Highbury Spy Extra: The Spy gives his opinion on Arsenal's trip to Brighton ahead of an important cup week coming up 

With now Arsenal having crucial cup games looming against Newcastle United in the last four of the Carabao Cup, and Manchester United in the FA Cup third round this week at the Emirates, here's The Highbury Spy.

Regular readers will be pleased to know that the Spy - aka Steve Ashford - is bravely battling away in making a full recovery (read more in the current print version of the Gooner Fanzine, or in our Christmas message here)

For now, here's the Spy extra ahead of a big week

Brighton 1-1 Arsenal...

Just not our day chaps. Without that ridiculous penalty which you will never see given ever again (only ever happens to Arsenal), we win that game comfortably.

Too many obstacles this season. Injuries, illness, bad red cards, bad penalties etc. etc. You can't win them all.

I will be very surprised if we don't have one, maybe two, new players before we play Man U next Sunday.

Hopefully Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz will be back, so it will start looking up. Don't be too upset, you can't legislate for ridiculous penalties like [Saliba's] and then blame it on the manager or players, especially with the illness bug.

Martin Odegaard hasn't played well since before his injury [but] we simply cannot compete with so many things going against us.

Never fear, we will be back and sooner or later get a bit of luck!

The Highbury Spy will hopefully be back writing for the Gooner Fanzine in print before the end of this season

You can buy our new edition (309) back at the Emirates before and after Arsenal vs Newcastle United on Tuesday, January 7 - or order your copy below, knowing that your loyal support is keeping us going. 

UK

https://shop.onlinegooner.com/product_info.php/products_id/548

Rest of the World

https://shop.onlinegooner.com/product_info.php/products_id/549