Afternoon all.
I’ve been slacking, I know but honestly, an international break just kills my interest in football for two weeks. There’s another one next month, thankfully the last for this year. Not that there will be much of this year left by then. Jurrien Timber and Christian Norgaard should be on their way back to north London by now as both played their second fixture yesterday. Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, William Saliba and Viktor Gyokeres play their second games tonight and then Spain, Italy, Brazil and England play tomorrow.
Then we can look forward to the weekend.
We won’t know who is fit for the short trip across London to play Fulham until Mikel Arteta holds his press conference but I’m hoping for some good news on Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie as well as Gabriel Jesus. Sadly, Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard are looking likely to be long term absentees.
Our old midfielder Jack Wilshere has stepped into management for the first time with Luton Town. I say old but he’s still just 33 years old after his career was cut short because of injury. I think he’ll always remain a fans favourite regardless of where his managerial career takes him and who knows, if he takes to the role like a duck to water, he might one day be back at Arsenal FC.
Mikel Arteta and academy manager Per Mertesacker are his inspirations for this new chapter in his life, asking the Spaniard when he knew he was ready to take the big step.
I love this:
About a year ago, I asked Mikel when he knew he was ready,” Wilshere said during his unveiling press conference. “He laughed and said, ‘You just have to jump in and swim as hard as you can.’
“He’s done that really well and this feels a little similar. It’s a different level but Arsenal wasn’t a nice place when Mikel went in. The fans weren’t sure what was happening and he built complete unity and trust in what he was doing.”
Chris Powell will be alongside him in the dugout. Good luck Jack, you are going to need it. What football manager doesn’t really regardless of whether it’s their first or fifth job? A bit of luck goes a long way towards making or breaking a managers career.
I don’t think Mikel Arteta had any good luck when he took over from Unai Emery. But what he did have was owners/board who believed in him, who stood by him through a rocky first season or two and who have invested heavily in the squad. Finally we look like we can cope with the injuries, suspensions, etc, although I’d much rather we had none of both over the next seven and a half months.
Enjoy the international football tonight if you’re watching, I’m going off to see when Luton next play.
Catch up in the comments.
Jack had just a couple games as a stand-in manager at Norwich City at the end of last season so he’s not entirely untried. I hope he does well, he deserves a bit of luck.
Both games in the next interlull are friendlies so are likely to be played at half pace and will be riddled with substitutions. Pointless and unnecessary jeopardy for players risking injury for no discernible purpose.
Good night Gooners, everywhere. 🌜
Morning Cicero, anyone… 😂
I see the media have Gyokeres in their critical sights.
It was inevitable that the media having long castigated Arsenal for not having a striker would switch their attention to pronouncing that we bought the wrong one .
Of interest so far Gyokeres has scored three goals , Woltemaide 4 , Watkins 1 and Isak nil. so their argument fails to hold water but don’t let facts get in the way of an agenda.
Luton have two mid table matches coming up one at home and one away , for Jack’s sake lets hope the new manager bounce kicks in and he can collect the points .
Afternoon Rico and all. I’m like you Rico I loose interest when it comes to international matches, their are far to many for my likeing and interest.
how did your dogs training go Rico.
Vodafone went down yesterday for about 5 hours so that buggered my working day up, apparently they didn’t tell anyone. Was it the Russians? Was it the Chinese? Was it North Korea? Was it Hamas? Or did someone forget to put a shilling in the meter?
Anyway it’ll be good to see that we have Hincapie available this weekend but the question for me is with Atletico coming up in a weeks time will Arteta rest a couple of our usual starters vs Fulham with that in mind?
Maybe Nordgaard will get a start at Craven Cottage, with the travelling involved for Brazil wi Gabriel and Martinelli be on the bench?
Not that I’m underestimating Fulham as they’ve been tough to deal with over the last couple of seasons but it’s not as if we’d be resting our top players and bringing in to replace them a Cozier Duberrry or a Butler Odejedi.
G’day all.
before picking the starting eleven for the Fulham match let’s wait ad see if any of our players have picked up an injury in their international games… or back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Cohen Bramall, James Shea and Reuell Walters are all at Luton Town and may have been coached by Jack Wilshere before?
Sweden lost again yesterday and of course Alexander Isak is Teflon and Viktor Gyokeres gets all the blame.
Martinelli started for Brazil and scored in Japan coming off on the 57th minute, Big Gabby didn’t play at all, which is great!
Afternoon guys, no electricity this afternoon for me, no heating either.. Darn workmen 😜
Merino a couple for Spain tonight both headers apparently.
5 – 0, a lovely goal by Eze.
The international break goes so slowly,we’re straight into a busy period. Apparently there is no break next November,I’m not sure if that’s every year or just because the World Cup is next year.
The WC is June 11 to July 19, 2026, it would be bonkers to have any international fixtures next season before the tournament begins imo. Players will be knackered otherwise.
Morning all.
New post up.
Been delving into the Charles Watts daily podcast to fill in the void, he’s very good at producing 25 minutes or so of something out of absolutely nothing and his once-a-week chat with James Benge is pretty good.
Other that that it’s a bit of a stretch to get any other kind of Arsenal content.
Rico… no post.
England could have training camps but maybe one match instead of two is the way to go?