I think putting so much on 'winning the league' is wrong. One should be able to enjoy supporting a club even if that club isn't likely to ever win it. Otherwise, it's like thinking the whole point of romance is ejaculation. Might as well just have w&*k or support City ... much the same thing actually.

Still, it must be pretty tough to be a spurs fan.

Quite right, Mcqilkie. One needs to put the past in perspective. It is absurd to overlook City's present plastic horribleness because of grudges against the likes of Liverpool ... who were frankly legitimately good unlike fake City.

What matters is the present... as stated rather well by this often nauseating but also often very funny fellow ...https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2212162822229340

Wonder if some cartoonist will do one showing Özil coming on as a sub with a guard dog on a lead with him, saying this is carrying out security a bit far.

If Peter Storey was still playing, as a teamate, Özil would need no security.

My take on Barnes.
"One of Arsenal’s finest full backs, who in 1943 did not cost a penny signing-on fee. He was known for his anticipation and interceptions, his unflappability and physical power. In his pomp he was as strong and dynamic as any defender might wish to be. He made the game seem as easy as cakes and cream, and even when his knees turned medieval, he drew on his deep knowledge of positioning to retain his high reputation. According to my dad he ‘used his noddle.’ Walley’s parents were born not far from Arsenal Stadium, but because his soldier father was stationed in Brecon on the day of his birth, Walley had a different nationality than the rest of his family. He had the “e” in his Christian name due to a mistake on his birth certificate. Aged four he and rest of his family left Brecon to join his father’s regimental posting in Lebong India. Returning to England in 1928 he didn’t actually go back to Wales until he was twenty-four, and that was to play for Wales against England. Yet he became a renowned captain of his country. Walley only ever saw one top level football match before turning professional himself - Portsmouth v Arsenal in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup - and ironically he was to play for both clubs. Walley was a footballer who glittered when he walked out to play."

The winger on the left for Newcastle was very good. Forgot his name and I will sound like I'm over stating his skill but he seems he could fit into a side today.

Seems we are on the wrong end at times on "special events". I recall (and I'm too lazy to look it up) that the first non English side to win the FA cup (Cardiff I believe) was at our expense. And we are the losing side on the first back to back FA cup winners.

First team to lose a 4-0 lead in a game against said Toon side I think weren't we? I'm open to being corrected. Can't recall if it was a league or cup match.

And didn't Shearer score a hat trick in his debut as a starter in the first team against us? I think he played for Soton at the time but still a Geordie.

What other events were on the wrong side of?

The first team ever to have an idiot American post over 1 million times on a football forum.

My only real memories of him were on Match of the Day and wearing (what seemed to me at the time) a funny hat.

Good on you for being a person who does not hold a grudge and wants to live in the present, but I will hold my grudges and dislikes until it’s all over. F@@k Liverpool, Utd, Spurs and I wish them an unsuccessful season.

I’m with you on this Gaz, although I’d add Chelsea to your list of Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool. If City’s new found wealth stops those four teams winning the league, for me that’s a benefit that comes from it because I don’t see Arsenal under Kroenke stopping them. I’m really not going to get stuffy about how City acquired it and whether it’s fair. If it stops those four from winning stuff, good!

We will see Luiz and Pépé today surely.

Wonder what the line up will be

Great pictures of Edu walking to the game in his suit (looking sharp) across ken friar bridge and mixing with the fans. Absolute PR masterclass and riding the crest of the positive feeling after the transfer window

Van Persie just lied on BT sport and said Arsenal never offered him a new deal so that’s why he left. Total bollocks that Arsenal wouldn’t offer a new deal to a player who scored 41 in all competitions.

Of course they didn’t pull him up on it

Cellabos, Luiz and Lacazette all start. Willock and Nelson keep their places

According to Sky the team is:

Team to play Burnley: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Sokratis, Monreal, Guendouzi, Nelson, Willock, Ceballos, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Subs: Martinez, Mkhitaryan, Torreira, Pépé, Chambers, Kolasinac, Martinelli

A few surprises for me. This will be a bloody tough game I think. I pwrsonally would have Torreira on the field to start.

When everyone is fit there is some strength in depth, players not in the squad today, Bellerin, Tierney, Özil, mustafi, Holding, Xhaka, Smith-rowe, saka

The commentator said we haven't won our first 2 league matches in 10 years. Amazingly sad stat.

Good seeing Arsenal legend Freddie on the bench with the coaching staff.

Lacazette!!!!! 1-0

So even if the league turns into a procession year after year you won't mind so long as Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea and United don't win?

I'd rather see a good scrap between two or more of those, even if Arsenal are out of the mix, thanks.

Some player name shortcuts:

According to the commentator Guendouzi hasn't scored for us yet.

1 all ...

Saw that coming ...

I'm going to put that error on Luiz. Good game up to that point but he didn't cover Barnes.

uuuuhhhhhgggrrggghhh!! Getting a bit pissed off with how many times they're in slightly late in the challenge and Dicksplat with the whistle plays on and forgets the sheer volume of niggly fouls from the *%^@ kickers. We need to show some steel in midfield and stop dropping off. We still win this in my mind.

Kind of typical arsenal. Lots of the ball not enough cut and thrust and give away a cheap goal with far too much space on a counter attack.

Ref needs to get hold of all the law kicks, it’s fine that in most of them he has played the correct advantage to us, but he won’t register those as fouls and book players for accumulation. Burnley are the masters or the needless late kick.

Cellabos has looked good. Aubameyang wide nullifies so much of his game.

Var correctly rules out a Nelson goal but there was an earlier one that sent Monreal away with two up for support that was very tight. I thought the idea with var was that linos let it go if it’s toght and let var deal with it.

We scored early and then played fu@@en tippy tappy. Leno looked totally out of his class every time there was a corner and we tried to be too clever time in our own half all the time. Hardly any long balls where we were able to make them struggle.

I am more than a little pissed off with that half of football because we failed to try and break quickly instead being happy to square the ball or play it back. Too often our forward players were taking the ball with their back to the goal.

I didn't think there were any bad players on the field but I really liked the effort from Ceballos and Guendouzi. our central defence have struggled with the high ball.

I’m not sure Sokratis and Luiz is going to be a good pair.

I think you might need some younger legs from Chambers or Holding alongside one of them as they can react to danger better.

We have to find a way to sort our defence. Every cross, corner, long ball is causing us all sort of issues both individually and collectively.

Leno has to be more commanding as well. To many half-hearted punches.

Time for Pépé I think. We need to get goals because Burnley look like they could score another easily.

Less fannying around please

Pépé on for RN

Ceballos for Aaron Ramsey is an upgrade

I would agree with you, but there's a question there about goals scored

AMN needs to a bit better decision making and a bit more sense of urgency in dangerous positions near the box.

..but to be fair, he needs games under his belt and will get better as he gets more experience.

Aubameyang so close!

Ramsey May score more but based on Ceballos combination play I’d suggest Ceballos will create way more.