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

Kola has speed, strength, and is impressive in the attacking half. It seems to be all his defensive duties that are the issue, which is a major problem for a fullback!!!!

Wenger specifically said last season that he was better suited to 3-CB formation, which really backs that up, as the fullbacks had far less defensive responsibility in that set-up. 

Can Emery and co coach some better defense into him??? I certainly hope so. 

I think we can safely speculate on the starting 11 for opening day. Any new signings from now will not make that side, won't be enough time to integrate. 

I also think the final group to return from world cup duty won't be ready either;

Ospina

Torreira

Monreal

Xhaka

Lichtsteiner

Welbeck

The rest should be available, apart from Koscielny. 

The hardest part to guess is the CBs probably. Just no idea what Emery's thinking is. I'm going to have a stab at;

                      Cech

Bellerin-Mustafi-Chambers-Kolasinac

             Ramsey-Elneny

    Mkhitaryan-Ozil-Aubameyang

                  Lacazette

He's got speed and strength but poor control of the ball in comparison to basically every other Arsenal player. He'd be a good rugby player.

If you re-watch the Atletico game, you'll notice everytime Kola gets the ball he looks to pass it backwards or sideways as he's not confident enough in his first touch to try and beat the man.

Hmm yea good point re: heavy touch. 

I guess I was thinking more his assist and goal scoring record which is good for a fullback. He has a very hard, accurate shot, off both feet too, and he drives strongly into the box. He's always a threat mixing it in the box when it bobbles around too. Knows how to bring it down from height and has a knack for his shot placement. 

Cech

Bellerin-Mustafi-Chambers-Monreal

Ramsey-Xhaka

Mkhitaryan-Ozil-Aubameyang

Lacazette

Reckon Monreal and Xhaka still start.

I'd be blimmin happy with that tbh. Looks a bit weak without those two.

Won't be much difference from last season. I expect a lot of change over the course of this season with Torreira, Leno, AMN breaking through.

Yea the strongest 11 in a few months time might look a lot different. 

In my own personal dreamland I'd love to see Ozil wide and Ramsey in the 10 role with the personnel we have now. I know others probably disagree but I'd love to see it. 

If everyone was fit and assimilated my favourite XI from our current squad would be;

                     Leno

Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal

              Xhaka Torreira

 Mkhitaryan  Ramsey   Ozil

               Aubameyang

That's a big assumption that Leno is actually good though... I feel that Cech will have a better season than last, he's no mug yet. 

I’m keen as for that Paulm - Torreira needs to be in our starting 11 ASAP.

https://news.arseblog.com/2018/07/pressing-updates-from-singapore/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Really good detailed review of the tactics on display in Singapore.

I’m very much looking forward to seeing this all in action!

me too, loved watching him at the WC

The drag of an EPL season is quite different from a few games at a World Cup - don't get me wrong, he'll be awesome for us, but he's young and it'll take him time to adapt to the UK (and the league) and become consistent. 

Thanks Brumbys that was an interesting read

Especially if the stuff about the CBs is true. Sounds like Holding/Mustafi might be Emery's preferred combo early on?

I suppose, but when he averaged 2.8 tackles and 2 interceptions a game while leading the league for most tackles last season I'm still very excited!

yeah i'm excited about the passion and heart he will bring

New boys Liechtensteiner & Torreia have started pre-season, while Xhaka is back too. No sight of Ospina apparently...perhaps off engineering his own Turkish delight.

Emile Smith-Rowe has signed a new contract over night and down played his chances of going on loan. Fairly bullish stuff from a young lad making a break through, but good on him for backing himself!

Smith-Rowe was a late addition to the squad for tonights match as Ramsey was left behind...that can't be good...

Apparently removed from the starting lineup in the warm-up due to a calf complaint. Jaysus.

1-1 draw, apparently a last minute equaliser from Lacazette. We conceded from a corner early on, Cech saved a penalty (I KNOW!), and sounds like we wasted a few very good chances in the 2nd half. 

