Morning all.
Well done England Women. A win over Argentina which secured their place in the next round of the World Cup. A long way to go yet and much improvement needed if they are to win this competition. Hopefully they’ll peak at the right time.
A return to Champions League Football by winning the Europa League and securing third spot, wasn’t enough to keep Sarri at Chelsea. He’s gone, manager number twelve of the Roman era to have come and gone. I include Mourinho twice in that number. The DM have done a hatchet job on the Italian who I suspect can’t return to his homeland quick enough. The British media, most of whom are nothing more than armchair football assassins, really seem to love a failure. If Sarri has been a failure that is.
I’m sure Arsenal fans would have loved our season to have played out the same way as Chelsea’s did. I know I would and when comparing the two squads, one has to wonder why it didn’t. While Utd, Toots and even Chelsea stumbled over the last weeks of the season, all we could manage was to join them when we should have taken advantage. As a result, reports suggest Unai Emery conduction a one on one meeting with every player before they departed for their summer duties or breaks. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall for those. I wonder if Mesut Ozil turned up for his meeting?
I hope during those 15/20 minutes, a few of our senior players were told to find another club. Others perhaps, certainly the ones with two years left on their contract, told to sign what’s on offer or move on. Easier said than done perhaps but many of ours at at the age where two years really matter, if they really want to be playing the game rather than watching on from the bench whilst their bank account swells by the minute.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of those players, who judging by his flash Lamborghini above, one of many in his collection no doubt, clearly doesn’t need to worry about money but he’s not getting any younger. He’ll be 30 years old in a few days time, an age which Arsene Wenger believed was too old for Arsenal. I doubt Unai Emery feels the same, not after the man from Gabon secured the Golden Boot in Arsenal colours. But this two year contract rule means it’s time to extend his contract, or sell him. The club have offered him an extra £10k a week to stay apparently, but China is calling with an extra £110k a week to go. I know, it’s newspaper talk but it’s believable.
If money matters, I think he’ll go, he might want to in any case after our end of season collapse but what he can’t lose sight of is that he was part of that collapse. Yes he scored some great goals but he missed an awful lot of what at this level, one would have to say were relatively easy chances too. His lethargic approach to his penalty kick at Wembley alone cost us a place in the league, a return to Champions League football. On the flip side, where would we have ended the season without his goals?
The player, just like all the others, hold all the cards. He has the contract so he decides which course his future will take. Arsenal can make life uncomfortable for him, of course they can but ultimately, if the player says he’s staying put, Emery or whoever else might manage him in the future has to concentrate on getting the best out of him for the good of the club.
The same goes for anyone else who the club can’t offload, regardless of the length of their current contract. Raul Sanllehi might be able to talk the tough talk as far as contracts go, but walking the walk with them is a very different ball game. Although if the likes of Ozil, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan and Mustafi are gone before the start of the new campaign, then I’ll have to eat humble pie.
That’ll have to do you for a few days as our transfer news soldiers on at a snails pace. Still, at least Arsenal are ‘stepping up their efforts to sell Mesut Ozil’ – a headline which reminds me of my old school reports. ‘Must try harder.’ ‘A distraction in class’ too. How could my teachers be so cruel eh…
Have a good weekend guys..
Morning Rico
Another good Post, thank you.
You highlight the fact that ‘power’ has been transferred to the players, and frankly more worryingly, to their agents. On top of this, compared with the rest of us, they live a high life with fantastic ‘personal’ lives outside of football.
Long gone are the players who represented their communities. With the staggering amount of commercial money that has floooded into football, we have seen the introduction of wonderful players from all over the world, and inevitably they and the local players have become mercenaries.
The transfer window reflects that, with a player’s badge kissing love for a club one day, and then gone to the highest bidder the next day.
I think that is a pity, as we, the fans, all love our clubs from day one until the end of days.
Well done England Ladies by the way, 😁
I think we ought to start our own rumours afterall we can be as accurate as the journos that haven’t got a clue either. Aubameyang is in Milan and has gone to see Gazidis . is it for a reunion or to tell him that he lied and did not keep his promises or just the ice cream ?
