Arsenal

Pretty shocking couple of outcomes for players. At least rice isn’t injured and will be back the next game. Not sure how long the others will be out for. 

Jorginho and Partey will likely form the two holding. 

He might drop Havertz back in to the CAM, then start Jesus up top. Or he could do the same and go Trossard up top tbf.

He may even play Havertz in CM with a more attacking role.

Still a few options for us to utilize and play with at least.

This is gonna be a real test for us, not only for the wider squad but it's so early in the season and we already have injury concerns. Every game is a must win this season, particularly derby games.

Very shark situations, but as people are pointing out, we have good squad options now to do our best to fill gaps. 
Partey and Jorginho seem nailed on as 2 CMs, I am comfortable with any of the other solutions - moving Trossard or Havertz into a 10 role, bringing in Jesus, or playing Trossard up top. Many ways it could be cut, and a silver lining is that Spurs won't be able to tell beforehand how we might set up, so could be an opportunity for Arteta to surprise with something interesting on the day. 

The lack of speed in a Partey and Jorghino midfield scares me. Wonder if we could go 5 at the back with 3 CBs and White and ZInchenko/Timber as wingbacks. Bissouma also injured on international duty could help. Would feel less dread at home but would take a point if offered it now. 

Arteta has signed for three more years beyond this one. Nice. 

Amazing to lock him in for the foreseeable future.

Also nice to get it sorted and announced nice and early so it doesn't become a distraction as the season wears on and the contract winds down

hopefully the lads can reqard the gaffa with a win tomorrow!!

Doing everything I can for today

IMG_2351.jpeg 1.4 MB

Easy win in the end. Barely had to get out of first gear. Great header from Gabriel off the corner and never felt like we would be troubled after that.

Much bigger test next week.

didnt see it, just too early on a Monday morning! but caught the goal on the news, just a perfect delivery from Saka and Gabby couldnt miss from there.

Interesting to see Martinelli staring in the CM role with Trossard playing further up.

Based on what I saw today the idea of at least one of Partey/Jorginho starting against City almost ensures a draw is the best we can hope for. Both lost possession far too easily and didn’t have the legs to cover our gaps on the counter. That said, I applauded the game plan today and playing on the counter - thought it was a pragmatic approach to the depleted midfield problem.

Buffon II

Easy win in the end. Barely had to get out of first gear. Great header from Gabriel off the corner and never felt like we would be troubled after that.

Much bigger test next week.

Huge result with the players missing. Without Rice and Odegaard here and presumably the latter against 115 FC I was thinking 2 points from these 2 games was best case scenario. This is a big win.

Couldn't help thinking about my Dad (Spurs fan) throughout. Last NLD towards the end of last season he was in hospital and I told him about the game. This is the first one since he passed and I can't talk to him about it.

Very happy and very relieved with this result - NLD is always such a nerve wracking one to watch

Big week - 1 down 2 to go

and so it begins!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350418186/premier-league-clubs-frustrated-secrecy-surrounding-manchester-citys-115-charges

Great result in the NLD but this weekends game makes me nervous. We need to push for the win as a draw isn’t enough. Almost as important as us getting points is the need for City to drop points and there are few sides capable of making that happen.

Has anyone found a good alternative to DAZN for CL? Don’t want to miss the games but can’t justify paying double the cost of last season at the moment. Will do the 7 day free trial to get through Friday morning’s game which will give a bit more time to figure something else out before the next game.

I hadn't fully appreciated the lack of transparency during the trial and possibly afterwards. Crazy to think that for something of this significance is going to be dealt with behind closed doors.

theprof

and so it begins!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350418186/premier-league-clubs-frustrated-secrecy-surrounding-manchester-citys-115-charges

It's because the whole thing is a farce.  You're dealing with an oil state who can just restrict UK access to their resources.  There will be some punishment that doesn't "ruin the season" like a fine or transfer ban for a window.  

TBF it's mostly down to league rules all the clubs signed up to. I don't like them at all, but all the PL clubs created the madness of the way these are dealt with - not just the petro club!

ajc28

It's because the whole thing is a farce.  You're dealing with an oil state who can just restrict UK access to their resources.  There will be some punishment that doesn't "ruin the season" like a fine or transfer ban for a window.  