Also, Guendouzi has apparently been excellent again. Since we talked about him after the Atletico game, he backed up with an even better performance against PSG, and now some people I follow seem to be raving about him against Chelsea this morning. I agreed with Valeo after Atletico that he was very promising, but perhaps not ready yet. I wonder if Emery thinks he is actually ready?

And I wonder if the starting lineup this morning was what Emery sees as our strongest for the season opener? It's a possibility. 

Also very interesting that when Ramsey pulled out, he chose Smith-Rowe to come in ahead of Maitland-Niles. Seems he's overtaken him during Emery's pre-season? Might be reading too much into it. 

Anyhow, the starting line-up this morning was;

                     Cech

Bellerin Sokratis Mustafi Kolasinac

                  Gendouzi

          Elneny           Ramsey

Mkhitaryan                          Ozil

                Aubameyang

Obviously Ramsey withdrawn late. 

That formation is how it was portrayed on the image of Emery's clipboard that went around the internet the other day... so I'm assuming that's how it was... 

Oh wait there was a penalty shoot out at the end of it... we won 6-5. 

From watching the first half highlights Cech was great, making the kind of crucial saves you'd hope he would. Bellerin got done far too often by their Left Winger who looks an absolute prospect and a half. I like the way G-dzi moves, he's always dropping deep to get on the ball, always playing behind the attacking group. Seems positionly very disciplined, a more mobile Xhaka.

I think Guendouzi + Torreira could potentially be a very interesting combination in the middle. I still think Guendouzi lacks the physicality required to compete in the Premier League, though; there was one moment where Luiz shoved him off the ball far too easily. It's not surprising, considering he's basically still a kid.

He has *everything else*. Strength is the easiest thing to improve, so I have really, really high hopes for him. I do not remember seeing a consistently good performance in pre season like this by a new, young player in..ever.

In saying that, we were completely dominated in the first half - I think a lot of that comes down to Ramsey pulling out late. Smith Rowe did some good things but isn't quite there yet, which is to be expected.

2nd half we were much improved, though how much of that was due to Chelsea making a lot of changes; unsure. Hard to take a lot out of it. Lacazette coming on changed the game for us; his hold up player is very underrated, though I still have questions around his general play.

Really good analysis valeo, makes a lot of sense to me. 

Guendouzi is impressing big time, and as you say, strength is a thing that can be learned, and will mostly come naturally as he fills out anyway. He has a big frame and broad shoulders, so he shouldn't have any issues. 

I thought the same about Smith-Rowe, when I watched him in the Altetico/PSG games. Very raw. Sometimes heavy touches etc that he would probably get away with at youth levels, but not here. 

Awaiting news on Ramsey, and worryingly Kolasinac was seen leaving on crutches... some things never change!

For me, I was hoping Monreal started the first game of the season anyway - though not sure if his fitness will quite be there. No idea who steps in if both are unavaliable - Maitland-Niles? Osei-Tutu?

Maitland-Niles came on this morning so I'd assume it would be him, although Emery was impressed in pre-season with Osei-Tutu and took him to Singapore, so who knows. 

I have a feeling he might rush Monreal back into the side, considering we have M.City and Chelsea first up. 

Reading about Emery, he prefers 4 at the back but is flexible with his formations when the available personnel require it. If Monreal wasn't fit enough he could potentially go to a back 3 to take some defensive pressure off the fullbacks. Maitland-Niles certainly has pace and a little attacking flair, he'd be pretty comfortable as a wingback. Would be quite surprising though, considering it hasn't been seen in pre-season at all. 

Lets hope Kolasinac's injury is not serious...

I'm getting nervous about the transfer window closing early. If Ramsey doesn't sign a contract extension now's the time to sell him because we can only buy a replacement before the season starts, but could still sell him up until the end of August.

You'd hope we wouldn't put ourselves in a position where we sell him at the deadline and have to kick on without a replacement until January - but it is Arsenal after all...

Emery has suggested that Ramsey's injury is minor, but Kolasinac is a bigger worry... he could be naive here though, we all know how "minor" Ramsey injuries tend to end up... 

What are everyone's thoughts about the goalkeeping situation? 

