Warms the cockles

to see Captain Cesc and RVP back to start training - allows one to dream - a major season ahead, perhaps?!

I bet your favourite song is "all I have to do is dream"

Just one big happy family - it's a love-in at The Grove, to be followed by a season of excellent one and two-touch football, dramatic goalscoring and cold-eyed, no-nonsense defending - bring it on!

Cesc dont want to be there JPR, we all know that, but good for the premiership that he is staying for one more season

Course he wants to be there.

jak wrote:Course he wants to be there.

Even you aint that silly to believe that

His statement today sounded to me like he'd been told to straighten up & fly right.

I reckon he's got a gentleman's agreement with wenger which will see him leave on good terms next summer.In all fairness he's been good for Arsenal and Arsenal have been very good for him.They'll get a whacking great fee for him as well after some excellent service.It'll be very similar to the Ronaldo deal between Man U and Real Madrid.IMO arsenal are only a goalkeeper and a centre half away from a proper title challenge this season.I'm sure this will have been a factor in fabregas staying

QBVILLA wrote:I reckon he's got a gentleman's agreement with wenger which will see him leave on good terms next summer.In all fairness he's been good for Arsenal and Arsenal have been very good for him.They'll get a whacking great fee for him as well after some excellent service.It'll be very similar to the Ronaldo deal between Man U and Real Madrid.IMO arsenal are only a goalkeeper and a centre half away from a proper title challenge this season.I'm sure this will have been a factor in fabregas staying

Having watched the match against Legia Warsaw last evening I couldn't agree more. Fabianski (first half) may be a smashing bloke and excellent in training but he loses it in a match situation. Have to say I don't ever want to see him playing for The Arsenal again.
Am hoping that we start against Liverpool with a Djourou/Vermaelen central defensive partnership - Koscielny is good on the ball, sharp in the tackle but needs to 'bulk up' IMO if he's to cut it in the Prem.
Also of note from yesterday's game - neither Theo nor Rosicky looked better than average, Nasri (again) very sharp and determined, Wilshere worked his nuts off, Chamakh looks to be a very good leader-of-the-line (nice headed goal too, beat keeper and defender), JET came on and scored a tasty goal, Eboue scored twice (!) and added a touch of oomph to the midfield (replace Walcott) in which young Frimpong looked lightweight, surprisingly. Gibbs played second half in front of Clichy and also scored a good goal (first ever goal in a competitive match) - wouldn't mind who is chosen between him and Clichy at Liverpool, although I suppose Clichy will get the nod as Gibbs is off with England in mid-week!
Also hoping we've got Song and Diaby fit for the first match - we need to ensure players are aware of their defensive duties in midfield - no problem going forward though, but winning 6-5 is a touch nerve-racking!

GK..CB and a LEADER in the middle of the park.. if they dont get in a tough tackling dominant man in the middle of the park.. t will be the same old story...

ADRIAN_1976 wrote:GK..CB and a LEADER in the middle of the park.. if they dont get in a tough tackling dominant man in the middle of the park.. t will be the same old story...

Our leader is Captain Cesc, our holding player is Song who improved a lot last season.
We need a dominant keeper (Almunia's big enough but not mouthy enough) and another central defender, although I've hopes that Djourou will remain injury-free and finally prove his worth this time around. I trust that by this time next week both new players will be in place - I don't want to witness another silly match like yesterday!

jpr60 wrote:

ADRIAN_1976 wrote:GK..CB and a LEADER in the middle of the park.. if they dont get in a tough tackling dominant man in the middle of the park.. t will be the same old story...

Our leader is Captain Cesc, our holding player is Song who improved a lot last season.
We need a dominant keeper (Almunia's big enough but not mouthy enough) and another central defender, although I've hopes that Djourou will remain injury-free and finally prove his worth this time around. I trust that by this time next week both new players will be in place - I don't want to witness another silly match like yesterday!

You're right, jpr. Strong experienced goalkeeper and central defender. Song is very good alongside Cesc.
Also I worry very much when I see Rosicky in our shirt. He is not prepared to drop back and support the defence. Denilson also suffers the same deficiency.