City game has been postponed.

And so it begins.....

Evening,
Tonight's match at City has been postponed.

From Arse.com:

“We identified that a number of players met the Olympiacos owner immediately following the game.

The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing Covid-19 at extremely low. However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact. …

The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires. Four Arsenal staff, who were sitting close to Mr Marinakis during the match will also remain at home until the 14 days are complete.”

Owner bloke has tested positive. The ‘contact’ was 13 days ago so as of this Thursday, it’s business as usual.

All sounds a bit daft - and slightly whiffy.

You start enforcing restrictions at a high level and then people on the ground cannot whinge. I recommend that the EPL be withheld this year.

Reports the UK health Minster has it. Italy going on the banned list in Australia.

Our FA Cup game away at Sheffield also falls within the 14 day period. So I guess that may be postponed as well. Even if it all works out well from a health standpoint I can’t imagine that this is great preparation for the remainder of the season (assuming that there is one).

EDIT Of course Saturday’s game at Brighton is within the period. According to the AFC website that is going ahead. But surely the player availability for that is the same as for tonight’s game?

We played Olympiacos on 27th February. Our cup tie at Sheffield United is 22nd March. With the leap year meaning February had 29 days, it’s 24 days after. Hence 10 days after the 14 days. Moreover this weekend’s game at Brighton (14th March) is also more than 14 days after the Olympiacos match.

They may count the days since the contact as already served.

Reports saying Maitland-Niles has been late to training several times, and isn't impressing Arteta with his lack of professionalism. Evidently he has been dropped from the squad- unless something changes pretty quickly it looks like he will be on his way out.

So if the players are having to self isolate I assume training is cancelled? Not great preparation for the weekend, assuming that game gets the go ahead.

What about West Ham players who came in to contact with Arsenal players? Are you considered at risk if you come in to contact with someone who has come in to contact with someone with coronavirus even if you haven’t had direct contact with the carrier?

I had wondered that, but it doesn’t explain why the club’s website says that the players and staff are returning on Friday in advance of the Brighton game. Makes no sense. Seems like an odd 14 day period.

I think the hard line on things like this is absolutely right. Everything the players do must have a standard and any slips from that need calling out. Give him plenty of chances to rectify but if he can’t then he should be moved on.

That would all be true IF the players had self isolated immediately after the game. But we have played two games since, and the Man City match is a surprise postponement. There’s no way that the affected people have had a 14 day period of self isolation.

So it looks like they are saying that if the symptoms haven’t shown within 14 days of contact then you are clear but it’s best to avoid people in that period in case you do eventually display the signs and any contacts will be at risk.

So the impact on our playing squad and staff could be zero (petering out on Friday) or massive.

The only question I have is each player been tested? Many people show few symptoms but can have it already.

I know one thing, any virus at our club is a lot less dangerous than the Mourinho virus eating away at the heart of Spurs.

I’m becoming confused about this. If someone is tested and shown to be clear do they still need a 14 day self isolation period?

Enjoyed watching Leipzig again last night. I really like their young coach Nagelsmann - definitely destined for a bigger stage. Leipzig could have a number of their players pinched this summer. Whoever gets Werner is getting a great player, scores goals for fun, exceptionally fast, makes runs all day and never gives the defence a moments peace. He should be worth £75m but his buy-out clause is about half that.

Agreed - not sure about 'plenty' of chances though. How many chances would you or I get if we were turning up late for work and displaying an unprofessional attitude?

Hi Rich,

I thought I read a while ago that Liverpool were lining Werner him up.

Upamecano will be a great buy for someone, probably Bayern. Sadly, I think any chance we had for him was last summer.

Leipzig looked very good didn't they. This is what I'd like to see us develop at Arsenal, a strong group of talented young players performing with confidence and discipline.

If tested I think the 14 days does it. But this requires them to test them even if displaying no symptoms. This story highlights some of the problems

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-05/ ... s/12026902

As he said he was as fit as Mallee bull but he actually had it. And of course it looks like it re-occurred on her. few other reports of people getting it twice which the experts have said was not likely. I think we are in a whole new area of virus.

Bayern have had a fairly poor season by their standards, even causing them to sack their manager. However, Leipzig are only third in the Bundesliga, one point behind second placed Dortmund and five points behind Bayern who are top. As people know I watch Bayern Munich at every opportunity I get and I’ve long thought the Bundesliga isn’t as weak a league as some have claimed. It’s just Bayern are very, very good so win it consistently.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bundesl ... e&ie=UTF-8

With this Corona virus happening, I see the cruise lines are offering steep discounts.
I'm trying to convince the missus to go on a 7 day cruise.

