Arsenal Vs West Ham [EPL 15/16]

Arsenal Vs West Ham
Sunday 9th August: 13:30 BST
Emirates Stadium


New Beginnings.

Well, it's here. Start of the new season. Fresh beginnings n all.

It doesn't really feel like it's been that long since the last season ended. Maybe it's because of the over-exposed Pre-season matches. But nevertheless, 15/16 season is just a few days away which of course marks by the return of the Arsenal. We have had a solid pre-season. Managed to win all our matches while also doing a pre-season treble. But the most important win was perhaps our last one, against Chelsea. Granted it was pre-season and a glorified friendly. But it was nice to win against Chelsea after a long time. We can take a lot of encouragement from those matches. Our squad remained and trained together bar Alexis while our tactics looked on point. There is very little to worry about at this point. And maybe after a long time, there is a lot of excitement to take into the new season.

We have finally build a great squad. Granted it still lacks a player or two to be truly amongst the best. But this squad is probably our best since our title winning squads back decade ago. We are fine with depth and we have quality in every position. At this point, it's now more to do with our tactics and performances rather than squad problems. And with 4 official trophies n the last two years. It really is a great time to be alive.

We host West Ham in our first match of the season. West Ham have been making some decent signings under Billic and will prove to be a stubborn team as always. But it doesn't mean they are going to surprise us with something special. We are still a miles better team and should win the match. Question atm is which team Arsene puts in and what type of tactics we deploy.

The latest team news suggest that Wilshere is out for a long time while Welbeck is in training but will take few weeks to return. Rest should be fine. Sanchez might make the bench if he passes the fitness test.

Summing all that up, we might see this team on Sunday

---------------------------Cech----------------------------------
Bellerin----------Mertesacker------Koscielny----------Monreal
-------------------Coquelin--------Ramsey---------------------
Oxlade-------------------------------------Cazorla-------------
----------------Ozil----------------------------------------------
-------------------------------Walcot----------------------------

There are a few uncertainties in that lineup. I don't know who is ahead at RB between Debuchy and Bellerin. And also not sure if Cazorla will start in CM or Ramsey. Walcott or Giroud upfront?

Interesting to see what Arsene does. Our bench should be quite strong. I do hope we see Iwobi in there.


West Ham have suffered a big blow with Valencia's injury. Think this might be there team

------------------------Adrian--------------------------------------
Burke--------Collins----------Ogbonna----------------Cresswell
Zarate------------Kouyate------Noble------------------Oxford
-----------------Payet-------------------------------------------
----------------------------------Maiga---------------------------

Match Facts (FourFourTwo)

• Arsenal have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League fixtures on the opening weekend, winning nine (D4).
  
• West Ham have lost more Premier League games on the opening weekend than any other side (9).
  
• Arsenal have been shown more opening day red cards than any other Premier League side (6).
  
• The Gunners have won their last nine league encounters with West Ham and are unbeaten in 14 (W12 D2).
  
• The Hammers won on their last trip to Highbury in 2005/06 and on their first trip to the Emirates in 2006/07 but have not won at Arsenal in the league since (D1 L6).
  
• Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in five PL appearances against West Ham, with four of those strikes coming on home soil.
  
• Theo Walcott has scored more top-flight goals against the Hammers than versus any other opponent (5).
  
• Petr Cech has posted the best saves to shots ratio (min. 50 saves) of any goalkeeper in the Premier League over the last three seasons (78%)
  
• Dimitri Payet created the most chances in the top five European leagues in 2014/15 (135).
  West Ham scored 15 headed goals in 2014/15, second only to West Brom (16), while Arsenal conceded the highest proportion of goals to headers (36%).
  

Let's hope we win.

3-1 for us

Cant believe the season starts in days.

I would not mind if we win.

logging in after long.. really excited about this season.. all set.. not sure any more signigns are needed at this stage..

but i am totally disappointed, if we are planning to go with Giroud as no.1 choice and keep Metskr as the first choice pairing.. a title winning team needs better options as first choice..

I was happy to see you online after so many weeks, Wilson. Then you went right ahead with your Mertesacker hate and ruined it.

Wilson has some good points.

He's been hating on Metskr for 3 years now. And there were some points when I saw reason in his arguments - but are you suggesting Metskr has done nothing in his time at the Emirates to merit some respect and a show of faith?

Giroud has his supporters and his detractors. That is not a discussion point for me.

Good work RG

I would go with this

https://twitter.com/whufc_official/status/629336150294007808

West Ham resting players for EL qualifier that they don't even deserve to be in?

hope we batter them on Sunday
COYG

-----------Walcott------------

Welbeck----Ozil-------Oxlade

----Coquelin-----Ramsey-----

Is the front 6 I'd go with

Dont be fooled by per-season. Walcott will come off the bench and Giroud will donkey around till we need a Theo to come in to score a goal.

Why is everyone so certain Walcott wont start on the right?

Peccadillo wrote:Why is everyone so certain Walcott wont start on the right?

Ox and Ramsey have been playing well on the right, Theo is garbage on the left so upfront is the only realistic position left for him.

So good to see you back ffs

like wise Main man RG

Theo better help me make some points tomo ffs

Walk in the park guys.

Cech to have a clean sheet, Koscielny to baws whoever leads their useless attack and Cazorla to dominate their midfield from start to finiish = me top of the GL Fantasy League

Told you guys why we need a new CF.

Wenger sticks with Giroud no matter what Theo's form is.

Basically my suggested line up bar Bellerin who i dont know why he is absent
Giroud has excellent Record vs WHU ,hope that continues

COYG

BOTH Bein and Canal+ have Ramsey on the right in their line ups
and West Ham in Diamond midfield

lets see

Time to re-call Szczesny from loan IMO