It is easy to get carried away with the kids, as I know from past experiences with the likes of Miyaichi and Wellington.

Willock looks ready, Nelson will probably get some minutes here and there as a back-up but I'm not sure Martinelli will get much of a look-in this season barring perhaps some minutes in the Europa League or cups.

Agree completely. I don't have a problem with the fans venting their frustration, but thought both the timing and the message was weird. To complain about how nothing changes when we're right in the middle of the biggest re-organization the club has seen in decades just comes off as strange to me, and the notion that they are responsible for the club signing Pépé is laughable actually.

Hi Haz, yes it is definitely easy to get too excited by young players.
My slight worry for Nelson is he’s primary position is the same as Pépé. I think if Nelson was a left winger he might get more of a chance especially given Iwobi has gone.
My hope for the players like Nelson, Saka and Martinelli is although they are young I would feel a bit more excited about them coming off the bench for the last 15 minutes of a game we desperately need a goal in as opposed to Mkhitaryan. Mkhi is consistently average for us, those young players are more likely to have a 3/10 impact sub game or a 9/10 impact sub game. That is the sort of risk I’d rather take if we’re chasing a game than bringing on a 6/10 Mkhi

I think even this is too much to ask of them at this point, and I think Mkhitaryan is a lot better than he's given credit for. Very inconsistent, and can waste attacks by missing very simple passes at times, but he creates a lot of chances. 6 goals and 4 assists in 19 starts is decent return for what is essentially a squad player. To be honest, I think his biggest problem is his wage.

Here you go, TG. 2nd highest net spend in the league behind the bizarre carry-on at Villa.

Me too, but it don't expect them to gel immediately. We will have a couple hiccup matches before it happens. We are still a work in progress.

It turned out to be a spectacular transfer window for us. Some contrast to how most of us felt at the end of last season. For me, the biggest risk is Pépé. He is instantly the star of the team and might need time to find his feet. I'm very happy with Luiz. Yes he makes silly errors and can be lazy-minded but he is exceptionally talented and is a big big personality - something we lack. As it happens, I suspect Tierney will end up being the best transfer of the summer for us.

How is Spurs only £70 odd million, ndombele was £55-60m, lo Celso was meant to be £55-60m and the lad from Leeds for £10-12m

I find it strange that so many journalists are lining up to say that they are really unsure of Luiz signing for us. They note that it is a good price but also that he is mistake ridden and will cost us.
The reason it is strange is when I read season reviews of Chelsea last year or even season previews of Chelsea this year I didn’t read a peep about Luiz being a liability in chelsea’s Defence and how they were going to struggle because they couldn’t sign anyone to replace him

Well that was all pretty positive, wasn't it?

Shame about Iwobi. It's always sad to see a home-grown player leave but realistically, we can't be too critical of a £35m price-tag given that he never really kicked on they way we all hoped. That's good business.

If I'm being critical, I'd say we haven't addressed the need for defensive shielding in midfield. I know we have Torreira but after a bright start, he disappointed. He finished the season like a little lost schoolboy.

Luiz is better than we've got. Sure he makes mistakes but so do all the rest. He still improves us and he has character. I'm really looking forward to liking him.

I don't know too much about the others so I'll reserve judgement, but I am really optimistic. We're turning into Emery's team with Emery's players and I'm really looking forward to seeing us play the Emery way. I really think he has a plan.

Lastly, there's still plenty of time to offload some deadwood. Nobody in the PL was ever going to take Elneny, Mkhitaryan or Mustafi but there may still be realistic options abroad. And Özil to DC United??? I can only hope.

Luiz could be deployed there. Arguably he is a better defensive midfielder than CB.

That table is on Sky sports. Looks like they never updated it for the Lo Celso signing.

That would be arguable Gunfire. From my recollection, Luiz only played a few games as a DM so the evidence would be pretty thin.

There'd probably be more evidence for using Chambers in that role.

Wasn't Lo Celso a loan with an option to buy next year?

Will be interesting if they can maintain the intensity from the last few seasons. they have generally been reasonably stable in squad players and you start to wonder if in fact they can maintain it for another year and still believe their manager, not having won any trophies.

According to this article a number of players are in doubt for the Newcastle game including Lacazette (he may still be fit), Smith-Rowe and Pépé. Some injuries or not ready to play.
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/ ... e-16727138

No mention is made of Tierney so I assume he must be available to play. I looked on the official site as well and he is not mentioned while all the others are.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/team-news-lacazette-pepe-bellerin-holding

This is probably as reliable as anything Gaz - not that it's particularly helpful.

As I understand things, Tierney is some weeks away from fitness. Luiz and Caballos should both be available though.

By the time I wake in the morning the season will have already commenced. I am not getting up at 5am to watch Liverpool and Norwich. Go Norwich

Implies Tierney could be in full training in four to six weeks. I would not bet on him being in the first team before the end of September.

The thing about Torreira that gets missed that winds me up is that he was very good until we switched formation and played 3 at the back.

