So I had to miss two days of a stag do because of work. I’ve arrived at what I ‘think’ is the destination, but no one is awake. I’ve let myself into a house with no number. So this could be the last you read of me if I’ve made a mistake and I’m camping out in some random MAGA fanatics house in Nevada.
Buuuut, while I’m here, why not pen a post?
Arsenal take on the mighty Chavs who were going to build a new stadium until their owner had his visa revoked. I mean, not that we can brag, our owner is currently prying shares away from Arsenal fans as he prepares to take the club offline as we move into the Silent Arsenal era.
I digress.
Big things to look out for today.
Cech: the manager stated he believes in his number one after a slightly erratic display on the opening day where he was pushed into taking the most touches of any keeper in the league (54 I think). Rumours are buzzing around the web that the club aren’t impressed with Leno, which is quite a sorry situation considering it was very well known he’d had a shite season. Anyway, it’s Pete at #1 again, let’s see how he rolls.
Midfield: Xhaka was pony against City, so were most of the midfield. Will Emery double down on his faith in that 11 or will we see some change? Torreira should come in, but who would move away? Guendouzi who we all forgave for school boy mistakes, or Xhaka who is absolute toilet?
There will also be questions around Ramsey, who was very ineffective outside leading the press. He was yanked on 54, will he get another chance tomorrow? If he does, will the manager rethink the role?
Strikers: Auba has tended to look a touch average against top teams. He’s easily nullified and he doesn’t have much of a hold up game. Will Emery persist with his vision of counter attacking football with one striker leading the line, or will he give us all Lacazette and Auba in an iteration of 4-1–2-1-2? We certainly looked more dangerous with two strikers than we did with one. We also probably look more dangerous with Ozil in at 10.
For me, anything above zero points would be nice. It’s too early in this project to feel hopeful of toppling an excellent Chelsea squad with a very good manager. Our main focus is how we take 24 points from the next 8 games. That’s our build up to a massive against Liverpool in November. By then we’ll have a realistic view of how good or bad our season is going to be.
It’s kind of odd how underwhelmed everyone is so early on in the season. The Wenger hangover is a three day one without doubt. That can either work really well for Emery, because expectations are so low, or it could go badly, because we’ll turn quickly. After reading around the web, it’s pretty clear that the one thing Emery lacks with the fans is an emotional connection. If results go badly, no one is going to fight the managers corner, which is why it’s incredibly important he gets some small wins in early and racks up a run. That might not come today, but it’s going to have to soon because the honeymoon feels like it finished at the airport.
Right, see you in the comments.
The league needs VAR
Kc
Why was he sacked then?
Guns of H
“Where is this clubs bouncebackability?’:
At some point Emery decides to discard reputations and starts doing it his own way.
We are going to play weaker opposition forth next few weeks.
We will gain momentum after a few good results.
Charlie – I’ve said when Ramsey has been shit (atletico away). Last week he played in a daft position and he came back from missing the last two weeks with a calf injury, and I’ve been consistent in pointing how important he needs to stay fit or he is not at the level we need. Where will Emery play him today if he does? If his permanent role is as some false nine then he will become a predominantly off-the-ball scrapper that relies on the service and transition play behind him, and he will probably leave due to not being… Read more »
Maybe we should agree with GoH… After all, Arteta would have probably beat city and chelsea for his 2 first games as “ze afc dna elite” manager.
(lolz)
Paulinho
‘Where will Emery play him today if he does? If his permanent role is as some false nine then he will become a predominantly off-the-ball scrapper that relies on the service and transition play behind him, and he will probably leave due to not being happy at the way he is being used.’
Where should he play then? Only in a diamond formation do I see a clear cut position for Ramsey, in a 4-3-3 he doesn’t make sense to me.
Not sure if you guys saw it but do you remember Xhaka’s foul in one of his first games for us when he tackled an opponent from behind with absolutely no chance to play with the ball and got red carded for it? Well Harry Arter did the EXACT same foul vs Newcastle and he got just a yellow.
victorious
We can get the 3points IF the manager plays the right players in the right formation,simple.
yes so simple, wonder why your lovebug Wenger couldn’t do it. care to explain ??
TR7 – I’ve mentioned a few times I would play the Xmas tree formation with Torreira–Ramsey—Guendouzi in the middle. Ramsey with a license to go forward, but also same for Torreira and Guendouzi. See whether they have the intelligence and chemistry as a three to adopt a rotation system we they all know where to go, and cover each other. I do think he can play in a two at times, but only when he’s played four of five games in a row. He needs to be feeling 100% physically to play there and make up for his flaws with… Read more »
@Raptora –
Yeah was watching that after the game, those type of tackles have been going on since Xhaka’s red and have not gotten a red. Xhaka’s was never a red at the time.
