Morning all.
The boys were photographed at training yesterday and Aubameyang was all smiles. He was stupid to turn up late on Sunday because all it’s done is create another negativity for the media to latch onto. The captain of any team, professional or Sunday League sets the example and being late for a match is a bad one to set. Rumours in the media suggest he left The Emirates before the rest of the players had finished warming down but we know the media like to spread Arsenal doom even when there isn’t any. The best thing Aubameyang can do now is set his alarm clock an hour earlier and to keep on scoring goals.
I really liked this photo.
That’s our 4th choice keeper Arthur Okonkwo. I say 4th choice but he’s probably ahead of Runasson by now and if we hadn’t have signed Matt Ryan, he’d have made the first team bench this season. But guess what, he’s out of contract this summer. At 6’ 4”, described on the official site as being the modern day keeper, he could prove to be a huge loss over time. At just 20 years old, who knows how good or bad he might turn out to be in his prime.
Time out with health issues will have hampered his progress but this week he’s been training with the first team again. I hope Arsenal can tie him down to a new deal, Balogun too of course. It’s these kind of players who can either make an impact on the squad in time, or can generate cash in the transfer market, cash which Arsenal need all the time Champions League football is beyond us.
But I don’t think returning to the Champions League is that far away. In some ways, finishing outside of the Europa League places this season might be better for Arsenal because without Thursday/Sunday football, Mikel Arteta can just focus on the League and getting that fourth spot or better. I doubt very much that Leicester City would have won the League in 2016 if they’d have been involved in European football because their squad wouldn’t have coped.
There’s still an outside chance of being in the Champions League next season of course by way of winning the Europa League Cup. We’re in a good position to secure a place in the next round after the 3-1 in Greece last week so barring an absolute disaster tomorrow, we’ll be in Friday’s draw. With a bit of luck, both Dinamo Zagreb and AC Milan will be in the draw too.
See you in the comments.
just found this by accident , my normal bookmarks keep bringing up yesterday’s post and there is no link at the bottom as far as I can see.
It’s a difficult position for the youth players that want to get a first team chance when the club is not in any position to give it to them. Shuffling our playing squad is not easy at the moment because every point is precious as is the faint hope that the Europa league can give us.
It’s one of my old bugbears that there is not a league which is competitive enough to give these boys a chance against hardenend professionals. Back in the day we had the combination and the south east counties . The league we have for them now is kind of south East standard ,Playing against people of their own age is all well and good but they need to step up and play in games that they find hard.
I can remember going to Highbury and watching our reserves , imagine my surprise to see players like Greaves and Haynes playing as they recovered from injuries . I used to bunk off school and go with my Uncle until my Dad found out., but that’s the standard that our reserves and break through players had to face and that’s what we need now . Put Nelson or Balogan against Alderwierald or Gary Cahill and see if they can skin them and when they can it’s time for them to step up. It would do Martinelli no harm and just maybe we could have kept Willock , Maitland Niles and Saliba in house and developed them ourselves.
Mine took a while to refresh and show the new post too.
It must be frustrating for the younger players. They need to play to see how they cope but with the game being so much about money now, playing them can be a risk. Not that Saka and now ESR have struggled.
Ibrahimovic is fit to face the Mancs! Would love for him to dump them out 😄
As would I. 😂
Sorry to hear you had side effects with the Jab Rico.
I had the first Jab in Dec and the 2nd on 12th jan.
Did not feel a thing. My wife has her 2nd next wed
and with shielding ending on the 31st things are looking a little brighter
Yes Rick, it tends to happen if a manager loses his job and the new manager comes in and then tends to exclude the loaned players, maybe to change direction and try to persuade the owners to give him money for new players so he can keep his job etc.
It happened at Swindon before January and Matt Smith was then excluded by the new man and then recalled and loaned out to Charlton instead where the manager there has now left!
Oldham Athletic have parted company with their manager recently but as of yet, when fit, Harrison Clarke has kept his place in the team.
