Arsenal have been handed a very tricky start to the 2018/19 season, with a home game against Man City this weekend followed by a trip to Stamford Bridge next weekend.
We have already got one over on Chelsea over the summer, coming from behind in the International Champions Cup to equalise in the 93rd minute and winning 5-4 on penalties. It remains to be seen whether we can continue our pre-season form into the Premier League, so make sure you click here for all the latest Premier League Betting Odds.
The transfer window closes this week, so it remains to be seen whether any more players will be coming in to Arsenal, but with Lucas Perez leaving today, you might argue we’re short of wingers, and with Calum Chambers also leaving on load to Fulham, a Centre Back wouldn’t go amiss, especially with Laurent Koscielny being out for the first part of the season.
TalkSport confirm that Chelsea have signed Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid in a deal which sees their keeper Courtois move the other way, and they have wasted no time in replacing him with Kepa from Athletic Bilbao, a player they signed for a fee of over £71m.
Aaron Ramsey looks like he’s staying at Arsenal, despite links with a move to Chelsea, and is back in full training, so you’d assume he’d be fit by next weekend even if he does miss out against Man City, and the same goes for Nacho Monreal, another of our walking wounded.
Sead Kolasinc is also injured, and thought to be out for ten weeks, leaving us inexplicably short unless Unai Emery can bring in some new blood before the transfer window closes. It’s thought there could be another one or two coming in according to Sky Sports, but it’s almost like they want you watching the damp squib that is their coverage of the ‘used-to-be-exciting-end of the transfer window’ show.
Anyway, watch this space for more team news next week as the game approaches, you can see the game on BT Sport at 17:30 UK time next Saturday night.
