Dan Johnson

Arsenal have so many empty vessel footballers, there's 2 or 3 I could pick out of a line up, the rest are a royal group of misfits and mercenaries. Ex AFTV youtuber Troopz was calling for Cedric to start over Bellerin, that's the level they've fallen to, calling for a player we all regarded as fairly average to start for a side who were once one of the best to watch in Europe. Arsenal HAVE to win, they're playing for the managers career here, so I expect them to start well, there is NO WAY Arsenal could possibly let Arteta continue in his role if they lose. We start well here and get an early goal they'll fold, this could be one of those games were the opposition completely fall to pieces and we end up winning by 3 or 4. To be honest, I'd take a draw though as I expect a reaction from them.

I think the Ings situation is relatively unique. He's going to be 29 in the Summer, which I'd assume will be the earliest we'd let him leave. With a year left on his contract, i'd still expect us to be looking for £30-£35m. Is there a top 6 club who would pay that money, for a 29 year old with a chequered injury record? Will his earlier injuries resurface later in his career? If Tottenham Lost Kane, they'd be the most likely destination. At the moment I'd say it's likely only Man Utd that I could see him moving to. I suspect the delay in contract negotiations is because he wants more than we're willing to pay at the moment, the clubs position may change if we continue our strong season and we manage to unload Lemina\Hoedt\Elyounoussi

Great result. The 3 pts are all that matter. Brighton set out to be hard to break down and hit on the counter with speed, they managed to neutralise our full backs for the majority of the game and almost capitalised a few times by playing out quick, they really lack creativity when not on the break though. When teams set out to be hard to break down, it makes it a difficult watch and you end up relying on set pieces which is what happened tonight. They limited us to two good opportunities from open play I can remember, Walcotts good effort and Redmonds effort he should have done better with. I thought they also coped with the high press pretty well. Dubious (ridiculous) decision for our penalty, I’d have been fuming if that was given against us, I’ll joyfully accept it when it’s for us though 😂 it felt like one of those games were a mistake or VAR intervention would have a big impact. Djenepo had an odd game, looked the most likely to create something in the first half while simultaneously flattering to deceive and looking like he could easily have been sent off! MOTM picks himself, Big Vesty! Literally head and shoulders above everyone tonight. Thought Romeu was exceptional too.

watched them 3 or 4 times this season and think the opposite to be honest, their problem is scoring goals, though their approach play was good and they've some good individual players, they're the kind of team that will get 2 or 3 surprise results against the top teams this season, we definitely shouldn't be taking them lightly, it's going to be a tough game.

They’re good to watch, they’ll give a few teams a good game this season and will be a potential Banana skin in the title race but as you’ve rightly pointed out they don’t really have enough of a threat in the final 3rd, otherwise they’d be comfortable mid table

100% I'd rather he missed the Newcastle game in order to then miss the international break and be back for the Wolves game.

My motm today, exceptional. He and the two Center backs let us down the first 2/3 games of the season but now they’re fit they look like different players

Another cracking game from the big man today, looks the part at the moment, an aerial threat from corners too. Very happy he decided to stay and play for us 👍🏻👍🏻

How anyone can be against someone who is so clearly emotional and passionate for this club, pulling on the shirt is beyond me. Theo is a massive upgrade on Boufal, MASSIVE, not only that he’s got the most prem experience in the squad now and is clearly as passionate about the club as ever. im buzzing about this, welcome home Theo 👍🏻👍🏻

Momentum is massive at all levels of football, Burnley are a horrible team to play against and we won so all positive. instantly forgettable and not a great watch but very happy with the result and the performance, it’s exactly what we needed. Chance to build that momentum further against WBA next weekend 👍🏻

Personally I think this will have an affect on the age demographic we see within stadiums when crowds are allowed to return. I suspect older fans may stay away at first until their confidence in returning to mass events grows, however i suspect that younger fans will be desperate to get back and we may see an up take in casual fans watching games as people enjoy being free to experience things with out restrictions

