The 2021/22 Season

We've got six friendlies:

Scottish Training Camp - Hibernian and Rangers
Florida Cup - Inter Milan and Everton OR Millionarios
The Mind Series - Chelsea and Tottenham

We kick off the season away to Brentford, home to Chelsea and away to City.

There's the 2nd round of the Carabao Cup in there somewhere, too, which we have to play now. An added bonus of having no European football.

2nd round of crapao cup? 2nd round? what have we become?

jfc

Our first friendly is today against Hibs, which you can watch on Arsenal Player for the cheap price of £8.

I remember when friendlies used to be free...

Anyway, we won't see Gabriel (injured), Leno, Tierney, Xhaka, or Saka (all on holiday after the Euros). Tavares is with the squad, as are Kolasinac, Bellerin and Willian despite being for sale.

Apart from that, it's full strength plus a few kids like Balogun. 30 players travelled to Scotland so I'm betting we'll see a weaker team today and a stronger one play Rangers on Saturday.

8 pounds ?

I'll be interested to see the battle for the reserve LB between Tavares and Kolasinac

Hutchinson has travelled and he is quite highly rated so excited to see him

It feels good to be back!

Our team to face @HibernianFC

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 13, 2021

That bench is 1000x more exciting to watch than the starting 11

No idea who Henry-Francis is but the name is quite elite.

Its exciting but not £8 exciting

Arsenal going with the 4-4-2 to start with. Eddie and Auba up top together.

Eddie's just missed a big chance.

I'm on my 5th live stream. That £8 price tag is tempting ngl.

And Hibs take the lead after Okwonkwo fucks up a back pass.

Can't say many out there are making a case to stay at the club.

Jay29 wrote:And Hibs take the lead after Okwonkwo fucks up a back pass.

Looked quite dodgy with crosses too

Hibs go 2-0 up from a corner.

Pepe dives to win a pen. Pepe misses the pen.

Starting the season off strong, lads.

Smith Rowe pulls one back.

He, Lacazette and Pepe have given some life to the attack at the very least.

Full-time. Hibs win 2-1.

Arsenal missed chances and clowned around in defence, letting in two sloppy goals.

The team in the first half basically raced to see who could drop out the first team the quickest. They all played like strangers.

The second half team was livelier, though weren't exactly bashing the door down. Smith Rowe, Pepe, and Lacazette looked to play in tight spaces and combine with one another.

Nothing new to be learned, really. Arsenal have had about two days of training so far so haven't had time to work on much. Hibs have been in training longer and looked the sharper and stronger team as a result.

We'd never lose this under Arsene.

How did Balogun play? didn't see the last 30 minutes

Struggled to get involved. Showed flashes of strength and pace but used the ball poorly imo.

Played on the left.

Although it is irrelevant to draw conclusions after the first preseason game but here are a few.

Okonkwo has Arsenal DNA.
Willian is the same player as I am (I also wouldnt beat any hibs player 1v1)
Our midfield doesnt offer for our attack they are not even in positions that can help build an attack. (Except The smith)
Pepe is in for a season of simulation fouls.
Until arteta decides who will be first choice to play up top (auba laca eddie balogun) we will keep on suffering for goals.

There are real tears in my eyes pic.twitter.com/UYPr92NntU

— Tom (@Tomthegunner) July 14, 2021

oh boy

Team to start the game vs Rangers:

Okonkwo; Cedric, Holding, Mari, Tavares; Partey, Elneny; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang; Balogun

Subs: Hein, Chambers, Bellerin, Tierney, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Nelson, Nketiah, Lacazette

shame not many kids.