Chambers is in for another rough outing today.
CC
No.
Stopped going in 2012.
Doesn’t take an Einstein to see and feel that things are not right, even from the comfort of my armchair.
No disrespect CC, but whatever you say will not sway my feelings and perceptions on this.
BobN16
Er, yes there was.
Man City fans mocked Arsenal fans.
“Arsene Wenger left you cos you’re shit”
The Arsenal fans responded with a passionate retort –
“Arsene Wenger won more than you”
Always sticking up for the master.
I heard it and I wasn’t even there.
Hoping for a positive performance this evening.
Wengers fans already showing their fangs
The bearers of misery likewise
Its actually getting difficult to have a conversation about Arsenal , everyone has their own agenda.
Be it Xhaka is shit, Ramsey is irreplaceable, Leno was cheaper than the rest so is rubbish, Auba should not play wide…..the list is endless.
This job might be the one that finally breaks Emery.
Your Comment Here
Harry Kane is such a diving cu*t and this commentator is a cu*t too.
Recediing
To a degree, you’re right.
Problem is, because there’s been so much negativity surrounding the club these past few years, it’s difficult to have a reasonable conversation with anyone.
This is why we all need to be passionately behind Emery and the team.
This spuds kit is annoying to the eye. It looks like some kind of retro jersey.
Michael24
Just renders your view a bit hollow is all. Perception sure, but if you don’t go to games you’re in no position to boldly state the makeup of the crowd as you’ve done. My solitary point.
Paulinho
There lies my issue with him mate, I’ve no idea where he fits in the side because to date he’s shown far too little ability as a CM player. It’s him or Ozil for some guile, and Ozil beats him everyday of the week in that department for me.
Wilshere is playing very well today. He is more mature with the ball and is not trying to beat the defender and got himself an injury. Now he is passing the ball much sooner. We should have kept him instead of Mohamed Elneny.
Paulinho
So I take it either Ozil doesn’t feature in your 11 or plays wide. As you know I don’t particularly rate him either but I think every team should have at least one player who has guile and vision. All good having defensively solid midfielders who can run a lot but on top of that a bit of creativity is essential.
Nelson
“Wilshere is playing very well today. He is more mature with the ball and is not trying to beat the defender and got himself an injury. Now he is passing the ball much sooner. We should have kept him instead of Mohamed Elneny.
Wilshere wanted guarantees that he would feature prominently, if not start.
Emery wouldn’t give him those assurances so he left.
Elneny is HAPPY to be 5th in contention so long as he can live in London and “kiss the logo” everyday.
Walcott scores one and gives an assist.
Well done Theo.
Gonsterous
I’m afraid I can’t take you serious as you’re so obsessed with Wenger, I mean folks like you will always blame the shortcomings of Emery on the man, it tend to cloud your judgement on how you perceive things
Seri looks like he belongs at Fulham, nothing special from him.
Twitter abuzz with rumors suggesting Elneny will start today.
Rather elneney than xhaka.
Damn fulham you couldn’t hold on for a couple more minutes.
Victorious
You’re intentionally placing a very high hurdle for Emery before he even gets going.
Chelsea have won five of the last six home league games against Arsenal, with the exception being the 0-0 draw last season.
Arsenal haven’t kept a clean sheet there for 12 consecutive games, and we haven’t scored in four league visits to Stamford Bridge.
Suggesting that’s it “simple” if “the manager plays the right players in the right formation” is laughable.
If it were so simple, why didn’t the last manager get such results ?
TR7 – I actually have Ozil as part of the two( with Lacazette) in behind Auabameyang. I’m one of the few that think Ramsey and Ozil compliment each other very well,and in the system I’ve laid out I anticipate Ozil dropping off even deeper than his starting position and Ramsey taking his space at times. Think it would work quite well. Ozil irritates me immensely but he can be class in terms of seeing a picture and awareness, and do think the system suits him. If he can’t produce in that side then he well and truly is a lost… Read more »
If sarri has Chelsea playing a high line today and we’re going to try and hit them on the break, it could be a good day for Auba?
Richarlison is having a game and half for Everton, absolutely buzzing it with some footy work to boot.
Paulinho
Yeah, agree with all that.
The only downside with your formation is lack of width but then we don’t have any wide players anyway in our squad. Sort of a diamond formation.
vic
you missed my point. I was making fun of the fact that you said the manager must pick the right players in the right positions, when that was the furthest thing from your mind when wenger was here. Get some perspective and stop being a Wenger arse kisser…
As I said last week, Richarlison could be a monster up at Goodison.
A strong, dynamic runner to compliment their static technicians.
