Me too. A club of Arsenal's size is a big ask for anyone taking their first job as a head coach. But the state Wenger left us in would make it a challenge for anyone with significant experience too.

Also, does Arteta have the right character for the immediate post-Wenger period at Arsenal? Even as club captain he never struck me as that forceful. Arguably a little meek and mild, or passive. At this precise stage of Arsenal's history, I think that may not be the pesonality type the club requires in its head coach.

Look, Arteta may one day be a terrific head coach. But at this stage of his managerial career, I remain to be convinced that he was a good fit with what Arsenal currently need. If you like, he and the club struck me as two jigsaw puzzle pieces that don't go next to each other, so don't slot into place together.

Babu, are you sure you weren't in the Director's box, eating your prawn sandwiches and berating the waiter for bringing you a 1977 Burgundy vintage when you explicitly requested the 1990 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru?

I had a client years ago in Los Angeles who gave me VIP tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers game. It was the worst. I was in an enclosed box, had to watch the game on the TV in the VIP room because I couldn't really see the court.

As for Arteta, when he was being touted as a possible replacement for Wenger there were a couple articles about how much Pep rated him and he would make suggestions to Pep that changed matches (from the bad to good for the pedants ) and then recently how he is not upset about losing the job. Like many others, at the time, I wondered what he done to be considered for the manager's job other than he was a former captain and Pep chose him as an assistant.

The Gazidis departure and announcements about the new structure. Totally uninspiring and that ridiculous photo of him with the replacements looked pathetic

If ever you needed a reminder the club is going nowhere under Kroenke.

Emery is basically a sacrificial bunny.

Lisbon, Portugal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1 ... 9_Alvalade

Guardiola's first job was managing Barcelona. Seemed to do ok.

Barcelona already had Messi, Iniesta and Xavi on their books. Do you think taking over Barcelona is comparable to taking over the post-Wenger Arsenal? Moreover, do you seriously think Arteta is comparable to Guardiola?

What has happened to Exiled? Bernard do you know? You used to meet up at bar 101, seen him lately?

I was only 1.5 out on my predicted 11. Giving myself the half for hedging by bets between Aubameyang and Lacazette to start up top. Only other one wrong I had Xhaka and Emery has gone with Elneny.

Leno, Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, holding, Monreal, elneny, Torreira, iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck, Aubameyang

First starts for 3 of them

Smith-rowe and Nketiah make the bench

Indeed, what does it say about Arsenal, that Gazidis wants out to an AC Milan that have be stagnating for years and sound like they will (also) be hamstrung financially by their owner(s)?.

I actually think he did a reasonable job, given that constraints the club were (are) put under by the wiggy f*cker and his favouritism toward Wenger's bs 'moneyball' model.

A half empty Emirates in a crap Eurovision league game against a team no one has ever heard of...... kind of sums up a Arsenal under Kroenke, oh well at least it saves me money and there is no sign of that changing, I won't be lining that crooks pockets.

Initial observation is Torreira is dictating everything

Full game. Attack v 11 man defence. Not testing the gk with any kind of shot. Seen this a few times

Aubameyang 1-0. That’s how you counter attack.
Edge of our own box, Mkhitaryan travelled with it, quick ball to iwobi on the left, early ball across the box to Aubameyang on the back post clinical finish

I’m pretty sure Torreira just tried to make a tackle with a diving header along the turf.

Sokratis has impressed me

Aubameyang hits the post just before half time

Not easy against a mass defence, but a good counter attacking goal has eased the pressure and I'm looking for a couple more after the break.

Arsenal should get a couple more goals in the 2nd half. Good to see fast counter attacking play. Aubameyang is warmed up for more goals.

I agree about Sokratis. He has impressed me too.

Welbeck 2-0. Mkhitaryan cross. Iwobi involves again, most good things coming through iwobi in some form

Nice work all around there. Good header from Welbeck

Anyone that thought Sokratis was going to be a slow lump can breathe easy. The guy has a turn of pace. So he might not keep up with the absolute flyers, not many can, but he’s a lot quicker than you think

Aubameyang 3-0. 25 yards bent in to the corner. How easy does he make that look? Such a natural finisher

Aubameyang and Torreira get a rest. Özil and guendouzi on.
Would like to see smith-Rowe get some minutes

Aubameyang!! 3-0

Smith-Rowe coming on for Iwobi. Motm today for Iwobi

4-0 Özil. Fairly poor defending

Oh well still no clean sheet. Even against part timers

Can't even keep a clean sheet against a dad noise from Ukraine. Come on Arsenal.

Too easy

Annoyingly sloppy at the end 4-2 having been 4-0 up.

Emery should be furious at the team for switching off at 4-0. Ridiculous that we only ended up 2 ahead. We were so far better than them.

There is a big difference between conserving energy to see out a game and switching off and not being professional.

Standards need to be set that weren’t set under wenger

It's been an Arsenal trait though hasn't it to not close out matches in good order. To get too lax.

Agreed ... I only saw from the 67th minute so didn't get the buzz live of our first three goals but I hate this goddamn superior 'stroll in the park routine

.. play little triangles that crept in the last ten minutes ... Smith Rowe ,Guendouzi aside

You don't have to bust a gut but at least pass it forward , try and create something and their late goal exemplified how stupid that attitude is .

He gave up his season ticket so doesn't go now. Not seen him but I got the impression from a mutual friend that he's okay.

Emery needs to look at how we conceded the goals, and work on improving these. No Xhaka on the pitch to blame for it, so who is/were the midfielder/s who failed to track back? My first suspicion is Mkhitaryan. I think we have not had a single clean sheet since the start of competitive season.

We seemed to lose focus after Torriera went off, surely he has to start against Everton.

Was impressed with what I saw of Smith-Rowe, looks very promising indeed.

Leno good with his feet yesterday. Not sure how much chance he had with either goal. They were maybe 1/10 saves

Torreira has to start v Everton. Play him alongside Xhaka, Torreira’s hustle and defensive cover can release Xhaka to dictate play

Good news Bernard, thanks.

Don't be such a spoilsport. Xhaka can surely be blamed for both of their goals. It seems over fussy to point out that he wasn't on the pitch.

No one knows how good he is as he has never had a manager's job. I merely saying he could well be a good manager. I don't think it is far fetched to consider him for the Arsenal job.

Some good individual performances last night despite the team switching off for the last 20 mins.
Very encouraged from what I’ve seen of Sokratis. Times his tackles well, muscles players out of it, decent turn of pace and not too bad with the ball at his feet. For £20m it is looking so far like a very good deal.

Torriera is very likeable, always looking forward, not scared to try a longer chipped ball in to space, technique is sound and rarely out of position. He’s going to nail a first 11 spot pretty soon

Iwobi looked very lively, motm for me as everything decent we did had him involved. Still needs to improve that final pass or shot but I liked his willingness to drive and take on the full back. Still only 22

There still needs to be additions to the squad, some genuine width would be good and the team still had a tendency to play too slow in the first half.