Arsenal v Leeds United, 19:56 GMT (06/01, BBC One).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

All FA Cup Third Round ties start a minute later than usual asking everybody to think about their mental health.


Most importantly though, Martinelli to start. :pray:

Artetaball v Bielsaball. :popcorn:

[I am invisible]

Strange feeling, actually looking forward to Arsenal matches - even if they don’t end with the result we want, it’s still fascinating getting these little glimpses of what we could be in a few months time.

Both sides have bigger concerns than a cup run at the moment, so I can see us both rotating heavily for this one - still a good chance to get some minutes in returning legs, and for Arteta to stress-test some of the younger players though. Should still be plenty to take interest in...

[Niall_Quinn]

If we can avoid KIAs and MIAs against Dirty Leeds it'll be a top result. Assume the entire first team will be rested for this.

Not sure I agree with a minute of prayer for the lunatics at the FA though, or whatever crackpot lot has hijacked football with their shitty agenda. The irony. How far are they going to take this crap? And when there's a genuine reason for a minute's silence, how devalued is it going to be?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Next year will be for the whole 90 minutes and play the game in silence.

[Mac76]

really hope Arteta plays a whole second-string side for this - we aren't going to win it and with such a thin squad we need to focus on the league and Europa league.

it's a good chance to field players like Mavropanos for some much-needed game time and to see how they get on.

the only exception would be Laca - he needs to play his way through the shite form he's in

[GP]

we aren't going to win it

Why not?

[Xhaka Can’t]

Much weaker teams than us have won the FA Cup.

Let’s face it, we’ve got little to play for in the League, so let’s win this fucker.

[Marc Overmars]

We should definitely be going for this and the EL.

The league is dead.

[Mac76]

We should definitely be going for this and the EL.

The league is dead.

Don't agree - IF - and it's a big if - we could put a run together everyone else's results are so variable that we could easily make up the ground over 4-5 games

I'd definitely focus on that and not risk important players on the FAC - anything else is naive IMO

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal: Martinez, Sokratis, David Luiz, Holding, Nelson, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Lacazette, Pepe.
Subs: Leno, Mavropanos, Ceballos, Willock, Saka, Martinelli, John-Jules.

Martinelli on the bench.

Arteta out. :threaten:

[GP]

A surprisingly strong side.

We better win. No excuses.

[Master Splinter]

I'm assuming this is a bit of an experimental line-up in terms of personnel and formation.

WTF is wrong with Bellerin?

[Mac76]

Still injured i think

Presumably Nelson's covering there

[Mac76]

And it's too strong a side IMO, we don't want Leeds kicking some of our better players out of the game

Who's the ref - any chance they won't be on the opposition's side for once...?

[Master Splinter]

Referee: Anthony Taylor

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BBC's programme is on now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ser Jaime re-affirming his love for Leeds. :lol:

[Mac76]

Referee: Anthony Taylor
*sigh*

Up against 12 men again then...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Shearer, Wright and Beckford in the studio.

[Master Splinter]

Beckford :bow:.

Man United :haha:.

Fergie :haha:.

[Master Splinter]

*sigh*

Up against 12 men again then...

More like 15 with this turd.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Walk by Pantera is not something I expected to hear on BBC coverage. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Leeds: Meslier, Berardi, Ayling, White, Douglas, Gotts, Klich, Phillips, Harrison, Alioski, Bamford.
Subs: Casilla, Cooper, Dallas, Casey, Davis, Stevens, Costa.

[LDG]

Boo. Dirty Leeds

[Edinburgh Gooner]

Arsenal: Martinez, Sokratis, David Luiz, Holding, Nelson, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Lacazette, Pepe.
Subs: Leno, Mavropanos, Ceballos, Willock, Saka, Martinelli, John-Jules.

Martinelli on the bench.

