Morning all.
Bramall Lane, not a place where Arsenal have been overly successful over the years. In fact our record there has been pretty shabby.
1991? Well, it’s not like Sheffield Utd have been in the Premier League often is it? Last season was their first in the top English division for years and I think it’s fair to say, they punched well above what was expected of them. This season however has probably been a reality check for the club. I think newly promoted sides often have a good first season but seldom does a second one go as well.
Anyway, this season Sheffield United’s struggles leave them rooted to the foot of the table and earlier in the year, they sacked Chris Wilder. They are the league’s lowest scoring team with just 17 goals. But, in their last home fixture before the interval break, they defeated Aston Villa 1-0.
David Luiz and Kieran Tierney are out for a long time now, perhaps even for the remainder of the season. Calum Chambers is fit again so it’s a toss up between him and Bellerin at right back with Cedric on the left unless Arteta opts for Saka which I hope is not the case. Joel Lopez, who along with Miguel Azeez has been training with the first team this week, is also an option.
Odegaard is a doubt and ESR is reported to be injured so our creativity might be sparse. Even more so if Saka is pulled back into defence. I’d love to see Martinelli start today but then if it’s today or in Prague, then I’d prefer the latter but there’s always Nelson if Arteta wants to inject a bit of pace into the team. Just as Azeez is an option to replace ESR or Odegaard if the latter fails a late assessment.
Will Balogun come into the squad now Aubameyang has allegedly been ruled out through illness? Go on Mikel, you know you want to! After he’s scored the winning goal, tell us he’s staying.
What to expect from an Arsenal team today is anyone’s guess but I’d like to think we’ll see a reaction after recent shoddy performances against both Liverpool and Slavia Prague and others which have gone before. With a place in Europa still possible although not probable, surely these group of players want to at least try to make it happen?
Isn’t that what we Arsenal fans want to see? Effort, pride, passion and determination? Self respect too, as well as a convincing performance against a bottom of the League football club.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
Aubameyang ruled out by illness? Not fond of the idea of playing “oop noorth” more like! Didn’t Ozil frequently throw a sicky before away games?
Cicero, plenty of myths about Ozil were just that, myths, but because fans took a set against him, everything the media said was suddenly true.
I mean, week in, week out he was among the top 2/3 players when it came to covering kilometres in a game yet he was lazy??
Pfft, gotta love the truth.
Morning all.
Let’s just go an win ffs!
Morning Cicero, I can understand your scepticism.
I could jog around for 90 mins Scott but I don’t think that makes me a great footballer.
Rico, if you could find a pass like Ozil, that would make you a great footballer!!
But those passes were many years ago Scott.
I’m moving on from that waste of a place in the team.
Rico, so why comment about him??
I was responding to your comment Scott.
But Rico, he was no waste.
He was wasted.
He was the author of his own downfall imo Scott. All four Arsenal managers flunked with him. The only time he really played well was before his new contract and when Alexis was in the team.
Not myths Scott, check for yourself the number of away games he missed through mysterious ailments which miraculously disappeared when a home game was in the offing.
The bare statistic that says he covered a lot of ground is worthless if he didn’t score goals, create chances for other players, press ‘keepers and other defenders, tackle back when he lost possession and didn’t act like a petulant schoolboy when he was hooked off after sixty minutes.
All was fine until Wenger made the mistake of selling Alexis Sanchez and made an even bigger mistake in keeping Ozil and giving him a new contract and the ludicrously high wage which, together, turned him into an un-achieving prima-donna.
Where did Newcastle get Saint-Maximin from?
He’s come off their bench to set one up and score himself. Not that’s an impact sub.
Rico,
Alexis, his mercenary ways, his diving and his selfishness, and the fact he’d run for 90 minutes without going anywhere-not my cup of tea.
His PL record of errors and turnovers in a single game leaves a proper legacy.
His best football was when alongside Ozil.
Ozil managed great football for Germany and Real as well as for us.
Cicero, you’re not serious when you blame Wenger for selling Alexis, surely.
Hey, I wasn’t upset he left, but it was his call to leave, not Wengers and you know that.
What a career move it was for the selfish prick.
His bank manager and agent were happy though 🙂
The Geordies bought him from Nice, Rico, 16.5m… bargain! He’s a beast!!
Alexis wasn’t sold, for some reason the club turned down a reported £60m offer from City only to swap him for another Utd flop. What a stupid deal that was.
He sure is Sue, wouldn’t mind him in an Arsenal shirt. Lol
You and me both, Rico 😉
Not sure the blue kit would look good though Sue. Lol
We could do a swap… Willock>Saint-Maximin 😂 yeah right!!
Oh no, not the blue kit… it’s cursed 🤪
Rico, that’s correct.