Ospina is being sold, Macey is going on loan, so our 3 for the season will be Cech, Leno and Martinez.

Who does everyone want as no.1 to begin with?

I like the excitement a new and promising keeper brings, but Cech has been in good form in pre-season, he's got a great attitude, and Emery made him captain yesterday. Hell he's even saved 3 penalties in pre-season... unheard of LOL

I think I'm happy for Cech to start next week at this point, and see how it goes. Leno for the Europa League? Not sure about the cups. I like giving both keepers a go but at the same time it's harsh on the number 1 to only give him league games...

Also as an aside, it's been noticeable that Emery has our keeper higher up the pitch when we're in the attacking half, and requires him to sweep up more than Wenger used to. We look like we're playing a pretty high line so this might be crucial. Cech has gone ok so far but I don't know how Leno is in those situations... I assume he must be good since we signed him with Emery on board, so we must've known this would be a requirement. Also noticeable that Leno appears to be an accomplished distributor, both short and long. 

Here's a decent piece on Cech from ESPNFC;

http://global.espn.com/football/club/arsenal/359/b...

Cech will  100% start the season as our keeper. I think Leno will slowly break into the team - Cech has been playing well, but his distribution is still poor, and Leno is noticeably quicker off the line which can contribute to the new game plan.

Don't think we'll see Ramsey sold now, it's too late in the window - unless the Dembele rumours turn out to be true and we try to sell him to part-fund that. 

Just read today from a tier-1 Barca source that they're looking to sell Dembele so they can buy Pogba. Probably getting too late in the window for these sorts of big moves, but who knows. Also saw a (new, recent) photo with Dembele + Auba/Laca/Guendouzi/Mkhi on Auba's Dad's instagram which is interesting considering Dembele should be at pre-season training with Barca.

I think selling Ramsey and somehow getting Dembele would probably balance the squad a little better.

Wouldn't Dembele still be having his extended World Cup holiday? I haven't seen any footage of Messi training with Barca yet, only with his dog.

Would seem mad for Barca to cut Dembele loose after spending so much on him, Malcom would be an inferior replacement. 

It would seem mad but it's not without precedent.

If the player is unhappy they often find a way to sort it out that suits both parties to some degree. I wouldn't be surprised if Pogba and Dembele both move before the window closes.

Extra complication now though, with the window closing earlier in England than in Spain... 

dbl post

Yea how crazy is the Dembele noise. I'm seeing more reports each day...

Just saw that picture of him. Holiday or no holiday it does seem very odd that he would be hanging out with all those guys for dinner... Auba, Laca, Guendouzi and Mkhitaryan... 

Him and Auba are buddies, and obviously he knows Mkhi from Dortmund too - guess not that crazy.

Laca and Guendouzi seem to be best buds, Laca has taken him under his wing which is cool. 

Likely the French speaking connection; he seems close with Auba and Laca

So if Emery is to manage the same number of Premier League games as Wenger he'll need to manage into the 2040/41 season. Crazy.

Kolasinac looks to be out for 8 to 10 weeks.

We either rush Monreal back, cover LB with AMN or Osei-Tutu. Could also revert to a back 3 to provide extra cover for our full backs in that instance too.

Apparently Monreal won't be quite ready for next weekend, so we've got our first injury "crisis" of the season... 

I guess Maitland-Niles will probably fill in until Monreal is ready? He showed last year he was capable, so hopefully Emery can get him fizzing. Alternatively he could go for osei-tutu (sp?) if he wants a specialist. 

Didn't watch any but apparently Man City were impressive this morning in the Community Shield.

Huge challenge for Emery first up now, with them and Chelsea as the first two games. 

What are our expectations? I'm ready to take an L first up, considering they're the champions and we're starting afresh, new systems etc. But really want to get something from the Chelsea game. 

I'd say 0 points from the two games would be bad, 1 point would be semi-acceptable (very begrudgingly), 2 or 3 points would be pretty ok with me, and anything more would be excellent. 

Chambers to Fulham on loan looking likely - I like this, he needs minutes.

I'd also like us to get another starting quality CB, but we can't always get what we want.