24 Aug 2018 22:10:16
Be really disappointed to see Xhaka start tomorrow.
I understand Dick is giving everyone a chance to sink or swim but I really hope to see us field a side with 11 players who haven't struggled for 2 seasons consistently to make any kind of positive impact.
I understand people who are unhappy with a Mesuts contribution so far this season and if he's left out too that's fine by me even though I'm a huge fan of his, Mesut maybe hasn't been everything we'd hoped he be in an Arsenal shirt but he has had some excellent games along with the not so good ones.

1.) 24 Aug 2018
24 Aug 2018 22:33:50
I think gunner, players need a chance to shine and some won't shine and some won't shine straight away. The first two games highlighted players not being upto speed for various reasons and players like lichsteiner, torreira, welbeck, lacca etc need to be introduced quickly to see if they can do the job that their fellow players couldn't. We now don't have time to see if players can do it, it should be dog eat dog. I fully expect a more functional team tomorrow and will be upset if the slackers are not accountable.

2.) 25 Aug 2018
25 Aug 2018 01:07:03
I understand the friendship some have with each other. But it’s been a long time since I heard a player from the squad say they weren’t happy they weren’t playing.
There seems to be a good camaraderie, but nobody inside the clubs saying, yeah Ozil or Xhaka has been poor I want their spot. I mean competitiveness wise. Am I being pessimistic but the squad seem happy and settled, maybe that’s Wenger now gone but nobody is saying yeah I want to push on and stake my claim for a place, it’s more like yeah I will make myself ready if someone gets injured, the old team togetherness thing.
What was it Souness said, all nice guys you’d want your daughter to bring home. Not that I’m advocating the players become axe murdering mentalists.

{Ed0333's Note - can you imagine your daughter Xhaka home what a nightmare you couldn’t slag him off anymore you’d have to advocate for him down the pub with your mates. Awkward.

3.) 25 Aug 2018
25 Aug 2018 07:34:45
I hope we don't play Ozil, Mkhitaryan and Iwobi together again, as the defensive side of all 3 players is woeful.
Leno
Lichtsteiner Mustafi Sokratis Monreal
Ramsey Torreira Guendouzi
Ozil Aubameyang Welbeck

Leno deserves an opportunity
Bellerin has been so poor that Lichtsteiner deserves a chance
The midfiled trio are all hard workers
Ozil can provide chances
Welbeck provides pace and power

However, I have a feeling Emery will continue with Cech, Bellerin and Mkhitaryan, at the expense of Leno, Lichtsteiner and Welbeck.

4.) 25 Aug 2018
25 Aug 2018 08:43:17
I'm sure it's getting there mag mate, Dick is introducing lots of new things and I'm sure one of the benefits we will see in the not to distant future is more competitiveness among the players.
Singing Leno plus having to impress the new manager certainly got Cech in the gym this summer something that probably wouldn't have happened if Arsene had stayed on.
I hope we get off the mark today with a win whichever team Dick selects but it would be nice to see it achieved with 11 players who look totally committed to achieving it.

5.) 25 Aug 2018
25 Aug 2018 10:53:34
On Rambo - who knows what number he’s after but he’s only human. If you thought you could or should earn more then why would you not hold out. It’s a risk but it’s probably he’s biggest contract and can leave for free soon. He holds all the cards now and if he’s hot property then he wins. The next club wins due to no transfer fee - we’ve benefited also from this and clubs unfortunately brought this on themselves by treating players like trading cards in the 70s / 80s. The money in today’s game has exaggerated this stupid situation with players like Sanchez pocketing crazy signing on fees plus wages but the maths is probably the same but the money goes to the player and agent rather than the club. The fans pay for it all ultimately via subscriptions, tickets and product. Agents have made the situation more toxic.

Sad state of affairs but that’s the world we are in - sometimes standing still beats progress in some areas but no one wants to stand still and there’s always a orice to pay for progress and it’s the normal folk who end up paying for it while the super rich get richer. You, me, others may benefit from some of this but somewhere or sometime our loved ones and future generations will pay.