Now this I can agree with, and if we try to look at it from the other side then I can imagine other fans do dislike Arteta. But do they dislike him because of him or because he's really good at his job and is a rookie manager who has pulled Arsenal from rock bottom to all but the very top and made them all eat their words on the way? Of course things like being outside his technical area and is 'innovative' training and motivation stuff may make fans hate him but surely, surely that is so trivial and any rival fan using that as their reason for hating him is covering up that they hate him because he's really good.
I expect many rival fans will say Arteta is always moaning about injuries and refs and decisions - which actually couldn't be further from the truth. The only time Arteta has had a proper moan about refs was the Newcastle game. He's had a number of times where he's basically said 'if I tell you what I really think I'll get in trouble' - so essentially is telling us what he really thinks!

So, the team v Newcastle. Picking the back 4 seems to be the biggest quandary.
White was kept out of the Preston matchday squad to not overload him, not seen any hint of an injury otherwise. Timber was withdrawn at half time for presumably similar reasons. There was news yesterday that there was some positivity that Gabriel will be fit.

So best case:
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber.....but if Gordon plays off the left I'd be tempted to put Timber at RB to lock him down, White has sometimes struggled against raw pace wingers

Worst case:
Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, MLS/Zinchenko

I expect Trossard to come back in as the floating 9 with Havertz and for Saka and Martinelli to be the wide men. So if Partey isn't needed at RB its 2 from 3 of Partey,Rice,Merino

First half hat trick for Gyökeres….

Its a real head scratcher. Had the ones you spoke to actually heard him speak recently, or were they just going on a gut feel? It is astonishing how little thought lots of people put into voting decisions.

I think could go any way. It could be close, or a big win for either side. Nobody, especially the pollsters, have a clue on this one. Hardly anyone responds to polls in the US these days, so they have to extrapolate from about a 3% response rate.

By contrast, I feel a little more confident about today's game.

Chasing down City is a near impossible task.

There is very little margin for error and losing to Bournemouth and drawing against Brighton at home has left us facing an uphill task just to stay in touch.

Newcastle is almost a must win game despite being a extremely difficult place to go to. Lose today and City win and there is a 7 point gap already.

America is screwed whatever happens , they have a choice between dumb [ Trump ] and mega dumb [ Harris ]

Of the three PERCEPTIONS you mention ...Trump will probably stop the immigration ; he tried to build a wall .

Wars .......... well he didn't start any in his first term but he is pretty joined at the hip with Israel so can't see him pushing for a two state solution .

Might cut off aid to Ukraine ; which would end that

The economy ; he aims to slap sanctions on everyone not using the dollar ..... ha ha ha ....can't see that going well ; he'll be battling BRICS , ASEAN and most of Africa .

v Newcastle ....
I'd give Sterling a start ...reward for his efforts v Preston desperately unlucky not to score seemed to have the bit between his teeth .

Shooting from the hip I'd also start Jorgihno , think he distributes the ball quicker than Partey .

Would like to see us play with more zip .

I see you don't have anything to say about Harris other than see is dumber than Trump. i.e. you have dismissed her without consideration. Why do people do that and continue to make excuses for Trump?

Trump is clueless and mentally unstable. Its amazing that he didn't do a lot more damage in his first term. The world is now a powder-keg. Why anyone who consider throwing trump into that is beyond me.

Would you admit to voting for Trump in a poll? Convicted fraudster who a jury found guilty of sexual assault on a woman. Putting your own shame on display like that (I know a lot do though)

I fear the worst.

British intelligence has probably already stopped telling the US certain things. Global instability is probably about to be the worst certainly in my lifetime

Bezos spiking the Washington Post endorsement is a rat-leaving-a-sinking-ship moment. Absolutely craven.

David Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Mikel Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli; Havertz

I'm still not convinced by Partey and Trossard in those roles, but it does feel like a strong team.

Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Saka, Merino, Rice, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz

White on the bench

I think Newcastle will go very physical today, my fear as always with these kind of away match ups is that they’ll be allowed to get a few reducers in and not be properly punished. We’ll go to fight fire with fire and rack up yellow cards.

Newcastle are a good team but the biggest miss match is their defence against our attack. We’re simply better. And we can certainly look after ourselves physically.

I’m going 2-0 to us, with not many chances for either side, a few scares and a set piece goal for us

Competition time folks !

How many fouls will Dan Burn be allowed to commit before the ref reluctantly books him?

I’m going for 8 this time.

Rice didn't follow Ishak into the box

Was that not just a classic wide first time cross and a forward ghosting between two CB and putting a great header in. Sometimes I think it’s just a really good goal against us

Arsenal look slow and devoid of ideas. Newcastle good value for the lead so far. Hate these early kick offs.

Already feels like a game for Nwaneri

Trossard just can’t progress the ball the way we need him to in midfield. It’s 20 minutes in and you are already thinking Nwaneri. If i’m honest he should be playing.

beat me to it

But Arteta thinks otherwise

Gordon given too much room. They are transitioning very quickly.

He's having a mare.

I like Leo but he’s so ponderous on the ball. There was an example a few moments ago. Having a nightmare. it’s like having ten men.

The crowd are really getting on the ref's back.

classic St James park game where they nick a lead and just stifle everything. Needs to be changed at half time.

feels like we are playing american football right now where are just progressing up the pitch to score a field goal or whatever from a free kick

Will Arteta be brave and bring Nwaneri on for Trossard in the 2nd?

Yeah. The ref has been good.

Arteta has to do something, surely? Jesus or Nwaneri on for Trossard?

I think we all know the answer to that....
Get Trossard off. He's been so poor
I'll be stunned if Arteta makes a change start of 2nd half. He's so stubborn

Get Nwaneri on ffs

He'll wait for the 70th min or when we concede a second

Really lacking creativity. Obviously missing Ødegaard, but Nwaneri is the next best in that regard.

Ball in play only 22 minutes that half. Not a good watch

" I've dismissed her without consideration " I've watched everyone of her word salads , she hasn't got a clue
It's your obsession with Trump that automatically makes her the better option

...and who's making excuses for Trump ????

I've already said he's a dumb f***&& and his half witted economic policies are going inflict further misery on an already stressed economy .

Why does Martinelli keep running into blind alleys?
With 2 or 3 players going with him, why isn't Merino or Trossard nearby for him to release the ball to either of them?

The game feels very open. Newcastle certainly aren't sitting back.

Rarely seen is so wasteful with the ball. Passing to them and dribbling so bad.

I think now might be a good time to change things. We are losing every 50-50 and they look more likely to score than we do.

But Zinchenko!!?

Let's hope Nwaneri lives up to our belief

That's a head scratcher

At least the ref is being consistent on those type of tackles getting yellows.