Who do you think is the more pissed off goalkeeper this morning - James Trafford or Emi Martinez?
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Who do you think is the more pissed off goalkeeper this morning - James Trafford or Emi Martinez?
What a bonkers transfer window. Liverpool and Arsenal in particular have just gone mad this window in a very unrepeatable way. You definitely can't do this every year.
Liverpool getting Isak and Guehi is not good news. Most will focus on the former, I'm way more concerned about the latter. They're plugging the gaps they needed to plug. Fingers crossed they'll need to adapt.
His injury record is the single reason I still don't think he's a top club signing. He did great at Newcastle when they weren't in Europe, and they still had to manage his minutes carefully. It'll come down to whether Slot is smart enough to do the same.
The discourse around Arsenal today is bonkers. Apparently all our signings were rubbish, and we're doomed off the back of losing an otherwise even game to a worldie. Even Slot says it was a fortunate win.
Obviously you can't get everything right, but I thought the ref was good today. Didn't get influenced by the crowd, gave yellow cards to the right challenges, shut down any dissent immediately. Of course you can quibble about individual calls, but I moan enough about refs and he was good today.
I see Peter Schmeichel hasn't let 1998 go.
Yeah I got the impression both sides were happy with seven points and giving nothing to the other. Just annoying that Liverpool have won all three games with a late goal.
Absolutely our full strength team might've pushed them more. But Im happy to give credit where it is due, they battled us very well. For me, we're clearly the best two sides around, and by a distance.
Arteta was right in the post match about our performance today being better than the draw at Anfield late last season. We were lucky to draw that day and unlucky to lose today. Results drive narratives, always.
I imagine they'll get Guehi tomorrow but with Konate injured they might have to raise their bid more than before.
That last point is the only bit that worries me - Liverpool did defend very well today. I was rather enjoying their vulnerability.
It is quite extraordinary that Liverpool have won all three of their games. They could very easily have no wins. Let's hope their luck runs out soon. Last season they did similar but then improved.
Yeah good signs. Hope Saliba can be back after the break though.
Still think these two clubs will be first and second come the end of the season. Only question is which way around. Always annoying to lose before a break, but we need the break to get some players back. Already.
FT: Really disappointing to lose that way. Think Arsenal played well in the first half but lost their grip on things, and we weren't efficient enough in the final third when we had chances. Liverpool created nothing but someone whacked the ball top bins from 30 yards. That's how it goes.
Didn't want to jinx him earlier but Mosquera was a seamless Saliba replacement.
Forget what Neville is saying, Liverpool didn't go for it either. What they did do was defend much better today though.
The result will cloud this but I actually think that was a perfectly good performance and both sides were comfortable with the draw. But they scored a worldie and changed the whole narrative.
Neville has gone from praising how well we've controlled the game and given them nothing, to criticising us because they scored a worldie.
Neville is banging on about how we're always losing these big away games. Which is just not true.
You don't save those. Big moment.
That's a stunning free kick.
Declan Rice is so good. He's shut down some of Liverpool's best moves today and transitioned them into counters. He's still improving.
Eze and Odegaard for Merino and Martinelli. One flank is now Calafiori and Eze vs Szoboslzai and Salah. Defending??
Really not sure who Arteta takes off. Gut feel is Merino for Odegaard or Eze, but his are the passes that are breaking the lines the most. Martinelli crucial in shutting Salah down, Madueke the brightest.
Phew. Ekitike offside, then Raya fouled him and the ball went in anyway. Still 0-0. Breathe.
This. He's is struggling going forward but it's also Liverpool's strong attacking side and he has a massive role at the other end.
People (rightly) point out how Bruno Fernandes is constantly trying to ref the match, but van Dijk is just as bad. Yap, yap, yap, the whole time.
Think both Liverpool and Arsrnal know they've got incredibly hard starts to the season, and 7pts from three would be absolutely fine. Neither needs the win nor wants to give the other a headstart. Might change in the last 20.
Absolutely. We're like a fighter dropping our hands and waiting to counter punch. It's telling how cautious Liverpool are too. Suspect both sides would take a point, and 7pts from a tricky first three games.
We're playing like we're goading Liverpool into taking a risk - basically saying that were too solid unless they gamble.
