VIEW FROM THE STANDS

Last season was strange. We lost out on fourth place to Spurs, spectacularly blowing up at the final fence when everything was in our own hands – and yet, we also felt a connection with a young, emerging team for the first time in well over a decade.

The big talking point is goals, goals, goals – and how we score more of them. With Lacazette and Aubameyang gone, Mikel Arteta finally gets his chance to construct an attack he really wants.

Our key player will be Bukayo Saka. Arsenal’s best player at 20 years of age, he’ll be considered one of the Premier League’s brightest stars this year, no doubt.

I won’t be happy unless Arsenal continue to show improvement, simple as that.

Our most underrated player is Takehiro Tomiyasu. He’s been very well regarded by Arsenal fans since he signed last summer, but maybe that hasn’t filtered through to everyone else.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Son Heung- min. I’m not sure how he gets away with the things he does or how he earned this butter- wouldn’t- melt rep.

I’m least looking forward to playing Crystal Palace on the opening day. It’s got the stench of ‘ disappointing 2- 0 defeat’ wafting from it.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is... warming slowly. There are still pockets of doubters, but the supporters began to sing Arteta’s name for the first time last season.

If he left, he should be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino. It’s still too early to say Patrick Vieira.

The pantomime villain will be Frank Lampard. A lot of people would like to see him fail, even though I can’t quite put my finger on why.

We’ll finish 4th. The universe owes us one!