They'd be legit if they didnt have Adam and Whelan in CM. Spurs/Everton should have been all over Nzonzi for 7m.

I expected a lot more from a guy named Marko Van Ginkel. I mean how great is that name

They've got Bojan and likely Shaqiri to come into that side, they'll be a handful for most teams at home.

is ikes already winning the worst poster of the year award?

It is now 8 pm and not a single Arsenal fan has gargled my marbles yet. Weak.

We gargled enough marbles for today, thank you very much kind sir

**** me, how tedious are the xG-tards?

I think most people who have looked into what it is (everyone ITT I assume as it's pretty hard to avoid) realise that xG is a useful stat.

Conclusions like this are fine:

"Arsenal can expect to win more often than on the balance of the quantity/quality of chances created compared with the opposition."

Conclusions like this are asinine:

"Arsenal were unlucky not to win that game."

Some of the xG-tards seem to think these are equivalent, implying that execution is down to luck. It's the same thing as saying that Zlatan has been lucky throughout his career because he conjures goals from unexpected situations. Cech wasn't unlucky, he was ****. None of the Arsenal players executed well enough to beat the West Ham keeper and that wasn't unlucky either.

A friend of mine was saying Coutinho was poor the first half, which he was, and he definitely has games where he goes missing, but he is the one match winner we have in the side. The one player who can make something out of absolutely nothing, whether that's setting someone else up, or burying a screamer from 30 yards as he did again today.

Full credit to BR. It would have been easy to take Coutinho off. Slow first half, lack of match fitness, extended summer break etc, but it stuck with him and it paid.

Thought we looked much better once Lallana was off the pitch. I don't love Hendo getting forward so much, but Lallana stalled too many attacks and his final ball was extremely poor, in addition to going to ground way too softly. Can't see him seeing any regular first team action going forward. Firmino should cement his place in the team, and even if he doesn't I'd rather see Markovic or Ings getting those chances.

Milner was brilliant. He's gonna be a crowd favorite and did so much out there today. I think a midfield of him and Henderson is kind of redundant, but totally see why BR did it away to Stoke. Think we could see some awkward situations with Hendo this year. He's the captain, but I think Milner can do the things Hendo does better than he can, and Hendo just isn't a real option getting forward especially with the quality we've added in attack.

Thought Gomez did really well. The kid was playing mid-table Championship football last year, is still a boy, and really held his own out there against some tough competition. He had a few mistakes that were down to inexperience moreso than lack of talent. Did anyone miss Moreno?

Clyne was sure-footed and looked the part on the right. Solid job from him. Looking every bit what we expected when signing him.

Our keeper and center backs still seem our weakness. Any ball played over the top of our defense makes my ass clench. I'm surprised more teams don't do this to us. It's always an adventure, especially with Lovren, but Skrtel is susceptible to it as well. The latter made some crucial blocks today to save our bacon on more than one occasion.

Benteke looked extremely isolated. There were parts in the game where there seemed to be 30 yards between him and the midfield. I think that has a lot to do with the redundancy of Coutinho and Lallana and don't think that will be as much of an issue going forward with either Firmino in for Lallana or Ings up top to partner Benteke, both of which are viable options.

As was said, 3 points is 3 points. Job done. Not the most exciting game, and I do expect much more attractive football and many more goals going forward. Arsenal and Chelsea don't have the same points to show. It's still early August and we've got an away result in the bank. On to Bournemouth. Anfield should be buzzing

ikes and thechef for worst posters of the year. such a lock.

WOAT words/terms itt.

1)variance
2)run good/bad
3)xG
4)Model (as in ducksauce's model that has apparently proven to work for him in fantasy but has proved to be awful at actual predicting team results/outcomes/futures)

BALR list LFC_USA

Tomorrow it is then.

Yes, remembred that as soon as I posted. Though luckily that hasn't been as much of an epidemic in this thread as others

I'd also nominate "lol team". Especially today.

Yea I mean I like the use of stats just as much as the next guy but if after every game someone is going to post us the xG result and conclude "team x was just lucky/unlucky (not) to win" it's gonna be a boring season. rather listen to alan shearer & robbie savage's analysis on motd

how do you get the xG graphs? whats the one for villa vs bournemouth?

Arse clearly just peak in pre season.

Suddenly the 2-2 at home doesn't look so bad for Chelsea

warning : the 2nd video is just a bunch of ppl screaming nonsense but video peaked at 4:50 when claude got involved

Taking Lallana off changed the game for sure. We looked much better playing a 4-3-3 then we did a 4-2-3-1. I actually like the look of the Can-Hendo-Milner midfield. Think that'll be a tough midfield to play against. There is really no reason for Lallana and Coutinho to both play at the same time. They are way too similar.

Still unsure about Benteke, not sure he is going to fit but will wait a while to see how he fits in. He looked much better when we switched to 4-3-3 along with the rest of the team.

We've typically started slow every year with Rodgers in charge so I'm quite happy to get the three points today. Bournemouth, I think, at home next week so will hopefully start the season off with 6 points before having to go away to Arse and Man U with West Ham at home sandwiched between them.

follow https://twitter.com/MC_of_A

Lol Arse fans are the worst. I'll take our "plastic fans" over that bunch of ***** all day long.

Important PSA

What is your stance on black people on trains?