Start as you mean to go on

So, after a hiatus (there's only so many times I can say the same thing again and again and again), the least read Arsenal Blog in existence is back for more in 2019-20. In this first post of the season I'll first cover the game against Newcastle, and then look at what's been going on in pre-season and why I think that Arsenal fans should be optimistic for the months ahead.

It took Arsenal 8 months last season to manage a clean sheet away from home in the league. This season they managed it on Matchday One, and helped themselves to a pretty comfortable three points from Newcastle. The major talking points from the game were as follows:

1.  Lots of new signings to look forward to, yet for various reasons none of them started. Pepe has only just arrived, and (slightly left-field and very interesting signing) David Luiz had a single training session last week, Dani Ceballos was suffering from a slight ankle injury, and Kieran Tierney was signed injured. I personally had no problems with the team selection (many on social media did, but they need to get over themselves; it's going to be a long season), and was delighted to see Willock and Nelson get starts. The team selection was solid, if unexciting, and the way it was set up was pragmatic. Players did their job well all over the field.

2.  It's difficult to knock anybody's performance (unexciting as the match was). Leno did everything expected of him (although I dont' think I'll ever be free of heart palpitations when they try to play it out from the back!). The defence was solid and barely allowed Newcastle an opportunity. The experienced Sokratis and Monreal did exactly what we would have expected of them, whilst I'm personally delighted to see Calum Chambers finally get (and take) an opportunity. Plus although Maitland-Niles still has a lot to learn about playing right back he had a decent game - and a lovely assist.
In midfield, I barely noticed Xhaka (something of a relief!), whilst Willock had a quiet-ish game, but the star of the midfield three was undoubtedly Matteo Guendouzi. I have very high hopes for him.
Higher up the pitch, Mkhitaryan was quiet and mainly disappointing, but generally did the job asked of him, whilst Nelson looked very promising indeed, using the ball intelligently and working hard when out of possession. As for Aubameyang, I thought he had a great game, leading the line well, making intelligent runs and dragging defenders out of position continually. And of course he took his goal superbly.
It's too early to judge, but I liked the look of Ceballos, Pepe looks like he's going to excite us as the season progresses, and Martinelli looks OK too.
As the season goes on, the starting line-up is likely to look very different to what it did on Sunday, but those people moaning about new players not starting etc. should not lose sight of the fact that we've gone to a difficult away ground and started with three points and a clean sheet. That's what matters most.

Now a look back at the main talking points from the summer; namely, #wecaredoyou and the transfer window in general, the strange situation surrounding Ozil and Kolasinac, plus the man who calls himself Heavy D and the whole AFTV phenomenon. Followed by a prediction...

1.  I'm pretty sure that the #wecaredoyou campaign had a negligible effect on the thinking of the owner and the Board, and that they were planning to spend the sort of money they ended up spending all along. Nonetheless Josh Kroenke was true to his word, considerably more money was laid out than I think almost all of us were expecting, most of the holes were filled (sorry to see Kos go - and especially the way he did - but David Luiz's suprising signing takes care of that) and the club's transfer record was smashed good and proper. I think that we have to accept that in Sanllehi and now Edu we have a more dynamic recruitment team, and the funds were supplied to back them up. Personally, I'm both delighted with and excited by the summer's business. Maybe it's time to ease off Silent Stan's back?

The downside is the surprising loss of Iwobi (to balance the books, it would appear) but that's business I suppose. And the presence of what many of us may describe as 'dead wood' in the squad - or if not dead wood then players who are costing more than their worth. In this I'd include Mustafi, who does look as though he's on his way, Mkhitaryan who has only convinced in very small flashes, and more controversially Xhaka and Ozil.

Sunday's team wasn't set up to do much for Xhaka, whose range of passing - his main asset - could not be shown off because the team played so narrowly. And without that he's not got much to offer. He's a risk in the tackle, and tends to dwell on the ball. As for Ozil - and I'm moving on to organised crime in a moment - I have to admit that following Baku I'm pretty much done with him. A wonderful footballer on his day, but not worth what he's being paid if he can't/won't turn it on more than occasionally. If they both go in the next three weeks, I won't shed too many tears (maybe just a few for Ozil; a joy to behold on his day) .

2.  Organised crime, eh? We can't possibly expect to be privy to what's going on with Ozil and Kolasinac, but it's clearly serious, and I'm wondering if they'd be better off plying their trade elsewhere for the sakes of themselves and their families. It would be wrong to speculate on why they're being targetted - although there are all sorts of rumours and conjecture on social media - but to think that the street of Golders Green are looking like the Wild West is absoltely terrifying and I hope that the Police sort it out quickly.

3.  Now I normally wouldn't wish to give AFTV any oxygen whatsoever, as they're an absolute embarrassment and laughing stock to the majority of Arsenal fans, but how this guy who styles himself as Heavy D has managed to sink even lower than the likes of Claude, Troopz and Mr DT I don't know. All I can say is that I've just given them a tiny bit of oxygen here, but I'd beg Arsenal fans to ignore them completely on social media so that they get swallowed back up their own holes as swiftly as possible.

4.  Finally, a prediction. It is clear that Manchester City and Liverpool will continue to dominate the title chase this season and that one of them will win it. However, of Arsenal's 'rivals' for Top Four, I'd venture to suggest that we'll finish very close to (if not above) Spurs this season, but that if I were a fan of either Chelsea or Manchester United I'd be worried. People will point to Manchester United's 4-0 win over Chelsea and wonder what I'm going on about, but that was the most unrepresentative 4-0 I've ever seen. I'd be concerned for United with Solskjaer in charge as ther season goes on and Chelsea, having lost Hazard and with Lampard at the reins and a transfer embargo, are in my opinion really going to struggle to keep up.
So whilst I was concerned 6 weeks ago that Arsenal may need to start looking over their shoulders at Wolves, Leicester and Everton, I think that we can safely now look up and at a golden opportunity to qualify for the Champions League this season. 4th at worst; it's back on!

See you next week.