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

Observation: Both games we've lost this season Flamini didn't play. His DM work is legit, and I think we could have been a huge influence on the game had we had him available.

agreed....also for me personally i think Santi should be starting every game

Agreed on both points - and I'm sure Arsene sees it the same way too. Probably just Santi coming back from fitness that saw him on the bench against dortmund. When the squad is fully fit they're both in my best lineup right now. 

This weekend I'd go;

                      Szczesny

Sagna-Mertesacker-Vermaelen-Gibbs

                  Flamini-Arteta

              Gnabry-Ozil-Cazorla

                        Giroud

Rests for Kosc, Rosicky, Ramsey and Wilshere. Perhaps give Giroud, Sagna, Mertesacker, Ozil, Gibbs and Szczesny a rest midweek. 

Agreed with that - want to see Gnabry get another run. If he struggles, chuck on Ros,.

Very tough win today, great to see the lads grind it out like that. Damn that felt good when Giroud headed in...

Gnabry does well every time he's on. biggest problem is no arteta or flamini for Liverpool game.  Solid 3 points regardless.  Another assist for rambo

Very happy with that win, if not for premierleaguepass spoiling it so I didnt get to experience the real feeling of giroud's goal.

Rather worried about playing liverpool without arteta and flamini though... guessing wilshere and ramsey will be playing the deep roles in midfield. They're both tenacious and good tacklers but they dont have the experience and positional nous of flamteta (artini?).

I liked monreal this morning when he came on, he's been doing a great job this season coming on and seeing out games but today his offensive threat was awesome

biggeswt concern about the game was that CP figured out how to shut our midfield down, gave özil no room whatsoever and noone else. Arteta's red was a joke, in fact the reffing all game was just way to aggressive. Liverpool will be tough but they'll not close the midfield down as much as they'll want to play football.

Arsene's aftermatch comment suggested arteta's ban can be served in the midweek carling cup game, hopefully thats true

well that's one positive - of it turns out that way.

Turns out it is true, excellent 

Gnabry has signed long term deal....they way he's going i would say that would be the end for ryo as a gunner

old fella's still got it https://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/still-got-it-arsenal-legend-thierry-henry-ny-red-bulls-scores-a-stunning-golazo-v-chicago-fire/

is Wenger running the youth squad in the morning? 

For some reason I thought it was an away game, maybe worth having a go? 

Arsene's named quite a strong side;

                       Fabianski

Jenkinson-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Monreal

                Ramsey-Wilshere

         Miyaichi-Rosicky-Cazorla

                      Bendtner

Bench: Viviano, Sagna, Hayden, Yennaris, Ozil, Giroud, Park

And an injury update;

Gnabry - possibly available for Liverpool at home (Nov 2)

Podolski - possibly available for Liverpool at home (Nov 2)

Zelalem - possibly available for Liverpool at home (Nov 2)

Walcott - possibly available for Dortmund away (Nov 6)

Flamini - possibly available for Southampton at home (Nov 23)

Oxlade-Chamberlain - possibly available for Southampton at home (Nov 23)

Diaby - available approx March

Eisfeld also has a back problem apparently, so has not been picked this morn, but I've no idea on recovery time, no detail available

Here's arseblog's live blog description of the teams;

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Ryo, Bendtner

Subs: Viviano, Sagna, Hayden, Yennaris, Ozil, Giroud, Park

Chelsea: Cod, Twit, Wanker, Sharkface, Dick, Pissnozzle, Sharkehawk, Cockblaster, Spunkchops, Prickfanny, PusTits

Subs: 7 other cods

it's live on TV now!

fantastic

What channel???

just seen it's on sommet

gutted. Need to get me a freeview box ;(

bit of a heading error 

not quite a Nasti-Hart but same result

down 2-0, 10 to go

In better news, Chris Wood and Ignasi Miquel have both scored for Leicester City, they lead Fulham 3-2 with 20 to go

really lacking in the final 3rd.......

Park Chu young is on.....enough said

Silver lining is that we can do without the fixture congestion...

I wonder how smart it was to play so many first teamers when we've got Liverpool, Dortmund and ManU within a week though...

