Also, consider this my semi-annual plea that an "assist" should be credited to:

1. The last attacking player to touch the ball before an own goal.

2. The player who draws the foul or kicks the ball that is handled resulting in a penalty that is successfully scored.

Does the pronunciation of that name automatically translate to "goalscorer" ?

Declan Rice's life is a cologne commercial.

I knew it would be credited as an Own Goal. But I dont think that's right. If no one touched it the ball would have gone in the net. The fact that he punches it into his own net should be treated like a howler or a deflection and the Olympico should stand for Noni.

The dream lives on

23 played, 15 matches remaining for the Prem (+4)
8 played, 7 matches remaining for UCL (Rd of 16)
1 played, 5 matches remaining for FA (Rd of 32)
4 played, 2 matches remaining for EFL (Semi)

36 played, 29 matches remaining for immortality

Suspensions. Duh. Disregard where appropriate.

Perfection. Though I won't mind if it's Merino in place of Odegaard or Jesus in place of Gyokeres.

If any combination of Saka, Rice, Timber, or Zubimendi see more than 5 total minutes, I'll be annoyed.

I agree.... but isnt it nice & at least a little refreshing that Arsenal can drop a "crap" performance against the title holders & still earn a point & maintain their lead?

I'd have loved to see Arsenal win & extend...but they played like crap against a talented side & still didnt lose or concede.

I agree that it's game state vs Liverpool. But I think he plays in any game where Arsenal AREN'T leading by 1 going into the 70th minute.

If the game is done and dusted OR they need a goal to pull even/take the lead? He plays.

But if Arsenal are clinging to a 1 goal lead (again), he won't play.

Makes my moral & political high-horse seem very small and feeble.

But nothing short of a national uprising is going to move the needle against this feckless, nasty, illegal regime.

And I'm simply not willing or capable to lead an uprising. So we sit & cringe & wait & hope & vote & then hope again.

As an American who detests this administration, I can tell you that you are right.

But it is galling to know that I'm not going to take a stand.

It's humbling to realize that I am not willing to die, go to jail, or lose my job in a likely futile attempt to exact real change. But I know I won't.

In the away trip to Anfield last year Arsenal gell behind 2-0 in the 1st half. I would have GLADLY accepted a 2-0 defeat to not have to risk the 3 goal record in the second half.

And we went on to even that game up. But Merino left with a red card in like the 80th and I was petrified.

I love this stat beyond reason.

Literally, beyond reason.

To the point where in games where we've allowed two goals, I worry more about conceding a third than the actual result of the game.

I know it's dumb. But the heart wants what the heart wants.

Arsenal scores 2.03 g & allows 0.38 g per 90 with him playing.

2.25 for & 0.71 allowed w/out him playing.

Now, there can be 1,000 good reasons for all of these numbers and I'm not convinced anyone can say definitively if any one given player makes a team better or worse.

Arsenal is 18-2-2 in the 22 games in which Gyokeres has appeared w/ 37 g for & 7 g against when he is on the pitch in 1,640 minutes. +30

They are 4-2-0 in games he didn't appear w/22 goals for & 7 goals against w/o Gyokeres on the pitch in 880 minutes. +15

Feels like a moving goalposts scenario. There were multiple times where he was the only red shirt in the box with 5 or 6 blue shirts. If he runs back and forth in a maze of defenders it's like "why doesn't he get open!" And if he drops back it's like "why isnt he in the box!"