Rival Lines: 'Under Emery I don't think there's any fear factor'

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Arsenal v AFCB
Blogger Interview: The Daily Cannon
Twitter: @DailyCannon

This week I had a chat with Lee who is the correspondent for The Daily Cannon. Arsenal have had a reasonable start to the season and no doubt the have been enjoying the Champions League results of Tottenham. But not all Arsenal supporters are content and the questioning of Unai Emery is far from quite, so are Arsenal in good shape to take on the Cherries?

CC: Unai Emery has taken a lot of criticism from the media in recent weeks, but are the fans mainly still behind what he is trying to do at the club?

TDC: Not really, if I'm honest. There is real frustration with him from the way he is treating Mesut Ozil to the defensive, cowardly way he plays in the league. A very large section of the fanbase would be happy if he went tomorrow. We're scoring less, conceding more and playing far worse football than Wenger's last days.

CC: Are Arsenal playing a bit too open at times, like in the recent game against Man United when they looked vulnerable to the counter-attack?

TDC: That's just Arsenal now and the way Emery sets us up, especially in the league. For some reason he has no clue how to field a balanced midfield.

CC: What have you thought about David Luiz's performances - has he added some leadership?

TDC: He hasn't been as good as some expected nor as bad as others said he would be. He's not really stood out, beyond the two penalties he gave away but that's standard for an Arsenal defender these days.

CC: What can you tell us about Bukayo Saka (left winger) and Dani Ceballos (midfielder)?

TDC: Bukayo Saka looks like he's the real deal despite only being 18. He's already now being looked at as a first-teamer rather than a member of the second string for the cup competitions. He's direct, fast, and keeps it simple to great effect.

Dani Ceballos is one of the most skillful midfielders we've had at Arsenal and it baffles me that Zidane doesn't like him. If Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla had a lovechild, he would be Dani Ceballos.

CC: Were you pleased or disappointed to see Iwobi leave in the summer?

TDC: I think if the club could have found a buyer for Ozil, Iwobi would still be at the club. It's always hard to watch a player who has come through the youth ranks leave, but I think he needed a fresh start for his own sake. He'd gone a bit stale in recent seasons and had stopped progressing as he should.

CC: Does Pepe just need a goal or do you think he is going to find it hard to win over fans this season?

TDC: I think Pepe is struggling a little with the pressure of playing for Arsenal and his price-tag, but he'll come good. He's just in his head a little too much at the minute but you can see the talent is there.

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CC: Do Arsenal rely too much on Aubameyang for the goals?

TDC: At the minute Auba is scoring the bulk of our goals in the league but isn't that what your club striker is supposed to do? Nobody asks that of Spurs and Kane or United and Rashford. Lacazette should be back later this month and he is criminally underrated in England.

CC: The last home match you had against Aston Villa was a really difficult game for Arsenal. Do you think more teams this season are being more adventurous against Arsenal at the Emirates? Has the fear factor gone for opponents?

TDC: Under Emery I don't think there's any fear factor, especially not in the league. He's a defensive coach so that encourages the opposition.

CC: Arsenal have been linked with Ryan Fraser. is he be the sort of signing that Arsenal need, especially for the assists he is noted for at Bournemouth?

TDC: As good as he is, I'm not sure where he would fit in the side at present. He would be competing for a spot with Saka and the club, in order to keep money down, are trying to field youth where possible. That being said, I wouldn't rule us out going for him again in the summer.

CC: Who is injured at the moment for Arsenal?

TDC: Arsenal only have Alexandre Lacazette (ankle) and Emile Smith Rowe (concussion) unavailable.

CC: How do you think Arsenal will line up against Bournemouth?

TDC: Leno - Kolasinac, Sokratis, Luiz, Chambers - Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ceballos - Saka - Aubameyang - Pepe

CC: Where do you feel Arsenal and Bournemouth will finish in the league this season?

TDC: If Emery doesn't burn his main players out so much that we collapse again at the end of the season, we should get top four. As for Bournemouth, they should finish in the top half and if United don't sort themselves out I can see you finishing above them.

CC: What is your score prediction for the game?

TDC: 2-1 Arsenal, we'll absolutely concede at least one.

CC: Thanks to Lee for giving us the inside information on the Gunners. Bournemouth have a few new players in the Arsenal squad to get acquainted with. I watched Saka against Man United in Arsenal's last match and he does look a raw talent. But I am hoping Bournemouth's defenders can live with him while the big job will be whether Aké and Steve cook can stop Aubameyang. Bournemouth really need to stop the service to Arsenal's striker and I think they can get to Arsenals' new midfield.

Make sure you check out all the Arsenal news on the Daily Cannon before the game.

Looking good! Getting the Cherry Chimes name out to AFCB fans.

