Morning all.
Not having an Arsenal midweek fixtures to look forward to feels weird but considering the international break consisted of three matches instead of the usual two, at least our players will get plenty of recovery time between domestic fixtures. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Sambi Lokonga, who Mikel Arteta said were struggling a bit against Norwich, will certainly benefit from the rest. Although I’m sure they’d all prefer to be in action again tomorrow or Wednesday night. Maybe next season eh…
What do Arsenal fans talk about during such quiet times? For the disgruntled fans I suppose the verbal shredding of players, manager, Edu, coaching staff and tea lady might go on but what about those of us who might still hold doubts about where Arsenal are heading under Mikel Arteta but want to give the new signings a chance to make an impact on the team’s performances over the next few weeks and months?
Takehiro Tomiyasu certainly made a big impact on his debut. I thought he was very good, especially since he’s only been in the country a few days let alone get to know his teammates and how Mikel Arteta works. His recovery pace is excellent, he gets forward, crosses well and isn’t afraid to shoot if the opportunity arises. Sambi Lokonga, I love him already. Ben White, ok, he’ll seldom win an ariel battle against the big guys but he’s calm on the ball and looks for the kind of pass Cesc used to play. Ok, slight exaggeration perhaps but it’s easy to see why he can play in midfield as well as in defence. Martin Ødegaard is another gifted player who’ll only get better and better as the season goes on I think. Finally, Aaron Ramsdale. Two game, two clean sheets. Tougher challenges will come his way but I hope he’s not dropped to bench until he deserves to be, should that day come.
I’m not going to get overly excited about beating Norwich but Arsenal needed the win. Better finishing and we’d have battered them but sometimes a scrappy 1-0 will do just fine. Arsenal just needed to break the losing cycle and with it, shake off a few nerves I hope. Just as winning can become a habit, so can losing.
I’ve lost count of how many changes Mikel Arteta has made to his team so far this season but its certainly more than any other manager in the PL and that was before Saturday. Constant changing and swapping around of the team does no one any good but let’s not forget that most of the changes the Spaniard made were forced. Now though, things are very different.
However, what happens when Granit Xhaka returns from suspension which if my maths are right, will be the day of the NLD. I can hear the groans from my home. Seriously though, does anyone reading here this morning believe that there’s a place in the team for our Swiss midfielder IF everyone is fit?
See you in the comments.
Whilst he is with us my place for him is on the bench .
Apparently he is a popular member of the dressing room so alienating him may not be the best course to take but !
We have had precedents set in the past of clubs having a club captain as well as a captain on the pitch, perhaps that’s the conversation to be had.
For reasons best known to Arteta and Edu he was given a carrot to stay at the club with an extended contract and a pay rise . Something that from the outside is hard to fathom .
If Partey , Lokonga and Maitland Niles play well at Burnley then there is no reason to consider him coming straight back in . Let him be a leader inthe dressing room ( a bloody expensive one ) but until circumstances force it ,
Keep him off the pitch.
Arsenal should have taken what Roma offered and run to the bank. The guy is a liability as was Luiz.
Good morning Rico.
I do believe there is a place in the side for Xhaka, not all the time but in some games an older head could be a steadying influence in midfield particularly, when headless chicken syndrome spreads among the younger and over eager players.
Reading 0 – 4 Arsenal. Oops I meant to say, reading Arteta’s post match comments it seems not all the squad were free from injury and ready to play. Apart from Xhaka, banned for three games and Elneny out for a few weeks, Holding has a bruised knee, Lakonga returned from international duty with a tight hamstring, Partey was not considered fit enough to play the full ninety minutes and Tomiyasu had only one training session and suffered from cramp which forced his substitution. Oh and Aubameyang is still suffering from the missing sitters virus.
All that aside I think Ramsdale, who did all that was asked of him, deserves a run of games. White and Gabriel should be allowed to work on their partnership, while Tomiyasu and Tierney should retain their starting roles at fullback. Those five could well prove to be a solid defensive unit….so long as Arteta resists his tinkering habit.
One game, one goal, a clean sheet and three points, a hint of things to come? I hope so.
Morning Tony, Potter, all.
Absolutely agree, I can’t see where he fits now, not if Arteta wants quick and pressing football.
Arteta does not need to rotate anymore – last season we had game every three days and rotation was a necessary evil (however Arteta wasn’t very good at it) – this season we should be putting out our best XI every game and Arteta needs to tell the squad this – if you are out of the XI you have to train harder and be better than the incumbent, then when the chance comes they need to keep their levels high and be better than the person in the reserves. This should keep levels high and desire higher and weed out those stroppy, entitled players.
Hi Potter, did you go to Ludham? I stayed home. 😉
There will be a place for Xhaka when Partey and Elneny depart for the ACoN, after that who knows, injuries will occur, rotation is useful, Cup ties, he’ll get plenty of game time.
Sort of , a bit of a coward , went in after full time , The natives were not happy and must have watched a different game to me . However the bitter tasted sweet if you want a mixed metaphor.
