Celery1989

I'll be the first to admit that I overlooked City for the title this season. The main reason for this that I don't think their squad is one that collectively deals with adversity well at all. I think there are too many egotistical prima donnas in the squad and not enough team spirit. I also think Pellegrini's tactical incompetence will hurt them in bigger games and especially in Europe. Finally, I think they are weak defensively, Kompany is vastly overrated, and judging from the way they play it always seems like they don't work enough at defending as a unit. That said though, they still have a pretty awesome squad talent-wise and on their day their first team is as dangerous as any. If they can keep their main men fit consistently this season, which they have never really been able to, then they could really get on a roll. If they do that, then look out.

Agreed. I think Hazard should score and assist more consistently than he does.

City looked good but WBA were pretty poor as well. I'd gladly take a point on Sunday to be honest right now.

For those that like stats, the last 5 teams that won their opening game of the season on MNF won the League.

Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on Wise. I was only about 7/8 years old when he was around, so clearly my memories won't be that vivid. But as I said, I always thought he was a good captain and clearly a pivotal figure in the dressing room. JT - Like I said, an absolute, 100% hero to me. Unquestionably. I might well shed a tear or two when he retires. But he made a bad mistake in this instance, is it is really so difficult to admit to his wrongdoing? He's not a racist, he idolised Desailly and Didier Drogba considers JT one his best mates. He's played with a plethora of players from all ethnicities over the years. But he f***ed up badly here and put the club and us fans too through a lot of sh*t as a result. I'm sorry but I just think all these counter arguments are so tenuous, it's palpable what he said.

If City get KDB then their AM depth will be absurd - Silva, Sterling, KDB, Nasri and Navas. That said, I don't see much by way of tracking back and defensive discipline there. Sure, City will probably but 6/7 past a few teams in the PL this sesaon but this still seems like a team that will get found out in big games and in particular in Europe. Pellegrini's lack of tactical nous will see to that. Also signing KDB suggests to me that Yaya may be playing a deeper role this season and/or less games.

I'm sure he wouldn't initially but you don't spend £35m on a defender to put him on the bench. History shows that eventually Cahill would make an error which provide the perfect context in which to put Stones into the starting lineup.

One thing that I don't get about Football these days - Why do goalies always charge out so recklessly when a striker is through on goal? More often than not they end up fouling the forward, and in so doing, end up getting sent off and then the team most probably concedes a goal from the resulting penalty. I just think that goalies could exercise more caution when the risk of fouling the forward is quite high and the consequences are very detrimental indeed. Maybe I'm being pedantic and excessively critical, but more often than not they foul the forward. Maybe it would be better to come out kind of half way and then stop there?

One thing that I don't get about Football these days - Why do goalies always charge out so recklessly when a striker is through on goal? More often than not they end up fouling the forward, and in so doing, end up getting sent off and then the team most probably concedes a goal from the resulting penalty. I just think that goalies could exercise more caution when the risk of fouling the forward is quite high and the consequences are very detrimental indeed. Maybe I'm being pedantic and excessively critical, but more often than not they foul the forward. Maybe it would be better to come out kind of half way and then stop there?

I think you're bang on OneClub. In fairness to Cahill he's an excellent last ditch defender and his best performances have invariably come in games where we park the bus and thus where he doesn't have to cover much ground. But when we're looking to press high and play a higher line he really worries me because he has no covering pace and just looks so clumsy when strikers run at him. I still think he's a good player to have in the squad for sure but definitely replaceable in our first choice lineup.

Said it before - Claude makes good points but his emotional delivery shrouds the sense in what he says. He also 'gets it', so to speak - Football is about winning, not obsessing over hollow narratives like 'class', 'tradition' 'playing football the right way' and 'economic sustainability'. I wish those other berks would learn, but their too sanctimonious in their views for that to ever happen. I also find it hilarious how they think that being decked out in as much replica kit as possible makes them 'superfans' and therefore better than everyone else. Do not they not know how cringeworthy they are? Is it supposed to be some kind of badge of honour? And lastly some of my mates are Gooners, 2nd generation etc and even they think these AFTV guys are complete pillocks!

1. I always thought Dennis Wise was vastly overrated as a player. A good captain and decent lad but glorified by Chelsea fans because he's English. 2. I hate how the term 'Chelsea Legend' is thrown around so carelessly. 3. John Terry: Best Centre-Half in PL history and terrific leader on the pitch. Wouldn't want anyone else as captain. But I have to say his various shenanigans over the last 5 or so years tested my patience. What p*ssed me off the most though was how so many of our fans blindly defended him during the Anton Ferdinand affair. There's a video which very clearly shows JT saying what he did. I'm not saying he's a racist, I think he's a very thick person who is prone to doing stupid things. I just wish that our supporters could just drop the tribalism for one moment and at least acknowledge the mistake he made, that's all. I still love the guy and he will forever be a Legend in my eyes. 4. Grown men wearing replica tops, selfie sticks and day-tripping tourist 'fans' all irritate me to varying degrees. 5. The 'atmosphere' in the West Upper is f****** abysmal. We might laugh at Arsenal but it's as bad in the WU. Chanting and supporting the team in any way that goes beyond is frowned upon and I've had stewards actually tell me to be quiet. 6. I hate how some fans try to use Football as a means of voicing their stupid, far-right political views.

Brendan Rodgers: 'We showed a different character to the last time we were here'.

I know many here watch the Arsenal FanTV stuff, so it may interest you to hear that Ty and Moh have both been slapped by some West Ham fans in the wake of their defeat today .

I'd completely forgotten about him. Interested to see how he does there, would be great if he could be good enough to play next to Matic, thus saving us £25 odd million.

Very true, especially when you consider that players of Cabaye's quality are going to clubs like Crystal Palace.

Reality Cech?

Unfortunately I think the Wilshere blow could be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal. They need a much better backup DM than Arteta or Flamini and this might force them into the market. Granted most of the good DM prospects have already gone but pretty much anything Wenger can find will be an improvement on those two.

The transfer window is certainly not over. Unless Jose and the board have collectively lost the plot, there's no way in hell we will go into the season with only 5 recognised defenders. A backup LB will definitely come in, Baba Rahman probably, and hopefully John Stones too. If it was me I'd go up to £35m for him, that is already overpriced enough as it is.

Seems like the pitch will struggle to receive any light and that it will be very dark in the upper tiers?

Looks like they will be shifting to a 433/4231: Maybe the penny has finally dropped and the Engineer has realised that in order to get somewhere in Europe you need to stack the midfield and only have 1 up front. As has been mentioned, Sterling can play up front too and this Ihenacho kid appears to be very highly rated as well. There are rumours that they are looking at Kevin De Bruyne as well, which given the requisite transfer fee would suggest further they are looking to play with a lone striker this season.

Can't see LVG going unless he has a Moyes-esque season. He'll retire at the end of next season anyway when I have a feeling Giggs will takeover.

Can you please just do us all a favour and F*** OFF!

I thought that was the best we've played all pre-season. Granted we weren't great by any means but we're slowly getting there. Some of the players are clearly a bit rusty but I think we'll be just about ready for Swansea in 6 days' time. We really need to get Baba Rahman signed soon though as we have only 5 defenders at the moment.

To be fair I'm not sure Walcott qualifies any more as one of their best players. I really though he'd leave this summer, really surprised not just that he stayed but also that he received such a big payhike.