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

What a great last few weeks it's been, Ozil has been on another level. Refreshing to see Walcott find a bit of form and maturity about his play.

Nothing bigger than the derby tonight against the yids. First club in North London, best club in North London, North London is ours.

Xhaka and Coq starting in the middle.

Huge amount of trust placed in Xhaka. He needs to deliver. I'm still not convinced these two work well together.

thought Ox might start instead of Iwobi. 

3 points a must lads. 

Bad haircut worse tackle

About time

We have to extend Ozil's contract

Grew in to that half, deserved the goal at the end of it.

Don't  think Spurs look too threatening but we do need to be wary. Can't gift them a way back in now we're in front.

Interesting sub, Wenger obviously going for the win.

What the fudge were that second half all about?

Lack lustre second half, pretty frustrating stuff. Sp*rs seemed happy to sit for the last 20 and we didn't exactly bombard them/create any meaningful chances - apart from the one where Xhaka could have maybe dived for the header? Thought that was one of the best refereeing displays I've seen, didn't disagree with a call all day.

2 points dropped... moreso than the Middlesbrough game. 

Very frustrating, we felt like the far superior side, just couldn't put it together in front of goal. 

ManU next, after the international break.

Rumours that Ozil is ready to re-sign for 5 more years, you beaut. 

Piss poor 2nd half. We won't win the league if we continue like that.

Was mostly down to not having Cazorla, imo. Midfield didn't work at all. We have no real replacement for Santi. Elneny, Xhaka, Coq all like to sit deeper.

I think it's also we played the wrong team against a back 3 that worked well. Alexis vs 3 CB's wasn't going to work; needed to drop Iwobi for Giroud & push Alexis wide. I did like that they started Xhaka in there, but I agree Cazorla is critical for that midfield.

I think our team and plan was perfectly fine except for that midfield duo. We dominated for large periods and had a swathe of chances. Just because we didn't bury them doesn't meant the plan wasn't generally working.

Pretty much agree valeo.

Felt all the way through that we were a much better team than Sp*rs, we just couldn't blimmin score.

Also didn't think the midfield was much of a problem really. Agree that we are best with Santi there, but individually Xhaka and Coquelin both had pretty good games, we should expect to win with a team like that out there today. 

ManU going to be interesting after the break. Santi should be back. In fact we'll all be fit and available aside from Perez, Welbeck and Mertesacker. 

Ibra out for Man Utd with yellow card accumulations, which is good as it looks like he just hit form. He's the type of player that always causes us issues too.

That said last time we played them at old trafford without a good striker we lost 3-2 as Rashford introduced himself to the world.

Also; Koscielny proved he wasn't human again. Gave away some unnecessary fouls including the penalty which just wasn't needed.

Dear Arsenal fans,

can you please head on over to the Liverpool thread and bring us down a peg or two? We're getting overly excited and it worries me. 

Yours

Liverpool Fan

Not sure what i make of Xhaka really, he's pretty good but for some odd reason i just expect him to be better. Iwobi definity needs a little break from the starting 11 i think. Ox was very disappointing when he came on i must say. It's great the Ozil gets a break during the international window. We need to find someway to rest Alexis throughout the season......he can't play every min of every game

Very interesting title race so far this season

we have to beat Man u..........................

United were flattered by a very poor Swansea side...but now we have to wait for the stupid international break. 

I'm well up for the United & PSG games. I'm confident we can get 3 points from both matches IF we don't lose anyone to the window. Touching wood.

Sounds like Bellerin is signing to an improved contract (still had 3 years to run on his previous one), and Ozil will also apparently commit to 5 more years. FIVE!

Lets hear some official announcements please Arsenal, then onto Sanchez' contract... 

IMO these deals are more important than any possible signings in the next 12 months. 

In fact who do we even need to sign if we hold onto all these guys? You'd have to say we're sorted at keeper if Ospina stays. Fullbacks are fine, as long as Gibbs is happy. Personally I'm happy with Jenkinson as Bellerin's back-up if Debuchy is gone in Jan, which I assume he will be. 

CBs are fine now, with Mustafi and Holding coming in, and Mertesacker apparently wanting to extend for another year (if we even need that). 

Centre midfield is overflowing, even if we don't bring Wilshere back, which is starting to look a distinct possibility. 

Happy as with the strikers, Sanchez as no.1, Perez his back-up, and Giroud the "plan B". Obviously Welbeck to come back too - he may just leave, but also could pose a happy headache if he comes back firing. 

Wide forward would be the only area I could see us strengthening. And even then, would be harsh given Iwobi's development and Walcott's resurgence. Obviously we've got the Ox too (as well as Sanchez on the left side if Giroud starts up top). We've got the likes of Reine-Adelaide coming through too. 

Lets see how the season goes, but to be fair, we're looking pretty blimmin healthy on the squad front. A far cry from the "we need to replace our spine" chat of the last few seasons!

While I agree with most of that Paulm for our present situation I also would like to see Arsenal start getting ahead of the 8 ball rather than constantly chasing upgrades late (Mustafi/Cech anyone?). Santi is 31, Giroud is 30, Koscielny is 31, Mertesacker is 32, Monreal is 30. While these guys are all core to the squad they'll be moving on in the next year to 3. I'd like to see us make some strong plays to replace them all with quality replacements. While Holding has been great & Gabriel is OK, I'd still love another solid CB on the books to replace Per, or a solid left back (Ricardo Rodriguez?) to replace Monreal, or a top notch midfielder to replace Santi (Kroos/James Rodriguez perhaps?).

