Well, here we are, the first game of the season. It’s pounced on us. I’ve barely had the time to miss football, yet here she is, back with a 3 game a week schedule for the next 3 months. I am VERY excited.
Fulham is a tricky game simply because we’re not really sure who is going to show up. Both teams could spring a surprise. Arsenal could turn up like they did against Villa. Fulham could roll over like they did that time we thought we had our Arsenal back.
We need a win. There’s no glory in a draw. Arsenal needs to start the season the same way they played the FA Cup final. Everyone needs to show up focused. This season we’re gunning for top 4. Arsenal can’t have another transition year. We have the talent to do it. Arteta picked up a bag of shite in December, he took us from 8th to 8th, but the half-season table showed that we finished 4 points off 3rd (in 5th). If we’re that close to 3rd in March, we have every chance of taking a Champions League spot.
There are 4 very important games coming up before the international break. Anything above 9 points will be classified as very good. Most would say the big game is the Liverpool one, but for me, it’s actually the Fulham, West Ham, and Sheff U games that pose the threat.
Arsenal’s challenge this season will be dealing with deep blocks. We lack creativity through the middle and we haven’t really addressed that this summer so far. There has to be a solution. Arteta needs to evolve how we play this season. It’s no good becoming the London version of Wolves. We need to rack up points against the little teams this season.
There are some potential solutions. The biggest bet we’ve made is that Willian will carry over his elite form from last season. He had a great record for balls into the box last season. We’ll need some of that trickery tomorrow. The big question is whether Arteta opts to play him out on the left, or whether he moves him into a modern #10 role.
We could also see Mesut Ozil back in contention. The German international is out of the cold and he’s making a fuss online that he wants to play. Say what you like about him, he’s a deep-block specialist and if willing, he’s more than capable of being a solve for us there. Question, as always, is how much does he care?
There are also some other potential solves that are little more far fetched. Saka ‘might’ get a shout as a #10 at some point this season. Could be a little early for that. Especially as he’s been so good from wide positions. We also have ESR who can play in those pockets. He had a great time at Huddersfield. Would Arteta take the chance? I’m not sure (not tomorrow as he’s injured). Especially not for the first game.
What we do know is this: Fulham under Scotty Parker are pragmatists.
They will set up with a sturdy team tomorrow and they’ll look to nick a goal on the counter. They clearly aren’t elite pragmatists (they finished 4th in the Championship and there’s been a serious debate about #ParkerOut among entertainment starved fans), but they’ll be an early test for us. They have some decent ball-playing defenders and they have a bully of a target man in Mitrovic. Those two factors combining have been the death of us over the years. Hopefully, there’s a strategy tomorrow to work around the obvious plan that’ll be rolled out.
So here we are, heading into our 13th year together (feeling so emosh). This should be fun. We have a solid setup. We have a brilliant young manager. We have a vibrant squad of young players eager to make it happen. We have a chance to make the top 4 if things fall for us. Let’s enjoy it, it’ll be a fun ride. Lots of ups and downs. But we’re heading in the right direction regardless. I’ve not been able to honestly say that in a very long time.
Enjoy the game and listen to the podcast. Whoever gave me a 1* review, I hope you have some mild internet disruption today. Yeah, I’m that serious about the slander.
Also, I fixed the link issue on the newsletter. It should not be working perfectly!
COME ON YOU GOONERS!
Mics 3-4-3.
That’s why I wanted us to keep AMN.
He’s developed some nastiness to his game, he now plays like a bully.
AMNs gone from Indica to crack..dopey cuntness gone
..good boy
Scott “GQ” Parker
My Gosh Xhaka doesn’t belong on this team.
Slow, ponderous and hiding from the ball
Hmmmm
The blue shirts are to make Willian feel at home!
We gotta make these count. We are dangerous in attack though. Need to keep going.
That fake from Pirneny.
Oh damn… sweet backheel pass. Deserved a goal.
Here we go again
…so Xhaka doesn’t belong in the team because he c couldn’t keep a volley down?
Gabriel has not played a competitive game since march he is good so far
Elneny is playing well…
Gabriel’s passing is making Holding so nervous. You can pass that way to Luiz but not Rob. Tone it down fella
Danny: Parker dressed like he’s auditioning for James Bond!
Great one!
Up to now, Gabriel is very impressive. Holding not so much!
“I know people are going to think it’s a bias or something but I honestly have never seen what others see in AMN going forward.”