I also worry for our confidence a wee bit - since the Norwich game we've had 1 win and 2 losses, and the win was hardly a sterling performance

A win over Liverpool would do us no end of good

Yes thought that same regarding first teamers,  out of the next 3 games i would be happy with a win and 2 draws at worst. For me personally the dortmund game is huge as we dont want to go to Napoli needing a win. Kicking Man u while they are down would also be lovely

having poli back would be a real boost......flamini is a huge blow, really needed him for the next 3 games

We're still good. A midfield or Ramsey, Wilshere, and Arteta and a front 3 of Cazorla,Giroud, and Ozil, plus our solid back 4 & Gk.

End of the day we started 4 of our first 11 today. That's it. We brought 2 on off the bench. We'll be in good shape for Saturday, it's always an epic epic game...!

Think the worrying thing is that we've completely lost momentum - losing 2 home games to two big teams dents the confidence somewhat. Win against 'Pool and all will be forgotten, though!

Mou still has the wood over Wenger.

We do struggle sometimes when teams are happy to sit back and only try and score on the counter - which is what we've encountered against dortmund, palace and chelsea. 

I don't believe Liverpool will necessarily do that, rodgers likes to play football and has the players to do it. Should be an entertaining game and could go either way.

Arsenal v Liverpool is the featured game on TV1 on Sunday. 12pm

Some good reporting from F365:

only rubbish rumours but still... EXCITING! would love to have a kiwi gunner

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/?JavaScript=1&lang=&search=winston+reid

That'd be awesome Paulm. He'd be a fantastic 3rd/4th choice for us. I'd like to get him even if we don't sell Verm as 3 CB's still makes me nervous.

My pick for the weekend:

              Szy

Sagna    Mert   Kosc    Gibbs

           Arteta  Ramsey

Ozil        Wilshere      Cazorla

                Giroud

Tough choices around starting Wilshere vs Rosicky, everyone else is logical.

Impact from the bench in the form of Rosicky, Gnabry, and Bendtner...or Park?! When asked about Park Wenger was quoted as saying he's been doing well in training so he might still see some time this season...

I'd go with the same side brumbys, but suspect we might see wilshere on the right and ozil through the middle. Although I guess that's a bit of a moot point considering how often the three behind Giroud swap around throughout the game. Without a true winger to stretch the defence we tend to use swapping around to mix up the marking combinations and keep the opposition guessing. 

It's especially effective because of Ozil's ability to move wide and stretch defences with his off-the-ball movement - I think there was a piece on Zonal Marking about it a while back. 

Also possible that wilshere could play deeper with Ramsey on a flank - he was excellent there against Norwich.

Another possible deviation from that could be Rosicky - he sometimes gets the nod in these big games because of his experience and defensive work-rate, although playing a full game midweek probably rules that out. What price on poldi making a surprise return? He's back in training and played well against liverpool last season...

Arseblog's piece from overnight was excellent, worth a read;

https://arseblog.com/2013/10/early-mugsmasher-thoughts-and-general-guff/

Absolutely pumped for the game in the morning, all of my scouse mates are coming out of the closet.

Here's something to get you in the mood for tomorrow:

https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/50079/october-goal-of-the-month-vote-now-

Watching that goal against Norwich again I love that it was Jack that recovered it from the defenders and set the entire play in motion from just in front of our goal box. Full blown team goal.

Damn we got nothing on the bench 

2-0. Fudge yeah!!!!

Ramsey is unreal right now.

BOOYAAAAAA

great win, what a morning, chelsea losing means we're 5 points clear, you beaut

Kossack wtih a clean sheet against the 'SAS' (lol)

Suarez was dangerous all day but Sturridge was nothing. And that dive was hideous. 

I think liverpool really suffered for having their first choice wingbacks missing, they're so important to that formation. Plus toure showed us all why he's there, instead of here. 

So promising to win like that, with quite a few players out. Hearing that podolski, walcott, flamini and wilshere will all be available for ManU, probably poldi/wilshere for dortmund even. That will pad our bench out thank god, looked very light there today.