So here we go. A new season, a team that has grown organically and through shrewd additions, and a chance to win the title. Will we win it this time round? Well, I will leave that for the next post, but we are certainly not seen as the favourite for it according to the pundits. Man City to me look on the way down; it may not happen this season but there is something about that team that tells me the inevitable descent is starting. Haaland or no Haaland; the future is red and white.
Anyway, you know I am a big believer in OGAAT and let’s just focus on the next one indeed.
The line-up:
So Partey at right back, and White and Big Sal as CBs, with Timber on the left in defence.
Rice sits deep and two attacking midfielders to keep Forest in their own half and try and find the gaps.
Up-front the young boys to drive the defence mad and score the goals.
It will be interesting to see whether NF sit back as expected or try to give us a game of proper football. Hopefully it is the latter.
Biggest risk is of course to underestimate the opponent. An early goal against and this could become one of those frustrating ones.
So focus please boys and get the job done as soon as possible. It is a long season, so let’s start strong and decisive.
Come On You Rip Roaring Beautiful Gunners!
By TotalArsenal.
Bergkampesque 
Game delayed due to ticket barrier issues. Don’t fall asleep, Stu! 😁
I hope this lineup doesn’t come to hurt us
What is your concern, Jerry?
TA, it’s perfectly fine to have the game preview and commenting post today.
Maybe even a player rating or 8 observations.
But you can insert the latter between the 2 parts of my season assessment, as it is clearly too long for one sitting. So I will send you the first part with 4 teams later today, and the second part with another 4 teams early next week.
In the meanwhile GOYG!
(Btw, Jerry might have referred to sidelining Gabriel in order to include all our 4 mighty midfielders into the line-up, although Partey at RB wasn’t a successful experiment in April, and I’m more comfortable White playing on the flank than as a CB. Yet, this is a must-win game with a significant margin even with the given circumstances. I hope Eddie will show that he is not a liability when Jesus is not available.)
Great, PB. That’s what we will do. 🙂
Great second part of the first half. Some great movement and invention on the pitch. Brilliant pirouette by Marti and then that left Robben of Saka. Sumptuous.
Nervy as they often do to us…..Any word on Timber situation?
How many times do I say here, Eddie starts, Eddie scores? .. at least he does half the time. Especially when he’s with the A-Team.
A 1 in 2 striker as second, third option is not too shabby.
It is interesting that Havertz and and Rice both show more fatigue than our guys who’ve played for Arteta a while.
Good observations, J. I think it was, warm and the whole team struggled with fitness in second half. Grateful for the two points.
Two extra points that is
Actually got caught up in the Matilda’s game last night. Terrific penalty shoot out. Oz v England semi: sumptuous.
Bringing big Gab on at the right time settled the points in our favour. We sat on our haunches after the second goal.
Second half performance is a symptomatic of the problem.we have had for few seasons. This match had the same patterns of earlier matches like the Pool, West Ham matches where we are all over the opponents take 2 goals lead and just stop playing with any purpose. Seeing yesterday scoreline and a team like New Castle rip apart Villa with pace, strength and relentless battering it begs the question what is wrong with our folks.
I know it’s the first game, new players take time etc etc but it’s not an isolated game but a symptomatic of our problem last season towards the end. We have to be ruthless and yesterday it was not good enough. We have bought 2 more in exp PL players worth 165 M and yet we make the mistake of taking the foot off the pedal. We are told even in amateur sports that it’s ain’t over till the last whistle and this is elite sports. We were lucky to escape with a win but it’s just not good enough. If we have any ambition to win something this season we soon have to fix these attitude issues. We have remind the team and I am sure Arteta will rip into them that we haven’t won anything yet. So shed the arrogance and play the full game not think it’s over just because you are 2 goals ahead.
Thanks Madhu. Certainly making a good point here.
New Post 🙂