Short thread: I think it’s a lot clearer now in regards to who may be available for the game against Fulham. It will be a game where the onus is on us to impose our game. We will have the majority of the possession. So let’s look more at the shape we will use.

Very likely that we will continue with the system that contains 3 CBs. But what you must remember is that we don’t attack in a 3-4-3. We quickly converge to a 4-3-3 to begin with. AMN tucks in and converts to a more central role

As we start to build attacks, we tend to attack in a 2-3-5/3-2-5. But what you will see is that we will be very fluid and interchange a lot in the way we build attacking partnerships. Here is one example. Bellerin inverts and maintains the pivot. AMN will remain on the left...

Tierney is vey high in energy and will create width, playing as a conventional LB. Auba will tuck in, playing close to Laca. Ceballos float more to the right, combining with Pepe, allowing him to drift and be dangerous.

The second pattern we will at times see is AMN pushing up, acting as a runner and occupying central players. Tierney again creating width on the left. We saw this three way partnership develop for our Auba’s goal against Liverpool.

Final pattern is both FBs creating partnerships with both our wide attackers. AMN, Xhaka and Ceballos playing slightly deeper, all tasked to provide progression from deep and break the lines.

Obviously there will be periods where we have to defend. We would quickly shift to a 5-4-1, with plenty of cover through the centre of the park and the wide areas. Plenty of flexibility

The first 3/4 of the season, you always must look at the performance as well as the result. Winning games early on but playing poorly isn’t a sustainable process. Evidence is our unbeaten run under emery and during the start of last season. But having said that, I do think we..

For the first two games, it’s vital that we grind the 3 points out. It’s clear that we are still looking to bring players in but will need more time. So until they come in, let’s just try and have a good start to the season and win the games we are expected to win.