Alexis left for around 500k a week.
Not bad money for doing close to nothing, but he’s later said he wish he’d never left us.
Nice idea Sue…
What he agreed with Utd is of little interest to me Scott but he’s was great for Arsenal imo.
Afternoon. Could do with Sanchez now. Shame others didn’t all have his high ethics and work rate let alone ability! Didn’t dive any more than majority of other players. Never going to agree on this one Scott😃
Loved to have two 100% triers in our team, Tierney and Sanchez.
Ditto Andrew.
West Ham are on fire!! I really hope they finish 4th!! COYI
Lingard has been a great signing for them.
Leicester coming back 3 – 1.
The game moves past some and others sunddenly can’t be bothered, sure.. still others start to slow production when suddenly they are without the magical wizardry of Cazorla.
3 – 2
F T 3 – 2
What a game!! Hats off to Moyes…👍
Now we want the Mancs to win yes? 😆
Yes 🤣
Good Afternoon Rico and everyone.
Rico…..there are good young players if only Arsenal scouts…or is it the stats team now….know where to look.
I can reel off some good names who are still young barely out of their teens. And if I know them from here I just wonder what the Arsenal scouts/stats team are doing to earn their money.
Leao 21 years (Winger/Forward) Milan bought him from Lille(28m) who got him for free from Sporting
Alexis Saelemakers 21 years (RB/RM.RW) Actually he is far better at RWF than at RB but he he is good also there. Milan bought him from Anderlecht for Eur4.5m) This guy is really good.
Pierre Kalulu 20 years (RB/CB) Milan bought him from Lyon.
Gianluca Frabotta 20 years (LB) Juventus bought him from Bologna. Solid defender.
Weston Mckennie 22 years (CB/DM/CM) a beast of a DM. Juventus bought him from Schalke for 18.5M.
Kulusevski 20 years (RW/AM) a good player who Juventus bought for 35m.
Merih Demiral 21 years (CB/DM) A turkish international he was bought by Juventus from Atalanta for 18M
Alexander Isak (RW/CF) Sociedad bought him from Dortmund for 6.5M. He is already a swedish international
There are other players who I know about. Allan St Maximin I had known about him for about three years already. He is a beast of a player and atm he is nursed gradually due to Covid really hitting him hard. So he has to be reintegrated slowly.
The issue with regards the scout/stats team is that they rely on agents I feel. So that means they are limited. If Agent X has only players 1,2,3 on his hands he will promote them. That imo is very unprofessional like by the club as it means that the club has to depend on the agent to find them players.
I see a lot of U21/U19/U17 international games especially in summer tournaments. So will know much more earlier than those who dont watch football at that level. Kev can attest to that as I remember that once I sent him a message with three names of 17 year old players I saw in the international Toulouse tournament. The names??? Nasri, Ben Arfa and Benzema. And they were still 17 year old players. We all know how they turned out.
Right now it has been reported that there is another Martinelli (Matheus) who is on Arsenal’s radar. He is a 19 year old DM from Fluminese. cannot comment as I have never seen him play yet. But then I never saw Gabi Martinelli play beforehand either.
The above players I mentioned all played more than 20 games this season for their team.
If I had to pick three from them to buy??? Leao, Saeleamakers and Demiral
Afternoon Devil. Didn’t Arsenal get rid of most of the scouts?
Yes I know Rico. I just included them because the messages AFC gave about player recruitment is vague and muddy and foggy.
Cicero….I thought the same about Auba today as well. And tbh the more he does it the better. As I prefer him not to play. TH did it in his last year for some games. Fabregas did it as well in his last year. Ozil did it many times. Auba is not different to them. The quicker he buggers off the better. I dont take kindly to players who are not prepared to put in a shift and earn money whichI have to work a lifetime to get what they get in a couple of weeks.
Leno, Chambers, Holding, Mari, Saka, Ceballos, Xhaka, Partey, Pepe, Lacazette, Martinelli
Subs: Bellerin, Gabriel, Willian, Cedric, Nelson, Elneny, Nketiah, Ryan, Azeez
Cavaniiiiiiiii!!!
Bloody hell, Martinelli starts 😀 COYG
Evening Rico and the House
Why is Ceballos in the team
He is the weak link in the side
Leno, Chambers, Holding, Mari, Saka, Xhaka, Partey, Ceballos, Martinelli, Lacazette Pepe
A bit lat with the line-up, I was enjoying Spuds getting done 1 – 3. Another nail in Mourinho’s coffin.
Referee Peter Bankes, never heard of him!
Agreed Rick . He’s been put there to add a bit of flair with his penetrating passing range .
Shall we count and see how many actually reach our players.
