Tough game tonight, don’t think you will see many rested.

Not to be underestimated by any stretch of the imagination

If your a defender dropping clangers every week you shouldn’t be on social media

Also Xhaka blaming social media “hate” being responsible for his crap performances and babyish behaviour is one of the most embarrassing things in the last 20 years at the Arsenal. How dare he doth the armband Tone once wore.

Who isn’t on social media these days? Anyway, continue your behaviour then as I’m sure you and others must be helping their confidence.

I don’t hate anyone on social media. Twitter is a disgusting vehicle used to promote hate, quips, products and abuse. Instagram is a monetisation tool for girls with nice arses. Snapchat is ,,, well I have no clue. What on Earth is the appeal of that thing ? To record crime

It’s all pointless, however if you are anyone in the public spotlight and on there then you better be prepared to get some grief.

Actually that’s where Mustafi is going wrong, his social media policy.

have you seen his mrs. She’s a ten easily. 9.5 at worst

After each cock up rather than posting the usual apology for letting the side down he should post a picture of the Mrs on instagram in some of her sexiest clobber ala the kardashians and bingo! Pretty soon he’s a candidate for the new captaincy, liked by all, and one of the most followed people on Instagram as the superficial parts of this world latch onto it.

No mention of Mari on Sky Sports 'transfer talk' and they seem to be looking into everything.

I think that's one of the problems we've had since Kos/Mert - we've had centre halves but we've never had a proper pairing.

I've always thought that a decent #5 next to a decent #6 defend far better than two outstanding #5s or 6s who don't compliment each other.

Willie Young is a great example. A Sokratis type who whilst not blessed with a great amount of skill was hard as nails and had O'Leary to do his running for him. They complimented each other and that added up to more than the sum of the parts.

Didn't have time to post this yesterday, from the Illustrated Mail yesterday in 1901.

Today's pictures are from 1968 when a visit from the Arsenal merited a pirate programme as well as the official one.

Went up there for that game....1:1 draw I think. Crikey 52 years ago.

The Mari deal appears to be on verge of collapse as he's gone back to Brazil.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.footba ... 636904.amp

I’ve just been sent this quote, allegedly from someone at Flamengo.

'We expect him at Ninho do Urubu this afternoon (to start pre-season). We had agreed to sell him for a fee, he arrived in London, Arsenal changed (the terms). Flamengo is a serious club.'

Seems to be over the difference of us paying €9m now or having him on loan with an option or obligation to buy in the summer.
1) id have thought the fairly fundamental parts of the deal ie: fee or loan would be talked about pretty early on
2) unless there are cash flow problems at either club I don’t see much difference in buy now or loan with obligation to buy.

As you imply it seems a bit odd. But maybe it’s another point that proves something we all should have learned by now. Never, ever assume a player’s signing is secured until there are photos of him holding a club shirt up and smiling on Arsenal.com.

Nketiah starts.

That Xhaka Guendouzi pivot looks concerning

What does it take for ceballos to get a game. What’s the problem there ?

Not fully fit?

Isn’t Ceballos supposed to be asking Real Madrid to cancel his contract with Arsenal and take him back? If so, that could have something to do with it.

Saka what a goal

Sakaaaaaaaaaaaa

Our centre halves have made a shocking start

Seem intent on gifting them a goal

?
Are we watching the same game?

They were diving into the challenge too soon. Sokratis almost got caught twice

Willock has started very well

Seems to know his role and is very direct

That's two perfect 50 yard diagonal passes now - by Mustafi out to Saka on the left. Blimey.

Eddie! Lovely move.

Edddiiiieeeeeeee

Agreed. Looking excellent. But Bournemouth are absolutely terrible.

Credit to Mustafi there. He’s playing very well.

This first 20 odd minutes must be the most perfect we’ve had all season, and for a few seasons possibly. Kept the ball so well, passing, movement and crucially for me there is a clear tactic to have Saka as the spare man wide left and both goals have come that way. This is stuff that is happening on the training pitch actually happening in a game!

Mustafi is looking like a classy ball playing CB full of confidence.

Team playing brilliantly

Bizarre game

Bournemouth look like they wish they never had to play this fixture

Mustafi has been sensational so far.

If he’s not smashed it into his own net then he’s been superb

Wand of a right foot!

Away support chanting his name!

We have the pièce de résistance of underhit pass backs coming up surely folks !

Think they will bring on Callum Wilson at halftime, they have posed zero threat

Saka or Kolasinac ?

Really there’s not much in that. Saka is way better going forward and looks like he could understand the art of defence.

Really good half to see. I said after the second goal the most pleasing part is there is an obvious game plan and tactic of shape and how to move the ball and create the space. The players need to put it in to action but it’s so nice to see a gameplan that our opponents struggle to work out how to stop.
Xhaka in as a left centre back, Saka pushed very high, Harry Wilson on bmouth’s right isn’t the best defensively and hasn’t got a clue of whether to press Xhaka and get passed around easily or sit off him and let him dictate the game.
Some plays straight out of the Pep playbook, overload one side of the pitch, usually the right, ensure the left winger (saka) stays as high and wide as possible and then switch the ball to him once you’ve sucked in enough of their players. Both goals came that way

Listen up Kazkh Boy ....wouldn't it have been a lot quicker to say ... " Gosh Kiwi you really nailed that .....that was such a visionary comment "
...... instead of giving it the Exiled cut and polish .

Struggling to see how Pépé is worth 72 million ; on tonight's performance I'd think Willock is worth more .

Please don't be injured Martinelli