Sadly I agree. It annoys me that so many teams have got wins away to big 6 sides but we haven’t had one for about 4/5 years. I think those big 6 sides are definitely more concentrated against us but I also think there is a mental block for us.
I don’t think we can concentrate for 90 minutes to execute to all our defence. But as long as we go there with the right mindset we do have players who can hurt their defence on the counter and in 1v1 situations

Well ..no he didn't. Gave me a decent reply.

Just checked. The last time we won away against MC was Jan 2015. May 2016 we drew against them away and ever since lost all 3 away matches against them (had lost the last 4 home matches against them as well). Let's hope Arteta and the boys can come up with some magic...

This summer we really need to find a way to shift on some high earners. Özil (£350k), Mkhitaryan (£200k), Lacazette (£180k), Xhaka (£100k) Sokratis (£90k) Elneny (£70k) is £52m off the season wage bill!
I see prices of £40m for 16 year old Bellingham from B'ham, £70m for Grealish and Maddison. I just don't think we can be shopping in that market at all. Pépé may turn out to be brilliant but £70m for us is a huge risk. We need to move back in to the £20-£30m market and realise our current standing which means selling well and possibly our better players and buying smartly on potential with resale value.

I'm not certain we can afford Aubamayang's new contract but I also can't see how we do anything without him. Not a nice choice for Arsenal to have to make. At least in comparison to the £350k/week Arsenal gave Özil, Aubamayang is still operating as the best striker in the league and would be worth the deal, I'm just not sure a team (possibly) without European football and with the need to tighten the finances can afford him.

Aubamayang deal, 3 years at £300k per week = £47m, plus lets call it zero resale, but 3 more years of the league's top striker.
vs
Sell Aubamayang now for £70m, shift the £200k per week (£10m) of his last year.

So crudely this is a swing of £127m decision for Arsenal to make on 1 player (granted that any replacement has a fee and wages)

Likely no replacement for Aubameyang if he's sold. The club will rely on Lacazette, Nketiah, Martinelli, Pépé, Nelson and Saka to rotate the front three positions. We would only get a new striker if Lacazette is sold as well - to pacify the fans.

We won’t sell Aubamayang and not sign a replacement.

No way considering what he brings the team, who would come in I don’t know though

If we sell Aubameyang it shoukd be to finance a great defense. I'd like that money earmarked only for either a central defender or defensive center midfielder.

Saliva to come in, Mari signed. That's our lot.

Spurs 2 down in 20 minutes. No trophy for Maureen.

Is this a reference to the fact this team needs the kiss of life? Fair assessment

Leipzig look lethal at home. Lloris doing a passable impression of an over the hill once great GK has helped.

Yes, didn't exactly distinguish himself with either goal.

Spurs are lucky Mourinho was able to prioritise the Leipzig game otherwise they might have got a flogging. May he stay with them 3 years. Should totally wreck them in that time. Yesterday’s man.

Happened to catch a few Atlanta games this season. I think we should pencil the manager in as a potential future manager at our club. I like their style of play and organisation

Anything negative with regards departing players not being replaced is possible under the Kroenke ownership regime.

I think Spurs should change their theme tune to yesterday. A yesterdays man manager and a yesterday team past their best.

City game has been postponed.

And so it begins.....

Evening,
Tonight's match at City has been postponed.

From Arse.com:

“We identified that a number of players met the Olympiacos owner immediately following the game.

The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing Covid-19 at extremely low. However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact. …

The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires. Four Arsenal staff, who were sitting close to Mr Marinakis during the match will also remain at home until the 14 days are complete.”

Owner bloke has tested positive. The ‘contact’ was 13 days ago so as of this Thursday, it’s business as usual.

All sounds a bit daft - and slightly whiffy.

You start enforcing restrictions at a high level and then people on the ground cannot whinge. I recommend that the EPL be withheld this year.

Reports the UK health Minster has it. Italy going on the banned list in Australia.

