Ødegaard was so good. Suddenly looks like himself again, funny that he’s had these injury setbacks in the last few weeks yet looks as good as ever.

Saka LW session and a goal ✅

I feel like we played a lot of slick football in that half, particularly at the start, but a lot of the moves ended with a sloppy pass or the wrong decision. Conceded too many chances for the dominance of possession too. Happy enough, but we can still step it up again.

Great stuff from Gyokeres, really unlucky not to get the goal. Well followed up by Martinelli!

Whole stadium joins in for a period of applause for Billy Vigar, including the Olympiacos fans ❤️

Ødegaard back starting is great, assume it’s Martinelli on the right to take some pressure off Saka recently back from injury. Seems Dowman is in the squad too despite not being on this graphic. He was on the pre-match walk, so makes sense.

Can’t see why anyone would complain about how Merino was used today. Came on for a defender to provide an extra body in forward areas to attack crosses, with Newcastle sitting deep. That’s a very attacking change.

Oh, that reaction shot of Eddie Howe fuming at our late winner is something I absolutely needed in my life.

Very happy for the Arsenal fans who made the long trip through train cancellations and delays that they’re going home on a high. They deserve it.

Gabriel absolutely rubbing salt in the wound with the way he celebrated was beautiful.

Started well. Bad, bad football match from 34 minutes onwards. Fantastic three points.

VAR checked the handball and decided we were better off with Gabriel attacking a corner.

Why did Sky just very obviously turn down the volume on the Arsenal fans?

Fair play, Merino. Very good header.

Does… Osula think that when Raya places the ball down for a goal kick he’s then allowed to enter the area?

I don’t look forward to our games at this stadium at all. Not because I’m worried we’ll lose, I’m worried when we play at the Etihad or Anfield but I still look forward to it. But with this fixture, my valid concern is that after the game I will not be talking about football.

Same incident twice within seconds. First time Saka on Gordon, foul. Second time Tonali on Saka, no foul. No reason for the disparity.

Why didn’t we have Gillett looking at 20 replays to make the decision again this time?

The way that penalty incident was dealt with was absolutely re-refereeing by the way. The ref has seen the incident live but they’ve asked him to watch it again 20 times and make a new decision.

Jarred Gillett strikes again. Never a clear and obvious error. You can brush the ball and still commit a foul.

Very frustrating to concede a corner and a shot defending a player who was definitely offside and active.

Boring game, comfortable win, I’m going home.

They’re playing “The Wonder of You” over the loudspeakers. Feel like I’m at an early Emirates era home game.

The grounds staff have decided that they desperately need to work on the pitch in the penalty area at the same time Arsenal are doing shooting drills. Both White and Saka have had words with them.

The players are definitely approaching this shooting drill like Martinelli is LW and Merino is CF.

Jack Porter with the squad tonight.

I guess we’re at a point where Saka wants minutes after injury rather than needing rest. Hopefully he’ll still come off early with Newcastle at the weekend, then Dowman can come in.

Kepa debut, Norgaard first start, Martinelli at CF, White back, lots to keep an eye on there. Shame Dowman isn’t starting.

Incredible finish by Martinelli, by the way. Haven’t seen a great replay but seems like he used the outside of his right foot to lob the keeper from the left side of the box, which is a hugely difficult technique.

Basically the reverse of the fixture at the Etihad last season except this time the away side played negative anti-football with 11 men for 90 minutes instead of with 10 for 45.

Saka and Eze coming on

Remember when they were cracking down on simulation or trying to deceive the referee this season? What did Bernardo Silva (on a yellow) just do?

I assume the people who call us boring every week are going to be all over City for this first 25 minutes of trying their hardest to avoid the ball being in play.

Grateful to all these teams limiting their wins to 1 goal to keep our position high in the table. Keep it up.

Carvajal unhappiness is my joy.

Nice of them to light up the stadium in our colours.

One moment that really summed up Athletic Club’s approach before we scored was when they won a free-kick and one of their own players kicked the ball away, then encouraged the crowd. Like for him the thing to be excited about was having the ball out of play.

Athletic Club going the same salty route as Spurs by trying to drown out the Arsenal fans with music through the speakers. 90 minutes of diving and delaying the restart for nothing, eat it.

Great to see Trossard and Martinelli scoring important goals. They’re still here, we’ll still need them this season, people mocking them in favour of the shiny new toys need to grow up.

Martinelli!! Top stuff, shutting a lot of people up.

Obligatory stadium photo.

Soucek will be suspended against Arsenal, as West Ham play us in 3 PL games and they don’t have a League Cup game to serve the suspension in.

In the stadium I missed that Raya saved that Wood attempt onto the bar. That’s an incredible save.

Feel like I haven’t seen people mentioning how good Madueke’s first touch is. I didn’t know until I started watching him for us on a regular basis that he’s consistently good at receiving in a way that keeps his momentum going. Improvises well when it’s a tricky pass.

Madueke might be the best I’ve ever felt about an attacking signing after four games with no goals or assists. You’d have to lack a brain or make your judgements entirely off Transfermarkt stats to think he’s been anything but excellent.

Mosquera is actually an incredible signing, it’s unbelievable we didn’t face huge competition for him and pay a lot more. Our defensive talent ID is fantastic but this one looks like a no-brainer.

I’m not the first to point it out but if we went into a game without Saka, Ødegaard, Havertz, Saliba, and Rice last season you’d simply expect us not to win. Three of them out today, one injured early on and one only used as a late sub and it was comfortable.

GYOKERESSSS

Oh my days, Zubimendi. What a signing.