{"id":14205,"date":"2026-08-20T17:30:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=14205"},"modified":"2026-08-22T00:57:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T23:57:37","slug":"here-we-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=14205","title":{"rendered":"Here We Go!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo by Folksy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 Premier League Champions, Arsenal, kick off the 2026\/27 season on Friday evening at the Emirates Stadium against newly promoted Coventry City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we are all well aware, it had been 22 years since we last were Champions. Patrick Vieira was the captain. He is now 50 years of age and has just been appointed as the new head coach of Senegal. Those of us of a certain age will not feel any better for that realisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cHere We Go\u201d title of this piece has become the somewhat hackneyed exclamation of this latest summer transfer window, as the online ITKs have attempted to raise our excitement levels to the point where we are simply forced to log on and click in to their latest revelations. Quite what they are in the know of is not clear. It certainly isn\u2019t Premier League clubs\u2019 transfer business. Personally, I refuse to join in and torture myself with the never ending rounds of Who will sign?, When will they sign?, Why haven\u2019t they signed yet?, Which other clubs are \u201cin the race\u201d for this absolutely essential addition to our squad?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The typical fan reaction to another collapsed revelation is either \u201csack the board\u201d or \u201cOh really, well they were too expensive and they wouldn\u2019t have gotten playing time anyway!\u201d Thank goodness that is all nearly over for another summer and we can get back to the stuff that matters – on the pitch. And so, at last, Here We Actually Go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arsenal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real additions to the Arsenal squad so far have been Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle and Illan Meslier from the wilderness, as either our number two or three keeper, presumably depending on whether we can find a club desperate enough to take Kepa Arrizabalaga off our hands – without dropping him, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christos Tzolis is a 24 year old, Greek international with a highly impressive goals and assists record for Club Brugge in the Belgian League which he can hopefully bring to the tougher environment of the Premier League. So far, he has scored or assisted in every game he has started in pre-season. He may not currently quite share the reputation of PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but he is much easier to spell and was discovered by the same veteran Italian scout, Maurizio Micheli, as the Georgian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illan Meslier is the French, 26 year old, 6\u20196\u201d ex Lorient and Leeds goalkeeper who won international honours for France at U18, U19, U20 and U21 levels. He made his Leeds debut in January 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa, in a FA Cup tie against \u2026.. Arsenal – an impressive performance in a 1-0 defeat which someone in Arteta\u2019s team has presumably remembered. Leeds suffered a major loss of form in 2023 and their replacement manager, Sam Allardyce, apparently apportioned much of the blame to Meslier who made no further appearances. His replacement fared no better and Leeds were relegated. He resumed as Leeds keeper, with varying levels of success, until a loss of form cost him his place in 2025. He, and we, will be hoping he can return to his best in his new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruno Guimaraes has arrived from Newcastle and Martin \u00d8degaard has already said that the class of the Brazilian and the ease with which he has adapted to our playing style have been clear for all to see. Jorginho, still rubbing his left cheek, said \u201cPffttt!\u201d Still, they are now \u2018our\u2019 Brazilian elbows and we can all be grateful they are now weapons to be used for rather than against us. On a serious note, he will be worth every penny of whatever we paid for him if he can inspire \u00d8degaard to the sort of form he produced last weekend against Manchester Cheaty. \u00d8degaard was LANS against City after so many absences last season. Guimaraes will hopefully allow \u00d8degaard to commit further forward, and we all saw the result of that – a tremendous performance and a quite brilliantly taken goal to put the game out of reach of Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been a lot of talk about Arsenal signing another elite striker. So far that has not been possible. Last season Martin \u00d8degaard played 60+ minutes in only 11 PL games. Bukayo Saka played 60+ minutes in 21 PL games. Kai Havertz played 60+ minutes in just 5 PL games. Imagine the impact on our attack if those three players were fit for even 25 games each this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why it is so important that the changes to the medical, rehab and conditioning departments that TTG detailed in his latest piece are successful. We shall see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday we agreed terms with Aston Villa to sign Ezri Konsa for \u00a350 million as backup for William Saliba and also for the troublesome right back spot. Personally, I hope that doesn\u2019t affect Christhian Mosquera badly as he has been excellent when called on. It also suggests that Jurrien Timber is still a long way from fitness. Pierro Hincapi\u00e9 completes our business to date as he has now signed permanently following his season loan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are exciting times for the Arsenal and I can\u2019t wait to see the best of our flowing, attacking football after the necessary pragmatism of last season. Due to the positional awareness that Arteta drills into the players, no other team can attack with quite the same fluency. The new additions already look excellent. They will give the obvious added benefits of tactical variety and more rest and recovery for some of those who had to play too much last term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coventry City<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so to Coventry City. It\u2019s hard to find much of a complimentary nature written about Coventry, the place. The first thing the visitor encounters – and I have