Everyone always misses this, because of the Holding and Bellerin injuries we started playing 3 central defenders and it meant asking him to play further forward and be more creative. I really don’t think that’s his strength. He’s a destroyer and simply wants to sit in front of the defence breaking up play, yes he has a good range of passing and can drive forward but it was patently obvious that the new formation doesn’t get the best out of him or Özil

This is very close to the first 11 I’d be interested in seeing apart from I’d swap Luiz for Holding when fit and I’d pretty much rotate Luiz and sokratis. This means we haven’t got 2 thirty year old defenders and Holding can do some of their running for them. I can’t see Mustafi getting a look in this year.

This leaves Xhaka, Özil and Mhikitaryan benched and as back up.

I think what will actually happen is there will be a lot of rotation with Emery rotating his strikers and only playing them together now and then meaning Özil gets games.

On the predictions for the year it’s early doors but I’ll call it and say I think we will make the top 4. Man united and chelsea are there for the takings at the moment and if we can integrate our new signings we can do well.

I wasn't looking forward to the start of the season. Now, I'm a bit more interested. I'm also doing my annual "holding my breath until City and Liverpool [insert the current top sides] lose'.

I'm going to prefer City over Liverpool for the title for a few reasons I won't go into. Not a big deal if Liverpool wins it but if one of them has to, let it be 'Citeh' I guess.

If I had my way, Tottenham would fall out of the top 4 along with Man Utd.

https://theprideoflondon.com/2019/01/14 ... ield-base/

A good sum of Luiz and his ability as a DM. Makes sense to me from what I have seen of Luiz.

One of the annoying things about being obsessed with Arsenal and football at large is that my American friends who don't follow the sport will tell me well known public news about Arsenal as if its going to be new to me. Its nice and being a friend but really, its like saying to a Los Angeles Lakers fans, "Hey did you hear LeBron James is coming to the Lakers?" Or telling a Brit "Hey did you hear Boris Johnson is Prime Minister" It's like 'duh'.

I get the sentiment but really? Especially if its news I don't feel like re-living. "They AG, Arsenal lost to Tottenham yesterday" Really? That's conversation? And I've gotten a few of those.

Can understand the clamour to get rid of Mustafi but,we only have 3 first choice centre halves, Sok, Luiz and Chambers if you don't count him, Mavro is not thought to be good enough, Holding won't be available for several weeks Medley is no where near ready so although he's a mistake waiting to happen, we really can't lose him .
Also it's a pity we couldn't find a short term rightback, although Ainsl tries his best he struggles there.

Ah I see I hadn’t realised that. So does our total include the full £72m for Pépé and the full £25m for Saliba?

Moreover, Chambers was good in midfield but appalling in central defence for Fulham last season. I’m not at all sure he’s any better than Mustafi in defence. I agree that Mustafi probably couldn’t be unloaded because of our lack of numbers in central defence.

Believe me if we get an offer for Mustafi we will sell. He’s central defender number 5 and not needed because he’s a liability

Monreal is also being linked to sociaded today as we can still sell overseas after the window

A few fans were saying on twitter that the cash the club have actually spent itself this summer is around the 45 million budget being quoted after the deductions. The rest is on instalments.

Fans are hailing Raul Sanelhi for the acquisitions and I agree in a footballing sense they are all good buys on paper but is the club just loading itself with debt to get talent into the team. For example we only paid 22 million of Pepes fee up front.

I know most transfers were always paid on instalments but I always thought the bulk of it 50% plus was paid up front by Arsenal. I guess what I’m saying is the new day and celebrations some of our fans are jubilating about maybe not an increased transfer spend just loading up debt.

Club bulletin on Tierney: "Groin. Will continue to receive treatment and assessments. Hoping to integrate into full training in 4-6 weeks."

Sounds like late September or even October before we see him. Bellerin sounds like he's a month behind Tierney.

Going to be quite a while before we see our new defence.

#AFC statement: "Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac will not be part of the squad for our opening match against Newcastle United following further security incidents which are being investigated by the police."

Seriously wtf ! The line up v Newcastle will be all over the place

Bizarre.

I’m old enough to remember a time when squads started the season fit and raring to go.

Now it seems as if players are already crocked, or tired from playing during the league break. This one is a newbie though.

Conflicting reports apparently on Tierney's injury time. Lennon states about 2 weeks only.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.footba ... 730787.amp

Or it could just be that the £45m figure was taken as fact at the start of the summer and used as a stick to beat the club with. Rather than admit they were wrong could it just be that people are now coming up with various ways to make a £45m figure fit. We spent a lot of money. It was needed. Now it's up to the players and management to make it work.

It is very odd indeed and maybe there is something a bit more sinister behind it. You couldn't see the club inventing a security threat just to justify squad selection.

No way, that would ridiculous.

Don’t rule out it being Özil using it to pull a sickie though !

Just weird.

I doubt it. I'd say it's advice from the plod.

Liverpool starting off with a bang. Not gonna watch any more of this massacre. With what we are fielding at Newcastle, I'll predict a draw as of now. 0-0 or 1-1.

Well no. Apparently there was a recent incident or two since that attempted car jacking 2 weeks ago. Just saying.