Tomo

He's not even in favour ahead of Trippier right now. James as a regular should gazump both of them quite comfortably.

Surely it's only a matter of time before James is ahead of Trent in the England squad. He can't defend to save his life!

What I find really impressive is how well we're locking down games against lesser sides at Stamford Bridge. Last three league opponents to the Bridge have been totally strangled out of the game almost to the point we may aswell have removed Kepa's goal. Gives me huge confidence that we can eventually build the consistency to challenge the top two.

Tbh id be more concerned if they gave Ljungberg the job which would mean they could dine on a new manager bounce with a club legend for a bit like United did (which could see them make up some points if we blip) I think Mourinho would struggle initially (may have a good second season if he lasts that long), the crowd won't accept him and the squad (to Bellerins admission) struggled with Alexis's intensity and demand to win, no way would they cope working under Mourinho.

Oh, my bad!

Not sure why anyone wanted anything other than a Leicester win today. 2nd to 4th offers the exact same reward, pull away from any realistic chasers (although that may be generous on Arsenal calling them such) then focus on Leicester.

You seem to have a lot of confidence in Arsenal winning their next match!

I'm a little worried talk of the title is starting, although i guess that's inevitable when you go above the Champions and more than matched the leaders despite losing. Realistically it's too soon, we're a squad with only 2 player's in their prime meaning a blip at some point is inevitable and i fear if we're being touted as a title dark horse people won't look at it objectively and just see a "title challenging side" winning 2 out of 7 or whatever the figure will be. We will get there i have no doubt about that, but this year's too soon. We should try and make a B line for the CL, that one could possibly happen.

Given we will likely be facing Mahrez , maybe a good idea to put Azpi LB for this one.

Cahill didn't exactly respond with enthusiasm when asked about Lampard and the Chelsea job. I think someone's a tad upset he didn't get a new deal.

Apparently we only scored from one fast break last season in the league. Can anyone remember which? Would it be Pedro's goal at Huddersfield?

Everyone says that but i can't really remember it negatively affecting us. Conte won three in a row during our 13 game winning run and the one time i remember Jose parading that award we went on to win 4-0.

I'll be amazed if Leicester do anything over than win comfortably.

That's my worry though. In theory he's an top signing (him and James would rival Robertson/Trent in terms of attacking play from what I've seen of him) but there must be a reason no one's biting when it comes to him, whether it's because his defensive game as @Blues Forever has pointed out isn't particularly strong or something deeper.

I think the games moving on from pure sitting DM's, the fact Declan Rice is considered one of the best at that role says it all. The way to go is b2b midfielders and DLP's. As for LB on paper Telles would be a class signing but there must be a reason he's coming up 27 and his only shot at a major league was a loan to Inter.

Are his legs made of steel or something? Twice now he's gone off with what looked like a very nasty injury only to be available to play again days later. He's like the anti Robben.

Does he? Zaha's record against us is a bit of a myth. He had two excellent games Vs us in 2017 but beyond that has done the square root of fuck all to us, yet people seem to think he's to us what Drogba was to Arsenal.

When it works. I just hope that's always the case going forward. Apart from the one time it was saved against Ederson he's sent the keeper the wrong way every time. If keepers were getting close id say he's playing with fire a bit but they ain't. Coming up to games against us I am very certain opposition keepers are studying those penalties hard trying to suss out how he does it yet he keeps sending them for hot dogs. He obviously has a method else he'd have been found out by now. Excluding any potential penalty shootouts for Napoli (as transfermarkt don't have data for shootouts) he's scored 20 and missed 2. Unless your names Matt Me Tisser that's a fantastic record.

Are they? Draw at The Mestailla and all we have to do is beat Lillie.

I am a fan but that doesn't mean I can't be objective, for example i would admit I overestimated him from a technical point of view as he's good but not as much as thought in that regard. Had Sarri remained I would agree that Ruben would be the first choice in that position but now we're playing a system that requires an insane of energy and off the ball/tactical nous which while Ruben has heavily improved on that beyond anything I can imagine, Mount is unbelievable for his age in that regard, Derby fell off a cliff when he was injured last season because they simply missed his energy in midfield and couldn't compete with anyone half decent.

In hindsight I actually think the board probably did the worst thing out of the three options and compromised with his plan Bs. As soon as the safe bet Plan As were unattainable Marina, Emenalo or whoever should have looked at the his previous transfer record, brought Rudiger and another striker not named Morata, maybe Auba and told him to use the academy for the rest of the depth like as you said Lampard is doing.

Emerson is first choice, Marcos was only in last night because Lampard didn't believe the former was ready for three games in one week so soon after return.

Jose's a pussycat compared to Conte. Jose just sulks and throws passive aggressive digs if he genuinely has a bad window. Conte goes to war with club heirachys even when he has a decent window (this one at Inter) and got players he wanted but were not first choice (2017 here). He's like a football manager version of Veruca Salt in that regard, which makes it all the more mind-blowing given how good he is getting not so great teams punching (Juve in his first two seasons, Italy, 16/17 Chelsea). I honestly believe if Conte was fluent in English, his behaviour in the second season would have been 10 times worse.

That's an interesting choice I never really thought of him. One issue with Cesc though maybe we could be a in a position that Arsenal were when they had him as a player in that he will have half an eye on Barcelona which will mean we will need a contingency plan if/when the time comes.

I can't help but wonder just how much he was at fault for what happened to Morata, Bakayoko and Christensen that season. While I'm in no way absolving all three from blame I have to wonder, when three players start the season well but end it scared of their own shadow you surely have to look at the manager? One you could say it's them, even two at a push, but three? Also on another note what Lampard is doing with all our injuries makes the ridiculous excuses he's currently making at not only Inter but his abysmal job (FA Cup aside) in his last six months even weaker than they already were.