personal experience – is the Ring Road. Navigating the Coventry ring road for the first time isn’t driving; it’s an extreme psychological obstacle course where your GPS starts crying. Many years ago my wife injured her hand on a tennis coaches course in Coventry. She couldn\u2019t drive home and I had to go and rescue her and her car. Fortunately, I had to take the train and taxi or I would simply never have got there. Getting out was an absolute nightmare. I would certainly never try to drive there again. Even Lady Godiva used to go in and out by horse rather than drive. Locals will tell you that the reason the ducks in Coventry fly upside down is because there\u2019s nothing worth shitting on below them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a long time, the best joke about Coventry City’s stadium was that they didn’t have one. Rival fans used to chant that Coventry’s “home” games required a map, a packed lunch, and a 35-mile trip to Northampton or Birmingham. However, since 2005 they have been housed in the Coventry Building Society Arena, commonly called the CBS Arena. It\u2019s a 32,609 seater stadium located on Judds Lane in Foleshill, Coventry, and features a major exhibition hall, hotel, and casino. (Precise location details for C100, CER and sons.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ESPN are reporting that Coventry are leading the race for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk. There\u2019s a race? Really? They have signed teenage forward Sidiki Cherif from Turkish side Fenerbahce, and the club has backed boss Frank Lampard in the transfer window, with significant deals executed for Caleb Yirenkyi, Carl Rushworth, Loum Tchaouna, Aurele Amenda and Taiwo Awoniyi, as well as a club-return for Gustavo Hamer. Awoniyi has arrived from Nottingham Forest where he has done well against us in the past, so one to keep an eye on for Pierro Hincapi\u00e9 or Riccardo Calafiori.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While respecting Coventry\u2019s achievement in reaching the Premier League, I think most of us would have to look at that list of recruits and say \u201cWhoooo?\u201d Even their social media team became legendary for making player signing announcements look like they were filmed on a 2004 Nokia phone in a dimly lit hallway. Fans loved it because it looked less like a Premier League transfer and more like a proof-of-life hostage video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal v Coventry history<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is very little recent history between the two clubs. They haven\u2019t met in the league since around the turn of the century. There was one League cup tie in 2012 which Arsenal won 6-1, and a FA Cup tie in 2014 which Arsenal won 4-0. Neither result will have any relevance to Friday\u2019s fixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selecting a starting XI from our new squad is a pleasure and a puzzle. So, here goes –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00d8degaard, Lewis-Skelly, Guimaraes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madueke, Havertz, Tzolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that is the same team that started the Community Shield game. There were reasons for that selection and I think that barring injury the same XI will start on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other news \u2026..<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thought this season, rather than a history of our opponents, which Ned does far better anyway, I would try to put the game in the context of other football related issues happening currently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, Richard Garlick has become one of the first senior figures at a top club to speak out publicly about the frustrations surrounding the ongoing delay of any announcement on the Manchester City fraud and non-compliance trial. Despite being concluded over 18 months ago, Garlick has said that everyone is frustrated at the lack of an announcement and that Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd and Tottenham served legal notices on City in 2024 reserving the right to seek compensation if the club is found guilty, with some having estimated potential losses of over \u00a3100 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being under investigation City spent over \u00a3100 million in January and a further \u00a3151 million so far this summer, including a club record \u00a3116 million for Elliot Anderson. They have also spent almost \u00a3700 million since being charged in February 2023 and won six major trophies in that time.
Some of these figures were news to me and it is good to see our club finally starting to publicly criticise the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul Scholes was, and continues to be, always very quick to criticise the Arsenal. Well he\u2019s been driving very quick too – too quick, in fact, and was caught twice in Cleckheaton, West Yorks, and Greater Manchester. He failed to respond to police letters in both cases and has been given a six month driving ban, and ordered to pay costs totalling \u00a31,472. Probably very little to him but it\u2019s always nice to see the horrible little goblin in trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A note from Osaka Matt…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HolicsRopeyLeague is once again open to all in the Arsenal community! – please feel free to join us (Entry Code: 18nlle) and stand toe-to-toe with elite-level managers across the Goonerverse! And me! (And me too! Ed.))<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Only two rules as ever<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. No Spuds allowed in your squad at any time<\/li>
  2. Must be at least one Arsenal player in the squad at all times<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    And finally \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I can\u2019t wait to see the team in action again – especially after a mouth watering display against City last weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When I looked up Coventry City online, the first thing I saw was \u201cArsenal vs Coventry City, Friday 21 Aug, 20.00\u201d Was that a score forecast or the kick off time, I wondered \ud83e\udd37\u200d\u2642\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Please put that down to over excitement rather than arrogance \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Come on you Reds !<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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