Of course its very early season, but a win and be 6 points ahead of them already would be a very welcome,  very handy lead over one of our main rivals for a top four place. nice

Don't think our defense inspires confidence. By his own admission we are not working as a team in the defensive phase as what sarri wants. That could prove problematic.

Key battle is there.

I think we are miles off our best but improving each week as we play games.  I also think our defense will be tested but this time, we play with Hazard and Ngolo unlike when they came to Aviva Stadium and we still beat them - only for them to equalise after we made 11 changes.  I think we are going to win this fixture 3-1.  I'm excited and think Chelsea will have way too much for Arsenal.  Hoping for Kovacic to get some minutes in the second half.

Think this will be a high scoring draw.

Hazard/Hudson Odoi will destroy Bellerin.

However, Auba/Lacazette could well expose our high line as we get used to our tactics.

I really hope Auba plays instead of Lacazette. Am still trying to find out who is the laziest and worst player between Auba and Morata!

I hope Giroud start this game for us. The team is still learning to play according to the new manager's tactics and we are really struggling. The scoreline in our last match doesn't tell the real story of that game. It will take some time before the team starts playing the way Sarri wants. So I don't feel good about us playing any team in the top 6 from now till October. But fixture has been made, it's Arsenal next, if we start the game the same way we did in our last match, we will be easily beaten. Sarri needs to make some important changes to the starting line up like Giroud and Hazard coming in for Morata and Willian respectively, though I don't like changing a winning 11, but it seems we don't have a choice this time. A strong start to the season is the only thing that I feel can help us make the top 4 this year considering the fact that we are playing in the Europa league this season.

 

I'm confident anyway.

This was always going to be a difficult game for both sides but if youre being hyper critical, Aubayemang is probably the only Arsenal player you'd want in our starting XI, in a game of top trumps where everyone is available, we're simply better across the park in every position bar CF.

Hopefully Sarri drills this team well and we rack up another 3 points, I think the left side of our defence is chronically slow with Luiz and Alonso out there, whoever plays LCM is going to have to offer support out there and shut down Bellerin.

Honestly I could see any result here. I could see a win for us, a win for Arsenal or even a draw. I am sitting on the fence because I really don't know. At the moment it's way too early to know how good we are or can be. 

1 hour ago, wallosh said:

I really hope Auba plays instead of Lacazette. Am still trying to find out who is the laziest and worst player between Auba and Morata!

I hope Giroud start this game for us. The team is still learning to play according to the new manager's tactics and we are really struggling. The scoreline in our last match doesn't tell the real story of that game. It will take some time before the team starts playing the way Sarri wants. So I don't feel good about us playing any team in the top 6 from now till October. But fixture has been made, it's Arsenal next, if we start the game the same way we did in our last match, we will be easily beaten. Sarri needs to make some important changes to the starting line up like Giroud and Hazard coming in for Morata and Willian respectively, though I don't like changing a winning 11, but it seems we don't have a choice this time. A strong start to the season is the only thing that I feel can help us make the top 4 this year considering the fact that we are playing in the Europa league this season.

 

Agree with Giroud starting. He could have a field day against their two flaky centre backs. A further thought on Kante. I know he's a machine, but he hasn't stopped playing competitively since God was a boy. Sarri will need to rest him up once and a while. But not for this game!

at Such early days into the season, it’s hard to see what our potential is going to be with players coming in late and the likes of hazard not starting but I think the team will be very similar to the Huddersfield game but with hazard in for Pedro. 

 

Can see a quiet start to the game and a 2-1 win for the blues 

Arsenal is there for the taking, they are in the boat with us with a new manager, and they don't have a special player like Hazard or Kante. We should treat this as just another game and go for it, and I see Sarri doing that. Like any other game, any team on the day could cause an upset in this league, we should be confident of beating them if we keep improving.

Will be a very even match. Arsenal is building a new thing with Emery as we are with Sarri. They looked okay against City. Much better than I expected however all Arsenal's chances were given to them by City's goalie. 

Given we are at home I think we have a small advantage. Depends on how sharp we are building from the back and whether our attacking trio is on song. 

I'd say 2-1 or 1-1. 

Well i'm gonna buck the trend here 4-0 Chelsea. In their faces from the off, our crowd piss taking all the way. ktbffh

https://old.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/970yys/arsenal_send_arsenal_fan_tv_cease_and_desist_to/

We’re certainly not at our best yet, but Arsenal isn’t as well.

The way they were trying to pass it out from the back last weekend was comical, I think they’ll struggle with our pressing high up the field.

Is it too early for Kovacic to start? I think he’d make a huge difference, I have really high hopes for the lad.

Even though they had their manager longer than us, we seem to be in a much better place than them.

3 - 0.

