Its more like he wouldn't shoot ...

Pépé seems like he doesn't have a footballing brain most times. Hoping Arteta can teach him teamwork, decision making and acceptance of his system. Hopefully not end up like an expensive version of Quincy Jamie Owusu-Abeyie, pace, dribbling but really couldn't work within the team concept and bad decision making.

The videos of Pépé before were a lot of individual goals. Perhaps Willian can be an influence in that regards.

Readin online that Huss Fahmy is going to be leaving the club

I'm from a fairly large family, 4 of my older brothers were in the military as well as several cousins. Relatives have been in every conflict since the Korean war, large and small. There is a fairly large age difference from youngest to oldest, my mother getting married late teens and had the last of us near 40. She didn't want me in the military. She said America is always at war and if any of her kids stayed long enough they were in one.
My eldest brother was in Vietnam. I didn't really meet him till Middle School. I was among 3 brothers he heard about but never knew. He told me some stories, said it was cathartic. One of his most prized possessions is a photo he took off of a body of a Viet Cong. Most likely killed by him or a member of his unit in a firefight. He wanted to go back to see if it was possible to locate the family, return it, but he knows it would be too awkward. I have been to Cambodia and Thailand but not to Vietnam...yet. But plan to. I am too curious not to. Strangely too scared to when I was Pnomh Penh. Can't really explain why I was. (I'd have made a terrible soldier).

I had an uncle who was in the Korean war. Lied his age at 16 in 1950. left Tulsa, Oklahoma and joined the military to get out of Oklahoma primarily. He was born at home and the military took birth affidavits. My aunt said he had his first kill before his 17th birthday. I stayed at his home in LA when I first moved there. Every few weeks or so, we were awaken by his shouts. My aunt saying it was one of his nightmares, disregard it. Never really could.

I had an opportunity to go to Annapolis, the US Naval Academy but declined primarily because my mother didn't like the idea and secondly, I wanted the full American college experience of beer, women, fraternity parties. So, I went to one of the big southern sports schools where every home game in our 90,000 plus stadium was sold out and had been sold out for years like most major college football powers.

I'm sure there are 1000s of such stories from all who were in combat. The stories of humanity are the ones that touch me the most.

Very touching story.

Arteta "I came to the conclusion that we have the respect from other teams for them to do that (the deep block). Now we have to try to change our strategy a little bit and try to train against more certain blocks that I think are going to happen a bit more often. We have made teams think"

I'm pretty apprehensive about the game against Man U, not because I don't think we can't hurt them its more that Man U have a good array of fire power, scoring goals and in confidence, and they are being pretty efficient in front of goal, if they get through they score.

Rashford going up against the right side of our defence doesn't fill me with joy whether Luiz is fit or Mustafi plays.

We probably need to go 5 at the back and invite Man U on to us, it is where they are least comfortable and doesn't give them the space in behind that they crave. If we play deep then we need runners, pace and dribbling. After their midweek performances it would be tempting to play Willock and Nelson who add both of those, but I don't think Arteta will. I think it would be a good time to move Aubameyang central and get AMN in at left-wing back for his pace assuming a back 3 of Mustafi/Gabriel/Tierney. Hopefully Saka is fit as he's one of the few that offers something creative for us. Which means leaving one of Pépé or Willian on the bench and dropping both Lacazetta and Nketiah to the bench, and leaving out Ceballos in all likelihood.

The Ceballos/Partey/Xhaka 3 in midfield didn't work that well against Leicester, all a bit samey, but if we sit deeper it might be more suited to stopping Man U. If we play a midfield 3 it feels like it should be only 2 of them plus Saka

I don't think its a good time to play Man Utd. As if there ever is...lol.. but I mean they have a far more settled side than we do right now. If we 'escape' with a draw, I'll take that right now. That said, I want to hedge that we beat City and 'Pool and played both sides tough in losses. Right now, depends on which Man Utd shows up. My guess is, they will be up for The Arsenal. I've rarely if ever seen them have a bad day at the office against us at OT. The only time I can think of is when we won there in the cup, Giggs missing an open sitter. We won 2-0, didn't have all our 'guns' (no Henry I recall). I think that was the game Becks got a boot to the head from Fergie.

I think the games against the Manchester sides and Liverpool will be much different return fixture. Right now its early days with us and a good side can open us up at this stage. Hoping for the best obviously but a loss won't shock me.

Wonderful, we have a coach who "sees things" and adapts. Now we look forward to his action on this. A wonderful change from a past regime which had stubbornly stuck onto ways which were not working anymore.

<------ This look on our faces.

Darn it. I saw on my feed the City game was scoreless and turned to it and 5 minutes later they score. I hate when that happens.

RIP Sean Connery. The only real James Bond.

Let's see. Great start but let's see.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/harry-kane-tipped-obliterate-premier-22935364
Harry Kane tipped to "obliterate" Premier League record set by Thierry Henry

Sky news

Mesut is piggybacking off Marcus Rashfords efforts now. Hmmmn call me a cynic

Downing Street delays press conference after getting hit with a single signature petition put together on the internet

Been going charity work with donations for a lot longer than Rashford. But don’t let the facts get in the way of your dogma.

