actually that decisions nuts if you think about it,

Screws both teams over rather than just 1!

I bet you that’s not repeated anytime soon and i’m sure there’s an example of us being forced to play in the same
circumstance recently

Wolves at home on Saturday 13th Dec
Everton away on Sunday 21st December
Palace at home (cup) Tuesday 23rd December

Palace play a Europa game on Thursday 18th Dec, then play away to Leeds on Sunday 21st.

Arsenal should appeal to move our 21st game v Everton back to the Saturday. Palace could do the same - Palace are stuffed with either 1 days rest between dec 21st and 23rd or between dec 18 and dec 20th

Any request to move our game with everton will surely be rejected by a) TV if that was meant to be a TV game and b) unless Palace also move their game as they won't want to be seen to give us an advantage

2 games in 3 days is silly and Arteta should rotate the entire 11 for the cup game

We are cursed episode 729

This does not sound good about Gyökeres

https://youtu.be/mUiAz5L_Czk?si=Z33f86Gpj3a76A5I

No Viktor for CL

ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that the club’s injury-jinx has struck again – with Viktor Gyökeres ruled out of tomorrow’s Champions League clash against Slavia Prague.

This is crazy.

If you decided you must have pace up front and someone to run the channels tonight, and we’ve seen I think the positive effect that can have on the whole team, what are even our options?

It’s going to be Merino upfront isn’t it. They won’t be taking any bets on set piece for the first goal! This is the more important game than Bayern for me to win.

Eze and Rice to win it for us, hope Nwaneri can step up and Nørgaard thrives with the extra responsibility.

I would put that young striker in the squad and give him a few minutes. Just cant think of his name at the moment.

Harriman-Annous. He's with the squad but I'd be very surprised if Arteta started him. I haven't heard any word if Martinelli is fit?

I think we'll see: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Nørgaard, Rice, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Merino. We may not even fill the full quota of players on the bench. 2 gk, our 4 back up defenders, Nwaneri, Dowman, Harriman-Annous - I think its 11 or 12 subs you can name for CL now

Cousin of Maro Itoje.

Turns out Maro's a big Gooner too.

So martinelli is out. Team selection is interesting here because incredibly we are at breaking point. All 3 strikers injured now. It’s utterly ridiculous

Because of the format of the competition it’s just about the points to qualify so a 3 points here might be easier to come by than v Munich at home. That might affect the team selection ie just get it done and go strong.

However one more knock in our front line would be a disaster and Saka has played a lot of minutes since coming back from injury and Eze played in the last 3. I’d be tempted to try and rest 1 or even both.

Nwaneri has to start for me and whilst I’m not a fan of starting a 15 year old id probably try and start Dowman. Merino certain to start up front and Declan to inevitably get carded

Why are we picking up so many injuries?

In case anybody else has missed it, tonights game is a 5:45 pm kick off.

I agree.

In the context of the Cl it definitely makes sense to go strong and target 3 points here. If Declan is suspended against Bayern, it is too bad.

HOWEVER I think the worries about the league outweigh that completely. Sunderland away on Saturday is not a joke and city will be right on us if we slip up (not to mention the prospect of more injuries to key players). I wouldn't be at all upset if we saw a team that was fairly similar to the one that played in the Brighton game (with Gabriel and/or Saliba to steady the ship)! I'm pretty sure that Nørgaard will get better.

Also, Merino up front just does not excite. We tend to lose control a bit when there is noone holding it up and keeping their CBs honest. I would give young Harriman Addous or whatever his name is a start.

The team looks as an attempt to maintain the non-losing streak.
Happy with that.

Ps who’s Rojas Fedoruschenko?? A Spanish Ukrainian? Never seen that name before.

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Nørgaard, Nwaneri, Saka, Trossard, Merino.

Strong team.

Setford, Rojas-Fedorushchenko, Mosquera, White, Eze, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Sagoe Jr, Harriman-Annous.

Interesting bench but not lacking in quality.

English born Russian / Columbian - 20yo goalkeeper - Columbian youth international.

Columbian dad, Russian mum, born here. Came to us in 2019 from Chelsea.

Well playing so many games/comps all season with very limited days rest in between could be the culprit.

Thanks DHD - 2019? I’m losing touch in my old age.

So it’s basically get the 3 points as quickly as possible then make changes

Wonder who is getting subbed off injured today

Nwaneri will have to bring his creative game out today, otherwise I can see us struggling to create and our big players having to stay on till the end

Quiet on here. I’m away so relying on BBC live text.

Not good for my nerves.

1-0 Saka penalty. We had them under the cosh for a while before that. Saka's been very dangerous.

Goal!

The ref isn't letting anything go. It probably suits us.

Slightly milky pen. Nobody noticed but the ref was sent to the monitor.

No mugs, this team. Ref has booked Nwaneri - probably fair enough, but he will book more.

Ref books Merino for not a lot.

Trigger happy

Yes I'd understand it later on in the season but we are picking them up early. Is it the training regime?

They’re not doubling up on Saka but you’d have to say Mbodji is handling him pretty well on his own.

That's a good tackle by Timber. No free.

Sorry still I was still at work! Bloody inconvenient kick off times! (waves at the colonials)

I think it was a bit late but a bit harsh.

Not much jeopardy but 1-0 and the yellows mounting up is not comfortable!

Players and fans screaming for everything and there’s nothing in anything. Will enjoy beating these as they’ve been horrible. Need someone to arrive on a cutback and slot home and make this comfortable.

I think we would be unhappy if that penalty was given on Var against us. It's bounced off his shoulder onto his hand and is going out anyway. Much harsher than the one Gabriel got away with.

Watched the peno again. Very very soft.

Merino!!

Lovely cross from Trossard and volley from Merino. The Prague defence ball watching.

stop fouling us you genetic freaks

drug test them ref

wonder what subs will get made. it’s not the type of game where you can easily sub rice

The ref is a total jobsworth. A free out for a handball when the player had his back to the ball. Absolute letter of the law stuff.

Nørgaard is flying under the radar too. Quietly effective. Great signing.

Merino is a striker man. Watch the 5 seconds before the goal. The CB is next to him and then Merino drifts to be exactly equidistant between both CBs in acres of space. Bad defending but great striker’s movement. I was sort of perplexed as to how he scores so many but his movement and calmness in front of goal along with the aerial threat is quite a combo. If he had a turn of pace he’d be incredible.