2017-18 PL MATCHDAY THREAD

ARSENAL vs LEICESTER CITY

Arsenal and Leicester get the 2017-18 Premier League under way when they face off at the Emirates Stadium on Friday, August 11.

Arsenal starting XI (3-4-1-2): Cech; Holding, Monreal, Kolasinac; Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Ozil; Welbeck, Lacazette.

Arsenal subs: Ospina, Mustafi, Coquelin, Ramsey, Walcott, Iwobi, Giroud.

I think 2-1 to Arsenal..

Little bit niggle

I lost few years of my life and half hair after this game. TradeMark Arsenal season start.

I lost few years of my life and half hair after this game. TradeMark Arsenal season start.

A win's a win. Even if we won by a thread. We can't always have one-sided wins, and that's what makes you sit at the edge of your seat, screaming for your team. That's the name of the game mate.

Let's keep the faith going for the team. COYG.

Little bit niggle

ARSENAL 4 LEICESTER CITY 3

What a game to start our season.... Both new signings Lacazette & Kolasinac looks solid in their debut.. way to go!!!

u wot m9

Key Opta Facts: - This was only the sixth time that an opening matchday game in a Premier League season has seen seven goals scored – no game has seen more.

• Arsenal are now unbeaten in 22 Premier League games against Leicester City (W15 D7) and they have won 11 successive Premier League home games against the Foxes.

• Alexandre Lacazette scored with his first shot (and second touch) as a Premier League player; just 1:34 in to the game.

• Lacazette is just the seventh player to score on his Premier League debut for Arsenal; after Kevin Campbell, Steve Bould, Fredrik Ljungberg, Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri & Thomas Vermaelen.

• Jamie Vardy has now scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Arsenal.

• Olivier Giroud’s goal was his 50th in all competitions at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal.

• Since the start of last season, Olivier Giroud has scored seven Premier League goals as a substitute – three more than any other player in this period.

so what tired excuses are going to be treaded out for today?

I don't know on which planet Monreal is the first choice middle center back. Wonga plz

with this kind of defense, we will fight to finish for the Europa League spot itself..

Uh, "no"...

LIVERPOOL VS ARSENAL

SQUAD & TEAM NEWS

Philippe Coutinho is unlikely to play as his future remains up in the air ahead of the transfer window closing, while Adam Lallana remains out with an injury. Nathaniel Clyne is another injury concern and the defender is still not fully up to speed following a back complaint.

Potential starting XI: Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Moreno, Matip, Lovren; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can; Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Alexis Sanchez should play a part in the game after recovering from an abdominal strain, while Laurent Koscielny comes back into the reckoning following the completion of his three-match ban. Jack Wilshere is available for selection, but Santi Cazorla remains out as he recovers from injury. Lucas Perez, meanwhile, is not likely to feature as he nears an exit from the Emirates.

Potential starting XI: Cech; Monreal, Mustafi, Koscielny; Kolasinac, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ramsey; Sanchez, Ozil, Lacazette.

BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS

• Liverpool won both of their Premier League meetings with Arsenal in 2016-17 – they haven’t won three in a row versus the Gunners since May 1998 (four in a row).

• Games between these two clubs in the Premier League have produced 17 goals in the 90th minute or later; more than any other fixture.

• Arsenal won the fewest points in matches between the top six sides in 2016-17 (9) and lost half of their 10 matches against fellow top six opposition.

• The Gunners last won a Premier League away game against a side that finished in the top six last season back in January 2015 (2-0 at Man City) – they’ve since lost seven and drawn five of their matches on the road against these clubs.

• Alexandre Lacazette has netted seven goals in his last six competitive appearances, although just one of those has come in an Arsenal shirt (six for Lyon).

Three games and I'm calculating with points gasp. Wonder if we risk with Alexis, he could be, bit to self-centric in the situation we are in his contract. Key in this game is KOS if he can plug the gap and stop Pool fast counter, we do that, we get points.

Points? Lol

Key Opta stats:

• This was Arsenal’s heaviest Premier League defeat since a 0-4 loss to Southampton at St Mary’s on Boxing Day 2015.

• Four of Arsenal’s eight Premier League defeats by a margin of 4+ goals have come against Liverpool at Anfield.

• Arsenal have lost their first two Premier League away games in a season for only the second time under Arsene Wenger (the other was 2005-06).

• Arsenal didn’t attempt a single shot on target in this match – the first time they haven’t had one in a Premier League game since October 5th 2014 (vs Chelsea).

• Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in a row at Anfield in the Premier League for the first time since September 2013.

• Arsenal have lost nine of their last 14 Premier League away matches (W4 D1 L9) – their previous nine away defeats in the competition came over a period of 47 games (W25 D13 L9).

• Liverpool’s third goal (Mohamed Salah) came only 12 seconds after Arsenal took a corner.

• Roberto Firmino has scored and assisted in a game on eight occasions since his Premier League debut in August 2015; no player has done so more often than him in this period (Costa & Lukaku also on 8).

• Sadio Mané is only the 3rd player to score in the first 3 PL games of a season for Liverpool (after Robbie Fowler in 1994-95 & Daniel Sturridge in 2013-14).

Why didn't any of our new signings start the game?

Its pain to see how Arsenal were toothless against Liverpool... Arsenal first team looks stronger on paper, but put in a shambolic performance once again... Lot of under-performers in the team right now...

Arsene always baffle us with his strange lineups.. On last match vs Stoke, Monreal & Kolasinac at Centreback when Per & Holding were available... and this time vs Liverpool, Wellbeck ahead of Lacazette & Giroud... OMG

He need to make some strong decisions (transfers, team selection etc) to salvage any pride left in him!!!

They didn't care. They don't care if they lose or get hammered. even at 2:0 3:0 no urgency to press, to get the ball.Liverpool was wasting time and still acted quicker than us. It's same shit again from last year.

Wenger must go.

Wenger wants to leave on a high, but he's losing his reputation again n again slowly...

And the players mentality is on all-time low and in pathetic condition right now... Literally many players didn't want to play.......