2 goals for John Stones tonight, he’s come back in from the cold at City and playing brilliantly. Best defence in the league and a great partnership with Dias.
I recall not too long ago there were whispers of Arteta going back to City to try to buy Stones for us when he was out of favour. I quite liked it at the time based on him having big potential, English and a ball playing CB.
Surprised there haven’t been more rumours linking us to City rejects or City youth players. City have a ridiculously talented youth team with many probably unable to see their pathway to the first team, I was half hoping Arteta would use his knowledge and influence to try to poach some.

For some silly reason thought of Paul Pogba.

No Bernard we played hard ball. Some News magnate has picked up his media rights and is paying £350k to cover his wages weekly.

Thanks. That fits as it explains he is getting his £350k a week from somewhere. The good news is if it’s some sort of magnate rather than Arsenal.

If Tierney and Martinelli are both fit to join the squad tonight that would leave Pablo Mari as the only injured first team player, and his injury is only minor. After years and years of fitness issues we do seem to have turned a corner in this regard.
A lot more of our players seem to be more robust.

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/payroll/

This website which details all footballer's salaries has us with the 2nd highest wage bill in the league behind Man U. Strangely I find it hard to believe we're ahead of City and Chelsea but also not that hard to believe given some of the bloated figures we pay in what is a bloated squad.

just taking Özil off the payroll drops us to 6th in the list, level with Liverpool.

All best to your future at Bournemouth Jack Wilshere.

Seconded. If (a big if, I know) Jack can stay injury free he has more quality and class than most. Would love to see him help Bournemouth get promoted and show that quality in the Premier. Good luck to him anyway, he really deserves a good run.

So, hands up then.

Who’s doing this?

https://www.skysports.com/share/12188507

Mustafi on twitter in a message to Özil
Bro, you have been the most unselfish player on and off the pitch, I have ever shared the dressing room with. You will be always remembered as the Assist King. Unfortunately we as a team haven’t been able to assist you when you needed us the most. All the best

Lots of talk of the Bundasliga clique at Arsenal - Özil, Kolasinac, Mustafi, Sokratis - not Xhaka apparently.

If you have a situation at a club like has happened with Özil, then you see messages like Musafi's then it is clean there is a divided dressing room. We must do as much as we can to sort this out. The 4 above are gone, or going. There were rumours of Luiz not towing the line, true or not he's gone in the summer.

Bit too modern for me LTG

Give me the days of alcohol fumes and cigarette (and other smoke) on the wind, meat pies, bovril, and the swaying of a sweaty, smelly, volatile and roaring crowd any day. That would be truly immersive.

Unfortunately, those days are long gone.

The game is being cleansed of passion.

Not forgetting Percy Daltons peanuts of course.

Of course.

Sadly no more. Company dissolved in 2016. Sold out to KP apparently.

Mustafi's taking the piss. Barely average player mouthing off. He can *%^@ off too, useless *%^@

Tierney back, Partey back, Martinelli back on the bench. Cédric for Bellerin.
Newcastle, having started with 5 defenders and three defensive mids against Sheffield United have picked an attacking looking lineup.
Stating the bleeding obvious, vital we win tonight. I'm not going to jinx it by making any predictions.

Watneys party seven on the train to away games.

That’s almost a 4-2-4 for Newcastle. Expect them to go very direct to Carroll most of the game, hopefully he forgets his shooting boots like he did in the fa cup game

Why do you have to show such anger towards Mustafi? You once said you hated him, and then a while later repeated it.

Gus Caesar was the worst player I’ve seen play for the club and was a million miles worse than Mustafi. He also came from Tottenham and was or is a lifelong fan of Tottenham. Do I hate Caesar? Not even close.

Mustafi was probably a mate of Özil. What’s the harm in what he said?

Just can’t see Partey and Xhaka working in the same team. Strange selection

Who cares about Gus Caeser?? Mustafi is under contract, highly paid and a bang average player. He should keep his counsel until he leaves the club. I hope he never kicks a ball for us again, to be honest. Dreadful signing regardless of how crap Gus Caeser was.

Never had that particular pleasure brom.

He just doesn’t like AMN does he. Dumped out the squad.

I understand he was poor in the last game but it was his first game in absolutely ages in the league and out of position again. Don’t tell me he’s a worse player than willock

Let’s look again at what Mustafi said, from Rich’s post.

Bro, you have been the most unselfish player on and off the pitch, I have ever shared the dressing room with. You will be always remembered as the Assist King. Unfortunately we as a team haven’t been able to assist you when you needed us the most. All the best

What the hell is wrong with that? Why should he keep his counsel by not saying it about a friend until he’s personally left the club? Maybe you should keep your counsel about Mustafi until he leaves, as what you say about him is verging on gross exaggeration as well as an overreaction?

Nectar of the gods

No worries Cassius and Brutus will sort it out...

Mustafi is another.

Can’t wait till these clowns shut up and leave. I can only imagine how much damage it must be doing them hanging around.

Was Reading some of the responses to Mesuts ozils goodbye type tweets, the responses are golden stuff like “goodbye Mesut I will never forgive arsenal for what they did to you etc etc” We’re you lot even ever at Highbury !!

Don't worry TG they'll all be Fenerbahce fans now.

I find the reaction of some fans to Özil’s departure stomach churning. But I also find the undignified overreaction of other fans to Mustafi’s comments about a mate disturbing.

*%^@ Mustafi.

Forgot to get goalside in a league cup final.

Lack of perspective much?

Hmm. Are you allowed to stiff arm Saka in the face then?

It was an error, but so was Aubameyang’s missing of a sitter in the first few minutes. I have little or no doubt that even if Aubameyang had put that chance away and Mustafi had got goal side later in the game, City would still have beaten us. So it probably didn’t matter.

If you enjoy your anger, carry on though.

Excellent work by Smith Rowe and Saka. Aubameyang still off colour.

Aubameyang hits the post, comms saying its a bad miss

Unlucky there.

Some of Smith Rowes touches even when they don’t come off are superb. You can see the thinking behind his play

Bad may be over egging it. But it’s the sort of opportunity that you would expect someone of his ability to put away.

Thanks I will

No more German imports. Only 3 of them worked out.

Despite that shot over the bar Partey has been excellent so far.