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When did we lose Tonali?

Eh squad wise we are much stronger, compared to the start of last season. Wissa > Wilson Elanga > Miggy Thaiw > Kelly Ramsey > Longstaff Ramsdale > Dubravka Woltemade is obviously not as good as Isak at this stage, but he has the potential long term to get to it.

Probably "What A-Ha album should I listen too with my cup of tea?"

Absolutely not. He's a forum icon.

Thats a quality finish. Fair fucks.

Fuck off has there been any stoppages worth 7 minutes of added on time

As tends to be the case with the cyclical nature of tactical trends, it feels like we're heading back to the more defensive and resolute type of structured football that we saw in the mid 2000's. That made Mourinho's Chelsea so good. Where strength and power, will be the norm, with teams sitting back and jumping forward with pace. Instead of inverted wingers, players like Murphy who get paint on their boots are becoming more and more common too. Just waiting for 2 up to come back around.

This'll probably come back to bite me, but this Arsenal side look toothless.

From the Telegraph:

I'm not sure who comes out of it worse, Trossard, Bernardo or Gary Neville

Maybe its because I don't have a vested interest in it, but this game is worse than ours earlier.

One thing its worth remembering with Howe is that we always tend to start slow. The first 5 games for the past 4 seasons: 25/26 - 6 points; 1 win, 3 draws, 1 loss 24/25 - 10 points; 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss (This is an outlier, but performance wise we where pap, but got undeserved wins) 23/24 - 6 points; 2 wins, 3 losses. 22/23 - 6 points; 1 win, 3 draws, 1 loss

Not enough ballers?

We played Bournemouth away after a Champions League game two seasons back, last time Eddie only made 2 changes, and we lost 2-0 being comfortably outplayed. This time we made 7 and got a very solid point. Some clear evolution, and lessons being learnt. Its all you can ask for.

Willock didn't do anything wrong like. He was just doing an impression of Wijnaldum and being unbelievably anonymous

I'd go something like this: Ramsdale Krafth Thiaw Lascelles Hall Bruno Miley Willock Murphy Osula Gordon

Pope - 6 Livramento - 6 Thiaw - 7 Botman - 9 Burn - 8 Hall - 5 Tonali - 8 Miley - 7 Murphy - 6 Woltemade - 6 Willock - 5 Elanga - 5 Barnes - 6

Thought he had a very solid game, he was tidy on the ball, and in the first half in particular got around their press well. The biggest issue with him to date has been the defensive side of his game, and I can't remember seeing him in a defensive capacity today, which is a positive in my books, as means he's doing the ugly work without getting noticed and not making any mistakes in the process. A bit like Rodri does (though obviously i'm not comparing the two at all).

Man of the match today, I kind of forgot just how good his line splitting balls where.

Its good, because his first booking should never have been given in the first place.

Very solid point that. Rafa-tastic really. They're a good side, and a side that play with high energy, that have started the season really well, and after a taxing game on Thursday they're arguably the worst side we could of hoped to play against directly after, but we where rock solid throughout, the defense didn't put a foot wrong, and they didn't have a chance. Going forward we where a bit of a nothing burger, but that'll come. That is a result that also give me faith in our overall squad, Miley, Botman, Thaiw all had good games, as well as our tactical flexibility.

That canny harsh on Murphy like

Very solid half of football that. A stereotypical hard to beat away performance at good side, we have dealt with then relatively well, bar that offside goal, they've not really had a chance. Some things: Miley has looked noticeably better on the ball, he's distributed well around their press, i've not noticed his defensive side, so i'm taking that as he's not done anything bad. Woltemade's hold up play is really good. Thats going to be such an asset. The line breaking balls from Botman and Thiaw have have really good at times, especially into the feet of Woltemade. Murphy continues to do Murphy things. Hall has probably been our weakest player, he's given the ball away multiple time, and has looked uncomfortable in possession. Willock has been anonymous.