Tactics I turned off before the Fulham goal, but I really should've known this. Was commenting to my barber this morning (a United fan) that I still know fuck all about football

Martinelli. Put some respect on this guy's name. Ripped them to shreds. That assist was out of this world.

Partey overhyped, Odegaard slandered, Rice playing with his back to goal in the worst tactical innovation of the century, and Merino scores. As you were, I guess.

Big Gabby going down is so this season. Make it work, Mik! (just not with Kiwior, please)

Great to have Saka back but the already very slim chances against Real now feel pretty much impossible without Gabriel. Kiwior against them is just not going to work out. Where's White too?

We're just going to have to play Kiwior against Everton and hope its enough to get him up to speed for Real. Arteta might need to adjust tactically to help cover him because Saliba-Gabriel really was our best hope against Real. Its an awful shame we don't get to see Europes best defence vs its best attack now.

Qwiss Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Getafe have statistically been better defensively then us this season. Madrid put plenty past 2 of them.

But with us there is no point in thinking in terms of quality in big champions league games. The players and Arteta will shit the bed mentally just like they did vs Bayern for example last year. No doubt over 2 legs we will gift them at least a goal or even own goal, and the old reliable' red card.

HomeSteak That’s harsh, I think we’ve become a good big-game team in recent years.

CPM We certainly have in the league, though I still think there's a technical gap and inferiority complex when it comes to Europe. You can see the players aren't as comfortable and the manager is more cagey.

Kiwior in a CL quarter final again. Ugh.

We have no chance really. Just "enjoy" the last two games of the season.

Pepe LeFrits

I think we’ve conceded almost every time he’s been on the pitch. Only game they we didn’t was against United. He’s worse than Holding as a CB

Gabriel's injury is the very last bit of air snatched from us all in terms of this season I think.

With him, and Saka returning, there was a (small) chance of an upset. Without Gabby, I think we might be in for a CL KO round we are all too familiar with over the last 15 years or so. Could be ugly. First leg being at the Emirates is a bitch too.

Tam yep, the kind of games where Rice sticks out like a sore thumb a bit.

HomeSteak Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Getafe have statistically been better defensively then us this season.

In weaker leagues.

Tam yeah I agree we've been pretty poor in Europe in these knock out scenarios and we've gone out pretty meekly. Gabriel would be a massive loss especially this season I think Saliba hasn't been at his best, which is natural with a young player, but it will be a big miss not to have him. I felt before it was probably 70% chance that Real progress but that would move up a little if Gab is out.

awooga83 I felt before it was probably 70% chance that Real progress

I'd say it moves up to around 90%. Kiwior is yet to show he can put in an 8/10 performance at CB so it doesn't give me much confidence if Gabriel is out.

JazzG is he match fit?

Panda A little niggle for anyone else might mean Ben White's leg is hanging off, knowing what we know about his ability/willingness to play through niggles.

I've got visions of Ben White as the Black Knight from Monty Python just now.

On the plus side, I'm hopeful it's just a sign the medical and coaching teams are being quite cautious about the healthy and fitness of key players.

Claudius This is not a time for rational thinking Claud!

I'm kinda baffled by the pedestal that people are putting Real Madrid on. Their front 3 are better than our front 3 but our back 8 are better than their back 8. We're going to have Saka and Martinelli against Fran Garcia and Lucas Vasquez most likely. In their last game, they conceded 4 goals at home against Real Sociedad. In the game before that, they conceded 2.87 xG at home against Leganes. In the game before that, they got out-xG'd by Villarreal. In the game before that, they lost against Atletico and went through on penalties. I don't really understand the idea that Leganes can put the fear of God into them but we apparently have no hope. I guess it's just some weird emotional hedging, I suppose.