Firstly, a happy Tuesday to you all and welcome to a brand new season. I hope you’ve all been behaving yourselves this summer. It’s felt like a long break without the Arsenal – plus ca change – even with the welcome appetiser of a World Cup to enjoy, along with a trip to see Pete in NYC – I can confirm he is still a complete tart.
Nonetheless, I can rarely recall anticipating the start of a new season with such fervour as this one, as a full stop was placed at the end of the Wenger dynasty and a new era begins (I’m reluctant to denote it as the ‘Emery era’, as I’d be flabbergasted if he – or any future manager – sustains a reign to match Arsene’s).
A perfect amuse-bouche for the season curtain raiser was a tour of the Player Performance Centre at London Colney last week, followed by a presentation and Q&A. An assembled group of London-based football journalists and Arsenal bloggers were invited to the training ground as part of the club’s push to enhance club and press relations. Whether this was lip service or otherwise, the whole experience was exceptionally revealing and whilst there will be ongoing concerns around player personnel and tactics, any perceived worries over the players’ physical preparation should be fully alleviated. This is a genuinely world-class operation, and one that is geared up to succeed.
My over-riding takeaway from the event was there is a tacit (and fair) acknowledgment from Arsenal that they are not going to be able to compete financially with the petro-clubs; however, we can try and steal a march with marginal gains around player physiology, psychology and analysis.
The tour was led by the impressive Darren Burgess (Director of High Performance), along with Gary O’Driscoll (Medical Director) and Chris Morgan (First Team Senior Physiotherapist – recently poached from Liverpool); along with Sean O’Connor (Training Centre Facilities Manager). Sean has worked at the club for the best part of two decades and his passion and love for Arsenal was infectious.
Rather than provide lengthy paragraphs and prose, I’ve summarised the key points from the afternoon, which hopefully makes it slightly more digestible than my usual stodge (plus there’s a fair few facts and stats):
The facilities
• Investment in the training centre in the last two years totals £17 million
• The club now employ 250 staff on the performance side. The greatest attributor to this has undoubtedly been in analysis
• The club boasts the largest crypto-chamber in the UK at a cost of £160k
• The players are stat-obsessed – they take it incredibly seriously. In the gym there are boards that are updated after every match with ‘top-3’s’ for a number of metrics, such as most sprints, maximum acceleration, distance covered and total sprinting distance
• The general facilities are – as you would expect – outstanding and cutting edge. Be it the indoors 40 metre running track, or the 3D body analysis room for post injury analysis, it really is an amazing environment
• The small details make all the difference too – the changing areas and whole building are flooded with natural light whilst corridors are lined with iconic images of Arsenal legends and iconic moments
Darren Burgess
Further to the tour, a 30-45 minute presentation and Q&A was given by Darren Burgess. The key takeaways were:
• The club wants to be more open and relationship driven, including with regard to player injuries and fitness
• There are now 31 full-time medical staff at the club
• The club has hired data ingenue and Candy Crush guru Mikhail Zhilkin to provide the analysis for the vast swathes of data that’re recorded
• The club are constantly monitoring and assessing the players’ fitness – to paraphrase, every training session is a fitness test
• The key focus area is around player resilience, which is tailored to Emery’s desire for high-pressing and constant movement
What was abundantly clear from both the tour of the facilities and the subsequent presentation from the team, is that whilst Arsenal could certainly be accused of letting standards drop on the pitch over recent years, they haven’t given an inch off it.
The improvements are incremental and ongoing, but the club has made both the physical investment in facilities, coupled with hiring the best experts from around the globe to build on marginal gains and create the best possible platform for the manager and his coaches.
Most tellingly, it was made clear that the players have been receptive to the heightened importance placed on physiology and conditioning. Whilst it may mean more time in the gym or in recovery sessions, they buy-in to the practices and believe it can enhance performance.
A big thank you to Darren Burgess and his team for their time and insight – the above only skims the surface of what was garnered.
