Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
got to be happy with this performance, probably out best half of footy to take the 1-0 lead, then probably some of the worst behaviour in the first 15 of the second half. 
shame to lose it that late in the half, Martenelli could have made it 2 for us but at the end of it we've pushed the top team and made them work harder than they would have wanted to.
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
theprof
got to be happy with this performance, probably out best half of footy to take the 1-0 lead, then probably some of the worst behaviour in the first 15 of the second half. 
shame to lose it that late in the half, Martenelli could have made it 2 for us but at the end of it we've pushed the top team and made them work harder than they would have wanted to.

Unfortunate result, showed the immaturity of the team unfortunately.
But to lose but be the better side gives me confidence in progress.
Hated Rodri's winner and behaviour, watching them run away with the title gives me zero joy. Utter cods.
Legend
6.8K
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14K
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over 16 years
theprof
Aussie VAR need to talk with the EPL guys.....

‘,..when invited to review the decision by the VAR official, Jarred Gillett…’

Probably are!
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Bit of chat that Newcastle are in for Auba for a loan with a £20m purchase in the summer. I’d bite their hand off for that.
tradition and history
1.5K
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9.9K
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almost 17 years
brumbys
theprof
got to be happy with this performance, probably out best half of footy to take the 1-0 lead, then probably some of the worst behaviour in the first 15 of the second half. 
shame to lose it that late in the half, Martenelli could have made it 2 for us but at the end of it we've pushed the top team and made them work harder than they would have wanted to.

Unfortunate result, showed the immaturity of the team unfortunately.
But to lose but be the better side gives me confidence in progress.
Hated Rodri's winner and behaviour, watching them run away with the title gives me zero joy. Utter cods.
Why are they cods just because they have the best players and manager in the EPL
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Because they’re absolutely classless cods who throw themselves about and moan about every foul trying to get their opponent carded. They finally find a winner against us after 30 minutes with a 1 man advantage while still looking the worse team and celebrate in front of our fans. Utter classless cods. Shark club, no history. Just oil money.
Leggy
brumbys
theprof
got to be happy with this performance, probably out best half of footy to take the 1-0 lead, then probably some of the worst behaviour in the first 15 of the second half. 
shame to lose it that late in the half, Martenelli could have made it 2 for us but at the end of it we've pushed the top team and made them work harder than they would have wanted to.

Unfortunate result, showed the immaturity of the team unfortunately.
But to lose but be the better side gives me confidence in progress.
Hated Rodri's winner and behaviour, watching them run away with the title gives me zero joy. Utter cods.
Why are they cods just because they have the best players and manager in the EPL
Legend
6.8K
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14K
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over 16 years
Watched the game and thought Arsenal behaved a bit like cods- cods who believe they can be better than Manchester City. Perhaps even deserved to be. 
If the players believe it, we’ll that’s a damn good place to start. 
A bit more backing it up, but this Arsenal team is one of the pleasures of the league that is currently packed with quality. 
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
My favourite transfer rumour, Winjaldum on loan. Can you imagine it.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Had to have a bit of a breather before posting after that game.
What a drama and what a disappointment at the end. I get where everyone is coming from with the "we can be proud, what a performance", but FFS I was absolutely spewing for 48 hours. 
First, the penalty. Silly grab from Xhaka, wasn't needed as Silva was already diving like a moron when he did it. No complaints that a penalty was given, but what has me fuming about it, as always with VAR and the EPL, is the consistency. All of this season they've taken an attitude of going with the ref's on-field call as much as they can, and only going to VAR when it's such a clear miss that it's a no brainer. And I'm fine with that. It's almost like the old days again. I like the approach and I have not complained one single bit when quite a few penalties for us have been missed as it's always gone both ways - we've also been lucky on occasion as well. 
But then we get this one day, where they decide that actually, we're going to bring this one back - it's the champions and they're losing, it's Xhaka who we know is always up for a foul, so lets find an angle. That sounds cynical but what else can it be when they dismissed the Odegaard one so quickly in the very same match. Ederson got no touch there at all. I accepted it at the time, not a clear and obvious error, that's cool, but to then go back for Xhaka, my god. 
And if they go back for that then they need to go back for Maguire's pull at old trafford, and many others I've seen this season. 
Also, why do they go with this performance acting of having the ref go to the screen? It seemed logical when it was introduced, but now seeing it in practice, do they EVER go to the screen and go "thanks but actually, not enough evidence that I've made a clear error there, the call stays"? 
No, never. As soon as he goes to that screen it's a penalty, every time. It's pointless - the VAR ref should just make the call if this is how they do it.
To the red... Gabriel, no complaints for me at all. It blimmin sucked but that's what we get with a young team, we just gotta suck it up. First yellow was apparently for nothing but he knows he's on one now, you just can't block someone off like that. Hopefully he learns from it. 
In the end, I thought we deserved to win, a draw at the absolute worst, so for them to get a lucky one off a long ball at the end was pretty demoralising.
Yes a good performance, blah blah blah, but we've got 17 games left now, and a lot of them are difficult ones. Yes we are 4th but not really - Spurs can easily take us out with their games in hand. It will be very tough for us to get that spot from here, the Spurs game coming is huge and I'm not confident given Partey is gone to AFCON. If Spurs beat us it will be very very hard for us to finish above them, and I can't see us overtaking Chelsea or Liverpool. 
Anyway, finish with some more positive chat then...
Ben White, how good is this guy looking??? Compliments Gabriel so well too. 
Tomiyasu, is he challenging Ramsdale as our signing of the season??? He is immense, he's become so important for us. 
After messing about with the forwards for such a long time, it feels like Arteta has nailed it now. Martinelli and Saka are completely at home on their respective sides. Odegaard is getting better all the time. Lacazette is doing a great job (but is the obvious area to improve with a big signing next year). Poor Smith-Rowe can't get in now, but it doesn't phase him, he just keeps scoring. 

