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

Emi Martinez out on loan - did not see that coming. 

Although I'm sure that's good for his career I'm guessing it'll be Matt Macey stepping up a bit more?

With Ospina staying that seems fairly logical. Some talk that Huddart may even overtake Macey, he seems quite highly rated. 

Campbell did his ACL or something like that, goneburgers for some time I think. 

Stupid work PC won't load the image so I can't see your team, but I agree on Cazorla, for me he doesn't suit the midfield in our new formation, I'd have him as back-up to Ozil basically, if he ever returns. I'm not expecting him to. 

hasnt Akpom been loaned or transferred to championship team? 

gee the middle of our team looks weak. we have so many players, but are seriously short on quality. At this rate 6th looks a good shout.

Funnily enough I saw him in training pics today on the Arsenal Instagram so he must be in and around the squad still, but a loan or sell would seem likely.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/arsenal/story/31577...

Did it on international duty last month, poor dude. Although I'm hoping that we won't sell him and he'll have a Coqulinesque return from the brink to become a regular in February just in time for the run in!

Strongest available team for community shield?

                     Cech

  Koscielny-Mertesacker-Monreal

Bellerin-Xhaka-Ramsey-Kolasinac

             Ozil-Lacazette

                    Giroud

Oxlade-Chamberlain for Bellerin maybe, Walcott or Iwobi a chance perhaps

Assuming Sanchez isn't considered fit enough

Iwobi in for Lacazette who leads line instead of Oliver

Ox all day ahead of Bellerin. 

Ok with Mert but Mustafi and Holding surely the longer season options. 

I have a sneaky feeling that Chambers will surpass Holding; if he stays, anyawy.

10 minutes from kick off it's dawned on me I haven't done the tips thread

Sorry lads

While I'm at it any one had word from Buffon? 

Here's theCS starting XI

Czech

Holding Per Nacho

Granit Elneny

Bell Iwobi Wellbeck Ox

Lacazette 

Good win with four definite starters not in the squad - Sanchez, Ozil, Ramsey, Koscielny. Chelsea were only missing Hazard, who is going to be out for a wee while anyway. 

Apparently Ozil and Ramsey are actually doubts for the season opener. Koscielny should be fine, Sanchez probably on the bench. 

Yet another make-shift defence, even moreso after Per went off, and Monreal played in the middle with Kolasinac and Holding either side of him. With the Ox at left wingback it was a bit of mess, but they performed very well.

Xhaka and Elneny were excellent in the middle of the park, totally ran the game, easily dominated Kante/Fabregas I felt. 

We struggled to score goals to some degree, but with Sanchez, Ozil and Ramsey all not there that was bound to happen. 

Kolasinac is a beast. 

And Cech, love it, wins a peno shootout and still doesn't actually save one ;)

Some optimism for the new season

http://www.football365.com/news/arsenal-armed-and-...

Not many better feelings in football than putting a bit of misery on Chelsea. 

Watching Courtois and then Morata put their penos wide, cracked up laughing.

Our 9th win in a row at Wembley. That's nice. 

Won the first trophy since Spurs moved into the ground too ;) Even if it is only a trophy in Mourinho's mind. 

First official match in it too since they moved?

Per unsure he'll have his cut sorted for the opener, reckon we'll start with:

                   Cech

       Holding Kosc Monreal

Bellerin Xhaka Elneny Kolasnic

    Iwobi Welbeck Lacazette

Guessing Ozil, Ramsey, Coquellin, and Per out for first match, still have options in The Ox, Chambers, Giroud, Walcott and probably Sanchez on the bench too.

Koscielny suspended for the first 2.

Per will surely play, with some sort of headgear or something, SURELY... when we're this short at CB.

Forgot about Kosc.

I wouldn't risk Ramsey if he has a niggle, going by past experience, but I think Ozil might well play. 

I would go with;

                    Cech

  Holding-Mertesacker-Monreal

Bellerin-Xhaka-Elneny-Kolasinac

              Ozil-Welbeck

                 Lacazette

Although I'm tempted to start Ox instead of Kolasinac at left wing back... 

Also, if Walcott is not getting a look in at our starting eleven, I say sell. He's never been much of an impact player off the bench, he's at his best when starting week in week out, and usually takes a few weeks to warm into form as well. I'd be getting rid, right now. 

agree about wally, especially if we get lemar or Seri (but those are big ifs)

and i think Wenger was in the papers this morning saying that the squad is to big and some members will be sold off before the window closes

I also, still hope we bring in another mid to replace santi...but im not sure that will happen.

oool just saw that we are linked with Lucas Moura.. that would be a nice signing

not sure who is available but best guess...

Cech

Holding Per Nacho

Bell Ox Granit Sead

Ozil Sanchez 

Giroud or Lacazette 

After attending four games last season which we lost by a cumulative total of 14 - 3 it was very nice to be at Wembley on Sunday afternoon. 

Xhaka continued on from the end of last season, Danny W looked sharp, Nacho and Holding very good at the back despite a few iffy moments on the ball from Holding. Then when you had a look at the players that came onto the pitch post match you realise it's a decent squad we've got (again). The Bosnian (won't event attempt to spell his name) looked very sharp and a serious physical presence.

Given the praise being sung of Kolasnic I'd be starting him immediately, having the Ox on the bench to cover FB and CM is more useful than starting him when he's as good as either Elneny or Kolasnic. Good point RE Kosc, niggly start to the season at CB!

Sanchez ruled out for first 2 games at least. 

Sounds like Ozil and Ramsey probably won't be available for Fri. 

I'm now thinking;

                   Cech

  Holding-Mertesacker-Monreal

Bellerin-Xhaka-Elneny-Kolasinac

             Iwobi-Welbeck

                Lacazette

I find these quotes from Wenger very interesting:

http://news.arseblog.com/2017/08/wenger-it-was-har...

It reads to me he rates Ospina higher than Szy, which I'm not sure I agree with, but provides a bit of context as to why we let Szy go.

Interesting to see mustafi on the bench and holding start. Im guessing that is due to his recent injury

COYG!!!

Injury? Or was it his extra holidays post confeds cup? :)

2mins!!!!!

shark that didnt last long....

mix bag that half. great start and finish. but we were custard in the middle. bellerin and holding arent working well down the right and welbeck hasnt offered much out left....

Ground hog day from circa a year ago. So average.

Wow, exact scoreline but somehow we reversed it!!! What a double sub from the big W.

Wenger just doesn't give a fudge.

Any normal person would go "what were the ramifications of the last 2 seasons start"? 

Exciting game but really? 

Pleased for Lacazette on debut and Giroud's 'clubman' ethos. 

Whoever plays at 9 should be having fun given our midfield passing options

What could he really have done differently? Only thing i can think of was forcing mertesacker to play with a mask or some such but im sure they must have considered it and had good reason not to...

From arseblog;

"We piled on the pressure, creating 13 chances between Vardy’s second goal and the final whistle, and when Arsene Wenger brought on Ramsey and Giroud for Holding and Elneny, we were playing two left backs at centre-half, a right-back at left back, a midfielder at right-back, our record signing striker on the left of midfield, and another striker on the right of midfield. Has any team ever played so many players out of position outside of a pre-season friendly or a training game?"

Mustafi and Mertesacker should both be back next game and f*ck will that be good. 

I'd put them straight into that back three with Monreal and move Kolasinac out to LB.

And I'd be considering starting the Ox at RB... 50/50 call between him and Bellerin for me...