The only place to be

I just think it's hilarious Arsenal fans spend most of their time in big matches booing players who have left and WON stuff. Such a pathetic little fanbase.

First game of 2009-10 we played Hull who are probably considered a 'small team'. We went 1-0 down to them and beat them 2-1. We did not thrash them.

If only football worked like that.

You're setting yourself up for disappointment there. Promoted teams are buggers to play on the first match of the season, so you expecting a dominant win is simply giving you a reason to moan later.

Monday night, shitty ground, shitty weather, fans and players up for it and they're a well-drilled team....there are far, far easier matches to introduce someone to the Premier League.

Said a while back that this kid could be one of the reasons we didn't go hard after Shaw. Looks increasingly strong as a left-back and has always been composed on the ball. Good physicality, great technique he just needs games for the u21s at that position with a few first-team appearances.

I try not to get excited about strikers we sign. Been burned way too many times before (Sutton hitting the post in his first match in front of the Shed is still fresh in the mind) but boy is this guy making it hard. Could we actually have a proper top class striker? Our team's success has come through skill, but also fight. At our best we could finesse teams off the pitch or smash them. He seems to embody that (along with Matic and the defence). The stage is set for this guy to become an absolute legend.....dare to dream??

I actually think you make a great point. I just think this is one match in 38 so no reason not to go with what worked last season, but I'd be happy either way. What we have all over the pitch (with the exception of striker) is options. When Rafa was here everyone predicted the team with ease because we had about 14 players we could rely on. Now we have choices to be made all over the pitch. Tactical flexibility.

Exactly. No reason not to ease him in. Burnley away is a tough match so why not introduce him gradually? He's a proper all-round left-back. Have faith people.

People need to get over the idea that a player either will or won't be a regular fixture in matches. Mourinho has flexibility with this squad and in some games Ramires is a must and in others he shouldn't be near the team. In the 433 we're seemingly tighter and more compact, which is where his athleticism and bite is useful. In the more expansive 4231 he simply doesn't have the passing ability we need to open teams up. That was his problem last season, where his deficiencies were highlighted against teams who sat deep. He's the player for matches where the first thought is 'don't lose' so he'll feature in the big matches.

What I'd like to see Courtois Azpi Cahill Terry Luis Matic Fabregas Schurrle Oscar Hazard Costa What I think we'll see Courtois Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpi Fabregas Matic Ramires Willian Hazard Costa Think we're capable of playing expansive football but it might take time. Important not to lose this game because promoted teams on the first day of the season scare the shit out of me. They'll press us, they'll push us and they'll be up for this match so I reckon Jose might keep it tight to start off with. Tough choices all over the pitch and the only nailed on choices are Terry, Cahill, Matic, Fabregas (wouldn't have thought this 4 weeks ago), Hazard and Costa. Courtois gets the nod over Cech, though there is a good case to play Petr. Luis could start but I think we'll go conservative in the first match. Ramires might be included for his physicality around the pitch, as might Willian. Burnley WILL take points off top teams this year so not losing is the most important thing. EDIT - so Ramires is suspended....fuck. Ok, um the second team is probably more likely then.

Can see both sides of this one to be honest. First off, I think we can win the league with Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic and Zouma as our centre-backs. But in terms of the future, we will need someone eventually. Terry and Ivanovic are both getting up there and there's been rumours about Ivanovic moving on for a while which might still happen next year if Azpi and Luis nail down the full-back slots and we have Ake and Wallace as back-ups. Personally I'd love for that new guy to be Varane but Benatia is in his prime and he does seem to be the best available centre-half at this moment in time (Hummels is unavailable surely). The price seems high but he's the same price as Luke Shaw!! His wage considerations surely can't be that high considering he's rumoured to be on less than €1 million per year. So I can see the upside in this. He undoubtably would make us stronger in the short and medium-term, but it raises questions over Kalas and Omeruo's long-term futures as well as Zouma's short-term situation. Ultimately I'll trust Jose. His job is on the line, he needs to win now and our three main centre-backs will be 29, 31 and 34 before the season ends. If we don't sign one now we'll probably sign one next year. We could wait for the situation with Varane and Hummels to change or for someone else to emerge like Benatia did. Personally I'm happy either way.

Marginally better?? Costa is a top-class striker which we didn't have last season, whilst Drogba is still a very good box presence. We're much better in the striking department.

So a 45 minute friendly where the keeper made an almighty cock-up is what we're basing this on? Ok.

As of right now it's far too early to judge. Personally I really like Luis and think he adds a lot of balance but I reckon we'll start wit Azpi and Ivanovic. He's a great addition though and I'd be very surprised if he doesn't start the majority of games this season.

Utter twaddle. JT had one of his best seasons last year and his fitness was never an issue. Honestly think your comments are based entirely on his birth certificate and not on anything that occurred on, adjacent to, near to or even in the same postcode of a football pitch.

I know Arsenal fans will roll their eyes but I love watching this guy on the ball. The speed of thought is exceptional, he's like a quarterback in that he cycles through options when he receives the ball and will usually look for a through ball first and if one isn't on then he'll just lay it off and make himself available again. We're not going to be a one man team, but it's perfectly set-up for this guy to pull all the strings. He has Matic next to him to be the enforcer, as well as being able to play his own through-balls to runners. He has Oscar ahead of him who can make forward runs and again play the odd attacking ball himself, but most importantly provide that bit of bite that Cesc might lack. Then he has runners either side in Hazard and Schurrle/Willian/Salah as well as full-backs capable of pushing on and defenders who are comfortable on the ball. Then finally there's Costa who makes attacking runs all day and who is capable of dropping off and playing with his back to goal, allowing runners (including Cesc) to go beyond him into space. This guy could rack up the assists next year if everything clicks together and I honestly can't wait to see this machine in action.

That cross by Moses Great layoff by Costa to Oscar who seems scared by the sight of a ball coming towards him.

Oh mate...it's not your night. Sorry.

He's saving himself for the 2018 World Cup.

Great ball by Fabregas through to Hazard who skins a guy and then puts the perfect ball in. Sorry mate, had to be done.

Ramires with an excellent through-ball for Oscar who takes an extra touch for no reason whatsoever and gets tackled.

Ramires with an absolute wonder goal. Controlled perfectly on the edge of the box and volleyed left-footed into the top corner across the keeper. The guy might struggle with 5 yard passes but he can score the odd screamer. AND he follows it up with a pass to nowhere...love him.

Ivanovic in at left-back not tracking his man.

I don't hate him. I just think he produces very little for all his talent.