Morning all.
It’s official, Martin Odegaard is now an Arsenal player and will wear the number 8. Aaron Ramsdale is right behind him with just a few bits of paperwork to complete. Odegaard cant play on Sunday because of a Visa issue apparently and I very much doubt Ramsdale will oust Bernd Leno so soon, even if he is signed in time.
Mikel Arteta seemed pretty upbeat this morning, positive and mentioned how in two or three years time, people will look back and understand what the club was doing back in 2021. A bold statement perhaps, but as I suggested yesterday, what we’re seeing now is all part of a long term plan. Arsenal fans have a choice, believe in that plan, or not. Either way, I still maintain that Mikel’s job is safe for a long time yet.
Success doesn’t come overnight, neither does stability. Last year was all about the beginning of the cleanup and that cleanup is far from done. This summer appears to be about bringing in the kind of players Mikel wants to work with. As he said during his press conference, all this summer signings are between 21-23 years old. Young, coachable and have the kind of energy and enthusiasm this squad has lacked for a while.
‘Eleven days to go and there’s work to do’ said Mikel. I got the impression that a lot of that work will be focused on moving players out although he certainly didn’t rule out more signings coming in.
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1428612767427203076?s=20
The confusion over Covid within the club has been cleared up. Mikel Arteta wasn’t allowed to tell us the news because the club wouldn’t allow him to. Red tape apparently but now we know that Runasson, Willian, Lacazette and Aubameyang have the virus and are still recovering. No wonder Mikel was grumpy last Friday, as he’s probably trying to sell three of them. Also, he was surprised the Brentford game wasn’t called off.
Inevitably, Mikel Arteta was asked about negativity within the club. Basically, there isn’t any. The only negativity surrounding the Arsenal comes from outside the Arsenal walls he said.
Paul Merson on Sky Sports
It’s worrying at Arsenal. You’re still thinking: ‘Where are they going? Edu has come in, and the recruitment has been lazy, if I’m being honest. It’s been: ‘Oh, we’ll take Willian on a free… we’ll take David Luiz for cheap’ – I remember years ago in football, managers were judged on signings. Sometimes I think Arteta is left behind, and I’m not sure how much of a say he has got in all of this.
Ever since somebody at Sky decided it’d be a good idea to give him a microphone and let him speak, all he’s done is criticise the very club who looked after him through his troubles. If he had an ounce of common sense he’d realise that Mikel Arteta is very much involved in who the club sign as Edu told the world that yonks ago.
As for where the club is going? Well that’s become clearer to me this summer as far as building the squad goes. How making the signings Arsenal have made so far this summer can be called lazy, I just don’t know but then all he’s done is pick out two for the past and none of the present. That’s lazy!
Of course we all want to see improvement on the pitch, that’s obvious. There are things about Mikel Arteta which might annoy us but this summer has been busy and he’s brought his own players in as he’s builds his own squad. We’re one game into the season and I know it was a bad one but I’m not giving up on Mikel just yet and I don’t think the club will either.
See you in the comments.
A quick word on Merse.Lets face it. A bit of a lovable rogue.But thick as a plank.& By the way.Is a boyhood chav.So couldn’t care less about having a pop at Arsenal.We we’re just a previous employer.
The club says the fans should trust them, Then the club stopped Arteta announcing that 4 players have been left out of the team due to a positive COVID test doesn’t make sense.
Morning Rico, nice vid, yes the media have had a field day, they always do at our expense, but it’s really had a negative effect on the fan base this time, more than I can ever remember in the past.
The Internet era I guess…
Usually Arsenal fans are more resilient when to comes to anti-Arsenal media campaigns, not least because we’ve grown up hearing negative stuff about our club all our lives, but this time it’s really hit home and the fans’ resolve has crumpled pretty sharpish.
Everyone’s got their own theories as to why we all feel at little pissed off, maybe lockdown, the pandemic, becoming armchair fans, work, home, Arteta himself, the club, the Kroenke’s, Edu, our style of football, the Twittering classes, the pundits, it has a drip drip effect. It gradually erodes your enthusiasm and before you know it you’re sounding like Gambon (whatever happened to him?).
I’ve noticed it on here to a lesser degree and definitely on most of the other blogs I visit.
I’m not going to lie, I’ve also harboured some doubts, I’ve listened to some well thought out arguments on here and from family and friends – all big fans, less so elsewhere where a screaming mob inhabits the narrative. Cheap one liner comments, dismissive remarks, seeing everything the club does through a negative lens, it’s a slow process into negativity and it’s pervasive, it gets under your skin if you’re not careful.
