Dowman's appeal fails, three-match ban stands
Max Dowman's red card appeal was rejected. The 16-year-old is out for three domestic matches after the Carabao Cup exit at Fleetwood Town, which Arsenal lost on penalties (2). That means no Dowman in the league and no Dowman at Anfield on Sunday.
Ray Parlour backed him anyway, from experience. "You've got to learn from your mistakes," Parlour said, pointing to his own costly error as a teenager at Liverpool (2).
Rice at 75% before Anfield
Reports do not agree on whether Declan Rice starts at Liverpool on Sunday. The FPL data has him flagged at 75% for the trip to Anfield (3) (4). If Rice does not go, the midfield gets a different shape against the best pressing side you will face away from home this month.
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Liverpool are missing players too
Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz are both out for Liverpool ahead of Sunday's Premier League meeting (5). Szoboszlai missing is the one that matters most. One preview has Saka listed as out as well and picks Liverpool 2–1 (1).
Second in the table, one point off the top
Arsenal sit second in the Premier League on 21 points from 8 games, goal difference +8. Your form reads W W W D W. The 2–2 at Bayern Munich on Wednesday 21 October is the only blemish in the last five, and the 2–0 win over Everton on Saturday 24 October was the response.
Three names on the watchlist
Porto right-back Alberto Costa is on Arsenal's watchlist alongside Manchester City and Manchester United (6). Chelsea are preparing a €70m offer for PSG's Fabian Ruiz, with Arsenal among the clubs monitoring him (7). Arsenal and Manchester United are also tracking a 22-year-old forward who is level with Harry Kane and Erling Haaland at the top of the Champions League scoring charts (8).
Fleetwood go to Everton in the quarter-final
Fleetwood Town, the side that knocked you out, meet Everton in the League Cup quarter-final after Everton beat Newcastle (9).
Fan reactions
The mood on r/Gunners is split between anger at the Fleetwood defeat and relief at a lighter fixture load. One thread, titled "I'm glad we lost to fleetwood", argues the extra rest is worth more than the cup run. The rest of the sub is on Free Talk Friday duty.
