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!
Ceballos probably will find a way to wriggle back into the XI. But, he ain’t nothing special.
I know Arteta loves Willian for his industry. Pépé being a regular bench warmer may become a regular thing. Not good as we need him to score in double figures
raptora
There was a communication mix up between Leno and Gabriel but AMN’s pass really didn’t help.
Looked to me like Ceballos was mad that Eddie wasn’t taking the warm up seriously. So he kept going in hard on him. So then when it came to blows he was like if your not gonna take it serious then Fuck off back to the stands. I think that’s what that get the fuck out of here gesture meant anyhow. But who knows. I’m sure somebody will ask them after the match..
This Fulham pitch is too close to the hoarding, there’s no run-off.
Gabriel looks like a 90’s soul singer
Would love to see how Gabriel faces off with Mitrovich..poor mans Costa types the Serbian
Thanks for the link, Danny.
Handbag stuff
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.
I mean that’s basically what Xhaka and Elneny do. I’d warrant because they’re scared of making a mistake
Holding-nino, juggling like Pele.
Dissenter
I hope Willock goes out on loan this season especially if we keep Elneny.
With Xhaka, Ceballos, Elneny and at I think we’ll get at least 1 of Aoaur and Partey, Willock will never be able to break into the starting 11 or the first team rotation.
For the #10 position, I think Esr is much better than Willock and we also still have Ozil.
So a where Willock will be a key player is the best deal for both parties imo.
Gabriel! Nice one.
Gabriel great in the air get in
Gabby-head
Best goal we could get!!
great from Gabriel
COYG
Willian to Gab..have some of that bitches
I can see that we’ll switch to 4 3 3 with Xhaka, Ceballos and Elneny as the 3 midfielders.
Gabriel jumps and looks like a titan. I am adding him and Willian to my fantasy team HOLY FK!!!!!
Get in 2-0. My feed just went off at the same time the ball hit the back of the net.
Booom!!!! get in! Sweeet
Love a debut goal! Dun kno
What a start for Gabriel!!!!
2-0. This is good.
Gabigoal!
Gab already a favourite!
Brazilian connection.
GABBY!!!!
Marc
That error was largely due to Gabriel being sloppy imo
Wouldn’t blame Niles for the pass
2-0. I like the look of Gabriel so far. Nice to have a big, solid athlete for a CB. We’ll know a lot more about him, though, when he is forced to deal with the PL’s better forwards.
Edu MVP!
Boom!
Willian looking a tidy addition to this side early doors for real
Another assist for Willian. Incredible folk were doubting his skill.
SET PIECE FC
Off the shoulder don’t care. Has to be said though if Fulham are going to defend corners like that they’re fucked this season
Who is Dani ?
Keep hearing art shout
Fantastic for Gabriel to get a goal on his debut.
He has all the physical attributes.
Very poor defending from Fulham again.
They are going back down to Championship seems inevitable.
Game is over.
Let’s hammer them now. A proper welcome back to the PL.
Top of the league, lads
Is
Lot it money to be made being a to yo club
I don’t see Luiz getting a sniff of the green grass with Gabriel in the team. Might get demoted to a Europa League player.
Look at that 60 year old player run. 😀
We’ve become a competent team with tactics. The way we change shape with and without there ball is good to watch.
Even when we play from the back, it looks more assured.
I know it’s only Fulham 😁
Wtf was that from bellerin. Lmao
Even Bellerin has developed some nastiness to his game
Full on NFL form tackle.
Bellerin is out of his depth
Imagine pleading not guilty when you are holding the opponent with both hands around his waist.
bellerin got jokes
Cream!!!
“Wtf was that from bellerin. Lmao”
The Arteta touch
City used to do that all the time.
Absolutely fantastic goal!
We’ve got our Arsenal back!
Aubagoal!
Willian again! class!
nice finish Auba
Great frickin’ pass from Willian, great frickin’ goal from Aubameyang.
RSPCA
Fulham need reinforcements with all this money they have generated in yo-yo fashion because that team out there is pure Championship.
Show effort and some endeavour but will be conceding for fun this season.
Hector in particular looks pure lower league standard. Nowhere near Premiership quality.
AUBA
Ishola
Agreed. Fulham are terrible.
Bang!!!!!!! Auba!!!! another sweet pass from Willian.
Yes. Great goal. !!! Love Auba in that position
Wtf Bellerin???? Has Bellerin trained with Sokratis over the summer??
Auba!!!!!!!!!!
Come on The Arsenal!!!
Aaaand … 0-3!
Good attack. We have our Arsenal back!!!!
William gonna smash assists records this season.
Fk me, this guy knows how to score. 250k? Worth it.
one more
Told ya right before kickoff Willian will surprise a lot of people
Is that 3 assists from Willian??
Leno is inferior to Martinez. Would have better business to sell him for a bigger sum to Chelsea who desperately looking for an alternative goalkeeper
Arguably 3rd assist for Willian. Insane finish by Auba.
William gonna smash assists records this season.
Now Pierre is really gonna like that comment.
Brilliant that. Great break great assist from Willian and what a finish by who else
Lovely lofted pass there by Willian.
Does Willian actually have 3 assists or I’m imagining it?
Effortless goal.
Could be 5 or 6 now depends on how hungry for goals Arsenal are.
Has anyone in premier league history bagged 3 assists in a debut for a club?
Lovely stuff!.
Hopefully chaka and elneny get more adventurous now, with the 3 goal cushion. They love their side passes don’t they?
Safe to say PEA is enjoying having Willian in the side.
Great instinct followed by a great ball.
This would have been perfect for Saliba to come on for 20 minutes.
3 assists for our 72 year old Samba king.
We get it dream10 you have reservations about Gabriel from the off and can’t wait for him to fail. Arteta is a great great coach the way he sets up
Willian has 2 assist, the laca goal deflected off the keeper, so it’s not an assist, as it isn’t registered as a pass from willian.
Scenes when Willian scores against chelsea
It’s been a while since we delivered a good premier league spanking.
Safe to say that arteta knows better then the mugs on here.
Willian didn’t really assist Lacas goal, but will probably count for the fantasy football.
Has anyone in premier league history bagged 3 assists in a debut for a club?
_________
The first goal is wasn’t an assist.
We’re really missing Ozil’s creativity here.
Pierre depressed Arteta knows how to select his team.
3 William assists is he still a waste of money CG?
You’re all happy with Willian now but wait until he does a post match interview from Kia’s front garden and then you’ll freak the fuck out
Bring in more Brazilians I say.. …. Coutinho would be nice.
this changes nothing
Willian already matched Ozil’s assist numbers for the last 2 seasons on his debut.
“Know-nothing mugs”
Lol people really don’t seem to know how assists work.
You think Pierre is frothing now you wait till Willian scores a goal
Willian is an asset
Willian with two assists in his first game equals Ozil’s entire output for the whole of the last season. No way back for Mr Fortnight.
We are top of the league
Say we are top of the league
Great compact shape to the team and good pressing..credit to the Spanish cristopher reeves.
Obsessives, LOL