For me when everyone is fit my starting eleven would be Leno, Bellerin, Tierney, Luiz, Sokratis, Torreira, Guendouzi, Cellabos, Pépé, Aubameyang, Lacazette.

If we were playing a top side away I could understand an argument for dropping Lacazette for Xhaka to make midfield more solid and still leave us with Pépé and Aubameyang for quick breaks when we need pace. Cellabos gets in on his performance yesterday. The hard part for him is keeping it up. If he doesn’t I reserve the right to change my selection in a few weeks. I’m not even writing Özil off yet to replace him.

But I think the squad is really strong. From players not in my starting eleven above, the squad includes Martinez, Maitland-Niles, Monreal, Kolasinac, Holding, Chambers, Mustafi, Özil, Xhaka, Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Willock, Nelson, Martinelli. That’s one hell of a squad.

I admit I haven’t seen much of Martinez. I’ll be happily surprised if he is at Čech’s level last season, but let’s hope. Elneny may still leave, and I don’t think that will weaken us. Mustafi might also go, but he’s always struck me as having a good attitude (he went to the game yesterday to support us) and if he stays, then I’ve no problem with it.

This is what it invokes for me. The catchphrase seems apt.
https://www.cerebos.co.za/

I agree about Guendouzi and Ceballos. They are looking like they form a very good combination. The person who plays near them needs to step up because I suspect teams will be trying to mark both these players to slow us. Willock did okay the other day. The problem is getting the ball to them in a timely manner and before the attacking team can get back into position. We look too vulnerable when we continually role the ball out to our fullbacks who frankly struggle.

Before each season as you all know, the league is listed in alphabetical order and ever since I've started watching the PL, Arsenal are always at the top. Has there been another club in the top flight was listed before us? I thought of Accrington Stanley but when I looked in wiki they don't seem to have been in the top flight unless I missed something.

Slowly but surely, football is creeping into mainstream America.
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/og9l/captain-mo ... ited-chant

After 19 prem games this season is it surprising that not a single penalty has been given for holding at set pieces? We have VAR for this, and we saw the impact at the World Cup on penalties given for holding.

Do we believe all defenders have instantly and successfully changed the way they mark at set pieces so there is no holding?

This is going to be my biggest frustration with VAR this year. It’s not in VAR interpreting odd rules when it is called on, that’s the rules fault, but there will be wild inconsistencies in terms of what is reviewed and what isn’t.

Yeah. That works

Speaking of understated performances, I think Monreal has started this season very well with two really good performances. He has looked like his old self out there, and maybe reports of his demise as a top class full back were a bit premature.

Morning Bernard,

That would be my team as well, with the caveat that you have mentioned regarding Ceballos. Despite his stunning performance on Saturday he's not played enough games for us, especially away from home or against top quality opposition, to really judge.

I like the dynamics of a Torreira, Guendouzi, Ceballos midfield trio but it remains to be seen if it works well in practice.

I think the phrase "Rome wasn't built in a day" is quite apt for us at the moment.

We've made some really exciting signings that appear to address problem areas and once everyone is fit and fully integrated we should see a move to a different level.

CBs is the one area that still needs addressing. Luiz could be an ideal short term fix but I think its the one part of the team that will continue to be exposed. Maybe Saliba will be the answer next year but he will still only be 19 so it would be a huge ask. If we can find one other top quality youngish CB then I think we will potentially have a really good side.

Of course keeping Ceballos if he has a great season will be a big issue and perhaps an impossible task.

Blimey Decaf - Cerebos is truly a blast from the past.

Cerebos salt was part of my childhood though I haven't seen it in the UK for years. My nan had a chicken (called Fanny!) and I remember trying to shake salt on its tail, as the child shown on the tin was doing.

All poncey Maldon salt now. And pink Himalayan.

We have pink salt. No idea where it comes from though.

Cerebos salt - "It makes Richer Blood, Stronger Nerves"

Salt for heroes.

Waitrose Bern

That’s correct. The Welwyn Garden City branch. Apparently the country of origin is Himalaya.

We still have it here. The Cerebos plant is fairly near where we live. There are often flamingos on the evaporating pools.

Love these old brands and their tag lines and images. Cerebos used used to make bisto too.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-south ... 85848.html

I'd bite off someone's hand for a draw at Anfield right now. I'm just hoping we show some spirit and fight.

