CatD11Ag said:

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Which broadcast are you getting in the states?
I am getting the UK Sky Sports broadcast and they showed the reverse angle right after the goal was scored. It was easily apparent Saliba was onsides.

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It's on Peacock in the states. I am watching on a pirate stream. Not sure where it's from.

Dropped points! Fulham early goal, good defense and Arsenal's lack of creativity doomed us.

Dang. Seeing the same theme as last season, dropping points like this. Margin for error diminishes for the rest of the season.

weren't good enough today. Rice was off on most of his set piece deliveries all game and crosses from the wings were either off or "targets" weren't in a dangerous position.

I was curious to see Arsenal play this match, mainly because of its form of late. Thought this would be one of those matches where Gunners would run into some difficulty. I feel like I have seen Fulham tactics on repeat. Back end is clogged and they keep 5-6 on a disciplined line. Thought we were going to sneak out with a 2-1 margin and then see the leg clearly offsides. That should have been the winning goal.

I don't know as much about tactics as any of you, but feel like I've seen this Arsenal squad struggle with this kind of defending. I felt like I was watching the Saka show for most of the offense. Havertz did not look his best. Thought Rice played hard but agree that many of his crosses and set pieces were off. Seems like every time MO penetrated their line no one was in position to shoot.

Enjoyed your roster post - chjoak - I am curious to see who Arsenal settle on to replace Edu. Based on podcasts and reading it seems the Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes may be in the lead. If he gets the job, does that mean Edu's first in command (Jason Ayto) will leave?

Martinelli is a sort of chaos merchant at this point in his career and he's best at that when he gets to the backline. I felt like he was almost refusing to do that when he entered the match.

I think I first said I thought Martinelli looked like he was running out of ideas a couple of years ago or maybe before that. He's just not added enough to his game to elevate it or become a more consistent threat against stiffer defenses.

He's still a good player and the contributions are maybe slowly coming back. Really too bad he drifted offsides because that was a great cross for the would be winner. If he can contribute in the Champions League and handle other cup games for us, that'll be an important role for him.

Think Marti is kinda in a weird spot. He was at his best with Xhaka at left CM. There was something that Xhaka did that Rice/Havertz/Merino do not at LCM so he has had to adjust his game and has struggled a bit. Feel like he has been picking things up this year but still needs some work. I have a feeling that we may bring in a new starting LW in the summer and shift Marti to a rotational option at both wings.

What do we do to our defenders in training? Battle Royale?

Notable absentees from Arsenal’s open training session this afternoon:

Ben White ❌
Takehiro Tomiyasu ❌
Gabriel Magalhães ❌
Riccardo Calafiori ❌
Oleksandr Zinchenko ❌
Jurrien Timber ❌
Thomas Partey ❌ pic.twitter.com/oWMeftrkuD

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) December 10, 2024

guess we are gonna field a 2-5-3 tomorrow

that said....

Gabi - likely in concussion protocol
White - had the knee thing and is out another few months
Tomi - has he played this season?
Cala - missed last game or 2 as well but I don't recall hearing why
OZ, Timber, Partey - they all just played. don't recall any reports.

What is wrong with OZ this time? He appeared for one match then poof he's gone again. I listened to Elliott and Clive yesterday and and neither one knew details of his injury.

I honestly forgot Tomi was even part of the squad.
Timber and Partey have to go if they can.
This is definitely not ideal.

I am still so disappointed with Jesus - for some reason I thought he would provide a scoring spark and make the difference.

Woof

🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️

🆕 Lewis-Skelly starts at left back
🤝 Merino partners Rice
⚡️Jesus up top

Let's move one step closer to the next stage, Gunners 👊

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 11, 2024

Jesus! Needed that in the back of the net!

Another one doesn't get past the keeper from Jesus!

OneBlitzer said:

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Jesus! Needed that in the back of the net!

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Two really good chances for him, the second one tougher than the first. First one needed more conviction.

At least he's getting some shots off, one will eventually squirm its way through.

Lewis-Skelly made that one, great pass

Odegaard, you have to bury that

MO gotta learn how to use his right foot. that's a really tough shot with your left.

Could easlly be up 3 or 4 goals before the half.

Our finishing is so bad this year

Martinelli should have been subbed off. It's on Arteta if he gets sent off

trying hard to give this away in the 2nd

3rd actually, top 8 finish is well within reach now

This team just doesn't have any consistency this year. If they'd played like the first half this past weekend, they'd have buried Fulham

Kieran Tierney on the bench!!!

Second goal by Saka. Does it get any easier? The mistake pass puts the ball onto his left foot. At this point there is nothing GK can do.

I thought his 1st goal was easier.

🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪

🧱 Gabriel partners Saliba
💪 Lewis-Skelly keeps his place
🇩🇪 Havertz leads the line

Let’s give it everything, Gunners 😤

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 14, 2024

Gabriel back

Everton begins the game by delaying a restart. Glad to see the referees have stuck by their guns and maintained consistency there