And yes, forgot to mention Holding yesterday. Gutted if it's a bad injury, he was having a fine season. Hate when that happens to young players who are playing themselves into the team.

Isn't VAR supposed to change clear errors, or whatever the terminology is? With United's first equaliser, the bloke who set up the scorer was technically offside. But it was so tight that by what I think of as clear or obvious, it wasn't.

I was really impressed with Medley when he came on as a sub in Kiev. But you've probably seen more of him than me and you sound less keen. Did his appearance that day give me a false impression of him?

Nobody mentioned the first goal. Blatant dive but not shown again so can't be 100%. Agree with Lom we really need VAR butcwould it have been used forcthecfree kick?

I agree about Rojo, although to be fair Torreira probably got way with a few yellow card challenges.

I think a top quality CB is one of a few key signings we need to make to move the team up a level but I suspect that unless diamond eye has identified someone flying under the radar it may be too much to hope for a topclass CB in January.

I don't think it can, otherwise you would consulting VAR about indiscretions most of the match. What might work is if a team has say three challenges they can use during a game. If their challenege proves correct they retain all three but if not they lose one etc. Problem is the time element, do we really want to be stopping and starting the game every time a team makes a challenge.

I think it was a given that a) Man U would be much improved, certainly in work rate and b) Arsenal wouldn't be able to reach the heights of energy and tempo seen vs spurs.
It was probably easier for Man U to get up for last nights game given we were the opposition, it became a matter of pride for them.

Worried about the injuries stacking up, We're down to the bare bones in defence and a new CB has become the priority in the January window

I thought Kolasinac was pretty good last night despite his error. He's very powerful on the overlap and although some of his final balls were a little wayward he looked more of a threat than Bellerin.

Indeed there are:

https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/arsenal-leicester-establish-ban-precedent-for-fellaini-pulling-guendouzis-hair/

Fellaini has previous.

Do we have any faith in the FA to be consistent with a clearly set precedent? I'd be amazed if Fellaini gets a ban

Next 4: Huddersfield (h), Southampton (a), Burnley (h), Brighton (a). Really need to push on and get 4 wins from 4 from these.

There was clear contact by Guendozi on Martial. Martial made the most of it, but it's a definite free kick in my book. Would've been furious if we didn't get a free kick in a similiar situation.

Fellaini should definitely be suspended though. Such a nothing player, only thing he contributes with is being tall and getting away with a lot of fouls.

Guendozi had an interesting game. I thought he started quite poorly but really grew into the game. For such a young and inexperienced player the way he wants to constantly get involved even in a big game like this is impressive. Never satisfied with being a passenger.

I take it you don't have a link?

I thouht I read that Kos should/could be back on Saturday........................

Mustafi, Sokratis and Torreira are 1 yellow card away from a 1 game suspension. Cards don't get wiped until Dec 31st, so 5 more games to navigate. If Holding is out for a while we need Koscielny back asap

Immensely proud of the players for what can only be described as an impressive display this week. They have fought for everything and it was the first display at old Trafford in many years when we actually competed and I thought we should have won the game.

Shout out for Mhikitaryan who did well when he came on I thought as well as the others like Guendozi who was also superb.

Were are competing in these difficult games now and the turnaround Emery has providedis remarkable.

For the first time in years this is a team you can get behind.

About to watch the game but have to agree. Seeing a 2 - 2 result at OT Is nothing to be sniffed at. They always get the rub of the green up there regardless of how they play before or during the match. Emery's first season and huge strides forward from the previous pillock. 4 points from Totts at home and Man U away. A draw vs Liverpool. We're competing with those top rivals that always used to crumble against.

That would leave us with 43 points at the halfway mark, which would be an incredible step forward. Even losing one of those games and winning the three others would leave us on pace for 80 points. I would've bitten the hand off of anyone who offered that at the start of the season.

Soton away is never easy...for us or or for most clubs. Like you, I'd love 4 wins but 3 wins and a draw wouldn't surprise me.

What's the word on the knocks and injuries that happened last night? I hope nothing serious.

And now having watched it, bloody unlucky not to win.
Emery came in, added some hardness and experience to the defence and look at the result. Something us ignorant fans without 20 years of experience could see for a decade. Like most have said, still a work in progress but a team who give their all and what more to expect.

No mention on Ref Watch of the foul leading to the first goal.

It is mentioned on other forums and the link about Fellaini.

No. VAR is enough.

Thought he was kind of a dick of a player too with an overinflated reputation.

