Tomiyasu needs surgery and is out for the rest of the season. We'll probably see Walters on the bench for the rest of the season as well

Does pose the question who plays right back if we lose Ben white. Partey played there yesterday at the end but it would be madness to move him surely.

Bigger worry is saliba who is critical and the thought of Holding starting at anfield is terrifying to me

One thing I noticed on the highlights was when Ben White had a big tackle on Zaha and then another one on Mitchell, he was so intent on stamping his authority on the second one he just booted the ball hard out for a corner, when it wasn't really necessary. He had a bit of a fist pump celebration with Xhaka and the crowd. That corner was the one that Palace scored from.

In the grand scheme of things not a problem but it is just a tiny thing where the emotion took over, he didn't have to concede the corner.

Obviously I'm nit picking because he had one of his finest games in an Arsenal shirt

i made notice of it too and before the corner was taken I said to a friend 'I have a bad feeling about this corner'.
It was unnecessary but in the grand scheme of things not a factor...it could have been though. It's an emotional game in the moment so I get it, but still.

Against teams where we would expect to dominate I think you could play Walters, you could even play Partey and put Jorginho in midfield.

The worry would be having to face a top side away from home without White. If Saliba comes back soon I think he would be capable of playing RB - more capable than Holding.

For all the reasons above I would have thought it might have been good to give Walters 15 minutes against Palace when we were 4-1 up - could have got rid of any nerves ahead of a time he might be needed in a starting place

I saw that and at the time I saw them fist bumping I said to the guy next to me just watch they will score from this corner now. Corners seem to be our kryptonite and it’s definitely not Rambos strongest area either.

One thing noticeable yesterday was our ferocity at winning the ball back. As soon as their player took possession he was descended upon by several of our players. There was a brilliant moment in the 2nd half when this happened. They just couldn’t get out.

Thinking about the RB situation again - one fairly radical option would be Partey at RB but instructed to be an inverted full-back like Zinchenko. You'd need whoever played left-back to do the role Ben White does - which may suit Tierney better.
So you build with a back 3 of Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey inverted in to midfield with Jorginho and the rest is the same

............................................................................................................

but ...but ...TG ... he is ....the flaky Yorkshire yellow lollipop *%^@ is always way out of where he should be ... if I was any opposing team ... I'd say hit and hope
... who could do it Salah Ings Madison Song Harrison Haarland

The problem is you are changing the teams tactics in 3 areas left back, right back and midfield to accommodate 1 missing player. I think more likely in the event we lose Ben White you will see Zinny at right back. I do think what you said about walters makes sense, give him 20 minutes because moving Partey out of midfield right now must be a last resort

but ...but ...TG ... he is ....the flaky Yorkshire yellow lollipop *%^@ is always way out of where he should be ... if I was any opposing team ... I'd say hit and hope
... who could do it Salah Ings Madison Song Harrison Haarland[/quote]
Ings




McCartney, Lennon, Harrison, Starr …

Rashford pulls out of englands 2 games with a knock. So a player who is fit all year just gets a knock before 2 weeks of international games, odds on him being available for Man U’s next game? Such bad luck for Rashford to miss the games for his country….

Watching Zaha offer zero defensive contribution in our last game made me realise that I can’t ever see Arteta signing this type of player. An older player who has never worked hard out of possession won’t be taught new tricks, we saw who Arteta wanted out quickly.
Compare Zaha losing the ball and throwing his hands in the air with our lot who sprint back like a pack of dogs. If you’re young you can be taught that level of desire, if you’re older and have that natural desire and discipline in your game then you might stand a chance of playing for Arteta.

Interestingly, and perhaps surprisingly, it was Willian's great effort in getting back to rectify his error that backfired so disastrously for Fulham. Not suggesting we re-sign him! Wasn't impressed by his claim that the ball hit his chest either.

Man Utd were (are) so dirty back then.

Was it unnecessary? I wondered at the time. In any case, Xhaka giving him a hug was a lovely moment. I'm not sure if I have ever seen a team that shows such a strong sense of unity.

Not least because his team-mate seemed to believe him and got sent off for his troubles too!

