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

Boro, Bournmouth , Swansea, Sunderland are the next four EPL games. 12 points there would be nice.

Sanchez 33 goals in 67 starts EPL. Very good return I think. 

If there's something I enjoy more than Chelsea beating Arsenal it's watching Chelsea get beaten by Arsenal.

I settled in to watch this one with no real care of the result - either team losing would be equally funny. But the freekick the Costa got 3 minutes in after pushing Kosc and having the commentator announce how correct the ref was really ticked me off. So well done.

Also seeing Costa's 16 year/old teenage whine face is fantastic.

That was gold

4yo daughter was watching chelsea vs liverpool with me last saturday morning, I told her that an ogre was playing for the blue team. When she saw Costa she goes straight away "there's the ogre, there's the ogre!"

Then this morning she gets up during the second half, and her first question is "is that the blue team with the ogre again?", I was cracking up "yes, yes it is!". The camera goes on him having a whinge about something, she goes "don't listen to him, he's a cheating ogre!".

She's growing up so well. 

Just re-watching some of the game. 
That first half... some of the best stuff I've seen us play. Just amazing passing throughout the side. We shoulda scored a bunch more. 

How good is Mustafi looking btw?

Hope you were able to find a good reliable HD stream of the match mate. 

The second goal ffs. Probably won't get the credit it deserves as the attention will be on Chelsea's keystone cops back four but that would take apart virtually any side with that kind of ball movement.

Not to blow my own trumpet but...

Walcott's goal this morning was the perfect example of what I was getting at. You can see Sanchez drops in to get involved with the short passes, then when Iwobi releases Bellerin, Sanchez isn't there to hit the 6 yard box. But Walcott is... he loves to get central and run off the shoulder. Walcott, Sanchez, Bellerin, Mustafi, they all suit that set-up down the right so so well. On the left side Iwobi and Monreal don't quite have the same connection going on, but Iwobi is playing well, Monreal is a very good and experienced fullback, and we have Kosc to mop up anything that comes through, so I'm not too worried about it. 

That pace from bellerin... madness

https://twitter.com/ArsenalTerje/status/7797446120...

Yeah the stream I had involved some Scouse jizzing himself over Costa & how bad Chelsea was. Rather than acknowledging how well the Arsenal were playing, and that Kosc/Mustafi had him in his pocket.

Would enjoy it if Cesc got cited for his off the ball stamp on Coquelin too.

Oh; and highlight of the game for me was on one of the counter attacks when sanchez turned so quickly Luiz was tackling the air.

Mustafi had Costa in his pocket all game.

Only just got on here since the game. That was awesome. Long time coming and a real shame it couldn't have been done to them under Mourinho just once. Felt worth the wait though and having had a pretty long and tiring week dealing with some family stuff I really needed it. Great goals, but best part for me was probably Fabregas being hauled off, destined to warm the bench for the foreseeable future with his contribution to the game going unremembered.

I was a doubter at first because there were times where it just flat out wasn't working. That said it's good to know we have that strategic option to utilise. Still a big fan of Giroud involved as a hit man but maybe that's because of the huge man crush I have on that gorgeous b*stard.

Upon reflection I felt like we nailed the Costa wind up. Firm but fair tackles most of the time, the odd one leaving the boot in without getting a card. Wound him up no end. A true thing of beauty after last year.

I loved it how every time he got a bit angry, our guys didn't even look at him, just walked past, went about their business, zero retaliation. 

We weren't holding back either. Saw Coquelin, Mustafi and Koscielny all tag one on him at some point, without getting too over the top with it. 

Yep, executed perfectly. Controlled aggression, not stupid stuff.

Talk that Coquelin's injury is not serious, only out for 2 weeks. 

Excellent news. We've also got Giroud back, and Jenkinson is back in training too.

Pretty sure that's just Welbeck, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Ramsey on the injured list.

That was a core part of our match day squad 1 year ago, now every single one of them is down the pecking order for me & likely on the bench/not starting when they come back.

I saw a lot of people saying 'Oh, good Coquelin is out, now it's Xhaka's time to shine' or whatever.

Coquelin is still, imo, one of our most important players. He was terrific against Chelsea again prior to going off.

I do like Xhaka, though I think he'll need some time to hit top form.

Totally agree mate. I love Xhaka and the different dynamic he has but for me the Coq had one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt in that match, was every where.

