Morning all.
I’ve pinched this from The Daily Cannon who I think, pinched it from The Athletic. It’s a list of the fixtures Arsenal might be playing during the World Cup.
- November 13th-December 3rd – Approximately 10 days off, followed by training in London
- W/C November 28th – Arsenal vs Watford (London Colney)
- December 4th – Travel to Dubai for a warm-weather camp
- December 8th – Arsenal vs Lyon (Al Maktoum Stadium)
- December 13th – Arsenal vs Milan (Al Maktoum Stadium)
- December 14th – Travel back to London
- December 17th – Arsenal vs Barcelona (Emirates Stadium)
- December 26th – The Premier League returns
A ten day break will do all the players the world of good although the ones who probably need it the most will be in Qatar. Bearing in mind that five days after the domestic campaign starts up again, the January transfer window opens, this break will give Edu, Mikel Arteta and anyone else involved in transfers, to get busy. Deals might not be able to be completed until the 1st January but I’m pretty sure that conversations between clubs begin well before then.
Being in Dubai, it’s just a short trip over the sea in an aeroplane for the players to rejoin the group as and when their respective country get knocked out of the World Cup. After having a break of their own though I’d imagine.
Assuming top four will be a battle of the clubs as listed below, here’s the numbers:
Arsenal – 10 players: Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli (both Brazil), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Japan), Granit Xhaka (Switzerland), William Saliba (France), Matt Turner (USA), Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Bukayo Saka (all England) Thomas Partey (Ghana).
Chelsea – 12 players: Mateo Kovacic (Croatia), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Denis Zakaria (Switzerland), Christian Pulisic (USA), Hakim Ziyech (Morocco), Kai Havertz (Germany), Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling (all England), Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly (both Senegal), Cesar Azpilicueta (Spain).
Man City – 16 players: Manuel Akanji (Switzerland), Ederson (Brazil), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Ilkay Gundogan (Germany), John Stones, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish (all England), Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva (all Portugal), Nathan Ake (Netherlands), Aymeric Laporte and Rodri (both Spain), Julian Alvarez (Argentina).
Man UTD – 14 players: Antony, Casemiro, Fred (all Brazil), Christian Eriksen (Denmark), Raphael Varane (France), Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford (all England), Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo (all Portugal), Facundo Pellistri (Uruguay), Tyrell Malacia (Netherlands), Lisandro Martinez (Argentina).
Totts – 10 players: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Denmark), Ivan Perisic (Croatia), Richarlison (Brazil), Ben Davies (Wales), Hugo Lloris (France), Eric Dier, Harry Kane (both England), Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal), Cristian Romero (Argentina).
Liverpool – 7 players: Alisson, Fabinho (both Brazil), Ibrahima Konate (France), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson (both England) Darwin Nunez (Uruguay), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
Newcastle Utd – 5 players: Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil), Fabian Schar (Switzerland), Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson (all England).
As expected, City top the list, followed by Utd and the Chelsea. Surprisingly, Newcastle Utd only have five players on international duty which could help them after Christmas. Liverpool too with seven involved. Nine of our ten players are Mikel Arteta’s favoured starting eleven barring Gabriel and Oleksandr Zinchenko. If Brazil, France and England go far, Mikel Arteta is going to have a number of knackered players for the game against West Ham on Boxing Day.
Enjoy the football over the next few weeks.
Until next time…..
Great post Rico, plenty of good info there, well done The Athletic… 😉
Not a lot of Arsenal info for a few weeks Rico so expect NewsNow etc to ramp up the BS to compensate and keep the clicks rolling in, it’ll be almost as if the January window opens this week and lasts about 10 weeks – how exciting. 😬
Time to put your feet up Rico, focus on the Christmas tree and fairy lights (can I still say fairy lights?)
I never read anything Gary Neville opines or watch anything with him in on YouTube, I mean what’s the point? Why would any of us want to do that to ourselves because we know that he’ll be rubbishing Arsenal with faint praise, but then I guess that’s what he’s asked to do by Sky or whomever because they know of Arsenal’s coverage online and anything critical gets the clicks and £££ rolling in from advertisers.
Btw Rico, how is Tony Adams doing, is he still in Stritchlyz?
Was there any lasagne involved in our pre-match meal on Saturday?
Was it an undercover operation by some Spurs fans?
On your own Kev ?
Gary Neville the working man’s millionaire champagne socialist ,
How does that red flag song go “” The working man can kiss my Arse , I’ve got the foreman’s job at last.
Tony is out of strictly, a hamstring injury would you believe.
With luck the next verse will soon apply, Out of work and on the dole, stuff the red flag up your hole. 😉
You’re a hoot Kev. 😂
Looking forward to watching the Ronaldo interview. Think he’ll be gone in January. Lol
Interesting facts, thanks rico. What a shame with momentum we have, to stop for 6 weeks. Oh well, keeps us top for Christmas, and we can dream for new year to carry on. Be very happy with second or third.
Tyreece John-Jules, currently on loan at Ipswich Town has torn a hamstring and may well need surgery.
Anywhere in the top four would please me Andrew, get CL back, the money which it pays and build on the squad we have.
Think he’ll be gone in January. Lol
Stamford Bridge ?
John Jules Out forth3 rest of the season then?
I know someone who’ll be inconsolable at that news.
I think I know who Kev… 😂
New post up now