Looks like a perfect match for Martinelli to do his magic once again.

I don't think it would count as 'missing the game' if you weren't allowed to go. It'd be like a rained out match at cricket.

What happened 27 January 2002 to stop you going? Was it the day that the famous spreadsheet went pear-shaped?

Far fewer than the number who die from the common flu. As experts have said, little fuss is made about the common flu and that’s a much bigger threat.

It was a Saturday and I had to give a talk. I simply couldn’t get out of it. The game was a 1-0 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup, the one where Bergkamp scored that diving header.

It’s kills 3% of the people who get it so if the whole UK caught it your looking at over 700,000 deaths. Over 150 people have died in Italy today alone.

I think that’s worth your attendance record.

Amazing how "normal" City seem these days. They were imperious a year ago.

Its much more virulent than flu (you are 10 time more likely to die if you get coronavirus than flu). The fact that it hasn't killed as many people is purely because it hasn't spread as much yet. AND the big one is it's new and unknown, unlike flu, and could turn nasty. So the trick is to try to contain it until a vaccine is developed.

So I don't think we are overreacting. The fact that we massively under-react to much greater threats, is another matter.

Strange as it may seem, outside of Liverpool we are probably the most in form league side in the league over the last 4 or 5 league matches.

I’d love you to be wrong. I fear that you are right.

I hope that City’s keeper puts in the same performance against us.

When I say 'we', I mean responsible public health authorities, not idiots who are currently building bunkers and stockpiling toilet paper and baked beans.

Where is Kiwi, I wonder.

Disappointing results today, I was hoping for Chelsea and MU to drop points in games that looked tough on paper.

Both City and Everton were right out of sorts and you can guarantee City will be right at it on Wednesday after today's shocker.

I think top four is looking nigh on impossible unless we win on Wed, especially given that we have some tough fixures in the run-in.

I wouldn't count on them looking 'normal' against us. I'll settle for less imperious looking than West Ham. But here's hoping.

Amazing stats: City had 73% of possession but only 37% of shots at goal.

I’d love you to be right. I fear that you are wrong.

Very similar to ours yesterday.

Kiwi has heard about these online viruses and is self isolating.

This season's shirts are half price on the Adidas website if anyone is interested.

You’re right but I read that not many people who get it In this country are dying. Myself I would prefer people to be informed adequately enough to make their own decision on how to live their lives, because it won’t be possible to avoid contact with other people. Close down shopping centres? No chance.

If I was given the chance to continue attending Arsenal games, I would choose to and I don’t give a rat’s arse if Top Gun would reach another decision. But I think people, including me and him, should have the freedom to make our own choices.

That's quite a selfish attitude, though, Bernard. What if you attend the game and pick up the virus and then pass it on to your wife and kids or other relatives, some of whom subsequently die? I'd hate to have that on my conscience.

And all to see a bog average mid table finish

It’s not like we are on the cusp of the treble is it

OGS has set the template for how to play them. It is a low defensive block, hit fast on the counter and pressurise their dodgy defence, and recently error prone gk. the question is do we have enough nous and players to sit in our own box and have only 25% possession and remain concentrated?
Id be trying a front 3 of Martinelli left, Aubameyang central, Nelson right.
I don’t think this is a game for Özil either. He’s no good as an extra defensive body buzzing around the edge of our box, and he’s not really a fast counter player. You could make an argument for Willock as he can travel with the ball quickly over distance. You could also make an argument for Guendouzi’s energy.
Selection will be crucial.

Governments are taking their advice from WHO and medical experts. It is in absolutely no government's interest to overhype Covid 19 because the ultimate fall-out here is a serious hit to economies, health services breaking under the strain and, quite simply, people dying.

Thanks for the offer Decaf but I've decided to keep hold of my supersoft 3-ply, my one little bit of luxury.

Agree with this. The deaths are starting to really ramp up now, in Italy for instance.

I do wonder if people realise how bad it could get. I’m not a fan of the current government at all who are mostly complete wankers however I think they have done a decent job in not creating more hysteria about this.

JP morgan will move its sales and marketing organisation from Canary Wharf to basingstoke this week, that’s a pretty major decision. This could get bad

I hope everyone on the forum stays safe with this about.

We're only top 4 in London because West Ham have been cr@p. Palace is close enough in the table to sniff the food at the concession stands.

