Especially given who our current right winger is. Pépé needs to be receiving the ball nearer goal.

Looking at the Ballon d'Or. The year Henry was runner up, Nedvěd won. You can't really claim that was unfair. Nedvěd was brilliant for a while.

Sure, it is a subjective decision, and the judges are not immune to the massive amounts of hype that surround these things. The same with other awards. And of course, there may be corruption sometimes. But the kind of 'everything is rigged' thinking that American Gooner is indulging in is a slippery slope. It panders to people with weak intellects and grievances, who don't like reality.

Look where the idea that 'everything is rigged' has got the Americans now with Trump.

Can we win on the road? We'll find out. Is the last win a change in fortunes or a one off?
Right now, 7th or 8th would be a godsend to some fans. How low the mighty have fallen.

Man Utd are quietly doing better in the league. Runner up last year, tied at the top of the table point wise. Yes, its early days, and who knows what will happen. But they are getting back quietly and with a manager many of their fans want out. Legend or not.

Anyway, with a somewhat settled XI, Arteta will have to produce. We are also looking for a recognizable tactic.

Hi OMOD, Gunny,

Hleb was one of the best dribblers I've ever seen, at Arsenal or anywhere else. Sadly, he could never produce the numbers of goals and assists that his mesmeric dribbling ability deserved. He seemed to get a mental block when faced with a goalscoring opportunity.

Looking forward to today's game, albeit with a little bit of unease. It should be a real physical test for our new look defence. It will be interesting to see how Ramsdale and Tomiyasu in particular cope with somewhat intimidating tactics and a hostile atmosphere.

If Lokonga plays he will face a robust physical test as well.

It feels very much like the Bolton and Stoke awaydays of years gone by. A proper mental and physical test, on the edge and sometimes beyond the letter of the law.

I think it will also be interesting to see how we deal with Burnley’s aerial attacks, assuming that’s what they’ll be doing. My guess is that Gabriel will have the primary responsibility for Burnley’s tall forward, whose name I’ve forgotten.* But when they get corners and free kicks with the opportunity to pump the ball at height into the box, I presume there will be others to deal with as well as Gabriel’s man.

You’ve said yourself socrates that White is not primarily known for his strength in the air, a reputation that was reinforced when I read of his play with Brighton. Indeed, White’s performance at Brentford did nothing to suggest that argument was wrong. Nor the game against Norwich who didn’t seem to attack much in the air. So it should be fascinating to see what happens today.

* Seems his name is Chris Wood.

Should be a win for us. They concede a few goals an I would not be shocked if they go down this year.

One of the most frustrating players to watch, along with Gervinho.

Baptista was a defensive midfielder who converted to scorer by the time we got him. I think there was a good player in there waiting to blossom, and at the time I seem to recall quite a bit of enthusiasm when The Beast arrived. It just didn't work out for him. Strange to think that in him and Arshavin we had two players who scored four goals at Anfield yet never became Arsenal favourites.

Yes, he was the one that bad luck took away - a fine player.

Yes, I'd take a draw now. A win will surprise me.

B, it is analysis like this that confirms for me you are a great defensive coach just waiting a chance to shine.

His particular bad luck was to meet that oaf Dan Smith.

It will be very unusual for us to score freely at Burnley. While we do win up there, in the last nine visits we have
failed to score twice and scored just one on five occasions. Tough territory.

Was trying to find news on Willock, hope he is doing well. Was sad to hear he thought about quitting social media due to abuse. https://www.espn.com/soccer/newcastle-u ... on-twitter

He's a nice lad, wonder who would? Maybe a few bonehead gooners that he left? Or possible a few toon fans that he was signed. Who knows.

Easy to say in relative obscurity but it really should be expected of athletes and entertainers or anyone in the public eye, or even on a relatively small football forum you will get the bad along with the good of being famous or noteworthy in some form or fashion. Gotta expect it or at least be resilient about it. Not excusing the behavior at all. It's up to twitter or instagram to sort that out. Indvidually, you just have move on. You can only control your own reaction.

Yes, frightening that all players are just one bad tackle away from a ruined career. Diaby was class, no doubt about that. Smith, where is he now?

I was a big fan of Diaby. I really thought he'd be a huge player for us. Unfortunate with the injuries.

I was looking at clips of second incarnation of Ronaldo. I remember the first time I saw him play against us, he scared the sh*t out me. It was obvious from the start he was going to be very special. I was in the pub in LA and all of us gooners looked at each other thinking 'He is going to be a problem'.

I was also at the pub when Fabregas had that blinder in the Charity Shield and loved hearing Man Utd fans gobsmacked. I'll never forget one guy saying in anger/frustration. "Where the f*ck did he come from? Never heard of him. Where f00k does Wenger find them?". Rooney was known as a teen. But Fabregas was relatively unknown. I can't think of any non Arsenal fans and even a few who had any idea about him.

Thanks. I felt at the time White may have been a tad fortunate to be out for the Chelsea game where the two central defenders were Holding and Mari. The latter had the misfortune to have Lukaku to mark, perhaps for understandable reasons when you look at Holding’s performance against, was it Liverpool last season, when Warwick Davis could have given the forwards more to think about with crosses in the air.

To be fair I don’t think either Mari and Holding are that bad. But my guess is White and Gabriel will become the recognised first choice pairing and from what I’ve read about White from his time at Brighton and saw of him at Brentford, I expect Gabriel to be marking Chris Wood today.

Interesting article on Mertesacker’s work at the youth academy.

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/ ... dium=email

Apparently Dan Smith set up a spray paining business in the north east. No idea how it’s doing.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58604851

Sad.

Ill be shocked if it’s not a back 3 with Holding starting.

That is sad. I’ve zero affinity with Derby but they always struck me as a club that deserves respect. Hopefully they can turns things around.

Wow shocked at the line up.

Back 4, no holding and the 3 man midfield i mentioned last week that includes Emile Smith Rowe and Ødegaard

Not a lot of muscle down the middle. It will be interesting to see how that midfield works.

Indeed. If they can gel quickly, it could be a very creative lineup. If not ...

tierney will have to put in a proper defensive shift.

Very attacking line up. A fully fit best 11

Quite dissapointing for Henry. Since 1956 to present no Arsenal player has received a Ballon d'Or.

Antony Taylor reffing could be good for us. He's a terrible ref imo but tends again imo to go for the big teams against the small teams. Looking for more decisions in our favour and hopefully he'll stop the cloggers.
C'mon you reds

Ødegaard positioning as the left of a midfield pair with Partey.

Burnley with the predictable two banks of four.

Strong line up

Nice change of tempo there.

When we are around their 18 yard box, they have about 7 or 8 players in and around the box to our 3 at most. We are going to need more players committed to the attack.

We should be down 1 nil with that free header.

And the thuggery from Burnley players starts.

They hardly need it at the moment.

Quite hard to get power on that.

Ødegaard! 1-0 direct free kick. Class