From Jordan Davies at the Emirates
The noise is not as great, the stands are not as full, but the memories of that stunning win over Real Madrid are still in the minds of these Arsenal fans today.
With Nottingham Forest losing earlier today, this one is even more dead-rubbery, with a chance to give some fringe players some much-needed air in the lungs, like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Jorginho.
And yet, Raheem Sterling STILL cannot get a start… why?
Mikel Arteta probably feels it is better to give Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri more minutes today given they will likely be used off the bench at the Bernabeu next week.
But if you’re Sterling, those frustrations will be bubbling away…
Over to the Emirates
Where Arsenal are hosting Brentford in the Saturday teatime game.
It’s the weekend after the Tuesday before, and you get the sense everyone here is still talking about the thumping of Real Madrid and those Declan Rice free-kicks.
But sandwiched in between those two ties with the La Liga giants is this London derby, and Mikel Arteta has taken the opportunity to make changes.
From Graeme Bryce at the City Ground
Super-Sub Dwight McNeil came off the bench after 90 minutes.
Yet he still found time to conjure up a dramatic stoppage time winner for Abdoulaye Doucoure to puncture Forest’s Champions League hopes.
McNeil’s late arrival turned a truly dreadful affair on its head just as we all assumed it was going to peter out into a soulless, goalless draw.
He pounced on a hesitant Murillo to rob the Brazilian deep in Forest’s half before setting up Doucoure to fire past Matz Sels to snatch three hard-earned points.
It was a dramatic smash and grab job but Forest couldn’t complain after they produced one of their worst home performances of a stellar season.
They had kept a clean sheet in their last four outings at the City Ground but seemed content to settle for a fifth when disaster struck.
Nuno Esperito Santo’s men have now lost their last two games and are suffering a dose of the jitters at the wrong time of the season.Meanwhile Everton continue to improve under David Moyes’ shrewd management.
From Ian Winrow at the Amex
A poor result for Brighton who started the day hoping to close the gap in the European places and ended it grateful not to have suffered defeat.
Leicester deserve the point after twice equalising and it might have been three had Bilal El Khannouss had not hit the post late on.
Full time – Brighton 2-2 Leicester
The home team are greeted with boos at the final whistle after gifting shot shy Leicester two goals and an unexpected point.
Full time – Southampton 0-3 Aston Villa
What’s worse? Southampton in the Premier League or Marco Asensio at taking penalties?
The relegated Saints remain on 10 points while Villa’s on-loan star twice faltered from 12 yards.