Just so long as he doesn’t gift Sheffield a goal or two.
I’d prefer Saka in place of him with Cedric at left back.
Peter Bankes 12 games 40 yellows and 2 red Card Happy ?
I quite like the team.
The defence will need to be strong,hopefully Saka and Martinelli can do some damage down the left.
Possibly the Aubameyang thing is just precautionary,looking forward to Prague,slightly worrying though,this is how it started with Ozil,with that fella it was a bad back.
COYG
Evening Rick, all.
Xhaka at left back? Interesting…
Unlucky it bounced straight back off Laca into goalies arms.
I’ve a feeling Partey is going to score today…
Brilliant. The best move all season. 😜
Quick Forward passes, rico!
Exactly Andrew. Perhaps they should try it more often… lol
Lacaaaaa wakaaaaa
1-0
Why is a left footed player taking a corner on our right hand side? They have been so poor from Pepe.
A much better half! Great goal.. Paella man>Laca 👌
Funny how Lacazette plays better with younger and more energetic players around him.
Xhaka at left back ?
The Invincibles and AW would have been proud of that goal. Brilliant move. Similar to the one scored by JW10 against Norwich
Rico, however much friends they may be, Laca performs better without Auba than with him. And he plays much better with the youngsters because they make runs which others should do but dont. So Laca can play his proper role as a link man in attack. The proper CF.
That is why I dont want Laca to be sold.
Can a flu last more than a few days?? Maybe the bug can keep its hold for about 5 weeks??
Training ground goal mpore of the same please
Laca has now scored 49 Premier League goals for Arsenal. Only Thierry Henry 175, Olivier Giroud 73 and Robert Pires 62 are the French players who have scored more than 50 goals for us. So he needs one more.
I know Devil, that was clear to see through the Europa group games.
Why didn’t Leno catch that.. Tsk.
Auba can’t be that bad, he’s been on Twitter.
I am not even going to question Arteta’s coaching abilities, but IMHO, he has a terrible “man-management” skills. Guendouzi, Torreira, Saliba, Ozil, Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Koslasnic, Mustafi, Bellerin have all had problems with him, and to a lesser extent Willian and Luiz. And now it seems since the benching several weeks back, PEA has a problem with him. The common denominator in all of these situations is Arteta.
I would love us to score 3……but am thorn between Laca getting a hat-trick OR goals are between LAca, MArtinelli and Pepe.
Is that not just rumour and speculation Obi? I wouldn’t take what’s written in the newspapers as being factual.
Obi…the common denominator will always be Arteta. Even between fans let alone the players. Simply because he is the manager. And he has to make decisions.
And believe me….if you have principles which others wont adhere to you are going to clash. Arteta is not a crowd pleaser. he has to do a job. he has to make decisions. And if AW and Emery did not implement certain rules and he does than there will be those who will not feel at ease.
Bollox. That doesn’t look good for Martinelli.
Nor for Saka…
Martinelli gets one as well 2-0.
Pepe with the next now hopefully.
Fingers crossed Laca scores his 50th in the EPL
50 goals, IMO always keep Laca, he’s only ineffective when we play slow boring football.
And that is Laca’s 50th EPL goal.
3-0. Now keep that clean sheet.
Lovely pass, excellent finish.
And today I hope that Auba watched the game from his bed and got a good lesson of how a captain should be. Of how a team should be led.
Good result and good to see a bit of spirit return. Even if it was against the bottom club.
yep it was a good result. Fingers crossed we carry that next Thursday as well so we can win. I hope that Laca leads the line next Thursday plus Odegaard and ESR return together with Saka. I just hope they will be fully fit. otherwise its best not to play them if they are not.
http://arsenalist.com/f/2018-19/laca-goal-0-1-2021-04-08.html
http://arsenalist.com/f/2018-19/martinelli-goal-0-2-2021-04-08.html
http://arsenalist.com/f/2018-19/laca-goal-0-3-2021-04-08.html
Totts next game is away to Everton and ours is home to Fulham , if they draw and we win we go above Everton one place behind them with a two points gap .
Harry Kane asking for a transfer according to twitter , St Totts day may yet be on the cards.
3 – 0 away from home, it just shows what can be done when everyone is playing at pace and looking to get forward.
Did Arteta find a box of new batteries in the back of his cupboard, the whole team seemed to be rejuvenated.
Surprisingly Ceballos had a very good game.
I think every one will sleep better tonight after that performance
Cicero
1 good game do’s not make up for the poor games he has had this season.
I hate being the naysayer that says it was only Sheffield United but it was .
Their position in the league confirms that we should have had a good performance, and we did. Finding anyone to complain about would be churlish but also praising players is going over the top
Yes Potter, you are a naysayer, just enjoy the result.
