Written by dandan
So the time for talking is done. Preseason training and practice matches are out of the way and the real stuff is about to begin. Many fans will find it hard to sleep tonight especially those of a negative persuasion who struggle to see any good times ahead at all.
But for the Arsenal the last day of the phony war has been brightened by the news that the boss is about to sign a new contract, Aaron Ramsey is making good progress and could be back for the end of October, whilst three of his contemporaries; Theo, Kieran and LJ, are back unscathed from earning their England caps.
No we haven’t signed another new CB and Hughes is playing fast and loose over his goalkeeper as is his way with anything Arsenal. Cesc’s comments re: Sparky’s Spanish skills have never been forgotten, but there are two weeks of the transfer window still left to sort that out. It will only take a couple of new arrivals to cheer many a doubting gooner up.
Sunday is Liverpool day. We have famously won the league there on the last day of the season at a time when the football world gave us no chance. So why shouldn’t we have a good result on the first day of the season? After all, Chamakh, our new centre forward will be keen to show his silky skills to the watching millions as will Laurent Koscielny playing CB alongside TV. He is another player Wenger has plucked from the obscurity of the French league, let’s hope he is as succesful as some of his predecesors.
But the stand out player news for real gooners is that Cesc our inspirational captain has accepted with good grace the clubs refusal to bow to the machievelien tricks of the Barça PR machine and with luck will play tomorrow. His commitment to the cause should never be doubted, whether this be his last year or not.
So it’s good news a plenty. We have a couple of injuries and our gk position has exercised many minds and blogs in recent weeks. It is intriguing therefore to try to name tomorrow’s starting 11, but I will leave that to you fellow gooners to wrestle with today.
I shall sign off with the wish that we at least stay clear of further injuries and play ‘our football’ in the manner that has delighted soccer addicts worldwide for more than ten years. That style has established The Arsenal as the favourite club for neutrals to watch and the second club for most rival fans apart from ‘Arry’s mob down the road.
Come on you Gunners.
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Fine positive start to the day DD.
Should be a cracking first game today and a start to the Fantasy League season. Thank you Peaches for setting it up.
Braddy – think he meant RVP Robin Van Patient
Morning all again
Ooooh dandan, lots of positives there 😆
I love the start of the season – so much hope in the air. We’re gonna win the lot and stuff all those chavs, mancs and spuds 😀
Raddy – it was irish – she who wears square pants – that set up the Fantasy League for us. I’m gutted, I’ve got three crocks already in my team 😦
Thats cos I said NEW POST ……………..
start again, and apologies once again to dandan.
RVP = Robin van Patent, meaning hands off,he’s not for sale.
“machievelien tricks” 🙂
god this site is educational!
Good post DD, looking so forward to it, and cannot for the life of me guess the team, would wenger really give the likes of diaby and denilson a run out when they haven’t featured pre-season.
Would he go with frimpong?
My mind boggles! Cmon you reds!
Sorry Kelsey
I misunderstood
Morning tommy
What about Frimpong and Rosicky together?
Morning,
Excellent dandanesque post 😛
Its cold and wet – must be the start of the football season. I shall be playing cricket in the rain and hoping citeh smash totnum only to falter disastrously for the rest of the season.
We can score, but can we defend!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m hoping its Frimpong and Nasri with cesc to start a little forward
Almunia
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Clichy
Nasri Frimpong Rosicky
Theo Chamakh Arshavin
It is possible that Diaby and Song could feature tomorrow as they are both ‘returning from injury’
As expected, a positive start to the season from dandan.
Old ‘Arry has got some cheek, he’s talking about being good enough to win the title, maybe he will see the end of the season at Her Majesty’s Pleasure.
If possible, I think Frimpong should be eased into the first team rather than thrown in at the deep end. He could be a sub for someone like TR7 if we are 2 up with 20 mins to go – type of thing 😉
Walcott won’t start, but i mustn’t give too much away, come on Lionel.
thats my team peaches – tho i’m hoping cesc will start
I don’t think theres much hope of Cesc starting as he’s only just back from Mexico.
kelsey – do you think Eboue will start ahead of Theo?
I wonder what kind of reception Gallas would get at The Emirates if he was in the totnum side?