Man City and looking ahead to Chelsea
I’m not going to wade too deep into Sunday’s game – Pete covered it off nicely yesterday, but a few observations:
• The main positive was how we pressed as a unit for the majority of the game. The results were mixed, but there was a clear change from last season – the distance run by the team exceeded any distance we covered last season
• Ramsey came in for a lot of stick – as he so often seems to – but watch the game back. He was outstanding at leading, or ‘triggering’, our front-line press and most of the times that it bore fruit was a result of his industry
• The issue with this approach is that it leaves Ramsey as one of the furthest two players forward (often the most advanced), which prevents him from hurting opponents with his unique skillset – namely his ability to break into the box from deep, often unchecked
• Ozil undoubtedly had a poor game, but similarly to Ramsey, the role he was playing was never going to allow him to weave his magic. His position on the wing meant he spent large swathes of the game as an auxiliary right back to support Bellerin, and crucially, he was not in positions to hurt our opponents
• Aubameyang also looked isolated. With Ozil too deep and Ramsey too advanced, he didn’t have the benefit of arriving support to play off
• Our success, or otherwise, this season depends largely on getting Ramsey and Ozil into positions on the pitch where they can hurt opponents. This set-up didn’t achieve that in this game – but, it’s Man City who aren’t a fair barometer of how we will shape up against more forgiving opponents (who are pretty much any team in the last decade of the Premier League)
• Cech made some excellent saves – undeniably – but if Emery wants to set out the side to build from the back, Cech is not the man for the job. That being said, it should be of concern that our £25 million German international hasn’t convinced the coaching staff that he is good enough to usurp the helmeted veteran, who’s best years are clearly far behind him
Chelsea
• For Chelsea, I’d be setting up slightly differently. Whilst our defence didn’t cover themselves in glory on Sunday, very little was expected of them. Of more concern was our inability to get our star-studded attack firing
• If you look at Klopp’s Liverpool (pre-Van Dijk and Allison), he has clearly taken an approach that has shoe-horned all of his best attackers into the team and creating a platform for them, accepting that their defence is not top tier
• I sense we are in a similar situation. Our defence is highly fallible, but our attack is high calibre and that’s the part of our game we need to optimise (appreciate this feels a bit like a Wenger-throwback!)
• Aside from bringing Monreal into the side (fitness permitting), I would be drafting in Torreira and Lacazette for Saturday teatime for Guendouzi and Mkhi
• Guendouzi did *okay* against Citeh – his attitude was outstanding, he never hid and always wanted the ball, but his defensive naivety (which is completely to be expected at this embryonic stage of his career) was brutally exposed by Silva, Sterling et al. and with Jorginho and Kovacic in waiting at Stamford Bridge, I would be plumping for experience
• Mkhi shouldn’t start big games for Arsenal. In my view, he is a talented stat-padder versus dross, who looks lightweight and ineffectual against our immediate rivals. I’d have preferred the money for Alexis….
• Xhaka had a poor game on Sunday, however I’d be interested to see him with Torreira who – in theory – should prevent Xhaka having to play on the turn so much, which he clearly struggles with
• To get the best out of our four main attackers, I’d have a diamond with Torreira at the base with Xhaka sitting deep alongside Ramsey (with licence to roam) and then Ozil at the tip in a more conventional number 10 role; behind a front two of Auba and Laca
• Our two front-men’s synergy is obvious and their best spells in Arsenal shirts have been when they’ve dovetailed together.
Sorry it’s been a long one – thanks for sticking with me. Until next time.
Follow me @BeardofPires
DM again
2
3
Tr4phy
2 in one day
shit. I did not see this one
Marko
One last time, for the dead brain cells you carry..
Nobody was shitting on Guendouzi, just pointing out the inevitable happened after starting him against City as a fort senior game. He made game defining errors that we couldn’t deal with.
By the same token nobody is saying Xhaka had a good game (I think only Licht, Laca, and Torreira were genuinely impressive). It’s idiots like you that can’t help but drag Xhaka into the coversation despite suggesting others are fanboys. Seems you have the crush
Arsenal ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang I’m playing with Lacazette:
“There is a spark between us when we are both on the pitch together. We look for each other, we saw it [on Sunday] against City when he came on. I don’t mind playing on the left if Laca is in the centre. We both want to do our best for the team.”
