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Premier League 2019-2020 we’re off

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So, what do the Arsenal fans think may be their team tonight?

15 years ago your 2nd string/kids/squad players were the envy of the league, and I remember you coming to Anfield and whacking us 6-2 iirc in the league cup one year. Will he go with a 2nd string side to try and get a cup on the sideboard (perennial cup winner with Sevilla), or will he use his squad and kintergarden?

I'd have us as:-

Adrian (but he's playing the other keeper)

RB Hoever (but he's injured so another kid
CB Gomez
CB Lovren or next up and coming
LB Milly or larouci

RCM The ox
CM Keita
LCM Lallana

Origi down the middle, Brewster and Elliott either side
 
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This is Emery were talking about, there is no clear plan, who knows lol. It seems at the moment he has a prem league XI and a Europe XI, expect tonight you see more of the Europe XI

Something like:

Martinez
Bellerin (c)
Holding
Mustafi
Kolasinac (assuming Tierney now his first choice in the prem)
Torreira
Willock
Maitlin Niles
Emile Smith Rowe
Matrinelli
Lacazette

Likes of Pepe, Guendoozi, Saka, Ceballos, Tierney, Chambers on the bench
 
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Personally would go for something like:

Martinez
Bellerin (c)
Holding
Chambers
Tierney
Torreira
Guendoozi
Ceballos
Pepe
Aubameyang
Lacazette
Reports I've seen suggest that Ozil is in for a start tonight.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50229350

First part of the counselling should be to apologise to the fans who pay his wages!
Absolutely bloody spot on, apologise and accept your actions first and foremost but I doubt he will and if he doesn't shouldn't be playing end of.
 
Reports I've seen suggest that Ozil is in for a start tonight.


Absolutely bloody spot on, apologise and accept your actions first and foremost but I doubt he will and if he doesn't shouldn't be playing end of.

If he puts in as much effort as he did getting off the pitch. It will ot mean much.
 
Reports I've seen suggest that Ozil is in for a start tonight.


Absolutely bloody spot on, apologise and accept your actions first and foremost but I doubt he will and if he doesn't shouldn't be playing end of.
I'm not impressed by this vilification of xshaka.
My impression is that the guy is pretty much a model Pro and gives full effort during training and while playing. Now you can argue that he's not very good, or that the system being played doesn't work with him in it, but can any supporter deny that he does what he's paid for? I think not.
I'm sure his current form and that of the team is a worry for him, I'm sure performing in front of a stadium full of eejits who are just waiting for things to go wrong is also an extremely stressful experience. Given all that, I'm an completely unsurprised by his reaction and subsequent unhappiness.
Football fans are such entitled buffoons. They think that their appalling reaction, attacking a single person directly as mob, is somehow far less shocking and harmful than one overstressed individual mouthing a couple of swearwords to no-one in particular. Well knock me down with a feather and grab my pearls.
 
I'm not impressed by this vilification of xshaka.
My impression is that the guy is pretty much a model Pro and gives full effort during training and while playing. Now you can argue that he's not very good, or that the system being played doesn't work with him in it, but can any supporter deny that he does what he's paid for? I think not.
I'm sure his current form and that of the team is a worry for him, I'm sure performing in front of a stadium full of eejits who are just waiting for things to go wrong is also an extremely stressful experience. Given all that, I'm an completely unsurprised by his reaction and subsequent unhappiness.
Football fans are such entitled buffoons. They think that their appalling reaction, attacking a single person directly as mob, is somehow far less shocking and harmful than one overstressed individual mouthing a couple of swearwords to no-one in particular. Well knock me down with a feather and grab my pearls.
I think that part is debatable. I've seen him standing near perfectly still while the man he's meant to be marking runs off him and into the box. Perhaps he is being mis-used and should be in a more attacking role though. He was even used at left back during an injury crisis. And I have a certain degree of sympathy of him being thrust forward as captain when most fans would prefer he was sold - but that's not particularly his fault. I think he is crap, but he is also becoming a bit of a scapegoat at the same time. I think he's a symptom rather than a cause.
 
