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From Coast to Cottage

@iamSilentNoise

Updated: Sep 12, 2020

As Arteta gets the team ready for the first game of the new season I look at some of the key points in the first post, on the Warm-Up.



With the season break over and the pre-season out the way, which seems a little crazy to say when put into context. We played our final game of last season a little over a month ago, on 1st August. Then flicked the barely settled dust of the boots to square up against Liverpool last week, on 29th August in the Community Shield. On Friday the boss stated the training session was the first time the whole squad was present, just one day before our first game against Fulham.


"Well, a very strange mini pre-season with a lot of external factors [which were] difficult to control. Today is the first day we have the full squad training together for the pre-season. Just the day before we play the first game but we've been trying to put [in] the work that we needed." - Arteta

It feels like a strange way to start the season for sure. Not only has the break been reduced by the season reshuffle due to Corona-virus, but there was a round of international games we all had to put up with.😴😴😴



Selection choices to be made.


Our attention ahead of the game will be firmly on team selection. The boss has some decisions to make which may give us an indication on what our remaining transfer business may look like.


In goal, we have Leno vs Martinez. I'd like to see Martinez start, however with the club still looking to bring players in, I can see him being sold. It's a shame that our end of season hero may make way but I understand a player unwilling to sign a new contract in search of 1st team football.


Defence is an interesting one really. I believe Luiz picked up an injury following the Community Shield game and will be ruled out. I'd imagine he'll go with Saliba, as although young has been training with the first team for longer than Gabriel. Saliba in a three with Holding and Tierney in a three? Not wanting to risk both new central defenders.


In midfield I think we'll see a similar setup to a month ago, with Xhaka and Ceballos tag team partners again. With wing-backs either side of them making up the numbers when in possession. Again I'll be looking to see if Bellerin / Maitland-Niles start in the roles, [insert transfer speculation here].


Up top, well I maybe one of the few that prefer Aubameyang on the left, so I think Eddie up top and Saka/ Willian on the right would be the likely three, due to other options not having trained much since August.


Who ever is selected lets kick the season off with a win. A statement win? Well let's not get ahead of ourselves. I remember 'we've got our arsenal back' ringing out here under Emery SMH. 🙈🙊


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