Interesting view from Keown. Trying to emulate Barca is no crime IF you have the money to get the type of player that can pull that off. I think there are other issues regarding Wenger and his lack of success.

https://www.goal.com/en/news/wenger-tri ... 6txnd3rli3

‘Wenger tried too hard to make Arsenal like Barcelona’ – Emery trying to get balance back, says Keown

Glad to see Emery finally getting rid of two players who simply shouldn't be playing for us.

In central defence it would only leave us with Luiz, Sokratis, Holding (when he’s fit again), Chambers (who was rubbish in central defence for Fulham last season), Mavropanos (who was rubbish in central defence for Arsenal when he played last season), and Medley who’s a young kid. Is that strong enough in quality and numbers for a team chasing a top four place in the Premier League and three cup competitions?

Unless I’ve miscalculated the number of games finalists in the three cups have to play (13 in the Europa League, 7 in the League Cup and 6 in the FA Cup), the fewest number of games we will play is 46 (38 in the Premier League, 6 in the Europa League, 1 in the League Cup and 1 in the FA Cup). The most we will have to play (without FA Cup replays) is 64 (38 plus 13 in the Europa League and 7 In the League Cup with the two leg semi-final and 6 in the FA Cup with a one game semi).

Realistically it’s probably going to somewhere between 46 and 64. But it won’t shock me if we reach the final of the Europa League again and the quarter final of both the League and FA Cups. That’s 59 matches (38 + 13 + 4 + 4). I’m not denying that Mustafi can make horrible errors but he can play well. He was easily as good as Holding in the first half of last season. I remain to convinced that it’s good idea to get rid of him now.

All fair points Bern but when your own crowd boo you when you take the field, it's got to be time to go.

....rumours that Özil is sick again.

Love hearing the last part about Lacazette and Aubameyang. I think the fans are a bit more optimistic than we were at the end of last season.

Although I would caution fans at being over optimistic. We have a long way to go...but we seem to be on the right road there.

I didn’t go to the pre-season friendly it happened in. But if it happened, I accept that.

All true, ceteris paribus. But I was assuming they'll remain until the next window and that there will be a sucession plan. I doubt Emery is as slapdash as Wenger in these matters.

Well, everyone deserves something in life. Hope he succeeds in his new endavour. Just don't be a football coach again. His tactics are thuggish.

I could cry tears of joy. That’s such a good dynamic to have at the heart of the club. For all that there is still so much to do, and the ultimate goals of overhauling City and Liverpool or winning a champions league still might be insurmountable, this has the feeling of exactly what we wanted.

Does that mean he deserves a ‘commited’ tackle to ‘let him know you’re there’.

And then to be whined at self-righteously.

Pulis, I am apathetic about somewhat, shading to negative and couldn't care less if he fails. Fat Sam? I want him to suffer, just like how his players didn't seem to care much when our players suffered broken bones. When I love, I love completely, when I hate.....hehehehe

Liked Emery’s comments on mustafi. Total honesty

Wenger would have indulged him far longer. Moving in the right direction

I hope this is not going to be one one of those games where I change the channel in disgust after 20 minutes and we are 3-0 down and I become genuinely curious what tile the hostess will choose for the bathroom on Home & Garden TV.

There is a definite air of excitement after the amazing summer transfer window. However, realistically today has come a bit too soon. A fit and fully integrated Pépé, Tierney, Ceballos and Luiz and we can hopefully give any team a decent game but I would expect us to lose today. I will be happy as long as we show signs that we are not intimidated, cause them problems and are not embarrassed.

Today will be an interesting test for Ceballos. It's a game that a player with his level of technical skill should be shining in.

Now, I am cutting him a bit of slack because its early in the season and he's not full fit and up to speed with the PL but it would be lovely to see him play without fear.

I am in two minds about whether Xhaka should return today. Willock, Ceballos and Guendouzi is an exciting trio, a lovely combination of technical ability and athleticism, but certainly not the most disciplined or experienced midfield I've ever seen.

I wonder of Emery will start Pépé today. Clearly, his pace and trickery could give Liverpools marauding fullbacks something to think about so it might be quite an astute tactical ploy. On the other hand, if he's not quite match fit and isn't able to track back to help out AMN it could be an issue. Big decision.

Hi Soc

I would bring Torreira in rather than Xhaka. Liverpool will start at a ferocious pace and the game could be quite frenetic for a while. I'd favour Torreira over Willock in those circumstances especially with the other two midfielders also being very young.

Morning Socrates. I know what you say is the logical way of looking at today’s game. But I can’t help feeling cautiously optimistic. We are going to have to play well defensively as well as offensively. From what I’ve seen of him on YouTube I found it impossible to judge how good a defender Tierney is, simply because every single clip had him attacking. In domestic matches I don’t suppose Celtic have an awful lot of defending to do, so I can understand that. But Monreal has been a fine defender for a long time now, and I was pleased to see him return to something like his old form against Burnley.

Celtic in their first 2 games of the SPL season won 7-0 and 5-2. Then they came up against the giants of Cluj and conceded 5 goals over 2 legs. Defence rarely seems to be tested and so we won't know about Tierney and his defensive abilities. Until he has played a number of games in the EPL team and other managers get to look for his weakness we don't know if he is good enough. I share your concern of his abilities. Monreal will not be able to play a full season without a rest and so he had better be everything that has been promised.

As for Liverpool game - a good performance is what i hope for.

I heard from a friend in the media that he has 24 hour police protection. It's a really serious situation allegedly. Not sure how that tallies with him training though. I don't know how they got caught up in this gang thing but it's really heavy stuff apparently.

Well that’s sub optimal.

That seems way more than a simple car jacking. Seems like he was targeted. That's crazy.

Chelsea

They’re winning!

Lampard ekes one out.

So far, I'm not impressed by Lamps. Was at 2-2 for a while. Their defense is a leaky bucket. Took them over an hour to get the goal. Hopefully we can finally start dominating them again. Fingers crossed.

C'mon Palace

Gonna miss Nacho
https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/24/nacho-mo ... d-10624249

PS: Hang on Palace!

So Čech was instrumental in Luiz coming go us?
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/footbal ... -Petr-Cech

1 Leno
15 Maitland-Niles
23 David Luiz
5 Papastathopoulos
18 Monreal
29 Guendouzi
34 Xhaka
28 Willock
19 Pépé
14 Aubameyang
8 Ceballos

Substitutes
7 Mkhitaryan
9 Lacazette
11 Torreira
21 Chambers
24 Nelson
26 Martínez
31 Kolasinac

Referee:
Anthony Taylor - will decide who wins and who loses. Hope VAR is working ok we're gonna need it today methinks.

Man Utd

i'm reading Pépé and Dani to start.

MU falter at home. Nice

All the best everyone!

Liverpool come out like a train, pressing us high and fast. Who could possibly see that happening!!?

The diamond midfield is quite risky with Liverpool’s main threat often being their full backs

I mean we didn’t concede after 10 minutes. I think I’m happy.

Nervous stuff this