Arteta out. :threaten:

Martinelli has been injured and has just come back to the squad last couple of weeks I think

[Master Splinter]

Sokratis at right-back.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good clearance from Bamford.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe did 70 yards of greatness. Shame about near the box.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Holding ultimately clears up his own shit pass.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Luiz and Guendouzi going to head the same ball. :lol:

Surprised the universe didn't collapse.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe combs it but Meslier easily saves.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Holding's passing is all over the place.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bielsa on his Portaloo.

[Master Splinter]

Emery-ball is back.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka brings it forward, boots it out of play. :doh:

[Letters]

Emery-ball is back.

They really have to stop this shit.
It’s just basic stuff.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinez saves.

Us. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bamford smacks the bar!

Getting mullered. :haha:

[Letters]

Leeds smack the bar :sick:

[LDG]

Bloody useless thus far

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka. :lol:

As obvious as it gets.

Another save from Martinez.

[AFC Leveller]

Leeds are a terrific side, we look surprised.

Guendouzi is useless, looks like an amateur kid playing amongst professionals.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka does exactly the same thing again!

[AFC Leveller]

Xhaka blatantly pulls players twice in two minutes, right in front of the ref.

[Gooner23]

The pressing is so half assed, Arteta won't stand for this

[AFC Leveller]

Xhaka really wants that yellow.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How has Xhaka not been booked?

Ridiculous player without Torreira to do the running for him.

[Master Splinter]

The line-up looked wrong and nothing's gone right so far.

You can't overcome this much shit even with the greatest coach in the world.

[Letters]

Xhaka really wants that yellow.

And gets it. Pointless. Diving in with the Leeds player going away from goal.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinez saving our arses again.

[LDG]

What the fuck??

[Maestro]

we getting peppered here

[Master Splinter]

Have we slipped Taylor something?

Xhaka should be off.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette has lost any confidence with the ball.

[Maestro]

can anyone here play DM?

[Letters]

Laca kept going till he didn’t.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alioski puts it across goal.

[Letters]

can anyone here play DM?

Probably better suited to Penfold, tbh

[Master Splinter]

Was Guendouzi not booked?

What's wrong with Taylor?

[Marc Overmars]

Can’t say I’m surprised at how this has started. Leeds have been one of the best sides in the Championship for a while now, and we are a mish mash of a team.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lovely turn from Nelson but forgot the ball.

[Letters]

Nelson tackled by...the ball

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Another save for Martinez to make.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Luiz header just wide.

[Globalgunner]

Our Indian summer lasted just 1 game. Back to being clueless turds

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a save from Martinez!

[Letters]

Good save!

[Maestro]

not sure about Guendouzi's basic ball contro and football intelligence

[AFC Leveller]

Sokratis at RB reminds of the time Wenger used to play Cygan at LB, really painful to watch.

We need half time ASAP, and we need Leeds to fade in the second half to get anything out of this game at this rate. They have been known to drop off in the latter stages.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Utterly shat on.

[AFC Leveller]

not sure about Guendouzi's basic ball contro and football intelligence

Headless chicken, not good enough for me.

Leeds are committing so many players forward it’s really good to watch I have to say.

[Master Splinter]

The midfield is non-existant.

[Maestro]

not sure, starting to think we should have thrown it and played all second string, save our knackered first teamers?

[Master Splinter]

Lacazette getting into pointless scraps again.

He used to play football.

[AFC Leveller]

Xhaka looks like he’s feeling the heat, really needs to calm down otherwise Taylor wouldn’t hesitate to send him off.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gotts scuffs it.

Arteta hairdryer at half time. :bow:

[LDG]

This lot are far better than us

[Master Splinter]

Leeds doing a Neverton.

[Master Splinter]

Nelson and Ozil have had about two touches each.

[Letters]

Genuinely didn't realise Ozil was playing till just now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Guy Melton Mowbray I think they call him.

[AFC Leveller]

Nelson and Ozil have had about two touches each.

Nelson has been ok actually, he’s kept the ball and had a couple of good runs. Ozil, unsurprisingly, hasn’t done much as we have been under the cosh all half.

