And yet, according to The Guardian, Manchester City's win against PSG was 'a triumph of composure and philosophy'. Yes, I'm sure if their first team was full of the modern-day equivalents of Richard Dunne, Joey Barton and Darius Vassell, they would have reached the Champions League final, as long as they got their composure and philosophy right.

The British and European sports news have done the game a disservice. I noticed the various sports news shows and major platforms never (and I use 'never' in context) criticized clubs who got sugar daddies or did they ever attribute their success on the pitch to those same sugar daddies over spending at least initially.

My guess as to why they didn't is this Faustian bargain. They didn't want to kill or criticize the golden goose. The honest thing to do is mention the money but they don't because they make money off those same clubs. Maybe some of you have but I've never heard pundits say the only reason Chelsea and City win things is because they bought it. Their recent history is all bought. Liverpool at least could say they made big money off sales (Suarez, Coutinho) and bought wisely. They brought in a great manager.

Would Man Utd have been 'Man Utd' if the EPL didn't come about in '92? I have no idea. They were already very good going into '92.

Anyway, nowadays if you even raise the point, you sound like a sore loser. The lower clubs in terms of fanbase, stature, etc., don't seem to be complaining as much possibly due to the increased revenue from the league and getting monies even if relegated allowing them to maintain most of their players and even pick up a few. Not a bribe not to speak out but again, the golden goose of the EPL money.

I do think way more should be made of the fact that Man City and Chelsea were mid table clubs who have ONLY become what they are today because of massive financial doping.

Hi david,

I agree, Sarri would be such an uninspiring choice.

I like Potter as well, Brighton play great football on a shoestring budget and would be midtable if they could afford better quality strikers to finish the chances they make.

So, the day of reckoning........exiting the EL tonight, especially if it's accompanied by a poor peformance, would heap the pressure on Arteta.

We basically have all our eggs in one basket, and whilst I don't fancy us to beat United we need to be in that final.

Win or bust.

I suppose a Chelsea v City CL final was inevitable at some point. Two clubs pumped full of artificial money who have been able to build two first teams probably capable of finishing in the top 4 in the league and probably have another team out on loan who could mix it in the premier league.

Sarri ? Would be hugely depressing. The only thing I think when his name is mentioned are his hysterics on the touchline when his own goalkeeper refused to come off. However it’s been mooted in Italy since Christmas he’s joining Arsenal

I think it’s of very high probability we change the manager this summer regardless of results.

Kroenke will want to divert attention from his ownership and takeovers by creating an impression that a moment of change has occurred.

Good morning Bernard. I agree that Kroenke is rich enough to financially dope Arsenal. The fact that he has decided not to wheras City and Chelsea's owners have spent billions of pounds I think does tarnish their recent success. By the same logic if Kroenke decided to pump in billions then any subsequent Arsenal success would also be tarnished.
However, i'm not sure we can acccuse them of cheating if they are operating with the laws, but it does highlight how the laws arent fit for purpose and these owners are blatantly taking advantage of them. Look at City trying to sponsor itself for hundreds of millions of pounds or Chelsea buying up every promising player it can lay their hands on and loan them out. That does leave a sour taste because its so blatant and distorts the market so massively.

Hi Rich,

It is hugely frustrating but, as pointed out by Bernard, Kroenke could spend like there's no tomorrow if he so desired, he just chooses not to.

I think the correlation between the amount of money spent (on transfers and wages) is very strong in almost all leagues. Basically, over a prolonged period of time the more you spend the higher you finish. Some teams punch above their weight for a while and some punch below their weight for a while but eventually they end up back where they should be.

United had that financial advantage in the 90s/early 2000s and could cherry pick the best players from the PL and europe. We competed mainly because Wenger had an extensive knowledge of the untapped french market and some of the other foreign leagues and countries and he also had a network of contacts around the world able to update him about up-and-coming talents. Even then we struggled to match United every season, not winning back-to-back titles.

We could have an all British CL and Europa cup final.

Looking at both teams, I just can't see how they are capable of beating us with their team, provided we field a team where players are playing as close to their positions as possible. A false 9 was absolute BS. Aubameyang as CF, and move Xhaka back to the midfield and run the risk with Soares. 4-1 to us is my tip.

And UEFA in their infinite wisdom will almost certainly proceed with hosting the CL final in Instanbul, dragging 2 english teams and their fans (as I believe they will be allowed) all the way to Turkey and back in the middle of a pandemic

But just because Kronke chooses not to spend doesn't mean we can't complain about the unfairness of City and Chelsea's owners firstly just splurging money they haven't earned and secondly circumnavigating the rules set up to do that via back door legal nonsense.
Of course Arsenal should be more competitive than we are but without financial doping any sustained success in the english league is pretty much a closed shop.
Man City will have won 8 of the last 12 domestic trophies available

Morning Bored. That’s basically my point. City and Chelsea aren’t cheating. Cheat, cheating or similar isn’t what they’re doing. Sure, they have multi billionaire owners. So do Arsenal, so let’s not get morally superior about it. The only material difference is their owners are willing to put their own money into their clubs. Arsenal’s owner isn’t. In my view that doesn’t make us morally superior to them.

