It’s been a decent fixture in recent years for the Arsenal. Some of the City players, including their captain, have said that Arsenal are the best team they’ve faced in the PL in recent seasons, and they should know. I’m happy to agree.
In the wider media the same old trolls are trolling the Arsenal fans, as usual: Arteta, no power in midfield, yadda yadda yadda… Arsenal are D**Med. Because they have no D**M. You all know the drill. Which, of course, ignores Arteta’s record in these games (his record overall!) and the speed and control of the Arsenal midfield in the recent super cup/community shield game. It also ignores the comparisons some Old Skool Gooners make between Paul Davis and Arteta, which is interesting fodder for the rest of us who like our football. None of us expect the skipper to play every game, but if he’s fit for the next two Big ‘uns that’d be nice.
It’s Pellegrini vs. Wenger. Two of the best managers in the game with two of the best teams. A game of football that will excite all football fans. Not only do these two giants of the game trade tactics (whatever they might be!) they trade players too (easier to spot those!). Though to be fair to Pellegrini his new club, The Arsenal B Team (even their stadium is a smaller cheaper knock off), have been keen on AFC players for a while. For some reason that the Groaners can’t understand. Perhaps because they are good at football? Maybe, it’s a possibility…
The last league game was the 1-1 in N.London in the Spring. During this game quite a few were having meltdowns because Olivier Giroud is an Arsenal striker. I even heard some S&M fetishists start to cry and groan when OG found some space down the right hand channel when Arsenal were a goal down and scream “What is he doing there! Useless!” as the ball then wound itself around the arc of frustration following an attack set up by the accursed Giroud before arriving at the feet of Flamini for his one and only goal of the season. And what a nice goal it was too. Quite a good celebration too.
City are a dangerous opponent and even with a jaded Toure they’ll be capable of taking advantage of any or too many errors. After that game in the spring meeting City friends all we could do was wish them luck in their title bid at that stage of the season. City over Liverpool or Gazprom-upon-Fulham, all day, every day. And they wished us luck in the cup. All’s well that ends well, I guess.
What scares me is the pace of Navas and one or two others. Who will MP start? That is one question. Dzeko is a good player, but there are not light years between him and Giroud, and he’s not super fast either! An example of the poor punditry we football fans have to put with was the description of Chambers getting beaten for pace when he was simply out thought by the more experienced player.
Does Mertesacker in for Chambers change things for the Arsenal? Is the BFG looking down over his shoulder? Not quite just yet, but it’s good to know he has an apprentice.
Speaking of which will the Master return to continue his duel with Yaya Toure? My money would be on minutes for Rozza back in Dortmund, Wilshere to play today I guess. Cazorla too should start after sitting out Spain’s last game.
In the Super Cup game (what with all their cuts to grass roots footy, etc. I don’t think the FA believe in community) the rookie Sanogo had a fun first half as Arsenal tore through City. Slated by the Arsenal trolls, the new scapegoat for these demented people, this is a young footballer who in his own words arrived at the club “on one leg” following horrific injuries for a young player. A player who was essentially re-learning how to play football last season, to run, shoot, the works. Not hard to understand why. We won’t ask the self-declared redzone experts to acknowledge this, that would be, well, it would be honest, would it not?
In that Super Cup game our young Bambi terrorised two City CBs who have more experience than he does, who are older, and who between them probably cost upwards of £40M! The aforementioned trolls, they will continue to troll the gullible, when all they need to do is listen to what their players and coaches actually have to say for themselves. It’s not rocket science, it’s just anatomy.
I wonder how the new senior striker will get on against the senior CBs for City, will he start or will Sanogo soften them up for a half?
Don’t know about anyone else, but I’m looking forward to this game. The trolls have been ignoring Arsenal’s good record at Home of late, let’s hope they keep it up.
A guest post by Finsbury
Positively Arsenal 
An outstanding piece Fins – the whiff of imminent battle is on the breeze.
Two best football teams in the country – simple as that – class in every position on the pitch, on the bench and two coaches who tell their players to play the game the right way rather than cheat.
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As ever an intelligent and thoughtful piece. City have an interesting week, with Arsenal, Bayern and Chelsea to contend with, whilst we play City, BVB and Villa. Fitness issues aside I am guessing both managers have already pencilled in the likely starters for each of those games, so who will start today is probably not quite a simple as many so called experts would have us believe. I suspect Jack might play instead of Ramsey after the latter’s midweek knock and have a hunch that the Ox’s physicality might see him involved too.
