Morning all.
Just as the official site updated the status of our defensive players to ‘back in full training’ which is brilliant to read, Alexander Lacazette has been ruled out for a few weeks because of an ankle injury. The team will miss him, not just because he’s our centre forward but because he’s a grafter. A player who pops up defence on the odd occasion and midfield quite often too as he hunts down the ball.
What it means though is Aubameyang can now play through the middle, or Pepe, or Martinelli. I think Unai Emery will go with Aubameyang as that’s where he’s most dangerous in my opinion. I’ve no idea which system Emery will go with to tomorrow but if he sticks with a front three, I’d imagine we’ll see Pepe on the right with either Nelson or Martinelli on the left.
As we know, Watford and Javi Gracia Have recently parted company which I must admit, surprised me. Under Gracia I thought Watford were doing ok and finishing 11th last season was about right I’d have thought, especially as they are one of the clubs used to flirting with relegation. Saying that, Quique Sanchez Flores didn’t do so badly for Watford either during his first stint at the club so I suppose re-employing him was a safe bet. Boring though I’d have thought, a bit like Chelsea going back for Mourinho having already sacked him just a few years before. Think of all the compensation these managers earn though. I wouldn’t mind being sacked from my job if it meant a few million pounds landing in my bank account. Not that I’d go back though. I’d love the offer but I’d love telling the employer to stick his/her job even more.
I don’t like it when we play clubs who have just changed managers though because often it gives players an incentive to try harder and play better. For those who have been frozen out so far, it’s a chance to get back into the mix again if they perform well. This kind of case can be different though. Certain players might not be glad Quique Sanchez Flores has returned, others might be disappointed that Gracia has left as we suspect a few of our players were when Arsene Wenger departed so a change of manager might not have such a big impact on the team as it so often can. Yes, glass full with optimism.
Back in April we snatched a 1-0 victory thanks to Aubameyang but for much of the game we played against ten men after Deeney was sent off. It won’t be easy tomorrow either but another scrappy 1-0 victory away from home will do for me. Having dropped two points at home in our last game, winning three tomorrow has become more important.
’til tomorrow guys…
Morning Rico and all. It’s time for Unai to get serious now. The phoney war is over.
Morning Adam. He’s little choice really with his contract in a delicate situation. His third year depends on the next three months I’d have thought. That’s if the board haven’t already made their minds up.
Raul can’t be overly impressed with what he’s seeing…
Emery has sidestepped his way around awkward Mustafi questions in his presser and now we can look forward to Shkodran leading the team in the League Cup, maybe with Calum Chambers next to him as he needs a game or maybe even Zech Medley?
Eintract Frankfurt are quite a good side, Europa semi-finalists last season, so we shouldn’t underestimate them, so maybe a close to full strength team in Germany next week.
No Lacazette leaves Emery with a lot less options in the attacking dept.
Martinelli, John Jules, Smith Rowe, Saka and Balogun are all options up front, but Emery needs to protect Aubameyang and Pepe as much as he can.
Morning Kev.
The work rate Lacazette puts in is going to be difficult to replace imo.
I hope to see Emery trying something different tomorrow as we all know Watford’s strength is their strength. Plus Welbeck will have an added incentive for this one, he’ll be a tough opponent for Kolasinac that’s for sure.
I hope Mustafi does play in Europa and the league cup.
I hope that Mustafi plays really well Rico, then we might be able to sell him in January?
The club needs to seriously address the Aubameyang contract situation very soon, as I’m sure they will. His agent is probably hawking him around as we blog.
I’m not sure that I believe all that crap linking him to Real Madrid, but who knows?
It doesn’t really bother me anymore who they sell as I’m confident that the team behind the team will have replacements lined up. Maybe from Brazil..?
Leicester are looking a really dangerous outfit, the club is brilliantly run and their manager, the man with the million dollar choppers has really impressed so far…
I hope that ManUtd stay strong and are not overly influenced by disappointed fans, they need to stick with Ole, he really is the man for them….
Ha ha Kev re Mustafi and Ole. Better still would be Mustafi playing so well he gets back into the first team and improves our defending.
I thought Auba had signed his contract extension.
Maybe Rico, alternatively Ole might bid for Mustafi in January… 😉
Win win either way Kev… lol
Yeah, I saw that rumour a few weeks ago, but according to transfermarket.com he’s under contract until 2021…
Shame about Burns, but I think he’s done enough to cement his place for the tour to New Zealand and South Africa.
Sibley seems to be the next cab off of the rank for the tour Rico, apparently he’s not one of these crash, bang, wallop batsmen, but can happily grind away for singles and accumulates runs like a proper opener….
I’ve watched him Kev, he’s pretty steady but none of our openers are hanging around long enough. And Denley has just been caught.
Limey, we were leading before we batted for a second time. 😆
Afternoon All,
I thought Aubameyang and the club are still in talks, no doubt his agent is trying to get as much money as possible.
One to watch, but I think the club will sell rather than be held to ransom.
Things looking positive, such a shame about Lacazette,in my opinion our best player.At least Deeney isn’t playing tomorrow ha ha.
If England still have wickets left at close of play,they should have a winning lead.
Silly me, missed the ‘winning lead’… oops..
I wonder if Danny Welbeck will play tomorrow ?
He always gave everything.I don’t mind him scoring in a 1-2 win.
G’day all.
