COYG!

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/german-international-ozil-joins-arsenal

I am planning on inviting members of the upcoming opponents subreddit to chat before every EPL game. Discussion will include tactics, players to watch, and thoughts on the final score.

I think Jack and Theo will be subbed off around 60-70ish since they've played tonight. Here's the team I expect:

Szez-Keeper. Sagna-RB, Mert-CB, Kos-CB, Gibbs-LB. Ramsey-RCM, Arteta-LCM. Theo-RM, Rosicky-CAM, Santi-LAM. Giroud-ST

Formation: 4-2-3-1 in attack and 4-4-1-1 in defense.

Subs: Wilshere, i think we will see Poldi possibly come on as a sub, gnarby, and maybe even zelalem.

I think Poldi is a sub because he has been mediocre this pre-season.

I think we will win 2-1. Our defense might get broken at least once on the counter, but we should win this one.

I don't know much about Villa, so I'm going to try to head over to their subreddit and invite a few Villa fans over for discussion. Plus that's the whole point of this post, to talk to them.

I don't expect loads of Villa fans on here, as their sub is quite small. However I do anticipate these posts being very successful when we play more popular teams.

Information for Villa Fans: I expect our defense to be very good, they have been in great form lately. We are however prone to errors and if we give up goals it's usually on counters. Our RB/LB push very high up to support our possession game. Without knowing your side, I would think this is what you will attack.

This pre-season we have been crossing a bit more and playing a few more long balls up to Giroud's head, so don't expect a 100% possession game that you usually see from Arsenal. We are still incredibly possession based however. We don't have the best DM ever and if you pressure us hard you may find Arteta making a few dodgy tackles. Rosicky tends to play quick and sexy, if you leave him unmarked he may well break your defense down, especially on the counter. There is the ever present speed-merchant, Theo Walcott, to contend with as well. Cazorla drifts more centrally when we put him on the wings, kind of like an inverted playmaker.

Recent Injury News:

Aston Villa
Yacouba Sylla out of Saturday's match with a twisted ankle.

Arsenal

Bacary Sagna a doubt after friendly knock. Mikel Arteta faces a late fitness test due to thigh injury. Santi Cazorla a doubt on the basis of fitness only.

For the people that don't know there was a AST meeting today with Amy Lawrence, in which there was discussion of the interplay between football fans, clubs & the media.

• Amy Lawrence says there was a lot of things Szczesny said in a previous interview in the Guardian that as an Arsenal fan she felt it was not right to publish. These include not being motivated enough when playing against Stoke and Szczesny's encounters with Spurs fans in the streets, she did not explain further about it. Apparently doesnt feel motivated enough against certain smaller teams.

• Current structure is not in-tune with football. Appreciation for football secondary to appreciation for business according to Amy Lawrence. No one in the room is massively impressed with Gazidis, she says he sometimes seems slightly out of his depth.

• Current board have absolutely no intention to make any change at managerial level regardless of the clubs position/ players sold. Etc.

• She says the current board at Arsenal have absolutely no intention of letting Arsène go. Regardless of level of achievement.

• According to Amy, the Arsenal board have repeatedly offered to buy players for Arsène but he always declined. Believed in what he had.

• Ball firmly in Wenger's court regarding if he will want to continue. It is unlikely Wenger will sign a contract this summer. Likely to wait.

• Amy says friction amongst board members all started when club considered a stadium move. Fiszman wanted Emirates. Dein wanted Wembley

• Amy speaks of how Arsène has changed the way he deals with the media. From open & inspiring to being more reserved & tetchy over the years. He now takes critiscm more personally.

• Arsenal have apparently said the reason there was a lack of signing in January is because the club want to spend it all in the summer.(£70m) This is what the club told Amy Lawrence, make of that what you will. No names, the club are very confident that there will be money spent.

• Amy says the wage structure at Arsenal is completely managed by Arsène. Decisions to pay (or not to pay) players are solely his. (We all knew this)

Cheers to @fkhanage and @1Walid1 for providing updates of the AST, thought it was worth sharing this for those who can't go. Very interesting stuff here.

Hello all,

Just wanted to point out that the rules here are different to /r/gunners so please take the time to read them.

We have a zero tolerance policy on fluff (If you feel there should be an exception let us know) and non official twitter sources.

Really glad to have you all and we hope you'll help us improve and grow the sub.

Cheers,

The Mods

P.S. - No gossiping about /r/gunners either

Fantastic final 10 minutes, what more can be said? Disappointing in the first half and Wilshere looked unfit, but Walcott looked extremely sharp and I have no idea why Poldi's not been playing. Ramsey man of the match for me, only player who put his heart and soul into the full '90.

Post any gifs / videos of the goal below and I'll add them to this thread.

What are your emotions right now? What do we need to improve on for Everton? Who was man of the match for you? How many heart attacks have the side given you this season? Should it have been a penalty?

Please use spoiler tags if you want to reveal the scores from other matches.

Videos

• 0-1, Turner

• 1-1, Arteta

• 2-1, Giroud

Full match highlights (including Poldi's goal)

How would y'all like this to be run?