The prem as a whole gets tarred with the wild spending brush but really it’s 1 or 2 clubs right at the top end and a lid at the bottom that’s out of kilter. Historically big and successful teams like us and Liverpool spending a decent chunk of money shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. But Chelsea spending £600m is unprecedented and also teams like newly promoted Forest spending £200m is bonkers. In a way it’s that side of the prem spending that is crazy but has also made it the most watchable league because you have teams who finish well in to the bottom half with £40m strikers and so whilst the team loses matches there are times on their day when the individual quality will shine and they can give the best teams a good game and play entertaining football.

You only have to look at players at top European clubs swapping it for a low level prem team, simply to come and play in the prem…..and the money isn’t bad!

Jorginho vs Arsenal, a bit dated but still....

Yes “prosecution did not go ahead because witnesses (complainant in this case) withdrew statements” does not equal “found innocent.” Basically the evidence hasn’t been challenged or answered and will remain like that. It’s the equivalent of Fabinho on that Brighton player. We all know it was a red card but the FA’s hands are tied. No one “deserves” a career earning millions so I wouldn’t be too fussed if this particular evidence stopped someone doing that.

I think man united will pay off the last 2 years on his contract. Their statement lends itself to the fact they are considering it. No way will they want that attention.

Criminal justice in the UK is an absolute joke however I don’t think the CPS has much choice if the complainant withdraws they have little evidence to proceed. I hate the way crime is dealt with here. Zero police and old bill more concerned with nicking speeders than stopping violence. I know that sounds like a generalisation but it’s pretty true.

That No.10 with the afro looks good. We should have signed him instead.

Weirdo

This is both unbelievably quick thinking and outrageously cynical

https://www.theguardian.com/football/vi ... nsed-video

Interesting to note martinellis new contract gives him 200k a week. They aren’t stupid then.

Wonder what saka is getting offered

Reese Witherspoon has moved up in my all time female actresses list.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/651616970100552/

Until you are found guilty in a court of law you are innocent. The only wierdos are people who think an accusation should be sufficient to end a career.

It's a bit more than an accusation gunny, I assume you've seen the pictures and heard the recording?

Plus, he's not been found innocent in a court of law, it seems there was just not enough reliable evidence to proceed after key witnesses withdrew their statements or refused to cooperate.

If I was being cynical I'd suggest witnesses were encouraged to withdraw their testimony and the case collapsed. I hope that this isn't so because this has done nothing to encourage other women to come forward and the lady in question should be ashamed if it did happen and she has withdrawn here accusations to allow him to go free. She should be charged with perverting the course of justice.

Rumours abound that he's back together with his accuser. Missing the affluent lifestyle?

No idea what United do now, they are stuck between a rock and a hardplace. Whatever they do will be seen as wrong and alienate a section of their fans.

Back and playing he's a £50m+ asset and legally he's an innocent man but morally I would suggest it would be very difficult to have him play for United again.

She ages like a fine wine that girl. She’s on the TOP G list.

I didn’t say I think it should end a career I just find it a bit weird celebrating a sexual assault case falling apart because a witness bailed.

Recordings and pictures are not evidence. Are you someone who believes everything on the internet? I don't. I believe unless it is tested in a court of law it is hearsay. Maybe there was a different context to the recording and the pictures. I have witnessed someone accusing a man of battery and it transpired she used her make up to make her face look bruised. I am not saying it happened here but it has left me cynical. Essentially the legal situation is in England Wales is someone can make an accusation and the defendant's name is over the papers. I can't but think of Ched Evans and his truncated career which was the subject of vitriol from people who think any accusation of sexual violence should be enough to cast you into the outer darkness for ever.

I am certainly not celebrating it. There are no winners in this case and there is no good outcome.

I read £180k but what is £20k a week between friends. 4.5 year deal until summer 2027 with a club option of a further year.

Saka will surely be offered that as a minimum, but I'd be happy to make him our top earner at £250k per week and get him on a long term contract. If you tied Saka down to a 6 year deal then his transfer value would be £150m minimum in the current market.

Then we need to get Saliba sorted. I also heard that Arsenal are looking at getting Xhaka on a new deal as well. Here here!

Partey is a slight doubt for the weekend. Could we see an earlier than expected debut for Jorginho?

putting aside the game where we play Man City on feb 15th Arsenal play our next 4 league games before City play theirs, it is a great opportunity to put them under pressure.

Think of all the mafia and gangland crimes which never get to court because of witness intimidation and witnesses electing not to testify. Doesn't mean they are innocent.

It appears in this case a key witness withdrew their involvement. If it was indeed his girlfriend who refuses to testify because she is back in a relationship with him, as has been suggested, then that is appalling.

The bloke is 100% guilty. I heard the audio his then girlfriend released. He is a *%^@*** scumbag and should never play again. If any man treated my daughter like he is heard clearly treating his girlfriend, then I would not be responsible for my actions.

It's so depressing how misogyny and abuse is excused so readily.

Arteta has won January manager of the month. It’s the 3rd time he’s won it this season from the 5 awards handed out

If he did that to any of my daughters, kicking a football would be the least of his worries.

Isn’t that the pint though? We’re forced to play some combinations because that’s they only options available. Surely this just gives us more?

Players will always come and go but having the squad depth until they decide to leave is surely a good thing

Absolute bollocks. Not a shred of evidence it is true. Furthermore rumours are they are back together. It may have happened it may not. Photos and audios on the internet are not evidence. Trial by internet does not have a good track record.

Are you sure. I thought we had one game to be played before we played them according to the BBC.

Those things absolutely are evidence, and is exactly what the courts would have been assessing had it gone to trial. Much much more than a shred. Proof is what you might mean, which doesn’t really exist.

I have a daughter and honestly the bloke would be an absolute dead man I swear to you. Prison wouldn’t even be a consideration.

Even worse is that it’s alleged she might have gone back to him. In which case I’d frankly make it clear to the daughter it’s me or him.

Some good highlights here ....



Needs some red cards handed out though ....

We play Everton (a), Brentford (h) then we play City (h), then Villa (a), Leicester (a). All those other 4 games kick of before City’s fixture that same week

Aubameyang has been left out of Chelsea’s champions league squad

Then you would be the one charged by the plod.

Mudryk subbed off at half time in Chelsea’s game. Not watching it but seen a few people say he hasn’t displayed much defensive side to his game and left Cucurella exposed a bit

Willian looked an entirely different entity from the lethargic, un-interested, short-timer that we had to put up with. Mudryk...early I know, but if Emile Smith Rowe gets back to where he was I don't see a great loss. Madueke when he came on looked dangerous, and seemed to be a similar type player - for what a third of the Mudryk fee? Must admit it was fun to see Boehly squirming in his seat, watching his squillions of pounds investments struggle to score against the mighty Fulham!

Apparently Mudryk was subbed off due to being a bit ill. A cold.

Just read that Aubameyang is dropped from Chelsea's ECL squad. That's karma for him

Stil lovesick with Arsenal

Dang - Shame the transfer windows closed then. Sounds like he might have been a good buy.

Hey, mcq, sent you a pm....

A hypothetical home grown 11. You can only name 17 ‘foreign’ players in your 25 man squad, it pays massively to have the best home grown talent in there. It’s a big reason I think the move for Rice in the summer makes sense.