FA Cup 3rd Round: Arsenal v Newcastle United | Saturday, January 9 | KO: 17:30 UTC | BBC One

[GoonerJeeves]

Our cup, might as well just hand it over.

 

[DanDare]

Yeah some of their players went to Dubai during the winter break. Willian's influence paying off.

Truly changing the culture of the club

 

[gunner4lyfe]

Good game to try the squad Newcastle been horrible last few weeks no mustafi please that what all i ask. Partey is back Gabriel too both could play

Omg. He's still here isn't he . He'll probably play then and get injured and then we're stuck with him.

 

[dashsnow17]

kinda surprised football is still being played tbh. Over a 1000 deaths a day in the UK, players testing positive left, right and centre. By any sensible measure football should probably be halted, but i guess there's either too much money riding on it or the government think we'd all lose our sh*t if we had to go through january without football.

 

[GoonerJeeves]

kinda surprised football is still being played tbh. Over a 1000 deaths a day in the UK, players testing positive left, right and centre. By any sensible measure football should probably be halted, but i guess there's either too much money riding on it or the government think we'd all lose our sh*t if we had to go through january without football.

Bojo wants to keep the morale up.

 

[Taneruit]

kinda surprised football is still being played tbh. Over a 1000 deaths a day in the UK, players testing positive left, right and centre. By any sensible measure football should probably be halted, but i guess there's either too much money riding on it or the government think we'd all lose our sh*t if we had to go through january without football.

Technically sports should be continued as much as possible, if only to keep morale up and offer distraction. Especially in hard times, where football has already proven itself to be a positive influence through the last 100 years.

(Of course that was before the money and egos got really bad)

However, that requires a much stricter bubble to the point where players should opt in or out. Not that wishy washy thinking we have where players get away with a slap on the wrist.

 

[Rex Stone]

kinda surprised football is still being played tbh. Over a 1000 deaths a day in the UK, players testing positive left, right and centre. By any sensible measure football should probably be halted, but i guess there's either too much money riding on it or the government think we'd all lose our sh*t if we had to go through january without football.

No chance Boris is going to tell his mates the oligarchs and sheikhs he’s stopping football and one of their revenue streams.

Been saying it a fair bit but in America they’ve basically made NFL teams play through outbreaks to get games completed on time.

Think the PL will start taking a page out of their book and just rush through the games even if it’s a glorified academy game.

 

[Riou]

Since Mes is all the talk...


...at his best, he was a joy to watch.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

We have won so many FA Cups we could use it as currency like bitcoin or something. FFS...

 

[REEVIE1995]

I doubt Newcastle will field their strongest side so potentially a good time to rotate some players and still play an exciting and strong team

Leno
Soares Luiz Gabriel Tierney
Willock Partey
Pepe Nelson Martinelli
Nketiah

Wishful thinking on my part that it will be Nelson starting. Willian will probably take his place in the squad.

 

[Mo Britain]

Delighted football is going on and long may it continue. I don't give a toss about the reasons but it keeps people sane so whoever keeps it going three bloody cheers from me.

Can't see us winning the cup this season but Newcastle doesn't look like the team which will knock us out. Obviously time to rest Saka and ESR and maybe play Auba and see if he wakes up. The likes of Mustafi and Cedric should play of course. One more chance maybe for Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah, chances for the latter are beginning to run out.

2-0 to the Arsenal.

 

[Balboa]

Our cup, might as well just hand it over.

Already have it though... wouldn't want them done out of a ceremony for the annual renewal...

 

[Balboa]

kinda surprised football is still being played tbh. Over a 1000 deaths a day in the UK, players testing positive left, right and centre. By any sensible measure football should probably be halted, but i guess there's either too much money riding on it or the government think we'd all lose our sh*t if we had to go through january without football.

Wait. You are surprised that the government made a policy decision that wasn't a competent one for saving lives during the pandemic?!

Just as a comparison, Mongolia shut their border to entry from China on January 27th. They've had a total of 2 deaths from covid.

The deaths we're experiencing were predictable, predicted and preventable...

 

[bergholt]

Just as a comparison, Mongolia shut their border to entry from China on January 27th. They've had a total of 2 deaths from covid.

Yes, but have you been to Mongolia? I have. It would be hard to find a less urbanised country - people hardly travel between towns there so it’s pretty easy to keep things contained.

 

[Red London]

Leno
AMN Luiz Gabriel Cedric
Elneny Willock
Pepe Willian Nelson
Eddie

That team would excite me for this fixture. In my opinion thats the only position Willian should be considered at atm.

 

[Red London]

Since Mes is all the talk...


...at his best, he was a joy to watch.

Do you have anything on Newcastle away ?

 

[Wagwaan]

Leno
Cedric - Luiz - Gabriel - AMN
Partey - Willock
Pepe - Willian - Nelson
Aubameyang

Would like to see Azeez & Balogun given some minutes too.

 

[dashsnow17]

No chance Boris is going to tell his mates the oligarchs and sheikhs he’s stopping football and one of their revenue streams.

Been saying it a fair bit but in America they’ve basically made NFL teams play through outbreaks to get games completed on time.

Think the PL will start taking a page out of their book and just rush through the games even if it’s a glorified academy game.

Yeah apparently Aston Villa will play academy players in today's game cos of their outbreak. Then they'll inevitably be complaints about why some games were postponed and others weren't.

 

[Balboa]

Yes, but have you been to Mongolia? I have. It would be hard to find a less urbanised country - people hardly travel between towns there so it’s pretty easy to keep things contained.

Are you saying that the UK has had a competent response until now, when they should be cancelling PL football?!!! Is that the moment they lost their "sensible" strategy?

Mongolia I haven't been to and I acknowledge that the comparison is not entirely equal...

Germany vs UK?

 

[Red London]

Maybe more people got covid due to the combination of the new strain (people weren't so aware of it at the start), as well as it being the festive period (many people ignored the rules set out).

I feel like the football industry can adapt to this. Players need to be aware that extra responsibility should be taken, but maybe the fact that we have gone into lockdown will do that for them.

If I had to guess I would say that infection rates will slow down in the PL in the next few weeks, we just need to weather the storm while also bringing in more stringent testing / rules to prevent outbreaks.