Yes, that will go down in the annals of Arsenal lore...lol. Didn't a Tevez led West Ham do the double over Man Utd and almost everyone in the top 4 or something like that one season?

(PS: My autocorrect was taking the proverbial piss as you all say and I caught it right before hitting the send button and changed it to 'annals'...then again we do say Up the ARSEnal)

Well we offered 38 million for Aour that Aulas said he rejected so far.

Yes he’s surplus to requirements at Madrid.

Somebody not on AGs blocked list (if there are any left) might want to inform him that Mustafi is close to joining Lazio, according to reports in Italy.

That does not mean we’ll be paying £50-£60m for anyone.

This season maybe Ceballos isn’t needed at Real. But isn’t a possible explanation for that a personality clash between him and Zidane? If it’s down to that, maybe they think he’s worth keeping him in case Zidane goes next summer? Also, they presumably can’t be that keen on getting rid of Ceballos. If they were, all they have to do is drop the price low enough to make someone willing to sign him.

I wonder if you’re trying to see issues that may not really be there.

Have to say, as good a manager as Guardiola obviously is, that is shockingly poor considering they still have a lot of question marks concering their back four.

They haven’t loaned him out for 2 consecutive years because they see him as a transformational midfielder have they.

Well they’ve chosen not to drop the price low enough to permanently sell him.

From our point of view, whilst he was very good for the last 10 games, he had one standout performance before that in the Burnley game. There still might be some legitimate question marks from our side if there's a significant outlay. For a low fee I think we'd take him in a heartbeat but clearly that's not on the table. Whilst I like him and am glad we've got him again, I think he's still got a point to prove to me that he's first first choice in what we're aspiring to be i.e really challenging for the title.

Rumoured next bid coming after the Liverpool game, 40 million euros plus 10 million euros in add ons.

We should be able to raise 40 million from sales - could be an interesting final week of the transfer window. I bet there will be a few surprises, some big teams taking some desperate gambles or loans. That is partly due to the window closing after the season starts, so some teams will be under pressure to act in the market.

Heard Spurs want to sign Christian Benteke.....

Yes, he looks a player who could be fantastic at helping us play through the press. That can lead to situations further up the pitch obviously so such a player would not have great assist stats or even necessarily the greatest pass completions stats. However, for a player to do that they have to be very, very good at not turning over possession.

Going to manage my expectations tonight. As of this writing, I'd "loooove it, just loooove it" if we left with a draw. If we lose, as long as we make it respectable, like a hard fought 2-1 game. I'd rather not lose 1-0. I want us to score.
Just make a good account of ourselves.

Ledley King doesn't look happy...didn't like Henry's statement...haha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6piJI4LL1Q&list=WL&index=1

Personally I think you’re being over-harsh. Jesus wept, he probably had about as many good games as Martinez and look at the reaction by some to him leaving. I think you’ve got to remember that a slow start to the Premier League by overseas players, which Ceballos is, is hardly rare. My guess is many fans would see our best ever players as Henry and Bergkamp. Neither took off from the start. Some may say they began their Arsenal careers looking a bit underwhelming. I’m not saying Ceballos will ever be comparable to either of them, but I’m just trying to show why I think you’re being very harsh, and from that over-harsh, on him.

Add in to that the correlation between Arteta becoming manager, asking for more from Ceballos in training and then Ceballos starting to deliver consistently on the pitch.

Decent assessment Ash.

He’s a decent player and moves the ball well but apart from a few pirouettes he isn’t creating much and isn’t a goal threat. I can understand why the club are seeking to spend elsewhere and were unable to commit to the fee.

We need a big game from him tonight.

Pires stank the place out before he got going.

Hmmmn Ceballos dropped for El Nenny

Doesn’t seem to trust him in the big games.

A complete over statement if ever there was one. He scored 8 goals and provided 9 assists in his first season and while he did look lightweight and unsure at times you could see his talent beneath the surface

Sure, and I can’t really remember but I’m sure I would have had similar questions until he, very emphatically, answered them all. That’s all I’m saying about Ceballos. I personally still have a bit to decide whether he’s a title winning quality player.

Bernard I have no idea why you think I’m being harsh let alone ‘very harsh’ or even ‘over harsh’, I said he played well after the break. I’m just still withholding judgment about whether he’s “Top top” quality from his performances over last season. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he answered that well, but like lots said about Martinez I’d want a larger sample size if games from him at that level.

Martinez just made a howler but the goal was chalked off for an earlier foul on var review. The life of a gk. it’ll be forgotten. Make your mistakes and don’t concede or make them and your team still wins, makes a big difference in the luck and life of gk’s

1Leno
16Holding
23David Luiz
3Tierney
2Bellerín
25Elneny
34Xhaka
15Maitland-Niles
12Willian
9Lacazette
14Aubameyang

Substitutes
6dos Santos Magalhães
7Saka
8Ceballos
13Rúnarsson
19Pépé
30Nketiah
31Kolasinac

Great outfield team. Wingbacks and a solid defence. Was this the FA Cup team, I can't remember.

Tell me about it.

In Lenos case he doesn’t even have to make the mistake to get the blame as our fans chalk up imaginary missed crosses and invisible missed free kicks to deride him.

Comparisons between Pires and Ceballos dont add up at all for me. Pires was 26/27 when he joined and was a World Cup and European Championships winner. There was no doubt whatsoever about his talent.

Ceballos is a young player who has done very little yet. I hope he develops into a fine player for us, but he is at a totally different level from what Pires was when we signed him.

Wrong trophy closer to the Community Shield team against Liverpool.

Willian and Lacazette in place of Eddie and Saka.

Arsenal

can’t help but think you have to find a way to accommodate Saka in the starting line up. His footballing brain in the final third is a massive boost

Need to ride out the pressure here early on.

Mané shot, luckily straight at Leno, a foot either side and Leno wouldn't have seen it. Under a lot of early pressure

deflected shot hits the bar for them. lucky for us but would have been a very lucky goal

Total onslaught.

Can’t get a little toe in the game let alone a foot

Edit



Hahahahaha

How the *%^@ are we 1-0 up.

Lacazette!!!!

First chance we get to break, we had the balls to play it out from the back moments after messing it up. AMN gets away down the left, lacazette makes the run and it doesn't come to him, Robertson completely messes up the clearance and puts it on a plate for Lacazette who scuffs a bouncing shot over Allison!

I can't believe we're 1-0 up

1-1

Damn. Needed to hold on to the lead a little longer to frustrate Liverpool.

It has been a problem before, just not holding on to a lead long enough. Similar sort of move Liverpool have made in the game. Salah just has the run on Tierney who can't touch him (as we know what Salah does in the box) Salah's shot is parried by Leno but Mané has a tap in

By the way, Mané could have been sent off in the first few minutes. It was a clear lead with the elbow/forearm in to the face of Tierney. Of course, no chance a ref is going to send of a Liverpool player at Anfield in the 3rd minute but it was very dangerous

Xhaka is struggling to keep up with the pace of the game

Getting that annoying little feeling with the ref. Lots of 50/50 free kicks going their way. Bellerin was just pushed from behind and sandwiched by two Liverpool players and only got given the throw.

He just made a really poor decision to dribble out between 3 Liverpool players, tackled easily in a dangerous area

2-1 liverpool no cover at the back post

To be fair El Nenny isn’t at the races either and our defenders are under such pressure. Need to get to half time now