This is pretty much where I'm at as well. Top 4 is definitely the target, and we should be among the top favorites to win the Europa League, but nothing should be completely set in stone with regards to league finish. It's important that sacking the manager isn't just used as a punishment for a manager failing to reach a certain target, it's a drastic measure that should only be used if it's determined the team won't be moving forward with the current set-up.

Starting from 0 under a new manager could of course be an injection that the team would need, but with such a young and close-knit squad that all seem to enjoy playing under Arteta it could also be quite devastating.

Must admit, as things stand I think we have a decent chance of finishing above Chelsea in the table. Sure, lots can happen to make me change my mind but I really don’t see them as certain of third, if the top two will be City and Liverpool?

Okay, they’ve signed Sterling and Koulibaly. Maybe Koulibaly will be an adequate replacement for Rudiger? But I’ll be surprised if he’s as good as Rudiger, who my Chelsea supporting friends tell me was their best central defender since Terry.

Also, Azpilicueta and Alonso are apparently desperate to get away, as is Werner though I don’t think the latter would be as big a loss. I simply don’t see Chelsea being as out of our reach as some might do. Or Tottenham and Manchester United’s reach either.

I’m not saying this because of our win the other day. All I’ve seen of the game is the goals.

Now I’ve said all that, Chelsea will no doubt go and win the league by ten points (imagine a smiley here).

I'm trying really hard not to get carried away with the positive vibes surrounding Arsenal at the moment, it's only pre-season and all that...but yeah, I think third place is up for grabs. Sterling is a great addition for them, but I'm not sure they've gotten stronger at all since last season. They certainly aren't as settled as they seemed to be at this time last year.

I dunno Bernard, I can't see us ever beating Chelsea any time soon.

I have a funny feeling that Martinelli is going to have a breakout season. Add that to Ødegaard, Jesus, Saka, ESM with huge potential, a very convincing back 5, and hopefully one more midfielder, together with hunger and cohesion throughout the squad, and it feels very good.

All in all, I can't see us finishing worse than 9th

I'm not only going to 'touch wood' to avoid jinxing us with my optimism ... I'm going to go and cut some and make a nice fire, because it is bloody freezing here

Hutchinson was apparently sold to Chelsea for. Small fee but with a sell on clause.

Kasper Schmeichel looking like he might be going to Nice, that’s a surprise. Inevitable rumours that Leicester are then in for Leno. Would be good if we can get a bidding war going. You never have the upper hand if there’s only 1 club interested.

Or part of a deal for Tielemans?

I am excited to see the English women's team in the final. I was (and continue to be) a bigger fan of the US women's team than the men's team. They play better football. And since I am fully committed for a couple decades now to an English football team, it feels 'natural' to cheer for the women's team. I also want to see women's football get bigger and hopefully my nieces, your daughters or granddaughers or other young women can build a fruitful career, athletically and financially in it if they have requisite skills to suceed.

I am not as big as I used to be on the men's team except for Arsenal players. Won't go into why...it wouldn't go over well on here.

Had read a fair few snippets of the Edu interview. It’s hard to not like what he’s trying to do and the way he talks about football and Arsenal.

There is one story he tells where he went to Dortmund to talk to a player and he wanted to tell him about us and what we liked in him, how he fits in the team and wanted to hear his thoughts and ambitions and all the player (and agent probably) wanted to do was get straight in to talking about ‘how much money’, Edu got up and said no thanks not for us.

He also talks about the need to pay players off to just get them out and be able to clean the squad. Short term pain for longer term gain.

I’m fully on board with the philosophy the club has implemented since Arteta came in. But very soon it will be time to start delivering on the ‘process’

I wonder how much Edu will appear in the Amazon documentary

Got an email the other day inviting me to a free viewing of it in Finsbury Park for being one of the season ticket holders who went to every home game last season. It’s on 3rd August. Put my name down for it.

He’s spoken very well recently I think. It’s clear when he speaks he’s a football man and to have him conducting business is an advantage. The behind the scenes videos of him showing the new players round London colney are very telling.

I thought he was another Sanellhi type but seems far from it. That period seems mental now, execs detached from the manager signing players he has to put up with and doesn’t want. I have to say I do have a decent amount of sympathy for Emery now really. Never stood a chance.

Wonder who the dortmund player was.

Seems Aaron Ramsey's contract has been terminated. I'd take him back in a heartbeat. He's 'only' 31. If he wanted to come back and be willing to work on a reduced salary and come off the bench, play in cup ties where we need the starters to have a break in midfield, I'd do it gladly. He's one of my favorites and I was sad to see him go.

https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11095/12476234/transfer-centre-live-ramseys-juve-contract-terminated-ronaldo-latest

I've seen a few people online say they've had that invite.

I can't wait for it. There will be some cringe moments where other fans will laugh at us - just as there was in the City and Spurs documentaries but my gut feeling is Arteta is going to come across really well. Passionate, clear, respected, visionary and a leader. All his faults will come down to his inexperience in the job.

I understand the sentiment. An excellent player who I really liked but he should have achieved much much more in his career which was wrecked by injuries. I wouldn’t have him back unless it was in a coaching capacity.

Didn’t work out at all for him at Rangers. He is our past, not our present nor future.

Also thank goodness we didn’t offer him a mental deal to keep him. We definitely could have done with him but another 250k contract problem that we would have had to pay off.

In the end he prioritised money over his career. Made a fortune because he left Arsenal on a free and sat on the bench instead. He would probably be our team captain if he had stayed. Read he might end up at forest which would be weird but about his level.

