Good afternoon Positive Arsenal,
A 0-0 draw against the Championship leaders was certainly not the result that I and probably any Arsenal fans were expecting, and it would have been the hardest of Hull die-hards that have predicted they would escape from the Ems with draw. But there we are, that is football, ever unpredictable. The underdogs sometimes have their day, and as often is these they earn their reward through hard work, playing to the limit of their abilities, and with a sprinkling of luck. So it was for the East Yorkshire side today. The term often used about a 0-0 draw is “stalemate”. The game was never stalemate, and into the 95th minute the result could have been ours. Entertaining, played in a good spirit. No obvious injuries and no red cards for either side. Most welcome.
Of our own lads I thought everyone put in a good effort. Six of our usual starting side rested and three more on the bench but I was impressed with what we produced. Defensively we were just about rock solid with the visitors barely able to get a strike on target from open play. The occasional free kick that gave them the chance to bring up their tall defenders we nullified early and decisively by Kosc and Per. The Flamster and Elneny worked well together, moving the ball forward and picking passes. Alex Iwobi had another confident 70 minutes, further forward and probably more influential than against Burnley though with less space and time today. Theo started well although he faded later I thought. Joel and Danny looked bright, with the latter looking surprisingly fit after his long lay off. Last week the substitutions resulted in the perfect turnaround against the resolute Leicester defence, this week the three early changes brought no such lever to overturn the visitors.
Clearly the gaping chasm of the afternoon, the abyss into which Arsenal fans on social media are flinging themselves like lemmings as I type, is lack of early afternoon activity for the scorer, that the goals ‘for’ column ended the day as blank as it started. We got so near so often, yet could not quite make that final breakthrough. The afternoon demanded was that unpredictable goal, like the screamer that started our success against Burnley from Callum Chambers. Such thunderbolts do not arrive to order.
As for Hull a very decent team performance from all their players, with the City goal-keeper yet again the cherry on the cake of their particular display. It would be a hard heart that did not acknowledge Steve Bruce’s spots of luck in the face of 90 minutes of almost unrelenting Arsenal pressure. We were Jakupović’ed today, as we had been Forster’ed and Schmeichel’ed recently. Thank God Hull did not play their first choice keeper MacGregor or we might really have found it tough to get the opener.
The sure consolation I have is that one day a goalkeeper will visit the Emirates who will have a nightmare of a display from minute 1 to minute 90. (Manuel Neuer may have fulfilled that Faustian transaction earlier in the season but I am unconvinced).
The second aspect of today’s result that appear to be causing some consternation among the Arsenal faithful is the fact that we will be playing a replay at the KC, as you do. Presumably we will be playing a similar side to that we played today, with a lot of players rested, and the opportunity for the likes of Elneny, Chambers, Gibbs, Alex Iwobi and even Theo to get some game time that otherwise they would not enjoy. Unless Steve Bruce changes his priorities the home side will also be adapted to met their other commitments in a busy schedule. I note the jumping up and down has started about the actual date of the replay! I am looking forward to the tie. Both clubs are busy, both are vying for their respective honours. We have better players, and more of them. I enjoy watching Arsenal. Bring it on.
Enjoy your Saturday and the remainder of the weekend. DC will be our man with the biro on Tuesday.
Positively Arsenal 
Pulis out – apparently having failed against a Reading team that used the long ball to tall, front men – WB player felled by angry Baggies fans after the final whistle
Ah the magic of the Cup
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arsenal facing 8 games in 26 days, I know this will put severe pressure on the players to perform well and get the wins that will keep us fans happy, but a wee part of me, alright a big part of me, is delighted that I will have my Arsenal fix every couple of days for the next month, and all being well, it will continue that way for the rest of the season, as it will mean we are doing well, in at least two of the three competitions we can at this moment in time, still win.
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Think about Stew Eddy – think about me !!
8 games in 26 days ffs
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anicol just copy and paste, no will notice as long as we are winning (where are the smileys)
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I enjoyed the game. What am I doing wrong?
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Arsenal will be shaking in their boots, Barcelona just thumped relegation placed Las Palmas, 2-1 away. And MSN all played, fuck me, if they can do that to Las Palmas what will the do to a defense with a 100 cap world cup winner in it, venga you clown.
