Grand, because we have not seen Premier League football from 3 long months and the opening match between Man Utd and Fulham was shit. So, forget about what happened yesterday and treat this as the opening of the season. I can guarantee much more excitement, enthusiasm, the eagerness to win and the quest for the title begins for Arsenal.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the best club in the world plays football today. Arsenal takes on Wolves at 3 PM BST (7.30 PM IST), at Emirates. We have a almost everyone available to play, Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber missed the Emirates Cup but they are mostly likely to be available today. Whether they will play is a different thing, since Zinchenko is most likely to start in that LB and midfield is full. Tomiyasu and Tierney are the only two players who will not be available for today’s game but we are not going to miss him at all.
Team selection will be a headache for Mikel, since we haven’t got Merino and if he tries to fit in Havertz along side Rice, the CF position will remain open. He can alternatively play Havertz up top and have a midfield of Partey, Rice and Odegaard. I am expecting to see Martinelli on the left, the rest of the squad picks itself up. Wolves are a bit in a mess after selling their captain Max Kilman to West Ham and Pedro Neto to Chelsea. Two very important players for Wolves missing out today, and we need to capitalise on it.
Mikel Arteta was very positive about today in his press conference –
We are really excited. We’ve been missing the competition for many weeks, it’s too long for us. We are so willing to start and so enthusiastic about it.
source : Arsenal.com
We have got a pretty decent track record against Wolves. We have won our last 6 games against them, we have won our opening games in our last season and before that. We have at least scored once against Wolves in our last 33 games and that’s some achievement.
There are a few things I am expecting to see as the season folds. Timber will slowly take up the space Zinchenko plays in. He showed promise when he joined us in pre-season last season before his injury and there will be some time before he is match fit. It remains to be seen if Arteta takes his time or rushes him back in the team, but it’s going to happen.
Havertz, moving to the CF position for final. Kai had 14 goals and 7 assists last season, mostly playing up top and I am sure Mikel is in the mood to make him permanent in that position. Primary reason why we are looking for midfielder than a CF. Now, would I loved a traditional CF? Yes. Is it going to happen? No. So, lets hope Kai have a great season, ends up 20+ goals this season and become a main character in our winning season!
Third, Calafiori. This one is a mystery to me. I believe he is a back up / competition to Saliba and Gabriel and not brought as a LB or RB. Saliba played every minute for the club last season, and there is always a probability for injuries / sickness / form loss. We needed a back up, we had Tomi and White but Mikel never tested them so yeah, lets see how much Mikel uses Calafiori this season.
Right, I won’t bore you much today. We have an exciting team, an exciting season ahead and we hope Mikel delivers a trophy (or 2 I won’t mind). Don’t forget to share you predictions, expected team and anything related to Arsenal in the comments.
Good run out for our first game. 3 points on the board and got the fans singing.
Wolves offered more in the 2nd half but Saka’s magic sealed the game.
Havertz scored and zinchenko still needs to be sold.
Will Merino be up next?
TRVL
Agree with your Trossard and Marts thoughts wit different 9s.
Saka took a twist to his knee and not had my preseason or real rest, so El B did the right thing taking Saka off.
The usually indestructible Rice hobbled off so hope it’s a one off. Last thing we need is Rice succumbing to niggling injuries.
I’m a bit glass half empty after that for some reason. I thought Arsenal were very ordinary for large parts of the game although the result was never in doubt. Maybe they were blowing the cobwebs away. Raya looked the absolute business when called upon and I thought Ode was terrific. All in all, a positive start – a win despite not playing that well.
Everton already bottom of the league so that augurs well.
Who do we have as RW back up? Reis was that very sparsely. I can’t think who is our natural Saka replacement?
