Hello! How are you? Well we’ve hit the first of our ‘international breaks’ and we are starting see the back of the dog days of August and head on into the season of mists and fruitful mellowness (or where I am, still fkn boiling and humid) I wondered how do you feel about our first three games as we lull our selves into a two-week, sleepy, sloe- black, slow- black, sojourning sleep (pronounced: ‘wall-climbing tedium’)?
I think, having examined the Gunner organism under our collective analytical microscopes we could spy all sorts of interesting things that happened: elements that went wrong, elements that went right and a whole pool of potential possibilities that we might see playing out in the next month or so? Luckily (our old friend lucks popped in to say hello already!) I had a totally horrible afternoon in the scorching sun with some disturbing people that took away the pain of the Rice red card and all its frustrations. I’m not sure which was worse really…
Of course we might feel a lack of optimism and positivity in view of our next couple of games as a result of the card, but despite us being at the dreaded noisy Coop, I feel the Cannon will still prove its self mightier and more capable than a Chicken. But feelings are unreliable, or at least mine are. As we all know, the derbies can throw up all sorts of results and are of no indication to form and fashion in any season.
I do feel a bit nervy about The Oil City game, but after our manoeuvres down the Seven Sisters road we will know a tiny bit more about how the muzzle astragals are faring up and whether our powders dry or not. Plus I also think it will be a game we will want to rise up to…
Perhaps it would have been nicer to have played City a bit further down the line, but nice and all things nicey aren’t on the Premier League agenda.
Looking even further ahead (teams ahoy!), we have coming into sight: And Leicester and the Sotonists. and then Bournefootandmouth and then a showdown with our old chums, Liverpool. So hopefully by the time we take on the Scousers we shall be full of flow and full sail and will have (hopefully) navigated not landing on any rocks or sandbanks.
How did you feel Timber! looked? It was a tough break he had last year a having been bought and then chopped down by injury for most of the season. In many ways he is like having a new signing! Seemed like he wanted to do well, but once or twice wasn’t quite part of the whole subconscious Arsenal collectiveness (woo)?
New star Calafiori, what did you think of his contributions? Looks like he wants to be very much part of the action and looked excited to be a Gunner? Obviously its going to be interesting to see Sterling come in and whether he can do the business, but I hope it won’t affect Kai too much, and when Merino starts to really get some game time it will potentially start to raise everyone’s midfield game, and I’m all for that as I’m sure you are. Its a shame we won’t see him against the Slickers, unless a special kind of super glue has been invented that can heal his shoulder super quick. That guy gives me a good feeling; you?
With Sterling’s arrival perhaps Jesus will want to get sharper, perhaps more hungry, which really would be great to see. Tomi’s sadly going to be out for a while longer though. With the Bolton League Cup game in the middle of the month we might see some fresh faces coming up and away from the numbers, so plenty of plenty.
I hope Martinelli can start to work on his final touch, I still like his driving runs, but his finally passes and crosses have sometimes been a bit wayward. But confidence is a fickle thing, what with 60,00 plus home and awayers getting on your back or the eight million streams of consciousness judging you in hindsight, like this one, hopefully he can get his self confidence back to better levels soon.
Martin Ø looked quicker than quick and wanted to get the ball moving in the right directions, I think we would all love to see the human dynamo grab a few more goals though? I think Gabriel and Saliba! will want to do better after the confusion defending against Brighton, but seeing how they whole back line was interacting against Villa, I’m sure they will stay sure and steadfast.
So it wasn’t the ten out of ten we all wanted, but it was a pretty reasonable start, and that’s better than having to chase everyone three games down. Tell me what you think, I’m sure your insights are more valid than mine, who shone and who needs a tonic? How does September look to you? Feeling any excitement for the up-coming Champions League games?
Well rather than my usual snore bore, I hope it lulled you into some kind of better dream-time, like thoughts of not wasting anymore time reading this article.
Take care of yourselves, and see you back at the showdown with the Spuds.
COYG and keep on keepin on!
Mills
Positively Arsenal 
Hello Mills – good write up as we close off the opening month’s ration of games with 7 out of 9 points, an injury, a suspension and a surprise last second signing that could not have seemed possible let alone likely just 24 hours ahead of the deadline.
