The start to the season is the toughest I can think of in a while. Whilst Utd are not a good team at all, there is still a big psychological factor playing at OT for Arsenal football club. Many other teams over the years have broken their bad luck. Arsenal have beaten Utd as well, at OT. But it’s never been fully convincing, even some of our performances away at Anfield and Etihad at times have had more in them.
Then 3rd, 4th and 5th sees us play the PL champions and two teams playing in Europe. City game will be straight after the first round of CL game. The fact we are home is good. Then after that it’s Newcastle away (which in recent times has been our worst ground result and performance wise) and after Newcastle it’s the 2nd round of CL games.
I do believe this Arsenal side is equipped for the challenge, granted the club add players before the season kicks off. Pre season will be a good indicator on what we can expect.
October and November is a little less hectic on paper, against teams we should beat despite some of them playing in Europe or having won their respective European completions last season.
On a positive note, March onwards, other than Man City away, the other fixtures are quite friendly. If Arsenal are still in contention for the title by then, this is as about a good run in you can ask for.
Tough start
posted 8 hours, 44 minutes ago
Chelsea have four London derbies to start the season..Palace, West Ham, Fulham, & Brentford...so we won't travel over 20 miles there & back in the first month....
posted 8 hours, 32 minutes ago
It would be interesting if we come up against Gyokores if we don't buy him, big pressure on the manager if he scores or wins in that game
I actually don't mind the fixture list as long as we get the players in early like we've done in previous seasons
posted 7 hours, 52 minutes ago
Playing Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United all within the first six games of the season is some nasty luck that. Then you look at the Liverpool fixture list and how it’s evenly spread out and wonder if we’re being punished or something.
posted 7 hours, 16 minutes ago
comment by Romeo Golf Kilo (U22964)
posted 35 minutes ago
Playing Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United all within the first six games of the season is some nasty luck that. Then you look at the Liverpool fixture list and how it’s evenly spread out and wonder if we’re being punished or something.
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Or rewarded
posted 7 hours, 7 minutes ago
comment by Romeo Golf Kilo (U22964)
posted 28 minutes ago
Playing Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United all within the first six games of the season is some nasty luck that. Then you look at the Liverpool fixture list and how it’s evenly spread out and wonder if we’re being punished or something.
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It's a shame they don't have to play the same fixtures at some point in the season to even it up
I'd much prefer a tough start to a tough finish, especially with Arteta's lack of squad rotation and his Guardiola-like approach of going with a small squad.
If we can come through these fixtures with a nice amount of points it will set us up really well for the season once the Champions League really gets going and the injuries inevitably kick in
posted 7 hours, 2 minutes ago
If we come through trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James with a decent points haul then we are really set up for the season.
It will be interesting to see how Man City (and Chelsea) start given their extra summer duties. There is one train of thought they will be at their peak and expect them to get off to aflyer, another suggests they will be knackered and the actual pre-season prep will be disrupted to a level that costs them early on. Hopefully the latter, but expect the former.
posted 6 hours, 49 minutes ago
comment by Romeo Golf Kilo (U22964)
posted 49 minutes ago
Playing Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United all within the first six games of the season is some nasty luck that. Then you look at the Liverpool fixture list and how it’s evenly spread out and wonder if we’re being punished or something.
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It’s not that we’re being punished however the people that believe all the fixtures are completely random are morons, remember back in the day all the Sky ‘super Sunday’s’ - oh how fortunate for the broadcasters there are 2 massive games on the same day, season after season after season 🙄
Personally not too bothered really, blatantly contrived though. We’re recently quite good vs our ‘peers’ *insert cliche about everyone playing each other twice* & I hope the cheats are gassed after the cwc farce. All we gooners can do is hope we’ve done our incomings nice & early, & they have a full preseason 🍻
posted 5 hours, 42 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
If we come through trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James with a decent points haul then we are really set up for the season.
It will be interesting to see how Man City (and Chelsea) start given their extra summer duties. There is one train of thought they will be at their peak and expect them to get off to aflyer, another suggests they will be knackered and the actual pre-season prep will be disrupted to a level that costs them early on. Hopefully the latter, but expect the former.
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I think their fatigue will start in November and not at the start of the season
posted 5 hours, 40 minutes ago
I’ll never understand this, every team plays eachother twice, deal with it
posted 5 hours, 1 minute ago
comment by Tony Le Mesmer (U1449)
posted 28 minutes ago
I’ll never understand this, every team plays eachother twice, deal with it
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Most sports success on the planet are decided by momentum, in games etc & in a wider sense - this is why big comebacks are revered.
Remember that lot last season? Every man & his dog was saying ‘wait til you play someone serious’ - by the time they did (in more than a 1 off game), they were well clear, & had said momentum/rhythm - it matters to an extent.
Personally not bothered - we can only control what we have the ability to affect (ie incomings, pre season etc). People seem to taking the tantrum X opinions as gospel - confirmation bias in other words 🍻