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george you have been told often enough, so you should know by now, that you are not a true fan, you’re a tourist, real fans only accept wins
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what a stupid penalty McCarthy has just given away v Bournemouth, Daniels has his penalty saved, and the rebound is put over the bar
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Steve Bruce says he was told the replay will be on Tuesday 8th March.
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this is an actual headline on Newsnow Arsenal
“Arsenal’s three-year unbeaten FA run halted by Hull City”
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“Goalkeeper has game of career v Arsenal klaxon”
seen that sort of notion mentioned so many times today, and I must say its not something new, and I don’t mean in the last ten years, or even twenty years, I remember Tony Coton always had a blinder v Arsenal, as did Tony Parks, and many other unknows, so the likes of the lad today, Rob Green, Fraser Foster etc etc are just joining a long list. Blinders v Arsenal, then the following week throw one in their own net. but I blame Wenger
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I remember years ago West Ham at Highbury and David James was in goal – they lost 5/6-1 but he had an outstanding game – stopped probably another 6 goals. It has been going on a while.
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The memory plays cruel tricks – it was just 3-1
January 2003
A bonus point for anyone who can name the referee – I had no idea he was at it 13 years ago
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Bumped into Robbie of Arsenal Fan TV…..
http://youtu.be/Yqys-BDHY38
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AFCPressWatch™ @AFCPressWatch 5h5 hours ago
Wilshere: “I’m not sure how long it’s going to take because I’ve only been doing ball work for about a week. I need a game in the U-21s.”
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CraigMealy @CraigMealy 3h3 hours ago
The sooner the club introduce a home credit system the better, all these cunts who want a barca at home but dont fancy hull @ home
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Charlton Athletic taking the piss out of Adam Johnson today with their subs list
Johnson, Suk-Young, Fanni,
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YOUTH CUP: ARSENAL V LIVERPOOL – TICKETS
Arsenal v Liverpool
FA Cup Youth Quarter final
To be played at Emirates Stadium
Friday 4th March 2016
Kick Off: 7:00pm
Platinum, Gold, Silver, Red and Junior Gunner members will be able to order FREE tickets to the match from 3pm on Wednesday 24thFebruary 2016 up until Monday 29th February 2016 at 10am (Membership cards will be activated)
Tickets will be available on general sale via our TicketFast print at home facility from 11am on Monday 29th February 2016, and will remain on sale until 3pm on Friday 4th March 2016 subject to availability. Tickets will be priced at £4 for adults and £2 for concessions (Over 65’s or U16s). Please note that paper tickets will NOT be issued during this period
The Arsenal TicketFast facility provides a convenient and secure way of receiving your tickets without waiting for a postal service delivery, by providing supporters the ability to print tickets anytime, anywhere. Each TicketFast ticket will be printed with a unique encrypted barcode, which upon presentation at the turnstile will allow entry.
After successfully purchasing your tickets, you will be sent two emails. The first is your order confirmation email. This email only confirms your order and may not be used for entry into the event. Shortly after, you will receive a second email containing your TicketFast ticket(s) as a PDF attachment. You must open the attachment and print out the ticket(s) for entry into the event.
Seating will be unreserved for this fixture and situated in the Lower Tier only.
Tickets will NOT be available on the evening of the match to purchase – all tickets must be purchased in advance.
Tickets can be purchased in the following ways:
Internet Bookings
(Booking fees apply) Click here
• Valid password.
• Valid email address.
• Valid membership number per ticket.
• Credit/debit card details.
Telephone Bookings
(Booking fees apply)
Tickets are available via our Contact Centre booking line 020 7619 5000.
• Monday – Friday 9.30am — 5.00pm.
• You will need to quote your 7 digit membership number, name and address. Booking fees apply.
• Our Contact Centre booking line is not open on weekends
In Person
Match tickets can be purchased from the Arsenal Box Office located on Drayton Park from 9:30am – 5pm – Monday to Friday.(Membership cards must be produced during the members period)
All members are requested to print a copy of the confirmation email and bring it to the match, together with their membership card, in order to gain access to the stadium
Please note there will be a limited capacity for this event.
We strongly advise supporters to purchase their tickets in advance .