I'm confident anyway.
This was always going to be a difficult game for both sides but if youre being hyper critical, Aubayemang is probably the only Arsenal player you'd want in our starting XI, in a game of top trumps where everyone is available, we're simply better across the park in every position bar CF.
Hopefully Sarri drills this team well and we rack up another 3 points, I think the left side of our defence is chronically slow with Luiz and Alonso out there, whoever plays LCM is going to have to offer support out there and shut down Bellerin.

Lacazette or Giroud over Morata and Aubameyang. It's obvious Morata and Aubameyang are more talented than Lacazette and Giroud but I easily get pissed each time I see them fall down easily for a minor contact. What's most painful is that both Morata and Aubameyang's team have invested a lot of money in them, now they are not leaving up to the expectations, instead of them to manup and try to make it work, they feel relax because some fans are still rating them based on past performances they had in there former team and their managers still keep on waiting in vain for them to suddenly turn things around because age is still on there side.
Giroud and Lacazette are the type of strikers that can succeed in this league, because just like Diego Costa who left, they are willing to FIGHT for there team to win each and every game unlike Aubameyang and Morata who just want to get the FAME and MONEY.

Agree with Giroud starting. He could have a field day against their two flaky centre backs. A further thought on Kante. I know he's a machine, but he hasn't stopped playing competitively since God was a boy. Sarri will need to rest him up once and a while. But not for this game!

Seriously Kante needs a rest this season, we already know we probably won't win the league this season since we have to adapt to a new style of play, so I think both Kante and Azpilicueta should be rested in the FA cup, League cup and the Europa league. Good thing is we have players that can play in there position this season. The EPL should be our priority next season and if we are to achieve that we will need both players with Kepa and Hazard at there best.

1 hour ago, Bigthrobberus said:

https://old.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/970yys/arsenal_send_arsenal_fan_tv_cease_and_desist_to/

you are using the new reddit, let me help you a bit

 

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Don't think our defense inspires confidence. By his own admission we are not working as a team in the defensive phase as what sarri wants. That could prove problematic.

Key battle is there.

Yeah, the lack of pace at the back is almost certainly going to be exposed against the better teams. I shudder to think what a Liverpool in full flow will do to it. But I think this season will not depend on what we do against the top teams, but a lot on us not dropping so many points against the weaker teams like we did last season. 

 

Arsenal looks like they have done very, very little to improve their defence. Maitland-Niles looks like he'll be out and I think many have seen Bellerin's defensive prowess... or lack thereof. 

While Chelsea have a long way to go, they at least showed some signs of life in their opening match. City could have had a lot more. Now, Arsenal head away from home..

Chelsea 3-1. I think Arsenal's strikers will nick one but think CFC's possession will wear them out and a fully fit Hazard should torment them. 

I think Hazard will tear them a new one tbh. Not sure if he'll start or not though...

Our next text... I think Sarri is working on building our team, there surely will be improvements but I'm feeling confident about this one. Sarri probably knows how important this game is to us. Same as Arsenal building their team would be an interesting match.

I'd go with this lineup:

---------- Kepa -----------

Azpi - Rudiger - Luiz - Alonso

------ Kante ---- Jorginho -----

--------- Barkley -----------

Willian --- Morata ---- Hazard

 

* I'd give Morata another chance.

* Hazard in 15 minutes showed his top class. He is ready and has to start in this match, he loves playing against Arsenal.

COME ON CHELS!!

42 minutes ago, Blueblur said:

I think Hazard will tear them a new one tbh. Not sure if he'll start or not though...

I think he will come off the bench like Saturday. Allow Arsenal to tire and then bring on Hazard and wreck havoc as he runs at Bellerin and Mustafi and whoever else in that side these days. Let Pedro and Willian (would rather they don't start together but they played well mostly Saturday) run at them for 60 minutes. Also would like to see Kovacic get a run in as well. Don't fancy him starting either but would like to see him get some time in blue. Also wouldn't mind seeing RLC come on for Pedro and play on the right (that is if CHO is still hurting). Otherwise CHO would cause all kinds of issues for Bellerin as we have all already seen. Granted we would need about 36 subs to get everybody I mentioned some playing time 

Hazard against bellerin, this will be fun. 

3 minutes ago, dkw said:

Hazard against bellerin, this will be fun. 

& potentially on the left flank it will Welbeck - yes it will be a barrel of laughs

On ?13?/?08?/?2018 at 15:53, JMaher94 said:

Think this will be a high scoring draw.

Hazard/Hudson Odoi will destroy Bellerin.

However, Auba/Lacazette could well expose our high line as we get used to our tactics.

Then we will be utter stupids for trying playing with a high line...........this will be good game to see how flexible Sarri is. Play high-line like AVB, and he will get a very rude wake up call and I for one will be disappointed. But if I was a betting man, I'll say we will win. I wanna see high quality pressing, and most of all hunger and will.

i am still haunted by that AVB arsenal game !! i do not care what or how they play as long we win, i had got used to beating the gooners !!