The dinosaur Deeney is out with a knee injury, which is good news, but that opens the door for record signing (£31million) striker Ismaila Sarr. One of the reasons for sacking Javier Garcia was his reluctance to play him.
Our European stage is very strong: Franckfurt has strengthened a lot until 31 August. It is stronger; Standard leads the Belgian championship and is also very strong; Victoria is a good team. As we have never won in Portugal, there are at least 2 points lost. As I said before, I don’t expect facilities.
G’day all.
The dinosaur Deeney is out with a knee injury, which is good news, but that opens the door for record signing (£31million) striker Ismaila Sarr. One of the reasons for sacking Javier Garcia was his reluctance to play him.
Strangely there is no mention, in my paper this morning, of Welbeck as a starter or injured, a sub perhaps? Come to that there’s also no mention of Sarr.
A comment edited by my tablet which then posted both versions. Artificial Intelligence or dumb computer? 😕
Are Vitoria better than Sporting?
Arsenal won 1-0 at Sporting last season, first ever victory in Portugal.
Usually when you win once you win again and again and again!
Troy Deeney on Soccer Saturday. Ugh..
Big improvement with the England batting although Australia have dropped 5 catches.
Miserable news from the EPL… ☹️
I really hate to hear commentators going on about how Denly hasn’t got a test hundred, while he was in the nineties. They just seem to talk down about him and, sure enough, he’s out on 94.
Stokes gone too but the lead is over three hundred. Ideal situation for Butler and Bairstow to take the game beyond the Aussies.
Cheer up Kev, you can rely on Norwich to take three points off the Oilers. 😉
Allez, We will have to play on a difficult, intimidating field and the equipment colors are like the Totts …
Yes Cicero, I’m super confident of that happening… 🤔
I guess it means that Lampard and Ole are safe for awhile longer…
JM, we need to win our 3 home games, that’s the key.
A couple of draws away should do the trick, although I’m not too bothered about the Europa this season…
Watford is dead last in the league with just 1 point and a goal differential of -6 in 4 games; if Arsenal can’t win against Watford then this Arsenal team shouldn’t even finish on the top ten and Emery should be coaching another team.
I have watched Holding and Chambers play together on several occasions at the national level, they are a good tandem. Chambers was a very good CB until Wenger “hung” him dry as a RB, with no protection. I find it interesting that many think that Sokratis is better than Mustafi when both are undisciplined, slow and mistake prone. CB combo of Chambers/ Mavos or Holding with Bellerin and Tierney, in my view, will solve our defensive issues. Per was able to play with both Holding and Chambers superbly because he coached them on the field, just like Arteta and Carzola coached Ramsey into assuming better positions. The problem for is not ability, it is the lack of coaching and positional awareness – and that is Steve Bould’s job.
Bould Obi? Why is it his job now that he’s with the under 23’s?
On the ball City. The Canaries one nil up.
Oh he of little faith Kev.
Can’t think why congratulations to Norwich City on being one nil up has gone into moderation.
Make that two nil. 🔔🔔🔔
Seriously Cicero? That’s a big surprise. I’m flipping between the cricket and golf..
City got one back just before half-time but it’s now 3 – 1 to the Canaries.
Monreal scored versus A. Madrid
Cazorla is bright! super class!
For me, Standard Liege is a strong contender to win the Europa League.
Rico @ 6:20, I should be more clear. Last time I checked Arsenal still didn’t list a defensive coach for the team. But Bould was there all those years, and the defensive players I listed all been training with the U23 because of their injuries.
What a game by Norwich? They attacked and attacked, were not afraid of City at all. Really makes one question playing out of the back. 85th minute city down by 2 goals and they are still playing out of the back, when it hasn’t worked all game.
Obi, I think emery just has a coaching team without specifying who does what. Similar could be said with Bould really, perhaps because he was a defender, we assumed he was the defensive coach..
What did I say Kev? Fantastic result for Norwich 3 – 2.
Rico @8:14, good point.
We really should win the Test from here, surely Smith is due a low one eventually? Please……I
Drawn series is most we deserve to be fair. Australia bowling attack better than I expected.
Congrats Norwich, tha ts what makes Premier League so good.
Few injuries more and our squad will not look so good. Can only blood a few youngsters at one time, hope Welbs doesn’t come back and bite us, really like the guy.
Elneny sent off on his Besiktas debut.
Cicero, I was always confident that Norwich would it… 🙄
Obi, I’m pretty sure that Wenger never allowed Bould the chance to give the defence any specialised coaching, that’s why our defence had many shambolic moments under Le Prof….!
Denny has probably played his way into the tour to NZ & SA…
I imagine that Bairstow will also go, although I don’t think he deserves to…
I’d like to see 3 or 4 new faces on the tour.
Good to see Rob Holding playing for the Arsenal U23’s again, partnering Mavropanos, they won 2-1 vs Leicester, 2 goals by John Jules, 2 assists by Balogun.
Warner to score 100, Smith to nail 150 and Aussies to win 🙂
No Lacazette , so is it Nelson or Martinelli with Pepe flanking Aubameyang ?
Having just scored 6 goals so far we have just lost 1/3rd of them and we need to replace them and fast.
Obviously it’s time for Pepe to step up .
Problem with Denly Kev is that he’s getting on a bit… lol
Morning all.
New post up now
Potter, I’d go Nelson but have Martinelli in the bench.
Morning all.