Man Utd - 13 penalties this season. Liverpool - 5. Says it all.

Arteta has a great opportunity. He clearly has affection for Arsenal and also seems to have a really clear idea of what he wants. I think he knows it is a difficult job too. But if he can address that central midfield/centre back axis even to some degree, he will be well on his way.

Mavropanos signed a contract extension and a year on loan with Stuttgart next year, back with Mislintat. Rumours are Sokratis is wanted there as well.

Speaking of Mislintat, we thought we had a great coup getting him in then he left, but looking at the signings he influenced, Aubameyang (bit of a no brained and wasn’t bought for that type of signing) mkhitaryan, Mavropanos, Leno, guendouzi, sokratis, torriera, Lichtsteiner- it’s not exactly a roaring success.

Towards the end Kanu was doing the same to us.

P.S. We would clearly have been much better off taking Fabregas back.

I have to assume, winning the CL is the priority for Man City but they wouldn't mind this trophy either. Not expecting us to win. Not even expecting us to put up a brave fight. But I hope nonetheless.

Thomas Brolin, Dec

I reckon Germany got rid of him for the same reason. I recall the excitement when we signed him and 1.5 seasons later he became *%^@. What a lazy a******. I'd pay him out the last season and get rid. He's just sucking up energy, time with trainers, coaches, physio's and is helping perpetuate the virw of Arsenal as a soft touch.

If Leno is ready to start next season, I would definitely be looking to sell Martinez and get a new backup keeper. He has done great since Leno got injured, but there's no point in having two starting quality keepers when you can get good money for one of them. And in a choice between the two, let's not forget we're talking about a six game stretch for Martinez, while Leno has been first choice at the highest level for nine years now.

Tony Adams has laid in to Edu and Sanllehi and recruitment. He said they are both out of their depth. I think it is fair enough to have a go at recent recruitment, it hasn't been good enough and I don't think any of us are comfortable with the 'Agents' based approach, but I'm not sure Sanllehi is 'out of his depth'. He might not be doing the best job but he did this job for Barcelona and is pretty experienced at it.

Smith-Rowe has just scored a cracker for Huddersfield v WBA.

and sadly probably relegated Charlton in the process

good to see him doing well, just wish he hadn't done it tonight

Adams was the best CB I saw play for Arsenal, an absolute lion for us. However, I find him very awkward to listen to as a pundit with his insight. He may be right about Edu & Sanllehi but the full interview doesn't tally for me. He says he'd play Özil and build the attack around him. Özil is a busted flush for us, literally a passenger in a team whose coach now demands more from it's individual parts. I saw a tweet from Le Grove earlier where he says that even at 37, Bergkamp in his final season still contributed 8 goals and 12 assists. To sum up, I find Adams cringeworthy as a commentator on issues at Arsenal despite him being a truly magnificent player.

Our Tone is flaky. I think we all know that. I think AW knew that and I think the Club know that.

Having been excluded on a number of occasions from a realistic role, he’s also slightly bitter.

I still love the man dearly.

Chris Willock (Joe’s brother) scores the first. I think he was with us, left for Benfica and is now back rebuilding his career in England

There has been a record surge in Covid19 cases as you have all read. Especially in 'red' states. Georgia being one of them. The mayor of Atlanta mandated the wearing of masks. The governor of Georgia disagrees and eliminated the requirement for the whole state....and is suing the Atlanta mayor for requiring it. The stats prove she should be more concerned. A sharp rise in cases in her city. She is being sued for attempting to save her own constituents lives. Surreal. But this is how far the right wing has gotten to in America.

The establishment left are weak, spineless. Biden is simply not a good candidate. But he will reassure the establishment (Wall Street, the 1%, etc,) much more than Sanders or others farther left. As of now he is polling very well against Trump nationally but that means nothing. How he polls in the 'swing states' is what is more important. Biden can be 20 points ahead in New York or California. That doesn't matter. Those states are going Democrat and are already factored in. How he does in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, and several others decides things. Hillary polled higher than Trump nationally in 2016, lost the election, had the most votes and ended up still polling higher than him nationally.

Despite Trump the BLM protests that have swept America, the UK, numerous other countries is a catalyst and a sign the political pendulum of America will swing farther left, despite Biden. The far left has its issues just like the far right has. Not sure if or when America will ever be a centrist nation again. The extremes of both sides are harnessing power.