One main thing Emery has brought in is hunger though. Because the players know that anyone of them can be dragged off at any time even at half time so they seem to be giving 100%. This simple thing has increased competition for places and everybody is fighting for the result now. It’s visible

Penny for your thoughts Arsene on this weeks performances

Also the 70 million we spent on leno and the new signings looks staggeringly good value.

The premier league have given our second goal as an own goal, but there are replays doing the rounds on the internet that clearly show the final touch coming off Lacazette’s shin as he is tackled.

Perhaps Lacazette should swear on his kids life it touched him last and the premier league can change their mind and award it to him.....

Spurs only had 33,000 in at Wembley last night. That’s fewer than they got in the old white hart lane.

I'm going to come off as a worry wort but I think we may see performances fall off in the upcoming games. We have just had 2 emotionally and physically taxing matches. Most players won't get up for a Huddersfield Town. However, a Huddersfield Town will be up for a big club at the Emirates. I think the squad may struggle at the start and we may even find ourselves in the all too common occurrence these days of being down a goal in the first half.
We will beat them. It's Soton away that worries me.

Indeed. And the goal would have been disqualified with VAR due to the offside.

Really recommend this, it's a translated interview with Sven Mislintat. Talks about his general approach to scouting but also goes in-depth about certain players like Guendozi.



This is something I've thought about when watching Guendozi as well. His positioning isn't great yet and he sometimes gets in the way of other players because he tries to be everywhere at the same time, but those are all qualities you can learn. He's got so much of the stuff you can't teach, so much natural ability that if he's just properly coached he's bound to become absolutely top class.

You can’t blame people for having taste. Their laughable title challenge is over, they are not even the number one club in north London, they are homeless and haven’t won a trophy for years. At sometime people will realise the years ahead will be grim while they pay for the cheese shop.
How about we find a name for their new stadium- Cheddar Lane anyone.

Well, I am hoping we see Kos back and hoping he hasn't regressed (allowing a few games to get back to dealing with the pace of the league).

https://www.arsenal.com/news/team-news- ... gxOHg4eufU

Chelsea can lose every other game for me EXCEPT this one. Yes, it's neurotic but I fear City going unbeaten. They have only lost 1 match in all competitions. If anyone can do it these days it's them.

Chelsea vs City is the game of the day come Saturday. I also think Tottenham will have a tough time at Leicester. A loss wouldn't surprise me. Liverpool will have a tough game at Bournemouth as well.

Man Utd are totally out of the title race (and I'd suggest the rest of the league unless something happens to City in terms of injuries and an act of God). Man Utd won't get a CL place unless us, Chelsea or Tottenham falter. They will have to beat the teams above them a few times to have a chance, while simultaneously winning away to the teams below them (assuming home wins).

If Mourinho is in the Man Utd manager's area in January I'll be a little surprised. If so, who will they get? Zidane? Convince Alegri to leave the 'Old Lady'?

We can make some ground on the table over the next 3 or 4 league matches. Soton away on the 16th and then the scum home for the league cup is going to be very dicey. It will be interesting who both of us field for the league cup. Frankly, I think we should concentrate on the league cup. It's the "easiest" cup to win and I think it would be great for Emery if he delivers a trophy and for the players to lift a cup. Ferguson tried to have some sort of win each season so the players never lose the feeling of lifting silverware.
Also, I've never seen The Arsenal win the league cup in my time as a fan.

I am hoping Roman leaves Chelsea in tatters but if he can sell it for the reported 3 billion price tag, whomever spends that kind of money will make it another City.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m083h92yefY

The 3 at the back has worked ok in recent games, Kolasinac having lots of 2v1’s on the left wing. However with Holding likely out for a while and Koscielny needing to be eased back in.....AND the fact we are playing teams who will likely sit a lot deeper I’d go back to a back 4.

We really need Monreal and Kos back fit for the Xmas games, Monreal can also do a good job slotting in as the left of 3CB. I still think a CB in jan is necessary. I wonder if there are any 6 month loan deals worth looking at?

Holding confirmed with an ACL injury. That’s him done for the season. Welbeck also done for the season. We have younger players who could cover Welbeck but a Holding replacement is desperately needed in Jan - especially as Kos is only just coming back and Monreal is increasingly injury prone

Big shame about Holding. I like him a lot and had hoped he would get a run of games. Quick recovery hopefully. We are short at the back. Mustafi a mistake waiting to happen although he's been so so in recent games. Maybe Monreal in central defense. I recall him playing there before. I like Kolasinac where he is now. Kos needs a few games.

A name that I’d completely forgotten about. Mavropanos. Could he be an option for the second half of the season when he’s over his injury?