Copyright 2016 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1516/tickets/under-18/youth-cup-arsenal-v-liverpool-tickets?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29#uG5uYSi35Rq6H53h.99
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The French league must be very interesting for the fans, PSG are with 11 games to go, 24pts ahead of second place Monaco, so only need 3 wins to retain the title. by the way Monaco are only 21pts off a relegation spot.
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the German league is not much better, yes Bayern Munich are only 11pts clear after 22 games, and that could be down to 8pts tomorrow when Dortmund play their game in hand, but Bayern are 23pts clear of third place Hertha Berlin who are only 16pts above the relegation spots
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I hope they have caught the idiot who threw a coin at Chris Brunt today, amazingly it was done by a WBA fan. Seen a clip that showed WBA fans trying to get to the guy they thought threw the coin. they were also pointing him out to the cops, and rightly so.
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Darren @DarrenArsenal1 7h7 hours ago
Cant even think of last time we got a penalty at the Ems
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http://news.arseblog.com/2016/02/arsenal-0-0-hull-plus-mike-deans-unusual-record-by-the-numbers/?utm_source=feedburner.com%2Farseblognews&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arseblognews+%28Arseblog+News+-+the+Arsenal+news+site%29
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posted this on arseblog in response to claims that fans are being priced out of Arsenal games
tens of thousands of tickets available today, £26, but the Arsenal fans that so like to say they are being priced out of going to games due to the big ticket prices, don’t want to go to Arsenal V Hull, they only want to go to the big games, there won’t be any tickets available v Barcelona on Tuesday and there are no £26 tickets for that one.
Tickets are indeed too expensive all across the country, not just in the BPL but in Championship, league one and league two, but the argument is lost when the Cat A games sell out almost instantly, and the far more affordable Cat C games have a third of the stadium empty. Thousands of paid for tickets not used, no takers for those put up for sale on ticket exchange, and no takers for the thousands of unsold tickets either. We also see on a regular basis the youth tickets priced at £10 not sold out. Its a total falsehood that a generation of fans or even fans in general are being priced out of games, there is an argument that fans are being priced out of being season ticket holders, and even of fans being priced out of Cat A games, but please stop with this bull that fans are being priced out of the game. Today is just another clear example of how false that soundbite is.
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by the way the official figures for tickets sold for todays’ game was 59,830, almost a sell out, but the place had at a conservative estimate 45000-50000 in attendance, so that is 10K to 15K tickets paid for but unused, I seen yesterday, claims that there was any amount of tickets available on ticket exchange, but no takers, so lots and lots of our cheapest tickets on sale, but all these Arsenal fans who are, we have been told over and over, priced out of the game, don’t want to see Arsenal play Hull, it aint glamorous enough, and it is not just v Hull, Cat C games rarely sell out.
If Arsenal reach the FA Cup final again this year, I really hope any season ticket holder who did not go today, without a very good reason, does not get a ticket for the final
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i like how Steve Bruce is acting all disgusted about EARNING a replay, then i wonder why his keeper put on a man of the match performance?
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Very measured review Andrew. Insightful and much thought provoking.
I thought we played reasonably well overall. Hull never looked like they were, or even wanted to beat us. We got ourselves in great positions to make a threat on their goal, but as Arsène said post-match, there was too much individualism, and not enough team.
As the home side and favourite it was up to Arsenal to take the game to Hull, who was too happy defending in numbers. Which they did well with too much time afforded to them from a bulk of Arsenal players that hardly seen much game-time of late.
I have no doubt that Arsenal will turn it around in the replay where Hull will have to play a more open game at the KC.
We didn’t shame ourselves vs a team fighting for the Championship, Barça, fielding their best 11, were made to fight very hard vs a team fighting relegation.
Does that even up the odds about who should be wary of whom?
I dunno, Tuesday night will be revealing.
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Very measured review Andrew. Insightful and much thought provoking.
I thought we played reasonably well overall. Hull never looked like they were, or even wanted to beat us. We got ourselves in great positions to make a threat on their goal, but as Arsène said post-match, there was too much individualism, and not enough team.
As the home side and favourite it was up to Arsenal to take the game to Hull, who was too happy defending in numbers. Which they did well with too much time afforded to them from a bulk of Arsenal players that hardly seen much game-time of late.
I have no doubt that Arsenal will turn it around in the replay where Hull will have to play a more open game at the KC.
We didn’t shame ourselves vs a team fighting for the Championship, Barça, fielding their best 11, were made to fight very hard vs a team fighting relegation.
