Not just in football but in all team sports. When the game is played at a high level between elite sides (okay, it may be debatable if either team is elite but you get my meaning), its down to who makes the least mistakes. Mistakes are pounded on and you often more than not pay for it.

Be it Man Utd vs Arsenal, the Super Bowl, CL final, World Series

We missed Saka. Partey could have played a wee bit better in the first half. I am a little surprised at the number of mistakes he makes. It's often not critical mistakes that cost us a goal but needless ones and unforced for a person of his quality at this level. To be fair, Vieira would make the most inane passing errors as well, but he more than made up for them (Giggs goal aside, which Keane said in a show once, 'why didn't you guys just foul him?...good point).

Well, we have a decent run of games that should yield good results and put us in a great position in the new year.

Seems very odd for Aubameyang to like Ronaldo’s celebratory post on Instagram after Manchester United had just beaten the team representing the club he captains. Okay, Aubameyang may admire Ronaldo. I do myself. After all, he was probably one of the two greatest players of his generation, albeit in my view in second place after Messi. But is that a reason to like Ronaldo’s post celebrating Manchester United’s defeat of Arsenal?

Not in my opinion. Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t think it enhances the perception of Aubameyang as sporting either. To me it makes him look a berk. I would expect more from an Arsenal captain in terms of respecting not only the club but the fans, not just those across the world but those who spent their hard earned money to go to Old Trafford.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun ... -post/amp/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailym ... senal.html

https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.u ... 07454/amp/

The West Ham is shaping up to be a real challenge.

This bit right at the end made sense sadly

…if you remove Arsenal's best and worst performances, their xG differential in the remaining matches is still below average. So even if you do remove the blowouts, what you're left with is not a very good team."

I agree Bernard, a berk, I'd even go so far as to say a pillock.

Just read that West Ham have beaten Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Utd, Tottenham and Leicester this season. That’s sensational. Almost glad I’m missing the inevitable disappointment of the home game as it’s my sons school play.

They look a far more completed project than we do.

Good management, good recruitment, and being given a ‘free’ stadium.

Actually our recruitment looks quite good. The best half of our side is the incomers. Just need to repeat that trick in the upcoming windows.

Just two U21 sides left in the Papa John’s Trophy. Us (with Balogun) and Chelsea.

And guess who we’ve just drawn in the third round.

I’m looking forward to the Women’s FA Cup final tomorrow. Arsenal v Chelsea at Wembley. It’s live on BBC ONE and the kick off is at 2.00 pm though the coverage starts at 1.30 pm.

It’s the top two teams in the women’s league. We’re currently ahead of Chelsea by one point.

Should be a good game.

Two of the three 'blowouts' (one of which was a 2-0 non-hammering against Chelsea) occurred before several of Arteta's obvious current first XI had arrived/settled. The defence against Man City included Kolasinac, Holding, Chambers and Cédric. Fair point about the bit at the end, but otherwise it's a pretty feeble article built around two match results.

Oft quoted excuse for awful decisions by our players "Oh they are a very young side they'll learn " .
I'm thinking at what age are you told not to do what that f**&*&& idiot Ødegaard did ............ six .

Or not! Not a great start.

Lucky to only be 1-0 down at half time. Improved a bit towards the end of the first half, so hopefully things will get better.

Very lucky. But that luck has just run out as it’s 0-2.

They look much poorer that my previous impression. I guess that they are having a bad one.

3-0 now. All over. We’ve been so poor and Chelsea have been so good.

And as it stands the mens team is now down to 7th.

All because the ladies lost ???

Geeze - We just can't catch a break !

Balogun going on loan in January.

A win, a win. My kingdom for a win.

Everton are sputtering. We need to put them to the sword. They may play like cornered rats. That will make it tougher but if we come out with a clear intent of leaving with nothing but 3 points, they may roll over like a beta male lion.

It feels like a game we have to win if we have serious thoughts of challenging West Ham, Man U and Spurs for 4th place. Everton are awful at the moment.

Sadly I can't quite shake from my mind a performance where we control the game but don't create that much and certainly don't test Pickford, and then go 1-0 down to Everton's first shot on target - probably a scrappy header or rebound from Michael Keane from a poorly defended set piece around the 60th minute, we then throw on a load of forward players and end up losing 1-0 with just 3 shots on target.......I seriously hope I'm wrong

Are we playing Everton tonight?

Yup

Partey gives himself 4/10 for his Arsenal career so far

https://www.football365.com/news/arsena ... mas-partey

It's always at the top of the forum

Arsenal's leaked colours for new kits next year are doing the rounds
home kit - red and white
away kit - black
3rd kit - light pink

https://dailycannon.com/2021/12/leaked- ... third-kit/

Bit generous perhaps? To be serious I might have given him 5/10. No more than 6/10. He’s been anonymous in so many games. I said last season that he’s had a slow start to his Arsenal career. There’s been no acceleration this season either, apart from a great performance against Tottenham.

Xhaka starting is a huge surprise. He’s a month ahead of schedule and hasn’t even had a sub run out.

Saw it, thanks

Thanks

Dropping Aubameyang is the right move given his current poor form

Wonderful. Nottingham Forest, FA Cup 3rd round draw.

It's clear Arteta isn't happy about how our midfield has been performing in Xhaka's abscence, and rightly so. Also shows the need to strengthen in that area, hopefully as soon as January.

Does anyone know if Emile Smith Rowe is injured, or is Arteta giving him a rest?

He was reported to be assessed before the game with a tight groin, so I assume he's injured seeing he's not on the bench.

Thanks Haz

Any links please? No Socrates tonight?