing regularly together rather than being changed too much.
I expect joe Willock to score at least 10 this season , he was unfortunately injured last pre season and consequently , through lack of match fitness, was unable to replicate his superb goalscoring form from the previois season ….playing a more defensive role didn’t help him as for some reason he is always
Judged by how many goals he scores, unlike or central mids…
I’d put money on him scoring today.
Ishola
“What interested me in the Rich comment was āplentyā of games for Eddie N.”
You’re flogging a dead horse with your constant sniping of Eddie , he’s good enough , he’s proved it before and he’ll prove it again .
*domineering performance of Palace against us last season*
Stevie G for the sack this season.
I don’t even mind Eddie N Pierre.
It’s your huge bias in your posts about him that is funny that’s all.
Ishola – for some reason Iām not quite sure, Iād find that hilariously funny
Akinzo,
Good sentiments.
One more thing about Jesus/Eddie.
Pedro showed us Jesus production as a starting player for Pep was excellent.
This is because he was managed perfectly with their huge, quality bench..
He is not accustomed to playing as much as most players… that, along with his extraordinary energy output means… be careful with his condition and minutes.
Southampton ā¤ļø
Get in! The spuds concede.
Ward-Price š¤£š¤£š¤£
Oh when the Saints go marching in
Ish
If we are in the latter stages of cups then Iād expect Jesus to be selected in some of these games over some league games
Personally Iād like us to prioritise top 4 and league futures for our best 11 as cups are only a distraction
Why isnāt that a yellow card
Xhaka was booked for less
A direct quote from an aggrieved Spud on the Fighting Cock
Ward prouse the cunt always the same shit against usā¦
Spuds at home, are currently being blown away by the saint’s trumpet!….lol
Ish We have no chance of becoming a club that remains competitive consistently across 4 competitions, if we donāt utilise our squad, have quality in depth, not just numbers, alongside a high level of specificity + versatility You only need to look at City + Liverpoolās squads to see that, City rotate more than Liverpool, but Liverpool still have serious depth + specificity. Look at the way just 3-4 injuries derailed us last season, and that was playing mainly a game a week for most of the season, and being just 19th in the league for missing players with injuries… Read more »
Walker Peters is a positionally challenged midget. It was bound to happen.
Rich
The argument wasn’t about across four competitions for the whole season.
Should Eddie N start ahead of Jesus in a fair amount of EPL games as well?
That’s the question for you in regards your “plenty” term.
I can’t see how that is good for team gelling and understanding by playing consistently together without change every two or three games.
Rich
Liverpool were saved by Darwin coming on
They are only one or two injuries away from a relatively poor season themselves
If any of salah taa vvd or Alison are injured (after losing Mane, then they could struggle. Fulham were the better side today for large spells and only Darwin coming on salvaged anything for them. I think heās gonna be a big player for them when he finds his feet with Taa and Robertson popping those crosses in.
Ishola,
To be fair, no one rotates as much as Pep and that hasnāt prevented City from gelling. Itās more a question of whether you have the right talent on the bench and how well they understand the system.
Under 21s beat United 3-1 this afternoon.
Marquinhos apparently got a goal, and 2 assists, and Tomiyasu picked up 45 minutes,
Southampton gonna be relegated.
Well Man City have had quality players right through the team that they rotate rather than just a choice of strikers to rotate.
A bit of a different scenario to Arsenal.
There was a bit of money put on a high scoring game involving the lily scummers today.
Ish,
Thatās my point though. Rotation in itself isnāt an issue, the quality of your players has is. It comes down to whether you believe Eddie has enough quality. IMO, he isnāt at GJās level but heās good enough to get a decent amount of PL games, esp against weaker opponents.
Ish Itās about utilising our squad, who knows where weāll get injuries + absences?ā¦. In the unlikely event we get no medium – long term injuries amongst our forward options, then Eddie will likely be restricted to 4-5 PL starts, plenty of sub appearances, while starting the vast majority of the cup games. But in all likelihood Jesus will pick up knocks + niggles, and will need dropping out at some stage, Weāll get absences in the wide positions, and either Jesus or Eddie will have to play wide, with the other going central. There may be a few games… Read more »
“Itās more a question of whether you have the right talent on the bench and how well they understand the system.” Pep rotates Laporte, Stones and Dias in central defense which is probably the most critical position and still they are rotated seamlessly by Pep because he has ensured that all his players understand the system. I think Arteta may try to emulate Pep in rotating White, Gabriel and Saliba in central defense. Likewise I see no problem in Jesus and Eddie rotating for CF position. My only worry is Arteta seems to always pick Xhaka and Odegaard who I… Read more »
Ishola What Pep and klopp do so well is coach their system into their squad so that not only is their role second nature, their team mateās roles are too. This allows for a more telepathic fluid approach in games but also fluidity in swapping roles and new members stepping in and out of any said position Itās ingrained into them Thatās why they hold new signing back and integrate them slowly until they are up to speed on the system and donāt disrupt the flow Arteta is clearly doing the same with our squad. Eddie and Jesus will swap… Read more »
I think some of you are thinking we are better than we currently are. It can be important for a team to get players having an understanding and gelling by playing multiple games together if the back-up to the whole side is not abundant. Not just the strikers but the whole side. I don’t understand this comparison to Man City all the time. We are nowhere near them still in comparison to the quality of player they have been able to rotate. If a team doesn’t have an abundance of quality to rotate then getting in a relatively fixed frontline… Read more »
We may not be at man city level yet, but we are much better than last season. When our injured players are back and we get in 2 more, after a few games in when players hit form and start clicking we will be cooking. All the team needs is confidence and I’m sure we can beat anyone on our day.
ā La Liga Refuses To Allow FC Barcelona To Register New Playersā
Shit club
Barcelona will be able to register all of their new signings when De Jong is sold to Chelsea and Memphis is released on a free transfer.
TR7
The exit of those two players wonāt be enough to offset the entry of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen.
They are yet to meet the financial requirements of La Liga to sign 5 new players because of their debt issues,
Fuck Barca watch them sell auba as well
Dissenter don’t worry about Barca they’ll be alright they’re a hugely successful club
Diss, agree, they’ve done so much damage to their brand.
NEW POST
Mousa Diaby. I approve. Get it done! Gives us finishing/dribbling/assists from wide areas should Martinelli’s form dip/need resting/even as a starter. Perfect foil for him. Very Sadio Mane like. He would start tbf but martinelli will still get enough games regardless. I against beasting our 11. Arteta needs to pick it up as that was my biggest concern with him last season. Waited too long to sub tiring players again but i’ll give him a pass as its the opening game.
Had to be over at a mates house in Birmingham this Friday and today and he is not much of a football fan in general so failed miserably in trying to get him out and into a pub to watch the game. So pretty pissed off that I missed the opening game (followed it on Arseblog). I am going to watch the replay later on this evening. I don’t usually watch replays. Knowing that the game is not live doesn’t appeal to me. But this time I’ll make an exception. I am really keen to see how we played so… Read more »