So Calvert Lewin trips over Trent Alexander Arnold as he is about to run through and tap the ball in to an empty net.
I think there is a debate whether it is a penalty or not....but the ref decided it was a penalty and then didn’t send off Trent. This is where the rules are not applied consistently and in particular where Arsenal are concerned. Once the ref has decided it is a penalty he has to decide two things, was it a clear goal scoring opportunity and was there a genuine attempt by the defender to play the ball? It was a definite clear goal scoring opportunity as he was about to tap it in an empty net and Trent clearly made no attempt to play the ball or make a tackle so it has to be a red card if he is being treated the same as Luiz - which we were all told was the rules! of course there is a harshness in that Trent didn’t actually do anything but neither did Luiz!

A lot being made of Liverpool’s injuries and how apparently their first 5 choice CB are out injured. 3 actual CB and 2 central mids and also that no other team could have coped....now I’m not saying we might have but it is a question of squad depth
Our 5 first choice would be Gabriel, holding, luiz, Mari, chambers. If we’d lost those players then Sokratis and Mustafi wouldn’t have left in January and would be playing now, Tierney could also slot in, even Kolasinac might not have left with that sort of injury crisis. So while having that pair in central defence wouldn’t be ideal it would at least be a pair of actual CB. Liverpool have had bad luck but they went in to a potential 60 game season with only 3 CB, 2 of which had very chequered injury histories even before this campaign

I don’t have any real affinity with them but I’m pleased for Everton that they won today. Not only because it’s their first win at Anfield since 1999 so 22 years, but it’s hopefully the final nail in the coffin for Liverpool’s title chances.

Never even thought about that at the time. You are dead right about that. TAA was as guilty (or not) as Luiz.

And both were insanely harsh anyway.

Even though I have a slight affinity for them and I don't like Everton for reasons I won't get into, It's still fun to see Liverpool come back down to earth. They will be back. No question. They will win the title again in the next few years, possibly even next season (if they finish top 3...hehehehe... ).

It's one of those seasons you write off. Much like us and the title in '00. Man Utd ran away with it and we just had to write off a title fairly early. But we knew we'd be back.

Owen is the one Liverpool player I truly hate and that wasn't until I realized how much he hated us for reasons I have yet to understand but at this point, don't care to.

Okay, okay, stop overflowing my inbox with requests for my prediction.

The Oracle of Arsenal says it will be a scoring draw. So, go ye unto Ladbrokes and be fruitful and let your pounds multiply.

You could make the case that Alexander Arnold was attempting to play the ball (attempting a block?) when he slid in. There was no contact at that point, but he then fell in a way that clearly impeded the attaching player. So if you look at the whole incident: he had the intention of playing the ball and you could say it was just about a foul. So penalty without a red is justifiable, albeit harsh.

If Alexander Arnold is deemed to have moved to try to trip the attacking player after he fell (i.e that the trip was a separate incident), that is as clear a sending off as one can imagine. I don't think that applies.

Luiz case was different. There was no attempt to play the ball. It was a straight trip, albeit an incredibly harsh decision. But them's the rules.

It’s being reported that Harry and Meghan have contacted Tottenham to ask what it’s like to live without a title.

I had wondered if there were two incidents. One where he attempted to play the ball and then one where he didn’t.

All nuts though when we’re have to debate football incidents in this way. The link between offence and consequence has become ridiculous.

That's a keeper.

How good is West Ham, really?

Doesn’t often happen but today is one of those rare occasions when I want Manchester United to win. They’re playing Newcastle who are only three points ahead of Fulham.

It looked from the highlights that AMN had a good game for 10 man west brom v burnley. Providing a decent amount of thrust from midfield to get up and support the striker. I still favour him staying with us as a swiss army knife player but his desire not to be that, and that in his favourite position he's not good enough to start for us will I suspect lead him to be sold in the summer. Hopefully he can put in a good run in and keep his price high. We should be asking for £25m for him based on what similar young english players have gone for

Beat Man City. Move up two places to 8th. Simples.

They’ve stuck by their manager and ignored their fans and popular opinion in the belief they know what they are doing

lessons there

Spurs lose again, how nice

A win today would be huge for so many reasons.
The 3 points would take us above Spurs (and Villa as it stands) in to 8th, show that we can compete/beat against the best in the league

Having said that i'll take a draw before a ball is kicked. You'd take a draw against any team on a 17 game winning streak.

I read that the last 6 times City have played at the Emirates on each occasion they have scored inside the opening 15 minutes. We must keep it tight early on. I do feel like we can pose a threat that City haven't had for a while with the direct running of Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and trying to get Aubameyang in behind.

Leno, Bellerin, Tierney, Holding, Mari, Elneny, Xhaka, Saka, Ødegaard, Pépé, Aubameyang. Bench is as expected

I think that is a sensible amount of rotation. We have 4 CB who can all come in and do a job. If we're more likely to be on the back foot and defending deeper and defending crosses then Holding and Mari is a good pair. Great to have Tierney back. Elneny and Xhaka are really going to have their work cut out against that City midfield.

Hoping we can pose a threat on the counter attack. Against City at the moment you can't really go toe-to-toe, I think it needs to be a deep block and use balls in to the channels as City essentially play a back 3 when in posession, the space is in behind Cancelo and Zinchenko

Leno
Mari
Bellerin
Holding
Tierney
Ødegaard
Pépé
Elneny
Saka
Xhaka
PEA

Elementary, my dear Watson. What could be simpler?

Indeed.

I hope Emile Smith Rowe isn't being pushed aside and is genuinely resting.

Yes indeed. But he and Pépé are going to have their work cut out against Mahrez and Silva.

Hey ho.

And there it is

Embarrassingly easy for them. None of the centre backs cared to defend that ball.

I think I read city have scored against us in first 15 minutes in last 6 games.....
Was hoping we could address that today
Not even 2 minutes and 1 down......

We simply can't start games focused or with a good tempo. It seems we can start 2nd halfs properly but never the start of the game. That is far too many really early goals conceded. Against City you've just opened up their entire game plan by letting in such a soft goal so early.

I read it from you Rich!

Pépé on the right and Saka on the left. Not sure why

Match-ups with fullbacks? Might see them switch

What I wouldn't give for a player like Mahrez in our team. You kind of know what he's going to do, dribble at you, drop a shoulder and find a way to whip it in to the far corner on his left foot - but you just can't stop it.

Passing needs to be more composed. Too rushed.

Mari has made 3 very poor passes. Why is he on the team instead of Gabriel?

Bellerin is crap

Both are left footed so one of them is always going to be defending on their 'weak' side. Cancelo at right back (Saka's side) drifts in to central midfield, which just leaves Mahrez on his own down their right. Get Ødegaard to track Cancelo when he moves centrally and leave Pépé out on the left where he has done well.
For me it is one of those that if you're going to go down, go down with no regrets. Get your best players in their best positions.

Relax everyone. Benfica next Thursday is the must win or must draw 0-0 game. By comparison, today’s doesn’t really matter.

No he isn’t.

Feels like we need Ceballos on for Elneny at half time. We need to get the ball forward more quickly.
I wouldn't be upset to see us go for a Bellerin upgrade this summer as well. He's steady enough but I don't think he's a top 4 defender, too many loose touches and rarely much consistent and dnagerous end product.