Rival watch

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Partey is being assessed and is likely to miss the Brighton match, but I’ve not heard anything yet (touch wood) that indicates he’ll be out for a significant period of time.

He had a shocking game yesterday, but he’s been one of our best players since the turn of the year, so it’s going to be a blow regardless. I’m doubtful that Lokonga is ready to deputise in his absence. Let’s see, though.

Tierney is the biggest blow. Tavares got hooked off at HT after his 2nd start this calendar year. He also got hooked off at HT in his 1st start this year too (Nottingham Forest). I’m not sure if he’ll play for us again this season. Arteta doesn’t seem to trust him.

In which case, Xhaka, Saka or an academy player will have to go left-back. None of those scenarios are ideal.

Is Tomiyasu (sp) due back soon? If so you have played Soares at LB haven't you
 
Is Tomiyasu (sp) due back soon? If so you have played Soares at LB haven't you

Who knows <laugh>

He had an innocuous calf injury in January that ruled him out for a month, then just as he was about to get back to full fitness, he then suffered another injury with his other calf and that has ruled him out for a while. He was supposed to be in contention for the Brighton match, but now it seems like he won’t be back until mid-April. His return date keeps being moved.

We really need him back soon, though. The last thing we need to a tiny squad is further setbacks.
 
Who knows <laugh>

He had an innocuous calf injury in January that ruled him out for a month, then just as he was about to get back to full fitness, he then suffered another injury with his other calf and that has ruled him out for a while. He was supposed to be in contention for the Brighton match, but now it seems like he won’t be back until mid-April. His return date keeps being moved.

We really need him back soon, though. The last thing we need to a tiny squad is further setbacks.

Ooooh! Ooooh! Please sir! .... I could mention some of the benefits from having "a tiny squad" :emoticon-0105-wink:
 
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Technically it isn't because even if we beat them because they can still win their game in hand, and overhaul our goal difference advantage over their remaining games. Not that it will pan out like that, but it's nice to be discussing a technicality anyway.
I thought about that. My current opinion is that you can neither deny nor affirm that GD is controllable by Spurs, since both clubs will end their last game at more or less the same time. Theoretically, if not practically, GD is controllable if Spurs end their last match later than Arsenal end theirs. And if not, not.

In any event, I agree it's an intriguing case, especially as I'm not convinced I understand it at this point.
 
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I thought about that. My current opinion is that you can neither deny nor affirm that GD is controllable by Spurs, since both clubs will end their last game at more or less the same time. Theoretically, if not practically, GD is controllable if Spurs end their last match later than Arsenal end theirs. And if not, not.

In any event, I agree it's an intriguing case, especially as I'm not convinced I understand it at this point.
I think it is a reasonable conjecture that there is a maximum achievable number of goals that can be scored in a football match due to the laws of physics. It is theoretically in our power to score all those and Arsenal can't improve their GD relative to ours if we do.
 
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I thought about that. My current opinion is that you can neither deny nor affirm that GD is controllable by Spurs, since both clubs will end their last game at more or less the same time. Theoretically, if not practically, GD is controllable if Spurs end their last match later than Arsenal end theirs. And if not, not.

In any event, I agree it's an intriguing case, especially as I'm not convinced I understand it at this point.

You can extrapolate the predicted GF/GA for both at season end,
Using the average to date per game, would be reasonable.
Using the past 5 or so games would show a massive advantage to Spurs.

Similarly so for final points total.
 
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Unai Emery talking about managing four players with Spurs credentials at Villarreal

Emery says that Villarreal is an attractive option for Premier League players who are ambitious to win trophies but have little chance to do so, given how few teams can really compete in England.

“Tottenham is also a very big club, but here they (those players) could win things,” he says. “Tottenham has been years without winning anything, no trophies. There are other very good teams in England who do not win things either. It is not easy to win. Liverpool and Manchester City are winning at the moment, recently it was Manchester United and Chelsea too. Teams like West Ham are very good, but they have hardly any chance of winning anything.”


How r/gunners took that same quote

"Here those players could win things. Tottenham has been years without winning anything, no trophies."
 
Sounds like Utd are closing in on appointing ten Hag for next season. Intrigued to see how he’ll do, was someone I was interested in seeing us appoint prior to Conte.