(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 1)

oh and we've signed a 19yo CB from Charlton on a free

No, it means Sagna is leaving after this season and he's looking for a replacement.

Perhaps... but it would be the first instance I've seen where we try to replace someone a year before they leave...

Juanfran is excellent.

that would be crazy talk for gunners LOL

Yeah, that was me. I saw him play for the U21's. I thought he was quality.

Well, my UK holiday is almost at an end. I fly back on Sunday after watching the Stoke game on telly. To finish off the trip though, I'm going to do a stadium tour with Charlie George on Friday. I've even bought a 71 Cup Final shirt to wear when I get my photo with the man himself.

good result boys! (but i thought we look a bit tired tonight!)

10games away unbeaten!!!

excellent result

dortmund had a mare against napoli as well, keeper sent off, hummels injured, klopp sent to stands, lost 2-1

Us and Napoli early faves to progress then. Will be a tight group though. This morning's 3 points were crucial. 

walcott's volley was nice, very good technique - he had to wait and wait for it to drop to him

Rambo, top scorer this season so far with 6, he is just tearing it up that boy

Some rumours around Khedira in the news, apparently he's best mates with Ozil and wants to come too. Now that would be something. 

I think a striker will be number 1 priority come Jan though!

didnt play great but got the vital 3 points. Gibbs is in excellent form at the moment, good to see he's getting a decent run after all his injuries. Rambo was excellent AGAIN, peno was a bit unlucky but he made some really good tackles throughout the game. Great finish from Wally. Seeing the bench this morning was a bit scary thou i must admit. i think Wilshere will need a rest very very soon.

Regarding Striker i wonder if there is anyone out there we could loan because Jan seems so far away at the moment........i live in hope LOL

Great win. Think Napoli are the favourites to top it but I'd love to beat a Higuain-led Rafa side.

On Khedira - he's not very good for Real. Massively overrated imo and I think our midfield is sorted.

For me the MOTM was Mandana, he mad some excellent saves through the night! He is only 28, he'd be a great old head to bring into the squad!

Striker and CB or RB need to be the priority for me in January. A DMF would be nice, but that can wait until next summer.

no joke it's Stoke this weekend

no injuries, lots of goals , 3 points thanks. 

Starting 11?

             Szy

Sagna Mertesacker Kos Monreal

          Ramsey  Flamini

Walcott     Wilshire     Ozil

               Giroud

Subs: Vermy, Jenkinson, Gnabry, Arteta, Frimpong, Ryo, Fabianski

Injured: Podolski, Ox, Cazorla, Sanogo, Bendtner, Rosicky, Diaby, Zelalam

no bashing from Stoke

the cupboard is bare. 

Probably top of the table if we win v Stoke, thanks to Liverpool reverting to type at home to Southampton.

Can't fudgeing wait to see Özil tomorrow!

crikey

all week I hear we are title contenders , silverware etc. 

therefore disaster surely looms. Regardless must beat Stoke. Next few games after that are winnable as well. Must beat Nap and BD at home. Should play a strong squad at Hawthorns for Leauge Cup too. 

that's cool and painfull all wrapped up in one!

2-1 up at half time. Really cool to see Ramsey score again, especially against 'those' guys. Need to maintain tempo and not let them back in to the game. Maybe a few more goals won't go astray either. 

Without Walcott in the team we really seem to lack any sort of pace, couple of counter attack options and the players haven't been able to shake their markers. Wouldn't mind seeing Miyaichi get 10 - 15 mins at the end. Also wouldn't mind seeing Bendtner, best he gets some game time is he's our go-to striker replacement. Sadly. 

Top of the league!

Icing on the cake watching united get violated by City in the pub after the match! LOL

I'll take that, what a debut for Ozil!

Before the match I was reading all of our goals this season were from open  play, this time round 3 of them were from set pieces (unless you count Aaron's as open play, but not really).

Their goal was also a bit unlucky for us, we just went to sleep in that space between midfield and striker. Interesting to see that when Walcott was scratched, Gnabry started ahead of Myiachi. Any word on how he went?

Will be interesting to see what team we put out for the cup mid week. Top of the league this early on after our dodgy start with Villa, I'm a happy chappy!

Gnabry went well when defending but didnt offer too much on attack....in saying that he didnt do much wrong either. is it just me or does ozil ALLWAYS look serious....was good to see him having a laugh when once he came off thou. Giroud didnt score but did great hold up play and also on defence. Wilshere is slowly but surely picking up form which is great. really cant wait to see santi and ozil in action together. Great to see arteta back in the fold too, must say flamini has done a good job

as for midweek tie i think nacho, tv, arteta, bendtner, jenkinson and garnby will start

Wilshere wont play for sure, Wenger didnt really want to play him last night

Another good result, all the more pleasing is if we can keep this form going while we get through the injury period of the Ox, Podolski and Cazorla, great we have had Verm back and now Arteta is back.

Great to see Ryo get a run around

solid result, getting 4 wins after the villa game is mint - especially considering the injuries. Gnabry looked ok, juts a litle nervy on attack, the cut back and shot he made, showed a little bit of what he can do, we have some good options on the RW with theo, ox and gnabry. REally impressed with Ozil, his set pieces are gold and the way he controls the centre of the park is impressive. Best signing in a long long time!

He certainly is mate, he's a classy player. I wonder how this team will look with Cazorla, Wilshere, Ozil all available? I'd say Ramsey currently is undroppable, and we'd still need one of Arteta / Flamini playing, so who misses out? Or a midfield three of Ramsey (Arteta / Flamini), Wilshere, Ozil with Cazorla out on the left wing. It will be hard to find a home for everyone I think, but it's a nice problem to have. 

Agree with Brumby's team mostly - would like to see this: 

                     Viviano

Jenkinson   Koscielny*   Verminator   Monreal

                Flamini**  Frimpong

                        Arteta

    Gnabry        Bender        Ryo

* Maybe see that new kid Semi Ajayi instead

** Would like to see Eisfield play too.

With some good experience on the bench to call in. WBA will field a strong team, but this team can get a result.

Also, on Gnabry - I agree that he didn't set the world on fire against Stoke, but was anyone really impressed by his strength? On a couple of occasions he was tangled up with older bigger players but held his own and wasn't pushed off the ball. Except when Huth bodychecked him.

btw Song finally got a start for Barca at the weekend. 

First time Barca had less than 50% possession since 2008. 

They still won 4-0. 

Walcott requires abdominal surgery - out for 4 games at this stage, so not too serious. Could really do with his pace and width though.