Hey ltg, I completely agree with you he is not who we would build our future on, but if he came at cutrate, bargain basement price in terms of wages (we wouldn't have to pay a transfer fee), you're saying you wouldnt' take the chance with him off the bench?

I also think he'd be great for the young players in training and the dressing room.

Understood. This is for both you and ltg. If he came at very reduced wages, pretty much, I mean very, very low, why not? Any specific reason other than money? Do you think he's simply not good enough?

I wouldn’t take a chance with him on the pitch. It would mean that he would be playing instead of a member of the enlarged and motivated squad that are going in Arteta’s direction. Totally the wrong message to give. Shades of Willian really.

This line up

Arsenal: Turner, Cédric, Walters (Awe 46), Holding, Tavares (Souza 76), Elneny, Lokonga, Maitland-Niles (Patino 85), Marquinhos, Nelson (Sagoe Jr 90), Nketiah.

lost 1-2 in the behind doors friendly today against Brentford.

New all or nothing trailer. Have to say I love this pep talk. Arteta does have something about him.

https://youtu.be/13dSuAfhEds

I’ve provided one link but over the last few days I must have seen dozens of reports all saying the same. Perhaps our interest in Tielemans isn’t as hot as some have suggested? Or there again, maybe it’s clickbait?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.standa ... html%3Famp

No doubt he has something about him. It is simply natural leadership.

When I was watching it I didn't realise that was the team talk just before a game, I thought it was a training day. That is an intense team talk!

Looks like Leno to Fulham is very close for £8m. The fee seems low, the mitigation is only 1 year left on his deal and his wages at £100k per week puts Leno in the top 12 most highly paid GK in the world!

People may say look at the money that was paid for other players with 1 year left on their deal (Jesus, Sterling), but these are players playing at their peak and going to rich and successful clubs.

I wish we did get more but it is also good to see the start of players moving out the door. Torreira has a deal with Valencia agreed, clubs haggling over the price. I think we'll give Mari away for free. Bellerin will probably find a way back to Betis late in the window, Tavares will probably get the loan to Atalanta, Marquinos may also get a loan. Then finally it is sorting out the sales of AMN and Nelson and maybe another loan for Balogun unless we keep him around for the first half of the year for Europa?

At the end of the day, Ramsey couldn’t even make himself a regular in Glasgow Rangers’ team. Let me say Rangers and Celtic are huge clubs in terms of support, history and stuff like that. But the standard of Scottish football is so low I reckon a mid table Premier League team might top the table up there.

Rangers have lost one of their star players Aribo this summer. Who swooped for him? One of England’s top six? No chance. Bloody Southampton.

That's very good, Arteta clearly isn't the sort of manager to let his team take the blame and I really like that. Admired the same quality in Wenger. I much prefer it to coaches like Tuchel and Mourinho who routinely throws their team under the bus, or Conte who leaves good players out of their pre-season tour because he wants to sell them. I don't think that's how you create an environment where players thrive.

One thing that is very clear: No matter if you believe Arteta is the right manager for Arsenal or not, it's obvious the squad is behind him and wants to play for him. Zinchenko and Jesus had nothing but praise for him when being interviewed, and I don't think they were just being polite or saying what was expected of them.

Here's another approach at how you do a pep talk, slightly different: https://youtu.be/rQyEJpPSLdQ

This is why I think we need that extra body in midfield. I've no doubt that many of these players can 'do a job' if lined up with 10 of the first choice 11 but after Partey and Xhaka we're lacking quality and experience in the defensive/central midfield positions.

Not to forget, Pépé. He just isn't good enough.

Reports say Bellerin is willing to give up the rest of his Arsenal salary (€6m) in order to move to Betis on a free….where he’d take a pay cut. I suppose it’s better than us paying him off to leave.

Willian!! Hahaha...ltg, you are SAVAGE!! Surely, not that bad.

Rumor has it Fulham got him at basement bargain price from here. This transfer should re-labled 'Steal Of The Century'

Hi Rich,

£8m is outrageously low for a keeper of Leno's quality, especially when our new back-up keeper is looking decidely shaky.

Instead of haggling over a couple of mill Fulham should have snapped our hands-off and thanked their lucky stars that they were able to recruit a keeper of his quality so cheaply. He might just keep them up.

What is all this constant noise from France about Marseille feeling optimistic about signing Saliba.

Even if we were prepared to sell I very much doubt Marseille could afford the fee it would take and they must know that.

Bizarre.

That’s all fair enough but a free transfer for a former Spanish international that’s nuts. There should at least be a nominal fee.

I think we’ve reached a pivotal point where player salary considerations have exceeded transfer values. For Arsenal to contemplate cancelling his contract because is cheaper than the fee we would get.

It’s a ridiculous fee and also he’s a far better keeper than should be playing for Fulham anyway

If we’re honest though he may have screwed up himself here. 2 years back there was a load of press reports saying he had told the club he didn’t want a new contract and wanted to leave almost like he wasn’t progressing his career. Then we sign Ramsdale and he’s displaced in the first team and now he’s ended up at Fulham.

I’m happy with Ramsdale but like I mentioned previously our new back up keeper screams “oh no we’ve got to play Rhys Wilmot again!” So don’t be shocked if we dip back into the transfer market to fix a problem caused by our Americans because I find it hard to believe that’s the man Edu and Arteta wanted.

Sligo Rovers beat Motherwell away. Ok it's pre season for Motherwell and the League of Ireland has improved drasticly but all the same. Scottish football is poor.

Sounds about right. From the little that I have seen our new back up keeper looks to be several classes below Leno.

If we’re going to get peanuts then we might as well keep him.