Hi Tony
I think Rice’s problem was cramp so some glucose tablets, heavily salted chips and a pint (!) should see him right. Partey started like a train and looked great, Rice was fine but not one of his best performances
I think a lot of Artetites will lean into the whole notion that Havertz scored, so fuck anyone who dared to question MA, but it’s far more nuanced than that, which is likely why they don’t get it…it’s not as if I think we’ll come in 10th or even 5th as a result of playing Havertz up top…he will get some goals, maybe even upwards of 20, as he will be provided with ample opportunities, but he’s not a natural finisher, far from it in fact, which I still believe will come back to haunt us when it matters most
Tony—I wouldn’t be surprised if Marts was Saka’s primary cover, which we saw at times at the end of last season…not a fan of that situation, as Marts will struggle to find goals on that side of the pitch
Pool was rather disjointed in the first half, but looked far brighter in the 2nd…just wish we had more of their directness in our tactical toolbox…with a proper pacey Striker that could be easily achieved, to great effect I might add
I feel for Lopategui, as it’s going to take quite some time to exorcise the dire tendencies out of this Hammers side…what a horrible watch for anyone without skin in the game…good on Emery for knowing how to navigate this sort of match, especially on the road…once again some timely subs on his part
TRVL
It’s another final 3rd position we need the right cover for so agree not idea for Marts. I feel for him as without a decent 8, he’ll never find again the electric form he arrived with.
I hope Havertz can hit 20+ PL goals but as you say he’s not a natural 9 so needs more chances, which as you outlined he should get.
All the expected teams bagged 3 points where hopefully the Chavs can win at home or at least draw.
Read yesterday City could well be docked enough points to be relegated but will it happen this season?
Tony—at one point it was almost fashionable to “wish” for some early season struggles so as to provide Wenger with the necessary impetus to get some business done before the window closed…what a ridiculous charade for everyone involved…obviously no one wants to return to those days, but if MA continues to ignore what’s glaringly obvious to most everyone else, that sort of thinking could eventually rear its ugly head…if you want to change the culture you simply can’t continue this sort of inane and totally counter-intuitive behaviour…our hunt for a real Striker, or lack thereof, can’t become synonymous with Wenger’s unwillingness to acquire a proper DM, following Veira’s departure…you just can’t be a top-level outfit when there’s a fucking elephant dead smack in the middle of the locker room…so their paid hacks can voraciously espouse our manager, his tactics and our supposed “Strikers”, but that doesn’t make it real…regardless, I’m elated that we took all 3, even though we made it much harder on ourselves than it likely had to be…just don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining
Hi Tony
If there’s any justice to be had if City are proven to be seriously bent, it needs to be much more than a single season points deduction. The length of time that the transgressions have taken place is germane, as are the financial losses (and relegations etc) that teams suffered all the way down the table as City cheated. This ought to cost City’s owners billions and may also have reach into Europe. I want the very worst for them. The club needs to be ended as a sporting institution trusted to play fairly against their opponents. Cheating cunts.
Hi Vieira
I got to that point with Monsieur Tete de Chihuahua years ago, ie actively hoping he’d fuck up so he’d be fired. The first part regularly came true – it took Trump luvvin Kroenke far too long to realise my second ambition. I wasn’t proud to do it, and it led to a serious schism on Gooner online, but it was my only way of coping with the steep decline.
Ambarish
You were asking for some ideas the other day.
Seeing as we all avidly watch games, how about choosing players for certain categories after games? E.g. Arsenal player of the game, most disappointing performance, worst bit about Arteta’s performance, best performing defender, midfielder and attacker etc. Just an idea.
I’m curious on people take on the match and did they see the highlights or the whole match because my take from being there to the MOTD highlights is they could have come from a different match.
KP
Seems like a good idea to me and could be fun and possibly attract new posters.
Yesterday’s game didn’t offer any glimpses of a new identity even with Partey and Rice starting. Rice simply isn’t an 8 or final 3rd player or note. Neither is White. They look unbalanced at times, and with Zinchenko’s walk abouts getting in the way or slowing play down, particularly down our poor left side, which is a recurrence of last season, the whole game was Saka centric.
Whilst I appreciate White’s positional sense, his execution is RB or CB level where good chances are going to be wasted.
Ode was on fire having no Euros to contend with. He looked fresh and firing on all 60 cylinders. It’s scary to think he so young and will continue to pull up trees all over the pitch. His vision seems telepathic at times. MOTM for me. He never tires or gives up; a true great in the making if he stays with the club with perhaps a statue. We have to pray Ode doesn’t get a lengthy injury because Jorginho isn’t the idea replacement with his lack of pace or speed on the ball.
