Probably because the ear cupping suggests his critcs have been silenced, as if his goal against european nobodies is a comprehensive answer to the criticism of his form and ability when it absolutley is not, so could point to a lack of understanding of the situation and the higher aims of the club and fans.

Good grief, so you think under the ownership regime the club has higher aims? I wish I shared your faith in Stan.

On the overall point I think a fuss is probably being made over very little.

No, I told you why it gave that impression. What the clubs aims SHOULD be and what they are, are probably two different things, which I think is part of what TG was driving at.

One of the toerags who tried to rob Özil and Kolasinac has just been sentenced to 10 years. Good riddance. His accomplice still to be sentenced.

How realistic an impression was it though? You said his ear cupping suggested Mustafi believes his critics have been silenced for good. I don’t believe that’s the case at all. But he was one of the few players who did fine in that game.

I think it was no more than ‘I know some of you are not keen on me (or a stronger word) but I cannot hear you moan now.’ Considering the team we were playing, not one of the best, that is nowhere near him thinking he’s answered his critics.

Emery has said Xhaka won’t play v Leicester, cellabos is also ruled out. So is it a midfield 3 of Guendouzi, torriera, Willock or is emery going to play Özil!!?

Yes. He will probably play Torreira in the No.10 position and Özil as a shield for the back 4.

You could argue there was a very slight rise around 13/14, basically because our terrible commercial deals expired and we signed the likes of Özil and Sanchez off the back of much better deals, unfortunately a lot of the money was wasted on poor players because Wenger had gone way past his best by that point, this led to us dropping out of the CL and the decline was back (with a bang).

If we don't make top 4 this season I feel the decline could be terminal, Chelsea have surprised me a little but apparently have a huge budget anyway, as well as CL football, Spurs have made a poor start but I think they are likely to finish higher than us, United will get the right manager at some stage with a huge budget to back him up.

Unfortunately for the most part none of this surprises me, when KSE first became involved in the club I spent quite a while looking into their track record, as well as opionions from fans of their other sports clubs, what I found was very worrying and frankly the day Usmanov sold his shares to them I pretty much gave up on the club, sadly I don't think 'new structures' etc. are going to make up for this total lack of ambition from the top.

I do actually expect them to sell at some point, because the asset value must have peaked by now, if we continue this downward trajectory it is only a matter of time before the club begins to devalue, the thought of them just sitting on it wasting away in midtable is not one I really want to consider so maybe just wishful thinking.

Too 4 is absolutely essential for the club this season. I think we’re screwed if we don’t.

This guy is usually pretty spot on with his info. This does not sound like we’re able to pull the trigger on Emery yet.

https://twitter.com/afcamden/status/1192903963324092417?s=21

Hi Darren,

It seems a preposterous notion that a club as wealthy as Arsenal cannot afford to sack a manager.

Today reminds me of the latter days of Wenger. I want us to either win or be humiliated in defeat, anything else just seems a waste of time.

I know what you mean. There is an inevitability about it all so it just feels like a massive waste of time and effort until a new manager is appointed. Even Emery is starting to talk of fans having patience and difficult circumstances so he must be feeling the pressure.

Was hoping the AG lucky charm aura would help Sheff Utd but to no avail so far. Hopefully an equalizer comes soon.

Equalizer!

What?!

C'mon Blades.

VAR is taking entirely too long. They must find a way to shorten it to :30 seconds max.

Rollercoaster

Looks like Leno, three centre backs, Chambers, Luiz and Holding, Bellerin and Kolasinac at wing back, Guendouzi and Torreira mf, Özil behind Aubameyang and Lacazette.
Can never remember being so pessimistic playing Leicester - so on that basis we'll probably win (clutching at straws).

Feels a bit like emery is just trying anything different now in the hope of something working.

I find it inconceivable that you sign this player for 72 million quid who was in demand from Europe’s big clubs and tore up Ligue 1 scoring 22 goals then bench him after his first game changing moment. Pepes contribution this season will be sporadic and it shows that Emery’s strategy is purely reactionary.

He’s also changed to a back 5. Whilst I’m happy Chambers and Holding are getting time I just don’t get the constant changing of the team and it’s structure.

I mean how are the players supposed to understand the system and their roles in it if everything changes every week after his latest over reaction.

In private I bet they are shaking their heads.

No. No I did not. If you're going to quote me, just quote me. Really don't appreciate your making-stuff-up-and-addressing-that debating style. I was explaining the very clear implication that TG was stating. I don't think it. Please just move on.

I thoroughly misunderstood what VAR was going to do. I believed that it was going to eradicate clear and obvious errors - and who could disagree with that.

I had no idea that it was going to micromanage the game. This week we have had armpit offside and big toe offside. The game is becoming unrecognisable.

That's exactly what it looks like. I can understand why he'd want to change things around when nothing is working, but to me he's just looking in all the wrong places. Good to see Torreira, Chambers and Holding starting but five at the back and Pépé on the bench makes no sense.

We’ve set up like a championship underdog going to a top prem team. This will be 5 at the back. Leicester’s full backs and wide players will overload and doubleup on our wing backs meaning the CB or CM get pulled in to wide positions leaving us exposed in central areas.

Systems and formations will always be overcome by the team with more understanding, playing as a team, higher workrate, more energy, more mobility.

Aubameyang and Lacazette should be playing as split strikers running in to spaces vacated when their full backs go forward, but I bet they play as a traditional front 2 up against two CB.

Happy to be pleasantly surprised but I won’t hold my breath

I cannot believe that an inexperienced manager can be so inept.

Why would he not sort out the weaknesses first instead of continuously creating more weaknesses?

The only thing I can think of is he wants to be sacked. Look at Chelseas run of bad managers, were any of them as bad as Emery has been? Or United's, haven't they still got the hoodoo over us since Emery joined when was it, 3 years ago?

Never have I seen such a useless manager, even Allardyce would have done a better job. I can't think of anyne out there that could do a worse job............

No idea why he's playing Kola instead of Tierney.

Surely this is the one game where you want defenders who know how to defend.

Who knows? He loves Kola. He's his favourite attacker.

You would have thought Pépé's pace on the break would have been useful as well. Let Lacazette drop in to the midfield area and keep Aubameyang and Pépé wide to occupy their fullbacks and give us pace on the counter.

Baffling what he’s doing with the fullbacks. Interesting to see what the young Leicester centre back performs like, we were linked to him for some time but never completed.

It's baffling. I've never seen a manager make so many changes. Bizarre.

Will be amazed if we concede less than 3.

We had everyone in our box defending a corner. The whole team. Wtf?

Very lucky Guendouzi.

I thought they were going to give that

Okay I’ll quote you. You said: “Probably because the ear cupping suggests his critcs have been silenced, as if his goal against european nobodies is a comprehensive answer to the criticism of his form and ability when it absolutley is not, so could point to a lack of understanding of the situation and the higher aims of the club and fans.“

I don’t think my earlier reading of your post was out. I did add “for good”. It that was the impression your post gave me. Apologies if you meant it as more temporary, but I’m not sure that warranted your reaction.

Was the handball shout for us on ndidi a good pen shout? I heard it but didn’t see it

From what I’m listening to EVERY single chance Leicester have had has been arsenal giving it away within a couple of passes from the gk and usually on the edge of our box. This sounds like Watford all over again. A goal is coming

We've looked dangerous going forward but as usual the pointless and sloppy passing around at the back looks certain to gift them a goal.