Assuming Tomi is out for tomorrow (I’d start him on the bench either way), here’s my team for Luton tomorrow. This aims to strike the balance between making sure we get three points in a potential banana skin away game but also trying to keep players fresh for the next three PL games which look incredibly tricky

Raya

White - Saliba - Kiwior - Zinchenko

Odegaard - Rice - Havertz

Saka - Jesus - Trossard

Subs: Ramsdale, Cedric, Gabriel, Walters, Elneny, Jorginho, Martinelli, Nketiah, Nelson

No. Have the fun of the FA cup is when the Northwesternshire Wanderers FC get to the last 16 or something.

Title contenders: Arsenal, City, Liverpool

Top 4 contenders: Newcastle, Spurs, Villa

Europa League hopefuls: Brighton, Chelsea, Man Utd, West Ham

Top half contenders: Brentford, Palace, Wolves, Fulham

Should stay up: Bournemouth, Forest, Everton

Likely relegation: Burnley, Luton

Definite relegation: Sheffield Utd

I dreamt last night that Raya scores on Saturday against wolves. Not like a late corner where the keeper goes up to nick a goal, instead, I dreamt that one of his kick outs just catches everyone off guard and goes over everyone’s head

Ramsdale

Cedric - Walters - Kiwior - Sousa

Nwaneri - Elneny - MLS

Sagoe - Nketiah - Nelson

Mix of backups and youth players for me

Saliba is the most improved player in the squad this year and that’s scary because he was very, very good last season. He’s world class now.

Kai Havertz finally showing that ability to make the left 8 role his own. Before he opened the scoring tonight he already missed a good chance, he made a key pass before the Saka goal and also excellent ball retention. MOTM for me tonight.

Tomiyasu was magnificent. Only played half the game but managed two sublime assists and really should have had a third (Havertz headed inches wide from his cross)

Gabriel Jesus for me continues to show why we should only buy a #9 if a proper world class option like Osimhen is available. The idea of swapping this guy for an Ivan Toney is laughable.

We are going to be spoiled for choice in defence when Timber comes back. We’ve got four top quality full backs, Saliba and Gabriel in the middle of course and then a really useful utility man in Kiwior.

Martinelli looks back after not great form recently.

Only slight regret is not getting a look at Nwaneri or MLS. Hopefully they start in Eindhoven.

My team for tonight:

Raya

White - Saliba - Kiwior - Zinchenko

Odegaard - Rice - Havertz

Saka - Trossard - Martinelli

Subs: Ramsdale, Tomi, Gabriel, Elneny, MLS, Nwaneri, Nelson, Nketiah, Jesus

Would be good to get most of the long haul flight guys a rest. Jesus can come on for Martinelli later on with Trossard going wide left.

I wonder if this “doubling up on wingers” trend could be neutralised by bringing our attacks down the centre more instead of out wide.

I really hope we can put at least 5 or 6 (preferably 7 or 8) on to our goal difference over the next two games with Wolves coming to the Emirates on Saturday and then the trip to Luton next Tuesday night.

Last season it always felt like an extra point to Man City as there was a huge difference in GD/GS. This year we are already 3 behind them on GD and 6 behind on GS so it would be good to try and keep pace with them on that front.

At least 3 of them are playing him onside.

That rule doesn’t apply to offside.

A thought I just had. From a squad management perspective, is the smart move to play Vieira on Wednesday night?

The reason I say this is Odegaard is just back from injury and both Havertz and Trossard have a lot of minutes in their legs recently including international football. We don’t have the possibility of playing Vieira at all in the next two league matches and we only have this game and two more league games in quick succession before the crucial trip to Villa Park on 9th December.

I don’t think we want to be going to Villa with Odegaard/Havertz/Trossard feeling fatigued, so maybe Wednesday is the opportunity to give Vieira the minutes and give some of the other guys a rest.

Technically a draw would be best for us although I don’t expect either of these sides to have the staying power to challenge us/City/Liverpool anyway, but objectively it would be very funny for Spurs to have gone from leaders to outside the top four so quickly.

Trossard’s disallowed goal was remarkably similar to his goal against Burnley, which was also right on the stroke of half time too.

My team for Wednesday:

Raya

White - Saliba - Kiwior - Zinchenko

Odegaard - Rice - Havertz

Saka - Trossard - Martinelli

My team for Brentford

Ramsdale

White - Saliba - Gabriel - Zinchenko

Odegaard - Jorginho - Rice

Saka - Trossard - Martinelli

Jesus on the bench as he eases back from injury, as well as the long flight. Gabriel and Martinelli both start after their long flights but I’d like to sub them off early if possible. Zinchenko preferred for Tomi for the same reason. Odegaard returns.

I’m not saying Kai LB is something we should be doing ahead of Zinchenko or Tomiyasu, but it’s cool having another option that can invert on occasion.

Partey is on holiday in Spain according to his insta so that idea that he didn’t travel to Sevilla in case the local police arrested him was clearly nonsense.

Given the political news in the UK this week, what former manager should Arteta bring back into the fold and what role?

Wenger new head chef?

Emery head of welcoming fans to matches played at night?

George Graham first team defenders coach?

This is basically instead of a behind closed doors friendly at London Colney. Nothing to see here.