[Globalgunner]

Xhaka looks like he’s feeling the heat, really needs to calm down otherwise Taylor wouldn’t hesitate to send him off.

That's what he does. Thoroughly incompetent midfielder. All talk about his renaissance had me laughing

[Letters]

This lot are far better than us

Player for player we're probably better but as a team they've been miles better.
But we've got away with it so far so let's hope we sort our shit out in the 2nd half

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT.

How?

[Letters]

Boos ring out at half time! :lol:

[Letters]

0-0 HT.

How?

Martinez, mostly.

[Letters]

Lineker enjoying this a bit too much <_<

[Globalgunner]

Boos ring out at half time! :lol:

Punters aren't stupid. They recognize a shitshow when they see one

[Gooner23]

The midfield is non-existant.

It's been dreadful, so off the pace its painful to watch.

[AFC Leveller]

Tbh I think we’d have been losing this game before Arteta came, similar to the Brighton and Saints games where we were outplayed. Difference is today we have run a lot more and made some really good tackles (better attitude and application).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ceballos and Martinelli needed. :bow:

[Mac76]

Awful, we're lucky not to be behind.

Xhaka returning to type and Holding really rusty.

Sokratis has done ok i guess and martinez has made some good saves, we could still nick it though i'd rather lose than have a replay

[Xhaka Can’t]

Arteta has to make some changes. We’ve been embarrassingly poor. I don’t think those out there, particularly in midfield have the character to turn this around.

To be outplayed like this, at our home ground against a weakened championship side is unsure.

[GP]

Alex Scott is peng.

[Penguin]

We're losing the tactical battle. We don't know how to play out of Leeds' press. Let's see what Arteta does.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe sends it out of the ground.

[Globalgunner]

Alex Scott is peng.

Hands off Alex. She`s mine

[Letters]

"[Arteta]'s got to get them to run around a bit more" - Shearer

Can't believe he didn't make it as a manger...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nelson falls at the critical moment.

[Letters]

Nelson :bow:

Better.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good dive from Xhaka.

[Master Splinter]

Xhaka used his experience, surely?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette hits the bar!

[Globalgunner]

Team bus arrived at HT

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Save to deny Lacazette.

[Master Splinter]

Lacashite.

[Letters]

Lacazette hits the bar!

Top of the net, I think. Good FK though.
Laca just had another good effort saved.
We seem to have woken up. Better late than never.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Guendouzi just wide.

Arteta rocket. :bow:

[Letters]

Lacashite.

Oh piss off :rolleyes:

[AFC Leveller]

Better from us, 3 good chances in the last few minutes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Has Xhaka still not been booked?

[Letters]

Xhaka, you dick.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinez saves.

[Globalgunner]

Has Xhaka still not been booked?

The new Paul Scholes?

[Master Splinter]

Xhaka still not booked.

:haha:

Murphy begging for a card. Isn't that frowned upon?

[Letters]

Has Xhaka still not been booked?

I actually thought he was in the first half but apparently not. No idea how not.

[Letters]

1-0 :lol:

[Master Splinter]

NELSON!!!!

[AFC Leveller]

Yesss
Nelson

[McNamara That Ghost...]

NELSON SCUFFER!!!!!

:bow:

[Penguin]

Yes !

[LDG]

Get in. Loads better.

Tets :bow:

[AFC Leveller]

Pepe running with the ball is sexy, really dangerous player in there.

[Master Splinter]

Is Nelson the new Welbz?

Constantly slipping and pubbed finishes?

[Master Splinter]

Pepe running with the ball is sexy, really dangerous player in there.

I'm not sure he ever knows what he's doing though.

[Globalgunner]

Is Nelson the new Welbz?

Constantly slipping and pubbed finishes?

Fortunately they all count. Seemed impossible to miss, but he almost did

[Penguin]

Why is Nelson starting games ahead of Saka? I don't get what Arteta sees in him.

[Master Splinter]

Leeds and Luke are ailing now.

Sorry.

