Not only that but the ref also didnt give a yellow to one of their players for delaying the restart. Also a wolves player went down after a challenge from Big Gabby, and clutched his head forcing the ref to stop the game as we were counter attacking . I'm pretty sure there was no head contact and he certainly jumped up pretty smartish moments later.

Did you see the Chelsea game? At least two challenges on Palmer deserved a red imo. Talented players in general should be protected. People to watch Salah, Palmer, De Bruyne, Saka and Ødegaard. Raking down someone's legs with your studs or repeatedly stepping on the insole should be clamped down on.

Pep Guardiola: "We have to play [Ilkay] Gundo - an attacking midfielder, our best guy to arrive in the box - he has to play holding midfielder, because the other holding midfielder is injured, it's [Mateo] Kova, another player who can do it…

Where is the bashing for Pep moaning about injuries, we were told they don’t count and the best teams just get on with it and find a way to win.

Pep doesn’t ‘have’ to play his best attacking mid as a def mid. He has a choice

Reality is injuries between teams of similar quality is one of the most decisive factors in what position clubs end up in at the end of the season

I love Ben White but Timber is a better RB in our system. His athleticism and 1v1 ability means Saka can just stay up high. Watch how many times you see Salah back in his own defensive 3rd helping out, never, he stays high because he is devastating and can conserve his energy for attacks. Having Timber allows Saka to stay higher

I thought the refereeing on Saturday, while not reaching the absurd levels of the Rice and Trossard red cards, was still very poor. As DHD said, we had 3 yellows for 3 first half fouls. Forest had several deliberate fouls where the sanction was a free kick and a talking to. The most ridiculous was when he gave the free, made the shirt tug gesture, yet still no booking.

That aside, Arsenal were outstanding. I was at the game and it has been many years since my last trip to Arsenal. It was a top class performance. Saka and Ødegaard were on a different level. There is a danger that Saka gets taken for granted because he's not overly flash but does the right thing almost all the time. He certainly delivered the spectacular on Saturday though.

On Declan Rice....he's a fantastic midfielder. The notion that he wouldn't be in our first eleven is absolutely crazy to me. The only one better is Rodri.

The notion is that he needs to improve in a couple of aspects of his play. I’m not sure I said he needs to be dropped.

That is exactly why Saka doesn't get the plaudits he deserves from most non-Arsenal fans. He's effective without being flashy, he doesn't do tricks, flicks and stepovers. He is quick enough without being blisteringly quick. But he is ridiculously strong for his size, rarely gives the ball away, has a huge appetite for defensive duty and off the ball work, is more two-footed than anyone gives him credit for and more two-footed than 99% of wingers in the league, does all of this whilst being double or triple marked and keeps putting up goals and assists every season - and still 10 months until he turns 24.

What I'd really like to see from Saka to step it up a notch again is a) him staying higher up the pitch when we don't have the ball - I think we saw a bit more of that v Forest as Timber is more trusted 1v1, and b) becoming more selfish and arrogant, he should know he's the best player and so if he has a chance to score or dribble then he should just go for it. Salah is the benchmark for right wingers in the league and has been for 5-6 seasons now and he is unbelievable selfish - quite rightly so!

It feels like we already know the team for tonight - given who had a rest at the weekend I'd confidently predict
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Ødegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Havertz......and despite us having a few injuries I would argue that is our strongest 11 even when everyone is available

He's not been at the level of last season but he is undoubtedly a 100 m player to me. The point is that Partey has been so good that we haven't missed him nearly as much as City have missed Rodri. The other point is we have a mighty impressive collection of DMs ... but are a bit short in terms of attacking midfielders. This is a minor quibble. Our midfield and defensive and resources are really impressive.

Guardiola by contrast reminds me a bit of Wenger in the sense that he seems to have bought into the idea that he is clever enough to deploy square pegs in round holes willy-nilly.

Similar points could be made about Ødegaard. He's got the flashy stuff, but what makes him stand out is how nuggety he is: how hard he is to knock off the ball, the footballing brain, and sheer will to win and relentless energy. We could also do with him being just a bit more selfish in terms of shooting.