Does that even up the odds about whom should be wary of whom?
I dunno, Tuesday night will be revealing.
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Very true Ed, what is it with Arsenal and penalties?
Should have had two yesterday. Though with Danny, think he saw what Vardy got away with, and tried the same, silly naive Danny!!! Must think he is still in a Utd shirt!
We will start scoring more regularly when we have more creatives and ball players on show.
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It’s been a while I posted on here .But I sure av bn relentlessly following d posts and comments. Inspite of the disappointment of not winning the game yesterday, that was definitely an interesting game to see – the execution of sleek passes amongst our players starting 4rm d defence to attack, the observation of players dt haven’t familiarised themselves enough with us this season like Elneny,Welbeck et all.
We just lacked that killer instinct in d box which could av come thru one our players deciding to be a bit more patient b4 measuring and taking his shot and vice versa – This moments of brilliance are usually self-motivated and intuitive.
I’d like to think we have given them hope and a chance for their fans to get to see one of the most beautiful football they will with all due respect witness all season. Credit to their defence tho – They really did Marshall our players well.
As for the malcontents, Funny enough we have them over here in Nigeria, the only relevance they have to me is dt dey undoubtedly reduce the joy I get from watching Arsenal and hence motivate me to work hard so dt I can pay 4 my personal cable network subscription when I’m out of the university.
Hey ho to the mighty and gospel previews of Steww and the calm reviews of Anicoll 5 .I have a thing for the view of Anicoll about referees’ performances against us.An occasional mistake or two when the stakes are not high can be forgiven,but when a pattern begins to emerge, it stinks and suggest dt there is foul play.
As much as I love this club, I’m not very happy and Optimistic about the games with Barcelona. However ,I’m going to be cheering them all the way with gasps,laughter ,ouchs, shouts… dts wat support ought to be, isn’t it? – The physician does not come to heal those that are whole. U hope hope the players can give them the game of their lives irrespective of the outcome.
My speech is done.Over to you George, the indefatigable warrior of the Arsene brigade. Onward and upwards.
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Positively Arsenal @Blackburngeorge 2h2 hours ago North West, England
AFC v LCFC 20 attempts = great game
AFC v Hull 20+ attempts = shit game ?
The difference? A smidgen of good fortune.
Have some perspective.
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For a team whose manager said they didn’t want a replay, it seemed to me that Hull were very much playing for a replay
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Ryan Tomes @RyanTomes 5h5 hours ago
Rules for appearing on AFTV:
Do you understand football? No.
Are you a fucking moron? Yes
Do you have hair? No
Dumbass says what? What?
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Cuneyt Cakir is the ref for Arsenal v Barcelona, I’m sure there is a clue in his name as to why he took up refereeing
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Ryan Tomes @RyanTomes 5h5 hours ago
Ryan Tomes Retweeted Metro Sport
Didn’t need to know this. For one I know we’re the best team in the league, don’t need confirmation & refs are cunts Ryan Tomes added,
Metro Sport @Metro_Sport
Stats show Arsenal would be top of the league if video replays were in use: http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/19/stats-show-arsenal-would-top-premier-league-if-video-replays-were-in-use-5706207/ …
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That is interesting eddy – same man who had the whistle against Bayern at the Ems – a pedigree referee as I recall
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I watched on the edge of my chair yesterday and apart from a realisation early on that the day had all the makings (thought it nailed on we would do everything but score and then lose out to a sneaky goal on the break) thought we were pretty good. I enjoyed watching our new man play and hope to see him become a regular. Chambers was very good too, as was Welbeck. Goalkeepers will always have good games against the sort of relentless pressure we saw yesterday, especially if they have time to get themselves set. And two lines of five make things very hard if it is one of those days. Beyond which there is not much to say apart from coming out of the closet and admitting to the extra match to watch as something that pleases me.
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I thought the game was extremely frustrating yesterday and had the right hump when it finished, not with the players just the result. As Ed said at half time the tempo was far to slow against a side who just wanted to defend. This said we did still create chances and this showed in their keeper brilliant performance and the stats.
Gibbo was also playing far to narrow and as he has now picked up Sanchez disease of alwys coming inside, we had very little width on the left and with Kos and Per pushing up made the active pitch very small indeed.
