This from Fabrizio Romano, then taken down. Questionable to say they least.

Surely fakes. This nonsense is never ending

https://twitter.com/ballsdotie/status/1 ... 9pFu5-mfZw

This is a disgraceful tackle and terrible how the var ref has not asked the ref to review this to upgrade it to a red card.

We see some studs over the ball tackles that gets reds and whilst you can see why the ref gave a red you can also see there is an element of mistiming or over enthusiasm from the player. However these sorts of tackles are disgraceful because there is no chance of Fabinho winning the ball, the tackle is designed to take down the man and therefore any injury bad or not is based on pure luck.

PGMOL came out earlier in the season and said there were 6 decisions that were wrong so far this season. You can’t go back and give those goals etc but there is no reason why tackles like this shouldn’t be reviewed again and a red and 3 game ban given.

See also Andy Carroll’s tackle on Eriksen which left Eriksen on crutches

Monza in Italy currently 13 points clear of the relegation zone. If they stay up the obligation to buy Pablo Mari triggers for about £6m

Balogun just scored the equaliser for Reims against PSG (who had a man sent off and were *%^@) in the 96th minute virtually the last kick of the game. PSG time wasting like nothing I’ve seen since ooh, David De Gea, and bam, so composed, pace and round the keeper and had to lift it over two defenders on the line. So impressive.

I was watching the game. It wasn't malicious but Fabinho got it totally wrong. He apologised immediately and it was obvious that he thought he would get a red card from the VAR review. The fact that he didn't is yet another example of how screwed up the officiating is. Studs on the achilles twisting the ankle and Ferguson had to be taken off. It was a blatant red card.

Five minutes earlier, McAllister was going through on goal when Konate pushed him over. Blind lino saw nothing wrong and no VAR review. VAR is a good idea but the implementation is lamentable.

Balogun scored again tonight, 96th minute equaliser for Reims away to PSG. 11 goals in 19 games.
Huge question as to what we do with him next year. Stay and be part of the squad, another loan maybe in the prem, or cash in while his stock is sky high. Still only 21. The kid has something and has taken his chance this year so well

Finish was very Haaland like. Can’t see us needing a striker any time soon.

Of the top 6 highest goalscorers aged 21 or under in the big 5 leagues this season Arsenal own 3 of them

All going a bit bonkers outside my house.
Fireworks,car horns,people hollering
Eagles in the Super Bowl

Here's me trying to do Edu's job (and no criticism, he's doing a fine job). Why not offer tham Sambi on loan with an option to buy at a decent price and if they balk a bit, throw in a sweetener like Reiss Nelson or whomever?

The "Iggles"!! Yes! Whenever any Philly team wins, its the only time in the city you can go to any neighborhood and not be touched if you are wearing the jersey. Right now you can walk through North, South or West Philly with an Eagles jersey on nothing will happen...haha

Why on earth would they want either of those players.

I can only hope that amidst what now seems a forlorn hope of signing Caicedo we have decent back-up plans because the loss of Elneny means we are down to Lokonga as the sole replacement CM, unless we play Zinchenko there.

Lokonga is not terrible but he is short on confidence and does not possess the defensive awareness of a DM.

Why do we seem to take so long pursuing our targets?.

Here's a thought. Move Ben White to DCM if god forbid Partey is out. I think he'd do very well and probably a quick study.

Hi AG,

It would be a total gamble and a title chasing team should not be gambling on a RB/CB being able to slot in as a DM.

Is it my understanding that even if we sign Caicedo we're still going for Declean Rice in the summer?

We're linked to the new Mbappe.

Okay, he seems able to but I get it that its a risk. Seemingly too big of a gamble.

Spurs deal for Porro is off at the last minute. Sporting Lisbon did them a bit dirty there after reneging on the terms of the deal as reported by Ornstein.

I understand the logic and maybe its something you might try in a Carabao Cup game or a friendly but nobody has a clue how he would do in that role.

Zinchenko does play in central midfield for the Ukraine so he would be an option but then you lose him as an inverted LB.

Another totally nuts suggestion. I still remember when people were suggesting we play chambers there and when wenger finally did it at st Mary’s once the saints midfield literally ran rings round him and we got thrashed.

Surely the obvious player to try and shoehorn into the role would be zinchenko. He’s spending most of his time in midfield anyway.

Only problem is to play in the middle of the park you need strength and to play on the half turn and zinny is mobile but I’d guess it’s a little lightweight

No its not a totally nuts thought. I am not sure it would work but at least it would not harm the backs as White has a good replacement. Zinc would be a loss and disruption if he was moved. Could Tierney try defensive midfielder? I simply don't know. We should have been looking at cover for this position, but it is not a position easily replicated by other players (how Arteta wants it played) so I do understand why we are struggling for cover in the area.

