Win FA Cup 3rd Round: Oxford 0 - 3 Arsenal | Monday 9th, January | KO: 20:00 | ITV

Just play the second strings. Hopefully the injury returnees can use this to get some minutes in their legs.

Prediction
Oxford 0-3 Arsenal

No repeat of the Nottingham Forest debacle

Arteta speaks

 

[drippin]

I wasn't keen on that performance. No squad players stood up and forced their way into Arteta's plan.

Last 30 minutes was decent. Nice couple of goals for Eddie. Good to see ESR getting a few minutes too.

Absolutely idiotic starting Saka, if he's injured for the NLD I'm going to be fuming.

Almost got a rematch with Oxford even with Saka starting...

 

[Riou]

@Oxeki

Hurry up and get the Sp**s thread started son...

 

[freeglennhelder2]

Struggling with conflicting emotions re lee Dixon the player and lee Dixon the commentator.

He was is a right miserable mood today. Almost in Stewart Robson territory. Even called out his bro for staying in the hospitality suite at the the start of the 2nd half.

 

[Riou]

Dixon is an awful commentator, he does the unbearable "I don't like football and will just be miserable about everything" style (ala Keane, Sutton etc) hate it...why I prefer the likes of McCoist or Gray back in the day, least they ae excited about ****.

They should get Jerry "The King" Lawler for the Prem soon, he would be great...get the 90s version of him too, when it cuts to a female in the crowd things would get spicy!

 

[Farzad Stoned]

Can we please throw next rounds match to City?

 

[NZgunner]

That's the thing isn't it - the next round is a hiding to nothing.

In the unlikely event we win, we just reduce fixture congestion for our rival and add clutter to the end season for us.

When we most likely lose, it has to be in a way that doesn't harm us mentally.

In fact if I was Pep, I'd try to get a draw just to stretch our squad even further to breaking point.

 

[yorch44]

He definitely is not leaving the club after that sexy look. Hope you bring lube with you Mo!

 

[NZgunner]

For people who remember Band of Brothers...

When Arteta plays a 2nd XI

 

[MartiSaka]

All this game showed again is the massive drop off in performance when we are missing personal in midfield - has to be rectified to have any chance in the league

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

The day after, I'm relieved and happy that we won and hopeful that Arteta can make the necessary adjustments. Nobody can fill in fir Partey. Sambi looks worse than when he joined and Vieira has talent but atm, is only good as a sub in the first team. We've got a core of about 18 players who have to stay fit. In the next round, I'd play the U23 midfield who will at least have some thrust and chemistry.

 

[Uncle Good-Advice]

Dixon is an awful commentator, he does the unbearable "I don't like football and will just be miserable about everything" style (ala Keane, Sutton etc) hate it...why I prefer the likes of McCoist or Gray back in the day, least they ae excited about ****.

They should get Jerry "The King" Lawler for the Prem soon, he would be great...get the 90s version of him too, when it cuts to a female in the crowd things would get spicy!

I think he feels obliged to be objective and to contain his emotions. Which results in OTT criticism of Arsenal sometimes and bland style of commentary in general.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Missed the second half, just saw the highlights; Eddie's second looked like it was offside but whatevs I'll take it

 

[db10_therza]

For people who remember Band of Brothers...

When Arteta plays a 2nd XI

Lmfao one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a looong time. Even down to Martinelli randomly spraying bullets

 

[Sniper Mik]

Karen Carney after the game called Martinelli "Meep Meep Roadrunner"

 

[Gooner Zig]

I'm a bit amazed that there is VAR at some stadiums and no VAR at others. That's a big no no; you either have VAR for all, or none at all.

 

[GoonerJeeves]

I'm a bit amazed that there is VAR at some stadiums and no VAR at others. That's a big no no; you either have VAR for all, or none at all.

It is down to cost. If you look at some of the lower league clubs, they have enough on their financial plate to keep the clubs running. You'd need external funding, or some sort of solidarity fund to get VAR in all the stadia. Even then, you'd get instances where a club like Dulwich Hamlet could make it to the 3rd round, and you'll probably never get VAR down at those clubs.

 

[Gooner Zig]

It is down to cost. If you look at some of the lower league clubs, they have enough on their financial plate to keep the clubs running. You'd need external funding, or some sort of solidarity fund to get VAR in all the stadia. Even then, you'd get instances where a club like Dulwich Hamlet could make it to the 3rd round, and you'll probably never get VAR down at those clubs.

I totally get that but my point is the fact that different games in the FA Cup are being refereed differently. That strikes at the integrity of the competition.

 

[A_G]

This is great, I’ve never heard such a good Neville impression

 

[GoonerJeeves]

I totally get that but my point is the fact that different games in the FA Cup are being refereed differently. That strikes at the integrity of the competition.

I don't think you have much choice, apart from scrapping VAR all together in cup competitions, and that is unlikely to happen.

 

[Gooner Zig]

I don't think you have much choice, apart from scrapping VAR all together in cup competitions, and that is unlikely to happen.

That's precisely my argument; if you can't have it at every match, scrap it altogether.