Okay sigh of relief over, Liverpool has lost and I can devote my energies to The Arsenal We have a game in hand against Man Utd and Tottenham, we win that and its game on. The run in is going to test Arteta's managerial skill and we can see just how much mental toughness the squad has grown, if at all.

Home to West Ham, away to Brighton, are winnable. Away to Soton has banana peel written all over it. It gets trickier down the road, games against Leicester and Tottenham. We are going to need help from other teams for sure.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/apos-dear- ... 04455.html
'Dear Arsenal, you're welcome!' - Watford's message to Gunners after ending Liverpool's hopes of surpassing 2003-04 Invincibles

VAR favouring Man Utd. Next time someone is anywhere near our keeper and offside I expect them to rule the same. Let’s see consistency.

To be fair, of all those types of moments, that was the most blatant as he was sat on his arse right in the way. However if he’s not there De Gea isn’t saving that shot anyway as he was totally wrong footed. Veerrry lucky for Utd, but the right decision in my book.

How good does it feel that Liverpool won’t get near our records again for a good while yet?? Embarrassingly good, we’ve got naff all else to celebrate

Yep, there was a lot of Pool supporters who have emerged and they can say what they like but they were carrying on like two bob watches about their team. They are just another team who will win a title.

A few friends of mine, who are Pool supporters, were laughing so hard at Arsenal each time we messed it up. Well, they were right that we kept messing it up for ourselves. I took it on the chin because you can't challenge results. Now that they have lost their first match, I decided to keep quiet about it. No use stooping to their level. Let them grieve through their own sorrow.

But as soon as I hear them carrying on about - greatest team of all time - I lose my cool somewhat.

Okay - this story will break your hearts. Get your hankies out , read and weep.

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/mourinh ... lly-unfair

Not all of them are arrogant, but most rank up there with MU fans.

I cried me a river

You alright mate. You read such devastating news like this and you just realise how unfair the world is. One thing is certain, the reformed and remodelled Mourinho will still never accept the blame for anything.

So big game this one. I would change the team from the last game. I need to see a motivated team, not players thinking they only have to turn up for a win.

The way Jota and Jiminez counter attack!

Not to mention Traore on the right he’s like the flash and the juggernaut in one. There’s a team set up to counter. Really interesting next few years for them because I think the perceived wisdom is you need to dominate possession to succeed at the top.

Still crying

Great entertainment for neutrals. A bit like we used to be.

Let me expand a bit, GF. Last season, two of the teams we played were called Vorskla Poltava and Qarabag FK (aka Carrier-Bag). Without looking them up, do you know which city or country – or even continent - those teams represent? Good luck to them because, like us, they were also-rans in their leagues, as were the 200+ other participant clubs. However I have no desire to watch such games and judging by the half-empty stadium, nor did a lot of other supporters. Nonetheless, I have to pay for my seats as part of the season ticket package. I literally could not give away those tickets and that's the very definition of worthless - just like the competition.

I care about the Europa for a few reasons, most obvious but also it would do this club a great deal of good to lift a trophy and better yet, a European trophy. Even the 'lowly' Europa Cup.

https://www.justarsenal.com/supercomput ... gue/237527

"According to the computer, Arsenal would miss out on European football as they would finish ninth on the league table."

We are 10th now. So, we pass Burnley?
Lets see how this all plays out.

Yeah he’s off his meds at the moment

Pablo Mari plays. No sign of Aubameyang and Lacazette on the bench.................

Actually Qarabag FK have dominated their league since 2013

You’ve clearly googled that, you old faker. No human would know that.

'Human' is in question.

I did. And I knew Poltava as well being a football nerd.

Sigh. Here we go again. So far it’s another limp, slow, ineffective, boring performance by us.

To you, GF.

Chapeau.

Luiz wouldn't make a bad holding center mid. I question his legs but he might do a job there.

No movement at all in the team. We struggle to find someone even from a throw, and when we play it short at the back there is no movement up forward meaning the person in possession has limited or no options. Dire

Well that was out of keeping with the tedium so far. Nice one Sokratis.

Brilliant goal from Sokartis

Good goal.

Mike Dean is a bona fide, brucellosis accredited, kennel club regulated *%^@.

Well done Sok!

He does not favour us, ever

Good goal, lovely cross and even better finish from Sokratis. Up until then far too slow and too many touches and not getting the ball quickly enough to the wide men. Nelson and Martinelli have the beating of their man but they aren’t getting it quickly enough.

Mike Dean, what more is there to say about him. The booking of Guendouzi is a joke, he stopped him taking the free kick twice so Guendouzi rather sarcastically makes a show of placing the ball so it is still and takes the free kick. That pricks Dean’s ego so he books him. Is that dissent? Then a Pompey player gets away with no booking for the most cynical trip on Ceballos.
I think Dean thrives on the complaints players make to his decisions, the more complaints the more ill keep giving free kicks against you and not giving you anything. I don’t think Dean is a home ref, that would mean he’s weak, and he’s the opposite of weak, he refs exactly how he wants.
It did feel like the smallest touch was a free kick for them but as they were seen as the aggressive pressing team they were seemingly allowed to get away with a lot more touch tight marking.

You mean like these comments. They should have gone 2 seasons undefeated apparently.

https://www.givemesport.com/1551562-liv ... utoplay=on

I was about to say Nelson needs to produce more the moment he crossed for the goal. I think he has some really good qualities just seems to show them in very small cameos without imposing himself. Like he’s playing within himself a bit



Oh and mike dean is a *%^@

Saw this on Twitter:
Mike Dean booking someone for over the top gesticulating is the height of irony

Your comments on Dean are spot on.

I think people need to get away from the ‘win the ball’ argument for overly aggressive tackles. The tackle on Torreira was a scissor follow through with excessive force, just because he won the ball first doesn’t mean it can’t be punished. The rules are there to protect players, players have a responsibility to each other even after they win the ball. Far too many players in the English game see a 70/30 tackle as an opportunity to give their opponent a damn good whack sure in the knowledge that winning the ball will save them any punishment