Any Mustafi ones left? With his recent form, I'm sure they are running low.

Hi TG,

If the virus is not brought under control quickly things could get incredibly bad. Even more so if the virus mutates into a more virulent form.

The govt needs to buy time to adequately equip its hospitals and to develop tests and hopefully treatments or vaccines, which are unlikely in the short term.

I've never known a time where quarantines were imposed in major cities like Milan over something like this which must show just how seriously the world is now taking the threat of the virus.

If cases here begin to rise exponentially then I think it is inevitable that restrictions on public gatherings will be implemented, and rightly so.

The realisation hasn’t set in yet.

The olympics in Tokyo clearly hasn’t got a chance of taking place. Also the euros ? 12 different host cities? Not on your nelly. The restrictions will come

Over emotional bollox socrates. My family are way more important to me than Arsenal. I honestly believe it’s a fuss being made that’s out of proportion to the real risk to people. That isn’t my idea by the way. It’s experts in the field I know.

God I hope Mustafi stays at Arsenal. He’s been good lately but not for that reason. Just to annoy a tosser who supports the club.

Well if it's any consolation Gaz ..... I'm starting to agree with you . I just thought your expectations of Arteta transforming us overnight a bit rich .

I don't watch our matches anymore ; the avalanche of **&&&% sideways / back passing on offer kills it as a spectacle for me .

Watched the extended highlights which doesn't portray a true picture .

Let's face it ; we have a very stupid football team , a bunch of headless chickens conjuring up results from occasional individual brilliance while the entertainment value along the way is virtually non existent .

It'll take time and some brutal decisions to form them into any sort of cohesive unit .

Has Mikel the cojones to do it ....??? The summer transfer window will reveal all .

If you read a few of AG’s posts you will go thru your supply pretty quickly.

Came across this someone sent me. Apologies for the length.

This pretty much sums up what every medical professional who is currently practicing has been saying. Please take the time to read this - slowly. I applaud Dr.Abdu Sharkawy.

From Dr Abdu Sharkawy

I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.

I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.

What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.

I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?

I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.

But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.

Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.

I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.

Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.

#washurhands #geturflushot #respect #patiencenotpanic

Thanks for the concern from you two little fleabites . Been extending / overhauling my trailer , no time to fluff around on the Gleiber .

Thank God I got the E coli infection last year , if I had it now I'd be thinking the end is nigh .

What tickled me about the Aussie toilet paper issue ... a heavyweight bout .... everyone involved was about thirty kilos overweight including the manager trying to mediate .

Understandable if they were battling over weightwatchers or gym passes .

The last game reminded me of a lot of the games in Emery‘a unbeaten run. We were outplayed & could have easily had 3-4 goals scored against us. I thought we lacked cohesion and I just don’t see a great improvement. Plus Arteta is retreating to the experienced players who cannot be out future.

Do you think the WHO are just making it all up, Bernard, or that collective governments want a recession? We have had swine flu and SARS (which had a far higher mortality rate than flu) in the recent past and there was nothing even close to the measures now being recommended. There won't be a vaccine for about 12 months. There is no proven anti-viral treatment yet. Some elements of the media may be engaging in hyperbole, but this thing is real.

Well, I'm not sure those quarantined in China, northern Italy or other places would necessarily agree with your relaxed attitude.

The point is that if restrictions made on crowd gatherings, such as those at football matches etc, helps to delay the spread of the virus and allows more time for better healthcare preparations and provisions to be made and advances made on treatments and possible vaccines then isn't it a no-brainer?

What experts in the field do you know?

Exactly, Dec.

World stockmarkets are in freefall driven by fear of the unknown, economies are facing recessions etc. Suggestions are that Italy, which has one of the best healthcare systems in the world is unable to cope with the level of infections it is seeing, and nobody knows how many more will fall victim to the virus.

It seems to me that unless someone comes up with a treatment or vaccine pdq then this could escalate very quickly into a global pandemic, if it is not already.

I've never seen lockdowns or huge quarantined areas in major western european countries like this before, perhaps someone can enlighten me if they have.

It's not a question of overreacting, it's that nobody currently has any answers and thus people and governments have to be prepared for the worst case scenarios.

Given only two choices of governments possibly putting too much importance on the possible impact of the virus or not putting enough importance, its an easy choice.