We'd only be gone for a month.

Will AMN be the next "Gnarbry"? Given how the situation is between Arteta and him, I don't see a way back at Arsenal for him. He has the size and abilities to be coached to become a good, useful midfielder. But, he has lost interest with Arteta's Arsenal. And Arteta is clearly unhappy with him. AMN is likely to leave in the summer.

AMN isn't in Gnabry's class. It's fantasy to think of him banging in Champions League hat tricks for example. He's a moderately promising quite young player who got a run in the team as a makeshift right back, with varying levels of success.
If he can't be professional enough to get to training on time show him the door. Look at how Arteta has treated Saka, Nelson and Nketiah for instance- he obviously thinks these guys are putting in maximum effort for the team and the club. Anything less is unacceptable.

Good scrap so far between American's boys and Athletico.

Being able to get back off the ship is going to be tricky.

Watching liverpool v Atletico, shows the distance to the top we’ve got to do. Game being played at a ferocious pace but with no little skill in first touch, crisp quick passing and movement. Both teams well drilled in their system, and both teams happy to play long when needed, the crucial thing when they do go long is they get the midfield up to win the second ball. If you pump it 70 yards, it’s headed 20 yards clear but you pick up the second ball you’ve still moved up the pitch and passed the high press.

Didnt know which way I would go but really would like to see Atleti win this. They’ve put a little gobshite upfront who’s doing nothing but yap pointlessly at Van Dyke’s heels. Have they got whatsisface the tall striker who used to be at Chelsea. They need to stick him in the centre circle to get to their clearances, try to hold it up and link with Joao felix. They nearly won it with the last kick of the game!!! Come in Simeone what have you got. Fully expect Liverpool to get the goal they need because, unfortunately, they’re a class outfit with the best work ethics I’ve seen for decades.

Liverpool think they've won it, now Athletico score! Brilliant game.

Morata, that’s who I couldn’t remember, he’s coming on now, but Felix off. I shouted involuntary when Atleti scored.

Boom! Llorente!! Liverpool need 2 now

Morata instrumental. Im claiming that!

Poor old Liverpool

I remember what my father said the night Reagan won the election of Carter. "they chose Barabas"
Seems like Biden will likely be the nominee and unless the virus and other factors spiral us into a recession, I think Trump will probably beat him.
Sanders was leading in the first few weeks but the entire party is against him. They fear him more than Trump. Truly. Sanders is fighting for the direction and soul of the party. Trump wins, the establishment Democrats tied to big Pharma, etc, many of the same groups as their opposition party, they stay in power. Sanders gets the nomination they lose power and they'd rather see Trump win and they retain power than the Sanders wins the election and he ushers in a new era of progressives.
Yes, I believe that.

And Morata seals it good job Ash

And another goal just to rub it in. So interesting to see what mentality and psychology of the score does for a performance. If you can do it when you think you have to, why not before?

Liverpool not invincible and went out of the league cup, fa cup and champions league at an earlier stage that Arsenal’s invincibles.

Obviously that’s a bit tongue in cheek and they’re still a fantastic team. No doubt their fans will blame Adrian and their bad luck that Alisson was injured but that would ignore 2 things, 1) it was Liverpool a d Klopp’s choice to have Adrian as a back up GK and 2) VVD, Trent, Robertson, Mané, salah, firminho have been injury free and play every single game for the last 2 years.

UK evidently stepping up the COVID-19 response to 'delay' tomorrow. Football will be stopped.
What would be hilarious would be abandonment of the PL season with no winner!! What would that make it, 31 years for Liverpool?

Come May at seasons end Liverpool may find themselves having a wee bit of an anticlimactic ending. They will have won the title weeks before hand. Their not winning any of the other cups will be seen as having a 'what if ' year. Yes, there will be celebrations and scouse fans will be overjoyed but unlike us they will be seen as under performing by some. Even if they go the rest of the season unbeaten and win every match.

We were never expected to win any other trophy in 2004. Maybe the FA cup we had a fair shot but we kept drawing tough sides (Chelsea, Man Utd) and we weren't expected to do well in the CL either or at least well meaning to win it or reach the finals. It was more hopeful than anything else.

Liverpool the other hand seemed destined for even all 4 trophies. A bit of let down to some they are not even in the final of any.