Well, it is what it is and time will tell if the famous process does deliver and how it will be received if it does?
Personally I think that Odegaard is a fantastic signing and I’m hopeful that Ramsdale will turn out to be less Richard Wright and more David Seaman, I’m going for spunky.
So far Edu has does some great business, selling players in this climate is enormously difficult, we really need to accept that, and if we swap an unhappy Bellerin for Trippier then I’ll drink to that – tea of course…
I remain to be convinced about Martin Odegaard. I’m not sure finding a number ten was a priority at this time, we do have an excellent player in that position already, Emile Smith Rowe.
Although we have signed him from Real Madrid in fact he started only six games with five substitutions for the team. Only three of his starts were in the league the others were in friendlies. He scored one goal, that in a friendly.
The imminent signing of Aaron Ramsdale could prove to be problematical. Sheffield United rarely if ever play out from the back using short passes. In fact, only 16% of the passes he made in the last season were short. While 66% of Leno’s passes were short.
There is concern about Ramsdale’s positioning, he too often gets high up the pitch. His percentage of shots stopped is only 68.5%, over the last two campaigns, one at Bournemouth and one at Sheffield United, that puts him at nineteenth in the Premiership on that metric.
It is to be hoped that Arteta’s goal keeping coach, Inaki Cana, can iron out these inconsistencies although he hasn’t succeeded to well in coaching better performances from Leno.
Geoff, it’s to protect the players, nothing to do with Arteta.
We haven’t heard from Scott for a while, I do hope he hasn’t succumbed to Covid, bush fires, floods or a plague of frogs.
Morning Kev, also I think it’s because things have been poor for so long and the club is still trying to make amends for previous problems left by others. Only now in my opinion are we seeing a manager being supported by the board/owners financially and to be fair to Edu and Arteta, most troublesome areas on the pitch have been addressed. If the club can move a few on sharpish, we might see a right back and striker but I think now is when Arteta’s clock starts ticking for me.
Stadium full of fans, five new signings and counting, the excuses are running out.
He’s probably staying away from the negativity Cicero.
I understand Odegaard, or at least someone in that position because ESR can’t play in every game, I doubt any of them can or will. I also think the two players are different. ESR runs at defenders, Odegaard is about the passing imo.
Elneny has been linked with Besiktas
Morning all.
Well, well Rico and all we have acquired another couple of better than average players. Odergaard I think will prove to be and excellent buy. I feel pleased about his signing and excited as I was when Ozil first arrived. He is a gifted footballer, why Real rarely played him is a mystery to me, perhaps the durability of some of their aging players was too good for him to break into their first team. In any event I think their loss will definitely turn out to be our gain. Ramsdale, on the other hand I have mixed feelings about. I think he one for the future rather than the present. And, I’m still smarting at the sale of Martinez. What a stupid sale that was! Mind you he’s an old man in comparison to Rammy!
The cash that has been splashed out this tw is at present £120m+ a lot of wonga! Am I right in thinking that the Kroenkes have put their hands in their pockets and shelled out some beans to pay for these newbies, or am I doing that old 2+2 sum again, and getting the wrong answer?
Whatever, the hope is that these chaps all meld and we have a new emergent team of players that can produce both good football and the right results. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Rico I don’t blame Arteta but those above him should just come out and say it, why try to hide it if a player is sick then he is sick.
I’m looking forward to seeing how we go against Chelsea, without any main strikers it will be a big ask but then this could be a big chance for Pepe, it will also show us how our back line could be this season
Cicero I’m not sure what Scott is up to but in NSW The COVID-19 has really taken off as for us in Victoria we have spent 200 days in the last year in lockdown.
That’s why I look forward to watching Arsenal just to forget about this dam virus
Hi Wavy. I’m happy re Ramsdale. Overpriced perhaps but that English players from top to bottom really. £100m for Grealish, £150m for Kane? Never in a million years imo.
If it wasn’t for the fact his teams have relegated in the past, which can’t be solely down to him, I don’t think he’d be criticised as much. If a defence is poor, any good keeper will suffer to a degree.
White is another who cost more than he perhaps should, but young, English and very highly thought of. Another positive is that all will keep their value, if not increase it.
Of course we’d all love a Lukaku etc, but the reality is, only those clubs with sugar daddies can afford them.
Geoff, as Arteta said this morning, they couldn’t. His press conference explained why.
Cicero, glad I could help, tbh if you had continued north beyond the obvious delights of Wetherspoons you would have discovered an absolute cornucopia of eateries and bars to satisfy the most selective of palates. The problem is you probably would have missed the show.