Is there a free seat on the International Space Station? Send Xhaka up there for a year or two. As far away from the team as possible!
Depends who we draw Kev. Lol
Morning Cicero, nice little slip up there. 😂
Having a stable, consistent back five is key imo and I agree, the five we had on Saturday looked pretty good and the more they play, the better they should get. Tinkering unless absolutely necessary, is something I hope we less of this season. Obviously tactics/opposition aside.
Xhaka suits a game if we’re in defensive mode.
Ha ha Pete.
Good Morning Rico and all
I have a free chair here in the kitchen. So he is welcome here on match days……provided he is ok in taking some wine during the game while we discuss how the team is performing so much better with the new midfield of PArtey, Sambi and AMN. So yes there is a place for Xhaka…here in front of the tv.
Do I get a present for the most original suggestion Rico????
Just read an article in which it states that there was the consideration of Arsenal swapping Emerson for Bellerin. Tbh I wanted that initially but now I shudder at the thought. I enjoyed seeing Tommy against Norwich and absolutely prefer him to Emerson. Time will tell us who made the right decision…..but Tommy so far has won it hands down.
And dont worry…..AR01 will be dropped to the bench one day…when he is nearing retirement and Arsenal have another keeper taking over. Whether or not Leno will hang around until then remains to be seen but he will be near his 40s when that happens. I have a lot of hope and faith in AR01. And will be sad and disappointed if he doesnt cement his place as undisputed number 1 for Arsenal, England and the the best in Europe.
Morning Rico and All
As I said I hope Arteta starts the next match with the same team so these players get a good chance to jell on the field during a match.
I wanted Lokonga before we brought him but saying that I still think we will not see his best until next season. My biggest surprise was Tommy he looked like he had been at the club from the start of the season not just one week.
If Arteta is really upset with Xhaka for getting a red card then he should make his first match back starting on the bench
True Rico, but even if we draw one of the stronger sides using Xhaka wouldn’t bother me that much as we need to protect Partey from being overplayed and ensure he’s available for the Premier League matches. Lokonga has been very impressive but even he’s gonna need a breather, new country, new league, new everything and young players do have dips in form, maybe we can revisit Bissouma in January and sell Granit after the ACoN and if Roma or a.n.other approach us with an appropriate bid?
Morning Devil. Short answer, no. Lol
The Emerson/Bellerin swap was in the papers during the summer and like you, I had my fingers crossed but I think it’s worked out well in the end for us although one game is nothing to really go by.
Morning Geoff, you did. You plugged hard for Lokonga all summer, as did Henry.
Kev, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Xhaka straight back into the team once his ban is up. Arteta seems to rely on him. I agree, the acon is going to leave us short and yes, Partey has become injury prone since stepping foot on English soil but my hope is that AMN gets his act together and makes it difficult for Arteta to drop him.
Morning Rico and the house.
In the draw for the group stage of the champions league
our womens team have drawn Barcelona(holders) Hoffenhim and
HB Koge
Don’t get wrong I like AMN and I hope he can cement his spot in the starting line up but for some unknown reason I’m not sure he can take the next step.
Maybe it’s because I feel Arteta does not trust him
Morning Rick, tough group.
Well I guess that circumstances may have presented Niles with the opportunity he’s wanted Rico, now it’s down to him to cement his place in the squad as a regular starter.
I’m not sure about Xhaka coming straight back in, I mean most of us thought that Leno would start last Saturday so maybe Arteta is learning to be as ruthless as he suggested the club needed to be last month?
At the start of lock down one, I started playing Microsoft Spider Solitaire. After a couple of games I moved up to the hard game. I have today reached level 1000 and have become a Gold Grand Master 121.
Congratulations Cicero 😀
Grandmaster Cicero 1st. We mere mortals, salute you.
Well done Cicero
Agree re AMN Kev. Said similar earlier, it’s down to him now to take his chances when they come. I hope Arteta has become more ruthless as far as team selection goes.
What’s spider solitaire?
It’s a web based form of patience Rico.
Cicero congratulations you have definitely won more games than Arteta
😉 Geoff.
Harder than the ordinary online solitaire Cicero?
I don’t know Rico, Spider is the only form of the game that I’ve played. My best time for a game was 5 mins 25 secs. Average time, if uninterrupted, about nine minutes. It certainly fills a bit of time when there’s no football, cricket or rugby to watch.
Of course Spider comes second to grass cutting and dishwasher emptying. 😉
Dishwasher the best invention, When I got married the first thing my wife said I will do all the cooking and you can do all the dishes, so Like any good husband I agreed then the next day I went and brought a Dishwasher.
Ha ha Geoff. Smart move. Lol
Morning all.
Good morning folks.
Man U bitten in the bum by Young Boys’ 95th minute winner. Fergie Time not doing the job it was invented for. 😉
Reading won though Cicero 😂
One of those “blue moon” moments Rico? 😉
Ha ha Cicero..