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” It’s Pellegrini vs. Wenger. Two of the best managers in the game ” and two of the games gentlemen. and then you have maureen.. and chelsea.. football’s sc*m
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Well done, Finsbury. Personally, I call the Groaner faction of Gooners Goners.
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Excellent preview. As a fixture, it doesn’t have the historical glamour of say, United or Liverpool, but City are the kings (or should that be emirs) at the moment. Today may be the first step for Arsenal taking their throne.
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great preview, to send me off really excited
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A lovely write up for a Saturday morning Fins.
Many Gooners should not be worrying about what City can throw at us (which is a very talented team that money can buy) and look at the Guns the Arsenal have.
Jack is returning to form – only myopic haters are refusing to see that.
The Flamster is playing really well and had the whole summer off, so I expect him to play. Keep Ramsey fit for Wednesday?
Santi or the Ox, will depend on the Boss’s plans for Wednesday night and I agree with you that TR7 may be kept in reserve today to play BvB.
Arteta, Özil, Alexis are starters, no question about it.
I expect Wenger will start with Welbeck, and switch with Sanogo later – or will it be the other way around?
All I want to see is a 10 min run out for Daiby when we are 3-0 up.
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DC I cant see Flamini and Mikel in the same 11
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Tomas was brilliant on Wednesday – and played the whole match for the Czech R – I’d be surprised to see him today
If anyone is about I plan to be outside George 11.45 to 12.15 ish
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what a day for sanogo to break his duck in the PL… along with welbeck too that would be nice
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Thanks Finsbury. Exciting and interesting game today.
Just a very minor correction. Flamini scored two goals last season, the other one from an Ozil super pass.
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Aha!
Thanks SA. I thought about checking, but I wanted to test the old memory. No surprise I was wrong.
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Thanks everyone. I wanted to write some more about the tactics today, but I couldn’t be arsed. Once you start with a game like this, where do you stop? I suppose RB for both teams is one obvious key area, let’s hope that kick that Plodders gave Zabeleta during the internationals did the job!
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Good work Fins, plenty to ponder there. As George has just said on Twitter, not a single ‘professional’ pundit has us down to win although one of the Talksport presenters is going with a 2-2 draw.
This could well have the feel of a decent Champions’ League game and the absence of a goal sized bus should help us providing we can keep our shape elsewhere, etc.
I missed the reason Ox didn’t play for England – not an injury I presume? Anyone know?
Must admit, I’ve never been a fan of these early starts and errands may make it tricky to reach the appropriately named George pub pre-match today. That was where I first met Out from OutforaCorner; in those days he was still Billy’s Boots but I remember being taken aback by the combination of his American accent and the usual good sense he talks. Not because Out is American you understand, but the breadth of his experience of the game far exceeds the majority of those one meets out and about – that’s relatively unusual for someone for whom Soccer was a minor sport at home.
Maybe we can target a conventional 3 pm kick off game for a first half of the season George based get together?
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Nice one Fins,Welbeck to score the winner anyone?
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Excellent piece Fins. I hopes Welbeck starts. I think genius going to thrive at the Arsenal…..
“Blow for Arsenal as defensive target returns to South America
SAN LORENZO have signed central defender Mario Yepes”
I’m devastated………
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This fucking autocorrect is annoying “genius” = “he is”……
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Autocorrect seems to be working fine:
“Genius” = “Arséne Wenger”
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Yes Fins.
Ta for another excellent piece.
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The Smart money says Welbeck will score today. He needs to get a cockney accent quickly though.
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Mesut Özil’s message to the fans on Facebook
https://m.facebook.com/mesutoezil?refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fm.bbc.com%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2F29189224&_rdr
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Jeez, these early games are disorienting for us on the other side of the pond.
George just made the point on twitter that not a single pundit has us winning the match. This is perfect example of a contra-indicator. The media and pundits are usually 99% wrong about Arsenal. I guess the only reason today is not a must-win game is because we have more points than their perennial favorites Man Utd.
Objectively, we have two very closely matched teams and odds favor a draw. It would be good if we give the pundits the usual kick in the teeth.
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Not a bad half. Down 1, still very much in it.
I worry that accommodating Jack & Aaron in CM disorients Ozil somewhat.
Having him on RW just doesn’t really work.
Hopefully its just a 1st half ploy.
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Bus parking teams tend to get lucky on the counter. We look good, but we still look like a team with new teammates getting to know one another. If Danny Welbeck scores the winner today, the haters are going to shit themselves.
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Got to this preview really late, after the first half. Good preview, Fins.
