Ifab says trials of the eight-second rule have been positive so far, but do you think this new change for goalkeepers will be a positive one?

Who are the masters at using their time wisely with the ball? And which Premier League keeper will be worst affected?

And that's before we've even mentioned the potential Gladiators-style countdown in the stadium.

Let us know your thoughts and opinions on the usual channels above, as well as the poll.

There was, once upon a time. Give a thumbs up if you're old enough to remember the four-step rule for goalkeepers.

Brought in during the 1960s, this rule limited a keeper to four steps while holding, bouncing or throwing the ball in the air.

Loopholes were found in the wording, however, and soon coaches and goalkeepers were using different interpretations of the rule to their own advantage.

To nip this in the bud, an amendment was made in 1992 stating the ball couldn’t be picked up again when it had been released, unless another member of their team had possession.

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has given us a step-by-step guide as to how the eight-second rule will work, so imagine a keeper is in possession of the ball, and this is what will happen:

• The referee will start counting the eight seconds when the goalkeeper has clear control of the ball with the hand(s).
• The referee will use a raised hand to clearly show the countdown from five seconds to zero.
• The corner kick resulting from an offence will be taken from the side of the field of play closest to where the goalkeeper was positioned when penalised.
• The goalkeeper will be warned for the first offence and cautioned with a yellow card for any subsequent offence(s).

Under the current law keepers should be punished if they hold the ball for more than six seconds, with the opposition being awarded an indirect free-kick.

The six-second rule was introduced in 1998 and was designed to stop time wasting and maintain the flow and pace of the game.

Referees are responsible for enforcing the rule during matches, however, Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) said implementation of the rule had "dissolved over time".

Trials of the eight-second rule in Italy’s U-20 Primavera 1 league have already shown promising results, with keepers releasing the ball within five seconds in most cases.

Image source, Getty Images

If you're a goalkeeper in the Premier League, use your time holding on to the ball wisely, because next season there will be harsher consequences.

The law-making International Football Association Board (Ifab) confirmed at the 139th Annual General Meeting in Belfast at the weekend keepers who waste time by holding onto the ball for more than eight seconds will be punished with a corner for the opposition from this summer.

Already trialled in over 400 games in three different competitions, including the Premier League 2, referees will also warn keepers with a visual five-second countdown before they are penalised.

The new rule will be in place at Fifa's Club World Cup, which takes place in the USA from 15 June to 13 July.

So far this morning, we have been discussing all things FA Cup fifth round.

The fallout from Manchester United's penalty shootout defeat to Fulham includes Wayne Rooney calling Ruben Amorim "naive" on his ambitiious and Amorim responding.

We've just been looking at Arsenal's open training session, where Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were among those not pictured.

There has also been a look at Jean-Philippe Mateta's injury picked up against Millwall and the red card for Liam Roberts, as well as the draw for the quarter-finals.

Coming next, we will be discussing a new rule outlined by IFAB for next season, as well as tonight's final FA Cup fifth round tie between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town, and plenty more.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts could face further punishment for his horror challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The Football Association could now look into the challenge if they deem the red card - with Roberts now suspended for three games - to be insufficient punishment.

If the FA thinks a dismissal offence is 'truly exceptional', it can seek to increase the sanction by submitting a claim to a regulatory commission.

They have until 1pm on Tuesday to do this and submit evidence to the Lions, with the Championship side then having a further two days - until 6pm on Thursday - to respond and to provide any evidence supporting their case the red card was 'clearly sufficient'.

The regulatory commission would then hear the case and it would decide Roberts' new punishment if any FA claim is successful.

Mateta posted on social media on Saturday saying: "I'm doing well. I hope to be back very soon and stronger than ever. Well done guys for the great job today."

Arsenal

Image source, PA Media

Gabriel Martinelli, who is also recovering from a hamstring injury, is also absent from Arsenal's training ahead of their Champions League clash against Eredivisie side PSV.

