He’s claimed the whistle had been blown so VAR shouldn’t have been used.

I think.

Get Pépé off.

He’s been a passenger all game.

He needs to get his *%^@ sorted - that ball was unacceptable.

Sorry Brom.

Yes but was it?

Pépé is struggling. Perhaps the weight of the price-tag.

Maybe, but if he’s going to be world class, he needs to get his head sorted pretty quick.

If he doesn’t, he isn’t going to set the footballing world alight.

Xhaka with his standard yellow. I think he’s only 1 away from a ban now

We’re going to concede last minute aren’t we?

No apology necessary - he had a bit of a stinker.

You mean we are going to get our last minute winner?

Told you.





We wouldn’t concede last minute.

Did MU score? I had a lag on my TV

Not on my tv, but if your tv is still playing Fergie time, you never know.

Wish I had a lag, at least 90 mins.....

I see no hope for us .............

1-1, fair result. 2 very average teams.

Obviously happy with a point, but both these teams are a massive distance from Liverpool and City in terms of quality.

Lots of effort from the boys; Guendouzi fantastic again, and Aubameyang our savior yet again. Couple of good saves from Leno too.

Very impressed with Saka; good ball control and you get the impression there’s some bite in him too.

We played better when Ceballos came on.

A point gained or two lost? As things stand, I’m happy with 1.

Well, I'd have taken a point before kick-off.

Two very mediocre sides. What is clear is that both sides have too many players who are simply not good enough at the very highest level.

Why Xhaka did not come off instead of Torreira I don't know.

Willock must be close to a starting spot. His energy at both ends of the pitch is a feature.

Saka did well, Guendouzi covered every blade of grass.

Pépé really poor. I said give the lad time but I am just beginning to worry a little bit. He looks lightweight.

Can't wait to get Bellerin and Tierney in the side.

Unbelievable how poor both sides were tonight given past glories. Thought we stepped off the game again at 1-1 when they were rocking badly. Good performance by Guendouzi, Saka and finish from Aubameyang but the rest wasnt great. So poor on set piece delivery all night. Ah well, signed for a point around 80 minutes glad not to have to listen to any gloating tomorrow.

So far this season has just been a continuation of last season...........

I am so pissed off

Getting Bellerin and Tierney into the side should improve us but that midfield tonight was very lacklustre.

Once again I thought Emery failed to motivate the team and we looked scared.

Good.

Things aren't so bad. For instance:
1. We're actually 4th in the table, having played Liverpool, Spurs and Man U in our first 7 matches, none of which have seen a single League appearance for either first choice fullback, or Rob Holding in the centre.
2. Saka, Willock and to a lesser extent Nelson have stepped up and done very well.
3. Aubameyang is banging in the goals.
4. We've got rid of a lot of dead wood from the squad.

I'd say we have very good chance of top 4, and we'll contend in the Europa again. It's still only September.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has scored 17 goals in his last 17 appearances in all competitions.

That's two more than Man Utd in their last 17 matches.

And we’ve hardly had Lacazette play this season.
Lots to be positive about.

The big negative for me is having any faith in emery setting up a team that:
A) has a starting 11 where most fans agree with at least 10 of the picks
B) has energy, drive and pace
C) has creative players and plays attacking football

He's been amazing. Not enough threat thus far from other players. Both Pépé and Nelson guilty of powder puff efforts my gran would save let alone De Gea and let's not mention Ceballos' shot the ball boy is still fetching it.

I think he's too used to playing in France where he had a better run of things. Now he's against better opposition every week and it's suddenly not so easy, his confidence is taking a bit of a hit.

We'll see in another couple of months.

I'm just gonna say it damn it, yes, Henry had more pace, better touch, and a few other things in his locker better (and no slight as there are very, very few players who match Henry) but Aubameyang is just as lethal right now and in the end, scoring goals is what its all about. Doesn't matter how it gets in there.

What I'm trying to get my head around are Arsenal fans who expected to win tonight and in the same breath say we are poor, average, etc.....what?

I would put us as the better side for one reason only. The match was at OT. A notoriously tough place to play no matter what quality Man Utd put out. We outplayed them for large parts of the 2nd half on their own pitch. We played them fairly evenly in the first half.

It was for either side to win it, but both sides have glaring weaknesses. We seem like we will get better and better each week, while Man Utd seem like they are finished with the OGS experiment and go back to hiring the best managers money can buy.

