Rice injured and will not take part today. Knee injury so expected to be out

[Rich]

for a few weeks.

No Timber or Calafiori either.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

for a few weeks.

No Timber or Calafiori either.

This is beyond a joke now. I'm generally a Vedic hippy, but perhaps we should find some first born sons of Sperz fans and sacrifice them to those dodgy Aztec Gods that are into that sort of thing.

One of them really likes it if you flay them first, apparently.

[Peter]

for a few weeks.

No Timber or Calafiori either.

Is it possible for something to be utterly absurd and not even remotely surprisng at the same time?

I think we are reaching the point where serious questions have to be asked about what is going on behind the scenes. There is clearly a significant problem.

[Rich]

Is it possible for something to be utterly absurd and not even remotely surprisng at the same time?

I think we are reaching the point where serious questions have to be asked about what is going on behind the scenes. There is clearly a significant problem.

Well we may have to cut the medical team / coaches some slack on this one. Was an impact injury picked up against Brighton. Not enough to force him off.

He was hopeful of playing today and even stayed in the hotel last night. But recovery has not quite been as swift as he & Arteta hoped.

If we can find a left back then might be nice for MLS to play there as I think he has some great qualities as an 8.

[Peter]

Well we may have to cut the medical team / coaches some slack on this one. Was an impact injury picked up against Brighton. Not enough to force him off.

He was hopeful of playing today and even stayed in the hotel last night. But recovery has not quite been as swift as he & Arteta hoped.

If we can find a left back then might be nice for MLS to play there as I think he has some great qualities as an 8.

Too late. MLS slipped as he was leaving the hotel. Unfortunately, he slid along the floor and took out Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, and Merino. Knee injuries all round.

Then Saka tripped getting on the coach and landed on Odegaard and Gyokeres. Impact injuries for all. Zubimendi saw the whole thing and fainted, banging his head.

Not clear how long all of those will be out for, but the hope is it will be days rather than years.

[Rich]

Too late. MLS slipped as he was leaving the hotel. Unfortunately, he slid along the floor and took out Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, and Merino. Knee injuries all round.

Then Saka tripped getting on the coach and landed on Odegaard and Gyokeres. Impact injuries for all. Zubimendi saw the whole thing and fainted, banging his head.

Not clear how long all of those will be out for, but the hope is it will be days rather than years.

[Peter]

A few months ago I joked that when our SIX injured forwards came back we would probably start losing defenders.....

Yesterday I joked that midfield would.presumably be the next injury crisis.....

I should probably stop joking about it

[WES]

A few months ago I joked that when our SIX injured forwards came back we would probably start losing defenders.....

Yesterday I joked that midfield would.presumably be the next injury crisis.....

I should probably stop joking about it

How do we know Timber and Calafiori are out?

You lot a serious bunch of bed wetters

[Peter]

How do we know Timber and Calafiori are out?

You lot a serious bunch of bed wetters

Timber has moved back to the Netherlands so is expecting to be out for a while.

Calafiori was last seen in a full body cast.....

[Peter]

How do we know Timber and Calafiori are out?

You lot a serious bunch of bed wetters

On a serious note....Wes, it is ****ing ludicrous. Farcical.

[WES]

On a serious note....Wes, it is ****ing ludicrous. Farcical.

Timber was seen with the squad, if he starts and Gabriel starts we will be missing 2 of what most people considered to be our first 11 at the start of the year. And some thought MLS would be first choice.

And we will have Martinelli, Jesus, Madueke, Nwaneri
and Eze on the bench.

So not really that bad at all.

[Peter]

Timber was seen with the squad, if he starts and Gabriel starts we will be missing 2 of what most people considered to be our first 11 at the start of the year. And some thought MLS would be first choice.

And we will have Martinelli, Jesus, Madueke, Nwaneri
and Eze on the bench.

So not really that bad at all.

Fair enough. I think Rice is a pretty bloody big miss, particularly for a big game.

Let's hope Tomber plays because God knows who the 5th choice right back is.....

[WES]

Timber was seen with the squad, if he starts and Gabriel starts we will be missing 2 of what most people considered to be our first 11 at the start of the year. And some thought MLS would be first choice.

And we will have Martinelli, Jesus, Madueke, Nwaneri
and Eze on the bench.

So not really that bad at all.

So arguably we are missing one of our first 11, Rice.

And a bench of Havertz, Madueke, Martinelli, Eze, Jesus, Norgaard, White and MLS

Bedwetters

We?ll lose, of course

[WES]

Fair enough. I think Rice is a pretty bloody big miss, particularly for a big game.

Let's hope Tomber plays because God knows who the 5th choice right back is.....

but yes, Rice a big loss

[Peter]

but yes, Rice a big loss

Having Ben White back is big and might help us keep him and Timber fit.

I don't think we will necessarily lose but I don't really see us winning. And we absolutely need to.