Tom Marshall-Bailey

Point has been made before about PSG being a team that seem to tire after electric starts but the same is true of this Arsenal team. And leave themselves vulnerable to dropped points every time because of how badly these attacking players are performing.

Was surprised to see Rice had already racked up 100 appearances for the club but that’s exactly why Arsenal paid that fee. His availability for the last few years has been ridiculous. People forget he has gone deep into European competition with club & country in that time too.

Mikel Arteta is having nothing to do with Nico Williams on this evidence. So loose in possession it’s untrue.

Watching last night back and seeing how PSG use the ball in tight spaces makes the Zubimendi deal make so much more sense. Not sure there really is an analog to Vitinha in world football at the moment but Zubimendi is probably one of the closest in terms of technical security.

Watching this game makes you wonder if Arteta might have to go against his better instincts and embrace some chaos next week. When Arsenal got the ball forward quickly into attacking areas last night and actually made PSG defend, there were moments.

Felt pretty telling how the fanbase feel about Odegaard currently that Rice seizing the free-kick from him at the start of the second half was greeted with loud cheers. There’s a disconnect and a lack of trust there at the moment and that’s not healthy when it’s your captain.

It’s getting to the point with Martin Odegaard where it would probably help if he discussed what’s actually going on here. He’s not looked right all season since that injury. On an individual level, that was nowhere near the level needed.

Can’t overstate how impressive this has been from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to create history. Plenty have sneered at the Wrexham story but they’ve lived up to everything they pledged to do for that football club. Incredible from #WxmAFC

RT @WestStandTone: This photo was taken at kickoff 9 years ago today. We played WBA, won 2-0 for our 500th PL win, Alexis Sanchez with bo…

Mikel Merino’s form is probably a bit a bit of a lesson to not jump to knee-jerk reactions on players and appreciate time is always needed. I’ll be the first to admit I doubted whether he was the right fit before and after he signed but he’s an undroppable from this team now.

RT @charles_watts: Thanks to all my podcast subscribers/listeners for all the support in moving over to the new show in the last 24 hours.…

What a night. Nothing new but Declan Rice an absolute joke. Monstrous performance yet again and has embarrassed a lot of people who went early on him this season. Arsenal’s hopes of winning this rest squarely on him having this impact again. Him, Saliba and Saka a level above.

Think it was telling how Rice (and Saka) went against Jover’s instructions last night. It’s no slight on Odegaard but the criticism of this team is that everything feels too choreographed and sometimes you need a player to just seize a moment. Big players do exactly that.

A really difficult night for the rival fans blinded by tribalism here. Still see so many people who should know better have the nerve to talk players like Saka and Rice down. Both giants tonight in an incredible team performance. These Tierney cameos won’t be forgotten either.

WHY

Tom Marshall-Bailey @TomMarshall_B

WHY HAS HE NOT BEEN TAKING FREE-KICKS SOONER

WHY HAS HE NOT BEEN TAKING FREE-KICKS SOONER

I’ve worried about if Gyokeres is the right fit for Arsenal given he seems to be a player who thrives in transition but he just has so many of the raw ingredients this team needs in a striker. Isak feels like a fantasy and I’m yet to be convinced by Sesko’s ability to adapt.