In my view, it was a terrible decision by the ref. Minimal contact and a ridiculous dive.

Yeah, he gets ahead, feels the arm on his shoulder and goes down immediately. It’s one that if he gives it, it has to be red which is why it gets waved away in the prem. and as you say, probably rightly so.

That ref was a nut. It wasn't a dirty game at all and he was waiving cards all over the place. Both Xavi and one of his coaches sent off.

Yes, I suppose you would say it’s not like they have had some great refs decisions in the past. I suppose you think Van Persie needed to go. f Barca, F Real and Atletico. At least we won’t have to play Barca in the final.

Judging from our last few games, they are not giving those in the EPL, as you say. The CL seems a bit of a lottery. Some of the refs are laissez-faire and others blow everything.

I was about to say I don’t have any sympathy with Barca getting a rough decision in Europe. They’ve benefitted from some outrageous decisions over the years

Dortmund going through last night has made it very difficult for England to get the 5th Champions League spot next year. I'm quite happy for England not to get it and Villa to pinch 4th spot off spurs.

https://www.football365.com/news/latest ... ons-league

Man U and Newcastle really did screw this up for the 5th placed team

UEFA is doing the American sports thing and watering down and diluting the competition. There are times teams with just about .500 win-loss records are in the play offs in some sports. The creation of the European Conference cup is a joke. I was tickled pink for West Ham. But the truth is that competition should the 'Every one gets a trophy' cup.

Reminds me of my elder brother's kids football league. Where the parents of the kids with no talent, fight for everyone gets a trophy so little 8 year old Brad whom they spoil rotten and coddle can feel good about himself.

I must sound like Cannon Balls, Gunfire or Chocolate Gooner from the old days....lol.

So what is the consensus on a new striker this summer, we all think we need one - but which one given the possible prices and impact that has on the rest of our summer recruitment:

Osimhen £105m (release clause)
Isak £100m
Gyokeres £85m (release clause)
Toney £60m
Sesko £42m (reported release clause)
Zirkzee £50m (£34m release clause for Bayern only)

The ones with the most certainty on performance would be Isak and Toney. Sesko and Zirkzee are much younger and I think they're the striker you go for if you already have a top level striker so you can mould them.

It is the biggest decision Arsenal have faced in the transfer market for some time, to take us to the next level this striker decision is huge. If we got Gyokeres and he performed as he has for Sporting but in the Prem then I think we could win the lot, but Darwin Nunez banged in a goal a game in the Portuguese league the season before his move to Liverpool.
Each one of them has pros and cons, but I think we must roll the dice.

I don't think we will spend another 100 mil, give or take several either side, on one player again. We'll sell first or at the same time. I think we need 3 positions filled.

High possibility that Gabriel Heinze (ex Man U defender) will join Arteta's coaching staff. Arteta knows him from playing together at PSG

I really like what I have seen of Isak.

In theory we should have some strong sales this summer. A lot of players we probably want rid of are young, english/british and have well protected contract lengths. The downside is they've mostly shown to not be good enough for us so their value is decreasing as each day passes and buying clubs will know we're eager to sell!

Ramsdale, Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Nelsen, Tierney. In theory we should easily average £20m each for those 5, but you have to find a buyer, and the likely buyers for the price even close to what we want will be almost exclusively premier league teams

I think its likely Charlie Patino is sold this summer too, for all the excitement around him he's not set the world on fire in the championship - whilst there are young players from the top teams who really do show they are one of the best players in the championship

I honestly think we have to.
We can see the effect that Rice has had and we need that at CF.

Me too
We were linked when he was at Sociadad (with Ødegaard at the time by the way) but they insisted on a sky high fee. The worry at the time was whilst he had the talent he wasn't exactly prolific, but this season at Newcastle he's really turned it on. 17 goals in 24 league games. He has an Henry-like quality, excellent on the dribble, tall in stature, calm in front of goal and wonderful technique

The concern is the injury history - he's had 2 separate groin injuries this season and missed 13 league games with a thigh injury last season. His holder injuries seem to be knocks - but it is the more recent muscle injuries which would be more worrying
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alexand ... ler/349066

Why not. Adding a 4th Gabriel to the Arsenal staff could be quite beneficial.

Very nervous for tonight; far more than normal.

COYG!!!

By the way, from what I hear Lokonga has made some improvements in his game. Enough to secure a place back on the team or better to sell him? Who do we sell of the following: Elneny, Reiss Nelson, Tierney is gone (frankly we could use him right now I think), Tavares, Nketiah, Smith-Rowe?

BM will be tough but for us to win, we'll need two things. First, the right tactic and I won't dare say what I think the right tactic should be. That's over my pay grade. Second, we play to our capability as we have in previous big games this season where we looked great. City, Liverpool, Man Utd home, Brighton away, etc.

...also, a win tonight I think will reverberate into the league. Winning at BM is a huge boost mentally and tells the players they can beat anyone. They are confident. The win over City has worn off a bit. They need another iconic win.

The tactics in theory could be the same as the first leg - just cut out the silly mistakes that gave them their 2 goals.
I’d also say we could do with some luck tonight - which is quite often needed in a knock out tie.

Happy with that team

Provided they’re all 100% fit

Quiet in here tonight; am I the only one not in Munich??

Evening john1....nervously peering out from behind the sofa here in Lincoln

I'm glad we've gone back to Havertz up top and one feels that Martinelli is bound to put in a good performance sooner or later ... otherwise I'm not feeling very confident about this. But, once more into the breach!

Blimey. Kroenkes - father & son - in attendance.

Pretty much. I can hardly bear to watch.

I’m watching from behind the tree in the back garden

You’ve got to be in it to win it.

We have every chance.

Treat those two imposters just the same, eh?

COME ON ARSENAL!!!

Decent first 20 minutes.

We’re having no joy whatever up our right. Benny has hardly had a touch.

Moving the press forward though. Making ground.

That was a good chance. We are not quite fluid but playing well nonetheless.

Great chance for Martinelli...straight at the keeper, unfortunately

We’re playing well here. Not forcing it but feels like we’re the more dominant team. Bayern are dangerous of course.

It’s big boys stuff. The longer it goes on like this the more relaxed we should become. Good performance so far.

Loosening up, here