"Out of the strong came forth sweetness"

Buggered if I could ever figure out what that quote had to do with Golden Syrup or a fly-blown lion!

Samson’s riddle from the book of Judges

He killed a lion - some bees made a hive in the carcass.

Since we are only 2 matches into the season I hadn't looked at the table but just took a peek and didn't know we are tied for first. Battle for the top of the table commences Saturday.

Check out Reuben Neves strike against Utd.

I didn’t watch it but good news that Manchester United dropped two points tonight.

Yep, Pogba missed a pen (or had it saved) at 1-1!

Neves strike is a beaut though. Somehow hits the bar twice.

Just watching an interesting news report about an englishman described as Prince Andrew and a Jeffrey Epstein, who appears to have been a good friend. Interesting video of the said Prince Andrew peering out of doorway. The implication of the report seemed to be that a rather young woman/girl was leaving the residence with the said Epstein.

Very fortunate that the said Epstein is now dead and will never be able to tell us what happened. Might also have been able to tell people something about an apparent friend of Andrews called Virginia Roberts.

He was meeting with Epstein 2 years after his first conviction.

Whilst it will never likely be proven now his behaviour is obvious and damning. If it looks like a duck and quacks like one it’s a duck.

Lizards everywhere

Not a good look. just another person who just happened to be in the wrong place or.....

I had seen nothing of this in the Australian media until today. Not that I have much love or interest for the royal family. They come and visit us and think they are doing us a favour but it costs taxpayers millions of dollars in everything from security to hosting functions.

Importantly we have spurs, Man U and Chelsea all dropping points so far. I can still see us losing to Liverpool so expect us on 6 points after 3 games. Man U and spurs could go to 7 points. Psychologically I think it is important even at this early stage to stay in touch with top 4 rivals.

Or we win at Pool and one of worst defences in Arsenal history goes on for an undefeated season. dream the dream...

Easy to forget that as good as AMN and Monreal have started the season that we’re still missing our first choice full backs. Emery places a lot of his game plan on his full backs.
I’d certainly like to be facing Liverpool without their first choice full backs!

Well, the defence is better than Liverpool’s or City’s so far this season....

If we could somehow get a smash and grab victory at Anfield that would really wake a few people up to what we could achieve. I just hope we perform somewhere close to what we can, then if Liverpool are better fair enough. Last season there was awful, getting the early goal and within 5 minutes just mentally crumbling to be behind, and the complete parting of the defence for one of Firminho’s goals and two brain fades to give away two penalties!

It's a biblical riddle. Its exact meaning caused quite a bit of angst for the protagonist too.
Judges 14:14 or thereabout.

This one is lovely

Bisto is so called because it "Browns, Seasons and Thickens in One".

My dad worked for Tate and Lyle for 40 years. That is a really class label. One of the best.
"Stronger than a lion, and sweeter than honey" indeed.

I'd never heard of Bisto, actually, Decaf - other than as one of Cannon Balls' many adversaries on the forum.

The Daily Mail is saying Mustafi could be going to Roma on loan, with an option to buy next summer for £23m. The Sun is running the same story.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailym ... -deal.html

With Koscielny already gone, if it happens (which I realise isn’t guaranteed) we do look light in central defence this season. Luiz, Sokratis and Holding when he gets fit will all have to be rested at points, surely. Monreal has played there but in my view has been a left back throughout his career for a good reason. Namely, he’s miles better at left back. Chambers was terrible in central defence for Fulham last season, although was semi-decent at Newcastle in the first game. Mavropanos was so poor in his infrequent games last season. Medley looked much better, but is so young can much be expected of him this season?

Presumably Saliba will be in the mix next season, albeit somewhat young and raw.

He will be. But we need to get in the top four or win the Europa League this season.

Apparently Epstein cremated himself while the medical examiner was on a lunch break.

Very true. Kind of frustrating. As it stands right now he arrives as Ceballos departs.

I originally thought it was not a big deal when he apparently suicided. But then the more I read the more I moved to question the whole thing.

Yes ... But I recall that bizarrely no one but Cannon could 'see' Bisto's post. Either a figment of Cannon' imagination ... or possibly someone he had argued with on another forum, the pub, in the pension queue, while wondering around looking for Highbury, etc ...