Our FA Cup game away at Sheffield also falls within the 14 day period. So I guess that may be postponed as well. Even if it all works out well from a health standpoint I can’t imagine that this is great preparation for the remainder of the season (assuming that there is one).

EDIT Of course Saturday’s game at Brighton is within the period. According to the AFC website that is going ahead. But surely the player availability for that is the same as for tonight’s game?

We played Olympiacos on 27th February. Our cup tie at Sheffield United is 22nd March. With the leap year meaning February had 29 days, it’s 24 days after. Hence 10 days after the 14 days. Moreover this weekend’s game at Brighton (14th March) is also more than 14 days after the Olympiacos match.

They may count the days since the contact as already served.

Reports saying Maitland-Niles has been late to training several times, and isn't impressing Arteta with his lack of professionalism. Evidently he has been dropped from the squad- unless something changes pretty quickly it looks like he will be on his way out.

So if the players are having to self isolate I assume training is cancelled? Not great preparation for the weekend, assuming that game gets the go ahead.

What about West Ham players who came in to contact with Arsenal players? Are you considered at risk if you come in to contact with someone who has come in to contact with someone with coronavirus even if you haven’t had direct contact with the carrier?

I had wondered that, but it doesn’t explain why the club’s website says that the players and staff are returning on Friday in advance of the Brighton game. Makes no sense. Seems like an odd 14 day period.

I think the hard line on things like this is absolutely right. Everything the players do must have a standard and any slips from that need calling out. Give him plenty of chances to rectify but if he can’t then he should be moved on.

That would all be true IF the players had self isolated immediately after the game. But we have played two games since, and the Man City match is a surprise postponement. There’s no way that the affected people have had a 14 day period of self isolation.

So it looks like they are saying that if the symptoms haven’t shown within 14 days of contact then you are clear but it’s best to avoid people in that period in case you do eventually display the signs and any contacts will be at risk.

So the impact on our playing squad and staff could be zero (petering out on Friday) or massive.

The only question I have is each player been tested? Many people show few symptoms but can have it already.

I know one thing, any virus at our club is a lot less dangerous than the Mourinho virus eating away at the heart of Spurs.

I’m becoming confused about this. If someone is tested and shown to be clear do they still need a 14 day self isolation period?

Enjoyed watching Leipzig again last night. I really like their young coach Nagelsmann - definitely destined for a bigger stage. Leipzig could have a number of their players pinched this summer. Whoever gets Werner is getting a great player, scores goals for fun, exceptionally fast, makes runs all day and never gives the defence a moments peace. He should be worth £75m but his buy-out clause is about half that.

Agreed - not sure about 'plenty' of chances though. How many chances would you or I get if we were turning up late for work and displaying an unprofessional attitude?

Hi Rich,

I thought I read a while ago that Liverpool were lining Werner him up.

Upamecano will be a great buy for someone, probably Bayern. Sadly, I think any chance we had for him was last summer.

Leipzig looked very good didn't they. This is what I'd like to see us develop at Arsenal, a strong group of talented young players performing with confidence and discipline.

If tested I think the 14 days does it. But this requires them to test them even if displaying no symptoms. This story highlights some of the problems

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-05/ ... s/12026902

As he said he was as fit as Mallee bull but he actually had it. And of course it looks like it re-occurred on her. few other reports of people getting it twice which the experts have said was not likely. I think we are in a whole new area of virus.

Bayern have had a fairly poor season by their standards, even causing them to sack their manager. However, Leipzig are only third in the Bundesliga, one point behind second placed Dortmund and five points behind Bayern who are top. As people know I watch Bayern Munich at every opportunity I get and I’ve long thought the Bundesliga isn’t as weak a league as some have claimed. It’s just Bayern are very, very good so win it consistently.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bundesl ... e&ie=UTF-8

With this Corona virus happening, I see the cruise lines are offering steep discounts.
I'm trying to convince the missus to go on a 7 day cruise.

We'd only be gone for a month.