Slot: "I don’t know Martinelli but he comes across as a nice guy. The problem for him and in general is there’s so much time wasting and players pretending they’re injured that you can be annoyed... I'm 100% sure that if [Martinelli] knew what the injury might be, he wouldn't do that."

Terms yet to be absolutely finalised but Eric Ramsay set to be named new West Brom head coach.

Two things I'd expect to see from Arsenal tonight - A short corner or two given Liverpool don't look that switched on at set pieces - The delivery to the back post for Trossard for much the same reason, see Tanaka last month Of course putting one on Gabriel's head might work pretty well too

Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Granvenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Gakpo, Wirtz

We mustn’t forget, it’s been raining

It's the summer of 2020 and Arsenal are looking to sign an attacking midfielder. Edu's proposal? Willian. The recruitment department's? Dominik Szoboszlai. One of the many qualities they highlighted? His ability from set pieces.

A few years ago City might have a game like tonight’s where Haaland has eight out of their 13 shots but a few of the others drop to Gundogan or De Bruyne and they do something special at the death. That’s the team many have been seeing City as. And they aren’t that team anymore.

It's the summer of 2020 and Arsenal are looking to sign an attacking midfielder. Edu's proposal? Willian. The recruitment department's? Dominik Szoboszlai. One of the many qualities they highlighted? His ability from set pieces.

Champions of Ruben Amorim’s tenure, you’ll never sing that

Arsenal injury news ahead of Liverpool - Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera out but approaching last stage of rehab and could be available soon - Kai Havertz's load being monitored, Arteta hopes to have "the best version of Kai" very soon.

West Ham look doomed

It’s giving funereal

Hit the start button. Settings. Difficulty. Something easier than you just had. No one likes doing it. No one would rather have the computer complete the game for them.

Todd Boehly was a one year old the last time Chelsea had a manager who had been in place for six and a half years

Just popping on here to let you know we're almost halfway through Project 150. Season after next, that's when everything clicks. Manchester United, so nearly back.

At some stage you just can't argue with your results but Nancy leaves with a goal difference of minus-one in his seven Premiership games. The expected goal difference? Plus 11.6

Have Liverpool got some sort of dealing with balls over the top coach that they can sack?

One thing you’d say about Arsenal, they’ve learned the lessons of that Wolves game quite quickly. Played the closing stages of a one goal win very shrewdly, just as they did against Everton. Nothing unduly cavalier but more than enough threat to keep Bournemouth honest.

That goal just felt like the most inevitable thing when Gabriel made a howler. He always does this.

I really like Antoine Semenyo but the data doesn’t seem as convinced as I am. I assumed he’d swing a title race in a City shirt. Now I’m less sure www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/...

Have to admire Enzo Maresca’s certainty that he’ll get the vacancy at Manchester City in a world where Vincent Kompany has proven himself to be an at least cromulent coach.

It would have been the most natural thing in the world for Arsenal to scale back the press and drop deep when Aston Villa started driving through their lines early on. It seemed like Arsenal were playing with fire. Then they strode out onto the burning coals.

It would have been the most natural thing in the world for Arsenal to scale back the press and drop deep when Aston Villa started driving through their lines early on. It seemed like Arsenal were playing with fire. Then they strode out onto the burning coals.

I think Emi Martinez’s gamesmanship adds something to football. I’m just not sure it adds much positive to Aston Villa sometimes. So much time wasted in a first half where his team were on top and a corner where he seemed more focused on shoving Gabriel than the delivery.

Would happily never attend another 8:15 kick off. A shame that fans didn’t feel they could stay to soak in the joy at the end but plenty are going to have trains to rush to. Seems especially inconsiderate when we all know transport can be dodgy at this time of year.

Arteta says "swelling has to come right down" for Rice to be available at the weekend.

FT Arsenal 4, Aston Villa 1 - Amid all the talk of Arsenal lacking composure, authority or whatever you wanted to call it, a performance like that second half was totally predictable off the back of recent games. That doesn't make it any less impressive.

Villa just missed what must have been about a 0.9 xG chance.

Told you.

Merino really struggling with Onana so far. He's just too comfortable receiving the ball with his back to goal and turning. Similar issue with Gabriel and Rogers. And when Villa turn they're finding space to hit long balls because Arsenal have not dialled back the press.

If Kai Havertz happens to get on the pitch today before Odegaard, Saka, Gabriel and Saliba come off, it will be just the 10th time that quintet have shared the pitch since the start of last season

The 'problem' with Arsenal? They're too good at defending Medium read in an attempt to explain why everyone is feeling so stressed 👇 www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/...

The 'problem' with Arsenal? They're too good at defending Medium read in an attempt to explain why everyone is feeling so stressed 👇 www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/...

Arsenal will be "actively looking" to strengthen the squad in January, Mikel Arteta confirmed ahead of the Aston Villa game. "Depending on the availability of certain players, the window is there, I mean, we're Arsenal and we have to be looking at it."

It feels like Arsenal won’t ever escape their run of nervy wins by a one goal margin. Keep playing like they did today and they will.

Since the start of the month, Arsenal have scored five goals (plus three own goals) from 9.62 xG in the Premier League. They've also taken 12 points from a possible 15.

One day Arsenal are going to turn 24 shots to eight and a best part of two xG advantage into a big win. But it is not this day. This day Arsenal fought.

Can't believe Verbruggen doesn't deal with that fairly easily if Rutter doesn't stick his head on it. That's the added bonus of elite set piece delivery. Defenders react like you've put it on a dime when it might not have been a special ball.

Another Arsenal no hitter slips away, like tears in the rain

HT Arsenal 1, Brighton 0 - 15 shots to zero, 28 penalty box touches to two. Hosts just need to break a recent habit and score another. You might not like it but this is what somewhat below peak Arsenal performance looks like.

That Arsenal opener stems from what is some really smart work from Arsenal on their auxiliary right hand side. Rice has positioned himself a little deeper than the RM usually would in their 4-4-2 OOP shape & on hand when the ball breaks his way. Zubimendi and Rice been so smart in working this out.

PL graphic has just flashed up here saying Lewis-Skelly is starting

Riccardo Calafiori went down the tunnel three or so minutes ago, no sign of him returning yet. There could of course be a very innocent explanation for his early departure from the warm up but he had been chatting to Simon Murphy before.

If I had Cherki, Foden, Doku, Marmoush, Savinho, Bobb and Bernardo I guess I might spend my hard earned money on other positions.

Had time to kill on the train so, to the indifference of thousands, here we go. Send me your recs for something I might have missed

My "will not attack EU or NATO" legal document has people asking a lot of questions already answered by my legal document.

Morgan Rogers saw you saying all he’s doing is scoring bangers from outside the area.

Hmmm

Didn't get to see all that game but fully absorbed by the last 15 and that was a much better defence of a one goal lead. 76 passes completed to Everton's 10 from 80th onwards. Carried attacking threat but not cavalier. Ideally you don't need to defend a 1-0 but that's how to.

Isak going through one on one drills with Liverpool coach at half time. Have to assume he'll be on soon given how inept the attack has looked so far.