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Fulham (a) – Santi Cazorla inspires break away Gunners
Arsene made a selection change before kick off. Resting Jack Wilshere was not a shock given his recent injury history and bringing in Podolski seemed to be Arsene's only real option but due to our shortage of players due to injury and current lack of new signings we started a midfield trio that hadn't started before. Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Santi Cazorla are all excellent ball playing midfielder's but could be seen to lack a bit of defensive quality, because of this Arsene tweaked the game plan. Although some may tell you that he never changes no matter what.
Fulham (a) Thoughts & Line Up: Santi central, Podolski wide & Jack on bench
Fenerbahçe (a) – Increased intensity spark Gunners back into life
Although we couldn't find the breakthrough or even create enough top quality chances, I really enjoyed the first half. We were tigerish in the tackle, took the game to the home team and played some wonderful interchanging football at a nice quick tempo. Rosicky, Wilshere, Ramsey and Cazorla gave our attack a nice spark. We were missing the final bit of quality with the end pass or shot though. There was a point during that half that I thought that having a player like Wayne Rooney would take this team up another level. He would be the type to assist Walcott or hit a first time shot to put us 1-0 up. Oliver Giroud had a hard working game. His little flicks outside the penalty area to team mates are impressive as is his ability to win long balls but there are times when our team could do with a piece of individual brilliance. We have that in midfield but not in attack. Walcott, Giroud and Podolski all need supply.
Fenerbahçe (a) Thoughts & Line Up: Learn lessons and avoid defeat
I think we could revert back more to the style that featured at the end of last season for this first leg. The team putting a lot of energy in team shape, being organised and getting behind the ball when we don't have the ball. Theo Walcott may become an important player tonight if the home side leave
Your Vision – The game against Villa and the wait for the 2nd of September
At the start of the summer transfer window, a lot had been promised. Funds were finally available, big names were being linked to the club and there was a sense of optimism. Two whole months later, no progress. The only addition being, 20 year old free transfer, Yaya Sanogo. Not to disgrace him, a lot is being expected of him in the long term, but there has been no significant addition which could boost us in the imminent future. Suarez, Williams, Cesar, Guztavo and the likes have been linked to us all summer. Guztavo was one player I really respect, and was hoping he could be the one to lead us to glory. But for some odd reason he joined Wolfsburg. Maybe they were paying him more, most probably Wenger was being himself, but whatever the reason was, we've lost a gem of a player and he plays a position in which we really need reinforcements. 21 million seemed worth it. Anyway, what's gone is gone. Now, the topic at hand. Luis Suarez. Surely, controversy aside, one of the best strikers in world football today.
Taylor, Defensive problems, Keeper & More – Iron Man's Aston Villa Thoughts
The instability in front and behind the back four meant it was inevitable they would come a cropper. Not helped by those around him, Laurent Koscielny put in one of his worst performances in Arsenal colours. A true day to forget. When Agbonlahor made his run towards the Arsenal goal, Kos found himself in a state of panic rushing out to make a challenge. What followed was a feeble attempt to win the ball allowing the Villa striker to skip past and win his side a spot kick. It was the kind of ill-thought out decision to step out that Thomas Vermaelen is all too often (rightly) crucified for. The Frenchman's day got worse when he slid in to concede the second penalty. As I said above, I thought it was a 50-50 decision but when you go sliding in like that, at that angle, on somebody with that much more pace than you, you give the referee the opportunity to make that sort of decision. Put your hand on heart and tell me you wouldn't demand a spot kick if a Villa player went in like that on Giroud or Walcott at the other end
Your Vision – End of Era For Arsene Wenger?
As someone who might be called a Wenger loyalist, I have to agree that many of my fellow Gooners are on edge, and if the window closes without significant additions, there is likely to be an Arsenal fans summer revolution with boos sounding out around the ground at the first sign of a poor performance and goodness knows what will happen when we lose, heralding protest groups who will
Aston Villa (h) Thoughts & Line Up: Ox to start? Is Santi match fit? & Positive momentum a must
In other areas of the pitch, I think we are without injury to our first choice players. I swear I heard that we had a collection of major injuries only a few days ago. It appears that Sagna, Ramsey and Theo are all ready to rock and roll which is great. The only question mark apart from the one central midfield position is who starts left sided attack? Santi Cazorla has not had a full pre season and also came back late from his international game with Spain so he may start from the bench, if this is the case then you can expect Lukas Podolski to play wide left. That said, Santi is Santi. How can you have a new season without watching the shifting little feet of Santi twisting one way and another.