[AFC Leveller]

Pepe putting grown man on their arse again .

[Master Splinter]

Why is Nelson starting games ahead of Saka? I don't get what Arteta sees in him.

Saka's played quite a bit recently and is only 18.

[AFC Leveller]

Why is Nelson starting games ahead of Saka? I don't get what Arteta sees in him.

Better on the ball, off it and much more composure. saka is useless.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bielsa just taking a dump on the turf now.

Nelson deflected shot.

Much better pressing.

[Letters]

No idea what Arteta said to them at HT. Where did this come from?

[Penguin]

Saka's played quite a bit recently and is only 18.
Nelson's played quite a lot too though

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xhaka still not booked! :haha:

[LDG]

No idea what Arteta said to them at HT. Where did this come from?

Pressing higher up the pitch.

More intensity on and off the ball.

[Letters]

Did Xhaka use a no booking cheat code :lol:

[AFC Leveller]

Early days yet but really love the way we press these days.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette scuffer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Klich booked for fouling Xhaka. :haha:

[AFC Leveller]

Leeds will do well in this league if they come up.

[Master Splinter]

Martinelli :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nelson off, well done to him.

Martinelli on. :bow:

[GP]

Murphy hasn't stopped crying for 17 years.

[AFC Leveller]

Wasn’t Luke Ayling one of the “potential first teamers” under Wenger?

[Penguin]

Better on the ball, off it and much more composure. saka is useless.
Oh come on the wind knocks Nelson over. Reminds me of Reyes, afraid of physical contact.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kolasinac booked, worth it as he was beaten.

[Master Splinter]

I assumed Douglas was another Brazilian before the game.

But he's just Douglas.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good block to deny Martinelli.

[Letters]

"Lacazette can't get away from the challenge"

Yeah, 'cos the wanker was holding on to his leg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lacazette gets away with a petulant kick.

:lol:

[AFC Leveller]

Leeds starting to tire, can we take advantage? Or will we concede?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinelli is so good. :cloud9:

[Master Splinter]

Martinelli is so good.

[AFC Leveller]

Martinelli makes space so well and gets a good shot away, keeper saves.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ozil off, Willock on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ayling off, Stevens on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sokratis wallops it to row Z.

[Letters]

Sokratis hits the moon :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Holding has given it away about 308393 times.

[LDG]

Holding having a mare

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dallas booked.

Some JR pun.

[Letters]

All Xhaka seems to do is either foul or be fouled. :lol:

[GP]

Martinelli is great.

[Master Splinter]

I want Xhaka to score so Murphy explodes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sokratis. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Sokratis.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Five added minutes.

[Letters]

Sokratis :bow:
Brilliant.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pepe off, Saka on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Guendouzi obviously going to go down there. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Laaczette MotM. :unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

David Luiz will never score a freekick.

[Master Splinter]

Stop David Luiz taking free-kicks FFS.

[GP]

Murphy's constant crying is so funny.

[AFC Leveller]

Game of two halves, as they say.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal 1-0 Leeds, FT!

Easy win. :bow:

Artetaball. :bow:

Bielsaball. :haha:

Jaime Lannister. :haha:

Chris Moyles. :haha:

[AFC Leveller]

FT. Good win after that shit first half.

Arteta in.

[Master Splinter]

Leeds :haha:.

Danny Murphy :haha:.

[LDG]

Excellent second half.

Nobody better than Micky Arteta

[Letters]

What did Arteta say to you?

Laca: "He shout a lot"

:haha:

[Maestro]

What did Arteta say to you?

Laca: "He shout a lot"

:haha:

non-negotiables

[LDG]

Arteta is a fucking gem.

[AFC Leveller]

Loved that second half. With that kind of attitude and application we will beat most teams. Arteta is a genius.

[fakeyank]

2 clean sheets in a row :faint:

[Penguin]

Well done Arteta :bow:

Martinelli is some talent. Love his aggresiveness and fight.

Also, how much did Xhaka pay Taylor? :lol: