03 Aug 2018 18:02:39
Ed’s, I know it’s not Liverpool related but one for the banter page if I may.

Don’t really get all the pre hype about Arsenal this season. Don’t get me wrong I felt they need a change from Wenger for the past 2/ 3 seasons, however are people really expecting that much of an improvement with a couple of decent players and the appointment of Unai Emery?

As I said, I do believe Arsenal needed a change, but I don’t think Unai will turn things around instantly. Hard to argue that Wenger was probably in decline but are people really naive enough to render him completely useless in his latter years? He pretty much run the club from the ground up, a sporting director almost. He obviously had already proved his manager prowess in England and don’t think many would try and dispute that. The added competitiveness of the premier league included with the big spenders coming through was probably his down fall. Seemed to lose his head in the press when facing Mourinho due to Mourinho being Mourinho. But this guy was a GREAT manager.

Unai Emery has obviously more recently managed PSG and Sevilla. Winning 3 back to back Europa League’s, and a Copa Del Rey runners up medal in the process, which is by no means an easy feat to achieve.

Where I have my doubts though lie in his away form at Sevilla. They failed to win a single game away from home in one of the La Liga seasons he was in charge. Adding to that, moving to PSG (probably inevitable of the easiest jobs in the world domestically) and failing to win the league title in one of his seasons, of course there are so many more underlying factors at the end of the day then just stats, but stats are also facts.

I do think they’ll do well this season mind, however I don’t see them breaking into the top the top 4, but a steady top 6 finish and they’ll be able to build on that the following season.

Just my opinion though so feel free to disagree :)

1.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 18:57:37
I think they will do well. They have a nice team and a good manager.
B. Leno, Bellerin, Koscielny, S. Papasthathopoulos, Kolasinac, Torreira, Ramsey, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Lacazzete and Aubameyang.

2.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 19:41:30
I think Arsenal are in for a rough ride for the next few seasons, I do see them back up in the top 4 at some point but certainly not yet. Emery has to make the team his. Arsenal fans just need to be patient with his project and hope for the best, Emery as their new manager is a huge change so it will take some time.
I hope I'm wrong though, I'd rather see Arsenal in top 4 over any of the other teams apart from us of course.

A few of them names are average at best VakPa. Ozil is the stand out player they have the rest are very debatable.

3.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 19:47:50
Their signings are a mix of unproven or nearly past it, maybe excluding Torreira, and their defence is still as soft as putty, Sokratis won’t solve that! I’m sure they will do their usual look good against rubbish teams and collapse later on.

4.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 20:26:46
I totally agree with salah. I think the fans are in for a rude awakening. I think arsenal needed a change in manager although the way the fans went about pulling him down was despicible. The problem is deeper than that at arsenal. A lot of money was spent on that stadium and I think wenger steered them through choppy waters while keeping them in touch with the top 4.

They have some good players but they have a weak spine that will take a couple of transfer windows to strengthen.

The style of football will not be as attractive but they will probably win more games than last year. They are a bit behind city lfc utd and spurs/ Chelsea. They need to give the new man time.

5.) 03 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 20:37:39
I think it will take them a good few years to get over loosing Wenger, look at United when Fergie finally left, still not recovered, I see the same happening at arsenal.

6.) 04 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 22:21:41
I don’t see any similarity between Fergie and Wenger. Fergie knew when was the right time to step down and Wenger long outstayed his welcome.

Utd’s team was full of ageing players and needed a total revamp when Fergie left.

Arsenal’s starting 11 has Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Aubamayang, Lacazette, Torreira, Cech - it’s littered with high quality players and whilst I don’t think they’ll be up there for the title fight, people are wrong to write them off IMO.

7.) 04 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 22:38:23
I hope Negative Walter doesn’t read this, he loves Arsenal!

8.) 04 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 22:40:25
The big difference between Fergie to Moyes and Wenger to Emery is that of expectations.

Man Utd were champions, no-one wanted Fergie to leave.
Arsenal have become a stale FA cup team, have not made the top 4 for 2 seasons and a large portion of fans wanted change.

They are not expected to win the league next season, I think they will make top 4 to be honest.

9.) 04 Aug 2018
03 Aug 2018 23:13:52
In a combined Liv-Ars team only Bellerin and maybe Koscielny would get a shirt. They probably will get a top 6 place, but could also end up 7-8 or so.

10.) 04 Aug 2018
04 Aug 2018 05:48:47
Neither Bellerin or Koscielny would get close to our first 11, Bellerin has been rubbish for 2-3 seasons now.

11.) 04 Aug 2018
04 Aug 2018 07:39:59
I can see Arsenal pushing Spurs hard for that 4th place this season. I'm a little surprised by Spurs lack of activity in the transfer market (so far) and I think they might come to regret that when everyone else around them has - seemingly - enhanced their squads.

12.) 04 Aug 2018
04 Aug 2018 07:45:51
Lol AndyThorne, no Ozil? come on man.

13.) 04 Aug 2018
04 Aug 2018 08:13:55
As it stands now I've got Arsenal finishing 2nd. There's not been enough transfers for me to change my mind yet.

{Ed001's Note - why Arsenal second? Iwobi, Xhaka, Mustafi, Lichsteiner, Bellerin, not one has a clue about defending. They are not a good team and Emery has a hell of a rebuilding job there.}

14.) 04 Aug 2018
04 Aug 2018 09:08:30
Agree with Ed001 there - I've seen nothing in Arsenal's recruitment this window that pushes them above us or United this season.

15.) 04 Aug 2018
04 Aug 2018 10:36:49
I think Emery will get them playing really well as a team. They have a very decent attack and I see them out scoring other teams. I can see a lot of wins by a goal or two.
I don't believe they will be blowing teams away 5-6 nil but still getting plenty of good results
Some of the players you mentioned edd I feel ain't that bad.
If Emery gets them playing their best I think they will show they have some quality.

16.) 04 Aug 2018
04 Aug 2018 11:21:01
Özil, Salah? Would you play him over Mané? In a 442 diamond he might get the nod, but I like pace&trickery too much to not have Sadio there.

Maybe a 4231 could accomodate Özil, but, nah.

17.) 04 Aug 2018
04 Aug 2018 15:19:24
negative, how many of their first 11 would you take over ours?