First the good news…
Arsenal wins 6-0. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lights up the scoreboard with a hat-trick. Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette also scored.
Newcomers Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Odegaard played very well. The keeper made a few solid saves and got a clean sheet, while Odegaard looked sharp and provided a nice back heel pass to Saka for the game’s 4th goal.
Saka was my man of the match. He played the entire 90 minutes, and was very smooth with the ball, while attacking the box and always looking for open forwards.
And, we can’t forget Nuno Tavares who played very good in his first Arsenal start.
And, the bad news…
WBA fielded an extremely young and inexperienced team, while Arsenal put out a pretty strong starting XI. So, Arsenal had no choice but to dominate the game.
However, the first 15 minutes or so of the first half was a train wreck. Until Aubameyang scored his first goal, the Gunners looked confused and disorganized. Passes were going every where, they couldn’t keep possession, while WBA looked fresh and excited to be on the pitch against the much senior Arsenal XI.
Why would Mikel Arteta keep Bukayo Saka on the pitch the entire match? Okay, take off Odegaard and Aubameyang, but keep Xhaka on the pitch. Don’t let your best player have a chance of injury late in a 6-0 route. As a matter of fact, we all held our collective breathes when #7 went down late in the match. He appears to be okay, but why take such a risk?
Finally, was this Aubameyang’s last game as a Gunner?. Ironically, it was a milestone 150th appearance for the club. It will be interesting to see what happens next at Man City. Will they sign Cristiano Ronaldo, or will they have to come knocking on Edu’s door looking for Aubameyang? Arsenal has said they would let Auba go if he has the desire to leave. Also, what happens if there is no decision by Saturday on Auba’s future with City? Will he play against the Citizens? The drama will be getting very thick by then.
So, our first win of the season comes at a good time. Regardless of the competition, a win is a win, and the club moves into the next round of this competition.
Next up, Manchester City, the defending Premier League champions!
Cheers today!
Gunner1953
The Gunners defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Wednesday to win both matches in this season’s North London Derby. With the win Arsenal moves back into 2nd place on the Premier League table.
According to The Mail, Arsenal, is in advanced talks to sign Real Sociedad Martin Zubimendi at the end of this season for a reported $61.2-million (USD).
Takehiro Tomiyasu has returned to full training with the first team after recovering from a knee injury. 
Martin Odegaard, “We need to be sharper in the key moments to make sure we get the results we’ve worked for. We have to keep going and keep improving. There is no choice for us now.”
Money wise keep Auba, he wants to be an Arsenal legend. I would also keep Laca, he is great in front of goal if he gets a chance to play..it’s too late to blood a new striker, perhaps Xmas transfer window if not working.
Edu has to go. The big inconsistency is Arteta. He has great players, he just doesn’t use them right. 100% right on why keep saka on. We have a young team, it’s time to let them grow and flourish, and play a style that’s let’s them. Young, fast, imagination and not scared or arrogant.
Arteta is an underdog so he thinking of selling Lacazette or Aubanyang shows how low he is if there are one player that deserve contact extension is Lacazette what he bring to Arsenal attack s exceptional he is strong he has pace he score goals he also defend and I can hear young players praising him of how he is a help to them then why thinking of selling him at this wee hours Arteta must behave as a good coach or he leave than causing us heartache of if is Edu that is the problem let him leave