Legend
3.6K
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15K
·
almost 17 years
brumbys
My favourite transfer rumour, Winjaldum on loan. Can you imagine it.

That would be amazing. 
Ramsey on loan would be good too.
We really need a midfielder, stat. 
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
actually I think our midfield is looking strong, we dont really need Ramsay at all. Odegaard, Partey, Lakonga Xhaka, all start ahead of Ramsay in the centre of midfield, Even ESR - although he's been used wide of late.
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
Looks like AMN is off to play with Jose for the rest of the season. Hope does well in Rome. 
Doesn’t look like Newcastle for auba will come through as no one wants it. 
More and more Isak rumours coming. But as far as I can tell is that they are all based on the fact that real sociadad said that he can’t move to Barca, rather than actual intent. 
Oh and we’ve made a cash plus torreria bid for vladovic. He still doesn’t want to come here, but our recent form has interested him. 
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Surely if your Vlahovic or Isak you're looking at us on the way to a big money move to Barcelona/Real Madrid in your prime.

In other news Liverpools had the game postponed. Given it's the bloody league cup and they willingly played the kids against Villa last season why on earth they won't do the same is beyond me.

I understand worrying about covid, but when your squad is also depleted because of AFCON, injuries, and suspensions it starts to become disingenuous as those other three reasons aren't enough to warrant a postponement on their own.

Thankfully the games still take place during AFCON ensuring Liverpool don't benefit from the return of Mane, Salah, Keita.

Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
theprof
actually I think our midfield is looking strong, we dont really need Ramsay at all. Odegaard, Partey, Lakonga Xhaka, all start ahead of Ramsay in the centre of midfield, Even ESR - although he's been used wide of late.

Given we don't have Partey for January your midfield three is Xhaka, Odegaard, and Lakonga. With only ESR an option to come into CM. I think we're light still and will need another signing, even on loan to get through.
Given the covid outbreaks going on depth is key unless we're happy given Patino and other academy lads game time.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Look at the midfield this way... 
Our system plays with a no.10, and two deeper lying midfielders.
No.10 is fine. We have Odegaard as the starter, and Smith-Rowe can back him up in that role. 
But in my opinion neither of those guys can play in the deeper lying roles.
For those two deeper roles, with Partey and Elneny at AFCON, we only have Xhaka, and Lokonga who hasn't been playing lately. That's it. I saw AMN as having a role there this month but now he's off. 
Arteta must have a plan with this to have let AMN go. I wonder what it is? Perhaps he does see Odegaard and/or ESR as being capable of playing deeper? I don't see it myself. 
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
I realise this mornings game was only an FA cup tie, but losing to Forest is not a good look considering a good number of those that played have been starters in the EPL. Nketiah just lacking form at the moment, same with Lakinga who I think was responsible for the errant pass which lead to their goal.
Arteta made some odd choices and the late change with 3 minutes to go was daft. Needed to be made a lot earlier to impact the game.
Starting XI
2.1K
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4.3K
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over 11 years
Not one shot on target against a lower division team. There was plenty of talent on the pitch to have beaten them but barely even challenged them. GUess these kind of results are always going to happen with a young team but always gutting to go out of the cup. Hopefully not the start of that typical week of the season where we go out of everything in the same week.
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
We were unrecognisably bad. Given that was 4 of our best 11 I’m genuinely surprised at how poor we were. 

Upside is that should be the ammo needed to go get some decent signings in this month.

I see Brighton want £50m for Bissouma, we should just pay it and get it done. Add in Wijnaldum on loan, along with Isak or Vlahovic and we’re in for a proper top 4 push.
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Bad day for Tavares. He looked lazy from the start and I was not surprised at all to see him get yanked. 
It felt like we were going to cough that one up to be honest, nearly from the get-go. We just weren't at the races.
And I am now seriously worried about this midfield. 
Elneny/Lokonga were an absolute world away from Partey/Xhaka. 
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
So hear me out…. Jack on a short term loan. He knows the club and the system. He’s ‘training’ fit. He could help out in a deeper role and help our very young middle. 
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
I'm supportive of this, so long as 20% of his fee is basic, 40% is availability, and 40% is based on appearance.
kwlap
So hear me out…. Jack on a short term loan. He knows the club and the system. He’s ‘training’ fit. He could help out in a deeper role and help our very young middle. 
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
I'd be happy as for that. Need someone experienced to try and hold the fort. 
Fans would love it. Would give the team a little boost I reckon, particularly at home. 
Geez imagine if he scored, the roof would come off. 
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
We’re currently being linked with 3 Brazilian midfielders, and a bit of chat about Tielmens in the long term.

