This whole furore surrounding Meghan Markle is just deflecting attention away from the real issues facing this country, such as why Arteta is not giving Martinelli any minutes.

Interesting, what would I have said to a Socceroo? Will I get punched squarely in the jaw?

Then the question is, did AMN make a mistake that cost us? Or do we blame the player who passed the ball to him?

hahaha.
I love The Tuesday Club but not primarily for the tactical analysis! I thought their wish for Maitland Niles and Willock as possible replacements for Xhaka was unconvincing to say the least.
We all know Xhaka is a higely divisive player. But the curious thing is that he's been at Arsenal for 6 years under 3 different managers yet none of them have tried to sell him, AND he's been their first choice midfielder.
Why?
My opinion is that if Granit can keep up with the tempo of a game he's a good player. Unfortunately he is prone to an occasional costly brain fart, and if a game runs away from him it looks like he tries to compensate with more effort and emotion, which makes the aforementioned brain fart more likely. Unlike some players who become passengers when things dont go their way, Xhaka's desire to bridge the speed and skill deficit through sheer will can make him a weak link. I do think we should be looking to replace him with someone who is faster and more technical, and I find his lack of reverence to Arsenal mildly annoying, but the narrative of him being simply rubbish isnt fair or accurate. He seems similar to David Luiz in some respects. They are both leaders on and off the pitch, they dont seem to have Arsenal in their blood, but their streaks of good performances are occasionally punctuated with high profile errors.

Would love to see Martinelli start tonight

No that’s a maitland niles mistake a lax pass back but admittedly it was a pre season kick about

Circumstances are quite different to Xhakas which would have involved passing the ball back to his keeper after he passed it to him

If Arteta doesn’t start Martinelli tonight he should be sacked the moment the team sheets announced

I think you have made some valid points here.

I think the point they were making with the Willock suggestion (which i also agree with you) is that you have players out on loan who haven’t been tried and given an extended run in the side but Xhaka has.

I really can’t understand why Xhaka is such a mainstay yet we haven’t really tried other midfield combinations without him in anger. I didn’t really feel Torriera was given a fair crack at the whip and AMN definitely not. Why can’t you give these guys a 10 game run to build up their confidence.

It kind of lends itself to Bernard’s point about Arteta picking Xhaka, our last 3 managers have all been blind sided by him. He must have some off pitch seniority about him because on a footballing level there’s not much between him and our other options.

Very much so. I would also add that they appear to be very well respected by their team mates. Most people have an opinion of Luiz and Xhaka that will not change and typically will tend to focus on the errors and not the good things.
This is where defensive players get a tougher deal than attackers. Attackers miss 4 chances and score 1 goal and that is fine. Defenders stop 4 certain goals then fluff up to concede a goal and they will be heavily criticised.

Take Bamford for instance. Most people who don't watch Leeds will say he's having a fine season but I know a lot of Leeds fans that say whilst he has surprised them being able to take his goals from the Championship to the Premier League he has still missed a LOT of good chances that have cost them in games.

Wat a liabillity the man is...

Yes, surely the worst decision so far by the VAR people. Inexplicable.

Piers Morgan storming off the set of Good Morning Britain over unsubstantiated rumours Martinelli isn't starting.

Even the Irish are in on this grand diversion to draw attention away from civilization's greatest atrocity ! (although we can't blame the Irish for getting a few well-placed kicks into the royal gonads):

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r ... 8074c30d14

I don't envy Arteta in rotating his squad over the next few weeks. Olympiacos tonight has to be the best team as it does vs Spurs. The best way to be able to rotate players is go and win 4-0 tonight and we can rest players for the 2nd leg!
Assuming there is still something to play for in the 2nd leg I think as a minimum the following players will need to play the next 3 games: Leno, Tierney, Partey, Saka, Aubameyang

Tempted to put Gabriel in but Mari, Luiz, Holding have been ok recently and there could be some rotation in defence if needed.
Bellerin/Cédric could rotate
Xhaka/Ceballos could rotate
Smith-Rowe, Ødegaard, Pépé, Willian can rotate for the 2 extra spots in the forward line.
Perhaps Lacazette comes in for a game but I can't see Martinelli starting any of them

Never get in a protracted land war in Asia. Never invade Russia with winter approaching. Never go this long without starting Martinelli.

Astounding read about Deportivo La Coruna. This extended tale had quite passed me by.

https://www.skysports.com/share/12232482

Puts our fall from the top table into perspective.

Arteta states his project at Arsenal will go "bang" after recovery from the pandemic.
Just hope the go "bang" doesn't blow up in his face starting tonight, next week's EL game and all games till May. Cleanup after won't be pretty.

Who from the forum was in attendance for this game when this happened ?

https://youtu.be/vbLGnHmGg9Y

I was on the other side of the pitch from where hit the shot and I don’t think I’ll ever witness anything so absurd again at a football match.

If this was today Seaman would be done for with our fans demanding his immediate transfer

The toblerone calamity king starts and no martinelli.

Arteta out.

He jumped a split second too early.

I still wince when I see it

It sends a shudder doesn’t it, without the goal I was certain we would have won.

I recall the Zaragoza team came to our end at the final whistle and I was concerned they would get a negative response but got applause after some scary looking guys were screaming at our lot to clap.

On this subject, I just watched Man Utd vs Milan at Old Trafford. In 2021, a match between those two is a pretty tame affair in the second tier of European competition, with neither side looking like they're on their way to winning trophies anytime soon. Growing up watching football in the 90s and 00s that was unthinkable.

Can someone please ask Karen Carney to stop stating the bleeding obvious. Keown isn’t much better either, but Carney is the Queen of the cliché.

Jesus mate you’ve got to hit the target there

What a save. Unlucky Aubameyang

Started really well, two good chances already

It should be over already.

Got to be taking these chances.

Xhakas speed on the break

I've lost count of the number of times I hear or see Arsenal players blaze a ball over the bar from the edge of the area.

Our shooting is appalling isn’t it

If it’s not aubameyang it’s row z

Tierney is doing his usual stuff, but Bellerin is also getting in behind their defense a lot early on. Would be great if we could have that kind of threat from both flanks consistently

Why do we keep letting Luiz take free kicks? Does he smash them in during training?

People always reference his “unusual” technique, not realising the last time he scored one was when the world was still new.

Yet more targeting of Saka

anybody watching on BT Sport?

Odegaaaaarrrdddd!!

I think he heard you, Rich