Part of me would like to see Martinelli play the league matches only.

Given not only his personal animus for us but also him sending players out to injure us, I'm shocked if any true Arsenal fan can like or admire fat Sam. Just my view. I have far more respect for Ferguson than I do for fat Sam. Ferguson at least respected us. Fat Sam is odious. He hated us personally and would have the temerity to come to Wenger to loan him the quality young players. He tried to offer Bergkamp a contract towards the end of his career to leave us but gladly Bergkamp was always a gooner and remembered Sam's Bolton side, kicking us every chance they could.

That 2-2 draw against us, at least 2 players went off injured. The referee for that game didn't give them a yellow until around the 85th minute I think. Not sour grapes but the league should have looked at that ref. There were one or two that had it in for us personally I'm convinced.

I would be a bit surprised if Lampard's job is less secure than I imagine it is.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55468897

How long is he out for?

With the most recent win, I wouldn't be surprised if almost all gooners will see anything other than a win as acceptable. I'm hoping for a win obviously but I'm cautiously optimistic. A draw wouldn't shock me. But lets hope we can eke out a win.

Read a story that the locker room rift is primarily the senior players upset about Özil's exclusion and their perceived shabby treatment by the club, Arteta specifically. One or two other minor issues (all clubs have some issues, minor ones admittedly) but ours if a big rift. My guess is senior players upset over the under utilisation of some senior players as well. Possibly, Lacazette for a time, or others.

If this is so, then how do we rectify it?

Arteta: "I have adapted much more than probably what I thought I would when I took the team because there are certain things that I think are much better for the qualities of the players that we have, and other things that probably we are not prepared to do yet.“
That pretty much translates as the players are not good enough to do what I need them to do

So city v Everton got postponed because of a covid outbreak at City. There needs to be a proper explanation and answer to the question as to just how many players need to be out with covid for a game to be postponed. I read somewhere something about needing 14 players for a match to go ahead. What is stopping City having to use their U21 squad players? City must have a combined 40 players at least with their senior and U21 players. I know it’s bad luck but I don’t think it is far fetched or too cynical to suggest clubs with a bit of a covid outbreak are going to try their best to postpone a fixture rather than limp through without some of their best players, particularly a club with the depth of squad like City’s because that rearranged fixture against Everton is going to be squeezed in somewhere inconvenient and cause a fixture pile up - which City are more able to deal with than Everton

Now that I agree with. Aubameyang can't be put out to pasture till he is given the same players around him as Martinelli had against Chelsea. If he plays with these players and still produces zilch for the team then he has to be rested while they are creating and he isn't. Of course Martinelli is the player for the future but we must also find a way of playing Balogun to see if he is worth keeping and if he does then pull out all the stops to stop him leaving for Liverpool.

Balogun and Martinelli are the future imo.

If this is true I'm outa here. This scumbag doesn't deserve to be employed by a top tier team.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football ... adrid/amp/

hope you are pounding that Christmas sherry still.

“Aubameyang should be on notice” why ? Because a few 19 year olds put on a decent display in one single match? He’s scored 57 in 98 appearances and was our quickest player to ever reach 50 in modern times. Your contemplating selling a peak Ian Wright folks because of what ? he’s looked a bit miserable in some games when he’s not getting service. You could literally sell any of our past strikers for that.

Arsenal aren’t replacing a 1 in 2 striker easily right now. Trust me

By all means play the youngsters but When Aubameyang is fit he has to come back in. By all means ostracise some of the experienced players but this guy deserves a break.

Balogun will literally not be at the club past May.

Hi Chris,
Didn't take long for that story to get on here.
As another piece elsewhere states, Diego's on a free, ((Stan loves this), he's Brazilian, ( Spanish national aside), (Edu's doing?), another ex Chels player.
Atletico has a couple of interesting clauses in his contract though. Neither of which apply to Arsenal. Especially the no CL one. So no worries on that one for awhile at least.
Still Costa isn't exactly a good idea right now. Curious who decided he was an option. If, our transfer monies are as limited as Edu previously stated a week ago, it's no surprise.
Also, goes with the link Bernard posted recently about our fewer transfer money access. That's the Kroenkes.

City have closed their training ground. They are clearly concerned about the outbreak and the PL have accepted it. The perogative here is to contain an outbreak not play a football match.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... l-23234543

Another BS article

BS

https://www.google.com/amp/s/soccer.nbc ... -news/amp/

Here this piece thinks it makes sense.

Especially at the end saying Costa would ease the burden for Aubameyang.

Oh the tales lately...

So Thomas Partey - it’s all been very quiet. Any clues when he may return for us?

Teams up. Only change i can see is Aubameyang for Lacazette.

Appears to be working hard to get fit. No problem there imo. would be welcome back anytime.

Good to see Arteta retain Martinelli & Emile Smith Rowe for the game today

Good bright start. COYG

Why is it that I feel that the tackle on Xhaka would have merited a yellow if it were one of ours who made the tackle?

(Having said that we’ve just got away with one too).

Interesting juggling by Leno. Not good for my nerves.

Pretty underwhelming first half hour, very little to worry the Brighton defence.

One shot (free kick) and not on target not enough for you eh?

Too much faffing about and not enough action.

Horrible Elneny. Very lucky there.

Ffs Elneny

Doesn’t seem to change no matter how much we shuffle the deckchairs.

Fat Sam having a torrid time right now. Three down already.

Edit: Now four

Disappointing. Virtually nothing going forward save a few crosses from the fullbacks. And a few worrying moments at the back as well.

Booooooorrriiiiinnnnnggggggg

*%^@ half of football.

We need to get Saka and Martinelli into the game. Martinelli has barely touched the ball and our inability to feed passes between the lines is fairly evident.

Tierney our only real attacking outlet.

I can’t recall a time in that half where we attacked but faced fewer than 9 Brighton players behind the ball. Everything is once again far too slow.

Against Chelsea we had one of the lowest pass completion rates of the season for us, we were trying things and a lot didn’t come off but give me that rather than not trying things at all.

Central midfield a massive problem again, both far too deep

Elneny having a very poor game

Just seen Leeds' first goal a properly embarrassing own goal. Sam's face an absolute picture.

Shocking start to the second half. Lucky to get away with two hairy moments.

Bet they don’t do that against us.

Wow. Where did that come from? Great move and shot. Unlucky not to score.