Arsenal

[The Fox]

@Blinky - I just like girls with tats

@chongololo - I'll give you that but you have to concede he has immaculate cheekbones/jawline

Edit: WAIT! I just checked her twitter again and the pic is totally different to the one I'd seen previously. It looks like she's a tattoo designer? So I guess the girl I thought was hot wasn't actually her at all

Edit2: plastic gooner journo John cross reckons Podolski is starting up front on his own, Walcott and Gervinho either side. I've seen Arteta-Diaby-Cazorla touted a lot as the midfield as well, which if correct would probably mean Coq would play right back. I personally don't like Diaby in that position but there you go.

[wev]

[hercules]

That would be a pretty strong line up, an given te circumstances, probably the right one. Diaby in the song role isn't great but with arteta there I am more confident. The front three look good, I can't wait to finally get back there and see this new look team

[Daley]

Awesome.

[Daley]

Twitter, don't you just love it?

[Rev]

It seems his press conference was actually him taking the unique opportunity to write the chants he'd be hearing next season. He's one step down from humming tunes for them to be sung to.

[Pavey]

17m if this is to be believed -

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/08/17/barcelona-set-to-complete-17m-deal-to-sign-arsenal-midfielder-alex-song-within-48-hours/

Which is a damn good price IMO. Find watching Song a very frustrating experience as you know he has the talent, just looks so sluggish.

[Pavey]

Apologies the way I posted it, got it off Facebook on my phone.

[Art Vandelay]

For anyone making a list of terrible predictions that will further discredit dreadful football pundits, El Tel has us finishing 6th with Spurs romping into 3rd.

[wev]

FFT had us fourth with Spurs third that was pre-RVP transfer too

[SaintM]

Don't worry guys, I'm not aware of my great predictions skills as such but I had a dream last night that you signed Torres.

[carlito]

I think we are going to do really well.

I have a feeling on top of the new signings, Diaby and Gervinho are going to pull it out this season.

[The Fox]

I think we'll come third again, but we'll be closer to the Manchester clubs than last year.

I'm baffled how anyone could look at Spurs, with Gail Platt on his way to Madrid, no strikers, and AVB at the helm, and think "Oh yeah they look nailed on for third".

[anders limpar]

First game of the season. Fucking BUZZING! Arsenal to win 11-0, Eboue hat-trick.

Oh and we're going to win the quadruple btw.

[Professor_k]

Oh fuck yes! Got in at 2 o clock this morning somewhat worse for wear and was up at 7.30am checking the match previews like a kid on Christmas morning.

Let's have a good win gays!

[hercules]

I'm on my way down now, absolutely buzzing! Let's start the season with a bang!

[Rocafella]

Feeling really good about the game today. Can't wait to see the new signings in action, Cazorla especially. I'm hoping Diaby can make it through unscathed for 90 minutes.

No doubt O'Neill will send his team out to park the bus. They always do against us. Let's give them an opening day tonking.

[Gotters]

Looking forwrd to the match and just heading in now - not right though watching footy in this heat - i'm a winter and floodlights man

[The Fox]

@YouAreMyArsenal: #Arsenal Starting XI: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Diaby, Arteta, Cazorla; Walcott, Gervinho; Podolski.

[wev]

How long till Diaby breaks? Do the bookies take bets on that kind of thing?

[Rev]

Only if they've got a very,very accurate stopwatch.

[Dude Ranch]

X

[wev]

Arsenal on Sopcast, a bottle of lager and the suns out!

Also YES (6816) has no commentary

[Silent Runner]

Nearly conceding then nearly scoring. Yep, that's the Arsenal.

[Varnsen]

Sunderland have had two attacks, both times could have been goals. Cazorla looks great and Diaby made a storming run earlier. Early days but feel like we'll concede a goal.

[wev]

They're struggling against Diaby though, until the second half when someone will perform a legbreaker on him.

[Varnsen]

Yeah Diaby looks decent but Cazorla just looks the real deal. He plays those kind of crisp, incisive passes you see with Spain and Barca and has already had two thirds of our chances in the game. As I write this, he just moved the ball onto his right and put a cross in that Walcott really should have scored from.

[mop]

Considering the dodgey preseason we had this looks promising. Cazorla and Diaby looking real nice.

[Silent Runner]

Cazorla had been the best player of the first half all right. Diaby and Gerv. look decent as well, I think we need to just up the pace a little bit.

[mop]

Yeah, absolutely. It's promising but it isn't exactly great right now.