I don't think Xhaka is a paricularly bad football player. He is just a bad buy for Arsenal, as he is not equipped for the prem. He doesn't think fast enough, doesn't cope well with being pressed, is not physically fast, and due to this, when he makes mistakes he compounds them.

In a slower league, he could possibly shine. He seems ok in international footy.

Why Emery keeps picking him is a mystery, but then as we don't press, may be he looks great in training.
 
What does he actually bring?

Too slow for the prem as you say, especially for the deep lying midfield role. He doesnt win enough tackles or interceptions, his discipline record is appalling (partly due to his lack of pace). He creates very little, scores rarely (despite trying for a wonder goal every game from too far out) and slows down the passing game too often

For a club that has been crying out for a leader on the pitch he was one of the worst possible choices as club captain!
 
I'm not defending xhaka as a footballer.
I'm defending him as a professional doing his best.
I'm saying that the behaviour of the arsenal fans is egregious and that their faux outrage once they'd driven him to a reaction is, frankly, risible.
 
unfortunately for him, he's a bit of a lightening rod for the bad feeling against Emery at the moment. A lot of the fanbase don't think he should be a first choice in the team and when Emery went and made him captain which pretty much makes him a guaranteed starter, it heightened the bad feeling towards him. the ironic cheering when he gets subbed off now is imo just as much a dig at Emery for picking him, the subsequent booing was a result of the way he left the pitch. apparently he's popular with the players so if the club punish him you could upset the dressing room, if they don't and he doesn't apologise then you would imagine the fans will carry on booing him. complete mess either way, think next two league games before international break massive for Emery, don't beat Wolves at home and then get beat comfortably away at Leicester then think they might pull the plug.
 
unfortunately for him, he's a bit of a lightening rod for the bad feeling against Emery at the moment. A lot of the fanbase don't think he should be a first choice in the team and when Emery went and made him captain which pretty much makes him a guaranteed starter, it heightened the bad feeling towards him. the ironic cheering when he gets subbed off now is imo just as much a dig at Emery for picking him, the subsequent booing was a result of the way he left the pitch. apparently he's popular with the players so if the club punish him you could upset the dressing room, if they don't and he doesn't apologise then you would imagine the fans will carry on booing him. complete mess either way, think next two league games before international break massive for Emery, don't beat Wolves at home and then get beat comfortably away at Leicester then think they might pull the plug.


Fair assessment though i dont think theyll even be considering pulling the plug on Emery that quickly, he'll get plenty of time yet I expect
 
not sure they can afford to give him too much time if results carry on as is. they've pretty much gone "all in" on getting champions league next season by spending money they didn't have last summer and buying players on tick. another 3-4 games and you could be looking at an eight point gap to fourth. don't want to be one of these clubs that gets rid of a manger every other year but at what point do you admit you may have picked the wrong man and try again ? hopefully he turns it round but hard to see how at the monent,
 
not sure they can afford to give him too much time if results carry on as is. they've pretty much gone "all in" on getting champions league next season by spending money they didn't have last summer and buying players on tick. another 3-4 games and you could be looking at an eight point gap to fourth. don't want to be one of these clubs that gets rid of a manger every other year but at what point do you admit you may have picked the wrong man and try again ? hopefully he turns it round but hard to see how at the monent,


Just think the way the board operates that they wont make a fast decision (or accept they got it wrong). 4th place is a very long way away with the way the side is being set up currently (theyll do well to finsh top 6 if things arent changed)
 
This is Emery were talking about, there is no clear plan, who knows lol. It seems at the moment he has a prem league XI and a Europe XI, expect tonight you see more of the Europe XI

Something like:

Martinez
Bellerin (c)
Holding
Mustafi
Kolasinac (assuming Tierney now his first choice in the prem)
Torreira
Willock
Maitlin Niles
Emile Smith Rowe
Matrinelli
Lacazette

Likes of Pepe, Guendoozi, Saka, Ceballos, Tierney, Chambers on the bench


Ozil instead of Lacazette :o and Saka instead of ESR (im assuming hes not fit as not in squad)

Wolf knew ;)
 
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