Well what do we have on the menu today?

I have been thinking about the defence this season and how we move forward. The structure of the team is really good, the same as it was last season, but the number I have my eye on this season is goals conceded.

We’re really good at conceding from a limited run of shots, so you’re kind of living in the world of being good at defending, but conceding a lot of goals.

Only one team in the league this season concedes less shots per game, that’s Manchester City. Yet I’m still out here feeling like we have a few problems to address. The standings in the table don’t make for painful reading. City has conceded one less than Arsenal, Spurs 2 less but the cost of that is dreadful football. So there’s nothing dramatic going on, but there are some areas of weakness that are busting at the seams a little.

Gabriel M at centre-back is a new-age Arsenal issue, he’s obviously very talented, but he can also be a bit reckless and sloppy at times. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but he makes some lazy decisions on the pitch, and sometimes plays a little bit above his station with regards to what he does with the ball. There’s a little bit of Lord Of Chaos in his game at the moment, maybe that shifts with experience, but it’s hard to totally ignore what’s happening there.

Aaron Ramsdale lives in a similar world. He’s clearly massively talented, but I worry that he’s not being coached by the best, I’m pretty sure he’s not going to be pushed by Matt Turner in a serious way this season, and sometimes that’s not good for younger players.

Top 4 will be fine margins again this season. Teams we thought were out of the running all spent £200m on talent. There are no bad coaches in the top 6 right now. The league is relentless and brutal. Losing out because we’re not good enough is fine, but losing out because we let unforced errors creep into our game and add up will be problematic.

Again, I’m being overly dramatic, there aren’t many reasons to be worried. Our xGA is closer to 5 than 7. I’m just going off vibes and feelings here.

Is this what happens when you start doing well? You search out things to be upset about?

What I am looking forward to is seeing how we line-up when everyone is fit.

I’m not sure if there is a starting 11 this season. There are too many games to give to one group of players. Ben White will play centre-back sometimes, there will be lots of rotation, so who knows where we end up, but overall, I don’t think I’ve been this happy with a group of defenders since the early 2000s.

Final big concern for me is Mikel Arteta has been nominated for manager of the month.

Don’t give it to him.

Give it to Potter or someone else.

I can’t be dealing with the bad form that comes with the accolade.

Right, short post today because I got some mourning to do.

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PATREON