• Vazy

  International duty weise we sound quite impressive in parts, it’s just up to us to slot them all together and get the most out of them now!

• Fo

  @Vazy – yeah, the Arshavin and Cesc parts sound very interesting…

  @Devday – I hope we play the formation you’ve outlined – I think if we do play it, we will definitely win – we’ll have a lot going forward!

  Let’s see!!!

• devday

  Good news and bad news… Arsene has confirmed that Theo Walcott is out… but Diaby is also out…

  “We have some problems,” Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

  “We have Theo Walcott, who is not available. [Abou] Diaby has a little groin problem, but he could be available.

  “[Also] we have lost Johan Djourou and Lukasz Fabianski because they had injuries.

  “Lukasz had a cartilage surgery. He will be out for two months. Johan has a knee problem that will take some time to cure – one month.

  “Thomas Vermaelen played 45 minutes for Belgium last night and came through okay so he will be available.”

• Leeroy.N

  Well thhere seems to some light at the end of the tunnel.. as dim as it is. I mean sure, we are depleted in ALL areas.. but some good must be coming out of it somewhere.. mustn’t it?? This has to be a wake up call for Wenger, if indeed he needs one. I still maintain that our spending days aren’t over, and he will undoubtedly uncover a gem for us. I believe in the squad we have, because they believe in themselves. Come on you Gunners!

  Gooner Til I Die!!

• Adeniyi

  I think since walcott is injured Wenger should bring in either Carlos Vela or Jack Wishere.

  With carlos vela starting will be

  Almunia

  Sagna – Gallas – Vermaelen – Clichy

  Cesc – Song

  Arshavin – Van Persie – Vela

  Eduardo

  with Wilshere

  Almunia

  Sagna – Gallas – Vermaelen – Clichy

  Song

  Arshavin- Wilshere – Cesc – Van Persie

  Eduardo

• Adeniyi

  _____________Almunia___________

  Sagna – Gallas – Vermaelen – Clichy

  __________Cesc – Song_________

  ____Arshavin – Van Persie – Vela____

  _____________Eduardo________

  with Wilshere

  ________________Almunia_____________

  Sagna – Gallas – Vermaelen – Clichy

  __________Song_____________

  Arshavin- Wilshere – Cesc – Van Persie

  ______________Eduardo______________

• VJ

  Yeah with walcott out it will be between bentner and vela for that position with eboue and wilshere also possibilities

• hello

  .
  hello all… now I know we have a few injury problems, and this bears no real relevance to the game tomorrow. But I was writing out the team yesterday (as I have found myself doing everyday) and suddenly something seemed to click… Assuming we get HANGELAND (or someone of his stature) and Vieira (or again someone of his stature) then we have a GREAT and BALANCED team/squad.

  I know some people have their doubts about Vieira, and i understand that, but if you imagine this team below with a Vieira from the past in we would surely be unstoppable.

  FIRST AND SECOND TEAM:

  1. _______________ALMUNIA________________
  2. ______________FABIANSKI_______________

  1. _SAGNA__(?HANGELAND?)__GALLAS__CLICHY_
  2. _EBOUE___DJOURU_____VERMAELEN___GIBBS_

  1. _________CESC_____(?VIEIRA?)__________
  2. _______DENILSON______SONG_____________

  1. __WALCOTT____ARSHAVIN______NASRI______
  2. __WILSHERE____ROSICKY______VELA_______

  1. _____________VAN PERSIE_______________
  2. ______________EDUARDO_________________

  Squad:

  SILVESTRE
  TRAOURE
  RAMSEY
  DIABY
  BENDTNER

  AMAZING!! Notice the balance in the attacking positions with Nasri and Arshavins technical ability complimenting Walcotts pace, similarly Wilshere and Rosickys technical ability complimenting Velas pace…

• Fabrez

  Why is Diaby even an Arsenal player? *sigh* Anyway, shame we’re missing the likes of Samir, Tomas n Theo…it’s quite a number of quality players to have out at any 1 time…but if we are going to challenge on all fronts, that’s where our squad comes in.

• Fabrez

  Always gr8 2 kno sum of the boys have been class on int’nal duty. Good on Cesc an Arsh…2 of our core players! 2 more faces if we want to avoid the ‘bare bones’ excuse. I kno we can win big things with this team but Arsene needs 2 learn frm past mistakes

• Pete

  Man, it’s been a while since we got to predict a starting line up lol.

  For tomorrows game I think we’ll have:

  Almunia

  Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Clichy

  Cesc Song

  Eboue Arshavin Eduardo

  RvP

  Good luck to the lads for the first game of the season!

• Pete

  Even with our current squad, I do think we have a good chance of winning tomorrow. Much of it depends on players hitting the ground running. The Gallas/Vermaelen partnership in pre-season looked pretty strong. I’m confident that Song and Cescs’ pairing will continue in similar vein from last season, and our attacking players are more than capable to score enough for the 3 points. What I’d really like is a clean sheet though, thats what would really indicate an inprovement in our side.