When Lacazette is back, we will be much more effective going forward and the added benefit they enjoy playing together. Bellerin and Tierney will strengthen us immensely as well. Bellerin would have been much better at dealing with James.

I'm a cautiously optimistic about us this season. Largely because Tottenham seem as if they are regressing, and both Chelsea and Man Utd have managers who can't handle the job. If the planets align we could be 4th this season. I am expecting us to finish ahead of Man Utd, less optimistic about finishing ahead of Chelsea but we are managed better, yes, Emery is a better manager than Lampard. haha and with some luck, Tottenham will continue to under perform as compared to last season.

I am expecting (hoping) Pépé to get more aclimated, Saka and the other younger players to grow into their roles, Tierney to take hold of the position, Bellerin, etc.

Let’s see what Pépé is like when he has Bellerin behind him. He’ll get a lot more space for a start.

Also, I just don’t understand freezing out Özil when we’re crying out for some creativity. Aubameyang is lethal but he’s working on scraps at the moment.

Somehow Emery has to work out a way to get a creative mid in this team. If that means playing with 2 Holding mids who are under absolute strict instructions to protect the defence at all times then so be it.

Leno
Bellerin, Luiz, Holding, Tierney
Guendouzi, willock
Ceballos/Özil
Pépé, Aubameyang, saka

Finding a balance between Pépé, Aubameyang and Lacazette is also a challenge for emery.

The team looks good on paper but the reality thus far on the pitch is we are an average side consisting of a good goalkeeper (some good saves tonight) but protected by an unreliable comedy defence, a so-so midfield where only Guendouzi is showing promise (I'd add Willock into that category but he's not being selected) and a front line over-reliant on a top class striker where the main summer signing is looking absolutely dire at the minute. Saka looks a player but can't really rely on him to be consistent all season at 18. Also enjoyed Martinelli's cameo vs Forest.

As Socrates said, on the playing side the main cause for optimism at the minute is the return of Bellerin and Tierney which should significantly improve the full back positions although Bellerin's reputation has been enhanced by his absence. Holding's return could also be important. Hopefully two attacking fullbacks can improve the current dire gameplay.

The question is definitely out there over the quality of the manager. I can understand the starting line up tonight as keeping it tight against United away "under the lights" as Keane was going on about pre-match was a sound tactic and worked well. And credit is due for stepping it up after half time. But there really has been little sign of progress over the last year, we are too open at the back and predictable in attack.

Roy Keane took one look at our midfield line-up and one word summed it up, "lightweight". Not that I agree with all Keane says but when you fancy McTominey and friends against our midfield it is saying something. Leicester are a better side than us at the moment.

Well hey. Moved from 8th to 4th place. One point above Spurs, level points with WHU, MU, Chelsea still below us. Game didn't have that much intensity, but a draw is fine, especially after the VAR call for the goal to stand.
Expecting Özil to play Thurs. night in EL.

Outside of Liverpool and City, which PL sides are a certain 3 points for them? Home and away?

..I'd even say playing us on their home pitch, outside of Liverpool and City, which fans would see us as a definite 3 points? Even confident if not definite?

Awful tactics for their goal. Nil-nil at Old Trafford, half-time looming, and what do we see - 9 Arsenal players in or around the box for our corner and only one man back. They clear and within seconds 6 of those guys are stranded and the other 3 are desperately running back to join the lone defender. A better ball and United would have scored before McTominay's strike. Yes, you must attack at a corner, but with nine men just before half-time with the game even? That was very poor game management by the players.

Anyway, a draw was more than I expected, so not too bad a result.

See omoh, easy peasy draw.

But no win!

This is not good - replying to my own post. But shows the extent of my never ending fury. Anyway.....

Was at OT for that game and, from where I was sitting, was furious with Sol re the penalty.

On the horrible way home on the train, was with mate who was able to get Sky on his phone and we immediately (at about Stockport - what a dreadful dump) realised that Rooney had cheated.
Carriage full of Gooners and Cockney Reds. How it stayed relatively calm is still a mystery especially as we did our bit to share the footage with just about everyone around us.
Right, will post again in about ten years when I'm next allowed to watch it.[/quote]

I was at that game as well YG. I left seething but I never realised the full extent of the stitch up until I viewed a re-run some days later. I drove back with violent intent. Still have it. Bastrds.

But no loss.

Even during our imperious years, we were happy with coming away with a draw at OT. I doubt Liverpool or City would go there ahead of time and their fans be unhappy with a draw there.

Anyway, we performed above your expectations sir. Be happy!