Jenson Lehman sacked by Hertha for racist tweet. No room in the modern world for an apology or forgiveness. Stupid to do it all the same.

Sorry Rich but I disagree. It’s Kroenke’s choice for Arsenal to be where they are under his ownership because every decision derives from his ownership. In my view what you’re doing is a bit like, in principle anyway, accepting the actions of one multi billionaire’s company because he drives a Toyota Yaris and his wife drives a Honda Jazz but moaning about another multi billionaire’s firm because he drives a Ferrari while his wife drives a Lamborghini. It’s their respective choices how they spend their money.

Why bring Danny Fiszman's dying wishes into it? I imagine he might have been thinking more about his family at that point than the future of a football club, and who wouldn't have done the same? Your point about Kroenke's lack of personal investment in the team stands well enough without mentioning Danny, a man who did a lot for Arsenal.

I think this is where it gets a bit tricky as even though finacially doped clubs are allowed under the rules to inject unearned billions into thir clubs, in my opinion it absolutely taints their success. Does it make Arsenal morally superior if the owner chooses to operate under a different business model? Perhaps if the owner is choosing not to dope the club for maral reasons. Could you make a case that if a football club utilises billions of ££ of unearned income thereby distorting the market and blowing most of its competitors out of the water, is this ethical in a sporting context?

Every huge company in the world would have used money, vast sums of it, to grow. Manchester City and Chelsea are now worth massively more than they were when Mansour and Abramovich took them over so long term are they not doing the same? Let’s forget firms. How about countless individuals? Me and my wife are home owners. When we pass on (hopefully decades away), our daughters will get valuable property to do whatever they want with. I have a huge fine wine collection that I’m never going to drink and is worth many, many times more than the money I invested in it to buy.

I’m sorry Bored. I genuinely respect all the views you share here whether I agree or disagree with them. But I’m not comfortable with criticism of City and Chelsea’s success under their current owners. I find it at best ‘ill thought out’, and at worst a bit hypocritical. We’d all (okay maybe not all, but I’m sure many or most) would love Kroenke to spend his own money to win Arsenal trophies.

Being dead in my view isn’t enough to save anyone, including Fiszman, from criticism. Was he thinking of his family when selling the control of Arsenal to Kroenke? I’m in no position to say he wasn’t but I think it’s debatable because I’ve little doubt that he could have got the same or more money from another buyer. My own suspicion is that on his deathbed, excluding Dein from Arsenal’s future (as he was linked to Usmanov at the time) was more important to Danny than the well being of the club after his own passing.

However I certainly do accept that while alive Fiszman did a lot of positive things for Arsenal, especially over the new ground. So there’s no argument from me on that point of yours.

For *%^@* sake

Whatever Leicester is doing, its working.

“At this moment, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of my imminent death ...... oh hang on bollocks I don’t wanna sell it to an American “

That’s precisely how it should have worked Hoy

We're a 4/1 shot for the Europa. That seems about right.

If we win, don't you think the fans will rally behind Arteta and Kroenke will be drawing even more trouble on himself if he changes managers? Do you think he cares?

If we don't win, especially if we don't win tonight, I think Arteta will be gone very soon. A pity, but patience is not in long supply as we know, and Arteta's selections haven't been helping those of us who do want to defend him.

Otherwise Hitler, Trump*, Attila the Hun, Vlad the Impaler etc. would be above criticism.

*still alive last time I checked but if he did pop off, he would certainly still warrant criticism.

Some memory you have Decaf.

What's the best guess as to who would be owner if Fiszman didn't sell?

Yep Danny Fiszman sure is in rich company with that lot eh.

Being "financially doped" has its benefits. We just have "financially doped" owners who are a bit stingy,

Atilla the Hun probably would also object to being classed with Trump (not to mention Hitler and Vlad):

"He was a man born into the world to shake the nations, the scourge of all lands, who in some way terrified all mankind by the dreadful rumors noised abroad concerning him. He was haughty in his walk, rolling his eyes hither and thither, so that the power of his proud spirit appeared in the movement of his body. He was indeed a lover of war, yet restrained in action, mighty in counsel, gracious to suppliants and lenient to those who were once received into his protection."

Indeed David a must win this time. Actually 2 years on being in another EL final is commendable if it happens.

Interesting line up. Lots of creativity in midfield

Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Mari, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Smith Rowe, Ødegaard, Pépé, Aubameyang

Not certain who plays where in that line up

Tierney and Lacazette both make the bench

Guessing ...

Bellerin, Holding, Mari, Saka
........Partey ... Xhaka
..............Ødegaard
Smith Rowe Aubameyang ..... Pépé

We must come out firing on all cylinders. No holding back. Getting the first goal early is key. 3-0 is a likely score.

Tierney at left back, not Xhaka.

Xhaka injured in warm up! Tierney starts. Let’s hope that works out then.

It is such a rare occurrence that a player gets injured in the warm up but it seems to happen to us a disproportionate amount of times even considering how much our injury record has improved.

Ceballos suspended and Xhaka injured in warm up, I have a good feeling about this, gods are smiling on us.