  Everton have quite a few players still out, Arteta, Yakubu, Fellani, Jo And Jagielka, so hopefully we can make the most of those absences.

• Berth

  From what I have seen and perceived so far from Wenger I doubt so much that he will buy a player!!!

• Pete

  Read an interesting article from the IMScouting website:

  “With the new Premier League season almost upon us, IMScouting has delved into its vast database to analyse which attacking players were the most effective last season.

  Coming out on top, with a mightily impressive record of a goal or an assist every 76.69 minutes, was Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin. The Russian schemer was a revelation after his move from Zenit St Petersburg and following the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor should be one of the most crucial members of the Arsenal team.

  The next two players in this Special Report both come from last year’s runners-up Liverpool. Fernando Torres averaged a goal or an assist every 91.21 minutes and Steven Gerrard chipped in with a goal or assist every 101.2 minutes.

  It is often said that if both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can stay fit, the Merseyside giants will finally bring the Premier League title back to Anfield, and this report would seem to bear that out.

  In fourth and fifth place in this report are two strikers in Robin van Persie and Nicolas Anelka who we can expect to perform well again in 2009/2010 whilst the departed Cristiano Ronaldo was only the fifth most effective attacking player in the league, marginally better than Benny McCarthy.”

• debs

  I do like Diaby! But then I like all Arsenal players, minus Silvestre (but I might start liking him soon if he doesn’t leave!) Lol
  Good article Pete! More of the same from Arshavin and RVP this season! Can’t wait for tomorrow’s match!

• hello

  .
  I LIKE DIABY TOO!!

• Leeroy.N

  I’ve often said Diaby just has to apply himself more, become a little more quicker in his thinking. He has amazing ability and skill. It just needs to be harnessed, he is young enough to become great for us.

  Good news on the horizon is that Merida isn’t going out on loan it looks. I feel he could make a good impact along with Wilshere off the bench for us this season.

  Gooner Til I Die!

• devday

  Leeroy, Debs, Hello – In too many games though Diaby has disappointed last season – really need a focused and consistent Diaby – because if not he is sometimes a liability to the team…

  But you’re right – he does have the ability, without question!

• hello

  .
  Its not that he needs to speed up his thinking… he just needs a Left peg!! Must of touched the ball twice last season with his lefty… thats the only thing slowing him down/holding him back…

  I would much prefer to see DIABY coming off the bench than MERIDA… MERIDA gives away possession far too easily… even more than DIABY!! (not nearly as much a BENDTNER though!!)

• Adeniyi

  I think Diaby is just lazy. Technically he’s good and he can be world class but at times he tends to dribble too much and switches off during matches. Only if he can just concentrate more and be more hardworking

• hello

  .
  Adeniyi… i agree with you there…

• Leeroy.N

  But let’s not forget he’s been away training all through the off-season and pre-season. He himself more than anyone will know what he is lacking, what needs improving and what he needs to do to help his own game along. I hope his time away has been well spent and he has been training hard. I feel with him doing it shows how much he has grown up as a player and matured. Between him Merida and Wilshere coming off the bench, maybe even with the likes of Simpson and Watt it could be an interesting season for them and us! Bendtner and Ramsey need to step up, especially in games where the pressure is on us. A little composure and bravery will save us in that mid.

  Gooner Til I Die!

• devday

  Leeroy – did you get a chance to see Diaby against Valencia? I haven’t seen the action, and think it was his only game of pre-season?

• Leeroy.N

  Devday – No, was it really that bad? I heard we played well below par. I dont really want to look at the footage, but I know i’m going to have to. Just to gage my own opinion. Good thing is, is that it was only a preseason haha! I do really wish we had something to show out of this Transfer Window, I feel I’m getting jealous hearing all the news coming out of practically every camp other than ours (how sad!). I just hope we dont get too reliant on our “beautiful football” the time now is for battle and to win at any cost. I used to hate seeing teams win by a sole penalty in the dying minutes, or a an own goal. I used to feel it wasnt the way to win. Whats important to us this season is to get maximum or as many points from each and every game we play.. and i dont care how! Come on boys!!

  Gooner Til I Die!

• devday

  At the end of last season as with every season, we go into the summer saying that we won’t sell anyone and try to keep the squad together. But we end up selling our “big players” and signing one or two… I understand that may be down to Arsene – but don’t like being told we’re looking to strengthen attacking and defensively like Arsene did last week only to hear we’re not going to sign anyone else before the season starts… which is tomorrow…

  My main area for concern is that we lacked in certain areas last season, and haven’t really addressed it – thought Arsene would do his best to sign a DM this summer, but it looks like he doesn’t / isn’t planning on doing so!!

  So, our midfield 5 will be Cesc, Ramsey, Denilson, Song and Diaby with no extra experience as promised. Although I don’t agree, I will get behind the team as much as I can…!!

  Come on you gooners!

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