Wolves created some lapses in concentration at the back where top 8 sides will punish us this season. Like we’ve said all said there will be more teams in the various mixes they play for, especially a European place and relegation being the usual suspects. We won’t get many Wolves’ level game in the remaining 37 PL games.
Anyone else see something new tactically?
Marc
The above is how I saw it, what were your views?
I didn’t MOTD highlights, but I imagine they put all the visually cool moves in although only 2 came to fruition with Sake’s individual brilliance. I hope he does, but I think he’ll be getting the rotational fouls very soon.
didn’t see MOTD but watched the whole game.
Tony
Our play was pedestrian and that’s being polite. Rice was off the pace and looked like he was carrying a knock / struggling but it took Arteta far too long to sub him. The defence did its thing, Saka had a decent outing and Raya pulled off a couple of great saves but the rest of it was really hard work.
Subterfuge or realisation no none wants Jesus and no decent strikers don’t want El B thus far or likely to in the next 12 days.
Mirror says: Arteta plays down Arsenal striker talk
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta all but confirmed the club aren’t in the market for a new striker this summer.
“I have faith in [Havertz], we have faith in [Gabriel Jesus]. [Leandro Trossard] has played in that position,” Arteta told talkSPORT.
“So we have different qualities in there and the best thing we can do is trust the players that we have and try improve them.
“They are so good and so willing and that’s what we focus on.”
“the best thing we can do is trust the players that we have and try improve them”
Is that we we are losing our best young talent? Then what about applying this to ESR?
Marc
That sums it up well.
I wondered about Rice? Junior said it was cramp today, so we’ll see.
Rice has been kind of indestructible but all such players’ injury luck can’t hold out after a kamikaze season Rice endured and then the Euros.
I hope I’m wrong.
“Ilkay Gundogan ‘asks to LEAVE Barcelona’ just one season after departing Man City, with Jose Mourinho ‘prepared to do everything’ to bring the midfielder to Fenerbahce
He moved to Barcelona on a free deal from Manchester City in June 2023
Gundogan has played only one season with the club and already wants to leave”
I thought El B would be hot on Ilkay’s trail being ex city.
https://fbref.com/en/players/819b3158/Ilkay-Gundogan
13, 8 and 8 goals for his last 3 seasons at City from midfield.
TRVL
Would Ilkay work for us as an 8?
Hi Marc
I watched it and was a little underwhelmed. They didn’t seem fully prepared for their first competitive game. I think for me it was the (avoidable) repetition of bad habits that concerned me and led me to believe that not much has changed. E. g. The failure to maintain or even increase momentum after the first goal, the relentless pissing about at the back in the second which nearly led to two goals and the quality of passing which was erratic. Maybe I’m being a bit over-expectant but they were worth the win. More importantly, did you get some pub time?
Here are my post-game awards.
MOTM – Ode
Best defender – Raya
Best m/f – other than Ode – Tbag Partey
Best front man – Havertz
Best sub – Timberrrrr!
Least inspiring player – Zinch or White
Best Wolves player – Cunha (or that cunt that tried to strangle Havertz).
Most annoying Artetaism – that stupid fucking high to low hand gesture like he’s thumping a table too high for him.
Oddest moment – Stuivenberg singing North London Forever while his best mate sat there stony faced.
In other news, County also won their second game and sit atop the Cymru PL. Another win up north against good opponents (Caernarfon by 2 goals to one). Early days but they’re looking really strong at the moment and I’m delighted. Cardiff, on the other hand are winless and bottom.
Why do I have a horrible feeling that we’re going to see Sterling being signed on stupid money with a fee no one else would be stupid enough to pay?
Pep’s approach – we need to make sure players are fit and fresh its going to be a long season.
Shit for Brains – run the fuckers into the ground on the first day of the season.
