I'm not sure it is any kind of knee-jerk reaction, though, Bernard.

I began to have serious reservations about Emery months ago, mainly due to his team selections, negative tactics, the general way we approached games and the lack of any real style or identity to our play. The dismal run at the end of last season given a relatively friendly fixture list just compounded those earlier reservations. Obviously the players were very much to blame as well but I think the buck stops with the manager when you fail so miserably in those circumstances.

We had what looks like a good summer window, with some promising purchases and a clear-out of some dead-wood so I don't believe there are any excuses this season. I can't honestly say I have been impressed with what I've witnessed so far, once again poor team selections, systems and tactics have not helped matters. Without Aubameyang, how many points would we have?

I do not enjoy watching us, the way we play is negative, boring and predictable. You say we have improved but our defence is as bad, if not worse, than under Wenger and that is the one key area everyone expected Emery to address.

On the plus side he has given opportunities to Guendouzi, Willock, Saka and Nelson so I think he is not afraid to give youth a chance. However, I am just not sure he is suited to a big club where a certain style is expected along with results. He seems more concerned with negating the threats of opponents than in imposing our own game on the opposition. The polar opposite of Wenger in some respects.

I am not sure the players fully understand the game-plans and instructions he gives them either, given the lack of cohesion and structure in our play.

I hope I am wrong and he turns out to be a great Arsenal manager, I am just not convinced by what I have seen so far.

...As a side note, what was the feeling like when Graham managed them?

I read an article today wondering if Emery will go back to the back 3 at some point this season. I’m not a fan when he does it with passive wing backs and 3 holding mids but on paper it suits a lot of things.
Most of our CB are more comfortable in a back 3
Particularly Luiz who can be a deep playmaker - we haven’t had a player of his passing ability on defence for a while
Bellerin and Tierney could be fantastic wing backs with the ability to get up and down all day and 5-8 assists each a season
Still maintain a midfield 3 which can have flexibility with a No.10
Our strikers play as a pair rather than someone having to go wide - effectively getting our best players in the most dangerous areas

The downside is I’m not convinced the players know the system well enough and switching between them won’t help the organisation.....and it probably means 1 of Lacazette, Aubameyang, Pépé sitting out unless we went with a 3-4-3 formation which may be a bit light in the centre of the park

Hodd,

I notice you are on-line.

I am wondering why Martinelli does not feature in the U23 games. If he isn't getting regular game time in the PL wouldn't it seem sensible to help him continue to acclimatise to english football and maintain his match sharpness in the the u23s?

On top of losing Gnabry we also have Reine-Adelaide just signing for Lyon for €25m and Donyell Malen rearing things up for PSV and being touted as a £50m player.

It is too easy, and wrong, to say Arsenal could have got that money for those players. These guys dropped down a level, played regularly and then moved back up for big money.......but the absolutely dreadful thing for Arsenal is not having some kind of buy-back or sell-on clause. Even if we had 25% then you’d be making some decent money from these kids when they get their big move.

There are things about Emery I don’t like but his giving youth a chance is one of his great strengths and hopefully some of our talented young players might see a way forward and so resist the urge to move. I hope so.

Soc
As promised I spoke to someone closer to this one than me, and the answer was that Martinelli has been unbelievable in training and has no respect for reputations; he is very physical and punishes any slackness from others. Emery likes this and sees value for the team in him training with the senior group, rather than playing him in the 23’s.

It’s been one of the highlights of the season for me. To be honest, when I saw the team sheet against United I thought Emery wasn’t doing Saka any favours by chucking him in at the deep end like that, but Saka showed he’s more than ready for it. Looking forward to tonight’s game as if it was a real league game, even though it’s probably going to be a routine win against a small club. Will be really fun to see some of the young players have a go again.

Soc
As promised I spoke to someone closer to this one than me, and the answer was that Martinelli has been unbelievable in training and has no respect for reputations; he is very physical and punishes any slackness from others. Emery likes this and sees value for the team in him training with the senior group, rather than playing him in the 23’s.

That's a team I'm going to enjoy watching.......

Rich, any idea who are on the bench?

No Özil

Just seems ridiculous he’s not in the squad even if we want to sell him