I think we're happy to tell Liverpool to take a risk, and pounce when they try.
Classic early season half between two evenly matched heavyweights. Solid, careful, cagey, no quarter given. Quite fun to be the physically stronger side at Anfield. Hasn't happened often.
It looks like it'll be something silly like that that'll break this game open. Our playing out from the back has been excellent but that was...too much.
I've been impressed with him so far.
Rice has just put in an awful corner and an even worse free kick. Even he was meekly laughing at himself. But Liverpool don't want to be giving him many more of those.
Both Liverpool full backs look vulnerable. Haven't taken advantage yet but Madueke looks bright.
Absolutely. I'm sure they'd be excusing them if they did...
Possible yeah.
Can only imagine muscular because it was an instant decision to take him off. Hope not too bad.
Just over two matches into the season, and already Havertz, Saka, Odegaard, White, Norgaard and Saliba injured. So frustrating. International break might be well timed for once.
It's crazy how many injuries Arsenal are getting. Saliba off.
Perhaps - I just don't see the others as a threat. Even with Liverpool's defensive problems, they're better than everyone else, and we finished above them all with basically no remaining fit players. I don't think any side has improved enough to challenge.
Haha City. The league already looks like it's between these two sides this season. I'm sure Chelsea fans will argue but for me, Liverpool and Arsenal are comfortably the best two around.
I've been optimistic all week, and kinda still am - but this early in the season, 7pts from our first three games is an excellent start.
I'd love a statement win this afternoon. But offer me a draw now and I'd take it.
The VAR official has now been stood down from today's game amidst an apology to Fulham. Good to see action, but this needs to stop happening. There's a lot less reason for VAR officials to be making glaring mistakes to get involved, than on-field refs who have one high-speed moment to decide.
Ah that's fair.
That's quite a lowball offer to a club who aren't short of cash.
We're now the only side that hasn't conceded in the PL this season.
I think we all understand crap decisions to a point (annoying as it is - and the ref had a stinker today), but when a VAR makes the active decision to get involved on something like that, they're going against everything PGMOL is saying VAR is and isn't for. Horrible inconsistency and 'Look at me'.
Feel for Fulham today. I do like that the VAR intervention bar is high, although I think it has slipped too high. And then you get a decision like that disallowed goal, where suddenly the bar is nonexistent and VAR just intervenes anyway. It counters every argument about trying not to re-referee.
Where do you see Nwaneri's primary position? In both roles you've marked him down as it being a secondary position - is that because we just don't know?
It does seem to be that way. When every manager and player gets worse at a certain club, and then miraculously succeeds once they leave, you have to ask bigger questions... (Or don't, because it's quite funny).
*applauds*
And to go backwards from where ten Hag left them is almost an achievement.
Sesko taking the 10th penalty in the shootout is quite something for a striker. I can already imagine the articles that would be written about that if it were other newly signed strikers... I still can't work Amorim out. His history suggests he should be good, but they're going backwards.
We play West Ham at the start of October. There's a substantial chance it'll be more challenging than now, with a new manager bounce.
Reading this made me feel genuinely sick. As a parent, it's actually terrifying to know that the 'AI psychosis effect' (confiding in GPT as a friend and following where it leads) is very very real. This won't be the last case like this but everything should (and won't) be done to stop it.
It isn't - but I thought that last season and they improved throughout. While they're adjusting to their new setup it would be nice if they dropped some points!
That is true. We can hope!
Liverpool started last season with a bunch of lucky wins too, and then improved through the season. Kinda annoying that they're doing it again. That defence is very breachable though.
Told you.
11 minutes of added time. The chances of Liverpool still winning this are annoyingly high.
Newcastle are having a bit of an Arsenal night on the injury front.
Gordon is absolutely the worst combination of someone who frequently puts in awful challenges, and screams himself under the slightest touch. He's finally got his tonight, it's annoying that it's against Liverpool.
I don't care that we have great players unable to make our team. That's a luxury position. They'll all play their part and they'll all raise each other's level. To go from the benches we had in the second half of last season to this is a MASSIVE step forward.
We're playing 38 league games, we want to be playing 15 CL games, plus domestic cup runs. We could play anything up to 60ish games this season. Even without injuries, the squad depth is important. With inevitable injuries, it's essential, plus the depth helps avoid the muscular type.