Dissenter/gonsterous-I know the record up there at Stamford is shocking,but looking as both teams are ‘in transitioning’ we won’t be getting a better time to beat them, Wenger was a devil but he managed a draw there last season? Emery should at least be able to maintain or better that? we ain’t moving forward if we keep bringing up Wenger when discussing Emery and chances of progress for his current team is my point Moreover it wasn’t the result that was the sticking point against city but the performance, it was dire and we should honestly improved on that against… Read more »
TR7 – Yeah, very narrow but the Lacazette and Ozil have the quick feet in tight congested spaces to make it work. Aubameyang has the athleticism to run the line and threaten full backs.
Our wide options from deeper are garbage so may as well just ask the brainless Bellerin to run in a straight line and keep width and pass it inwards to the players that can play.
Arsenal haven’t kept a clean sheet there for 12 consecutive games, ”
Wrong we managed a goalless draw there last season
vic
lol, quit trying to take the high road. Your deflecting skills are impeccable. learnt from the best I guess…
Victorious the problem with all your points though valid is you are discussing Emery after two matches. Two matches against opposition with better balanced squads than we do. Two matches against opposition we do not regularly beat for a while now.
Lol @ the pain victorious displays when Mustafi talks shit about his hero
His God**
Buffon just made a brilliant save for PSG after a great play by the son of his former teammate Thuram.
Weah’s son also starting for Paris.
Time flies
He’s also just conceded a goal now, psg led at Guingamp 1/0
1 more hour. I’m off work exactly when the game starts.. easy win 2-0 for the arse .
Receding
Look I’m willing to give Emery as much time as you’re but we should be seeing some improvements in performance along the way, we ain’t the only one with a new manager this season, how long should the honeymoon last? I mean it shouldn’t excuse the kind of performance we witnessed against city,it would then become worry if Emery doesn’t quickly learn from his mistakes
Victorious its only been one game
ONE
Give it a rest you sound bitter.
Iwobi for Ramsey. Monreal for AMN
*confirmed
Nelson
You were saying about Jack Wilshere?
You are not excusing 0-2 to city but you have excused all soughts of ridiculous score lines we have had to endure under Wenger. You have made excuses for all of Wenger’s flaws but you draw the line for Emery after one game against Man City.
Abeggiii
China
You’d find nobody took what Mustafi had to say serious considering he’s a SHIT player who should normally do his talking on the pitch
Why you felt stating that would be painful to me is just as idiotic as your claim Wenger is a God to anybody,your level of obsession is stunning, sort yourself out.
wow
Abeggiii
lol, oga calm down.
Victorious
Transition or no transition, Chelsea still have some of the core of the teams that’s won two league championships in the last four years.
Sarri is not starting from the same place as Emery.
Winning at the bridge is not simple by any means
Michael 24,
Not sure why I’m bothering but anyway…..that one off ‘Wenger won more than you….’ was a response to a mocking City chant about Wenger. Arsenal fans also sang ‘you bought your success..’ or words to that effect. This was ‘banter’ between sets of supporters, it happens at games. You extrapolate in your tired , contrived narrative-supporting way to suggest that this somehow undermines Emery and represents a continuing support for our previous manager.
Why are bothering to post on a subject that you clearly lack insight and wisdom?
Weird starting eleven. Good thing is Chelsea’s 11 looks crap as well.
This Fulham keeper is trash and he cost £7m, all Arsenal could do with Ospina is a load deal?
Trash lineup again for the coach.
Why xhaka?
Why is lacazette and torreira left out
Well he did take Ramsey off first in that Man City match and he drops him here. Clearly not happy with Ramsey.
That poor kid Guendouzi again has the privilege to play alongside Xjaka. Poor kid.
He’s hoping Auba comes alive against one of the bigger teams.
Still no Torreira.
I called it earlier, it’s a game that is tailor-made for an ‘Iwobi’
Still no Torreira?
The only reason to justify lacazette exclusion, is to have someone to change the game from the bench
Emery not giving himself best chance for success by repeating same mistake.
And torreira isn’t 100%, same reason hazard is left out
Hazard and OG on the bench I’ll take that
No Hazard in the starting line up is good.
But why no Torreira again? I just don’t understand that.
People can talk about not being ready or fitness or wanting an easier match to introduce him, but Guendouzi is starting his second game in a row now having started against City.
I really do not understand that from Emery.
Chambers has been truely abysmall for Fulham all day. Cant see him to ever play for gunners again. 😀
Centre midfield looks brittle.
It’s all on the kiddie Guendouzi. Not fair on him really at this early stage of his Arsenal career.
Cech, Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Aubameyang.
Subs: Leno, Elneny, Ramsey, Lacazette, Torreira, Lichtsteiner, Welbeck.
One thing is certain, xhaka won’t be pressed in this match. Chelsea don’t press. But torreira would have guaranteed the win
I can understand Iwobi, might even be he’s playing CAM because against Lazio he carried the ball well and burst through the defence in attack on the counter.
