Finally! No football for months and it was probably the most boring phase of this year. Football is back, Ladies and Gentlemen.
We are up against Nottingham Forest today at home and City has made it a must-win already. We can feel the pain of Klopp’s Liverpool for 3 years in row when they competed against Pep’s side. The only way to beat them is by outperforming them each week for 38 weeks in a row. There is no margin for errors and a slip (like ours, last season) could cost you the title race. We can’t have that slip, can we?
But, lets not complicate it today. We have a long season ahead to talk about the possibilities. Today, it’s time to re-stock your fridge and enjoy the afternoon. Today, we celebrate the start of a season for one of the best teams in the world who is on the rise.
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For the starting XI, I’m guessing Mikel will stick to the the players who started in Community Shield against City. All the players are fit and available for selection except Gabriel Jesus. A back 4 of White, Saliba, Gabriel and one of the Timber/Zinchenko, will be pairing with Rice and Partey in the midfield. Odegaard will captain the side, Saka and Martinelli keep their places on the wings and Kai Havertz will get a nod ahead of Nketiah. Arteta loves his new toys, and I would appreciate it if he plays Timber ahead of Zinchenko. There is no bias here, Zinchenko is injury prone and Timber against a Forest side is a good game to judge if he can make the LB his own.
Rice has shown some glimpse of his game against City and his pairing with Partey is gelling well. He can go forward, he can track back, is athletic and have good shots in him. He has got to justify the massive faith Mikel has shown in him by making him the costliest British transfer till date. Pressure, but he is in Premier League winning player of the season for Hammers in last few years and I’m sure he can handle that. How much he makes that position his own, remains to be seen.
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No game is easy in Premier League. Forest was one of the teams that beat us last season and hammered our chances of title win. They had a lots of incomings last season and they were in mix in the relegation battle throughout the season and still they did beat us. You can’t take them lightly and Cooper would have utilized the season break to make these players work together. A tough game, yes. Can we win it – yes. Should we try winning it big – absolutely.
It will be hard fought battle. Not only every game will matter, but also the no. of goals you score and the clean sheets you can manage. Lets win big today, lets start the season on a high and show to the rest of the world, it wasn’t a Leicester-esque season earlier.
Right, a short one today because the game here starts at 5 PM and only a couple hours left for me to reach to the restaurant that will play the game. Hope you have a good day. Enjoy the game, lets keep the worries for other 37 weeks.
Cheers!
And if you happen to go to Emirates, I would be grateful if you can click some pics of the new makeover stadium and Arsene Wenger’s statue for me.
Thank you Ambarish for the post and encouraging us towards new season with lots of hope on our family ARSENAL..
Hope, we’ll back with more efforts and positive thoughts…Our all gem players are completely fit for the season….we have to win this season at any cost….Hope, we’ll not repeat that mistakes which was done in previous season….hope our defence system is more stronger than previous season…!
Need all players contribution is important…all playing 11…I guess, The field position should be okay with 4-3-3 pattern…!
Attacking is a good way to get the season cup….but I repeat, defence is more important….. we’ll not give a highway to make a goal of opponents…!
Hope for the best…Cheers
We are ARSENAL ❣️
Divyanshu
Hi mate. I hope you had a good summer.
Am I the only one to think it’s odd that Gabriel is on the bench?
Starting XI looks like Galaxy brain:
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Martinelli – Havertz – Eddie
Saka – Partey – Ode
Timber – Rice – Saliba – White
Ramsdale
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SUBS
Reiss – ESR – Tommi – Gabriel – Vieira – Kiwior – Jprginho – Trossard – Hein
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Don’t know what to make of the formation and starting XI, but then nothing new under the sun with not so generational but definite master of con.
Hey Kroenkephobe
Why Gabriel on the bench ????
Any issue or something else ??
It’s really odd…!
From previous post:
Brilliant KP.
It’s mothers day here so our daughter has come to visit with Pumpkin for the first game.
She said she thought she had to bring the mascot as Win wasn’t working.
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Seems like Partey at RB with White in his natural CB and Saliba moves over to deputize for Gabriel. Rice at 6 with Havertz at 8 playing a CM role with ode more forward.
Neketiah playing to be in the shop window? Can’t see why him instead of Trossard?
Kilroy that’s the only explanation I’ve got.
head scratcher to say the least but then MA is often copying Pep and he is known for tinkering, only difference Pep got Nouse, Arteta got nothing.
What the f is that backline. Why Partey at RB when Tomi is fit, Gabriel is fit, Zinchenko is fit and Timber can play at RB.
That’s just another – galaxy brain thing.
Anyways, up the arse..
#COYG
30 minutes delay in KO because they can’t get the fans into the stadium.
Tony
I’m hugely reassured to know that Pumpkin is in the house. Hope you all have a great weekend.
30 minute delay? They’re weeding out all the Arteta sycophants and sending them to a gulag.
You, too KP. Guess you got to pass the Arteta love test.
The new turnstyle system is as shitty as Arteta is in managing. Still 35k fans waiting to get into the stadium, typical for AFC management now extending to stadium crew and management. Who will be effected mentally most by the delay in KO.
That was some brilliant piece of football from Martinelli and a brilliant goal from Eddie.
Goal ⚽
Stunning from Saliba, and can we just say Saka is phenomenal and best in his position in the world.
DK
And the 2nd one 🔴⚪
Now Saka…..come on guys… cheers
What a beauty. No one cuts in like Saka.
Exactly KP
What a Goal
Now, I would love a clean sheet from this point.
What a safe…!
Miss the chance…..no issue…next time our ball touch the net…!
It’s all a question of quality versus quantity.
Timber alone 🌳 is better than Forest 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
Good first half everyone pulling their weight in the system with few mistakes. Saliba clearly not as comfortable at LCB as he is assured at RCB.
Let’s see what changes Arteta makes in the 2nd half. I’d match Forest’s 3-4-3 switching to 3 at the back especially if Timber needs to come off.
Something makes me think that Timber injury might not be too serious. He walked off and his facial expression was quite relaxed.
Good to see Forest have come out somewhat. It should mean more goals.
Won….but frankly, not happy the score line…!
How we concede the goal…WTF
Nothing changed from last season except 1, Arteta spent 65mill on a dud and he will be judged by it. Glad to see that, as it will be enough rope to hang himself and be kicked out of the door.
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No changes:
Still can’t keep a clean sheet at home, still doesn’t use all subs, Arteta is still shite at the in-game management, galaxy brain galore and can’t set up a competing starting XI. The sooner he is out of AFC the better.
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Needing to bring on a defender in place of an attacker against Forrest says it all, fuck off you poor imitation of a manager, end of story.
Tony
Phew. No pumpkin and we draw that game.
KP Junior when out to get Pumpkin to join us on the sofa after they scored until the end of the game. Just to be safe.
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Give my thoughts tomorrow.
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Have a good one all
Tony
Brilliant stuff. That young man is going to go far. I give him full credit for the extra 2 points.