ARSENAL’S SEASON BEGINS AT PALACE, WILL IT BANG?

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Inhaaaaaaale… breath out… inhaaaaaale… CuuuuuuuKAAAAAAW… CuuuuuuKAAAAAW… channel that inner eagle you powerful beast. 🦅

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.

797 Comments
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Un

I’m not anxious at all
I fully expect an convincing win here today
Everyone is buzzing. Let’s lay a marker down from day 1

Goals from Jesus and Saka from the off

azed

3-0 to the good guys.

Cheers to the new season guys.

Un

I don’t think we need Tielemans
If we go in for another midfielder he has to be top top class
That’s only de Jong, savic or Bellingham.

Just Another Customer

Here’s to a great season to come.

azed

I actually feel like Palace will struggle this season.
The 2nd season syndrome. The expectations are high and there’ll be no place to hide. Last season most pundits put Viera as the first manager to be sacked but now, the expectation is top 10 and good football.

Ishola70

lol that Palace banner.

Looks like primary kids made that up.

Le Sauce

Anyone with live streams for the match?

MidwestGun

Have no idea why I’m so nervous for a first match…. hahaha Ptsd from last season opener, maybe.

Le Sauce

Thanks Benny

MidwestGun

Well here we go… Pink kits and all.

FB

Congratulations Pedro and Mrs Pedro on the baby

Welcome all to the new season

Let it be fun

Dissenter

Who wears pink to go to war?
Why not the black kit

Naija+soccer

Why are we wearing Pink ?!!!! We ve trained in black all summer but we are wearing to our first real battle ?

Naija+soccer

Pink*

Un

My god
Quality from Jesus
Gabby should have scored

Un

Diss

Real men wear pink
Nout wrong with pink at all

MidwestGun

Ohhh man… Marti should have scored. Jesus electric.

Dissenter

Martinelli should be burying that, passing it onto the net
He needs this season

curse

should of upgraded Martinelli with Zaha

Ishola70

What a sitter from Martinelli.

Come on he has to show more killer instinct.

And our man Jesus causing havoc in the Palace defence

Un

Different arsenal
This season
Dominating the ball
Palace can’t get a foot on it
Great Intensity from the start
Let’s keep this pressure up and not many teams will live with it

MidwestGun

Did you see that footwork from Marti though… you can’t teach that..

Un

Quality from big bill

Luteo Guenreira

Gabi gotta hit the target there wow what a miss

Ishola70

Looking sharp offensively early on

Jonko

Saliba is bloody quick

Un

Dick head palace fans booing Partey

MidwestGun

Palace are just playing kick and run so far. long balls.

MidwestGun

Love me some Zinchenko..

Jonko

Playing with a swagger..love it

DaveB666

Are they seriously booing Partey because he suffered a serious injury last year?

Class act – NOT!

MidwestGun

Whoaa.. right off of Xhaka’s noggin… that will wake you up.

Un

How is that not a foul from doucoure
From behind with studs up

MidwestGun

Pretty sure hey are boooing Partey for the alleged rape accusations.. probably will be every match this season.

karim

Get in

Un

Get in martinelli

Woooooo
We are up and running
Great corner

DaveB666

COYG! Get in!

MidwestGun

Boom!!!! Goall!!!!!!!!!

SimpleWay

1 up

Un

Midwest

No doubt

Jonko

Fierst of fucking many

MidwestGun

Marti made up for it.. Zinchenko made that one though.. sweet.

curse

I take it back lol

raptora

Get in Marti assist Olex. We’re flying baby!

georgia boy

Pack it up boys, we’re kings!

SimpleWay

The away supporters are the best

MidwestGun

Let’s go ahead and smash these fools now.

Luteo Guenreira

Gabi got his goal! Yeahhhh

Gommit

Martinelli is now leading the race for the golden boot😎

Ishola70

Nice setpiece and good to see Zinchenko involved in it.

