I disagree that he is number 5 or 6. At the moment there is nothing that seperates him from the unproven Holding. He is a long way ahead of Chambers. As I already pointed out Kos and Mert are unreliable with their injury situation.

Just seen Mickey Thomas while he was out jogging. Could not resist shouting "it's up for grabs"

No tragic loss in my book ...... 12 mill a reasonable price . and who was it said Chambers was the greatest ....probably you

Can't be arsed staying up for the Wallabies All Blacks I'll celebrate the win tomorrow ......... hopefully

Does he still live up your way then?

Lives in a place called Heswall. Fortunately to save my embarrassment he was jogging with headphones on. This is the second time in the last sixth months I have seen him jogging the same route. Last time I had a chat with him and thanked him for May 1989

Two games only, I know, but there can't be much doubt that Utd have made a lot of progress and are genuine championship challengers.

What was his reaction when you thanked him for May 1989? Wouldn't think there are many Arsenal fans up your way, unless he assumed you were an Everton fan.

Early days as you say. But it's beginning to like Hazuki might have been underestimating them a bit.

My prediction is looking rock solid! Going to stick by it a little longer though, until they've at least been properly tested. Don't think anyone would see us as challengers already if we beat Stoke later.

Funny that you mentioned Everton because that was his first response. Put him right straight away. There are a surprising number of gooners up this way.

And while on holiday in Devon (not wanting to get all Harlow Steve on the forum) the only English league team shirts I saw were Arsenal shirts. Lots of
FCB and rm but no other English teams

He looked genuinely chuffed to be thanked and reminded how much it meant to me and other gooners

That's nice.

Not a bad first half. Better finishing would see us a couple up. Breaks in play for real and feigned injuries have stuffed our rhythm, and we look unconvincing at the back sans centre halves.

Stoke still crap, with niggly kicks and dives, and Mariner still a crap ref incapable of being consistent. Nothing big bar a possible pen to us that only looked like one on the replay from one angle, but he's a ref that leaves you guessing what decision he's going to give, for or against you.
Jese, unsurprisingly, looks their best player.

Graham Poll now says it was a pen, but difficult for the ref from his position. Video refs anyone?

We are holding our own which in view of past history is good . Wish we would play a few accurate long balls , get at them early would suit Lacazette .

Think we will sneak a 1 - 0 win .... Giroud .... but on this evidence you have to be a supreme optimist to think we are title contenders .

This huff and puff display emphasises the importance of Sanchez .

Edit F (**&^ .... we go one down while I'm typing

Maybe not

Hi Kiwi, you just jinx the team

seemed such a reasonable well thought out post too G7

Just a simple thought

Welbeck misses again

Onside goal disallowed. Brilliant goal too. Screwed twice so far

Chelsea loanee doing his job as well...Zouma instrumental for Stoke today...

A brace from Walcott soon? Wenger must be hoping for that

Wonderful ... they've got new VAR technology ... be installed next season , can we get the goal we scored today backdated

Andre Mariner is really very bad at his job. Jesus...How is he still a top level ref. Chamberlain has been manhandled all game and not given a single foul.

We're not even bad today. Soft goal to concede but apart from that we've controlled the play and created lots of chances. Very frustrating.

Still the same old same old though. Flattering to deceive.

Toothless up front. Welbeck can't shoot or head properly. Lacazette anonymous. Too much passing outside their penalty area. Same old, same old.

Poor second half from us. Terrible goal to concede and too slow in our attacking. Not enough conviction.

Why didn't Bellerin go down? He's been learning too much from Walcott, all style no brain

Giroud should have scored. We've totally dominated all game, created chances and Stoke have barely crossed the half-way line all game. So frustrating, especially with the pen not given and a good goal disallowed.

As I've said for years, VAR will get us 5-10 more points a season.

It was off actually. Just. Unlucky with so little in it but technically correct.

Alexis is well missed. Wake up Wenger!

Nothing to do with the ref. We were not good enough in the second half.

Özil was shite.

Onside for sure. The replays I have seen show him onside.

Not sure toothless is accurate today. 10 shots on goal and a couple of them really close. On another day we win this.

Walcott has become such a hopeless player. Why is he even on the bench? Nelson could potentially do much better than him.

They must be showing different replays then. The freeze frame shows Lacazette's foot just in front of the defender.

According to BT sport, yes, but if you look at the frozen frame at the right moment, he's level. Even the image they used he was level. Look at the pictures, don't listen to the words.

True Haz but also a Groundhog Day - how many times has this been said in past few years?