Tony—IIkay’s a crafty midfielder at times and has a knack for scoring goals when it matters most, but I find that he can likewise disappear a bit too often…he’s the perfect January window pick-up, especially if he’s not getting enough minutes just prior, as he’s a chip on his shoulder kind of performer…he’s a much better 8 than Rice or Merino, but I very much doubt our little project manager would bring in an 8 who’s skillset is far more geared to the offensive end of the pitch, thus the reason why Rice, plus Xhaka and Havertz, have been chosen ahead of the now-departed ESR…he actually chose Jorginho, on a couple occasions, even when ESR was fit/available to play…that said, it’s hard to ignore the City connection, as our thirsty little muppet loves him some sloppy seconds
just watched the Brentford/Palace clash…decent flow, unlike most of the matches thus far, but I’m sure the outcome will have many Palace fans on edge, as expectations are unusually high…always been a fan of Mbeumo, as he’s a deceptively pacey forward with goals in his boots…he’s someone I would gladly have as a cover piece for Saka…meanwhile, Eze’s clearly trying to put himself in the store window, as there were times when he acted as if he was the only player in a yellow kit on the fucking pitch…he did provide some noteworthy contributions, the best of which was a blistering free kick from distance that was disallowed, but he was also incredibly selfish with the ball at his feet…there were two times when he should have supplied service to an unmarked Mitchell in the box, which likely would have seen them heading home with at least a point…btw that Mitchell was rather impressive today, as he was forever finding open space in what should have been the tightest of quarters…Eze has undoubtedly had his head turned a bit, the question is who has done the turning,,,methinks City might be the most likely suspect
Will catch up later with posts but hoping for a draw City and Chavs. Dropping 2 points each works for me.
Marc—like yourself, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sterling was brought in, regardless of his ridiculous wages and inconsistent form…another sloppy seconds reach by a man who can’t seem to avoid those who’ve been discarded by Chelsea or City, let alone both…MA knows full-well that Chelsea needs to trim the fat before the window closes, so he might actually see this as the shrewdest of maneuvers…I would much rather our managerial/administrative wings actually do what their being handsomely rewarded for and get us some top-side help that makes infinitely more sense…so far they’ve watched the Euros, thus the Calafiori and Merino connections, and prepared themselves for picking through Chelsea’s garbage cans again
TRVL
It really is so fucking likely its depressing.
On another note Chelsea don’t quite look like a team that knows exactly what its doing but with a new manager that’s not unreasonable. There’s some good players in the squad if Maresca can get it to click they’ve a good chance of top 4.
Thanks for your IIlkay thoughts we could do a lot worse, such as Merino and indeed Sterling or the tushy duck as the Thais call him.
Not good enough for Chavs to start should be the red flag to take notice of.
KP
Good post and on the money. Sounds like County are fun to follow at the moment long may it continue. What’s happened with Cardiff?
City vs Chelsea going on ,2nd half. Came in late. But the way City is playing with quick and complex interplay , there is no way ,they are not winning it.
Chelsea seems to have bought better this time unlike earlier Bowley misadventures
Cucurela gamble to play a partridge shot dead backfired. Poch just took him off presuming badly damaged. Lol
By the way he was slowing their game. Cucurela would be an ideal ElB player running non stop without a purpose , looking busy and ” full effort to not much purpose”
City 2-0 with a Kovacic run and strike
Chelsea has a few serious issues that can’t be quickly remedied…first and foremost, Enzo Fernandez…he’s a bang average midfielder, who’s not savvy enough to play deep and not skilled enough to be further up the pitch…not to mention, his off-season viral mishap could wreak more havoc in that jam-packed locker room if he doesn’t get off to a good start…secondly, a bloated roster…until this week they had 8 Keepers and 18 midfielders on staff, which are actually the least of their concerns…they need to quickly settle on 14 or 15 regular starting options or they will continue to struggle for form
I don’t know enough about their super-sized Pep doppleganger of a manager, but it appears as if he wields enough clout to healthy scratch Sterling, seemingly without any forewarning, as RS played regularly in the build-up to the season…we’ll see how long that lasts, as Poch was of a similar mindset at the start of last season