He epitomises the term ‘football mercenary’ …. did he ever love the Arsenal?
Rasp – have you done a team yet, you need about half an hour to go through all the stages. I got invited to join one at one of the nurseries yesterday.
That’s a timely reminder that we have a wonderful manageer, a fantastic club and a team capable of defying all the doubters, well done Dandan, that was just what we needed. 🙂
peaches, you know my thoughts already 🙂
Following my rant yesterday at certain biased radio “reporters”, I soon returned to my usual “couldn’t be arsed” equilibrium. 🙂
Then, I read this morning that the widely disliked Richard Scudamore, who was elected to Chief Executive of the PL courtesy of the Buggins Law principle, had the nerve to criticise Arsene over his dislike of the artificial 25 man squad rules.
I shall stop there apart from saying it would be a ridiculous “no contest” in any debate between the two!
Morning all, has anyone seen the Analytical grid in the times today Re the likely finishing position of all the premier league team’s. Arry wont be happy. 5/6 best they can hope for. They say Chavs, Mans, Arse interesting read though. I dont know if you have to pay for a first look, but it is here.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/finktank/article2686385.ece
Red Arse – Surely you meant – We have a wonderful manager, a fantastic club & a team incapable of defending – because that’s what the truth is.
Hi Trophy,
No, I meant what I said. I go into everything that I do intending to succeed and that includes my suport of the fantastic Arsenal.
Sorry but I don’t have time for negative unhelpful thoughts, that’s for losers.
Difficult to name starting 11 today, but seeing as we are away at Liverpool, I think it might be a little defensive. I’m going for:-
Almunia
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Clichy
Eboue Frimpong Rosicky
Nasri Chamakh Arshavin
Saving Walcott for the last half hour has to be a good option and if any of Diaby, Denilson or Eastmond are fit then they will start in front of Frimpong.
Can’t wait for the game tomorrow,but it’s going to be a tough start now that Hodgson has taken over at Liverpool.
I think it’s got draw written all over it
FatGinger,
Not a bad shout. I think Denilson, now he is fit, will probably replace either Ping Pong or Eboue.
Arsenal.com has announced that Arsene has signed a contract extension through 2013.
Great news to start the season off with.
Love the positive outlook dandan, We think alike.
Oops his contract extension is through 2014.
Great news for the start of the season. By 2014 AW will have won at least two more Championships and probably a CL or two
N5 That’s because we both remember the real dark days,But its an instant, must have, digital world now. Though I fear some hard lessons will be learnt in the next year or two by some of our under forties fans as the dark clouds return. Though I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
dandan: I remember standing under the clock in my short trousers (which were the norm in the 40/50’s) in the freezing cold and constant drizzle – but I never cared about the rain or cold because I didn’t want to be anywhere else. Win or lose, wet or dry, there was nowhere better to be.
You were a hard lad GN5.
I was a North Bank boy, down the front with the original Come on you Rip Roaring Gunners lady, and an old woman we called Auntie who gave all the kids sweets. I guess she would be locked up today!!
Oh for the days of innocence (though we played some rubbish in those dark days pre-Mee)
I never went till I was 15 in 58, because my family were all spuds, but i saved and went with my mates on the train.
Dad would take me to WHL occasionaly but I was a Gooner and that was that.
We stood in the bottom of the west stand until they put the seats in then we moved to the clock end.
First game of the season was always a mare, trying to get out of playing cricket.
Watching the 1st game right now – Spurs vs City – it will be an interesting game to watch. Hart is in goal for City so maybe that means Given will have a tantrum and ask for a transfer.
Morning all,
The season has started and the gaffer is staying for another 4 years – life is good 😀
Our time starts now (well from tomorrow) COME ON YOU GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONERS
Joe Hart has had a blinder of a first half, Shay Given said he wanted away if he didn’t get the shirt, having seen that display he will know he ain’t gonna get it.
Will Arsene bid for him, more importantly will City let him come to us, somehow I doubt they will.
That is the value of having a top keeper dandan, and then they got right back into it in the second half.City will be more pleased than Spurs with the result.
is it telling that schwartzer didnt even make the bench today!???
Sorry everyone I tried to do aomething clever and link kelsey’s post to this one but it didn’t work so we’ll have to chat on the NEW POST 😳