Liverpool (H)

Tomorrow is without a doubt the biggest test of the season for us so far, disappointing cup results need to be put behind us as we take on third place Liverpool who have been playing well this season. Mainly due to the racist up front partnering Sturridge, 2 of the leagues top 3 scorers. 
 
Liverpool is always a test and we've been disappointing against them in the last few seasons so now is the perfect time to put that to bed and give us some breathing space from them at least. With a number of teams on our coat tails it's important that we take the points from these big games. 

After watching our performance in the League Cup on Tuesday I'm not particularly confident about a result and I know it'll be a different team but there were some big names in the side that took on Chelsea and we just didn't look interested. The vital point when taking on Liverpool is the midfield, if we can shut off the supply to Suarez and Sturridge then we'll give them some problems. However with no Flamini someone is going to have to put in a defensive shift in order to keep them quiet.

So we're without Flamini and the rest of the bunch that are still injured, aside from that I think we'll see Arteta partner Ramsey in the holding role and he'll have to be at the top of his game if we're to get anything out of this match. Cazorla will take up his role on the left with Wilshere on the right and Ozil sitting behind Giroud.

In contrast Liverpool are set to see Coutinho return and the Brazilian will be a handful for us on and off the ball. They are still without Agger meaning Skrtel will sit in the middle of the defence with Toure and Sakho either side. That said I think Cazorla will cause Toure some problems, Toure is a good defender but age is starting to take its toll. The tricky Spaniard may have some joy down the left while Wilshere will have his work cut out against the powerful Sakho.

Tomorrow is the start of 4 tough games with Dortmund and United the following week and then an in form Southampton the week after. In terms of league games if we can take 7 points from our next 3 then I think we'll be in a healthy position going into the busy December period. We will be judged on the result tomorrow irrelevant on the result so best we turn up. COYG!

What a mess...Fenerbahce (A)

Where to start following Saturdays utter disaster of an opening day. We took on a Villa side with a thin squad and after 90 minutes we'd lost 3-1 and have picked up a handful of injuries and now we're in real trouble. 

To start with the referee was appalling from start to finish but that's not why we lost we just weren't good enough. Some truly baffling decisions from our players which cost us dearly, the need for a keeper is evident after that performance from the young Pole. The moment where he came tearing out and attempt to clear the ball is still giving me nightmares.

Exactly what we feared has happened though, a thing squad made thinner due to injuries in the first game. News tonight is the OX could be out for 6 months and some reports suggesting the whole season. Sagna's fall was nasty and Ramsey is a big doubt. The game tomorrow is a qualifier for the Champions League and if we don't beat Fenerbahce then all the work last season will be irrelevant and again Wenger's decision not to spend has cost us.

It's all well and good getting rid of deadwood but replacing them is just as important although now even if we sign 3 players tomorrow none will be eligible for tomorrow night's game. We've left it very, very late to make signings and if we don't I wouldn't back us to make top 7 let alone challenge for anything. I said before the season this was Arsene's make or break season, everybody trapped off about our money and if he didn't spend the blame would lie squarely with him and at the moment this is looking like a break season. I sat and read the letter from the BSM to Gazidis and struggled to disagree with any of it and many supporters are the same.

Well on to Fenerbahce who will be no pushover, especially in Turkey. Anybody who knows anything about Turkish football will know just how hostile the atmosphere will be especially in a big tie like this. If we can escape tonight with the scoreline in tact then hopefully we can do the business at the Emirates in a weeks time. Now there is an investigation into match fixing allegations against Fenerbahce but the decision is not due until next Wednesday and even then when don't know what will happen, if we do our job it won't matter what happens.

Now I don't know much about our Turkish opponents other than they're a hard hitting team and they will pull no punches. If we play sloppily or give them too many chances they will punish us. Quite what sort of team we'll send out will be any body's guess following the loss of nearly 5 players against Villa.

As I'm writing this Sky Sports News have confirmed that Wilshere, Rosicky, Sagna, Gibbs and Ramsey have all taken part in our training before we fly out to Istanbul tonight. That is at least some good news. Based on that my guess would be: SZCZ, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Sagna, Gibbs, Wilshere, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, Cazorla/Podolski, Giroud. This match might come too early for Cazorla who was clearly shattered after his trip to Ecuador the other week and should never have been on the pitch at the weekend.

