PLAYING THE GAME

ARSENAL UP THE DARK ARTS VOLUME

I said in a hot take the other day – and you can damn well check because I am NOT lying – that Arsenal needs to master the dark arts of international breaks. There’s no point in having a Freddy Krueger reputation if you’re not tormenting people in their dreams. We’ve been Europa League level for Dark Arts, but we’ve got a rep for being Champions League winners. We’re like United on the eve of every season. I needed that to change – sure, I like Ben White unfastening rival keepers’ gloves, but I need more. I need some actual purpose in my Dark Arts.

Well… it appears the Arsenal backroom team has listened to my wishes and they are delivering. Jordan Davies of The Sun reckons this is the "Who Stayed At Home FC" starting XI this week:

Neto; Timber, White, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Partey, Ødegaard; Jesus, Sterling, Havertz.

Those names, at home, taking it easy? It makes me feel alive.