So it has arrived. The opening game of the 2007-08 Premiership season. The kids have been suitably traumatised by some ‘Quality Time’ with their old Dad in the Summer, probably very grateful that the season has started.

So to the match. Hard to really read much into it beforehand with no form as such to go on. However, given that I always want and believe that the team will win every single game (don’t take any prediction at face value, they are always cautious; more goals are always expected, one league placing higher, etc., you get the drift) and in all honesty today ought to be a comfortable win. It would be good to see an open game but I suspect Fulham will make life difficult by massing ranks in the midfield.

I have not seen anything to the contrary so presume Eduardo passed his fitness test yesterday. If that is correct, the Arsenal team that I would like to see start is a 4-4-2 formation. I see no reason for caution in that respect on the opening day, at home, to a team who flirted with relegation last season. My starting line up would be:

Lehmann; Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy; Eboue, Fabregas, Flamini, Rosicky; RvP, Eduardo

with a bench of

Almunia, Senderos, Denilson, Walcott, Bendtner

I would omit Hleb, keeping him ready for a 4-5-1 formation in Prague on Wednesday night. Let’s not forget he proved susceptible to the odd strain last season so given that we need a good result there, better to ensure his fitness rather than risk it. Hopefully, we can get to, say, a three goal lead by the hour or so mark which would enable the replacement of RvP, Rosicky and Eduardo with Denilson, Walcott and Bendtner to give them an thirty minute runout but expect it not to be that way, for football rarely is.

Arsene meanwhile has now outright set a deadline on the completion of his contract negotiations, wanting them resolved by the end of August because,

I do not want that to be a handicap for the success of the team…I do not want my players to find these kind of excuses. I have a responsibility towards the fans, the players, the club. I have worked here for 10 years, and I want to stand up for that. I know that it is something important

The setting of a deadline surprised me, especially as it is a complete volte-face from the laid back attitude of the start of the Summer. Interestingly, there appears to be a reason as to why it will take a little longer, “sometimes the lawyers are on holiday“. It is however a damn fine way to start to the League season, a nice little boost to the start of the day – if one were needed – to know that both sides are eager as little Beavers to get this done and dusted.

Meanwhile the boss gave the media a little bit of fodder to throw back at the Club when talking of Cesc’s future,

I did not allow Fabregas to talk to anybody. He denies that he spoke to Real Madrid. So if you can get the statement that he’s done that and that Real Madrid, more than ever, has done that we will sue Real Madrid

It brought a weary sigh when I first read it because it is something you know that is going to be turned into a headline, “Fab Stabs Wenger In The Back” or some other witticism; it almost made me wonder why he said it. Hey, ho. Wenger has been given a double page spread which is curiously enough very similar to the interview carried on Arsenal.com but what do expect from a paper that makes a huge song and dance about a health scare, only to find there hasn’t been one and it all stems from the fact that he is doing one and a half jobs at the Club. The difference between the two is that Wenger has commented about the influence of Henry last season,

It is very difficult to analyse that we lost a world-class player. We will be different now. When there is a massive personality like that, sometimes it’s a bit scary for the players. But they can now show how strong they can be when they have a less stronger personality around them.

Which reflects the positive impact of his departure that most expect there to be in this seasons dressing room, dare one say, a better team spirit. It makes me laugh when I read some of the so-called pundits giving their views on the team. According to Tony Cascarino in yesterdays’ Sun, we struggled to score with Henry in the team so he has no idea how we will score this season. That’s the point; when the forwards were fit last season, we did not struggle to score. When we were left with Baptista and Aliadiere, we did. Still, never let a fact get in the way of an opinion.

Tomas Rosicky reckons that he will be given hell on Wednesday,

I am expecting a bad reaction from the supporters. Some of them were unhappy when I left. It will be a hard game for me – but we have no reason to worry about them on the pitch

The paper also says we are giving a trial to Honduran Wilson Palacios (seriously, you couldn’t make it up) and keeping tabs on Yoan Gouffran (as if that is news). The People reckons that we are set to swoop for Artur Boruc and the old chestnut of Morten Gaamst Pedersen rears his ugly little head again.

Enjoy your day wherever you are catching the game. ’til Tomorrow.