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by my count our side yesterday was 3 inches shorter overall. Drop Joelinton in for Wilson in a more usual side and it would about the same.

Arsenals starting 11 is usually the back 4 who are biggish lads but not huge. Saliba is the tallest at 6”4 and Ben White is an inch taller than Tino. Other than that they have generally had Rice and Havertz offering physical size. Partey recently has added to that. It’s not something we can’t match. Tino plus two centre backs, Joelinton and Isak leaves us only one “big” player lighter. Longstaff, Gordon and Bruno are all 6 foot whilst Hall’s aerial win percentage is very impressive. The reason Arsenal score so many from set pieces is their delivery and organisation. They use one of their “big” players to take half of their set pieces in Rice and they use another one to just be a pest on the keeper in White. So really they are only attacking set pieces with 4 “big” players. interesting to see what they do with Timber- he’ll likely slot in at left back ahead of Tomayasu or Kiwior and he’s only 5”10, same height as Hall.

He’s 32 and falling apart. He has 1 year left on his deal and we aren’t going to give him a new one at 33. If the club and Wilson have any sense, he’ll go to Saudi on a fat 2 year deal where we can make 10-15m while he still has value. ideally you’d keep him as a squad player but Wilson is unlikely to want that given it will impact his ability to negotiate a good deal a year later. We’re also not in a position with FFP to let him go for a free next year and then have to replace him. Far better to sell him this summer and use the money towards replacement.

It could just be that he played better today because Burnley are absolutely dogshit right? a bit like how everyone thought we were so much better when he came in to the side for Tonali at start of the season but reality was we were just playing Brentford, Sheff U and Burnley instead of Man City, Liverpool and Brighton (we were beating Liverpool and only 1 down against Brighton when he came in).

he had 1 bad game away to Brighton when the whole side was dreadful.

Isn’t the issue that we don’t have enough top quality hotel space in the city so we can’t hold anything big like European finals or NFL games? might be a total myth but sure that got bandied around a lotS

Let’s hope not. A summer of him conditioning the shoulder far better than him going away with England with zero chance of playing a minute.

We never seem to do it but wouldn’t it make sense to give Wilson a run out for the under 21s tonight? Pope too if he’s as close as rumours suggest. Maybe Howe thinks his training is more intense than that level so it’s pointless?

Tosin and Kelly on frees is such a no brainer. You play Schar left centre back whilst botman is out with tosin to the right. Kelly can play left back in certain games and Tino/Hall can come in for others. Burn as back up. you’d have 9 defenders (trippier, krafth, tino, Schar, tosin, Kelly, burn, hall, targett) because we probably won’t be able to shift Targett. Maybe he goes out on loan when Botman comes back. Then next summer you can look at bringing in replacements for Schar and Trippier.

I wish this “clear improvement” nonsense would be put to bed. Tonali started against villa at home, Man City away, Liverpool home and Brighton away. Villa he was brilliant whilst we were winning against Liverpool when he came off. We were 1-0 down against Brighton when he came off. We then played Brentford, Sheff U, Burnley, West Ham (Tonali started) and Palace in the league. We also played Milan, Man City and PSG in cups and Tonali started them all. So not some miraculous change in form. Just playing Brentford, Sheff U, Burnley and Palace instead of Man City, Liverpool and Brighton.

Anyone know what is happening with Max Thompson? Had a fairly promising loan spell, got recalled, signed a new deal and then don’t think he’s played a game for the reserves since. Was hoping he could become a solid 2nd/3rd keeper and fill a home grown slot. 3rd keeper a great place to fill that role from.

Toney would be a no brainer for me. Not convinced any of the champions league sides fancy him, he has unfinished business here and you could easily play him with Isak. If we started playing Hall regularly, Isak could easily play from the left with Hall going past him to provide width. Gordon from the right. In other games you could play one of Isak or Toney and use Barnes or Gordon from the left. Moving Gordon to the right and signing a striker is probably the best way to bolster our attacking resources whilst leaving enough money to work on other areas.

Red could work in our favour. instead of being on 9 yellows and having to go 3 games without getting booked to avoid a 2 game ban, he’s on 8 yellows with 2 games to play to avoid 2 bookings. Possibly traded a two game ban for a one game. need to beat Everton to make that a good trade.

He probably has imposter syndrome because he’s technically dreadful and he’s playing with the likes of Isak and Bruno. Played to the absolute limit of his abilities last year and still wasn’t really good enough (see our performances when Bruno was out). Needs to go to a club where he’ll feel less like an imposter…

Howe said in the week he wasn’t carrying an injury any more. he’s just shite unfortunately.