He gets away with not doing much because people assume he’s got that aspect nailed simply because he has played in midfield before. Agree, he is completely underwhelming as a footballer when it comes to elevating our general play.
I’m so glad to have football back oh my word
Great tackle Gabriel love it
Elneny is a talented footballer. Unfortunately always fades physically.
The best place to have a FK ever. Auba?!?!?
Great breakout play by Arsenal.
Good football.
Now make this free kick count
Holding’s passing is erratic. Man needs to calm down.
Holding has never been quality.
Almost… Why not Auba though?
willian unlucky son what an effort
Raporta willian is a dead ball specialist
What’s strike by Willian.
Post saves Fulham
Ohhh damn that looked good… in the air.
Auba has scored plenty of FKs for us in general. I’m not arguing. Whatever Arteta has decided.
Willian is way more direct and clever than pepe..you can see Aubas happy with him
Ah how I’ve missed seeing the quick, incisive, mobile play of Xhaka. Now complemented perfectly by the return of the great late Wenger signing Elneny.
Great free kick by Willian though!.
Nice to see Willian can still take a free kick in his 50s.
I really like Gabriel. He is our best defender
Aussie Gooner
Be careful when you say this. Some Gooners (like me) have a very big disliking for Chelski. 😉
Paulinho I think so much of his play is masked by the fact that he can double up at LB well. But honestly everything else I just don’t see it. Technically speaking not great can’t really dribble past a player and not great in the final third.
Willian is our best player so far. He is so dynamic that our offensive game looks fluid.
Gabriel is big and quite fas enough, I guess those YouTube scouting didn’t do him enough justice.
He did get a weaker team to make his premier league debut.
Reckon willian will score on his debut
Yes agree that Willian is bringing a new dimension to our attacking play with his movement.
Marko
I agree, Elneny is doing a solid job. He could prove to be a decent bench asset. (We still need to uograde.)
CG will be pissed if willian is a hit all summer he has been moaning about his wages lol
Willian is a much more team player than Pepe. Pepe has a good shot though.
Gabriel looks like he might become world class. Only 35 mins of EPL football though. Really early, early days. But the potential is obvious.
CG already rates Scott Parker higher than Arteta because Parker is wearing a suit
What a pass by Xhaka. Pure quality!
Lacazette is stepping it up today… must say. Putting in a ton of running and energy. Plus the goal. Willian really settles the side down, too.
How the fuck are we looking so calm at the back? Where’s our Arsenal?
Raporta you can tell that Gabriel has it
El neny isn’t going out on loan based on this performance.
It’s just nice to have another option for rotation.
I think AMN has lost the ball in 80% of the times he touched it. Lol
That’s why coaches want to keep Xhaka. He has a good look pass.
What kinda stupid ref is this?
Hector’a challenge on laca didn’t fetch him a yellow
How is that a yellow on Auba
Laca has to meet that cross
Pray I don’t jinx him but El Neny has been very good so far
Both Laca and Auba are not good passers.
Elneny is such a pedestrian and average player. Complete nothing player.
Don’t wanna be negative but Xhaka is killing our breakout play.
He is either too slow or lazy or even scared to break into space and create a passing lane from back.
Just saw Tierney wave his hands in frustration as he refused to move to create an opening
Auba should watch it o
Here we go, leon’s moment
Gabriel with an impressive 45mins
Arsenal better be wary of this ref.
This guy seems ready to screw up
As soon as the chance presents
So many un-technical players in this team. No flair at all.
Solid first half. Same again after the break.
Good so far from Gabriel. It’s easy to see why we fought hard to get him. Lad is already looking like an asset on defending corners
All the talk about William, there’s a place in this starting 11 for Pepe. All the defenders who can’t play in a back 4 should be sold. 4-3-3 is the formation that Arsenal should be playing. Whatever we’re trying to do the Football is still too bland!
Looks like a classic wrsenal game, score 1 dont go on and get pegged back. Its hard tk win games when you only score 1.one chance and its done.
A lot of goibg backwards with the ball, people need to step up onto it
We’re not exactly purring down the left-hand side. Very confused and convoluted. Which is of course to be expected with limited players occupying nearly every position there.
Would like Tierney to be allowed to concentrate on playing wing-back and bring some clarity and definition to that left flank.