I like the look of the left footed kid from Brazil as a long term Xhaka replacement, and Melo on loan could work.

If Melo is more Ceballos than Odegaard in terms of Jan loan impact I’d then hope we went after Tielemens in the summer. Just 18 months left on his deal at the moment, you think Leicester would have to sell.
Starting XI
2.1K
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4.3K
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over 11 years
As long as Xhaka remains in the team there's just no chance of ever getting anywhere. Him continuing to sabotage everything we do is the only thing more sure than Liverpool scoring in injury time and that's as sure as night follows day.
It's odd to hate one of your own players but I don't think I even hated David Luiz as much as him. How many last straws can one person have?
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Does that mean Xhaka is out of the north london derby? 
Our midfield is in a dire situation. 
Legend
8K
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14K
·
over 16 years
he is a massive liability.
good for two reds every season, and always at crucial games.
Starting XI
2.1K
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4.3K
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over 11 years
paulm
Does that mean Xhaka is out of the north london derby? 
Our midfield is in a dire situation. 
Best thing to come from this. With a bit of luck they'll call it violent conduct and extend the band.
Starting XI
2.1K
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4.3K
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over 11 years
 
Done well to hold them out so far but they'll obviously score in the 96th minute. We've all seen this film before.


 
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
yusss!
0-0 collectively 1 or 2 shots on goal, us at home with no Xhaka will be tough to beat.

Starting XI
2.1K
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4.3K
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over 11 years
Feels like a big result. Liverpool toothless without Salah and Mane, and great noise from our fans. Another silent performance from the mythical "Kop."
Legend
3.6K
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15K
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almost 17 years
Im gutted. I couldnt really care less about the League Cup, I thought we should've played more kids.
Now no Xhaka for Monday, both RBs injured, Saka with a niggle, and a ton of other players will be tired as f*ck after that effort. 
A loss to Spurs on Monday could be the end of our top four hopes. 
Yes cheer about Xhaka missing but what have we got for Monday now? Lokonga by himself basically. Chambers to do a job? Odegaard to drop deeper? Patino to start? None of these options are good. 
Marquee
1.5K
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5.2K
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over 16 years
theprof
yusss!
0-0 collectively 1 or 2 shots on goal, us at home with no Xhaka will be tough to beat.


I know there's a lot of what ifs but had we played last week at home against a weaker Liverpool side and got a result, we'd now be at Wembley. Instead, we have the NLD in between both legs which we also wouldn't have had before.
I can just see us doing a typical Arsenal though in that we've gone to Anfield and played the majority of the game with 10 men to get a great 0-0 result only to go back to the Emirates next week and lose 0-3.
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
yeah its tough but this result will give the boys a boost, exclude Xhaka (who isnt really a loss) then you look at Saka who I think was just tired, he seems to recover quickly. The team is young and should be able to play back to back within 4 days.

All I need to see now is news that we've thrown $75m for the Serbian striker.
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
That was just bizarre. This club is a bloody roller coaster. Intrigued to see what Edu and Arteta have up their sleeve for Sunday now.
Marquee
1.7K
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8.1K
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over 16 years
Hope that Ghana lose tomorrow (do us a favour Auba) and Partey gets on a plane fast.
paulm
Im gutted. I couldnt really care less about the League Cup, I thought we should've played more kids.
Now no Xhaka for Monday, both RBs injured, Saka with a niggle, and a ton of other players will be tired as f*ck after that effort. 
A loss to Spurs on Monday could be the end of our top four hopes. 
Yes cheer about Xhaka missing but what have we got for Monday now? Lokonga by himself basically. Chambers to do a job? Odegaard to drop deeper? Patino to start? None of these options are good. 
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
first off, Xhaka - im not angry, im just disappointed. He has this silliness in him that has stopped him and us from ever pushing on. The sooner he goes to Roma the better. 
The rest of the game was great entertainment. A real battle and in honest, we held on relatively comfortably. they blazed one over the bar in the 85th(?) min and that was Liverpool's only open opportunity. 
I thought that both the rejigging of positions/tactics and the players worked really well. Chambers at Wingback and Martinelli playing in midfield against one of the best sides in the world at the moment! madness, but they held their own.  

Now for a tricky set of fixtures. to compensate for the lack of midfield i wonder if we will see a back 5 again. maybe with Saka(if fit) on one flank. KT or Taraves on the other. With MO, EMS and Sambi in the middle. 
Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
was great entertainment, agreed!
the next run of games will be a good test of Arteta's management. 

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