Think he'll be ineligible as he missed the cut off

Absolutely agree. This obsession with players under 30 is such a crock of shit, fuelled completely by the business side of football looking for a return on investment. The two best players in the world are over 30 in Messi (33) and Ronaldo (35) neither show any sign of slowing down Lewandowski, Aguero, Aubameyang, Tadic, Lloris, Benzema, Messi, Ronaldo... all players over 30 nominated for the 2019 Balloon d'Or and players that would get into pretty much any side in the world. I'm old enough to Remember Kevin Richardson in the 1997/98 season. We were favourites to go down and ended up finishing 12th in the Premier league (I think it was our highest prem finish at that point) and Richardson played 30 odd games, he must have been 34/35. At the end of the season we moved Richardsons on and the next season we finished 17th only just avoiding relegation! Carlton Palmer went on Goals on Sunday saying the clubs decision to let Richardson go (because of his age) was one of the biggest factors in us under performing the following season... there's been countless examples of old players being moved on because of their age and not their contribution. Not just in football either, Michael Jordan being pushed out the Bulls because of his age is another non football example

Personally, I think that's absolute class from Henderson. Captain for the Premier League Champions Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year Henderson has pedigree, he's one of the top midfielders in the world at the moment, for him to speak so highly of Lovern says allot.

Played well, although Northern Irelands team was pretty much made up of players from the middle of the championship, which is probably his level from what i've seen of him.

Good luck to him, on balance he’s been a decent signing for us and I am sorry to see him go. His attitude and attainment have been first class and they are by far his biggest asset. I certainly don’t see him as a top 4 player, his game is limited, I think we’re his level and I’d even say that for us to kick on he’d be the kind of player i’d be looking to improve on. Football is a funny old game though, when they signed him, who’d have thought Henderson would be Football Writers' player of the year after captaining Liverpool to the title Hoj could go on to be a World class, you never know, I’ve not seen anything other than his attitude to suggest that could be possible though

Aren't the rules different for professional sports people? They were when the Quarantine was first muted back in May https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11591908/sportsmen-exempt-from-14-day-coronavirus-quarantine/

Players I'd look at, not considering whether we have place in the squad for them, just players I like. Watford Deulofeu (Boufal replacement?) Chalobah (at one point was extremely highly rated) Doucoure Welbeck Bournemouth Nathan Ake Callum Wilson Dominic Solanke (will eventually come good) Harry Wilson (I Know technically a Liverpool player Ryan Fraser Norwich Cantwell Max Aarons

Agreed I'd say he has another 3 year contract in him.

Interesting hypothetical conversation with mates and be interested to hear a wider opinion. How much is Ings worth in the current market? 21 premier league goals, 28 years old (next week) does his previous injury record impact his value? Is there a price we’d consider selling when you weigh up that injury record and the prospect of future injuries? personally feel there’s also only a small number of suitors from the top six wish reduces the risk of losing him. I think City/Liverpool would want a higher profile name. Utd already have enough strikers. Chelsea already signed Werner. i could only see Tottenham/Arsenal being suitably interested and only if they sold Kane/aubameyang. with him being a saints fan and with our current form would Leicester/Everton/Newcastle be a big enough step up? id place him at a realistic price of £55m and at that price there’s no way I’d sell.

As already mentioned, from a talent perspective I think PEH is playing at his level with us, he'd be a bit part player at a top 6 club. However, I dont think we can underestimate the impact he has on the side, he has set the tone in terms of effort levels over the last 12 months.

I remember in 97/98 when we finished 12th (which was a high finish in those days!) we sold Kevin Richardson to Barnsley and the next season we struggled. Carlton Palmer came out on sky saying the sale of Kevin Richardson was the catalyst, not because of his quality but because of his influence. I don’t think Hoj is the best footballer but I think his attitude is the golden standard the club want every player to be able to obtain. His importance, like Kevin Richardson’s, shouldn’t be measured solely by his contribution on the pitch but his contribution to the club as a whole, with that in mind we should be doing all we can to keep him

Its a good move for Cedric, it's another sideways defensive move for Arsenal. He's been solid if unspectacular for us, it's been clear for ages he was going to leave on a free in the Summer. If he wanted to move early and is liable to a "Sulk" if he doesn't get his way, then for the sake of 3 and half months and squad harmony it's probably the right decision. All the best Cedric, I wish him well but certainly wont reminisce about his time here.

Has any Club in the premier league had a Good January Transfer Window? Players just aren’t available at this time of the year. We’ve seen Chelsea try and sign a striker all window and still nothing Utd need 3 or 4 players and are having to pay 10/15m more for a player than they wanted to get 1 in. Arsenal are signing Cedric and a relatively unknown CB I know in an ideal world we’d sign two or three but I’d say our activity in January is indicative of the market in general, rather than our overall strategy. The summer will be a better marker