Score predictions
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Rival Lines: "I have my doubts we'll see that Alexis again in an Arsenal shirt"

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Arsenal v AFCB
Blogger Interview: The Daily Cannon
Twitter @DailyCannon

With Arsenal fans still trying to figure out what is happening with their team, after last weekend, and whether their manager has done in enough over the summer to improve the side, let alone if Alexis Sanchez will be running on empty, we needed to find some answers. Who best to ask? Well we talked to one of the writers writers at the Daily Cannon for their opinion on Arsenal's summer transfers and start to the season. These are Jamie Einchcombe's thoughts.

CC: What did you make of transfer deadline day for Arsenal - do things look as bad as Ian Wright would suggest?
DC: Deadline day was disappointing. I would have liked to see a midfielder arrive more than anything. However, I don't think things are quite as bad as some make out.

We did sign two good players who improve the squad, and whether by design or accident we kept our best player. We could have done more, but it wasn't a disaster, either.

CC: The newspapers had some scary headlines over the big defeat at Liverpool, like 'an embarrassing shambles', but was the reaction a bit overboard just three games into a new season?

DC: I don't think the reaction was overboard. Talk of a crisis will always sound hollow and cliché, but people are right to be concerned about the manner of the defeat. It's not the first big game Arsenal have lost in such a way and unfortunately it probably won't be the last.

Fortunately, there's plenty of time to get our act together. We've got a talented squad and hopefully once things have calmed down everyone can focus on improving. It wasn't that long ago we were beating City and Chelsea in the FA Cup with the same players, so the team is certainly capable of more than what we're seeing.

CC: Has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made the right choice to leave Arsenal now?

I'd say so. It was clear things were getting a bit stale for him at the club. Arsene Wenger wasn't going to play him as a midfielder like he wanted, nor was he progressing under the manager as much as he would have expected.

DC: Alexis Sanchez is going to be disappointed in not getting his move to Man City, but are you pleased you keep him until at least January even if he might go on a free next summer?

I have mixed feelings about Alexis. A fully committed Alexis is one of the best players around and we need him if we want to get anywhere this season. If that meant turning down £60m then so be it.

However, I have doubts we'll see that Alexis again in an Arsenal shirt, and worry about what effect that might have on the team. At the very least, I'm pleased we didn't sell him without signing a replacement.

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CC: Arsenal seem not to worry about selling players to rivals, but is this another failing of their transfer policy?

DC: It's certainly an issue. The club end up forced into that position more times than they should be. Players are being lured by more attractive projects elsewhere and the club isn't doing enough to convince them that this is the place to be.

CC: Who would you like to replace Arsene Wenger when that day eventually comes?

DC: I really like Leonardo Jardim at Monaco. He's proven to be a very adaptable coach, able to change his approach to suit the players he has.

His Monaco side were very defensive when they knocked us out the Champions League in 2015 but last season they were the most prolific team in Europe with some exciting young players. I'd love to see that at Arsenal again.

CC: What player injuries have Arsenal currently got?

DC: There's a doubt over Alexis' ankle, which he damaged on international duty. Alex Iwobi picked up a muscle injury before the Liverpool game and missed Nigeria's game. Santi Cazorla is still out; we don't know when he'll be back.

CC: If Arsenal don't beat Bournemouth would that be a crisis?

DC: Three defeats in a row is awful for Arsenal but never a crisis. However, if Arsenal don't show signs of improvement there'll be plenty to worry about.

CC: How do you expect Arsenal to line up against the Cherries?

DC: I expect Hector Bellerin will return to right back and Sead Kolasinac to come back into the defence. Koscielny will play, but who will partner him is anyone's guess.

Xhaka and Ramsey will probably play in the middle again, with Ozil and Lacazette ahead of them. If Alexis is able to play, Danny Welbeck will likely play.

CC: Well that was a clear insight into how Jamie is feeling about his beloved team going into the match with Bournemouth – a big thanks to him. I can only hope that Sanchez needs more time to reflect on things, as he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the Premier League and Bournemouth could do with him having a rest this weekend. Jamie is right in that Arsenal are packed with star players who have not suddenly forgotten how to play, especially at home.

We could even see Gareth Southgate at this game if he is keen to see Jermain Defoe and Danny Welbeck, as these players are fighting over a place in the England World Cup squad. Defoe needs to get scoring and he'll be disappointed he didn't get a go last week, while Welbeck will want to show he should be in the next England squad.

AFCB can't expect anything less than an Arsenal side that is determined to put their bad results behind them. What I'd like to see though is that AFCB have become a better defensive team and that they can become more resilient against the top sides, like they were against Man City. A clean sheet against Arsenal would be a great day out - UTCIAD!

In other news, Charlie Daniels has signed a three-year extension with AFCB.