Arsenal v Aston Villa

Saturday the 17th - 3:00pm
Emirates Stadium

Well, it's gone from excitement for the new season to fear of any more injuries to our threadbare squad.

Sagna, Moreal, Vermalen, Arteta and Miyachi are out.

My suggested line up:

------------- SZCZ --------------

- Jenk -- Mert - Kos -- Gibbs --

------ Ramsey - Wilshire -------

------------ Cazorla ------------

Walcott --- Giroud -- Podolski

Bench:
Oxlade Chamberlain
Rosicky
Yennaris
Fab
Sanogo

I think Wenger will risk Cazorla despite him playing 80mins in Ecuador yesterday, as he is very resilient and Wenger plays him a lot. Otherwise Rosicky may come in if he has recovered from his knock or Oxlade Chamberlain, although he still looks he will stay on the wing for a while longer.

Despite our problems we should still be quite capable of beating Villa at home. I'm infinitely more worried about the Champions League qualifier. If we mess up against Villa there are 37 other games to make up for it. Mess up in Turkey and we're almost definitely out. It's already been hard enough trying to bring in new players, imagine how things would pan out if we got knocked out of the CL?

It was supposed to be so different.
I probably shouldn't bitch too much about the lack of transfers on the game thread but to me this feels exactly like 2011, when we had a small squad and ended up bringing in Santos, Park, Benayoun (who was good but hardly played) out of panic.
Yes, we grabbed Arteta and Mertesacker too, but it was all done without a plan.

Is that the most effective way you do transfers- wait until everyone is injured and other clubs don't want to sell you their quality players because they won't have time to replace them ?
We were supposed to have a plan this year.
Is Frimpong or Ramsey going to be our DM vs Fenerbahce?

WE should've just bought the exact players that Spurs bought- Soldado, Capoue, Chadli,-there's 42£ mil. Presto-quality players , deeper squad.

Leaves me thinking who the fuck is running this club- Mickey Mouse?

Ah well, 17 days left in the window, I'm sure we can get Michu for 35£ million.
Rant over.

Arsenal 2 Villa 1.

With the talk of should be able to beat villa at home and the way we are down players...

Unfortunately....I am starting my predictions with points dropped...a 2-2 draw
Its the first game and anything can happen this could be the point of the whole footballing world jumps in wengers back to sign players and fast...

I dont think a home spanking for villa will do us any favours...win 4-0 and you know what wenger will say,..

We can and will beat Villa, but seriously, how many players do we have and how will we be able to play 55 games this season?

Michael Foster wrote:

I dont think a home spanking for villa will do us any favours...win 4-0 and you know what wenger will say,..

Even if we win 4-0, I think he accepts the squad is light and we need 2-3 signings.

Unless the goals are scored by Gnarby, Eisfeld, Zelalem and Akpom, in which case he will say the youngsters are ready and we don't need additions.

Jonathan Prendergast wrote:

Michael Foster wrote:

I dont think a home spanking for villa will do us any favours...win 4-0 and you know what wenger will say,..

Even if we win 4-0, I think he accepts the squad is light and we need 2-3 signings.

Unless the goals are scored by Gnarby, Eisfeld, Zelalem and Akpom, in which case he will say the youngsters are ready and we don't need additions.

please for the love of god no....

Then Diaby returns for Fulham and Wenger says he is like a new signing.

Today its all about the Villa-game... transfers, worries of the small squad and all that is for later... 3 points, COYG!!!!
So fucking excited, two month seems like 2 years!

I can see it being the line-up you chose. Possibly Ox/Rosicky in for Cazorla depending on how the little Spaniard is after the internationals.

Can't wait for the league to begin. I reckon Giroud (impressive in pre-season) will score and we'll win. Think I read Big Per will captain this one.

Does anyone know what channel(s) the game's gonna be on?

BFG is captain until Arteta comes back I think... Can't wait for it to start really... A new season is like a new signing trolololl

FOOTBALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOOOTBAAALLLLLL FINALLLYYY, DOUBLES AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOR ICING

done being a muppet, i think we will win, we really do have a good team as long as injury the plague don't hit us, like thats going to happen
as for channels dunno which country you are at. as for me i'm back in my country (third world country), tons of channels will be showing games. i don't have any words to describe the disappointment when i found out U.K (home of premier league) does broadcasting differently, i had to stream all the games when i was in london only downside, here the electricity is unreliable
3 points tonight

real football's finally back, woop woop! think we'll win this one quite comfortably, 2-0 to us. that being said, i really, really hope we sign someone before the end of the window, our lack of depth is downright frightening.

if anyone's looking for a strea, this one's pretty decent: http://www.frogihost.info/

Giroud is gonna be BOSS this season, I've said this before!

Jason Morrison wrote:Giroud is gonna be BOSS this season, I've said this before!

agreed. that was another great finish from him.

and we are back

AHHHHRGGGGGGHHHHHH MISSED THE START OF OUR SEASON.....

shoot me now  

stand up sez and make your season!!!!!

ball could have gone anywhere from that save and it ends up on his head ffs!!!!!!!

Gibbs out injured now, wow... Getting thinner by the day we are.

Jason Morrison wrote:Gibbs out injured now, wow... Getting thinner by the day we are.

i just cannot work out why we are not signing anyone....what is a hat full of world class stars wenger is after?!?!

the ref needs to get hold of this game

surely we are back.typical arsenal