My pick for tomorrow;

                      Ospina

Bellerin   Mustafi   Holding   Gibbs

              Xhaka      Elneny

   The Ox      Cazorla      Akpom

                     Perez     

We need to rotate the squad but not go too lightly on it. Would give Bellerin a rest if Jenko or Debuchy were match fit but not sure the Maitland-Niles experiment is ready for an ECL match yet.

I think we could go full strength tomorrow. We're at home, then we go to Burnley for the late Sunday game, before the international break, so the turnaround isn't the worst. 

If it were me I'd consider some rests, but very tactical ones - I'd give Ospina and Gibbs a run, and perhaps give the Ox a crack on the left. Perez has also made a case for himself, and Sanchez does a ton of work, so I'd perhaps rest him. 

                   Ospina

Bellerin-Mustafi-Koscielny-Gibbs

            Xhaka-Cazorla

           Walcott-Ozil-Ox

                    Perez

Yeah go full strength. Need 3 points on the board in this group.

Ozil on verge of new contract... wants the no.10

Xhaka for Coquelin and Ospina for Cech the only changes from Chelsea.

                   Ospina

Bellerin-Mustafi-Koscielny-Monreal

              Xhaka-Cazorla

           Walcott-Ozil-Iwobi

                  Sanchez

I am LOVING this brand new shiny version of Theo Walcott. 

2 goals so far, the first one all hunger, the second one just clinical. 

Who the f*ck is our number 14? Because that is NOT the Theo Walcott we know.

#likeanewsigning

#sh!twengersays

I heard the commentators say that Basel haven't lost away to English opposition in the ECL - makes sense then that we're doing minimal changes. Hopefully we see some of the youngster come on later on.

Reports that Ozil's on the verge of a 200,000 pound a week contract extension - given how good he & Sanchez are we need to throw the bank at them because the Sanchez/Ozil combo is truly a delight.

Don't think Ozil would be signing a new one without an assurance that Wenger is too. He will be next me thinks.

Man Mustafi is a beast. So fast, so strong, always really confident when he goes into a challenge, doesn't muck about, and doesn't seem to get it wrong much at all. Looking like a great signing.

Seems to sync in really well with Bellerin too. 

Anyone else notice the amount of empty seats. There weren't many but it's strange to see any empty ones at the Emirates.

Those goals were Theo's 89th and 90th for Arsenal. Slowly closing in on joining an elite list of players who have scored 100. Paul Merson was left stranded on 99.

Also since when have we had a RB so willing to shoot? Loving that Bellerin wants to score goals as much as he enjoys setting them up.

Sanchez stayed on for the full 90 while Iwobi and Walcott were subbed this morn, perhaps tells us Wenger's plans for the next match or two. 

After Burnley we've got an international break, Sanchez will be travelling some serious miles - he plays Peru 4 days before we play Swansea after the break too.

I reckon we should start Perez at striker against Burnley and Swansea, to keep Sanchez fresh. Perez doesn't go anywhere for the break, he's apparently impressed in training, and looked really good in his last start, the perfect time to give him a wee run?

so Arsene Knows eh; how many of us were saying that Sanchez shouldn't be playing up top and that Theo should never play for us again?

Sanchez looks like a proper striker now and Theo is looking like a different player.

Knowing Wenger, and knowing Sanchez - he will play against Burnley I think. Wenger would be loathe to change a winning formula right now

When will Giroud get a start? 

Injured.

Out for Burnley too. 

Boom.

Pretty much all of us. 

Certainly on Walcott - I was totally done with him after last season.

Sanchez, I always thought he could be our Suarez/Aguero type guy, but honestly thought Wenger might have given up on that idea, until this season. 

I think he just needs the right players on the wing - Oxlade wasn't that guy, but Iwobi is.

That was pretty awesome to watch. Always in control but when the 3rd just wouldn't go in I must admit when it got to 80 minutes I had horrible thoughts of them nicking one then the last few minutes being a nightmare.

Sanchez was brilliant again and could have 3 or 4 goals but for the keeper. Walcott this season looks like someone who has finally given up on his thoughts of being a centre forward and accepted the right is where he should be. I think missing out on yet another international tournament especially considering the dross who went instead pf him was a massive kick in the guts. It's never been lack of talent with him, more dedication and attitude which he seems to have in abundance at the moment. The determination to get between 2 defenders to launch into the header to score then almost crash into the post was the perfect example. Has he ever scored a header before?

Must have missed it on the commentary but did anyone catch why we wore our away kit at home?