that said, if they can clear some of their “deadwood” in the next couple of weeks, they might make a serious run at a top Striker, which could prove vital, as there’s a shitload of talent under contract…Jackson’s incredibly industrious and will never leave you wanting for effort, but his end product and sloppy in-game decision-making are a level or two below the standard required…that’s the reason why they were so eager to sell us a gangly man with a very similar profile last summer…not sure who I would take, if given the choice…likely Jackson, as he was considerably cheaper, so he has a viable resale value, and he’s on 1/5th the wages…plus, with his body type you might be able to use him as a cover piece out wide on occasion
looks like Verona has replaced Sassuolo as the hidden gem scouting capital of Italy…we should always be looking to exploit those clubs with a Bloom-like eye for talent, then we wouldn’t have to waste so much time and money trying to “develop” then wrongly defend MA’s longshot shit recruitment options
City did what they usually do, they won without being pressed too much…there was a 10-12 minute period when they invited pressure, but at least they were always looking for a way to counter with pace…Savinho looked okay for the first 45, but he was rightly replaced by Foden for the second-half…it was the first time I think I’ve ever seen Pep deploy a left-footer on the left and a right-footer on the right, which wasn’t the case once Phil came on and Doku went back to his preferred side…I’m assuming the plan was to run their offence exclusively through Haaland, as niether wide-side player was ever going to be totally effective cutting inside on their off-foot
if Doku doesn’t becomes exceedingly more clinical in the box, he will struggle to keep his starting gig…with that profile in mind, how was he never on the top of one of MA’s recruitment wishlists…actually he’s much better than those now on loan or benchwarming coin toss hacks…all that said, City’s certainly not some mythical juggernaut that can’t be beat, especially if you’re tactically astute and brave…that’s why we need a special player or two up top, as hopefully their innate courage will offset MA’s cowardly inklings
Hi Tony
I’m not panicking about Cardiff yet…
Burnley have morphed into a cross between Norwich and West Brom. A yo-yo team too good for the championship and way too shit for the PL. Leeds, Southampton or Sheff Utd on steroids.
They also lost to Scumderland (a miserable place set alight by it’s own burghers recently – work that out) caught cold and unable to score. Weirdly, they so far have the highest average possession after 2 games but are pointless. Not fatal but they need to look good against Swansea this weekend.
KP
Maybe Cardiff are due a purple patch soon.
TRVL
Hard to add to your thoughts here, some interesting thoughts you added.
Hoopah
I fancied Cucurela before he went to the Chavs as TRVL says he was perfect for us and could do a bit of inverted stuff if required.
He’s the kind of tenacious pitbull that gives no quarter that forwards and wingers hate.
Will be a good dual with Saka this season.
Would have saved us zinchenko and Kiwior at least.
Spurs… The gift that keeps on giving. Only watched the first half. Leicester were dismal and shdve been 3 down at half time.
I read an article today regarding the potential “winners and losers” should we finally get Merino over the line….most of it was Captain Obvious nonsense, but it did have one interesting take that resonated with me…the author contends that Marts would benefit most from this particular hiring, which might be a bit of a stretch as I’m not totally convinced that he’ll even be a regular starter in the short or long-term
since Xhaka’s last and by far his best season, MA has largely ignored the left side of the pitch…with an inverted backer being deployed, more often than not, along with either an underwhelming Havertz or a late-arriving Rice in the 8 hole, Marts has been woefully ignored,,,left on an island and facing regular double-teams, Marts was little more than a decoy to draw defenders away from the other 2/3rds of the final third…now to be fair, he didn’t help himself by squandering a few too many of his opportunities, even though they were fewer and further between than the year prior, but I can’t help but think that his output would have been considerably different if our attack was even a tad more balanced…I guess only time will tell
KP—I watched the vast majority of that Spurs/LC affair…classic case of just what can happen when you don’t take your chances…LC grew a pair in the second half, committed to their press, which provided Vardy with two grade A chances…a few years back he would have potted both, but the new-old version could only convert one, which was enough to secure them a draw…LC needs all the points they can get in order to have any chance of staying up, as it’s almost a foregone conclusion that they will face some sort points reduction punishment for violations that occurred during their relegation season…based on what I witnessed we should be getting maximum points against both these sides