Tricky game tonight. I was in Lisbon earlier this year and got talking to a group of Benfica supporters - Benfica/Sporting is the big rivalry in the city though Benfica have generally had the upper hand over the years.

I was surprised that these Benfica guys - to a man - were really fulsome in their praise of the current Sporting team and the manager. They all said Sporting played brilliant football and were great to watch. They were oddly (to me) proud of how Amorim had taken their league to a new level. They couldn't believe he hadn't been snaffled by a major club.

There’s away trips and away trips but Lisbon is one not to miss. Great architecture, amazing food and cheap but great wine. Jealous I’m not there tonight that would have been a great one. Our fans must be having a riot.

Agree TG. Never been there for football but it's an amazing city. Highly recommended.

Sorry Rich - beg to differ. Timber has to show a lot more before he displaces BB.

It's a tough game but I'm looking forward to it. It's great to be back to close to full strength and not to have a sense of impending doom whenever we take the field.

Exactly. At the European Championships he made more tackles and more interceptions than any other midfielder. He's top class.

Partey has played very well this season, a big improvement from last year. But for me, Rice is the best defensive midfielder we have by some distance. The discussion earlier about having both Nwaneri and Ødegaard in the team is an exciting prospect. If it were to happen, it means only one place left in midfield and for me that's Rice every time. Even taking Nwaneri out of the equation, because he is so so young, I prefer Rice in the No.6 rather than No.8.

These are good problems to have.

It’s close and no problem with the difference of opinion. I can accept the argument of White having a lot of money in the bank. I just look at Timber and think he’s quicker and better 1v1. White can be susceptible to a pacy winger sometimes, often being covered well by Saka. Rashford has given White a few tough moments, Mitoma as well. I think Timber has a sharpness and aggression in his defending that is slightly better.
I was really encouraged by White slotting in at CB for the Liverpool game, people might have forgotten that he’s also excellent there.
Glad to have them both

First outing for a Partey Ødegaard Rice midfield?

Martinelli !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1-0 Martinelli

Wonderful start from us. We’ve pinned them in from the first minute

Get in!! Man I hate them already!!

Good right sided overloads with Saka, Ødegaard, timber and Partey working it before timber drilled a low cross and Martinelli tapped in at the back post

2-0 Havertz!

Havertz !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lovely chipped ball over from Partey to Saka, he squares it across and Havertz has an open goal tap in.

Just brilliant tonight

Have that!! Amazing start. Sporting running into a stifling press led by Ødegaard and look really vulnerable to it.

Brilliant by Saka. That outside of the foot pass was perfect.

Uh, didn’t put the flag up for Havertz offside, So played an “advantage” so ignored Saka being wiped out on the edge of the box. I’ll have the free kick rather than the pointless development of play thanks.

The rules are just a muddle sometimes.

Rice scored 3 rugby points there

Gabriel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gabriel 3-0

Thanks Arsenal, worth my while to wake up middle of night

What an absolutely stunning half of football. Total control and plenty of threat. Saka has been unplayable again, and you just have to love Gabriel's utter commitment to get that header.

I’ve rarely seen a corner where you know it’s a goal as the ball is in the air, you could just see it from the flight of the ball and Gabriel’s movement

Couldn’t agree more. That is an elite level half of football, against a very good side let’s remember.
It wasn’t just the goals which were all so clinical it was the general play, the press, the aggression, the passing was crisp and fast, movement, combinations. Really really brilliant.

Considering the quality of the opponent, away from home in a tough European match I think you’d struggle to find a better more dominant half of football in the entire CL so far

Gabriel v Gyokeres is a non contest. Gyokeres is the most in form striker in world football arguably - Gabriel has pocketed him, shows the level Gabriel is at.
Not only has he not given Gyokeres a sniff, he then scored himself and did Gyokeres’ trademark celebration

3-1. That’s not how to start the half. Had to not give them any hope at all. Will be a very different game now. We have to wrestle back control

Oops, please don't let them back in