Barbara

new season... a girl can hope (even if it's against Mourinho's stubbornness)

I'm in awe of Zouma... dat cross!!!!! Seriously, what this boy can't do?

I know it sounds biased - and maybe I am, but with Oscar for Ramires we look so much better and neater in the attack. It's not his direct contribution, it's how Hazard, Cesc were played in the match. They have a good chemistry and with Arsenal giving us the ball, this combo is the best we have for possession. It's like we have a better understanding in the midfield, we look more solid, more comfortable and sharper. Or maybe I'm biased, in that case, I'm sorry, lol

Zouma crossing, that was funny lol

WTF MOURINHO? lol

Willian has showed amazing ability to keep the ball under pressure - something not many players can do for us. He's a nailed starter for us imo. The growth he showed this year seems to carry on. In love with him

they gave up playing football - which is ironic - so I don't think we're under that risk

wtf Eden? Also Cesc is playing now

Oscar to come in, it if was on merit, Cesc should be subbed off, but Rami is off. I wish Mou was this pro-active in real matches, not only friendlies... one thing that bothered me last season was how he took so long to react with subs. Arsenal decided to give us the ball, they're playing our way now, lol

no extra time, straight to pens if it's a draw

the difference Falcao makes... the right moves, our team is more focused (that is probably because of Mou's pep talk), but we're already much better

I think we improved after their goal. It's clear they're sharper than us, they've been training for longer, so it's not unexpected. We could still win, but if we don't... no fucks will be given. It fits Wenger to win against Mou in the one match that is worth nothing. But let's see what happens now

we're watching a game and commentating what we saw... it's no long term assessment... if you take it that way, we can't help. Azpili is still off pace, was in preseason and still is, doesn't mean he won't pick up form. Cesc has been invisible, disappeared and contributed with nothing. Hazard is trying, but no one finds him. 5 offsides should tell you everything about Remy's performance in the first. The one salvation was his cross to Ramires. I don't think Ramires has been as amazing as you think, but definitely hasn't been bad. Hasn't contributed much in the attack imo, but at least his passing is only predictable, instead of missing it all, so maybe that's why you think he's been amazing.

Azpili's timing to mark is off. The way for Arsenal is through his side if he continues like that

he's been awful, I was about to post that. Completely hiding from the game and adding nothing. As he's one of our biggest creativity outlet, we looked uninspired, except for Willian, who's been our best player by far imo. He's been superb

How Ramires missed that... exactly Mourinho... unbelievable Remy cross >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> anything Azpili or Iva could have done

at least we woke up with the goal. Better attacking now Willian is still the one shining. He's been amazing I'd play Falcao instead of Remy in the second... or both. Remy has been all over the place

not his fault. We've been taking lessons from Belgium and our own players are ignoring him Also with Ramires in the midfield, don't expect him to pick any good passes. The only good passing in our attack has been Willian and Arsenal is marking way better than we are. Fabregas can't create, Hazard doesn't receive the ball.

Also Azpili is far from form... he was bang average in preseason and was MIA in this Arsenal attack, was late to mark his man and easily passed by

not surprising... we haven't been doing anything with the ball and they were way more dangerous than us

Pathetic... have our players forgot Hazard is playing? We've struggling in the midfield when we have the ball

*sigh* I hope Mourinho knows what he's doing because Ramires has been dreadful during pre-season... killed all our attacks against Barcelona. all, 100% of the times it's bad enough I had a nightmare about us conceding three goals in a row...

I called it the moment he was appointed their manager. Pep would destroy their team and he successfully managed to do it. As Magic Lamps posted above me, they win their league without even playing a match. They buy all other team's best players in the league, their competition is made of: 90% of teams that aren't even remotely close to play in the same league as them. 6% of half decent sides and the season's one-time-wonder, that every season is a new different team. Bundesliga is a joke and ever since Pep's been their manager what else have they won in addition to the league? Bullocks. I don't believe the lack of motivation excuse someone gave last page. When they won the treble they were at the top of the world, they were unplayable. Then Pep happened and that's it.

I trust our medical department more than any other in the world. We have the very best, by a fair lead. If they didn't opt for surgery yet is because they believe it's not the best answer - at least not yet. I back any decision they make. I'd tap Diescar, but Oscarego is an abomination.

I missed a not, in my sentence, I meant the problem isn't the quantity, but the quality (problem isn't not having enough people, but not having people good enough). I think our defense without Matic would look very shaky, tactically he's much more important to our balance than Fabregas is, imo. Hazard and our strikers can be an outlet for goals and creativity if we don't have Cesc and Oscar once in a while too. But if we don't have Matic, we have a bigger problem. Ramires and Mikel aren't as solid defensively as they used to be and I don't know if it's because they haven't been playing enough or if they're getting old or starting the descending curve of their career. RLC hasn't convinced me at all he can make a job, he seemed lazy and lost defending. I agree that if Mou thinks we have enough to compete in UCL, then he's delusional, lol. We can't compete against the very top teams in Europe, which doesn't mean we couldn't get a lucky result against any of them. It's nothing we haven't done in the past, but we aren't on the same level as the best of the best.