So Wetherspoons was a good move, although the German Donar Kebab a few doors away is reckoned to produce some really excellent alternatives. One for next time. 😉
Hi all,
Perhaps it’ll be U23 vs U23, I see Pulisic tested positive for covid.
I hope Arteta comes up with an idea to counter the press. Especially when teams press in our 1/3. We go further into our shell and more of our players drop back and offer no space for an out pass.
You’d have thought he’d have found one by now…
Afternoon rico, all, and reasons to be cheerful. Who at the start of this window would have thought the club would have spent in excess of 120m to bring in players Arteta wants? It’s not as glamorous as spending 100m on a Grealish or Lukaku but we need major surgery and squad strengthening whereas City and Chelsea are adding icing on the cake. With three young players, ESR Saka and Ode, we can eventually play two from three and cope with tiredness or injury. It has suddenly dawned on Arsenal that buying instant aging players is not enough for a quick fix, and buying younger players for the future to mold together, is the way to go. Here here.
Only negative is some disgraceful social media comments made before Ramsdale even gets here. Enough to put someone off coming, but they are not fans, fans would not act like that, so wish him the best of luck.
Afternoon Andrew. So very well said about Ramsdale. I like the direction the club is going with younger players, I really do.
Kev, on my next visit to London I’m heading to 87 Tower Bridge Road, To Manze’s Eel & Pie House. My wife’s grandparents were Manzes from Ravello in Italy, it was a relative of theirs’s who opened the first of the chain in 1902. Stewed eels are a rare treat for me, my wife can’t stand them, she’ll have to make do with pie, mash and liquor. 😉
Selling Martinez was a mistake but it was an express request from Aston Villa.
But John Virginia, now in Everton? Isn’t that better than the possible reinforcement of Sheffield United?
He’s on his way out on loan Jm, Everton wouldn’t let him join us I’m sure
Morning all.
All safe and well here, just not a lot to say of late, to be honest, and yes Rico, the negativity after one game was insane on social media so I just kept out of it all.
One game, players pulling out late, and to be fair, Brentford were terrific, we were awful til half time but much better in the second half but not good enough, so much improvement is needed.
Odegaard is a fantastic signing imo, Ramsdale I know bugger all about but I’ll trust in Arteta.
We really do need to move a few on and this bloody Covid hitting the club couldn’t have happened at a worse time as surely 2-3 of those testing positive would be headed out, if possible.
A RB and striker (if Auba or Laca leave) and we are in much better shape than last season.
Plenty to look forward to.
Feels like we are living in a dictatorship here now.
The government stuffs up, we pay!!
Arsehole politicians have never been the type to admit error and apologise lol
Stay safe everyone.
Good to hear that your well Scott.
Cheers mate.
Tough times, but we all have them, and we get past them 🙂
Scot, we are signing Aaron Rams………. oh I forget the rest of the name!
Scott, we got nearly 37,000 cases here yesterday, puts into perspective your rising figures under a 1000, although I guess it doesn’t feel like it?
Our governments (various states) have overreacted totally.
I’m 100 k’s from Sydney, we’ve had half a dozen cases this year, all of which were detected early and isolated, yet we’ve been in a pretty tough lockdown.
Our politicians keep telling us they’re acting on best health advice, yet they never tell us what the advice is, and we find out regularly they’ve gone against that advice so who knows what’s going on?
Another Rambo 🙂
Let’s hope he gives us some magic moments like Rambo #1 did!
Assuming he signs, still not heard
Good to see you back Scott.
I have faith in Ramsdale, a good shot stopper I think. Young a room to improve..
He has passed his medical.
He has signed!
Aaron will wear the number 32 shirt.
The transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes, at which point Aaron will be available for Sunday’s match against Chelsea
Who’s next then? Lol
Evening Rico and the House.
The u23s are at home to Crystal Palace and have
just taken the lead with a brilliant goal by Omarie Hutchinson
2-0 Another super goal by Hutchinson
Assist byKTH
Evening Rick, better than last time out then.
Rico its a differant team.
Palacepulled one back but Berith(speiing)makes it 3-1
Another assistby KTH.
Palace now down to 10 sendingoff.
I guessed Rick.
10 minutes time added plus a load of late bookings , sounds like it went off towards the end.. 98th minute goal to make it safe
https://twitter.com/afcDW/status/1428786638164008970?s=20
Fantastic goal!!
Finished 4-2
4th goal Swanson Azeez missed penelty
Played some very good football but work to be done on defence and Midfield Palace a very physical side with 2 massive center backs.