Sounds like a lot of the charges stem from the funding/sponsorships of the club being effectively faked. Essentially the money has been coming from the Saudi owners by way of companies they own paying sponsorships - hence the not showing all the financial reports as required.
Money isnt going to help when the magistrate asks to see where the money comes from - nor will threatening UK oil etc, the UK government getting involved in slowing/stopping charges would cause an absolute uproar they cant afford.

FFS. Thought it was a 7 day free trial on DAZN but you only get that if pay $34.99 for the Joshua fight. So the option is either $29.99 a month to cancel with 30 days notice or $14.99 a month but have to sign for 12 months. Legal CL coverage now unaffordable.

I reckon we might see a start for Jesus and Sterling tomorrow morning. Gotta try and keep some of the guys like Saka's minutes down to give ourselves the best shot at the Etihad on Sunday

ajc28

FFS. Thought it was a 7 day free trial on DAZN but you only get that if pay $34.99 for the Joshua fight. So the option is either $29.99 a month to cancel with 30 days notice or $14.99 a month but have to sign for 12 months. Legal CL coverage now unaffordable.

Firestick and a VPN is the way to go pal.

Got VPN but not firestick. Do you have a good link or suggested provider once you have the setup?

I use this site and it is generally pretty good

v3.streameast.to

Strange that arteta has gone with such a strong line up considering the game we just played and the one we have coming up. Hope we can get some of the front liners a rest in the 2nd half

It's the opening CL game. You have to go strong. If you don't get the points on the board early, the later games become more desperate and you can't rest players then.

Nothing wrong with a 0-0 away in Europe as long as you win the home games. It's concerning how devoid of any creativity we are without Odegaard though. It looks like set pieces are going to be extremely important as goals in open play are going to be hard to come by.

Astonishing double save from Raya from the penalty. You see videos of the drills they do in training all the time where they dive to one side and have to get up quickly to save to the other side and this has already paid off twice this season.

kwlap

I use this site and it is generally pretty good

v3.streameast.to

Thanks mate only just seen this. I managed to find one via google which worked up until the penalty was awarded then died during the VAR check. Quickly got another one to work for the penalty then that also died quickly and found another the worked for the remainder of the game with the sound dropping in and out. Memories of having to do this over a decade ago when we wouldn't get every game easily.

Amazing double save on the penalty from Raya to keep the clean sheet.

Lacked a lot of creativity today without Odegaard. But it's away and we got a point during what is quite a hard week for us.

Also before the draw the other month, UEFA were saying that by their calculations a team should qualify through to the next round of the new format with 7.6 points - so 2 wins and 2 draws should statistically be enough. So 2 wins and 1 more draw out of 7 more matches and we should be in a good spot - the sooner we get those the sooner we can try get even more points to solidify a top 8 spot to skip the playoff round

Sounds easier to qualify than not which is stupid.

Great double save from Raya today though.

Buffon II

Sounds easier to qualify than not which is stupid.

Great double save from Raya today though.

Yes although you really want to get top 8 otherwise you have to play an extra 2 games (on top of the 2 extra you already have to play this year in this opening stage)

Missed Odegaard big time. 

Pretty amazing save from Raya
Tough going for us at the minute. Hopefully we get used to life without Odegaard pretty quickly and get the attack going. Until we do, the defence need to keep standing up big with these clean sheets. 
I'd be pretty stoked with a draw at City, doesn't look like we've got the goals in us to win it at the moment. 

This completely passed me by but Martinelli has now gone 17 games without a goal or an assist for us.

That's pretty concerning form imo.

That Raya double save is living rent free in my head - must be closest thing in awhile to Seaman's miracle.

We did, but I also thought it was a classic game of neither team going for it and both playing styles so similar that it balances each other out. Given the way they blitzed Leverk. in the EL final last year I'm happy with not losing.

Big question is how we line up for Man City? Suspect it'll be
                Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Timber
                Partey
          Havertz Rice
    Saka Jesus Trossard

Suspect Martinelli, Jorginho, Sterling, Califiori, and Nwaneri will all get minutes from the bench too.

theprof

Missed Odegaard big time. 

Got to Craven Cottage today to watch the former Arsenal lads make a big impact. ESR with a goal. Iwobi with an assist. Nelson with a goal. Fulham look bloody decent this season - will be a tough game when we go there!!

Great half but Trossard has killed us there.

Long 45 ahead.