Oh and wide midfield is still my problem area. With Sanchez moving forward we need a Reus on our wing to keep the quality in the wide area - rather than relying on Iwobi keeping his level/the OX becoming consistent to balance our the resurgent Walcott.

We had no injury problems at CB last year, so I think we're carrying the right numbers. Holding and Mustafi have come in as upgrades on Mertesacker and Chambers for me. Perhaps we can look longer term for a Koscielny replacement though, as you say.

Cazorla definitely doesn't need replacing in my opinion when we have Xhaka, Ramsey, Elneny and Coquelin for midfield, with Wilshere out on loan, and more youngsters coming through like Reine-Adelaide who has been playing centrally. 

I'd like to see a young left back come in as well, but we're still probably 2+ seasons away from needing a proper starter. Gibbs is 27, I rate him. Despite how good Monreal has been, Gibbs has pushed him all the way, and as it stands is very close to pushing him out of our strongest eleven.

I agree that we should be looking at potentially a wide forward, or striker, or both, in the next 2 seasons, but other than that I'm pretty happy with the squad.

A lot will change between now and the end of the season though. For starters I think we'll find out if the Ox and Wilshere have realistic futures at Arsenal, and if they don't, then I would definitely re-assess my opinion. Other players will make or break themselves as well. A lot will depend on how we go as a team.

Sanchez crocked in Chile training. Sigh.

Should be an interesting international window for us:

England

Walcott, Wilshere

Chile

Sanchez (already limped out of training injured)

France

Giroud, Koscielny

Wales

Ramsey

Germany

Mustafi

Spain

Monreal

Colombia

Ospina

Rested/Not Selected

The Ox, Gibbs, Cech, Ozil, Debuchy, Cech, Gabriel, Xhaka, Coquellin, 

Couldn't See

Bellerin, Jenkinson, Holding, Martinez, The Jeff, Elneny, Iwobi, Akpom, Sanogo

Injured

Welbeck, Perez, Cazorla, Mertesacker

Apparently a low grade calf tear for Sanchez.

Far from ideal, particularly when Lucas has been injured who would've slotted straight in.

An absent period for Sanchez will mean Giroud up top, which is still a great option, but not when Sanchez isn't on the left side with him, ironically!

In other news Bellerin has also pulled up in training for Spain U21.

Sheesh. 

Aside from this injuries hopefully a couple of weeks off for Iwobi will get him back firing again; or the Ox stepping up so we can have someone pushing hard on that left hand side.

Other option for us is Akpom/The Jeff fighting for a chance on that left hand side!

Edit: or we see Ramsey starting out wide again with Xhaka/Coq behind Ozil. We have options.

Possibly get slayed for saying this, but I like Ramsey in a forward role. I'd be keen to give him a crack on the left.

Only thing is we must have pace on the other flank if Ramsey plays, otherwise it's all too ponderous.

Also is a good way of getting Ramsey on the pitch - I wouldn't put him ahead of any of our midfielders right now, but he's such quality that I want him on the pitch somewhere. 

Both Sanchez and the Chile manager claiming the injury is not serious, and that he'll be available for their match against Uruguay.

Hmmm

Meanwhile Bellerin has returned to London with his injury, will not take part in any international games. 

I'd rather Sanchez came home too. Bloody loyalty to his country not his employer. Total COD.

but if he was NZ we'd love him 

I think this is just what we get with Sanchez. If he wasn't this dedicated to his country, he wouldn't be the player that he is. 

I admire his attitude greatly, even if it's tough as a fan of his club only. 

Thankfully he does seem very robust and is rarely injured. 

Yep, couldn't agree more Paul. Ozil may be a better player, but Sanchez is by far my favourite of the current crop. His attitude and passion towards the game is so important in terms of connecting with the average fan. Even little stories like how hard he had to work back in Chile to help provide for his family, and him realizing that football was a way out, and a way to give his family the life they deserve, so he worked tirelessly at it and here he is today. Really have taken a shine to him since he joined us.

Please know I'm being sarcastic. Love the man to bits!

Yep, absolute legend. Bloke is a machine.

Looks like Bellerin is 4 weeks out, big games against Man U & PSG he'll miss. Does the gaffer bring Debuchy back? Trust Jenko? Debut of fire for Ainsley? Sanchez is still in Chile but not playing Colombia. Ospina will be stoked.

Trust Jenko I reckon. He knows our systems, he's fairly experienced now with his time at Westham, and he does seem to have come back with a lot of grit and determination from his long-term injury.

He'll be fine I reckon. We should still be defensively stable, he just won't add quite as much x-factor with that pace Bellerin has. 

What to do to fill in for Sanchez is more tricky... it's all about balance in that forward line... just replacing him directly with Giroud might not be good enough, we lose too much pace, but I'm not sure what the solution is, as Wenger doesn't like to play two out and out winger types together on the flanks, potentially ruling out Ox and Theo both starting together... will be interesting to see how he goes about this.  

Would any of you be interested in a Premier League Tipping Competition similar to the one RR runs for the A-League? Same rules: 2 points for a home win, 3 pts for a draw or away win and a bonus point for the correct margin. A bit late I know, but matchdays 12 to 38 are yet to happen. The first season would be from matchdays 12 to 19 and there'd only be one division. After that the second and third seasons will be split into divisions (how many depending on how many players) with promotion and relegation at the end of every season.

I know we've already got the Arsenal Tips but this would also be awesome and then we can all test our overall Premier League knowledge.