Arsenal first game of the season.

[SB]

WAKE UP LADS. TODAY IS THE DAY

[SB]

THE GOONERS VIEW OF TODAY'S MATCH

Liverpool V Arsenal 16:00 SS1

Well, here we are, the moment has arrived ! The 1st game of the season. Four interminable months of reading posts predicting the end of arsenal, watching a world cup devoid of quality and dreading the announcement that Cesc would be off to Catalonia. Did anything happen of any real sporting significance between the end of last season and now ? The world cup ? Nah… a FIFA sideshow with an unpredictable ball and Vuvuzela din, superseded now by the main event, the premiership.

We now know of course that Cesc is staying, well, we knew he was staying, and the word is that Wenger has been pulling a fast one by saying he will not start. In all probability, he will start, and we wouldn’t put past Wenger introducing VP as well. According to the super information highway, Diaby is also fit. This means that the predicted start of season injury crisis looks to be, well, … a load of old bollocks.

So what of our opponents today, Liverpool ? Well, don’t know about the general feeling amongst gooners, but they do seem to be the lesser of all evils. We all hate the chavs. That is a given. We hate the mancs and fergie red nose. I think we probably now hate the northern chavs, because, they seem to be, well, indecent and somehow grotesque. But the scousers, I think we probably have a soft spot for them. Perhaps it is because of the events of 1989, one famous May night. Not sure, could be wrong. Invite your comments on that one.

Roy Hodgson is now there. Torres and Gerrard have been retained whilst Liverpool have been adding players to their squad. Joe Cole (free transfer), Christian Poulson, Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey (free transfer) and Milan Jovanovic (free transfer) have joined. It seems that Christian Poulson is a replacement for Mascherano, who, at the time of writing, is said to want a move, and is probably on his way out of the club. Does this make Liverpool any stronger ? Difficult question to answer. What one might suspect is that there is renewed optimism at Anfield, which will make them a very dangerous proposition indeed. An in form Gerrard, with the tactically adept Hodgson, we will do well to come away with a point. That is my view. And it is not a slur on our current capabilities or line up; it is just the impetus that comes with a team who are playing for a new manager.

The other factor is that there appears to be not money following money, but money following debt, with megalomanic billionaire investors looking to buy their club. This must be pleasing to the players, who will welcome a change of ownership. The comedy american director duo, Laurel Hicks and Hardy Gillett, backed by RBS, a bank with the liquidity of Enron, are in the death throes of their last act.

Back then, to us. We seem to be well prepared. An excellent pre season in which we won all of our games bar AC Milan. The last one jinxed as I was there. The insistent call for a top class keeper and centre back shows no sign of abating. This means that we go into the game with either Almunia or Fabianski, and Koscienly. I saw Koscienly against AC Milan, and his performance was top top class. Let’s not make too many hasty judgements about the guy until he has had at least 20 games. The team ? Well, it is difficult to predict because we know that there are late fitness tests on Denilson, Song, VP and Cesc. Assuming they are all available, perhaps the line up will be something along the lines of:

Almunia, Sagna, Clichy, Vermaelen, Koscienly, Song, Diaby, Cesc, Nasri, Arshavin, Chamakh

Subs: Fabianski, Gibbs, Denilson, Rosicky, Walcott, Eboue, VP

If either Denilson, Song or Diaby are not available, then expect to see Wilshere or Frimpong.

Enjoy the game, wherever you are.

Muppet.

http://aculturedleftfoot.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/liverpool-match-preview/

[Vermilion]

Very nervous about today, not confident at all, really hope Hodgson proves me wrong over the course of this season.

It's like i'm waiting for something new, it's just another football game...but it feels like my first day at school again....so many unknowns, and i really don't know what to expect.

[RichC]

I think we might just see some creative open football from our boys today - Stevie has some demons to rid (last season and the WC) and little Joey looks desperate to get going and show what he can do for us week in week out.

Going to be a tough game, no doubt about that and I expect that Wenger will start with Fabregas and maybe Van Persie but just feel the lads will be really up for starting the first game in the prem under Roy well and give us fans something to cheer about (been a while!)

The views of a blinkered red! :O)

[Vermilion]

I think we might just see some creative open football from our boys today - Stevie has some demons to rid (last season and the WC) and little Joey looks desperate to get going and show what he can do for us week in week out.

Going to be a tough game, no doubt about that and I expect that Wenger will start with Fabregas and maybe Van Persie but just feel the lads will be really up for starting the first game in the prem under Roy well and give us fans something to cheer about (been a while!)

The views of a blinkered red! :O)

So long as it works, 'open and creative' against Arsenal can be dangerous, be interesting to see how Hodgson go's about it though.

[RichC]

So long as it works, 'open and creative' against Arsenal can be dangerous, be interesting to see how Hodgson go's about it though.

I was meaning more up top - hopefully with a mixture of Stevie, Cole and whoever plays behind the front man things won't be as static as they were last season

Looking forward to how Roy goes about this today and moving forwards!

[SB]

I think we might just see some creative open football from our boys today - Stevie has some demons to rid (last season and the WC) and little Joey looks desperate to get going and show what he can do for us week in week out.

Going to be a tough game, no doubt about that and I expect that Wenger will start with Fabregas and maybe Van Persie but just feel the lads will be really up for starting the first game in the prem under Roy well and give us fans something to cheer about (been a while!)

The views of a blinkered red! :O)

That's what I like to hear The boys should play without any fear at all

[RichC]

That's what I like to hear The boys should play without any fear at all

Damn straight!

On our day we're a match for pretty much anyone, and the one great thing about football is at the start of the season you can forget about the previous season and start afresh!

[SB]

Damn straight!

On our day we're a match for pretty much anyone, and the one great thing about football is at the start of the season you can forget about the previous season and start afresh!

Roy's pep talk should be * it's time to remove the shackles gentlemen, we are LFC and this is Anfield *

[RichC]

Roy's pep talk should be * it's time to remove the shackles gentlemen, we are LFC and this is Anfield *

Short, sharp, to the point and says it all.

Let's hope the crowd today are in full voice; if so the Arse could find 90 minutes at Anfield a long day at the office!

[SB]

Short, sharp, to the point and says it all.

Let's hope the crowd today are in full voice; if so the Arse could find 90 minutes at Anfield a long day at the office!

I'm counting on it. I hope Masher puts a special *hit* on Chamakh to welcome him to England

[RichC]

I'm counting on it. I hope Masher puts a special *hit* on Chamakh to welcome him to England

Be nice if he starts and it does turn out to be his last game for him to boss it and say goodbye properly!

I shall be enjoying several bottles of Bintang in front of the box watching this!

[Gibbo]

It says on a arshavin twitter page that he has an injury. Don't know the truth in that because some of the posts seem a bit not him from what he is saying, mainly talks about bets he's put on. I'd quote it but I'm on my mobile. If anyone is interested the name is arshavin_soccer


If he is out then

[Rudo]

Got that nervous feeling in my stomach.

Only two hours to go now...

[Bender]

Got that nervous feeling in my stomach.

Only two hours to go now...

let me help you with that