Morning all.
According to The Mirror, Arsenal have and still are, firing scouts. The newspaper suggests this move is down to the impact Coronavirus has had on the club. Finances are tight and this is a cost cutting move. No names have mentioned, just ‘senior scouts’ along with those responsible for spotting the likes of Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Emile Smith Rowe. True or not I’ve no idea but who needs scouts when there’s a world of stats and data out there? I jest of course.
There are 92 fixtures to get through before this season finally comes to an end in July. Sky Sports will show 25 games for free, 39 on their regular channels. BT Sport will air 20 live fixtures whilst the BBC and Amazon will televise four free games each. A real football feast for those who love the game.
What’ll be strange though, other than an empty stadium, is the weather as instead of the usual cold, wet and windy April and May days and nights, there’ll be sunshine, blue skies and warm temperatures. No wonder the idea of allowing five substitutes has been approved.
Our fixtures are as follows:
Wednesday June 17th – Man City v Arsenal. Kick-Off: 8.15pm. (Sky Sports)
Saturday June 20th – Brighton v Arsenal. Kick-Off: 3pm (BT Sport)
Thursday June 25th – Southampton v Arsenal. Kick-Off: 6pm. (Sky Sports)
Wednesday July 1st – Arsenal v Norwich. Kick-Off: 6pm. (BT Sport)
Further Arsenal fixtures: Dates and times to be confirmed:
Wolves v Arsenal, Arsenal v Leicester, Tottenham v Arsenal and Arsenal v Liverpool.
It’s hard to believe Mikel Arteta has been back at Arsenal for nearly six months. Three of which have been disrupted by the break which he inadvertently kicked off. He falling victim of Coronavirus pretty much brought the world of sport to a sudden standstill. A hug shared with Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis on the night of our Europa league fixture was all it took allegedly. Evangelos, who has himself recovered from the virus, is believed to have spread more than his greeting to our manager. Callum Hudson-Odoi also fell ill the following day.
During the break, not only has Mikel Arteta had to rest and recover but protect his family too. Then came the pay cuts and now the difficult task of trying to convince both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka to sign new contracts. Shkodran Mustafi too if Mikel Arteta believes in him. The future of David Luiz is yet to be resolved too. I know someone will suggest that contract negotiations will be down to Raul and co but players want to know where they fit into the managers plans and what that plan is. Mikel Arteta is the man to do that in my opinion. Just as Arsene Wenger was back in his day.
The players have been back in training for a while now. I think Arsenal were one of the first clubs back and even though distance between players and coaches had to be maintained, I suspect the voice of Arteta could be heard loud and clear. He’ll have his players drilled ahead of what is a run of ten difficult fixtures. A top four place remains possible, as does a trip to Wembley for an FA Final. Both improbable but as we all know, funny things can happen in sport. All it takes is a wobble by Wolves, Leicester or Sheffield Utd, better still, all of them and we could be in. But we’ve got to be ready to take advantage of anyone else’s slip ups.
Yesterday the boys played out a friendly against Charlton. We ran out 6-0 winners thanks to an Eddie Nketiah hat-trick and one each from Aubameyang, Lacazette and Willock. Here’s a few highlights.
The game was nothing more more than a workout although it’s always nice to see Arsenal goals going in regardless of who they’re against or at what level and Charlton are only one division below us, albeit struggling to get out of the relegation places. It has to be better for Arsenal to be playing a different opponent than playing an inter-squad eleven training match, that’s for sure.
I had read that Mikel Arteta has another friendly lined up but I’m not sure if that’s true or not.
10 days to go…
Stay safe guys….
Morning Rico and all.
We are getting there, albeit slowly, but right now, better a week too late than too soon, imo.
Good morning, Rico, great read! Wow, nearly 6 months.. and sooo much has happened during that time!
I watched half an hour of the Dortmund game yesterday. They used artificial crowd noise. I have to say, I quite liked it!! I’ve read Sky and BT will use it also, albeit with the option of switching it off. I’m hoping there’ll be a ‘drown Mcmanaman out’ option too 😂
Not sure if BBC or Amazon will follow suit..
Super goals yesterday! So good to see us back in action… was buzzing….until I saw Kev’s comment about Partey more than likely staying put. My heart was set on him…more heartbreak then… just like last season with Zaha, all over again 🥺
Morning All… A very satisfying run out yesterday, the staff of both teams shared the job of officiating the game and the tackles were probably more in line with a testimonial game so it was all about fitness, match sharpness etc, but it wouldn’t surprise me if initially players don’t get involved with as much close contact as usual in the first few games. That should suit a technical team like Arsenal – and Man City as it goes.
Morning Rico, thanks for the post, Aston Villa vs Arsenal and Arsenal vs Watford are our last two Premier League games, a nice build up to the FACup final hopefully.
Sue, I saw the Partey thing on a Twitter account (one of the few reliable ones) and we all know about them, but maybe it makes sense not to expect too much in the transfer window, we still don’t know how the lockdown and recession will hit transfer prices and wages?
Agents and the media will spin all kinds of rubbish, but there has to be a reduction in transfer fees, how can there not be? Chelsea are apparently paying the buyout clause for Timo Werner, but are they, Liverpool aren’t and I doubt that many clubs will? It’s all in flux with most of the rumours being made up by journalists and Twitterers as they sit in a queue for over an hour waiting for their burger and chips… 😉
Kev.. I’m always checking out transfer
checker – it’s his fault my hopes are where they are 😄. He’s saying Werner is a done deal.. their chief executive is saying otherwise….. He’s also saying Coutinho is dead in the water (not literally 😜)…. but hasn’t said too much recently on Partey, so there’s a little glimmer haha!!
😂😂😂 I like what you did there!!!
Long time to chat and give opinions. What I saw of yesterdays game was encouraging mainly due to the fact that at last we saw our squad without half sitting on the bench wearing plaster boots. I cant remember the last time an Arsenal side played with a full squad? As for transfer news, we have to remember how AFC are every season. No official confirmation until five minutes after we sign someone ie Pepe. I think that Partey would be a great addition as long as we sell off a few players who will never be first team squad top players. Sokratis and Mustafi would make us money along with Martinez, Kolasinac and Belerin. So partey plus a world class Cb cum right back would be great. With them I see us challenging for the title next season and agree with Charlie Nick…we have a real manager now and he plus a great very young squad, will shake up the Prenmiership and hopefully destry a few of the trophy buyers , Chelski, Manure, Man C, and Liddypill. Cant wait !
Good afternoon from a cold and wet Norfolk. What was that you said about the rest of the season being played in summer sunshine Rico? It feels more like Filldyke (Norfolkese for February) than blazing June right now.
It was good to see the boys hitting the back of the net yesterday. No farting around once we got a couple of goals, a bit of the killer instinct came into play, something that has been missing for a while.
Did Arteta put Maitland-Niles in the shop window by playing him in mid-field? Or perhaps he was seeing if playing in his preferred position improved his attitude.
Morning Scott, Sue, Kev, Pete and all.
Has a new manager ever had to deal with so much at a club? I don’t think so.
Thanks Sue, I like the idea of crowd noise, but I like your idea of muting the commentary too. 😆
I wonder if any noise the TV broadcasting company opts to use is for the viewers benefit or the players too.
Without the fans, it might be strange but perhaps beneficial for Arsenal because we’ve some really tough away fixtures.
Party, or a player in his position might not be beyond possibility imo. If we’re to sell a few, which I reckon is likely, if all the money we raise is put towards one player, a defence minded midfielder would make sense to me.
Good Afters, Rico, et al,
A really top Post, thank you, and I agreed with all the points you made re Mikel – he is an intelligent and rational guy, and hw will not let us down.
Pete, agree with squad not being injured, it’s a rarity for Arsenal. Just hope it stays that way into next season and beyond. The turnaround will be quick and no sooner than this season has ended, they’ll be back training/playing again. Great for the fans but not for any of of ‘frail’ players.
Hi Kev,
I think you were a little harsh on the Agents and Media about their lying, rubbishy rumours.
I will have you know, I spent many a minute, or two, spreading my own version of these lying rubbishy rumours and deserve some of the brickbats too!!
Why should the Agents and Media buffs be the only ones to get a name check? 😜
Cicero, it’s warm and sunny in the south. 😂
I’m not sure what to make of AMN situation, but I do think there’s a very could player waiting to show his true ability. If he leaves, I’ve a sneaky feeling we might regret it. Just like the guy who City are rumoured to be chasing for some hideous amount.
Personally, I’d give him one more season under Arteta and go from there.
I wonder if all the grounds will still carry out their match day rituals, even without the fans? Will we still play ‘Good old Arsenal’ and ‘London’s Calling’ ?? Will we show that clip, just before the players emerge from the tunnel, of goals past and present, which pumps me every time, I love it, so much so I recorded it on my phone 😂 Will City play ‘Blue Moon’ ?? Etc….🤔
Rico, I know this is really sad, but I like MTV Cribs. There’s a footballer special right now. Luiz and Auba have signed up for it.. last week it was Lingard (boo!!)… bit of useless info for you 🤣
Hi RA, I have been reading your comments for many a year now on many different blogs and I can fully concur with you when you admit to being a rumourist, all the same I shall spare you the brickbats as I am indeed a gentleman. 😉
Afternoon Ra, thanks. He certainly comes across as knowing what he wants and how he’s going to get it. Listening to him is easy.
MTV Cribs Sue, what on earth is that? I’m showing my age I think. 😂
It’s a tour of their homes, Rico…everything from ‘where the magic happens’ to the fridge contents 😄 I like to see how the other half live!!
Showing your age? No… it’s just a number, so RA keeps telling me 😂
That’s something I’d like then Sue. Love seeing inside people’s homes. I’ve been underwhelmed by some of the journalists homes during the Covid question time. Lol
😆 good one, Rico!!
Good old Sky are showing our 4-0 over Everton, for the title!! So much I love about that game… from how gorgeous Petit was, to what a special team we had and what great football was on show. But what does it for me was Adams’ goal and Martin Tyler shouting “Would you believe it”….. one of my favourite ever moments as a gooner 😍
I’m watching Cardinal Sue. Gruesome!
Any good, Rico? Gruesome?! You’re not watching through your fingers?! 😄
Behind closed fingers at times Sue. Torture, decapitation with the occasional warm and fuzzy scene. 😂
Oo-er!! Maybe I’ll give it a try 😄
I hope I’ve not oversold it.. lol
New post up now