AyeDubbleYoo

Were there any other games this weekend? I missed them

To be honest I would prefer if they stuck to the plan of negotiating at the end of the season. We shouldn't be making managerial decisions based on short periods of time or on press speculation. If he's sustained his success then give him the contract he deserves.

Spot on. Who knows what this club could have achieved if we'd managed to sign this type of player a few years ago. We've all been desperate for someone to shield our exposed defence for years, we've finally got on. He's not like a human footballer really, he's like some sort of holding midfield cyborg or genetically-engineering superhuman, specifically built for the purpose.

I still think it made us a bit too narrow yesterday, but to be fair he had probably been allowed to tuck in to counter Sunderland's extra man in midifeld.

Would be like the millennium bug... scoreboards were never designed to handle 3-figure numbers.

I agree, still think Routledge can make it in the Premier League. Although obviously if Barton and Nolan continue like this his chances will be limited for a while.

None in mine, couple of friends though, I've resisted sticking the knife in so far. I'm more worried about the hundreds of Arsenal fans.

I felt a bit sorry for him TBH, must've been a nightmare. He badly misjudged that tackle though obviously, and he deserved to go.

Aye, I noticed that as well, what's he on about?

He had a big challenge to rise to this season, he was pretty poor during the relegation season and it was a big question whether he'd be able to cut it in this league. He's risen to the challenge, climbed above it and shat on it from a great height.

And it's spelled right!

Nice one mate!

Same here, I've heaped the scorn on Nolan in the past but I'm more than happy to eat humble pie at the moment.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5463/shola.png

He's maybe 10 seasons away from his peak... he's doing very well so far. Doesn't look perfect, but how could he be?

Geoff Shreeves' interview after the game is evidence enough that they just dont care. Yep, guaranteed they will just brush the whole thing under the carpet.

Those Top Trumps ratings were insane, basically just pick two players and make up some stats about them. Cringeworthy TBH.

He actually made a couple of good saves today. The goal looked bad, but it just seemed to fall for Bent and just too far for him to get to.

Me neither, I live about 20 minutes from the Emirates and I'll be watching it on Sky

But "honorary" is too long for the sheet.

I really thought they would put up a good fight today... they were much worse than I expected. Just didn't seem to turn up. Don't see enough of them to know whether they're normally much better, but seems without Bent they'd be really struggling.

Great to hear stuff like that. Still quietly confident he will sign and be good for us.

May as well keep the same team and just try to battle through. We will be destroyed by their passing most probably, but who cares.

He really is immense and calm and I also notice he likes the odd forward sortie which might result in 2/3 goals a season once he settles. He got forward quite a bit at the World Cup.

I was thinking that would be the deal. If they let a handful leave and anything happened to them there would be hell to pay.