This made me laugh:

Back in Big Cup for the first time in six years and having progressed serenely through their group as winners, the Premier League’s other remaining representatives, Arsenal, can look forward to a trip to Porto, who they swatted aside at the same stage more than 13 years ago when a young Lord Bendtner chipped in with a second-leg hat-trick. While the Gooners may not have anyone among their ranks boasting the same type of professionalism, ambition and dead-eyed precision these days, they will certainly be optimistic regarding their chances of making it through this Round of Arsenal snooze-fest, into the last eight and possibly beyond.

The fact that the FA chose to justify their action against Arteta on the grounds of “He has a higher profile than other managers” (I.e. we are going to treat him differently because he manages Arsenal) is really quite shocking. Then they follow this up with booking him for waving in the next match.

That both of our loses have been massively influenced by questionable refereeing decisions only adds the the sense that this is by design.

I’ve spent far too much time dreading not only what bullshit call will go against us next, but how the rest of the football community will bend over backwards to justify it.

Xhaka will be taking advantage of the German winter break to watch us for the West Ham game apparently, can’t wait for him to be back.

Can’t dodge the Osimhen assist highlight from this weekend. I know he’s expensive, but I prefer having him on our team. He’s 3 years younger than Toney so there is inherently more value there.

Can Timber return before the City away game? I know emptyhad is a library but referees tend to do major fuck ups when we play away

I just found out that Declan was a doubt due to illness for the BHA game. I really hope Jorginho’s foot is recovering OK.