Jon Brigden

Credit also to Sunderland though, for probably giving us our toughest test of the season so far. Look forward to the rematch at the Emirates when we have more than two fit attacking players, mind you!

This was the sort of game where the scheduling is unfortunate. Ideally, you want to go to Sunderland late in the season, on a sunny April day when they are fighting for points, instead of an autumnal evening game with the team on a great early(ish) season run of form. Ah well.

Overall, I’m willing to accept a point there, given a) how awful the first half was b) we gave away two very soft goals and c) most our forwards are injured. Some subs to give us fresh legs might have helped, though.

I’d also like to thank Sky for providing tonight’s commentary via Sunderland Fan TV. The disappointment in commentator Don Goodman’s (Sunderland 1991-94) voice when Arsenal scored was matched only by his joy when Sunderland found the net.

Bizarre game. I had a bad feeling beforehand - which was seemingly borne out by that anaemic 1st half. 2nd half was a different story, though and, with a little more luck, Arsenal could have won comfortably. Late equaliser a sickener, but you can’t win them all.

What the actual? Is this in case Trump gets lost wandering around the place - and this is just a more subtle way of pointing him towards the nearest toilet?

I mean, I’m assuming. I wasn’t there at the time, you understand.

I’m not saying there are a lot of fireworks tonight, but it’s nearly 9.15pm and the relentless number of explosions outside is making Walthamstow feel a little like downtown Beirut in the middle of the Lebanese Civil War.

I also enjoyed the 10 minutes they gave to a guy with a broad scouse accent moaning because their goalkeeper (who he inexplicably thinks is the best the Premier League has ever seen) is injured. But no mention at all of Arsenal's injuries this season or last.

That’s another important win. Great first half from Gyokeres, and the extent to which we missed him as an ‘out ball’ in the 2nd half underlined the job he did for us. Elsewhere, I thought Eze had his best game in that central role, while Rice was, once again, superhuman.

Either you're taking the brave step of playing without a goalkeeper, or you're planning to field 12. Either way, I like it!

Genuine question - if the Royal family are taking this sort of action against him, why hasn't there been a criminal investigation?

There's a new email marketing trend where companies have you on a mailing list and send you something long the lines of: "Payday just arrived! Here's what you should spend your hard-earned money on immediately." It needs to stop.

I wouldn't mind, but my Amazon purchase was (genuinely) a pair of clippers to cut my hair...what do they think I'm doing to my cat?!?

Where’s the media vitriol against teams who just want to sit and defend? *That* is ‘ugly’ football! And before anyone suggests it - that’s not what Arsenal do. They play the highest line in the league. Look at the stats! Their defensive excellence comes from asserting control, not cowardice. 2/2

Fantastic insight from @arsenalvpodcast.bsky.social and, in particular, @clivepafc.bsky.social this week. Why is the media narrative focused on set pieces and long throws as ‘ruining’ the game or making it ‘ugly’? They’ve increased because both are effective weapons against the low block. 1/2

Just as it wasn't 'over' when Liverpool won their first five games. It's *almost* like the media are just giving up on offering proper insight or analysis and resorting to churning out clickbait nonsense instead.

If I were a betting man, I'd say it's probably the latter, and the product has been ruined by sheer greed, which will probably ruin the brand. Big gap in the market now for somebody to stand up a genuinely competitive offering for PC users.

After a few days of playing Football Manager 26, it feels like one of two things has happened in the development process. Either they've misunderstood that much of the series' appeal lies in immersion in data, and a slick, intuitive UI, or they don't care and think the console market is bigger.

No. It's not even November yet. Next question?

That was an absolutely horrible game to watch, and an absolutely vital game to win. I’ll take it.

Honestly, you’d be forgiven for scrolling through the ‘Major Events’ timeline here and thinking it was a spoof by The Onion or something similar. You can’t make this shit up.

a man in a suit and tie says " oh you 've redecorated i don 't like it " ALT: a man in a suit and tie says " oh you 've redecorated i don 't like it "

Me and the new Football Manager.

Astonishing stat tonight that tonight’s 4-0 equalled Atletico Madrid’s record defeat in this competition. Sometimes I think it’s easy to take for granted how good Arteta’s Arsenal are.

The point I’m making is that it’s not a conscious choice to say: “Let’s not bother focusing on attacking play - we’ll practice corners instead”. Teams have never been this well organised, and you need to find a way to break games open against them if you’re finding it tough going.

Many people misunderstand Arsenal scoring a lot of set piece goals, thinking they come at the cost of trying to score in open play. Teams sit deep and limit the number of open play chances we get - but that can lead to corners and free kicks. Why shouldn’t we use those to our advantage?

Blistering 2nd half from Arsenal. Rice and Martinelli in particular absolutely imperious. I’m so glad Gyokeres got his goals too - against Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, too. So much for being a flat track bully. In any case, they were hugely deserved after all his recent work rate and effort.

Can’t help but think Atletico could do with a cold shower to cool down from that…

And there it is. October 21st, and I’ve just seen my first Christmas ad of the year.

WE HAVEN’T EVEN HAD HALLOWEEN YET.

Shame on Manchester City and Chelsea for ruining an otherwise flawless weekend of results. Spoilsports.