This should end any made up discussion of Aubameyang hating playing wide.
Laca is better centrally, period.
Emery out.
that’s from the horse’s mouth.
A better way to say “shut the fuck up” to the know it all.
I’be interested to know why Torreira ‘in theory’ should prevent Xhaka being made to play on the half turn.
Being pressed or having an ability to play on the half-turn is not some rare event in football, like a goalkeeper being forced to save a penalty, it happens more or less constantly throughout the ninety minutes.
GOH,
don’t allow insanity to set in man.
2 in one day Pedro well done Banks has been seen off
I’d go with 4-1-2-1-2 as well with Litch and hopefully Monreal on the flanks. I want to see Auba and Laca both starting with Ozil behind them.
“• Mkhi shouldn’t start big games for Arsenal. In my view, he is a talented stat-padder versus dross, who looks lightweight and ineffectual against our immediate rivals. I’d have preferred the money for Alexis…”
Fully agreed!
Imagine a fast, dangerous 1v1 wide forward. Makes our team so dangerous when attacking.
Drop him and play Laca. Drop Xhaka and play Torreira. Drop Bellerin and play Lichtsteiner. Drop Cech and play Leon. = PROFIT
Tee
Too late. I am long gone.
BeardOf Pires has probably called what we will see in midfield.
Xjaka and Torreira. Those are the obvious established picks for the Chelsea.
However BeardOf Pires preferred set-up of the two that being Torreira at the base with Xjaka moved up from his deep position can cause real problems. It means that Xjaka will be in more traffic and his obvious weaknesses off the ball can be more exposed.
What that set-up will do is place great emphasis on Torreira. Very big emphasis. Xjaka will not help him.
Laca is definitely a more rounded footballer than Auba and Auba has the attributes to play from the wings; it’s really not an issue accommodating them.
I just want to see both of them start.
James:
Whilst our defence didn’t cover themselves in glory on Sunday, very little was expected of them.
————————————–
Seriously? Very little was expected? Why?
Oh I know, they’re not payed enough…….
There is no scenario that Xhaka works in any professional football team. He has no quality.
Arsenal have to play defensively against Chelsea. Load the back. Torriera and Guedenze protecting and a skeleton midfield with one up front.
I can see hazard having a right laugh against this shower.
Chika
Laca is shit. He’s small, weak, slow and isn’t instinctive. PEA isn’t amazing also, but does have more to his game than Laca.
He’s a black Jeffers.
He’s a black Jeffers.
———————-
Ha!
That miss on Sunday was awful, fully explained why he
was dropped by France.
Guns of Hackney
Ok. So what’s your preferred line up against Chelsea and what do you hope to achieve with your selection?
Completely agree Chika, Laca and PEA to start…am sure any opposition team would rather we didn’t play both.
Mhiki….impact sub.
I guess we should try out Xhaka and Torreira together…you never know! (Am afraid I’ve lost all hope in Xhaka)
Any news on AMN’s injury?
Guns, you’re successfully provoking me into a defence of Laca.
He’s not shit…they’re you go!
Unless there is a drastic improvement just use Europa League to sure Xhaka’s value up a bit and dross opposition at home and try to use him in some sort of swap deal or something where we can maybe get more for him than in a normal transfer.
there you go…
Like your thinking Chika…more suited to Italy?
If Xjaka and Torreira play I’d rather see Torreira operating in front of Xjaka.
Xjaka is a liability anywhere in midfield whether it be deepest or a bit higher up but I’d rather see Torreira sniffing out danger higher up then deep.
The set-up of Torreira deepest could see Chelsea swarm on the penalty area and Torreira drowned. Arsenal defending too deep. Chelsea will walk through Xjaka before descending on Torreira as last man.
Guns of Hackney
Less of your bullshit. Laca came on looked very lively against City.
“Completely agree Chika, Laca and PEA to start…am sure any opposition team would rather we didn’t play both.”
Exactly Bob. We’d certainly create more chances with both and they clearly have a chemistry.
Danny
He’s a miss machine and at a club like Arsenal…we need to pretty much hit every chance.
Chika
Leno
Lichtensteiner
Monreal
Sokratis
Holding
Matland Niles
Guedezi
Torriera
Ramsay
Laca
PEA
5 3 2 formation which goes into a 3 5 2 when attacking or a 5 4 1.
You’re welcome.
Samir
He came on and looked like someone had pissed in his kit bag.
The miss was bad! He is one of those players who tricks you into thinking he looks busy but actually does very little.
However, we are better with two up front. So he plays.
What a shit post
A load of words to say I’m on the inside so listen to me, combined with a load of smoke being blown up the club’s ass..
EIE
Paddy, mate…say what you see!
Guns of Hackney
Terrible line up, no wonder you’re not a PL manager.
That team is full of young newbies that have mainly never played together.
We would get smashed.
Guns, I thought u were only “trolling” but I guess u uses the word to cover your seriousness.
All points to the fact that u a very very bitter. Come off it man Arteta, though might have been good, was never given the job. Move on man it’s long gone.
Impressed with the facilities and the professionals @ the club now. Looking forward to the Stamford Bridge game. Can someone tell me the time for the game? I’ll be most grateful.
…………..Leno……
Bellerin–Mustafi–Sokratis–Monreal
………….Torreira–Ramsey…..
……….Mhiki–Ozil–Auba
………….Lacazette……
Aubameyang is wasted wide. He isn’t a natural wide player and he is forced to do far too much tracking back, harrying and pressing from there.
Lacazette has shown that he should probably be in the starting XI, but the solution isn’t to start him and force Aubameyang wide; the solution is to play both through the center, in a 4-4-2.
Samir
Ozil and Mikki in the team?
Bellerin?
Mustafi?
Right.
Samir
Away from home, you can not under any circumstance play that fat bastard, Mikki. Nor can you play his lazy ass mate, Ozil. Mustafi is our worst defender and Bellerin isn’t far behind.
Odd you picked those players.
They were implying on the podcast that Auba is a bit of a flat track bully so far in his time at Arsenal an accusation that has been levelled at other certain Arsenal players. That he hasn’t really shown up good against the big boys.
Anyway, our senior players aren’t exactly leading by example, are they?
Better to play some youngsters and get beat than play players who couldn’t give a fuck.
Your Comment Here
Ishola, it’s easier to score against weaker teams. Our midfield gets outplayed by our top 6 opponents so he’ll score less.
Does that make PEA a ‘flat-track bully’ or is that phrase a snide criticism?
Guns u claim Laca is weak and small and all that. U also claim he misses chances but which striker converts all chances presented to them. Just name me one. Ronaldo, Messi, TH14 all missed penalties let alone open play opportunities.
Danny, he wasn’t picked by France not because they had better players in that position, but the systems the coach played made no room for him.
Sometimes some posters talk as if football is played on a 100% level consistently.
If Xhaka starts against Chelsea we losing that game. Plain & simple
Agree for the most part with your team selection for Chelsea, Guns. I do feel that Mustafi probably needs to play…he wasn’t too bad against City (high praise I appreciate).
No way should Mkhi and Ozil both play against decent opposition – too weak without the ball.
BOb N16 “it’s easier to score against weaker teams. Our midfield gets outplayed by our top 6 opponents so he’ll score less. Does that make PEA a ‘flat-track bully’ or is that phrase a snide criticism?” Not really. Thought it was noticeable though on the podcast what with all the obvious problems with the side that they had time to question Auba as well. Thought it was a very good overall podcast though and the English guy as guest a regular is one of the best contributors on it. Saying that it would be good to see Auba having a… Read more »
I’m no fan of Mhiki myself but he’s the best we have. If Iwobi is fit or Welbeck I’d rather play them on the wings.
At the end of the day we don’t have one proper winger in this team which really is limiting us going forward.
Look at Liverpool and Man City; Both predominantly attack the very wide positions with pace.
Emery has to work with what he’s got. which isn’t very much.
Kay Come on. Some players miss more than others. Some players, even when not scoring are either assisting or creating problems for other teammates…Laca doesn’t really do anything particularly well. You know, this is a £55m footballer we’re talking about! He’s not some punk kid. France didn’t even select him for the squad. He’s 27/28 and only played a handful of games for France and is pretty much finished at international level. Scoring 100 goals in three years in France is not a parameter that one should use to spend £55m on. I don’t rate him. Sorry. His game is… Read more »
Bob
Have we just had a moment? Did we almost agree???? Ha ha.
Ishola – He is definitely flat track. He can’t adapt his game at all or raise the intensity to overcome organised aggressive opposition.
He just lacks any of the sort of drive and intensity Henry had. He just seems to content to drift along in games and if it happens it happens and if it doesn’t no big deal.
Paulinho
Spot on. This is a guy no other top club wanted. The game has changed and has very little room for passengers. Alas, Arsenal have quite a few.
Ozil
PEA
Laca
Mikki
First teamers but not for the running.
Poor recruitment. Simple as that.
Did you say Ramsey was outstanding ….he did nothing. The best thing for emery is to get Ramsey , Ozil and Xhaka out of this team next summer. Guen was naive but really played well. You could see he wasn’t shy. His stats were better than the entire squad for the day. Versus Chelsea, I’m allowing Guen in central mode, toreira as DM and dropping xhaka+Ramsey… Average men who can’t prove themselves vs champions. Ramsey has been here for 10years, has he improved. Is he close to modric or kroos level. I’m tired of excuses for him. Jack is far… Read more »
Paulinho
“He is definitely flat track. He can’t adapt his game at all or raise the intensity to overcome organised aggressive opposition.”
He needs a big individual game against one of the big boys to avert this accusation of him.
As Bob said it ain’t easy when the team is rolled over as a whole against the top sides but saying this his individual performances against the top sides so far has been invisible a bit too much.
Guns – Yep, agree.
Don’t really like any of them. Complete passengers as you said, and all of them are quiet and don’t really get riled up(Lacazette possible exception). I think they will wind Emery up over time. At Seville you could see he likes passion and working with players that are tactically adaptable but also have an edge.
Torreira is the first step to bringing in the type of player he likes, as well as Liechtensteiner.
I would like to see Auba up top with Laca as part of a 2. I think Emery will see soon enough that with Xhaka in his team, we’re not going to do anything of note.
Players I’d rather have play alongside Torriera than Xhaka right now:
Guendouzi
El Neny
Ramsey
AMN (injured I think)
Is that all our other senior midfielders? Fuck it, maybe even Iwobi.
Xhaka is just too shit. Plus he’s far too slow to help out in a press. Guendouzi was stepping in and winning/challenging for balls at 3x the rate Xhaka is capable of. Bin him and move on, so sick of people saying he’s our best option to pair with Torriera.
Ishola – Aubameyang can’t back into defenders and roll them, he’s very one-dimensional as a result.
It’s all about running into space with him.
If Emery’s plan is for the fullbacks to push forward as wingbacks, then not having Nacho is currently a big loss. I imagine that’s why he chose AMN over Lichtsteiner vs Citeh, and why we’re hearing crazy rumors of Welbeck at LB. It also explains why Emery didn’t focus on buying any Wingers, but bought two DMs.
The whole team hasn’t really shown up against the big boys often enough. It’s a problem that is likely to continue for a while. So it’s pertinent we smash the teams we can smash. Auba should not have been bought without buying wingers or play in a way that transitions the ball from defence to attack quickly. At this stage I MUCH prefer Laca to him centrally. Not because he’s a lesser player but because his best position in this team is on the wings or in a two up front. Question then is, do we have the tools to… Read more »
That he hasn’t really shown up good against the big boys.
No Arsenal team has shown up against the big boys by and large for years. Our top 4 then it became top 6 record is always the worst. And it’s unfair to single out Aubameyang since he’s only played in 14 league games for us
mysticleaves
“At this stage I MUCH prefer Laca to him centrally”
I’d think I would be inclined to agree with this but maybe not capital letters MUCH.
Laca has actually shown a bit more mojo than Auba in the big games against the better opposition so far.
I would argue that Ozil and Xhaka need to have good performances in big games before I’d worry about Aubameyang. Xhaka just needs a good performance period. He’s that bad
We should have gone in hard for Pulisic/Malcom/Dembele and Koulibaly.
Unfortunately though we have a maggot of an owner.
Saying that it would be good to see Auba having a really good individual game against one of the big boy sides. And soon.
Because let’s face it, a player is mostly as good as the system that suits him. Can’t really remember a stand out striker that had very good games against top teams while playing in a lesser quality side.
If we don’t get wingers nor transition faster against the big boys we won’t see the best of Auba, he’s not an individual striker.
Talking about Xjaka is redundant at this point.
He’s a write off.
Naby Keita looked fantastic against West Ham, as did Liverpool in general. They and City are levels and levels above where we are.
We will be lucky to finish fourth, and I think we may need to have a creative and active January. I am not optimistic.
Naby wasn’t fantastic, had a good game considering it was his debut. I Except to see more
Bamford10
“Naby Keita looked fantastic against West Ham, as did Liverpool in general. They and City are levels and levels above where we are.”
They still have Henderson and Fabinho to come into midfield. That midfield against West Ham was a watered down version for them.
West Ham were shit though.
Banford Lol at your defiant attitude towards Auba and Laca, you made your bed with you “Auba shits on Laca” comments and now you can’t stray from them. Auba offered nothing centrally against City, he had no space to work in and back to goal he’s average – it’s simply not his game. Laca came in and instantly the ball stuck it was laid off and pressure developed. Playing wide in a three isn’t “playing wide” as you’re making out. Auba has every ability to be in and around the box to score, which he showed last season, he simply… Read more »
Worth noting as well we’re only talking about Aubameyang on the wing and the possibility of Lacazette centrally ever him because we are so unbalanced and have zero wingers in the squad. If we had a balanced attack a good attack Aubameyang would be first choice CF no doubt and he’d be flying. This team is still a mess in every area of the pitch that unfortunately certain players are not playing comfortably.
“They still have Henderson…”
Err pardon? 😀
Lol at your defiant attitude towards Auba and Laca,
This from the guy who earlier said “Laca is better centrally, period.” Is a bit rich
You’d think we got wiped in 5s and 6s the way the media reaction has been. Every single prediction I saw going into that game apart from the most optimistic of Gunners was a defeat. So when it actually happened, the sudden outrage and changing of hope/expectation has been inflated to say the least.
We must have the most toothless attack worth £120m in the world.
At the start of the season, I thought goals would be an issue. Outside of PEA and Laca, we have a real goal issue.
Ozil?
Mikki?
Welbeck?
Ramsay?
They are worth maybe 20 between them. Not more based on previous seasons.
Remember when we had
TH
Kanu
Ljungberg
Wiltord
Bergkamp
Pires
Goalsville
Marko
Yea totally rich. Not like Laca has proven time and again he has more to his game centrally or anything..
You should skip a day or two, you’re woefully inept lately which is really saying something.
Charlie
Hendreson does a decent job for them and is very much appreciated by the Liverpool fans. He’s a regular for them and will continue to be a regular for them even with the addition of Fabinho.
Not really interested in the snob view of midfielders that is endemic among Arsenal fans.
Not all midfielders need to be ballers. Not when they give the team other aspects which are appreciated by the team and management and their fans.
Ishola
He’s pilloried by Liverpool fans who have been hailing Fabinhos signing as it keeps Henderson out the team. You’re another sort that will say anything to try and big up another side.
I find it funny that the player himself has already publicly stated he prefers playing with Lacazette yet some are more worried he will be playing out wide. He is not going to be nailed to the touchline for crying out loud.
Lacazette changed the game when he came on, Aubameyang was horrible all match and the only chance he got he shot horribly wide when he should have gone for a curler
I remember a few years ago, we might have just won our 1st trophy in a while and we were up against West Ham at home to commence the season. There as fanciful talk and genuine belief amongst quite a few people that we could mount a challenge although I’m not sure why after such a poor summer of recruitment. Walcott rolled out his interview before the game as well. Game time comes, and Payet (who most people slept on before he came to the Prem) bossed it, and some kid called Reece Oxford had the game of his life… Read more »
Yea totally rich. Not like Laca has proven time and again he has more to his game centrally or anything.
Sure we’ll just disregard the stats where Aubameyang scored 125 goals as a CF during his time at Dortmund which is more than Lacazette during the same time. As I said have a balanced attack and we’d see who’s better suited to be CF. But alas this is Arsenal where we haven’t had a natural winger in god knows how long so we’re stuck with either playing Auba there or Iwobi.
Also Henderson is better Xhaka… period
Henderson is rubbish
Charlie
I don’t need to big up Liverpool.
It’s plain for all to see that they will finish above Arsenal again and most likely a fair margin as well.
Henderson is the club captain and will be a regular in the midfield three with Fabinho and Keita.
Marko
Yea let’s also disregard Aubas own comments about the chemistry between himself and Laca, plus his willingness to play wide. Where he scored 10 and assisted 4 in 14 games last season.
As I said… day or two needed for the resident mong
To be fair, I’m better than Xhaka
It’s plain for all to see that they will finish above Arsenal again and most likely a fair margin as well.
Not much of an achievement all things considered . Funny you are not sticking out your neck to say they will at least win something at last.
A quick straw poll.
What is better than Granit Xhaka?
A kettle without a plug.
Receding
I have no interest in whether Liverpool win anything.
My concern is to see Arsenal improve.
Ishola
Nothing to do with massive investment or anything. Maybe the light bulb will finally come on that owners interested in the football side and branding beat those interested in portfolios.
They also have spent 135 million on 3 CM in the past 12 months. Henderson is not near their XI, he’s a billy basic sub. Their Elneny
Charlie
Tell me who the Liverpool starting midfield three will be then.
I will be very interested in who you put in to replace Henderson.
Fabinho and Keita are given.
And the pundits with their usual hyperbole, do me a favour. That rotund eccentric Garth Crooks saying we’d struggle to finish top 7 off the back of a defeat against the Champions?
My personal favourite from Paul Merson ‘Arsenal have spent double less than Liverpool’. What’s wrong with saying half? This is the clown we’re subjected to every week on Sky Sports.
Ishola
As Receding states, it’s interesting that you fall short of outlining what they should achieve this season. Instead some pony barometer involving a brand new Arsenal era.
I wonder what you would say should Arsenal finish above them in some twist of fate? Be interesting where the blame/praise would land should such a thing occur.
I don’t mind playing on the left if Laca is in the centre. We both want to do our best for the team.” I don’t mind usually means he kinda does but he wants what’s best for the team. Let’s disregard the other comments he made to sky before the game about being happy to be picked CF will we. Where he scored 10 and assisted 4 in 14 games last season. Funny you bring that up but I think it was 6 or 7 of his 10 goals came from playing centrally when Lacazette was injured or dropped last… Read more »
My concern is to see Arsenal improve.
Very noble of you.
Let’s keep the air up Liverpool’s behind to a minimum on here then, there is already enough of that on any sports site you visit, it’s almost like they have won something
“But alas this is Arsenal where we haven’t had a natural winger in god knows how long so we’re stuck with either playing Auba there or Iwobi.”
So you just admitted that Laca is better centrally.
Jordan Henderson is better than Xhaka. If he’s a billy basic sub then what is Granite?
If Lacazette started Sunday’s game with Aubameyang we would have probably scored .
One of Mhki and Ozil should start in the big games , not both. Lacazette does a lot of pressing from the front, something none of the aforementioned two have any interest in.