Seeing lots of 'where does Eze even fit' comments (largely from frustrated rivals, to be fair). The mistake so many make with this question is they just look at the first XI. With our squad, many good players now don't make that - but it's a squad game. We learned that again last season.
Ha - they're both injured as well, which adds to their need. The funny thing is he's a great signing for us, but he was a necessary signing for them.
Something I wrote about news emerging of Arsenal signing Eberechi Eze and how it compares to the news and reaction to Bergkamp, Campbell and Özil and what it says about the media cultures those signings emerged in 👇🏻🔴⚪️ arseblog.com/2025/08/eze-...
Was offline yesterday so caught up on all the Eze news late. I love that we're getting the player, I love that he's an Arsenal kid - but I also love the Spurs reaction, now pivoting to 'he's not great really'. Also, they offered Palace Richarlison after he actually did well in the first game. Ha.
I see lots of people saying to sign Isak. I think you're being flippant but a) we can't afford and b) he has a far worse injury record than Kai. What do you actually think would happen if we signed him, knowing our luck?
Ah crap. That's not good news. The note about exploring the market suggests this won't be a short absence.
This is magnificent. Wrighty's passion just never dims. And frankly, his rants are so much more entertaining than Keane's, which are so passionless they're clearly done for the cameras these days. Ian Wright just bubbles over with passion for The Arsenal. Thanks for the podcast - brilliant.
This is where I am too. Left wing is upgradable if the right player came along but there isn't an obvious candidate who would be better than the Martinelli/Trossard job share we have going on. We've seen what happens before when we sign a player 'for the sake of'. It rarely works.
For me, there has to be a detail missing. One thing always missing from reports is that contracts are HUGELY complex, with clauses all over the place. While a headline of 'pay rise, no extension' is fun, I would be shocked if there wasn't clause adjustment to go with it. Otherwise, pointless.
I think that's coachable - I saw lots of people say Madueke was quiet when he came on but I felt like he matched Martinelli's defensive work, which was a great sign. Don't get me wrong, I love Martinelli and would love nothing more than him to smash that plateau.
The smell test is blaring for me with this 'Trossard gets a pay rise without an extension' news. There has to be something in it for the club. Contracts are complex. Perhaps we've removed a clause, perhaps we've added one or two. Perhaps we've gained a option for an extension. Something.
Good shout and an easy relocate...
Really surprised Bournemouth haven't come in for Kiwior - seems a natural fit there and they have the cash.
I think he's trying to chest it. It's that or not defend at all, not quite sure what else he can do. I'd be fuming if that were us.
For the record, I'm absolutely fine with VAR having a high bar, but that one is stretching even a high bar line. For me, it's a clear mistake by the ref given what handball is interpreted as here now. Have to be careful not to have such a high bar that it's almost not there.
Agreed.
That's about it. I'd be fuming it that were us.
How can that be given as handball? Hands right down by his side....and VAR don't intervene. So far, including the Community Shield, VAR intervention has had a very high bar, but oof, that's a tough tough call on Everton.
No, I'm saying they assumed because it was Ben White and there's been so much narrative around him that he was faking, with absolutely no evidence to suggest it. It was a stupid suggestion given all the injury issues he had last season and that it was the first day of the season.
Two points up on same fixtures from last season already.
Havertz added to our control when he came on. He's still a massive piece of this puzzle.
A few years ago, when we underperformed at Old Trafford, we got pasted. Now we underperform and win. That resilience is there even if the passing and decision making very much wasn't.
The league is back!
Thank goodness for that. Not a good performance. But we've won at Old Trafford and we don't do that often. The rhythm will come.
Arteta doesn't look happy. Don't blame him, this should be far more comfortable than it is.
Timber booked for timewasting. Thought that one was fair enough, he deliberately had a chat with Arteta to delay the throw in.
And he makes up for it with a crazily fast time wasting booking for Raya.
Hooper has finally remembered United players can be booked.
The shirt.
What a save Raya. Was convinced that Mbuemo header was in.
Sky just spent two minutes discussing how to stop players feigning injury, after White grabbed his calf and went down on the FIRST DAY OF THE SEASON. White was then subbed. Basically, Sky can piss off with their stupid invented narratives.