I may be wrong but I think Stirling, who still has international aspirations, could prove to be Arsenal’s hit of the season, renewing, as he does, an earlier coaching partnership with Arteta which was very much the golden period of his early career.
We will see, soon enough, or at least once we awaken from the Interlull, which comes round ever sooner, doesn’t it?
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Hello Andrew, many thanks, and good to see you.
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Thank you Millsy.
A mixed start for sure . We don’t look as good as last season, Rice (lucky to still be on the pitch after his first lunging failure) saw his totally unnecessary shithousery get a second yellow, and well deserved too.
How thick must you be to knock the ball away and then fake injury from your opponent’s resultant air kick? In this day and age when we all know time wasting is an automatic yellow. It beggars belief.
Anyway we won’t miss him and he needs a break, he had a terrible summer and looks like he’s playing with a hangover at the moment. Hopefully he’ll come back better, but his intelligence cannot be improved in so short a time.
Calafiori will presumably come in at LB with Timber in midfield and that will be interesting to see. Or Havertz will drop deeper and Trossard or Gabriel Jesus will play up front – I’ve really no idea.
Stirling is an unknown quantity.
The injury to Merino is so like what happened to Timber last time out – it really is a kick in the pants. However we’re not short of aging midfielders, presumably we won’t miss what we never had.
We’ve sold some life long gunners, boys who would die for the shirt and replaced them with the usual mercenaries, but we’ve promoted Nwaneri to the bench. Presumably so Arteta can ignore him, destroy his confidence then sell him in five years or so.
The one big plus so far is the goalie. He’s pulled off some wonderful saves. That’s not always a good thing however. He is the last line and an over indulgence in ones keeper sometimes indicates a lack of cohesive defending in front of him.
That’s my take. So far so undefeated, but it should have been better and probably would have been if Rice had something more useful between his ears.
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My word Steww you’ve become a tough crowd. But fuck me, you make some great points.
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Millsy, Andrew, Stew, George fuck me have I just clicked on a post from ten years ago by mistake?
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Thanks Mills – I was tempted to read the rest of the post in a Michael Sheen accent after your opening but got distracted by the oozings of a cyder-press which is perhaps not the worst way to while away the international break.
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I would imagine, most logical thinking players play to the style of the ref. We know some like to let things go and some like to blow for everything.
As the incident involved so many irregularities, rolling ball, not right place, player already kicking the ball before Rice touched it (So it was in play) it’s a little harsh saying Rice is an idiot.
I do agree he should realize by now that he plays for ARSENAL and the rules are applied differently for those wearing the cannon.
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As far as start to the season goes we knew it would be a difficult start and the nine points from nine we deserved would have been great going into the spuds game. Playing city away you really don’t need the extra pressure of being points behind.
Timber has been playing the Zinchenko role of playing in midfield from left back anyway so I’m not sure he will be moved forward. Calafiori has started well however his pace has already been exposed and I’m not sure he can be relied on to be a left back in big games or indeed long term. It seems more likely we will go to a three sometimes and he is seen as Saliba’s long term partner (Mikel already seemingly trying to get rid of Gabriel last season).
Partey is hit and miss, Rice is fatigued and Odegaard for all his excellent defence splitting passes often chooses the wrong option and is a liability when tackling.
Up front Kai is unpredictable and although his positioning and timing of his runs are excellent you just wouldn’t call him a natural finisher.
Yes Gabby is low on confidence and needs mirrors on his boots, Mr Dead is a better sub than a starter but little B is good even when his bad.
The manager still can’t work out the timing of subs (a problem carried through every season he’s been here) and sometimes even the personnel.
So yes we have creases that need ironing out but I think generally we have started well and when we’re good we are very good so plenty to look forward to.
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In case anyone might have missed it, Arsenal women are in action against Rangers tonight at 7.30pm Western European time, as part of their CL qualifying games.
COYG!
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And they’re in action in the CL again tonight v Rosenborg at 7.30pm UK, on Arsenal.com.
COYG!
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1-0 ARSENAL after 19 minutes
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With both Merino and Calafiori both suffering from injuries from people falling on them and rice suspended, we go into the derby against the spuds with the squad looking a little short.
We will need to be compact and disciplined at the toilet bowl to come away with anything let alone three points.
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Odegaard as well oh shit
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New post is up
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