Talking of Alexis, once again he proved for all his undoubted brilliance, bringing him on for the last twenty of a match where you can’t give the ball away is folly as he waste more time than the opposition. (Yeah I know he is just as likely to score)
I think in the end it was simple decision making in the final third that meant we didn’t get the tap in we needed to beat a keeper that was playing a blinder.
Oh or maybe one of those pens.
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AFCPressWatch™ @AFCPressWatch 18m18 minutes ago
Arsenal have 51 points after 26 matches, the exact tally at the same point in 2001/02 & three more than before overhauling #mufc in 1997/98
Of Arsenal’s PL title-winners, only the “Invincibles” of 2003/04 had more points (64) after 26 matches
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yeah Ian we played far too narrow yesterday, and I suppose playing a right footed attacker on the left and a left footed attacker on the right, means they both want to cut inside, and as you point out, Gibbs kept coming inside too, which is odd as he can do nothing but lay the ball off sideways or backways when he does come inside as he never plays the ball right footed.
something that really annoys me is how many of the Arsenal players in attacking positions refuse to use their weaker foot, when its the natural one to hit the ball in the position they find themselves in. Walcott does it all the time in shooting positions, as does Alexis, Campbell had one laughable attempt to cross a ball with his right foot yesterday, it always amazes me that the vast majority of full time pro players with a high level of skill are so one footed.
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I don’t expect a left handed fast bowler to bowl with his righ arm. I don’t expect a right handed batsmen to bat left sided.
I think it’ just one of those things, though it is true Gibbs is woeful with his right haha!
Very few as in hardly any players achieve the magical levels of a Cazorla.
yesterday there was nice movment between the front three and against an opponent who were set up to play and not defend that’d have been even more interesting to see.
Campbell did go over to the left for a bit (and had a spell at CF during the game) and i would like to see him playing off the left flank for a longer spell or even a whole game but then all his coaches and managers have played him on the right throughout his career and i ain’t going to argue with all of them.
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The really encouraging thing was Danny Welbeck’s form in only his first start of the season.
Very promising. Exciting even. Danny boy…
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Better brighter footwork from Walcott too, sweet quick turns which has been a relatively recent addition for him. Looks like he’s come out of that funk he was in for a bit
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fins its silly to compare a cricket bowler or batsman with a footballer, but even there a batsman can do a reverse swing, I might as well say a boxer can use both fists, why can’t footballers use both feet, the point is that in many cases any sort of decent shot with their weaker foot would be far more productive than shooting with the stronger foot when the natural position is with the weaker foot, same with crosses.
on gibbs, the question is why does he come inside when it puts him on a foot he does not pass with, why does he not go down the line and cross the ball.
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fins I agree with you on Walcott looking much brighter yesterday, and it surprises me a little to see so many across Arsenal blog world saying he had a stinker. Much the same with their reactions to Elneny, Iwobi, Chambers and Ospina, all whom I thought played very well. On Ospina I seen a few say he made a woeful effort to come for a cross (the one Koscienly headed out for a corner), as for me if Kos had not headed the ball Ospina was in the exact position to punch it clear. I’m not a big fan of Ospina, but how anyone can say he was poor yesterday I really do not understand. Alexis was poor, but Alexis is above criticism it seems. Kos was more error prone than Per but its the BFG who gets the blame etc etc
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Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic (c), Baba Rahman; Fabregas, Mikel; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Chelsea subs: Begovic, Miazga, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Oscar, Traore, Remy.
City XI: Caballero, Zabaleta, Adarabioyo, Demichelis, Kolarov, Fernando, A.Garcia, M.Garcia, Celina, Iheanacho, Faupala
Subs: Hart, Clichy, Humphreys, Kompany, Fernandinho, Barker, Sterling
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Jeorge Bird @jeorgebird 7m7 minutes ago
Barcelona squad for Tuesday (Marca). Turan suspended, Douglas, Sandro and Bartra left out. Vermaelen included.
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Cheers A5 for a smart write up and a big nod to everyones posts re the game…
Come on you Smeagles and stop them pesky Chickens!
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city giving full debuts to five players today
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TikaTakaWilsh @TikaTakaWilsh 40m40 minutes ago
The Manchester City team today looks like a throw back to when they had no oil money.
you could say city fans got their man city back.
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