Morning all.
Last night wasn’t a good one for British teams in Europa as both West Ham and Leicester City were beaten. Rangers are through to to the Europa League Cup Final though which is good for our old left-back Giovanni van Bronkhorst, whilst in France, Nelson and his Feyenoord team-mates dug in deep to draw with Marseille and secure a place in the Europa Conference League Cup Final. Frankfurt await Rangers and Roma will play Feyenoord.
The futures of William Saliba, Reiss Nelson and AMN are yet to be decided although all three still have at least a year to run on their Arsenal contract. As do Lucas Torriera and Matteo Guendouzi but the latter two are not expected to return this summer. Guendouzi the footballer is good but the antics which come with his game let him down. Even if Saliba commits his future to Arsenal, I can’t see him dislodging either Gabriel or Ben White next season, nor can I see him pushing ahead of Rob Holding either. But, with four centre-backs, perhaps five if Daniel Ballard comes into the squad, it’ll be easier for Mikel Arteta to rotate his players in Europe and the domestic cups.
Arsenal cannot finish outside of the European places now which is incredible really after the start we had this season. The Brentford result was as bad as the performance but, did anyone honestly expect us to beat either Man City or Chelsea with a fully fit squad, let alone one hit by Covid and injuries? No in my opinion but the way we lost is what shattered my hope for the season ahead. Different players, same mistakes.
So much has happened since that 5-0 thrashing by Man City. Peaks and troughs followed and with them, my thoughts on Mikel Arteta did the same. Often I couldn’t work out what he was doing, why he persisted with certain underperforming players and in turn, not giving others a chance. Looking back, perhaps he was just letting us or even the board know that player x,y, or z wasn’t good enough, or right for his way of playing. I’m guessing of course but how can a manager tell the board he wants a player as good as Aubameyang gone, without the evidence to support his idea? In the end, Aubameyang wrote his own script. But what about the rest who until injury hit us, have barely featured? One could argue that that’s what squad players are for, especially after going out of the domestic cups and without European fixtures to contend with.
Arsenal have not been able to take a handsome lead in fixtures which would perhaps have led to squad players getting more minutes in the second half of a fixture, instead it’s usually been Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe who Mikel Arteta has turned to, especially when we’ve needed a goal or two, or Rob Holding if we’re trying to defend a fragile lead.
That should change next season as the five substitutes rule is reintroduced and all being well, with a number of new signings this summer, we’ll be able to convert more of the many goal scoring opportunities we so often create because that’s what’s prevented Arsenal from securing 3rd/4th by now. Goals. I don’t take any notice of this “xG” rubbish as what the eyes see tell us all how many goal scoring chances Arsenal have thrown away. Rectify that and we’ll be flying next season. Ok, we’ll be better.
Right now though, I’m just glad Alex Lacazette tested positive for Covid a little while ago, if he did, because it’s allowed Nketiah to come into the team. He’s causing defences all sorts of problems with his pace and movement, something Lacazette doesn’t have. Nketiah is a tough cookie too who doesn’t go to ground easily. Hopefully he’ll start again on Sunday as we take on Leeds Utd at The Emirates. I’d love it if he walked away with the match ball too and wouldn’t be at all surprised if he did.
As for Mikel Arteta, I think he’s done a lot of good things since that Brentford defeat and he deserves credit for for that. A lot of credit really and if he secures top four this season, then one has to say he and his team will have achieved far more than was expected of them. I know other clubs have let us back into the race for 4th spot but if that rule is to be applied, then we let them in too by losing games we should have won. What matters is how we finish but whatever results come our way over the next few weeks, Arsenal will be back in Europe next season.
See you in the comments.
Mikel Arteta has signed a new Arsenal contract.
Good post Rico and good morning, be prepared for the media to downplay our achievement if we get there, you know Man Utd, Tottenham and West Ham messed up rather than Arsenal being the best of the bunch, it’s what they do.
This weekend could make our visit to the Toilet Bowl very memorable.
We are delighted to announce that Mikel Arteta and Jonas Eidevall have signed new contracts with the club.
We marked the moment with a unique double signing at Emirates Stadium.
“I’m excited, grateful and really, really happy today,” Mikel said after signing the extension, which runs until the end of season 2024/25.
“When I spoke to Josh he could see the club at the same point and he wanted to take the club the way I wanted to do it. So everything that he’s said, and that Stan has said when I’ve been together with both of them, they’ve always delivered.
“We want to take the club to the next level and to compete really with the top teams. In order to do that, we have to be playing in the Champions League. We have to be able to evolve the team, improve our players, improve all departments, generate even more connection with our fans, improve the atmosphere at the Emirates, be able to recruit top, top talent and the best people for this club to drive this project to that level.”
