Yep, very right there now - only six points from us in 2nd to Villa in 6th

Basically two wins will likely be enough to secure 2nd for us I would say

On the matter of rotation: I wonder if Arteta will use tomorrow as a dress reheasal for the PSG game? Partey can sit this one out and play next week.

Yes you're probably right.
Really need to win the next 2 games

So glad Newcastle got hammered today.
Can't stand them but also they were getting a bit too close to us for my liking.
A win today would have put then a point behind us.

If Bruno Guimares played for us instead of Newcastle he’d get 7-8 reds a season.

He’s mastered the art of simulating then doesn’t get the decision so boots the opposition in protest.

https://x.com/afcstuff/status/191348551 ... -j6VVZXEoA
The only time we won a champions league semi. Have a look at that penalty decision - I remember Lehmann’s save vividly but forgot what a dodgy award it was

Joelinton as well, possibly worse. Can anyone recall any side from the south of the country at any point of the premier league being a tough, kicking type of team? (Could included midlands team in that too) Yet northern teams have taken turns being that team and consistently got away with it

Maybe Wimbledon, but was that pre-EPL.

Ah good one, Wimbledon actively recruited thugs

It’s a shame Mbeumo plays off the right when we need a left winger, Mbeumo is THE winger pick for any top prem team. 18 goals in the league this season.

Chelsea haven't always been the most genteel team in the league.

I'd say Chelsea are more in the robust and good category - similar to the invincibles in that the primary objective was to win by dominating the ball and attacking but could happily mix it physically if needed. Clogger status in my eyes mainly applies to an underdog team whose main tactic when playing a bigger name team is to be over physical, leave something in there, needle, wind up, level the playing field. It has and still is overlooked by sympathetic refs who prefer to punish the reaction or technical infringements than genuine dangerous play

We've got a big decision to make with Partey at the end of the season. There are some off field issues not really spoken about which may dictate things but based on the football the only negative was his ability to stay fit. But, he's stayed fit all season (and in a season injuries have mounted up for loads of clubs) and is performing at a top 5 or so holding midfielder in the world in my opinion.
He'll be 32 when the new season starts and is one of our highest earners - on his current wages you're committing about £15m a season in wages. Any replacement might be cheaper in wages (lets say half that) but when you add in the £50m fee for the likely quality we need its a lot steeper.

Jorginho looks like he's gone at the end of his contract. If the money is there for a 2 year deal for Partey I'd do it AND bring in someone like Zubimendi. That is how you properly strengthen a squad. Zubimendi will need some time to settle in, Partey can also play as an 8 (as he does for his national team - a goal every 3.5 games) and an emergency RB.

Partey is suspended for the PSG game so if I were Arteta I'd be trialling out my options in the next 2 league games. Jorginho looks like he won't make PSG with a broken rib. In my view we shouldn't move Merino from his false 9 position, PSG press high and he is an out ball that no one else can give us in that position. So I think there are 3 options:
1) Play Rice at 6 and bring in someone else as a left 8 (zinchenko, MLS, Nwaneri)
2) Play MLS at 6 and play Calafiori/Zinchenko at LB or play Timber at LB and White RB if his fitness is good enough)
3) Play Zinchenko as a 6 and keep everything else the same

What would get your vote?

I wouldn't want to move Rice either. For some reason, Zinchenko at 6 gives me the willies.

For today, I'd try MLS at 6. If it goes well against Ipswich, give it another 45 minutes against Palace.

I'd keep timber on the right or give him a rest. We have enough LB resources as you note. Partey can be used to give Timber a break if White is still doubtful. Timber at RB is crucial to our chances in the CL and looks just a little fragile.

The other thing about today is we can play without the handbrake on and hopefully bank the three points, to give us freedom to rotate in the Palace game.

If we keep dropping points we are going to start feeling pressure in the league

https://x.com/mktirb/status/19138964224 ... -j6VVZXEoA

The ref who gave a yellow card for Schar here is the same ref who was var who dictated the red card for Saliba v Bournemouth. Saliba was 20 yards further from goal as well.

You may argue Watkins would be hard pushed to get the ball but it’s massively deceptive because he’s pulled down and the ball lands halfway between him and the gk.

Van der Ven had one even worse than both of these given a yellow as well.

Consistency is awful and we’re never on the run of the green side - which we would have been if the ref stuck with his on field decision with Saliba

Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Rice, Merino, Ødegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.

Subs: Neto, Timber, Tierney, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Henry-Francis, Butler-Oyedeji, Nwaneri, Sterling

Btw MLS & blanco aside that’s the starting line up for PSG

This one looks much more iffy. Its impossible to judge if Watkins or the keeper would have got to the ball first. With the Saliba one, the opposition player is on the ball and has a clear run at goal. The only tick against it is the distance.

In either case, the real issue is what constitutes a 'clear and obvious' error. It is like reasonable doubt in law. If it is not absolutely clear that the onfield decision is wrong, but it seems likely, how likely does it have to be to overturn?

I suspect that you are correct!

