Not sure what we are all expecting this season at this point.

Watford was bound to score at least once. I don't think we can say with much confidence we can keep a clean sheet against at least 3/4 of the clubs in the league at a bare minimum. That's the state of things, its a known defect we have and until that is sorted, we will just have to live with that fact.

I read some people saying that they view emery as the manager simply tasked with keeping the seat warm whilst we undergo a complete change in playing staff and restructure of the club.
2 of the 3 men who hired emery are no longer at the club. It seems that 90% if transfer business has been taken away from the manager.

Hi Rich, Gazidis is obviously one of the men who hired him. Who is the other one who has left? It’s probably me forgetting who else was in the hierarchy at the time because I very much doubt Mislintat was involved in the appointment. This stuff about Emery keeping the seat warm while the overhaul in playing staff and restructuring takes place sounds to me a bit like ITKs who in reality are really NITKs (not in the know).

I still think the length of Emery’s time in post will be driven by whether Arsenal qualify for next season’s Champions League. If we do, whether through a top four place or winning the Europa League, I reckon he’ll keep his job for 2020/21. If we don’t, I believe Emery will get his P45 and be replaced. I’ll be surprised if that single issue isn’t by far the most decisive factor,

It was Mislantat, Bernard out of the 3. Raul is only one left from that panel. Raul wanted Luis Enrique, not Emery, but ultimately it was Ivan' G's decision as noted from this quote...

"Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career, has developed some of the best young talent in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly," Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said. "His hard-working and passionate approach and his sense of values on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward."

Results in CL today were pretty good. If other clubs fighting for top 4 have to stretch their squad for the group stages all the better for us

Hi Rich, Gazidis is obviously one of the men who hired him. Who is the other one who has left? It’s probably me forgetting who else was in the hierarchy at the time because I very much doubt Mislintat was involved in the appointment. This stuff about Emery keeping the seat warm while the overhaul in playing staff and restructuring takes place sounds to me a bit like ITKs who in reality are really NITKs (not in the know).

I still think the length of Emery’s time in post will be driven by whether Arsenal qualify for next season’s Champions League. If we do, whether through a top four place or winning the Europa League, I reckon he’ll keep his job for 2020/21. If we don’t, I believe Emery will get his P45 and be replaced. I’ll be surprised if that single issue isn’t by far the most decisive factor,

Hi Bernard, I don’t know but I suspect the ‘keeping the seat warm’ wasn’t so much that he was appointed to do that but more that it has turned out that way....as it may have done for any manager coming in to the mess we were and the amount of player churn we needed. That is not to say that emery has helped himself here though

I think Emery who won the Europa cup three times in a row is capable of better than this, as is this squad of players.

The best starts to the season I remember were when we we pre seasoned in Austria. Everyone would tip Arsenal to drop out of the top four and we’d start the season like the proverbial well-oiled machine and by the time the wheels fell off in Feb-March we’d already built a decent points total and had loads of momentum.

Particularly compared to that I think we’re still ridiculously unsettled. Both first choice full backs and arguably a starting or a least supporting CB are out and only now looking to slowly integrate over the next couple of months. Pépé has had no preseason with us at all. Torreria came back so late he’s not been an option. The young players are clearly going to need a lot of support and time and even if they do start well like Willock we know from experience that tends to dry up and they shouldn’t be first choice.

It’s as far away from a fairly settled team with a settled philosophy having a smooth preseason as you could get.

My prediction was that we’d be a bit ropey at points but we’d muddle through at just below par (so on course for 5th/6th I suppose) until Christmas, then after the new year when Pépé’s settled, Holding Bellerin and Tierney have had a few games and Emery decides what we’re doing and we’ve given the young players some Europa experience we’d start to motor as a team. But it’d be too late to be anywhere near the top two and we’d be fourth maybe third depending on how much Chelsea Utd and Spurs struggle. My hope was third.

What I didn’t count on was this interminable *%^@ up and getting the balance of the team and tactics SO badly wrong. You can cope with muddling along and it’s a decent platform to improve. If it all implodes and recriminations start and Xhaka keeps saying we’re scared and we keep playing out from the back we’ll have no platform to kick on in Jan. If the club as a whole (looking at Edu and Sanlehi maybe) can keep their heads we should still make top four.

It feels like the equivalent of a boxer who if he can just survive the first round could go on to win on points.

Also you know when you hear something and you go “Yeah that feels right” Vieira to take over at the end of the season?

Dislike all the calls, okay a few calls, for Mourinho to sort us out.

Agreed, but we want all 4 to qualify for the KO round so they don’t drop in to the Europa League

Ffs get your finger out Emery.

Dislike all the calls, okay a few calls, for Mourinho to sort us out.

If he has to go I'd rather keep it in house.

..also, do we really have a legitimate shot at getting Luis Enrique? Really?

WARRIOR: For the last 3 weeks or so I haven’t been able to connect to this site. Weirdly my phone can access the site. Any ideas how to solve this issue, as I prefer to interact with the site with a laptop. Thanks

Was thinking a 4-2-1-3 seems to be the closest fit for the players we have.

Rich, I really don’t think it has turned out that way yet. People are reacting to and dare I say jumping to conclusions too quickly after a dismal performance at Watford. A few wins and what’s being written will change, I reckon. I really don’t think it’s certain Emery will be sacked. If we qualify for the Champions League I fully expect him to still be in post next season. If we don’t, I think he’ll be gone. I see it as that simple.

Did anyone see the Napoli defeat of Liverpool. Now that's how to play in the Prem and how to win it too.

Not when like in May 2018, he demanded a £200K war chest , as at the time, he was one being considered at first to replace AW. Stan no can do.

Away from home. Not playing well. Fortunate to go 2-0 up.

Then completely lose control and provide opponents gifts as a way back into the game. Subside to 2-2.

Good to see that Tottenham have copied us this evening.

Allegri doesn’t have a job at the moment

Not when like in May 2018, he demanded a £200K war chest , as at the time, he was one being considered at first to replace AW. Stan no can do.

Allegri doesn’t have a job at the moment

Allegri will probably end up at United because they will spend big money. We will get a former player to try and offset the fact we will spend FA.

#KroenkeOUT

Allegri will probably end up at United because they will spend big money. We will get a former player to try and offset the fact we will spend FA.

#KroenkeOUT