Good question! At a guess, tiredness can't really be an excuse, as we've only just started the season and we've played on Tuesday. Then again, so did Chelsea but at least they had another 30mins and had to work hard for it.

I'd like to see Cazorla and Xhaka start, but I can see the rationale behind this being a bit too attacking. I can't help but feel that Xhaka may well be antagonised by Costa and sent off, but the same can be said for Coq. We've got a £30million plus midfielder and it's madness that he's not a starter, I feel.

Giroud continues to be a bit of a mystery and he's not found the net this season yet. Him up front fed by Sanchez, Ozil, Cazorla and Walcott seems to be a good plan, with Perez as a back up.

3 points on Saturday will do nicely and it would be nice to have Swansea and/or Middlesbrough doing us a favour (not counting on it though...).

Will be surprised if we beat them tbh. Always struggle against Chelsea and Costa. They seem to either raise their game against us or we don't play as well as we should to win the game.

We'll see as we have a strong bench for once to make changes if need be. Need to keep 11 on the field though to begin with.

Xhaka should be first team regular now, although I think Wenger is worried about 'killing' Coq.

Coq has been good, but I see Xhaka and Elneny ahead of him in the pecking order.

Chelsea are always a tough ask and they traditionally bully our lightweights out of the game, although with Xhaka, Elneny and Mustafi we have a bit more steel about us.

Reading at home next round, and City vs ManU and Pool vs Chelsea. Great draw!

Reading at home next round, and City vs ManU and Pool away to the Spuds. Great draw!

Reaching the semis would be a good run. Give the fringe players in the squad the much needed games.

Just popped in to wish Arsene happy 20th birthday with Arsenal.

Interesting read;

https://www.theguardian.com/football...senal-20-years

Wasn't Henry a winger when we signed him (not a striker as the video says)?

Yes, he was played wide at Juventus and wasn't doing well.

Had a moment earlier when I thought about rejoining as a Red member. A quick look at ticket prices made me see reason though. Cat A fixtures in the top deck at the back are £95.50+ booking fee. For 2 of us, that's over £200 a game, plus transport......
Did the club make fixtures like Basel at home a cat A fixture? Cat B is expensive too.

Congrats to Wenger on his 20th year in the job. May it bring success. Although I'm still so grateful for what he did for us way back when he started -we were exhilarating, when before that we'd been turgid - but I really hope he doesn't tarnish his legacy and cling on for years still because he's afraid of the future post Arsenal for himself. Worries me enough that he'll appoint his own successor and move upstairs, still directing the traffic.

V nervous about Chelsea. Costa always seems to thrive. Wondering why on earth Wenger prefers Coquelin to Xhaka, and hoping for some attacking play with speed, not the slow sideways stuff that plays straight into their hands. Bet Conte plays Fabregas too, who has several points to prove.

Another good read this time by Amy Lawrence:

https://www.theguardian.com/football...edible-journey

Deserted thread!

1 up. Great goal by Alexis and now 2 up!!

Great start. Perhaps try and avenge the six nil defeat. Getting way to ahead of myself. Come on Arsenal

Well this is an unexpected start.

Playing really well actually. Great start and yes, unexpected.

Well, let's hope we don't mess things up in our typical style.

Unexpected and delightful in equal measures!

Just put the TV on and see we're 2 up....!!!!! State of shock

3 actually. I never feel comfortable until the final whistle has gone.

'kin hell what's going on here

Now 3-0 and playing great football!. :

Hi Sat!
I know! I'm sitting here thinking, what the....

Shall I be negative? nah not yet. Great game so far. Would have been better if Jose was in charge of Chelsea though

I can't believe what's happening...it's a while since we've beaten them and we're looking good so far! How much I'd love us to keep this lead.

Me neither - keeping thinking Newcastle that time. Still, maybe we've learnt our lessons from that. Great first half scoreline though.