I thought a draw was a fair reflection on the game. Both sides had chances and we were lucky to get away with the second Leicester penalty appeal. On another day, that would have been rightly given. I think the game showed again that we're pretty limited when it comes to creating chances, and even more limited when taking them. We appear to lack penetration through the middle and the wide areas aren't fruitful either at the best of times. Our fullbacks have not started the season well, but then again, not many of the team is covering themselves in glory right now
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Leicester City (a) Confirmed Line Up: Xhaka starts, Koscielny back + Strong Bench
Granit Xhaka has been handed his first start in an Arsenal shirt which is pretty exciting. Let's hope he is sharper than his substitute performance last weekend. As expected Arsene has risked Laurent Koscielny back into the team but his partner is new boy Rob Holding rather than Calum Chambers which is interesting.
Leicester City (a) Thoughts & Line Up: Victory Can Lift Arsenal Gloom
At least our squad will be boosted by the returning Euro boys. Mesut Özil, Laurent Koscielny and Oliver Giroud should all hopefully return but I'd be surprised to see anyone but Koscielny start the game for obvious reasons. Even that could be considered a sizeable gamble given his lack of pre season but then equally losing the game due to a defensive mistake, without our best defender starting could be also seen as a gamble. I can hear the cries either way. Koscielny limps off after 25 minutes and Arsène will be criticised for not holding him back. Lose the game and he'd be an idiot for not starting the Frenchman
A Look At Arsene Wenger's Midfield Combinations
Despite the ‘young Schweinsteiger’ proclamation – it should be acknowledged that Xhaka almost resembles today’s German captain, with criticism regarding the midfielder’s mobility casting a modicum of doubt over his signing. Whilst the phrase deceptively quick has often been proffered for players in the past, Xhaka inverts such a claim and is slower and less agile than one would expect of a 23 year old. Partnering the young man with the shrewd Santi Cazorla could cook up a delicious blend of skilful footwork and calm possession – a partnership, albeit a lite version, not too dissimilar to that of Modric and Alonso at Real circa 2013. Such a partnership would create the fusion of creativity, steel and quick thinking that Wenger
AV Post Match Podcast – EP92: We’re Gonna Flip Out
In today's Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast: Elliot (@YankeeGunner), Tim (@Stillberto) and Paul (@PoznanInMyPants) talk about our opening defeat against Liverpool at the Emirates. The crew talk about the defending off the ball, the attack, what to expect in the window and more in this weeks Arsenal Vision podcast
Liverpool (h) – Undone From Crosses Again, Lost Alexis & More Fun Stuff
So the question is, do Koscielny and Mustafi stop Liverpool's goals? It's impossible to say really isn't it? Obviously it does not help having an inexperienced centre back pairing but I think it fits the narrative of not spending a little too conveniently. When we dropped off our intensity in winning the ball high up it looked like absolutely anybody could walk through us and create shots on our goal, especially from wide. That was not down to our centre backs. When we defended as a team in the first half there could not be a bad word said of either Chambers or Holding. In fact, I thought to myself during the game that one of the highlights of this half was Chambers
Liverpool (h) “This felt like a disaster purely of our own making” – Q&A
No I was not I thought it was very poor starting a kid who he didn’t even trust to play ahead of Flamini last season and a kid who hadn’t played a minute in the Premier League. Also playing Coquelin ahead of Xhaka was disrespectful not just to the fans but the team who had already had to endure our season crumble with Ramsey and Coquelin and in the side this year. It made no sense at all but it seems Wenger has an inability to play new signings till the damage is already done so this isn’t a new thing. The rest of the team I agreed with but Ramsey let down the team big time, he needs to take his chance quickly before Cazorla and Özil push him out the team but I pray it has more down
Liverpool (h) Confirmed Line Up: Holding & Theo Start, Xhaka On The Bench
So Arsene has put all his trust in young Rob Holding eh? What a way to start your Arsenal career. I must say, I fully expected Monreal to come into the centre back position but hopefully Arsene's faith means that Holding and Chambers have shown good promise behind the scenes at London Colny.
Liverpool (h) Thoughts & Line Up: Escaping The Press, Elneny or Coq & Walcott’s Chance
The manager has already ruled out Koscielny from making an early return which is probably the sensible option, although I'd have felt a lot more secure if he was starting this afternoon, so I suspect that Monreal will move back into centre back as cover and Kieran Gibbs will start at left back. Nacho Monreal was our best centre back the last time we had a defensive crisis and that is often overlooked due to our lack of options at the time, the narrative really kicked in during that time. Reports a few days ago suggested that Arsene could turn to Mathieu Debuchy
AV Post Match Podcast – EP91: How Mad Should We Be?
In today's Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast: Elliot (@YankeeGunner), Tim (@Stillberto) and James (@Goonerfanatic49) talk all things summer, Xhaka, Elneny, wide forwards and the start of the new season. That and so much more in this weeks Arsenal Vision podcast