Plus if you look at the Saliba one is absolute dive too, which shows you what Evanilson thought of his chances of scoring. Hard to see maybe at first, but that’s exactly what VAR is for. Ridiculous decision especially as the ref gave a yellow.

That Schar case you post is a very good example Rich - on balance it's not an awful decision in isolation, but when you note it relative to the Saliba red card, it shows the utterly inconsistent nature of the way the laws are applied

The Saliba one was less of a red card on every level, less of a foul, less dangerous position etc

The denying of a goalscoring opportunity has always been a bad rule to be honest, it was meant for clear one on ones versus just the keeper, and the problem is the referees have never had clear guidance in terms of when not to use it, and it's consequently been misapplied so frequently, it's even been used for someone being clipped after taking a shot!

Agreed. The punishment is stupid. Rather just give a pen and a yellow if the tackle warrants. How much a red card hurts, and therefore how much of a deterent it is, depends entirely on the game situation. A sending off in the first half has a completely different impact to one in the 90th minute.

Julien Laurens:
Arsenal took the lead 25 times in the Premier League this season and won 17 of them. So there are those eight draws and that's 16 points they've lost from winning positions.

That's the difference. I don't think the difference is the lack of goals, Kai Havertz not doing well or signing Alexander Isak or whoever you want.

It's the game management in matches where you were in charge and you were in control, including the one against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, where they were by far the better side but ended up drawing 2-2.

Those eight games were you are winning and end up drawing, that is the difference [in the title race with Liverpool].

This is clearly the difference in the results, but dive deeper in to those draws
brighton 1-0 up Rice red card
City 2-1 up Trossard red card
Liverpool 2-1 up Saliba suspended, Partey at RB Gabriel injury, Timber injury
Chelsea 1-0 up - should have won
Fulham 1-0 down - whisker offside from winning it
Everton 0-0 - poor performance
Brighton 1-0 up - clash of heads penalty
Villa 2-0 up - lost concentration and a whisker away from a later winner ball striking Havertz arm
Forest 0-0 - fair result, Calafiori hit the post
Man U 1-1 - a bit fortunate in the end to get the draw
Everton 1-0 up - terrible penalty decision against MLS
Brentford 1-0 up - 50/50 call on Norgaard red card

In loads of those games we clearly didn't do enough but the margins were incredibly fine. Only one of those games we were 'lucky' to get the point (Man U away)

Trossard surely has to hit that first time! Why try to control it when 6 yards out?

Totally dominating so far. Trossard with a shot blocked.

Some fairly fluid positions from Trossard and Merino so far

BTW Darren England is on VAR, the ref who failed to overturn MLS red card v Wolves and who gave the penalty v Everton.

Trossard !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darren England looked long and hard, but failed to find a way to overrule the goal

Trossard 1-0

Don't want to jinx it but it looks a bit ominous for Ipswich.

At the moment our movement and speed has Ipswich chasing shadows or not even knowing where to go or what do to. Ødegaard looks so much happier with Saka to his right hand side.

Technically it might go down as Ødegaard's assist as he maybe got a small touch before it found Trossard but it was Saka's cross

Get a couple more goals before half-time, and let Nwaneri come on in the 2nd half

Sneaky finish through the defenders legs when he was falling over. Seemed to surprise the gk as it wasn't in the corner and didn't have lots of power

Merino close from another brilliant set piece delivery. Then Merino lucky not to get a yellow card for a pull back.

Were you alive before Wenger took over? Did you watch Wimbledon play? Were you watching Millwall when they played in the old first division? Mourinho's Chelsea weren't exactly wilting violets . Football didn't start with the Premier League.

Totally agree

brighton 1-0 up Rice red card
City 2-1 up Trossard red card.
- ridiculous amount of injury time added also

Liverpool 2-1 up Saliba suspended, Partey at RB Gabriel injury, Timber injury
- havertz winner disallowed for no decent reason

Chelsea 1-0 up - should have won
Fulham 1-0 down - whisker offside from winning it
Everton 0-0 - poor performance
Brighton 1-0 up - clash of heads penalty
Villa 2-0 up - lost concentration and a whisker away from a later winner ball striking Havertz arm
Forest 0-0 - fair result, Calafiori hit the post
Man U 1-1 - a bit fortunate in the end to get the draw
Everton 1-0 up - terrible penalty decision against MLS
Brentford 1-0 up - 50/50 call on Norgaard red card

Martinelli 2-0

Martinelli !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merino with a cheeky assist

That should be that.

Of course, but I made the distinction of the premier league because football changed massively with the premier league, much more football on tv, far more accessible to fans, much more analysis, more replays, more dissecting decisions etc
I've already made the point about Mourinho's Chelsea, kicking teams up in the air wasn't their No.1 game plan. They beat teams with powerful and very good football - but could mix it if they needed to.

Ipswich are leaving the boot in here - they are frustrated at not being able to get anywhere near us. Lots of late tackles well after the ball went.

Saka stamped on his achilles - its a red card!