I honestly am worried about tomorrow night, we need to keep it tight, shipping 2 or 3 goals will render all of last seasons hard work for fourth irrelevant. We just have to hope the players are up for it but I'm not so sure.

Prediction: Fenerbahce 2-1 Arsenal

Start of the season. Aston Villa (H)

Well in my last post which was over a month ago, I said if we signed any new players I'd keep you updated and surprise surprise the season is about to kick off and we haven't signed anyone. We haven't even spent a penny. Whilst we have cleared the deadwood getting shot of Gervinho, Chamakh and others we have left our squad threadbare and there was a lot of talk of how we'd cope with injuries...

But of course this wouldn't be the start of the season without us having a mountain of injuries. The main one that has been reported today is that Mikel Arteta looks to be out for up to 6 weeks with a thigh problem. Add him to Nacho Monreal and Thomas Vermaelen along with long term Abou Diaby and we're looking pretty thin as it is.

It just doesn't make any sense to get rid of 25+ players and not to bring in replacements. For a man of Wenger's intelligence and whatever you think of him there's no doubt he's not dumb, I don't understand what he was thinking. I don't buy the whole "we tried but they didn't happen" story, if every other club can manage it then so can we with our ever growing "war chest". Watching the managers press-conference he has said that "we will be active in the transfer market...we are looking more for quality than for numbers, we would like 2/3 players, if possible more".

Anyway on the plus side football is finally returning tomorrow and we kick off at home against Aston Villa, a side that I would say have had a good summer. They've tied Benteke down and held on to Wiemann whilst adding to their side. we have a fit side apart from the injuries highlighted above. Sagna and Ramsey are fit to play after reports suggesting that they had picked up knocks. The boss confirmed that Per Mertesacker will captain the team this weekend which is an interesting choice, the quiet German and a player who upon closer analysis appears to have had a bit of a ropey pre-season being pulled out of position a few times.

I think we'll go for something like: SZCZ, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Wilshere, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, Cazorla, Giroud. I think Rosicky will step into the gap and lead the midfield attack with Jack and Aaron behind. Or Cazorla may lead the attack with someone shifting over to the left. I think a focal point of our attack will be Walcott running diagonally behind the defence and if we link up its a very effective point of attack.

Obviously threats from Villa will be Wiemann and Benteke. Our defence will need to be strong in the air to keep the big Belgian out of the frame. Of course Agbonlahor is a player that we shouldn't overlook either. I think this could be a big a game for Mertesacker who I'm certain will be marking Benteke. Villa are sharp on the counter too so our pacey players will need to track back.

It's difficult to predict a the first game of the season, but based on our promising pre-season I'm quietly optimistic. Until next time COYG!

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa

Tottenham Hotspur (H)

If you haven't read it already I've already digested and analysed the Fulham match so I won't prattle on about it. Tomorrow is the match that we all look for when the fixtures come out, it's a match where the team that wants it more normally comes out on top. Neither of us have had a particularly flying start to the season but this is the match that could see either one kick off and pick up some form.

The good news from an Arsenal perspective is that there is a chance that SZCZ will return to the side along with Walcott and Alex OC. I think we'll see Szczesny return tomorrow after he was on the bench against Fulham. Mannone has filled in, but there is no doubt in my mind that SZCZ is number 1. I really hope Walcott is fit to start because he gives us pace down the wing and we look more of a threat when he plays. If not Alex OC also provides pace and power on the wing, which I think we desperately need at the moment.

Other good news for us is that Dembele is definitely out who in my opinion is by far their most creative player. There are doubts over Defoe and Lennon. I think Lennon will make it but Defoe is touch and go. I'd like to see Defoe out because although Adebayor provides a threat of his own, Defoe is on form and scoring goals. When I look at the back line I see Gallas as the weak link, he's old, slow and not to mention a wanker. I think he could be our entrance to the Spurs box.

There is no doubt tomorrow is a huge game for both teams, not to mention a win for us would put us above them in the table. I have no doubt there will be goals. It should be an exciting match. COME ON ARSENAL!!

Prediction: Arsenal 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur