What is the current outlook then? From maybe this will be a good season

[Pat Vegas]

to same old **** because we drew 0-0 and Ramsey got sent off.

My thoughts are
We need a striker. Or in better terms we need somebody who isn't Giroud to play upfront.

I will say it again. I don't think Wilshere is good enough.

[Snin]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Hurrah! So many things to be happy about!

You've got to accentuate the positive, man. Eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative. BUT DON'T MESS WITH MR IN BETWEEN! (I never really understood the last line.)

[Curly]

It's a ding-dong puzzler,f

[Berni]

[Peter]

Injured players were two that had the summer off.

Pre-season clearly working its wonders again :hehe:

Same old **** with injuries; too early to tell on the rest.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

City & Chelsea still have better or more balanced / complete squads, would expect them to prevail in positions 1 and 2.

Domestic cup perhaps.

But then I thought that before Palace and Besiktas.

[Snin]

[Luis Anaconda]

Would be Interested to hear how pre-season is supposed to legislate for that

[PSRB]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

The old “on paper” scenario, for what that is worth.

So many imponderables all the same – will Cesc & Costa be a success, will Toure continue his form from last season, similarly Ramsey.

[Peter]

We obviously need to focus on this in training :-)

[gco40203]

will be same as about last 8 or 9 seasons (excitement and hope until Feb/March then scramble to finish 4th) unless we fix our deficiencies in the remaining 10 days of the transfer window. We need more back up at centre half, we need a midfielder who can tackle and win the ball and a top notch goalscorer.

For all the "if we hadn't lost to city or chelsea last year then we could have won the title" self delusion, the reality is that we were hammered away at the top 3 and our mental block against manure continues even when they were so ****. In fact for the last several years we have consistently failed to beat the top few teams. The league has become so polarised that all the top 4 or 5 will consistently beat the teams from 8th and below so it is no longer enough to be flat track bullies. You now need to beat the teams around you....and we haven't.

I live in hope that this can be the year but we need to strengthen the midfield as a minimum and then hope our attacking players all stay fit so that everyone contributes those 15 goals per year to make up for a lack of world class goalscorer.

[Curly]

[Peter]

If we dont fix that in the next ten days we have a bit of a problem.

Similarly, we could sign a world class striker and midfielder and suddenly the picture changes again.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

international break. Ozil/Sanchez/Walcott all in the team by then, and possibly the starting midfield strengthened and CB depth also.

[Curly]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Essentially what I am doing here.

Part 1 of any rehabilitation is facing up to the issue.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Unless Arteta is out for effectively the season.

[PSRB]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Hasn't Arsene said he'll start training with the main group towards the end of this month?

[Ciaran]

To andersons funeral? You being a fellow dj and all :-)

[PSRB]

Tackles and essentially get back to the level needed to play in PL

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

They're silly.

As I said, if Arteta is back after the imminent international break then can't see it myself. Could be wrong of course.

I suspect we may see Chambers in there sooner than perhaps we thought.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Simiar to Walcott a striker, Chamberlain a central midfielder, and Sanogo a centre forward good enough for Arsenal.

[Curly]

[Peter]

January before you see him starting games and fully fit. About a year for a cruciate is reasonable.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

I would expect some kind of succession to occur in the next 12 months so he could be in line, anybody new coming in would see a demotion for Arteta I would have thought so unlikely in the immediate term.

[Ciaran]

Tbh, billy, I don't think AW will be hugely bothered by Arteta. Hhe has unwavering belief in his squad and generally tends to make do with his current options.

[Peter]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Curly]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Peter]

Sanogo started as a striker last saturday and i think you can guarantee we will see the ox in the centre at some point this season, though that may be due to injuries.

[Ciaran]

I loved it when he tried almunia in nets for 5 seasons. :hehe:

[Bergkamp's Brain]

[Curly]