Jonas Eidevall has also put pen to paper on a new deal after an impressive first season in London, in which he has taken the Women’s Super League title challenge all the way to the final weekend.
Jonas, who joined us from Swedish side Rosengard last summer, has signed a contract to the end of the 2023/24 season.
“It’s great,” he said. “It allows me to continue to work for a club that I love so much and be around people that I really, really like, and to be able to achieve things together, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
Josh Kroenke, speaking on behalf of our owners Kroenke, Sports & Entertainment, said: “My father and I are delighted to have extended both Mikel’s and Jonas’ contracts. It provides stability and clarity for the future and helps us all move forward together effectively.
“Mikel’s commitment and passion are clear for everyone to see. We are confident that as we move forward, he will get us back to competing for the top trophies in the game.
“Turning to Jonas, he has had a fantastic start to his career in England. He has done a terrific job with the team, and we are in contention for the title on the last weekend. We are confident that he will continue to take us forward in the years ahead.”
The pair signed their deals together in the directors’ box, overlooking the pitch at Emirates Stadium, in the presence of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham technical director Edu Gaspar and head of women’s football Clare Wheatley.
“I think the timing is perfect,” Edu said. “I really believe the message will be a big lift to everyone. To the fans, to the club, to the players, to Mikel.
“It’s important to show everyone where we want to go as a club. We are going to face a big summer again and it’s important to have our manager here.”
Vinai added: “The ambition of this football club is simple, and it comes from the owners down. This football club needs to be competing for the biggest trophies in the game, in Europe and in England on the men’s side and on the women’s side. That’s where we want to get to, we know we’re not there yet, but we’re moving towards that goal. I’m hoping everyone can see the progress that we’re starting to make against that goal.
“Today is a really, really important day because Mikel and Jonas recommitting here to us, to Arsenal, to the project and to the journey.
“There’s a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead, but with Mikel and Jonas, we’re convinced we have the right people surrounded by the teams around them that can help us get there.”
Morning Kev, thanks.
Must admit, there have been times when I couldn’t wait to see the back of Arteta but where we are now is a bit of a miracle imo. Funny enough though, the media seem to be kind on Arteta at the moment but I guess their focus is on Utd, Conte and the failings of Pep in Europe.
If therir failings take us out of the spotlight for a bit that will be good , but should we not get top four it will be thrown back in our faces.
It was inevitable that a new contract would come should we qualify for europe and it’s no coincidence that the announcement comes immediately after that was confirmed.
If we beat Leeds on the weekend we finish above United and with Wolves scrapping with West ham for the last place anything could happen at the old dog track which could put us looking at third ,
. Just got to win or draw up the seven sisters though.
Yep, don’t want things to go down to the last day.
Hope we get a win v Leeds and Spuds get hammered ; at that point i might celebrate our 5 point lead provided the anti celebration police arent snooping around. Boot on the other foot if Spuds had that 5 point lead would I be confident of finishing above them? No. So why is it currently we hear every pundit in the land shouting the odds and giving it large in Spuds’ favour ?
Welcome Lemmy, let them carry on with their Totts theory. I hope Totts get battered tomorrow night and on Thursday..
Thanks Rico , words of widom there . What are the bookies laying on St Totteringhams day 👍😉🖐
No idea re the bookies Lemmy, what do they know anyway… 😆
Morning Rico and all
Arteta getting a extension is no surprise, Kroenke was always going to give it to him no matter were we finished.
No idea re the bookies Lemmy, what do they know anyway… 😆
They know that they will finish ahead.
Morning Geoff, perhaps but where we are now suggests Arteta deserves this new contract and going by the announcement, we’re in for another busy summer.
Interesting article nice picure at the top.
https://tbrfootball.com/feyenoord-now-send-five-word-message-to-arsenal-on-twitter-after-they-reach-europa-conference-league-final/
It’s such a shame Guendouzi couldn’t knuckle down at Arsenal.
lets hope when they mean a busy transfer season they mean buying players we need not just selling more players and buying others just to loan out.
Giving premature contract extensions to players and managers hasn’t worked out too well at Arsenal in the past. I’m sure you can all think of examples where the practice has gone disastrously wrong.
In Arteta’s case, is getting into the Europa league sufficient to deserve the award? Might it not have been better to wait and see if we actually got the fourth place trophy?
Rico are ready to eat humble pie,
Depends what his target was I think Cicero. If it was Europe, he’s more than achieved his target.
Very close Geoff.
Rico I am holding my judgement on Arteta until the end of this season and this transfer season. It’s not that I wanted him to fail I just wished he had coached some ware for a season or two, I was hoping for a top 4 but would except 5th or 6th this season, lucky for us a lot of teams have helped us get to ware we are this season.
Your prerogative Geoff. Now we’ve secure Europa, I’m pretty happy, especially as we’ve not had a goal scoring striker.
New post up now