One of them is a 27year old Polish international (Jachs) who nknows how to put it about.
Hutchison and Norton Cuffy both given Yellows in first half and talen off at H/T
Patino and Azeez both good players but are not good together in Mid field
If our team can improve like they did tonight
we could shock every one on sunday..
Was the 1st game?
Cicero, I’ve never done the jellied eels mate, just a bit too rustic for me, but pie n mash with liquor, now ya talking. Kelly’s in Bethnal Green Road or Cooke’s in Hoxton Market.
As a kid I went with my Dad to Cooke’s in Kingsland High Road, that where I first saw the eels a wriggling, not for me, but you enjoy, people who like them simply love them so there ya go.
I know of Mainzes but I’ve never been there, I’m told it’s one of the best.
Sue ,I watched Omaria score goals just like tonights for the U18s last season.The only way C/P could stop him tonight was to pull his shirt or kick him. It upset him
to see how many times they got away with it and then to get booke for a silly tackle Next game is away to the Spuds next friday and tonights win see us move from bottom to 5th
Scott just bear all that in mind at the next Australian elections, I did hear that New Zealand closed down after just one confirmed Covid case, these woke politicians will ruin us all.
Quite a few Arsenal commentators are suggesting that Hutchinson is too good for the U23’s and could be close to the senior squad – West Brom, League Cup perhaps?
Rick.. He’s a real talent, one for the not too distant future hey?! Those refs are just as bad then, Rick!!
Jellied eels was always Tubby Isaacs stall at Aldgate about 5 minute walk from Petticoat Lane . With cockles and winkles for Sunday tea and if your Aunty was coming you might get a prawn or two with your cup cake.
Long long gone Potter, I remember them when I was a young taxi driver in the late 1980’s and 1990’s but all gone now, Blooms as well, there’s no Jewish element left in that part of London it’s a very different place now, I’m not even sure that the two bagel shops in Brick Lane are run by Jews anymore?
Cooke’s in Kingsland High Road is now a Chinese 😐
Just watched Ramsdale’s interview. Massive day for him and his family! He’s so happy to be here; his parents are so proud and he even brought his Grandad’s ashes along 😊
I admit, I’ve never been a fan, but he’s here now and I’m certainly warming to him! I really hope it works out for him
https://youtu.be/pIWHIKCG98k
I remember my grandad sending me down to get 2 pints of cockles, I got them home and he sent me back 1/2 hour later with a bag of pea shingle and told me to give it back and wait until I got real cockles . I was about 10 at the time . But the old boy laughed and swapped them over.
Saturday tea when I was very young was, 1 pint of Wilkes and half a pint of cockles, occasionally shrimps (delicious) oh, and ‘The Appleyards on the 14 inch black and white tv, same one that half our street watched the coronation on.
Ah, those were the days
Hoxton Market, an uncle of mine had a shoe repair shop there near the Green Man and an aunt and uncle had a florist shop further along the road. When we visited my grand parents, who lived in Stanway Street, I played with my cousins on what we called the debris, it was the remains of a row of houses destroyed by bombs during the blitz.
Spot on!!
Hi Rico, long time since my last visit here.
But nice to read positivism over here with too much gloom and doom.
My passion is now to understand the tactics employed by Mikel Arteta.
Martin Odegaard signing certainly picked up my interest in Mikel Arteta’s rebuilding process which will take at least another 2 seasons.
Selling Willock for 25 million has been questioned by plenty.
I’d like to have seen him stay, in all honesty, but many believe we sold him cheaply.
Done see them congratulating the club in getting Odegaard for a ridiculously good price.
Most fans, probably all of us to be fair, thought his loan spell finishing was the last we’d see of the guy, as we believed Real would demand 60-70-80 million for him.
Job well done, I’d say.
Good morning all.
Arteta has effectively ruled out signing Trippier by stating it is his policy to sign only players below twenty-three. Very wise in my opinion.
Morning Cicero.
The plan is right imo
Very sensible to get keen lads in.
If you ever want to see the media biased against Arsenal, watch the interview where Klopp is watching the second goal last week.
‘Was a foul wasn’t it?’ Foul before the goal’, silence… ‘oh you didn’t see it, oh ok’ silence from the inviewer.
Have you a link to that please Brad?
Morning all.
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/08/21/five-to-leave-hes-behind-you-bernd/
Hi Merlin, you left a comment the other day didn’t you? Lol
I don’t, I watched it on Sky this morning
Ok, thanks Brad.
Calvert-Lewin is supposedly an Arsenal fan.