Two good football managers, two good footballing sides, thats what you said, thats what it is. I knew Aguero was going to score – it was that sense of this is their moment. Schezny (fucken how do you spell his name) made a good save from Navas though. Welbeck quite unlikely, I woke up the family after that hit the post.
Arsenal are stronger in the second half, that has been my feeling for the last two seasons. The attack is still gaining understanding. What shall we see in the second half, I wonder? …btw, Wilshere looks sharp, at last. Injuries, eh? Not that the shitheads will acknowlege shit like that.
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*Unlucky – Welbeck, unlucky, with the chip.
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I was smiling when we were losing. The football that the boys were playing was quite lovely. Now its 1-1…still smiling.
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smile some more Sav……2-1
oh no, MD2 injury
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Debuchy injury was not good. Killed my smirk. But the performance and workrate was bloody good. The team is really getting quietly excellent.
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Well we snatched a draw from the jaws of victory from my biased point of view. I am not happy that my prediction of a draw was proven; we could have won it.
Fins: We not only tested the champions but gave them a rigt awful scare.
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Debuchy is out for the season. Like with Giroud’s injury, it was totally inoccuous. The injury gods can go fuck themselves as far as I’m concerned.
The game was good, but we should have taken advantage of Toure’s absence. Both goals were incredibly soft. We let them have a point.
Jackie is coming good and all his detractors hate it.
Alexis was incredible.
Koscielny has to be considered one of the best defenders in Europe.
Ozil was a lot better today.
Ramsey is flying at the minute.
Flamini no longer has the legs to compensate for his lack of quality. He’ll do a job against teams lower down the table, but he can’t play against teams with pace.
Debuchy was very good until he came off. He looked the genius signing, then he goes and snaps his fucking ankle. DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!
Per was good.
Nacho was really good.
Welbeck had a good game even though he’s only had one practice with his teammates.
Szczesny made some key stops.
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I thought it was going to be a draw as well, Shotta.
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What a tremendous start by us. Simply untouchable for 25 minutes. Showed character for the rest. Great goals by us. Midfield looks to be up and running, bar Ozil. Strike force coming together nicely. Defence needs to step up.
Gains, hearing reports that it is a strain and not a break.
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I pray it is a strain SA, Debuchy was superb today.
And yes G69, we let them have a point. though I feel its easier when Yaya plays.
He’s such a known quantity
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Should mean young Hector gets to flash his wares much earlier than anticipated.
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Brilliant game, fair result as both sides played more than enough football. Jack was at the heart of the good bits for us I thought, Silva slick and creative for Citeh. Debuchy was having a stormer so fingers crossed on his injury, from his immediate reaction it looked a bad one.
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I’m exhausted!
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Reports suggesting it’s a strain. Hopefully not too long out.
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Chelsea 1 Swansea 1
The swans concede the equaliser on the stroke of HT. They’ve had the chances to increase their lead.
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How’d you like Alexis today, Fin?
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Three in three Gains. Not bad for a newcomer to the league.
Looks like there are some striking options available for when Danny might need a rest over the next period!
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Opportunity knocks for Bellerin. He’ll be behind Chambers I think, but he might get some games over the next month. Exciting.
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What a bunch of negative twats on that other blog!
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Why read it Georgaki?
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Intrigued PG. It’s a bit like why you react to the twats on twitter…..what makes people tick? Ultimately I enjoy being surprised time and again by the diversity of opinion….even if I cannot fathom most of them….
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say what you want about ozil..i hope his situation does turn into Arshavin like
I hope Arsene solves this one.
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Gains: Did you have ex-City Danny Mills on your feed? He dogged Ozil and Arsenal for almost the entire game. The old meme that Arsenal doesn’t like the physical game and trying to play the perfect game. Yet the hypocrite was quick to praise the intricate play of City and moaning when Fernandinho got a yellow card for his umpteenth foul.
I was so happy when it was our intricate play climaxed with Jack’s goal. A kick straight up his bollocks.
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Georgakos: That other place is a cesspool of negativity. What balance existed ceased when most of us picked up sticks.
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Bizarre anyone could be negative about Arsenal, or football, after watching that.
Never underestimate the wierdo though – unplumbed depths
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Coll @ 4:54pm – They are plumbing new depths on twitter.
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Yes, Shotta, I had to suffer through Mills trying to figure out the way Özil plays. It was irritating as hell to have him pick at the German even though he was having a solid game.
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What a game… I was hoping it would stay at 2-1.. but 2-2 seemed fair, I’ll be gutted if Debuchy is out for the season. Leaves us really weak in defence. Wrlbeck had a good start and will get better. Ozil was a bit disappointing today but Ramsey and Wilshere, the tops.
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