Certainly bamboozled Palace that setpiece

Jonko

Partey doing so well despite the booing..shows his mental strength

Dissenter

Martinelli is terrorizing them
Deserved that chance to rectify the miss

SimpleWay

Arteta process is coooooooking baby

Dissenter

Arteta will have to sub off Jesus by 65-75 minutes
Man plays with some much energy and passion, he needs to be protected.

izzo

MARTIBOOMBOOM!!! Never in doubt. Jesus has been a menace. Fantastic movement and pressing. He’s like a Alexis Sanchez REGEN but more complete!

Dissenter

Ben White is better that Soares
Soares would made puddle with Zaha running at him for 25 minutes

Un

The premier league should 100% bring in that 15 second rule
Palace are at it

MidwestGun

I do like that Ben White ain’t taken none of Zaha’s nonsense.

SimpleWay

The only issue and weakness is Xhaka; as long as he’s in the team anything possible

Luteo Guenreira

Zinchenko jumping double front kick clearance

SimpleWay

Who ever doubted Martinelli go and watch the Great CR7 at 21 in the EPL and see how much he was struggling.

Dissenter

Zinchenko is so much better than Tierney, even defensively

MidwestGun

Come on Ramsdale.. sheesh way too casual.

SimpleWay

Ramas and Xhaka strikes again.

Gommit

And to counter the ones crying about the pink kit… I love it, my soon to be 11 year old daughter thinks it is the coolest football shirt ever and wants one.. The caviar.. She has been unsure until now if she is an fan of Arsenal like her dad or Scum Utd like her mom (no worries.. I left her few years ago, the mom not the girl)

Ishola70

Poor from Arsenal.

Putting themselves under pressure for no reason

Markymark

Pissing around here lifting the Palace . Jeez

SimpleWay

Have we still have Leno!.?

Tonga

Aaron’s dad Ramsdale senior must have had a heart attack there

MidwestGun

I’m not crazy about the pink kit.. but I could learn to love it … if we win ..when we wear it.

Ishola70

Sort your shit out Ramsdale

Dissenter

WTF is wrong with Ramsdale?
His lack of certainty is unsettling his central defenders

georgia boy

Wtf is ramsdale doing

Sakablyat

Is it just me or does Ramsdale look so uncomfortable and stressed every time he’s had the ball at his feet tonight. More than usual, his long kicks are really good though

Un

Well tracked back from Saka
Great engine and desire lad

izzo

What’s up with Ramsdale??? He should kick it long and out of play if he can’t think straight. I hope we get a capable deputy in before the window closes. Still not convinced of Turner.

MidwestGun

Good job Saka.. defended like a champ. Need to pick our intensity back up.

karim

Phew

MidwestGun

Accidental handball… I hope.. ok then nothing to see here. lol

Gommit

Var seems to be in a better place than before..

Un

Amazed we got away with that hand ball in the box

izzo

Right back is an issue. Not sure White looks comfortable against wingers there. Maybe forego the midfield and buy a no.2 keeper and right back since Tomi can’t stay fit.
Look at Saliba cleaning up the defense. Ramsdale need to shake the nerves cause it will affect the defenders in front of him.

GD4

Magahales is a walking time bomb .. clumsy and oafish

SimpleWay

Saliva is the new prince

Spanishdave

Ramsdale is a worry he plays great and then brain farts, not good enough

Un

Zinchenko MOTM so far
Top top class
Never gives up possession
Always finds the right pass
What a signing

izzo

3 more signings DM/CM, Keeper, and rightback. Please!

Un

Then Ramsdale comes up with a top save

MidwestGun

Looking a bit tired right now.. Get to half and regroup.

Good save by the Rammer there!

SimpleWay

We starting to lose the second ball

GD4

Bloody Rammy.
Saves the day … Ben White is hopeless

Ishola70

Gabriel a bit dopey there and Zinchenko not the best defensively

georgia boy

Ramsdales dad “my fuckin heart”

Ishola70

Decent save from Ramsdale. Run off the mill.

Headed straight at him

Luteo Guenreira

Great save

SimpleWay

Xhaka just why?

Jonko

This is why Xhaka needs to fuck off from Arsenal

MidwestGun

Xhaka won’t get the academy award for that and a yellow.

Dissenter

Xkaha didn’t ask for a Yellowcard though