But I do not get this Torreira thing.
Lol why so angry victorious?
Did I touch a nerve? Blasphemy will do that to a man eh
And cant really understand why leno and torreira are not starting.. Surely they are miles better than cech and xhaka?
Some 20 yr olds can play all the games and be fine. Some fall apart ala Jack Wilshere.
Guess we’ll find out what kind Matty G is this season.
Until Rambo signs the contract Emery will keep him on the periphery.
Funny enough I think we just about have much to win this match, Iwobi is a plus point, Normally you should have a weapon on the bench, that explains Lacking.. but Torreira? something is clearly wrong
Would be shocked if we get anything from this match with that lineup. Xhaka for Torreira & Iwobi for laca? Really?
At least he’s dropped Ramsey.
Sanmi
“One thing is certain, xhaka won’t be pressed in this match. ”
It’s not just about the press with Xjaka.
He falls asleep and stands still in defensive situations overall.
If you mean that he can have a good game on the ball and offensively because of lack of press well let’s see him do it.
Defensively he will be a worry as always.
Guendouzi will have to play with Xhaka and Ozil, that’s asking for a lot really. Put him along side Torreira and both will thrive. That’s 2 faulty selection out of 2 for Emery.
I can’t see the logic from Emery. Will today be the last we see of Granit? No Laca-Auba pairing?
” Emery not giving himself best chance for success by repeating same mistake”
I have to agree with you there Victorious
Emery seems incapable of learning from his mistakes.
I see he’s starting with Cech again. He’s still starting with Mykhi and Ozil.
At least he’s benched Ramsey which is good. He shouldn’t start until he signs an extension.
We are going to be playing a very desperate West ham team next week. Losing at home to the Cherries isn’t a good look on them… Costing me an acca
Until Rambo signs the contract Emery will keep him on the periphery.”
sorry man,i think it’s more to do with his ability
Paulinho, stop that.. it’s crigeworthy
So is gonna try to press again with Xhaka, Ozil, Mikki, and Auba? Good luck
if Mustafi is shit, why did wenger buy him Vic?
And why did wenger insist on playing him week in week out? Did naughty Mr Kroenke make him do it?
And assuming that did happen, why did lord wenger give Mustafi some guidance to help him improve?
You are an absolute joke of you think wenger should be excused for signing a shot player then not coaching him. And now you blame the player for not being legit. Ok then. Let’s also blame sanity for not being Messi as well. Your god made similar comparisons there right?
Blame sanogo for not being like messi*
Torreira and Leno were thought to be the real difference makers out of the new signings, yet no starts for them yet. Hard to understand. Torreira especially.
At least Monreal is back but could be a bit rusty.
Licht again doesn’t start a match.
Maybe Guendouzi is playing DM today and xhaka CM
Dissenter
Emery seems incapable of learning from his mistakes.
I see he’s starting with Cech again. He’s still starting with Mykhi and Ozil.”
I think the fear from people is Emery are showing signs of the previous manager and thereby bringing back unwanted memories, that would explain the irrational lashing out when from some
Sanmi
“Maybe Guendouzi is playing DM today and xhaka CM”
No that won’t happen.
Guendouzi is in the team for his legs and will be running between deep and further up.
Xjaka will take his favourite place hiding away from traffic deepest.
If we did see that set-up you speak it would get really ugly for Arsenal.
The positive from the line up is, if we lose xhaka never plays again. If we win, we win
If this guy doesn’t win or draw this game,I will be very angry.
Selections that ruined Wenger kind of.
Players in the final already running shows for their clubs collection 3 points.Torriera is fit and trained for 3 weeks so what’s the excuse ?? Not like he’s injured.
Xhaka is the one that needs to be dropped and not Ramsey.They both had bad games and yet started Xhaka.Xhaka in the team was one of the reasons we kept losing and it was Wengers downfall ,playing crap players.
it’s completely reasonable and understandable for a manager to marginalise contract rebels.
Emery only wants players who are fully committed. Ramsey obviously not signing contract.
We will see whether Emery ends up back-tracking in a few weeks, begging Rambo to come in and save his bacon after it all goes tits up.
After yesterday’s circle jerk about AKBs apparently gunning for Emery isn’t it funny to read the cracks appear from some..
Shame Welbeck is not starting instead of Henry Mkhitaryan. Would have opened space for Aubameyang to run into. With no Welbeck,Lacazette or Ramsey in the XI, fearful we’ll have even less shots than we usually do away from home against a decent side. No runs from deep, no box play and no individual shot generation. Have to hope Chelsea are still trying figure things out and find fitness/form. This is a classic Arsenal 4-5-1 heavy on players behind the ball with minimal efforts on target. Disappointed with Emery. I wanted to see an ultra attacking XI. We defend better when… Read more »