Liverpool’s opening game of the new Premier League season was paused after Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo reported he had been racially abused by a supporter at Anfield. More from @nnamdionye.bsky.social

I haven't got a problem with Zinchenko's comments btw. He acknowledges how difficult it is to go from the starting XI to an unused sub, says he is grateful to be getting the wage he gets, and heaps praise on MLS. Extremely candid and refreshing honesty imo. Full story below.

Visit Tottenham. Because anything would be better than Visit Rwanda. Sign the petition here. #GunnersForPeace www.gunnersforpeace.co.uk

Galacticos Schmalacticos. Wrote a shamelessly nostalgic revisit of the Arsenal-Real Madrid adventure in 2006. The oddest back four, Henry strutting his stuff, and the rest. It all came together to create something that felt impossible. www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Neymar has been included in the Brazil national team squad for their upcoming March fixtures. He has scored three goals and provided three assists in seven games for Santos since rejoining in January. @nnamdionye.bsky.social

Ousmane Dembele is hooping out there, my word.

It’s been said so many times by now, but Rice is fantastic in interviews. he’s not bad on the pitch either.

In dismissing the Africa Cup of Nations' status as a 'major tournament', Jamie Carragher reflected a wider issue of how the competition is regarded in football. @jaydmharris.bsky.social explains why there should be no doubting AFCON's importance. www.nytimes.com/athletic/615...

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that centre-back Antonio Rudiger is ready to return for his side’s Champions League play-off second leg against Manchester City on Wednesday. More from Guillermo Rai and @nnamdionye.bsky.social

After Havertz collapsed on the pitch against Wolves on January 25th (10 days before the transfer window closed), he played: - 20 minutes against Girona. -90 minutes against Man City. - 90 Minutes against Newcastle. Those three games were all in the space of 7 days.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining a torn hamstring during the team’s training camp in Dubai. Full story from @david-ornstein.bsky.social and @gunnerblog.bsky.social ⤵️

Dead bodies are decomposing on the streets of Goma. The UN has described “immense human suffering” and a death toll nearing 3,000, following a Rwanda-backed offensive. Arsenal’s sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda has become impossible to justify. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Kai Havertz has suffered a suspected muscular injury at Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai. Will be assessed. Considerable concern for Arsenal given their paucity of attacking options. For @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/612...

Do we all want this Rashford debut goal then?

Annoying because I felt that Martinelli was just starting to impress on the right wing. He was bright against Villa, Wolves, and City. I have no doubts that Nwaneri will be more than fine but I worry about his workload over the next month and a bit. #afc

Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli faces more than a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury suffered in Wednesday’s EFL Cup loss at Newcastle United. More from @david-ornstein.bsky.social ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/612...

Kieran Tierney at LW anyone?

🔺 Why Watkins 🔺 Morata interest 🔺 Garcia agent meeting 🔺 Zubimendi progress 🔺 Nypan decision 🔺 Why Zini stayed Here’s everything we know about Arsenal’s January window - and the gamble they have taken with their attack. For @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...

Alexander Isak delivered a devastating demonstration of why Arteta wants him so much - and why Newcastle will be so unwilling to let him go. But Arsenal could have had him in 2022. Ahead of a big summer, there's surely a lesson there. @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/611...

So many things that have been introduced to football of late have made it less fun. The Lewis-Skelly/getting huffy over celebrations thing being the latest. It’s supposed to be fun. Stop making football less fun. www.nytimes.com/athletic/611...

Is there a conspiracy against #AFC? It is doubtful. But recent refereeing decisions & the reactions to them feel like the endpoint when you task people with solving issues football has never & will never solve. And then tell fans they’re wrong to think what they think. @cdeccleshare.bsky.social

Michael Oliver will referee 19th-place Ipswich Town vs 20th-place Southampton on Saturday.

Why does Lisandro Martinez keep doing that?

Buzzing for Esse but knee sliding while 2-1 down is hilarious.

The worst part of that red card is that Arsenal fans have been forced to become used to decisions like that.

Kiwior RCB or Partey RB?

If it's a stop-gap striker on loan for the rest of the season that we are looking for, Randal Kolo Muani was right there.

Calum Chambers is HOW OLD today?

It would be a boost to sign Zubimendi ahead of Premier League rivals but'm not overly excited by the possibility of it moving Rice out of the No 6 position permanently. Arsenal's third (or fourth) attempt at trying to replace Xhaka. More here - www.nytimes.com/athletic/606... #afc

On August 2nd, 2019, Arsenal signed Nico Pepe from Lille for £73m. On August 1st, 2019, AC Milan signed Rafa Leao from Lille for £30m . Leao had eight goals and two assists the season before. Pepe had 23 goals and 12 assists the season before. #afc

You've got to really feel for Trevoh Chalobah.

📊 With Bukayo Saka sidelined, Arsenal need a wide forward. But who is out there? @theathleticfc.bsky.social 's data team took a look at some possible options. www.nytimes.com/athletic/604...

Since Peseiro left in Febuary 2024 🇳🇬: June '24: George resigns after two months after dispute with Osimhen. August '24: NFF announce Labbadia but deal falls through after tax issues. January 25': NFF appoint Chelle. Third time lucky? @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/604...

🎥 "A disastrous result" - Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle | On the Whistle youtu.be/miFit5_ONlc

I also don't think it's as simple as "sign a striker." Signing the wrong one would set this project back even further. You absolutely need to bring in a reliable goalscorer. The problem is there aren't a lot of those around at the moment and the ones that are would cost a lot.

It's insane how little game-time Anthony Gordon got during the Euros. He's sensational.

That Raheem Sterling signing looks worse and worse every day.

Spending £96m on Havertz and Merino over two summers to still start Rice at left-eight is a failure in squad-building from the recruitment department.

Havertz hugging the touchline. Merino on the bench. Rice STILL in attacking midfield. Sterling on the bench. More than reasonable to questions Arteta’s approach today.

These Partey turnovers...

December 14: First Premier League game. January 7: Starting League Cup semi-final. Myles Lewis-Skelly has made the Arsenal starting LB spot his own. Follow @theathleticfc.bsky.social live blog here - www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv... #Arsenal #AFC

16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter is on the bench for the Carabao Cup semi-final. Neto is cup-tied, while Tommy Setford has picked up a muscular problem and will be out for a few weeks. More in the @theathleticfc.bsky.social liveblog👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana could miss the rest of the season with the hamstring injury he sustained in December head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed. More from @nnamdionye.bsky.social & @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social

In my opinion that wasn’t the awful attacking performance that everyone is making it out to be? #AFC

I’m enjoying this Havertz left-eight remontada. #AFC

So, who in that forward line will step up in Saka's absence? I think you're looking at Jesus or Martinelli (or both) to produce some big performances. #AFC

🚨 Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka will be out for "many weeks" with a hamstring injury. Raheem Sterling also absent for "weeks" with a knee problem. @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/601...

What if Martinelli was the Saka back-up all along? #AFC

When Arsenal signed Havertz last summer, it was with the idea of an attacking upgrade on Xhaka in that role. Now would be a handy time for that to start working.