The Brazilian had picked up the injury in their Carabao Cup semi-final defeat at Newcastle.

Mikel Arteta had hinted that Martinelli could make his return before Bukayo Saka.

"Gabi has probably a chance before Bukayo to come in, but how soon that is, we’ll have to see how it goes in the next week or ten days," Arteta had said recently.

Arsenal

If he features against PSV in the last-16 first leg tomorrow, Ethan Nwaneri will become the second-youngest Arsenal player to appear in a Champions League knockout stage game at 17 years and 348 days, after Cesc Fabregas, who featured against Bayern Munich in March 2005 at the age of 17 years and 309 days.

He could also become just the third English player to start in a knockout stage game in the competition while under 18, after Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.

Arsenal

Arsenal players have gathered around Mikel Arteta after going through their warm up, but there are no signs of Bukayo Saka among the group.

The England winger has been out of action since December with an hamstring injury sustained during a league meeting with Crystal Palace.

Though he was seen in training in Dubai earlier this month, his absence today could mean he is still some way away from a return to action.

We can expect an update on Saka when Mikel Arteta speaks to the media later today.

Arsenal

Arsenal will face PSV in the two legged last-16 tie in the Champions League with the first leg in Eindhoven tomorrow and the return fixture taking place on 12 March at Emirates Stadium.

It is a busy couple of weeks for Mikel Arteta's Gunners as they also have a trip to Manchester United this weekend and a derby against Chelsea after the second leg next week.

Arsenal are winless in their last two league games and failed to score against both the Hammers and Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal

Image source, Reuters

In some respite for Mikel Arteta, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was unavailable against Nottingham Forest last week after his red card against West Ham, is eligible to feature against PSV.

The 18-year-old has featured four times for Arsenal in the Champions League this season.

He was dismissed after coming on as a second-half substitute as the Gunners lost 1-0 to West Ham on 22 February.

Arsenal

The Arsenal outfield players are currently making their way onto the training pitches and full-backs Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are the first ones to appear on camera.

They are followed by Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Gabriel.

Arsenal

Image source, Reuters

Arsenal will take a flight to the Netherlands this afternoon after wrapping up their training.

We will hear about team news and other updates from Mikel Arteta when the Arsenal boss is will talk at a press conference scheduled for 17.30 GMT today.

The first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Dutch champions PSV will kick off at 20:00 GMT tomorrow at Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.

Arsenal

We have got Arsenal goalkeepers, including David Raya, warming up at the start of their training in London Colney.

The Spaniard has kept five clean sheets in seven appearances in the Champions League this season.

Arsenal

Arsenal's training session is getting under way ahead of their trip to PSV Eindhoven tomorrow in the Champions League.

You can watch it for yourself by clicking 'watch live' at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Nketiah, who sealed Crystal Palace's 3-1 win against Millwall in the FA Cup, said it would be nice to win the competition again - this time with the Eagles.

Nketiah won the trophy with Arsenal during the 2019-20 season, appearing as a substitute as Mikel Arteta's side beat Frank Lampard's Chelsea 2-1 in the final.

"I've been able to experience that with Arsenal, so it would be nice to do it with Palace," said the 25-year-old.

"We are one step closer and, if we do well in next round, we will be at Wembley."

Oliver Glasner's side will make the short trip to Fulham in the quarter-finals later this month and will hope to move another step closer to a first FA Cup triumph, having lost in the final in both 1989-90 and 2015-16.

Fulham

Big teams have fallen in every round so far in this year's FA Cup, so could this be the year a new team lifts the trophy on 17 May?

Following his heroics in the penalty shootout against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Fulham keeper Bern Leno says the club are aiming to make the final for the first time since they were runners-up to West Ham in the 1974–75 final.

"100%," said goalkeeper Bernd Leno on wanting to reach Wembley. "Two-years ago, we lost in the quarter final [against Manchester United] and we're in the quarter final again.

"We want to go to Wembley 100%."