Morning all.
Player agents are the scum of the earth!!
How these people earn so much money by trading on other people’s talent is incredible.
It’s sickening.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin hits out at Arsenal and Chelsea Europa League final backlash
“Whenever we have English clubs, whenever we have complaints, you don’t help yourself in the popularity within European football with that.”
“Probably that as a top, top, top event should be played only at the top venues. But Europa League and everything else should be shared with the others who love football.”
So there you have Even UEFA consider the Europa League not to be a top competition .
Potter,
And totally illogical.
Ceferin said — we must play finals in remote countries where fans who want to see their clubs play in finals, have a tiny allocation of tickets, and great difficulties flying into – and/or it takes up to 24 hours to reach the country – so that the local public can see games —– but hold on;
—– he also said — he would base the ‘big’ games in a limited number of easy to reach ‘big’ venues so that the clubs fans, [and the UEFA bigwigs??] can get to see the games easily.
I bet he did not go to the Europa Final — oh, bollocks — why doesn’t he just say — ‘money, money, money makes UEFA go round!!
G’day Rico, if the Chinese side are willing to pay a decent price for Aubameyang I’d be in favour of flogging him. A share of the Golden Boot will add a bit to his transfer price and at his age I would guess it will be downhill from now on. By getting his wages off the books we could afford to pay Lacazette a bit more and thus time him up to a longer contract, I think long-term he will be the better option. Perhaps Aubameyang has just gone to Milan to have his Lamborghini’s screen washer bottle refilled.
Interesting comments by Ceferen and it shows that the criticism has hit home, but what else do you do when you fcuk up, you deflect attention by attacking your accusers…
I wonder what Ceferen said to all the sponsors and ‘partners’ of UEFA who returned their tickets and what were the conclusions about the Azerbaijani authorities opening the gates of the stadium and letting locals in for free to fill up the many empty seats?
As I said, deflect attention…
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico
Tbh Red, I wouldn’t even bother about the Europa this season, we should show UEFA the same distain that they showed Arsenal, well I’d like to think that our club would have the backbone to do so…
Use the Europa in the same way that we use the League Cup, as a competition to blood our youngsters.
Next season the 100% focus has to be top four….
I like your thinking, AK, and using the Europa for the young aspiring players would develop them, give them experience, and stop them looking to go other clubs.
To declare a personal interest, I admit it would suit me as a fan, because it is always far more interesting to see the kids strut their stuff, than watch some of the tired, old 1st teamers labour in boring games.
Bring it on!! 😆
As I often do I agree with Kev , to keep the kids at the club they have to be involved and we use the league cup for that but they need more and the Europa is the perfect vehicle .If not a full eleven a smattering of 5 or 6 a game with a few old heads thrown in should suffice for the early rounds at least.
Vivianne Miedema with two goals and Dominique Bloodworth with one ensure the Netherlands a 3 – 1 victory over Cameroon to seal their place in the knockout stages.
Vivianne became the European champions’ all-time top scorer as she registered her 59th and 60th international goals to eclipse Manon Melis’ record in just her 77th cap.
Bit of a panic here, I just tried to print off our boarding passes for our flights to Namibia but the printer failed to cooperate. Luckily I could e mail them to my son, who lives in the same village, so he could print them for me. All safely collated with all the other bumf ready for a midday departure to Heathrow tomorrow. Phew!!
Is the green sign above Aubameyang’s head a hint as to his transfer fee?
Afternoon guys. Why is visiting the in-laws so exhausting….?
For what it’s worth, I too think play the younger players all the way through Europa. It’ll do them the world of good. Both domestic cups too. Keeping hold of the best ones is crucial I think.
Maxi Gomez to West Ham £29m……should we jump in?
I say, sell Auba to the highest bidder and put that money to our £45m. Together with whatever we can get for Xhaka and Mustafa.
Surely that can get us the three/four players we desperately need. LB. DMF. CH. W.
