First 6
City (H)
Chelsea (A)
West Ham (H)
Cardiff (A)
Newcastle (A)
Everton (H)

Last 6
Everton (A)
Watford (A)
Palace (H)
Leicester (A)
Brighton (H)
Burnley (A)

Not the start we were looking for. However if we get good results in those difficult first games it will build a lot of confidence going forward.

Later in the draw we get Spurs Man U on consecutive games twice. The first only 3 days apart. I still expect we will wrap up the title when we beat Palace at home.

But if we win both those games...................

Just why are you clapping?

Man City first came could turn out to be a fantastic bonus. Emery will have been working with a good number of our squad and should be in a better position that Pep. Was it the last World Cup where we lost a few players in the early games and suffered because of it?

Think positive if we beat Man City it will be excellent there first 6 games are all relatively easy.

So, City and Chelsea back to back and in December Tottenham and Man Utd 4 days apart.

That's a good point. City have 16 players at the World Cup, and most of our big stars will not be there. Might give us an edge.

How can spurs be allowed to play their first home game at Wembley and then the remainder of their home games ta their new stadium? Fulham get to play them at Wembley and everyone else at the new stadium because they haven’t finished building it on time.

If we are in the run in for a top 4 place or heaven forbid a title run...lol..we have a decent schedule for the last half a dozen matches.

I'd like to ask the same question.

Do you think?
Last 6
Everton (A)
Watford (A)
Palace (H)
Leicester (A)
Brighton (H)
Burnley (A)
4 of 6 away from home and all 4 to established prem sides. Ok none of the top 6 but we’re away to the 3 next best teams in the league and Watford

.
I think Man City first up is brilliant ...now it could turn to cack a loss at home under our new man would put a dampener on proceedings BUT with the new buzz that's around the Emirates at the moment I dont think that will happen , Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan finding their feet plus the existing squad will be out to impress the new man .

We'll win 3 - 1 then with this new found confidence we go on to sort out Chelsea next up .

Six points and two of the big hurdles negotiated ...couldn't be better .

Hopefully the Wenger type bollocks of wrapping any returning World Cuppers in cotton wool for six weeks wont happen either .

I think it is symbolic - he once got the clap from a dodgy Russian woman.

We have absolutely nothing to lose from this draw. Last season we lost 2 of the first 3 (Stoke 1-0, Liverpool 4-0). We pick up points all is going well - we lose then we know Emery has still got a lot of work ahead of him. I am looking forward to the new season, a feeling I haven't enjoyed for at least 10 seasons.

And the World Cup starts with a big bang ............. Russia were clinical. They wasted no time to impose their will.

Saudi Arabia seemed to be coached by Wenger. Zero shots on target all through the match. And lots of passing around. Had a higher share of the possession, but no end result.

Week after is Chelsea away so a baptism of fire for our new manager but have complete faith that he'll be prepared rather than swanning into a new season making all sorts of excuses for players before they even lace their boots.

Tiny bloke next to El nenny in midfield is ferocious. Physically makes El Nenny look huge. Effort wise making him look lazy and slow.

With all due respect it was Saudi Arabia and for a fair old while Russia were a bloody mess as well.

Early days but Cavani repeating the same from the last world cup. Interesting tidbit from Schwartzer in the the aus commentary yesterday and he was saying that previous England squad players were telling him they were dreading being in camp and would have preferred to have been on holidays. Explains a lot and if Southgate has their attitude right then the young England squad may be up for it.

First glimpse of Torreira as he came on for Uruguay 3 mins from the end.

First impression is that he’s a midget. Second impression was the same.

Yep he's 5'6" or something. Although Kante is also technically in the midget category.

Kante has been the best midfielder in the EPL for the last 3 seasons - still pisses me off that he went for the same amount we paid for Xhaka.

Torreira didn’t have very long but size apart, he doesn’t look like another Kante. Hope I’m wrong.

Point taken. Except Everton and Leicester away the others beatable. I think last year was due to Wenger not having the team perform. I expect with a title or top 4 finish on the line, the squad will win 4 or 5 of those matches, the other 1 or 2 draws.

Saudia Arabia has never been world beaters internationally. They get in by playing smaller mid east countries with no talent. Saudi Arabia also has a population of African descent which adds some athelticsim to their squad the other mid east countries don't have. Getting past Oman, Kuwait, UAE, Baharain isn't much of a problem. Iran and to some extent Iraq can pose problems but they don't have to do much to get there.

Throw in playing the host country with the eyes of the world on you and its a recipe for a disastrous start.

I often wonder if any middle eastern country would boycott a match if Israel got in and they have to play each other?

He looks like a malnourished rat.

Thanks for sharing.

First real quality of the World Cup a cracker so far Portugal-Spain. Spanish dominant now with a great equaliser from Diego Costa.

Spain 3-2 up now and looking sensational. The scoreline flatters the Portuguese.

Wow. Ronaldo 3-3. What a great game.

It was all a bit mad. Soft peno. Foul by Costa for the first equaliser. The shot off the bar and the line and then the Portuguese defender's hand. Absolute howler from DeGea. Glorious volley by Koke. Dive by Ronaldo for the free kick and a superb strike, although I would question DeGea's positioning of the wall. And why oh why take Costa off?

A bit mad true but some glorious football by the Spanish. They look like serious contenders to me even though it was just the first game. A lot of fun and a great watch anyway.

Oh ya. Highly entertaining. I rated Spain as favourites before the tournament. I'd be less than convinced now. They played some lovely stuff but were wide open to counter attacks.

Only 4 games in, but there have been some cracking goals already.

This just shows you know *%^@ all about the Asian qualifying games. I would love to see the US turn up in some of these places in 45 degree temperatures with dodgy refs just like Australia do . Total cockhead

I am most impressed with Isco. His work rate is fantastic. 3-3 flatters Portugal. Early days though.

Hmm..not Özil, which actually makes some sense if I had to choose between the two.

https://www.90min.com/posts/6067276-una ... ref=1.html

Sadly I didn't bother watching the last quarter of an hour or so, as I had something more interesting to do like watching paint dry. Hence I missed Torreira. Uruguay looked very poor. Why didn't he start the game? Hopefully his being on the bench is explained by him not being 100% fit. Because if the reason was their coach not considering a fully fit Torreira to be good enough to be a starter, from what I saw of the Uruguay midfield I'm a little concerned.

Remember when the French side used to be stacked with our players. Hope Emery can return us to a position of strength. Not enough arsenal players at this World Cup.

Aussies about to start matches in 3 different sports. To the forum Aussies, good luck in the World Cup, hope you lose the cricket, and I'm neutral for the rugby.

I presume you weren't impressed with Xhaka getting a new contract? Talking of new contracts, Tottenham did very well in getting Kane to sign a six year one. Even if he leaves before it's up, it surely guarantees them a huge transfer fee.