Not really a low block from Fulham as surmised on the blog beforehand. They have been giving it a bit of a go so far but over the season they will give away poor goals and bad individual mistakes as we saw with the Lacazette.
It’s a low key game and not much really good going on.
Holding’s distribution from the back again has not been good enough on several occasions.
The Arsenal central midfield over a whole EPL season campaign again doesn’t look good enough or strong enough. Shame they didn’t address this.
Pre-game bust up between Nkettiah and Ceballos
It doesn’t look like they like each other.
Paulinho
I think Saka would give us better balance at LWB over AMN until things are settled.
1 v 1s Gabriel looks a monster. He was also the on who cleared the last minute Fulham free kick and Corner. Isn’t afraid to play incisive, line breaking passes but is panicking a little when under pressure. Maybe its just nerves playing first time for Afc. Willian looks like a real steal. His movement, first touch on the half turn and ball-carrying ability is class. Tho Pepe’s end product is much better. If Pepe picks up the aforementioned qualities from Willian, he will be world class and worth all of the 72 mil we paid for him.no doubt. Elneny… Read more »
Little beef between Ceballos and Nketiah.
Need to suffer a season or two, get this team back in the UCL, then think about flair football. We cannot expect all that much from a team that hasn’t done well in the league for years. Need the UCL football back, then add the right players. We are doing decently well so far in this game.
Ceballos is throwing his dummy out for being overlooked for Elneny.
Who wouldn’t be upset to be dropped for such an average player as Elneny.
He shouldn’t be taking his frustration out though on Nketiah of course.
We do need another goal.
Ishola if the Partey and Aouar rumours are true we are addressing it let’s be patient and see if they get the deals done
Room for improvement but very happy with how organized and solid we are. Gabriel looks really good in 1v1s. Whenever he’s within reach of his man you expect him to win it regardless of if he’s face on or behind the player. Very nice to see
I felt willain played more central. Don’t know if arteta asked him to, but with pepe, he’s more of an out and out winger, who hugs the sidelines. Willian is Great but I’d take pepe over him, younger, trickier, dead ball specialist and a great left peg.
Dissenter
Yeah looks like Eddie said something to Dani for his rough tackle in the warm-up and both players didn’t really take that well.
Also lets not forget about the world class save from Leno in the first minute of the match. If it were, people would be raving now. But with Leno we just expect it now. He’s just that good.
Same song Rio said that happens two to three times a week in training on BT sport’s no need to read to much into it
Dani is probably annoyed at not starting and taking it out on Eddie
Ishola
Ceballos is throwing his dummy out for being overlooked for Elneny.
100%
Mr Serge
“if the Partey and Aouar rumours are true we are addressing it let’s be patient and see if they get the deals done”
Let’s hope so.
It’s hard to accept the decision we turned down £20m for AMN. It would have been Iwobi part II type of a deal. Best Arsenal transfer out in years.
Hell of a comback if elneny nail down a consistent starting spot. 2 years of shwarmas has treated him well.
“Ceballos is throwing his dummy out for being overlooked for Elneny.”
That or Xhaka – they’re both average at best.
Fingers crossed mate
raptora
What does AMN do other than look casual?
100% passing accuracy from Willian in that half. 18 out of 18 completed.
66 passes from Gabriel, 16 more than any other Arsenal player. 61 completed, 92.4% accuracy.
New lads bedding in well
Same song Rio said that happens two to three times a week in training
Yeah but rarely spills onto matchday. As Ishola said Ceb is clearly frustrated at not starting.
Captain Tierney
Do you think Willock is going to be kept in the squad this season, on the basis of Elneny’s current form.?
I wont be surprised if he’s sent on loan because it will be hard for him if we sign another 1-2 midfielders.
Leno did really well in that situation in the first minutes of the game. Gabriel mistake there for sure.
Marc,
I’ve no clue other than being tough in some challenges what else does he bring at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azWhFauH-Hc
We got a good starting fixture for sure.
We looked so comfortable that it has to be Fulham being so bad – we really haven’t been that good.
Yep Willian looked like he had been playing with the team for ages. Get a goal and put this one to bed though.
You can see just how much our midfield limits whatever it is we’re trying to do. None of them are looking for the pass forward, it’s all sideways and backwards.
Also it’s Fulham, don’t get why we have to play AMN when we’re not trying to stiffle any real threat
Love the aggression from Dani but I also like the
fact that Nketiah didn’t back down.
Good team spirit.