[revelation]

First match of the season! Let's go Gunners! 3 points is the way to start it all off...

Expected Lineup:

-----Seaman-----

Lauren--Keown--Campbell--Cole

Parlour--Edu--Viera--Wiltord

----Bergkamp---Henry----

I think I would prefer the team playing with Gilberto in the middle and Edu out left, switching Wiltord out right. Wiltord has "no left foot" and is not very effective out left.

While Birmingham may be all sorts of fired up for this match, Arsenal should easily take the points. It is a game at home against the "worst" team in the league (won promotion through playoffs). The Gunners need to make Highbury a fortress again (especially if they can retain their away form from last year...)!

[kygunner]

I beg to differ on City being the worst team.(Sunderland and WBA are just awful right now) They have made some good buys to improve their squad getting experience,Savage, Stern John, and Cunningham. With Vickers and Purse, the defense has alot of experience in the top flight. They also brought in good talent with Morrison and Cisse. That said this should still be an easy 3 points and a way to start the Goal differential off right.

[DEREK WHITE]

I just hope that we start the season off well however I recall too many easy games last yr at Highbury which would be good for the goal difference Bolton,Blackburn,Southampton,Charlton.If the crowd expect an easy victory it may turn out completly different.We are more than capable of beating Birmingham but they have nothing to lose an away game not given much hope.My big fear is our left side.Wiltord is not good enough to play out wide so Edu is a must especially for his passing ability.When Gilberto is fit (PREMIERSHIP FIT) I would play him beside Pat with Edu on the left and Parlour on the right. Until then Parlour beside Pat with Edu on the left and Wiltord on the right however Wiltord has a tendancy to cut inside and give the ball away cheaply thus putting pressure on Lauren.Perhps a better alternative on the right would be Pennant he is quick and loves to go past his man which Wiltord either can't do or does not want to. All in all we should beat Birmingham but may have to wait for the goal to come a little like Bolton and West Ham last season. Without Bob and Freddie we are not as strong as we like to think we are especially going forward but should be too powerful for Birmingham

[revelation]

As for City being the "worst" team in the EPL, that is simply based on where they finished last season. Being the final promotion spot earns them the #20 position, whereas Arsenal are the best because of their winning the EPL. Has nothing to do with their current squad.

[revelation]

What about Edu's injury in the Community Shield? He got a huge (8 - 10 cm long 2 - 3 cm wide) gash from someone's stud. It was high on his outer thigh. That's why they pulled him in the second half.

Any word on his availability for Sunday?

[DEREK WHITE]

Originally posted by revelation
What about Edu's injury in the Community Shield? He got a huge (8 - 10 cm long 2 - 3 cm wide) gash from someone's stud. It was high on his outer thigh. That's why they pulled him in the second half.

Any word on his availability for Sunday?

[TheSlipperyOne]

Originally posted by revelation
What about Edu's injury in the Community Shield? He got a huge (8 - 10 cm long 2 - 3 cm wide) gash from someone's stud. It was high on his outer thigh. That's why they pulled him in the second half.

Any word on his availability for Sunday?

If anyone finds out post here please, as I will need to update my fantasy team if he's out.

[Andy]

Does anyone know if this game is going to be shown on cablevision in NYC. On thier website it says Sunday matches return but last year was Saturday only.

[dwinkler]

Originally posted by Andy
Does anyone know if this game is going to be shown on cablevision in NYC. On thier website it says Sunday matches return but last year was Saturday only.

Andy, I think you're hosed. soccertv, on its front page, says:

TVN digital pay-per-view, which is available to C-band satellite subscribers and on some cable systems (Cablevision, Charter), will offer EPL pay-per-view telecasts on Saturdays only.

That info was posted on August 8th, so maybe things have changed.

The game is on PPV on AT&T Digital Cable in Denver. And, oh by the way, it costs a buck more than last year, $15.95 instead of $14.95. When I first started buying the PPV matches a few years ago, the games only cost $9.95.

[dwinkler]

Originally posted by DEREK WHITE
My big fear is our left side.Wiltord is not good enough to play out wide so Edu is a must especially for his passing ability.When Gilberto is fit (PREMIERSHIP FIT) I would play him beside Pat with Edu on the left and Parlour on the right. Until then Parlour beside Pat with Edu on the left and Wiltord on the right however Wiltord has a tendancy to cut inside and give the ball away cheaply thus putting pressure on Lauren.Perhps a better alternative on the right would be Pennant he is quick and loves to go past his man which Wiltord either can't do or does not want to.

Derek -

Interesting analysis. Here's why I disagree:

First of all, I think it's pretty obvious that when Wiltord played on the right wing last season that the formation was more like 4-3-3 than 4-2-2. When he drifted inside he did so on purpose and according to the game plan.

Secondly, in the Edu on LW scenario, I think it would be insane to start Parlour at RW instead of Wiltord. I would think you'd feel the same way since your concern seems to be lack of goals in the early going, and since Wiltord is our 2nd-leading goal-scorer over the past two seasons with 32, while Parlour has scored 8 in that time span.

Third, I'm not that concerned about Lauren. I think that with Vieira and Silva in front of him, he can more than easily handle whatever pressure Birmingham City can muster.

Finally, I'm surprised at your Pennant suggestion. Again, your concern is goal scoring, yet you want to throw a rookie into the mix ahead of our 2nd-leading scorer?

Dan