Kickoff from Ashburton Grove is at 12:30PM BST/7:30AM EDT/1:30AM HST. NBCSN has the television rights in the States. Got three points and a clean sheet in the bag, but we’ve got to create more chances if we want to have any fun this year. And we need to win this one, because things are about to get rough. Hopefully the available attacking options will be a little stronger than last week, and another zero in the goals against column wouldn’t go amiss. Up the Arsenal.
Actually really pumped for this one. My aspirations for the season include seeing Arsenal really put away "lesser" teams when playing at home, because we need to build confidence and make the Emirates as formidable a home ground as possible. I think this super-charged offense is capable of doing that. Let's start the season off well and put teams like Burnley to the sword! Kill!
I'd start both Luiz and Torreira - maybe even Pepe. Anyone who will start at Anfield needs to start this game.
Not for me. PEA doesn't have to prove anything, doesn't have to integrate with anything, doesn't need to get in game shape. Leno AMN Sokratis Chambers Monreal Douzi Luiz Ozil Pepe Lacazette Martinelli If were not up by 2+ goals at 55 mins sub in PEA somewhere appropriate on the forward line. If we are up 2+ goals at 55 mins sub in Ceballos for Douzi (and maybe even do it anyway). Basically, there's an invisible horizontal barrier we're having a problem getting through. say the space from 20 yards on our side of the midfield stripe on one side to 10 yards away from midfield on their side. Getting through that was a problem during the tailspin at the end of last season and it wasn't very good against Newcastle. We need a solution to this problem. Given that we're playing AMN and Monreal as fullbacks the solution is not going to be there, so we have to find a midfield that works.
I doubt ozil plays ...........auba Nelson.........Pepe ...willock...douzi ..........torreira Mon..cham..sok..amn ...........Leno Potentially luiz for chambers and xhaka for willock depending on what emery is thinking but this would be my lineup
Team news. Xhaka is a Sat. decision due to bruising on leg and back Holding is in full 1st team training (played 2 u-23 matches, ~60 minutes each) Smith Rowe hopefully returns to training in a few weeks Bellerin, Tierney & Mavropanos all aiming for October return to training
I tend to agree with this. Think there is a good chance we see Ceballos, Saka/Martinelli & Laca as subs
Good news on Ozil and Kola: https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ozil-kolasinac-mentally-ready-return-134915225.html
Haven't actually heard Emery's presser comments yet, but form the textual quotes it kinda sounds like he's saying "come on guys, it's time to try to forget about your outside troubles and focus on your jobs". I figure one or both of them make the bench, at best.
When you have a situation where dudes with knives are attempting to stab you in broad daylight, and then persistent threats are being made against you and your family, combined with the mention of gangs and actual arrests being made and I think it's within reason for Ozil and Kola to take whatever precautions they deem necessary, even if it means not playing. Certainly Arsenal have to be taking extra precautions for the players and for matchday security. Lets just say that if I had a history of getting drunk and running onto football pitches like some idiots do, I would make sure I skipped Saturday's fixture at the Emirates.
Just heard two historical stats that are in our favor: 1) Sean Dyche has never beaten Arsenal 2) Auba has scored a brace in all 3 of his games against Burnley That sure sounds like a jinx of a post to me. Edit: Just to add a bit more jinx juice... 3) Odds of Auba scoring in this match are 4:9! and 4) Odds of Burnley winning are 15:2.
Double-reverse anti-jinxing mechanism at play mate. Sorry if the complexity of that is beyond you. p.s. I don't believe one iota in jinxes.