I’m not sure if Arsenal can recall Mark from Ipswich but if he’s in their U23’s then he might as well play in ours…
Thanks for the post Rico, you just don’t know with these youngsters and their agents, you read a load of old guff online and in the media but neither have confirmed that they’re leaving and until they do there is hope…
Only last week I read that Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic are putting U21 teams into the Scottish League Division Two along with two Highland League clubs as the SFL reorganises itself again by expanding the SFL2 by 4 clubs.
Rangers B and Celtic B can win promotion to the SFL1 but no higher…
Seems like a plan?
Rico I was late in posting this yesterday.
Kev,
Lambert left Ipswich on March 1st and since then they have plyed 5games.
Mark Mcguinnes has not played in any of them.
Last night the played Fleetwood and where was Mark?
He was playing for Ipswich u23s in the Proessional Development League South
which is 2leagues lower then the our u23s play in
WE got it right when we said he could happen did we not.
Sorry for my last Comment
I thought you may have missed it.
Kev did you see that last w-end 7 of our players on loan
were out injured.
Yeah, I saw it Rick, but is that right, 7..?
Torrieira never plays, that loan has been a total waste and certainly hasn’t enhanced his value, but I guess his wife must like it in Madrid…
Southend want a Olayinka back asap and Doncaster likewise with John Jules.
Thanks Rick, yes, things are certainly looking up aren’t they. Glad you and your wife had no side effects.
True Kev and until they leave, there’s hope.
That’s a good plan for the Scottish game, I wish it would catch on down south.
Evening. Kev, Olayinka has been back training at Southend for about two weeks now. He played in a behind closed doors friendly on Monday. Scored in a 1-1 draw.
Thanks Andrew, he’s very popular at Roots Hall, I hope he can help them stay up…
I actually think if both Willock and Maitland Niles leave that Olayinka can take one of those spots in the squad if he gets a chance to impress Arteta in pre season, James is a very industrious, skilful and understated player, a good squad player.
Hi Rico and all. I believe Balogun will leave, Arteta has had plenty of chances to pick him but does not. As for Okonkwo I guess it will come down to how much Arteta wants Runasson in his future plans what I don’t quite understand is why we got Ryan and never play him.
Geoff, but Balogun has had plenty of chances to sign but hasn’t.
No way in the world should an unproven kid be played purely to stop his little tantrum.
Best be rid of him imo
He’s got an attitude problem, or his agent has 🙂 🙂
Scott from what I read Arteta and Balogun had a run in. Balogun said he would not sign unless he was given game time in his contract and Arteta responded by saying like no young player demands game time and he will not get game time until he signs a new contract. If this is true then the best thing for both would be for Balogun to find a new club so maybe just guessing that could be the reason why he is running his contract down so he can go anywhere for nothing and payback arsenal for not giving him the contract he or his manager wanted
Geoff,
The kids agent has placed wage demands on the club.
They’re taking the piss.
Good riddance to him, more to the point, good riddance to his agent.
Has anyone seen the pics of Tierney adjusting his shin pads?
One is Celtic, the other is Arsenal.
The lad is just all heart and class
Tierney shin pads look good It show the love and respect for both clubs and their fans.
I believe that all the soccer federations world wide should get together to make a set price that all players between 17 and 19 years old are paid say 20 to 40 thousand per week and all players from 19 to 21 years old get say 40 to 80 thousand per week as this would stop managers asking for too much money for the young players
I think there should be a salary cap right the way through the game.
Small clubs would go broke . Set targets by all means but make them sustainable , however Mum’s new kitchen and Dad’s car might have to be waytched out for.
Even Todd Cantwell , Buendia and Timo Pukki earn less than £20,000 a week ay Norwich.
Morning all
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/03/18/martinelli-ready-to-go-stats-bode-well-for-arsenal-tonight/
Thanks for the link Rico, pressed my HH in my bookmarks and up popped this post, ah well, so it goes and yes I agree a salary cap, but if the major clubs aren’t going to discuss it in a pandemic then I think we can forget it…