West Ham are getting busy Vcc, seems they mean business…
Red/Potter, I’d also dump the cup goalkeeper malarkey, choose a team for the opponent, so if we get Tottenham in the League Cup don’t send a weak team out to get slaughtered.
But yeah, depending on the opposition I’d use the kids as often as you can, Ozil can play in all the League Cup and Europa League games if he stays, make him captain.
VCC, if there’s a big enough bid for Aubameyang then we’d be daft to turn it down.
I’ll be happy if he stays because I like him and he’s a top goal scorer but I won’t get stressed if we get a bid of say £70/£80m and cash in. I’m not attached to any of our players, with the possible exception of Rob Holding who I really like, so they’re all saleable assets to me, one out one in and we sail on.
As it happens Red, that’s why I always enjoy going to the League Cup ties, you get to see the fringe players and the youngsters, you get enthusiasm and effort, rather than some of our senior players who’d just through the motions…
Could our terrier be on his way to AC Milan in a swap for Frank Kessie? Twenty-two year old, six foot tall and highly rated midfielder. Started as a central defender he has moved forward and played successfully as a defensive midfielder who also scores goals.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
Hi Cicero,
As good as Torreira was early in the piece, he’s not the dominant beast we’d hoped for, imo.
I’m saying that, I know nothing of Kessie so can’t say whether or not it’s a good swap.
I love Torreira’s attitude Scott, but physically he’s a bit lightweight for the Premiership. With a better midfield partner he may cope better.
Yep, I agree with that, Cicero.
Position wise, he is fantastic but he’s small.
AK,
That is the first tie I can remember someone facing up to the reality of the commercial football world, and expressing a view that I have always had.
I—-“’m not attached to any of our players, with the possible exception of Rob Holding who I really like, so they’re all saleable assets to me, one out one in and we sail on.” that is spot on — well said sir. 😁
Morning Gooners
Frank Kessie, I know the name but that’s all I know about him.
The last African born midfielder we signed from Milan was a certain Patrick Vieira, but I’d hate to lose Torrieira. Can’t we give them Mustafi for Kessie?
Morning Red, that’s how it is now, as fans it used to be about the glory, now I and most other fans talk about the finance, it’s the modern game I guess although it’s not as much fun is it?
Morning Cicero,
I hope you enjoy your trip to Namibia. I
have never been there, so would be interested to know how you find it. My friend who has been there several times (he says there is so much to see) says you will love the Skeleton coast and the stunningly huge salt dunes, if you get a chance. Sounds great! 😁
Since my op last Autumn I am still not able to fly – so I was unable to go back home last Xmas, let alone go on holiday anywhere 😞 – but I am hoping I will get the green light by next year.
I see that Liverpool seem to be prepared to sell Mo Salah for a whopping £150m, or maybe they’ve got an agent working along those lines?
They could then go out and get two or three really good players to further strengthen what already is a top quality squad. That seems to be the example Arsenal have to follow…
It’s not as much fun, Kev, and frankly I regret it has happened – but Hornsby (in his latest missive) has missed the fact that the hereditary weakness he mentions, is the reluctance of the Arsenal owners for many years to face up to the new financial ‘truth’ and preach ‘self sustainability’ — which is OK in itself — and then they go and make huge money by selling their shares for millions to Kroenke — and no doubt he will do the same in billions in due course.
Hypocrisy is the word that leaps out!
Morning RA. Hope your recovery goes swiftly and successfully. Perhaps with some luck we can eventually meet on happier terms at the Emirates one day. Keep smiling Buddy.
allezkev…..In total agreement with you regarding loyalty to current Arsenal players.
I would add Lacazette, Nelson and Willock to Holding.
The rest, maybe with Torrieira as an exception, can do One.
Ship all the deadwood out, and start again with the youth as a basis.
COYG
Morning guys.
With a bit of luck, Milan might take Xhaka in exchange for Kessie. I too would be disappointed if Torreira left this summer but same with all of them, who replaces them is more important.
£50m and Kessie for our little midfielder would be a good deal… lol
New post up now