Arsenal v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Jamie Shackleton replaces the injured Kalvin Phillips

[1964white]

Think we all know it will be! When has Bielsa ever surprised us?

Can't believe he started with Klich after Bielsa admitted he wasn't 100% fit

We were totally exposed in the middle of the park & at the back in the first half!

[SG90]

Klich has a hip problem, time for Pablo or Gelhardt now.

[gessa]

No I don't. No need to call someone a cretin though and tell them to go support another team!!

We'll have to disagree on this one Ang, I'm afraid

[becchio bear]

I think it is about time if a player goes down cheaply seeking a pen... ref gives it and then has to go to VAR... if VAR declines then that player should be yellow carded. Why do they get away with it? They've tried to cheat the ref, been found out and then....nothing

[gessa]

I think it is about time if a player goes down cheaply seeking a pen... ref gives it and then has to go to VAR... if VAR declines then that player should be yellow carded. Why do they get away with it? They've tried to cheat the ref, been found out and then....nothing

Maguire should have been booked against Albion, for just that.

[Boo Radley]

On the Bamford incident...

Did VAR go on strike?

Souness and JFH said it was a stonewall penalty. No Arsenal player touched the ball and Cedric just took Bamford out. That was a key turning point.

[becchio bear]

Maguire should have been booked against Albion, for just that.

I was watching that game and said exactly that!!

[Mountain]

There is one big obvious lesson today.

Sometimes teams that cost half a billion to assemble beat teams that cost just over 100 million, and while we have a God as a manager even He can't miracle a good result every single weekend.

[The Subhuman]

I think it is about time if a player goes down cheaply seeking a pen... ref gives it and then has to go to VAR... if VAR declines then that player should be yellow carded. Why do they get away with it? They've tried to cheat the ref, been found out and then....nothing

Now that I agree with...

[becchio bear]

Now that I agree with...

Oh mfg

[Boo Radley]

I think if we got the Bamford pen they should have got the Cooper barge...I think obstruction would be the point but Paddy needed to be quicker, they just shut the gate on him.

VAR showed that Cooper never touched Saka. He was leaning in but Saka was already diving for a penalty. Hence the change of decision.

Saka is a fine talent but the vile influence of the likes of Shaka and Gabriel who’s constant cheating goes on unchecked. Saka doesn’t need to do this but he’ll build a bad reputation very quickly if he keeps this up.

[gessa]

There is one big obvious lesson today.

Sometimes teams that cost half a billion to assemble beat teams that cost just over 100 million, and while we have a God as a manager even He can't miracle a good result every single weekend.

I know, can you believe some are calling for his head.
Unbelievable

[1964white]

Agreed, sentiment aside, he's had enough chances to impress and rarely does. We have too many passengers at the moment, hopefully next season we should have more depth of quality.

We'll suffer second season syndrome if we continue with the whole of this squad.

We are punching above our weight due to Bielsa even though he cocked up today, credit to MB for changing it in the 2nd half where we appeared a far more balanced side.

More quality required in several positions (first team & back up) come the summer!

[1964white]

Souness and JFH said it was a stonewall penalty. No Arsenal player touched the ball and Cedric just took Bamford out. That was a key turning point.

Yes Boo I enjoy listening to Souness, one of the better pundits, he loves watching Leeds play.

[1964white]

Maguire should have been booked against Albion, for just that.

[SG90]

We'll suffer second season syndrome if we continue with the whole of this squad.

We are punching above our weight due to Bielsa even though he cocked up today, credit to MB for changing it in the 2nd half where we appeared a far more balanced side.

More quality required in several positions (first team & back up) come the summer!

Yep we need to learn from the Blunts. Defensively we have been a shambles and must improve. We don't have enough goals from midfield and need competition for Meslier and Bamford.

[1964white]

Yet Roberts gets constantly slagged off and condemned despite the same excuse. At least I'm not calling him s**t and ridiculing him

Much better from Roberts today although I don't think he is a long term answer if we have ambitions to compete with the big boys.

[Boo Radley]

There is one big obvious lesson today.

Sometimes teams that cost half a billion to assemble beat teams that cost just over 100 million, and while we have a God as a manager even He can't miracle a good result every single weekend.

We all agree with that and recognise the man as being our saviour. Our issue is when he plays much of the entire team in positions where they are not playing to their optimum. This means the £100M team looks nothing like that. They are on the back foot adjusting and Arsenal made the most of that uncertainty.

[1964white]

FULL TIME - Arsenal 4, Leeds United 2
Leeds restore some pride, but why didn't we play like that first half?

Because the line-up was unbalanced with too many players all at sea.

[becchio bear]

Because the line-up was unbalanced with too many players all at sea.

Why didn't we bring on Pablo?? He would have steadied the ship with the players all at sea!!