Arsenal, the Pride of London - 2016/2017 Season

[Bobby]

Arsenal FC
Founded 1886

Trophies:

League Championships - 13

1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35,
1937–38, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1970–71,
1988–89, 1990–91, 1997–98, 2001–02,
2003–04*

* - Unbeaten

Football Association Challenge Cups - 12, the most all-time

1929–30, 1935–36, 1949–50, 1970–71,
1978–79, 1992–93, 1997–98, 2001–02,
2002–03, 2004–05, 2013–14, 2014–15

Football League Cups - 2

1986–87, 1992–93

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup - 1

1993–94

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - 1

1969–70

Football Association Community Shield - 14

1930, 1931, 1933, 1934,
1938, 1948, 1953, 1991**,
1998, 1999, 2002, 2004,
2014, 2015

** - Shared with Tottenham Hotspur

Players:

Goalkeepers:
1. Wojciech Szczęsny, 13. David Ospina, 26. Damián Martínez, 33. Petr Čech

Defenders:
2. Mathieu Debuchy, 3. Kieran Gibbs, 4. Per Mertesacker, 5. Gabriel,
6. Laurent Koscielny, 16. Rob Holding, 18. Nacho Monreal, 24. Héctor Bellerín,
25. Carl Jenkinson

Midfielders:
8. Aaron Ramsey, 10. Jack Wilshere, 11. Mesut Özil, 15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,
19. Santi Cazorla, 29. Granit Xhaka, 34. Francis Coquelin, 35. Mohamed Elneny

Forwards:
7. Alexis Sánchez, 12. Olivier Giroud, 14. Theo Walcott, 17. Alex Iwobi,
22. Yaya Sanogo, 23. Danny Welbeck, 27. Serge Gnabry, 28. Joel Campbell,
32. Chuba Akpom, xx. Takuma Asano

Preseason:

July 22: Lens [A] - 1-1 D (Oxlade-Chamberlain); Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France
July 28: MLS All-Stars [A | MLS All-Star Game] - 1-2 W (Campbell, Akpom); Avaya Stadium, San Jose, CA, United States
July 31: Chivas [N] - 3-1 W (Holding, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Akpom); StubHub Center, Carson, CA, United States
Aug 5 : Viking [A] - 0-8 W (Campbell 2, Cazorla, Walcott, Iwobi 2, Akpom, OG); Viking Stadium, Stavanger, Norway
Aug 7: Manchester City [N | Supergame] - 3-2 W (Iwobi, Walcott, Akpom); Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden

​

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

I predict you will come fourth

 

[poet11]

I predict you will come fourth

Hmm, about right as things stand with the squad.

We need a CB, CF and attacking midfielder/winger to make sure Wenger has least to do with managing the team.

Recently, linked with Mahrez, Mustafi and Lacazette. Very unlikely we'd spend up to 100m or more and with Xhaka already costing us nearly 50 as the highest transfer in the PL so far. That'd be so unlike us.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

That was a joke, my actual prediction is that, with some good signings and a bit of luck, you will come third

 

[poet11]

That was a joke, my actual prediction is that, with some good signings and a bit of luck, you will come third

Hard to see us finish above you and ze Mancs, though.

 

[Bobby]

I don't see us challenging for the title, but we can probably finish 2nd again. Leicester will fall off. We could win one of the cups. I think City will win the league going away.

Our squad is fine, we just need to hope our strikers stay healthy. The workload on Giroud last year was incredible. There's also a stark difference in the quality of the football we play when Santi is in there and when he isn't, he makes the team go.

 

[poet11]

I don't see us challenging for the title, but we can probably finish 2nd again. Leicester will fall off. We could win one of the cups. I think City will win the league going away.

Our squad is fine, we just need to hope our strikers stay healthy. The workload on Giroud last year was incredible. There's also a stark difference in the quality of the football we play when Santi is in there and when he isn't, he makes the team go.

We have only Giroud. Walcott is negligible and Welbeck is out for the season. Merte is rumoured to be injured for 5 months already and not that he is much use these days. Gab looks shaky.

Agree on Santi, though. He is vital but last season even during his good health we struggled in games. Xhaka brings a new dimension to our game so we're sorted there but I'm not at all tension free about our CB and ST situation. Wing/AM...we could hope since we're overloaded so who knows and I like Joel but CB and ST at least needs some sort of solution.

 

[Bobby]

Asano is a forward, I'm not sure how much action he'll see though. We also have Iwobi and Chuba.

I'm wondering what will happen with Jenkinson. He's not as good as Hector but he certainly provides excellent cover.

 

[poet11]

Asano is a forward, I'm not sure how much action he'll see though. We also have Iwobi and Chuba.

I'm wondering what will happen with Jenkinson. He's not as good as Hector but he certainly provides excellent cover.

Asano needs a loan I think but Akpom deserves a chance, I agree. Iwobi in attacking midfield, yep.

Should keep Jenks and give him a chance imo. Focus on strengthening other areas.

 

[poet11]

Per is out for 5 months and Wenger alluded that we lack experience at the back.

 

[Arnau]

Lim is selling everything, you can get Mustafi easy if you want him.

 

[poet11]

Lim is selling everything, you can get Mustafi easy if you want him.

Yeah, we're linked to him. Selling everything meaning?

 

[Xaviesta]

Mustafi AndreGomes Piatti etc

 

[Arnau]

Means without CL football the numbers are not what he expected and he is willing to sell his best players to adjust the budget.

 

[Bobby]

I don't see us buying another center back this summer. Which means Monreal is going to play there again.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

The price of centre backs these days is just nuts

 

[Bobby]

It is, and with the club's frugal nature I don't see us dipping a toe into that pool again until it cools down.

 

[poet11]

It is, and with the club's frugal nature I don't see us dipping a toe into that pool again until it cools down.

In negotiations for Mustafi.

 

[Bobby]

We'll see. I'm not doubting you, just the media's said we're signing Gonzalo Higuaín every summer for the last 6 years.

 

[Arnau]

Mustafi is a very likely transfer if Arsenal is really interested, Valebcia has no problems to sell. 25-30m and its yours.