Delighted for Martinelli and what a difference when our guys remember how to put the ball in the net…
Kev, Martinelli is a superb finisher-I reckon his stroke rate for shots to goals would be bloody good.
What a future the kid has!!!!
Please for Laca to get his 49th and 50th League goals.
I’d keep him!!
He’s playing well, is obviously happy and those around him seem to enjoy playing alongside him.
Oh and I’m not getting excited about that finish from Martinelli in particular 🙂
Still, he had to be in the right spot and how often have we seen such chances go begging?
Just to add, let’s see more of those brilliant through balls from Partey!!!
Superb stuff for the last goal.
We look a whole lot better when Auba not playing
Sad to say, but you’re right Geoff.
Is he having personal issues?
Is he in early retirement mode?
Who knows, but another waste of talent right now.
Rick I’m not suggesting it does. In fact it makes those other performances look worse, but also goes to show that there is a good player in there somewhere.
Good Morning Rico and all
Geoff….I have been banging the drum that we play better when Auba does not play for Yonks.
Yesterday’s showing by Xhaka was very good. Infact he was solid throughout the game. And I have the impression that for this season at least he will stay there.
Xhaka did not bomb forward that much like Tierney or any other FB. Yesterday he played an inverted full back which meant that instead of going up all the time to bomb crosses he just tucked into midfield and allowed that honour to others. It gave us a more solid look.
True it might be said that it was only Sheffield utd. but we can only play against who is in front of us. Next Thursday we will see a different opposition. It might be that Xhaka stays there at left back. And Soares goes on the right.
Rico… it’s snowing!!!
Devil, Xhaka has performed well the few times he’s played In the backs.
Could well be where his future lies???
Yes Scott, I agree it’s great to see Lacazette join the 50 club, but I don’t agree that we should keep him, not if we want to see the club upgrade in other positions.
Look mate it’s easy to get excited about a player after a good performance, I’ve done it many times myself and many of us did it after the famous Dani Ceballos vs Burnley game last season as an example, but we’ve gotta learn to be better at selling players. Yeah Laca scored two great goals and linked up well with the youngsters but Arsenal have tethered themselves to Aubameyang and like it or not that’s where we are. So Laca has to go so we can reduce our wage bill and so we can get in some income to reinvest.
It also opens up a route for Balogun and John Jules to progress.
You know what guys I was only larking about with Potter but you wouldn’t believe the negativity on so many of the most popular Arsenal blogs after a 3-0 win, it’s almost as if some fans want to see us lose just so they can to proved right about Arteta, it’s pathetic…
Kev, we can’t buy experience though.
Laca hasn’t just provided one terrific performance, either, he’s been pretty consistent this season imo.
Mate too many fans would prefer to be right than wrong and that includes when it’s not great for the club.
Go figure.
It’s incredible, but that’s how it is.
Kev….I have been noticing that negativity since the last 4 years of AW. Fans (????) wanting us to lose so they can be proved right. Its Arteta’s turn now. And I can honestly say that if another manager comes in they will be singing the same hymn sheet when he loses the first game. They are simply people who are not even happy with themselves. They are sort of depressed and want to shift that negativity onto others.
Yeah I get that Scott, but we can’t afford to tie ourselves to another player on a big, long contract who is going into his 30’s and how many times has a player played great in his last year to earn himself a bumper new contract to only fall away dramatically the following year, we don’t have to look too far for an example do we Digger?
DG it’s a symptom of the social media generation, most of us were letter writers or telephone users in days of yore but the youngsters of today only know social media.
Fair point Kev!!
Yes you are right with regards that point Kev….because we have been through this path in the past. We gave big fat contracts to players over a certain age only for their form to drop when they sign it.
With regards the other observation….so many are keyboard warriors. So many spout insults and racial comments or judge others……..but dont have the balls to say that to the person himself. ITs so easy to put up a fake account or hide behind an avatar and spout vile comments or negative statements. But they dont have the balls to say it openly
Morning all!
We have to play more in the 5th to eliminate Slavia. There are players out of position. Once again, whenever the Auba-Laca team does not play, we do not lose.
Morning all.
There’s a new post up.
yesterday: Slavia Praha 2 Sparta Praha 0
I would be happy to keep Laca for another 12 months unless Pepe and other’s stands up to replace him
Trouble is Geoff, that would mean giving him another contract or letting him leave for free next summer.
Rico we simply cannot afford to let players run down their contracts anymore, we needs to earn revenue so we can invest in other positions and it’s not as if we don’t have any alternatives for the centre forward spot.
It was really encouraging driving up Regent Street and along Oxford Street and seeing all the crowds of shoppers, resplendent in their masks, getting out and back to normal.