Not a pleasant MOTD tonight. The only three Premier League games today were Man City and Chelsea winning away, and Liverpool winning at home.

Big game this one. Man U have not won at home in the EPL this season with 2 defeats and a draw. We will see if we have made progress as this is a perfect game for defending and getting them on the break.

I’m more than aware of this but the way the sky news piece was created it now seems a massive PR push from Mesuts lot to portray him as a saint. A constant stream of information in the media about Mesut Özil despite him being a footballer who never plays football.

Your last point is irrelevant and shouldn't come into it--he's never made himself unavailable for selection. That is his manager's decision. The fact that he isn't getting 15 assists and 10 goals a season doesn't somehow make his previous charity work mere 'piggybacking'.

And why is Özil 'constantly in the media'? Is it "despite" or because he has been frozen out?

Don't fancy us at all against Utd. Can't honestly remember the last time we played really well. The Cup Final maybe and that was more about doggedly stifling the opposition, who were strangely out of sorts on the day, and taking our limited chances than any great attacking display.

I don't count Dundalk and even then the most encouraging moments came from kids and players who don't normally start.

I am expecting another dogged defensive display today with limited chances for us and the result depending on whether we can take those chances.

If we get tonked I think the pressure will begin to build on Arteta. You can see what he wants to do and where he wants to go but will he be given that kind of time if we remain out of the top 6 for too long?

I agree that outside the cups our performances have been of concern. I struggle to understand what our game plans are and how we transition from a defensive to attacking role. There are a lot of easy comparisons to draw with a Tony Pulis managed team. Not sure where our pressing game has disappeared to and we are too slow moving forward . The team is looking like any later Wenger or Emery teams with a lot of sideways and passes backwards.

There are stats that show we are the slowest progressive side forward when attacking. I really hope that is Arteta’s means to an end rather than his preferred style of play

I'm guessing Arteta is shoring up the defense as his priority. We leak goals and we leak goals when it seems no matter the strength of the opposition when they press forward we give up a goal. We have had varied success in attack over the last few years. Aubameyang, for example, one of the best Arsenal scorers in a while. But we leaked like old bucket.
Defending has the priority now. We have enough in attack to sneak a goal against anyone, Liverpool and City included. I'm not sure I can think of any PL side we can keep a clean sheet against comfortably. However, I think we can score against anyone.

Has anyone read the Arsene biography “My Life in Red and White”?

I’m about halfway through and it’s a struggle. It is unbelievably boring. No emotion but rather a series of I did this, then I did that.

Bernard Tapie? Not a mention.

Oh for the days of Brian Glanville.

I've read a lot of it and you're right it is pretty dull. I didn't expect Wenger to come out and tell all the juicy stories on how he hated Ferguson and Jose etc but I thought there would be a little bit more detail on some of the things that went on behind the scene, some of the 'nearly' transfers, some of the detail behind some important wins and defeats, the heartbreaking sales we had to make.....the last minute trolley dash following the 8-2 at OT - but it's all quite factual.

It’s funny you should say this because I’m reading it right now and was about to post the same thing. I’m on chapter “my life at Arsenal my home” and I have to say the whole things far from illuminating, seems low on details and revelation. In the chapter I’m reading he’s just listed his notable signings which seem to have included Coquelin and Cygan doing this seems poorly conceived.

I’d say so far the books a complete non event. The most interesting thing so far is he revealed the name of David Deins boat.

I'm expecting 3 CB today. If so I'd like to see:
Leno
Mustafi - Gabriel - Tierney
Bellerin - Partey - Xhaka - AMN
Pépé - Aubameyang - Saka
Or Saka at left wing back and Willian in but I like the pace AMN gives

LTG, Rich and Top Gun. Thanks for your observations on Wenger’s book. You’ve just made me glad I’ve decided not to buy or read it.

Credit to Villa for never giving up.

You’re more than welcome.
“Addicted” it certainly isn’t.

Final chapter details Arsenes affair with Katie price, his drinking sessions with Gazza and Chris Evans and his passion for drum and bass music.

Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, saka, Elneny, partey, willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Elneny is a surprise. Holding back sooner than most thought. And feel lacazette is a touch lucky to start

I said weeks ago after we lost to liverpool when he got took off I genuinely think Arteta has had a lightbulb moment with xhaka. He’s realised you can’t have a player that immobile in midfield againest the big clubs or you will be over run in midfield

Ordinarily Bernard I’d urge you to read it and make your own mind up however I’ve just finished it and it’s without a doubt the most boring football book I’ve ever read.

Thinking back to Perry Groves book I thought perry came across as a complete cocky snide throughout his read but at least some parts were entertaining. (I believe he’s not actually like this but it’s just how it read to me)

Addicted remains the most interesting football book to me. Many of them have been disappointing especially sols.

First 15 dominating the ball. One dangerous cross from Bellerin that just eluded Aubameyang, otherwise though not much for De Gea to worry about.

Classic even it up yellow card from Mike Dean. Although Holding might have been lucky not to get a yellow earleir

The back line carrying 2 yellows will be an issue.

Tierney's passing has been off.

Willian hits the bar. We are well on top

I like our tempo. We're being a positive side, driving forward. Just missing a final pass.