Evangelicals (sometimes known as born again Christians, southern Baptists decades ago) in America, mostly southern and midwest but have expanded, have been on the wrong side of any transformative event in American history. Every single one.
They were pro slavery, pro Civil War, pro segregation, pro Jim Crow, anti women's suffrage's right to vote in 1919, anti Civil Rights and Voting Rights act, pro Vietnam war, anti Women's movement of the '70s, anti gay marriage, pro Nixon....twice, pro Iraq war...and now pro Trump. In fact, they support Trump in far more fervor and in far higher percentage than they did ANY OTHER PRESIDENT in modern history. More than Reagan. And even more than Bush who was a born again Christian (as an aside, Obama was too but they didn't support him).

I once had a discussion with an older co-worker, who was a former pastor and with a degree in divinity, from Tennessee. I said I don't consider the vast majority of evangelicals as Christians but mainly a group using religion to gain power over people. He took offense and I said they were nothing more than modern day Pharisees. And I recited their historical stances. He was offended but didn't have a adequate response other than I can't judge 'man'. I told him the good book said I will know you by your works. LOL.

The religious right sees Trump as some modern day Nebuchadnezzer. They have had the most access to the WH under Trump than any prior President, hence their fawning over him. His support for them was to give them some freedom that muddies the water between the separation of church and state and his promise to move the American embassy to Jerusalem. Why? They want to initiate the prophesies of the Book of Revelations. They are very pro Israel because of that and look for an prophesised apocalypse that coincidentally doesn't end well for the people in the very state they purport to support. I know this irony isn't lost on Israelis.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=516901215678460

The trick tonight isn't scoring. We are capable of a goal. The trick is limiting City to 1 goal, 2 at most and see if we have enough in us for a 2nd. Go to PKs or extra time or whatever. I can't see us getting a shut out. I hope so but its wishful thinking for the most part.

Our effectiveness in counter attacking may be what gets us through if we are able to manage it.

Ironically he spent the 1st half of the season on loan at West Brom.

https://amp.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ssion=true

Brass neck doesn't begin to describe it. A thoroughly odious individual.

Yes when he was at Chelsea and they were feeding off all that money from the owner he was really outspoken and said he just wanted 11 average players who were not gained to give them an unfair advantage. Kettle pot - total an absolute wanker and the fact he is with Spurs makes him even a bigger wanker.

I see Holjberg from Southampton is supposedly wanted by Spurs and Everton, with the later already making a £25m approach. I mean if he is goes for £25m there is the benchmark for any Guendouzi sale - and add another £10m on for sure

https://www.football365.com/news/arsena ... n-transfer

It is too easy for the gossip columns now with Arsenal, just look at any player who is represented by Kia Joorabchian and link him with Arsenal. simple

I really hope Arteta does not bring Kolasinac back in the team.
Surely he sticks with Holding. He played well against Liverpool.

low expectations today.
i mean they are so much better than us.........but we said that 3 years ago in the semi final v city and.........

In one off games anything can happen, and often does. Worse teams than Arsenal have beaten better sides than City many times. This year Watford, a worse team than Arsenal, beat Liverpool, a better side than City this season. Such examples have happened so often if you wanted to list them all, it would be a bigger document than Tolstoy’s War and Peace.

We beat Liverpool after being outplayed and the same might happen again. Maybe a couple of City players will make bad errors to give us a goal or two, as happened with Liverpool. Perhaps a terrible refereeing or VAR decision will go in our favour. Or could we get it to penalties and win the shoot out? Why not?

I understand that we are the massive underdogs and I doubt even Lord Lucan with his gambling addiction, if he’s still alive somewhere, would be putting a fiver on an Arsenal win. But despite City being huge favourites, we do have a chance. Even if it’s a very slim one.

Good man, Bern. Well said.

Bring em on - money-doped arrivistes that they are.

Bastards.

First 10 minutes suggest this is going to be a long and difficult night.

Got them just where we want them... wait no not there!

big chance for Aubamayeng

Bad miss by Aubameyang.

Damn great chance for Aubameyang. We need to be taking those chances as they will probably be few and far between.

1-0! get in!

Yes!!!

Thought we'd missed such a big chance from Aubameyang, but then another one comes in, far more difficult and Aubameyang tucks it away from the Pépé cross.

1-0 to The Arsenal! HOLD!

Beeauutiful cross from Pépé - begging to be knocked in.

The goal comes from Arsenal passing out from the back.

It is obviously an incredibly dangerous tactic against their high press but if you watched the highlights when we played them at the Etihad there were 2-3 occasions we got it right and played it through their press and would have had great chances if the final pass was seen or better.

It feels like you have to be brave to beat City, you also have to be perfect.......and probably lucky

Great, bodes well

This game is going to shred my nerves! Not boring though is it!! I'd take 60 more boring minutes..

Moss not put a foot wrong so far.....................

Lacazette gives their goalie a free chance....................

Wtf?

37 minutes in and City haven't had a shot on target yet.....