Arsenal v Man City, Premier League, Sunday 12 August, 16.00 BST

[Mac76]

Can't believe it's not already been put up, c'mon guys, start of a bright new Wengerless season and all that...

So, as the PL starts in the holiday season when people are, err, on holiday (ffs) i won't be watching live, which is a f**k as i really think we could start with a win if we can only keep things calm at the back.

My prediction is 2-1, Auba and Laca with one each

Views?

[Marc Overmars]

Football doesn’t really excite me as much as it used to and now the old goat has gone I can see it wasn’t just his continuing presence either tbh. Having said that, I’m definitely intrigued to see how this season pans out and maybe with the sense of unpredictability that excitement will soon come rushing back.

I reckon we’ll scrape ourselves a draw in this which would be fine really.

1-1.

[GP]

2-0

Aubangarang

[dostoy]

It is a tradition now that Spuds win away and Arsenal lose at home in the first fixture of the season.

I can hope all I like but it will not change.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We won at home first fixture of the season last year.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I think we should accept the back line is dysfunctional and play a 3 central core/5man backline to help them all out. Width obviously from the wing backs who are young and have bags of energy, stamina and speed (I think Bell is still quick???).

Guendouzi is young, but he has every pass in his locker, likes a foot in and plays progressively. If he isn't ready to be part of the squad then send him out on loan. He's been heavily involved in preseason and it's a brave new world for them all so just throw him in. Hell it was this time last season Xhaka was setting up the oppositions forward anyway. For that reason, if Ramsey isn't ready, I'd play him.

Ramsey and Ozil can swap positions sensibly when needed.

Ozil in the middle to do his floaty hipster thing.... when bellerin goes forward AMN can slip inside to help the lucas-Guen duo if needed....Auba can provide extra width simultaneously or when needed.

Bit of a risky approach, but there is no selection or formation combination that heavily swings the outcome of the game in our favour, so just go for it with caution I say.

--------------Cech --------------

-----Mustafi---Sok---Mav--------

Bell---Torreira----Ramsey---AMN

---------------Ozil-------------------

-------Lacazette---Auba------------

[I am invisible]

So I think he will play the following if all are fit...


--------------Cech --------------

Bell----Mustafi----Sokratis---AMN

--------Torreira---Xhaka ----------

Ozil---------Ramsey--------Aubam

------------Lacazette --------------

That’s what I think he’ll go with, or possibly the same thing with Auba up top and either Mkhitaryan, Iwobi or maybe even Welbeck on the left, depending on how he wants to balance that side.

Honestly, the thought of Mustafi at CB turns my bowels to ice, so I’m just praying to Dennis that Torreira takes absolutely no time to settle in...

[Mac76]

That’s what I think he’ll go with, or possibly the same thing with Auba up top and either Mkhitaryan, Iwobi or maybe even Welbeck on the left, depending on how he wants to balance that side.

Honestly, the thought of Mustafi at CB turns my bowels to ice, so I’m just praying to Dennis that Torreira takes absolutely no time to settle in...

I read he wasn't keen on Welbeck and we're just running down his contract which i really hope is true and that he'only get FLC appearances

As for Mustaphi, IKR, but they've been working very hard on defence so we can only hope for an improvement

[I am invisible]

What I found interesting is, when asked....Guardiola said that Emery would play 4231 instantly as a matter of fact. Suppose it's no surprise, but Guardiola obviously knows him well.

To be fair, Emery pretty much announced that to the world in one of his first interviews, so it’s not really a secret. But I don’t doubt that Pep had already done his research and worked it out for himself.

I guess if Ramsey starts in the middle of the 3 then you could just as easily view it as 433 as 4231? There’s really not much in it. And if he starts as one half of the 2 in front of the defence then it could very easily become a 4141?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

To be fair, Emery pretty much announced that to the world in one of his first interviews, so it’s not really a secret. But I don’t doubt that Pep had already done his research and worked it out for himself.

I guess if Ramsey starts in the middle of the 3 then you could just as easily view it as 433 as 4231? There’s really not much in it. And if he starts as one half of the 2 in front of the defence then it could very easily become a 4141?

I meant that Guardiola was pressed on what he thought Emery would do in the game against us specifically ....not necessarily what Emery's general formation of choice was, though clearly that is what Guardiolas answer is informed from.

I agree though..... 4231 is just a 433 with added detail about the middle 3 and how they are to operate to my little brain.