For the avoidance of doubt, my post is my view not a statement of fact

Matt Ryan from Brighton in on loan as cover for Leno. Decent.

And if you thought signing Ødegaard would be a sobering moment I present exhibit A

https://www.arsenal.com/news/mat-ryan-j ... end-season

Yes, Fans of other teams will scoff but on a 6 month loan, prem experience, unlikely to play many games but is there as a better back up than Runnarsson.

Then go and sign the no.1 target in the summer.

One interesting thing though is that Arsenal now have 1 sapre non-home grown place in the squad following the exits of Özil, Sokratis and Kolasinac - it is Kolasinac's space that is free. Ryan will have to take that spot as he's an Aussie. But if Ødegaard signs as well he's over 21 and non home grown so we would need to move another player out of the squad. Perhaps Runarsson will go out on loan and a youth gk will become the 3rd choice GK?

Still seem a good idea ?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ducts.html

Mat Ryan is a really solid Premier League quality keeper - and an Arsenal fan as well. I remember years ago, when he was playing for Central Coast Mariners in Australia and he said he was a Gooner. I hoped one day he'd get his chance...

Thanks. Even if it’s not a fact, it sounds an entirely logical suspicion.

Boris Johnson, what a guy.

So we are like Huddersfield with Smith Rowe last season.

Some talk today of back up left back transfer plans for Arsenal. Two options are two english players who are both out of contract in the summer, both at different ends of their career and I didn't realise either were out of contract.
Ryan Bertrand (31) from Southampton
Tyrick Mitchell (21) from Palace

Of those it has to be Mitchell. Bertrand would I assume demand a decent size wage as his last big deal and has no sell on value. Mitchell has been quietly impressive for Palace this season and I was surprised he was out of contract at the end of the season

Typical TG talking through his ass again.

Why do you blame Boris when it's games being played by your wonderful unelected friends who are playing games.

Mind you it's not as bad as banning the sale of our sausages in the EU or taking a drivers ham sandwiches is it?

Please can we stop with the Brexit stuff. Pleeeaaasssse.

Or maybe Willian. Steak seasonings anyone?

Wish Arsenal were languishing in 4th.

Yeah we made that decision. We decided to leave the customs union.

So even now you still don’t understand it yet

Since Vieira left there has always been talk of 'the next Vieira' and it has resurfaced with Thomas Partey - who out of all the signings we've made in CM looks like he has the capability to fill the shoes better than any before him. In the little we've seen of him he appears to have strength, mobility, technical quality, crisp passing, positional sense, strong tackling - a very, very good all round central midfielder. I also think Partey has that ability to make those around him look like better players.

If you look around the league there isn't really a central midfielder that I wouldn't back Partey against.
We can't buy (or even afford) the finished article with every transfer but I am so impressed with Partey so far and I don't think we've even seen the best of him yet.

Well said. It's Arsenal Football Club, not the Gestapo. He is obsessed and feels he has a lot to prove and to be taken seriously. A lot of antics were already dealt with. Some he treated like they were Kindergarten age. Er...don't do that. There isn't a huge age difference between him and a few of the older, well seasoned, experienced players he's trying to mould into a new level or direction. The Arsenal kids want to be front and center in the scheme of things. It will evolve over time.
Agree about the favourtism. But that can be said about any club no matter where they are. There are divas, prima donnas and player cliques at all clubs.

Based on what we saw of him in Italy, I thought Pogba was going to dominate the league in much the same way Vieira did.
Mourinho did a lot in taking away his confidence. There were other factors as well. But I'm very happy with Partey. I just hope he stays fit and Arteta lets him do some things he has done with Ghana and that is drive forward a bit at times.

No we decided to stop doing what Arsenal have been doing ie paying good money and getting nothing back for it.

Get over it. There was an election, several in fact, leave won remain lost, it's called democracy.

Stop throwing your toys out the pram every time something goes against us it's a long term plan and we are the future not the EU.

Agree, let's stick to football topics. How about famous own goals? Remember the one by Dixon?

https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-re ... xon-brass/

It’s too late to undo that Chris that we all read it.

We are unable to export minced meat products and all sorts to a continent and your moaning about ham sandwiches

You still don’t understand it

Hat trick for Balogun for the U23 tonight

Some absolute crackers there. The bloke who volleys it into his own face

The Spanish league table is interesting. What I consider the big three in Spain are at the top, with the smallest or less big of the three (by a comfortable distance) in first place.

Atletico Madrid are top with 44 points from 17 games; Real Madrid are second with 37 points from 18 games; and Barcelona are third with 34 points from 18 games. So Atletico have a 7 point lead over Real with a game in hand, and a 10 point lead over Barcelona with a game in hand.

Am I missing something or does this suggest Atletico aren’t missing Partey all that much? Torreira has only started two league games for Atletico this season, so it presumably can’t have anything to do with him replacing Partey adequately.

No worries there, just silly guessing on my part. Be it Özil or Luiz or maybe the previous Mascot, no prizes for getting it right

Uninteresting, but true fact. I'm not sure if it's been mentioned elsewhere, but Mat Ryan and Mustafi played together at Valencia.

https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/n ... popup=true

What Arteta fails to appreciate is that you can't please everyone. Just produce results and others will follow. Young players can't be bothered with all this they just want a chance - give it to them. He does himself no favours with his obsession to prove Willian a good buy. Obvious he was the person who wanted Willian - it had been reported in the newspapers. Put him in the cup teams and Europe and hope he regains form & actually puts in an effort - otherwise he is on the outer.

I have serious reservations about Arteta as a manager. His coaching ability leaves a lot to be desired and his man management and failure to recognise talent, until it is shoved down his throat is a worry.

Everyone has an opinion on Özil
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... senal.html

We didn’t even have a game yesterday

“ I know we didn’t have a game today but that doesn’t mean Arteta can escape from criticism”

What a plonker

1Leno
2Bellerín
16Holding
6Gabriel
17Cédric Soares
25Elneny
34Xhaka
19Pépé
12Willian
35Martinelli
30Nketiah

Substitutes
7Saka
9Lacazette
13Rúnarsson
15Maitland-Niles
18Partey
21Chambers
23David Luiz
28Willock
33Ryan

Too many changes for my liking.

Come on you Gunners

Have we got two sub goalies or am I losing it?

Elneny rightfully scolded by Bellerin for losing the ball, leading to the goal.

And outfought in midfield.

We are looking very shaky at the back.

Are the two mutually exclusive? ;)

Heading out of the cup with barely a whimper at the moment. Only consolation is we’re only one down.

Dreadful stuff so far.

Martinelli not great this half but his energy and movement is very good, we just don't have players who can find him.

He had that one through ball to Nketiah but if Willian ever does beat a man he just turns backwards. In terms of the players were looking to to make us tick it’s useless.