Points tally after 28 games

Liverpool 19/20 - 79
ARSENAL 22/23 - 69
Man City 21/22 - 69
Man City 18/19 - 69
Liverpool 18/19 - 68
Liverpool 21/22 - 66
Man City 20/21 - 65
Man City 22/23 - 61
Man City 19/20 - 60
Leicester 15/16 - 57
Liverpool 20/21 - 46
Liverpool 22/23 - 42

*taken from twitter*

This is not like Leicester City's season, rival fans will say that to discredit us

I just thought when I saw it that he didn't need to boot it for a corner, if he wanted to make a statement by going in hard at a ball he was 95% certain to win he could have booted it for a throw, or not let the emotion take over and just get his body in front and draw the foul. Agreed that it was a good moment in terms of the team fighting for each other, and if Palace don't score from the corner I wouldnt have mentioned it

.
Geez ...stopped drinking rum at 5.45 am .... I tell ya wisdom takes a fair while to arrive in some peoples lives .

Of no importance to most but John Sattler ; a true Aussie rugby league icon passed away . I met him . had the pleasure of having a beer / yarn with him at my son's local the Runcorn Pub in Brisbane about eighteen years ago ...an absolute gentleman .

Hard as nails

Ben White and Martinelli go down holding their face when someone brushes their sock .

This guy played about 75 minutes of a grand final with a broken jaw

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/south- ... 5ctqb.html

Ings




McCartney, Lennon, Harrison, Starr …[/quote]

This is what happens when you get old, you give up early and go to bed. When you were on your game : off to work. Bex or Vincents when you arrive at work, Pie for morning tea, and get a beer down at lunch and bobs your uncle.

Fingers crossed for all our players returning healthy from international duty. If Trossard and Ødegaard can leave one on De Bruyne and Haaland respectively in training that would help as well.

It helps that none of our Brazilians have been called up and that for whatever off pitch reason Southgate won’t call up the best English defender in the league this season in Ben White.

I also read that Zinchenko only has games in London for Ukraine so he won’t be fatigued by travel

Think you will see a new right back coming in this summer. Just can’t rely on Tommy anymore. He’s made of paper mache. Such a shame as he’s a fine player

Haaland has pulled out of Norway’s two games against Spain and Georgia because of a groin injury. What a farce. Players should be assessed by an independent physio/doctor at international call ups. Haaland will be fine for City’s next game no doubt about it. We should pull Ødegaard out right away

Wot on earth are Palace doing

They are qualifiers though so it’s not like Ferguson resting giggs for wales friendlies.

I would assume they are trying to avoid relegation. One of those seasons when anyone could go down in the bottom group.

I'm seeing many in the media practically handing us the title. The cynic in me thinks they are setting us up for a fall. There is no way I can see that with about 10 games to go and having to play at Liverpool, Newcastle and City and Chelsea at home. If there were 5 or even 6 games left, okay, I'd feel more relaxed but not this many games left.

We beat a Palace club that is having problems and just lost a manager. It was a great win. But unexpected? No. The level of the win? Expected. Had we beaten the Toon or Chelsea similarly then I'd see it as a statement win. It's Palace in a bad place....at home.

I know some clubs don't like us but I gotta think for the fans of the lower conferences and the lower half of the EPL that aren't our rivals they gotta be rooting for us. City have been having their way in the league. So, I have to assume neutrals of all stripes are cheering for us if they think about it. It's a great story.

Beware of what you wish for? Perhaps Ødegaard struck too early?

Keane missed Ireland's qualifier with Iran before turning up hale and hearty for Manure.

I've never drank the kool aid regarding what makes us special.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r5oaFNNkE2g

But missing a qualifier against Spain of all teams when it’s far from certain you will finish 2nd in your group. Would be seriously shady

So Hodgson is back at Palace. Up next, Poch returns to Spurs.

…or Harry Redknapp, with Defoe, Crouch and Kranjar in tow to get the band back together

https://twitter.com/reidthegame/status/ ... -j6VVZXEoA

This take from Gary Neville towards the end of last season is worth posting again. He had and still has such a blind spot for us.

“If Arteta gets Arsenal 4th that’s as far as he can take them” it’s a ludicrous statement to make for any team and manager at any time, let alone one where everyone could see the way the recruitment and plan was playing out that the team was only going to get better - of course not many saw a real title shot this season - but it wasn’t hard to predict we’d be right up challenging for top 4.

https://twitter.com/gunnersc0m/status/1 ... -j6VVZXEoA
Another one of his takes on Arsenal and spurs

We have more touches in the box than any team in the league but only rank 12th in the most penalties given this season

I can understand one of the things that gets him upset.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/583931886692439?fs=e&s=m

The full horror of the interlull is setting in. Arsenal are utterly addictive this season and going cold turkey after the recent feast is a bit much.

Gordon Brown for PM?