PRL

They’re missing 2x RB and 2x RW, so what normally is an area that we struggle with when playing them at the Emirates is an opportunity this time. Just hoping Gordon is fit as having him and Hall against a makeshift right side for Arsenal could be useful

If they sign him then we should potentially be looking at the young lad they had who debuted at the weekend. Once Fofana is back at end of season he’d be shunted to 4th choice at best and may be available for a reasonable fee. I know he’s signed a new contract, but so did Hall before we signed him and we might be able to get another loan with obligation type deal to phase him in next season. edit: maybe not, shows a chronic lack of research on my part, he’s primarily a right back and was played out of position

But with Botman, Krafth and Lascelles hopefully all back in and around the squad by the end of the month, alongside Botman, Schar and Kelly, we have 6 players across two positions, so we are pretty well stocked. Depends on cost and structure of course. Wouldn’t want our sole signing in Jan being someone who couldn’t play, and highly doubt you can do loan with obligation to buy then loan back. Not sure how the deal for the Georgian keeper at Liverpool has been logged from a PSR perspective.

Not totally enamoured by the potential signing, but somewhat reassuring to see he doesn’t just have the most clean sheets in championship but also highest save percentage (85%).

Arsenal’s fixture list for the next month is heavy. Champions League is back, have us twice in the league cup, Mancs in the FA cup and Villa, Spurs, Wolves away and Man City in the league. All without Saka. 5 points is a lot to pull back but being purely rational it’s not beyond the realms over the next month when comparing the outlooks. Football rarely goes as expected in the short term tho.

Book player for time wasting during stoppage time, blow whistle at precisely the 4 mins previously announced.

I really hope that’s cramp as looked like he could have done his calf

So Botman booked and penalised for the identical thing that wasn’t a penalty at the other end. Ref has been insanely bad

Yup. I love Howe but if we genuinely want to be in the champions league and pushing on again we need to manage games and substitutions so much better. We have another big game Tuesday too and these players are looking dead

He’s just broke his nose, that’s a fucking penalty!!!

That’s not deliberate and wasn’t the goal scorer. Ludicrous if disallowed

Spurs seem to be shitting it about legs in the middle, playing those who will put the yards in. Surprised Bissouma dropped though

Spurs just spent £12.5m on Slavia goalkeeper, so looks like Forster confirmed as out (not that the new keeper will be playing today of course)

If they were genuinely sick, I’d prefer they did push through and play. Will be in the minus numbers potentially with a bit of snow, with Isak, Gordon and Murphy chasing them down relentlessly. Sick, weak and freezing is going to make that pretty rough.

Schar’s only out for one game no?

Welfare check on @Froggy

Harsh. Zirkzee maybe

Completely agree. Totally different attributes but reminds me of JDT with us. The entirely wrong person at that time.

Hoijland always looks like a promising striker at the wrong club.

Which seemed hugely outlandish @Froggy?

It’s such a weird experience to be frustrated about some sloppiness and the delays in changes, at the same time as being euphoric to win at old Trafford fairly comfortably. We live in interesting times

Completely see what you’re saying here, but I do think in these circumstances there is such a thing as being too honest. Either the press officer or him needs to just refer back to prior answers to the same question or stonewall it. Right from saying he didn’t really want to come in during mid season but was given no option I think he’s said a bit too much. I admire that in him and think it shows he’s a good bloke, but too often in football, particularly when a club has some toxicity around it, honesty is mistaken for weakness and prayed upon. Similarly, completely understand the desire to move to a new formation asap and not suggesting waiting until pre-season, but as he’s acknowledged he’s had 4 training sessions in a month and Maguire says that he is asking players to do completely the opposite to what ETH asked them to do. Wouldn’t it be sensible to phase the change over, to be pragmatic if only for a matter of weeks, until he can get the players on the training pitch and properly instil his ideas and philosophies? Trying to do this with no capacity to properly train does not seem to be working. Maybe the 5 days he has had between games now will show a marked difference, but with the suspensions and injuries you have it will be makeshift regardless. I think he’s painted himself into a corner on this and has no option but to continue down the path he is on, but I think this was a mistake and one he’ll regret being so adamant about. After all, if he was willing to bend on being available mid season rather than end of season to get the job, maybe he should relent slightly on the formation to keep it.

Finally

I fear if they are wiped after QF, then both still suspended as received in QF. Maybe wrong though

Completely get this, but not sure how many finals my old man has left and how many years each one takes off him. I fear losing to Liverpool would be too much for him as well as me