please log in to view this image Sunday 1st September 4.30pm Premier League Emirates Stadium Our reasonable start to the campaign has been derailed by a poor result matched by a similar performance. We may have come into the season expecting to lose one of our first three games, but it wasn't that one. This is now an even bigger match than usual, coming with additional implications and just before a break. Our hosts also lost on the weekend and will be looking to bounce back and make a statement. Can we get a result or will we face a bleak couple of weeks full of speculation and misery? Arsenal spent last year adjusting to a new coach, but some rather old performances and results. Everybody expected Emery to have a period of adjustment and adaption and it's largely how things went. Excellent home form was mirrored by appalling results on the road, despite little change in tactics between them. The old were shipped out and the new were brought in, to unsurprisingly varied outcomes. A long unbeaten run contrasted with an end of season collapse and a cup final loss. The summer saw them invest rather more than the media had suggested that they would. They edged their first two fixtures, beating Newcastle and Burnley, then lost the third. No shame in getting beaten by Liverpool at Anfield though, so it's still far too early to be able to judge them. David Luiz' performance may have encouraged his doubters, but he's a new signing in an unsettled defence. It's something for our manager to think about, though. Last season's visit to their ground came during their long unbeaten run and was a very poor performance. An early Aubameyang penalty saw them take the lead, as Mike Dean took centre stage, again. They appeared to be comfortable until the half hour, when two rapid goals by Dier and Kane stunned them. Aubameyang equalised after the break and the game settled down a little until Lacazette put them back ahead. Torreira increased their lead shortly after that, leaving Vertonghen's dismissal to end the game completely: The game at Wembley had an equally bad start, as we allowed Ramsey to score early on with a free run. They seemed predictably happy to hit us on the counter and both sides struggled to create clear chances. Our most recent penalty lead to an equaliser, as Mustafi bizarrely fouled Kane for no apparent reason. It looked like it might be in vain though, as Aubameyang dived to get them one at the death. Lloris managed to keep it out though, leaving just enough time for Torreira to get sent off for a nasty tackle: No official team news yet, but Sessegnon and Foyth will not be fit to return. Alli has been training with the squad, Ndombele will be assessed and Walker-Peters looks doubtful. Bellerin, Mavropanos and Tierney are ruled out for them, while Ozil and Holding will be assessed. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Walker-Peters, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Rose; Sissoko, Winks; Moura, Lamela, Son; Kane. Subs: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Skipp, Eriksen, Lo Celso. Arsenal: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock; Ceballos; Pepe, Aubameyang. Subs: Martinez, Chambers, Kolasinac, Torreira, Nelson, Mkhitaryan, Lacazette. Referee: Martin Atkinson. TV: Sky Sports. How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the Newcastle game? Who would you select at right-back, if all of our normal options there are unavailable? Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting Arsenal to go with?
Anyone who saw the goons v Liverpool will know that they have as many issues as we do, should be a comedy of errors with loads of goals. COYS!!!
Really tough decisions to be made Re line-up. Their lot will be well up for this game. This fixture last season was the first real sign that all was not well. Sure, we had the defeat at Watford in which - like last weekend - we didn't bother turning up, and then the defeat against a vastly superior Pool side and a respectable defeat against City...the NLD at the Emirates felt...different. It had something of a dash of the 'bad old days' to it. Of course, it goes without saying that we started slowly and conceded early as is our longstanding tradition under Poch, but pretty soon after we were 2-1 up and they were all over the place, lucky to go in at HT still in the game. And then we just totally collapsed in the second half. Shape went, focus went, the crowd got to us, belief went out the window. We capitulated in a manner which prior to that had been so, so rare under Poch's regime. That game left a very bitter taste in the mouth and for me was the first sign of the 2019 collapse on the horizon. With so many players injured/unwanted/distracted/lacking sharpness, I would go with: Hugo Dier Toby Jan Rose Sissoko Winks Son Eriksen Alli Kane Subs: Gazza, Sanchez, Davies, Skipp, Lo Celso, Lamela, Lucas I'm opening the cave early this season for all those who wish to join. Let me know.
I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling like this, but man, I ****ing hate the build-up to the NLD. Then on the actual day, it's even worse. I get all jittery and nervous. I can't focus on anything else Only if we've won do I then feel like it's all been worth it. Doesn't matter who's better than who, or who is worse than who, I am never that confident heading into these games. In some ways, I kinda just want it to be done with already!
By the way, even though this is from about 5 years ago now, COPA90 did this excellent video in their 'Derby Days' series about the north London derby. It's well worth a watch:
I didn’t hear that - when was it broadcast. Probably a click bait to wum Spurs. No doubt Adrian Dunnothing will say something anti Arsenal to get a similar reaction TalkSPORT is Talkshite imo
Put me on the guest list, please. I really don’t want to see Sissoko and Winks together as they don’t play forward often enough, but I don’t think we’ll have a lot of choice. We desperately need some pace in that team. Lucas and Son need to start, IMO, as Arsenal’s defense will struggle To handle both of them. Arsenal are going to be dangerous going forward and we need to be able to counter and take our opportunities. All I can see is slow, ponderous football where we’ll see ourselves on the back foot if Son is our only out ball.
