Hi david,

I am not professing to be his biggest fan or to have studied his game in depth but he seems a very good all action player in the Kante mould....... strong, athletic, reads the game well and a decent passer. Only 21, too, so lots of room for improvement.

Not sure why anyone is really getting to invested in this story, though, it isn't happening. Even if we were to agree a fee at a higher price you can bet Chelsea will get involved.

Top player, TG, but as I said the other day don't even think about him as an Arsenal player until he actually signs on the dotted line. West Ham will want a big price, lots of other big clubs interested. Lots can change between now and the summer.

If he didn’t have bad luck then he’d have no luck at all.

After all the ‘Saka and Emil Smith Rowe’ excitement as they emerged it must be so frustrating for him as to how it has panned out.

Arsenal ready to go back with an improved bid for Caicedo.

Back up plans are one of:
Bamba (£26m release clause)
Zubimendi (£52m release clause)
Onana - no idea what Everton would want but they've just sold Gordon to Newcastle for £40m

Zubimendi would appear to be the more cultured passing midfielder of the 4. The other 4 are more the athletic tacklers.

Quite common to get minor injury set backs after a long time out. Still plenty of time for Emile Smith Rowe to re-establish himself

I mean. If we are going to 65 -70 million quid there’s not many players in world football tight now that would cost more. Bellingham & Rice for sure but apart from those 2 who else? have we honestly seen enough of this player to pay 70 million and break our transfer record. That would be a massive call and total eye opener

Does anybody know anything about him.

Not a sausage. But his YouTube clips left me unimpressed tbh. All action and like someone else said big sliding tackles like Wan Bissaka. The kind of player Wenger would never have signed, and seemed to be always chasing a Santi Cazorla type, but then we ended up physically light most of the time. Maybe he’s a bit of midfield steel to go with Ødegaard, Zinchenko et al and at 21 however he develops maybe the team will adapt around him.

For instance, Rodri (who I hate, which must mean he’s good) plays it differently to Partey but could do a job in our team.

I’d much rather the Zubimendi links, but maybe it’s Zinchenko in the 6 and this guy for the 8. Whoever we get we have options.

There are all kinds of football podcasts. I came across this one by accident. Decent analysis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XLvXkLCRMY&t=3127s

Martinelli has signed a new contract until 2027

Great news.

Arsenal XI: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Vieira, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Trossard.

Subs: Ramsdale, White, Zinchenko, Saliba, Kiwior, Lokonga, Ødegaard, Marquinhos, Martinelli.

85% team for them, 65% for us.

Strong bench though.

It’s been quite a while since we have had a ‘strong bench’.

Having seen the two line-ups I would say I am hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Think Charlie George in the mud.

Apart from Ederson that’s their current first choice 11 that Pep has been picking

Holding trying to fight Haaland early on. He won that free kick but I don’t think he’ll win that war if he tries to simply out muscle him all game

Great hit from Tomiyasu - saved - good build up from Trossard

Trossard looking sharp early on

We are right in this.

Good man Turner. That could have gone wrong and badly.

Our keeper did well to come out for that defensive miss but I keep wondering if he will end up costing us in such a high level game?

One thing for sure, and this is with subs mind you, we look like we belong and we are worthy of the accolades thus far.

Trossard looking very aware defensively. Cutting out lots of options for City to progress. I”m impressed so far.

Unsurprisingly not too shabby on the offensive either.

Holding has done excellently against Haaland so far

Yes, and with Rico Lewis inverting a lot Trossard is finding himself up against Stones in right back areas. I think he can win that battle

Close effort from de Bruyne - but that’s the first time I’ve noticed de Bruyne in the game at all

Can't allow looks like that at goal.

Liking Trossard

Tierney, while solid defensively is a straight forward, "old fashioned" fullback in his play, not the 1 touch type that we get with Zinchenko and currently the play we do. I can see why for his exclusion.

Holding bullies Haaland again, Arsenal on a good break but ref stops it for a head injury to Haaland following a bit of a whack from Holding

Referee stopped play at the wrong time.

Charlie George and mud...Derby County 2-2?....spent all afternoon being gobbed at by derby pop-side muppets. Replay during the power cuts and then second replay and win at Filbert street...those were the days! - Looking good so far today!

….happy days.

The size of City at the back compared to our attackers is visibly giants vs men, size wise.

Holding panicked a bit and got booked this will have a big impact.

Get through to the half even and that's doing well. I don't think we have enough talent on the pitch to win it if I'm honest. If we can sneak a goal and make them chase the game. If they score first, we'll have to make changes to equalize maybe.

Very encouraging to see us competing so well with 6 changes. Holding on a yellow against Haaland is the big worry going forward.

You’re dead right.

Recently we’ve turned up to these big games and got our arses kicked. Now we look like the real deal, even with a sub-optimal line up.