Morning all.
If Arsenal are to lose, a friendly against Juventus is the time to do it. Of course a win would have been better but….
Eddie Nketiah was twice denied a goal, the first for offside, the second because of a foul by Gabriel in the buildup. Fabio Vieira stunts the keepers hands with a powerful volley and Eddie hit the woodwork after some poor passing by the Juventus defence. According to reports on the official website, we bossed the game and late on, Amario Cozier-Duberry looked lively after coming off of the bench, as did Ethan Nwaner who nearly made it 1-1. Right at the end, Juventus scored another and Arsenal were beaten. But it didn’t and doesn’t matter because it was a friendly. A step up from the training pitch, that’s all.
Annoyingly, for the player I mean, Reiss Nelson picked up an injury during the first half and had to be replaced by Marquinhos. I feel for him because this did/does seem to be his time at Arsenal, especially as there are a lot of fixtures to get through before the season ends. His injury is muscular so goodness knows how long he’ll be out for.
Talking after the game, Mikel Arteta said:
The scoreline probably doesn’t reflect at all what happened in the game, but this is football. They had one shot and scored two goals. We did a lot of really good things, especially from box to box but we weren’t ruthless enough in either. I think we had 19 shots and only two on target, so it’s clear what we have to improve, but we did a lot of positive things in the match to get a much better outcome. I think the way the boys are training and playing, it’s really positive. Today is a setback but perhaps it’s better to happen today rather than in any competitive match, but we’ll work on it, talk about it and improve.
Before Arsenal take on West Ham, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Takehiro Tomiyasu will return. Hopefully William Saliba too although he might need a few days to adjust to the cold. Lol Oleksandr Zinchenko wasn’t involved yesterday either so his return will be a big boost.
It’s the World Cup final today. France v Argentina, in case you’ve missed it. I don’t care who wins but it’d be great for our central defender to return to Arsenal with a winners medal in his pocket.
Catch up later..
Good afternoon Rico, it’s never a good time to lose a match but a mid-season friendly is probably the least damaging.
I shall watch the WC final but won’t switch on until five minutes before kick-off. I’ve no interest in the twaddle and hype generated by the talking heads prior to the actual game. I do hope that whoever is in charge of the cameras keeps them focused on the football and not the spectators, and especially not the nostrils and earholes of the coaches.
I wonder which country’s team has been chosen as winners by Infantino and his mates. They’ve probably already got the name engraved on the trophy. Cynical? Me? 😕
Afternoon Cicero. Ditto, just switched it on.
I’d love for Ollie to win it but in truth, I’ll just be glad when it’s all over. A World Cup surrounded in controversy and ruined by the officiating.
I’d like them both to lose.
If only that were possible…
Rico. What were you saying about the officiating?
What a soft penalty..
Shocking Adam. And to think ‘that’ foul on Saka wasn’t given..
It must be written in the stars Rico.
And we’re lucky enough to have Jermaine Jenius commentating too.
I reckon so Adam. We’ve turned over to ITV as Jenas is so boring. Dixon and McCoist are better..
Now that was a lovely goal.
France are dreadful. 😆
Is Matterface in the building?
I’m watching on iplayer in UHD.
Don’t know re Matterface..
Thuram on. We’ve been linked with him..
I need subtitles when McCoist is on.
I have a Jenas filter built in to my hearing aids. 😉
😂
Blimey it all kinda died on here, I was enjoying reading the chat, but it all ended probably after France scored and it became a contest.
I really couldn5give a toss who won but FIFA and Qatar will be delighted that it’s the Messi Final, yawn….
I said all along this world cup was rigged, what next change the world cup name to The Messi Memorial cup.
Thank God it’s all over now to get back to, The premier league matches
Morning all
My only gripe with the final, not a bad watch for the impartial, was the appalling behaviour of our former goalkeeper during the penalty shootout. If there was to be any glory in winning he did not help it along! Really glad we sold him, now. Whether throwing the ball away and being generally ungentlemanly is the way to go I’m not sure. I suppose he was using his ‘professionalism’. Not in my play book I’m afraid.
Really rubbed the shine off occasion for me..
I absolutely agree Wavy, he has taken Bruce Grobibelaar’s “spaghetti legs” way beyond gamesmanship to the brink of cheating.
Well said Wavy..
There is a new post up by the way.