It is nuts. You are unsettling moving your right back who has never played in midfield instead of your left back who has. Both have competent replacements and ben white whilst having a solid range of passing can’t play on the half turn. Even lokonga is a better option.

It’s just a total non starter and will never happen.

The only part of your argument I am doubtful about is that Lokonga is better. If he is that is fantastic.

If not, and we don't get someone, we are into nuts territory.

Just to clarify. I don't think Lokonga is bad, just that he is not a Partey backup. I don't think many players could do what Partey does for us.

If or when we are up comfortably against Everton and hopefully as early as possible we might start thinking of subbing Partey off since he is integral to a title run in.

This also depends on what f we pick up someone by tomorrow.

Two questions
1) What is 'comfortably'?

Even 3-0 doesn't feel comfortable these days, as we saw in the Brighton game.

2) Who do you bring on and how do you adjust the formation?

I'm a bit fearful about Marquinhos's loan to Norwich. The Championship is a brutal league, very demanding both physically and mentally with lots of teams all capable of beating each other. Every game is a tough, tough test.

If Norwich fans are expecting a sexy Brazilian winger, full of tricks and flair then I think they will be a tad disappointed. From what he's shown so far he's more of a wide midfielder than an out and out winger. Lovely touch and weight of pass/cross but not really a dribbler who goes past a fullback.

I hope I am wrong but I'm not sure he's ready for such a tough loan, maybe somewhere in France or Portugal would have been better. He's not really been exposed to the rough and tumble of what Championship football will bring so I think he might struggle for game time.

That said, I hope I am completey wrong on this and that it proves to be an inspired loan and he lights up the league. Norwich play good football so hopefully he can adjust quickly.

City loaning out Canceles to Bayern.

Very surprising and very odd timing.

God, I hate Man UTD

https://youtube.com/shorts/bySWQxCc8-8?feature=share

I still have memories seared in about being 4-0 up in the second half at Newcastle United.

Or how about 2 up vs Tottenham at 90 minutes (Harry Rednapp’s second game there).
Or comfortably ahead at half time at Aston Villa before a parachutist did himself serous damage at half time.

Lot’s of examples to underpin my many anxious moments even when ‘plain sailing’.

Charlie Patino is learning his trade there in that division, and doing okay. The fans at Blackpool regard him well - a bit like Palace fans did with Ashley Cole and Brentford fans did with Szczesny.

Given the opportunity we have, given our over-reliance on Partey and his long history of injuries and given Elneny's latest injury woes it really is inconceivable that we could end the transfer window without having stengthened in that area and yet with a day to go we find ourselves in that position.

Hi ltg,

You are right, Patino has done extremely well.

As I said, I hope I am wrong and Marquinhos turns on the style big time at Norwich. I'm just basing my thoughts on what I've seen from him so far, his lack of experience of english football and the type of player he is.

Not si sure about that analysis. The Brazilian league can be quite physical as can other top leagues. These days there are a myriad of different nationalities in all kinds of leagues so I'd say he will be physically fine at Norwich.

Update on caicedo

He’s either likely or unlikely to sign for us tomorrow. We made an imaginary bid earlier today for 70 million that’s been denied as Brighton want 80 million but will likely reject that too. He’s super keen to join Arsenal as well as any other club under the sun.

Video explanation https://youtu.be/gYF5C3uvM18

Cancelo on loan to Bayern is not one I saw coming. Very versatile player for City but obviously a falling out has happened. This is all good news for us.

Enzo Fernandes looks like Chelsea’s last big deal this window, close to £120m

Some positive progress it seems on the Caicedo chase, Arsenal not leaving the table…. But it does seem we’re putting all our eggs in this basket which is a worry

Everton are looking to spend their Gordon money (£45m) on Gallagher from Chelsea. Not sure why Gallagher would go there right now. It helps chelsea cook their books though as they would bank the full £40-45m for accounting purpose and it would allow £280m of signings on 7 year deals to balance out that expenditure for this year….they’d have to make the same £40m sale each year but it shows how the long contracts can be used to manipulate FFP

Jorginho from Chelsea as an alternative is being mooted

I’d rather watch Dave Lee travis play Macbeth than sign another chelsea player but it might not be the worst idea.

It doesn’t hurt our attempts to sign caicedo the fact we are being linked publicly to other players now.

Don’t get or believe the onana links though. Why would Everton sell us their best player this season for just a 10 million profit when they are in the middle of a relegation battle