Morning all
John Stones has been talking about the toughest player he’s faced and I was quite surprised to read what he said. The English defender has been up against the likes Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez in recent years but it’s Ollie he rates as being the most difficult to defend against:
In an interview with Mundial, he’s quoted as saying:
I mean they are great players, with unbelievable movement.
In all honesty, I’d have to say Olivier Giroud, you don’t realise how strong he is.
When he gets close to you he can hold you off and his touch is brilliant.
Not sure what’s happened to John Stones. Having looked the real deal just a season ago, last season he really struggled, especially against Man City when Aguero made him look silly. Perhaps he’s another one who once linked to one of the so-called big clubs, his head is turned and his performance level drops. I still think he’ll turn out to be a top defender one day and one I’d love to see at Arsenal.
With all the fuss over Jamie Vardy still rumbling on, there’s a few stories doing the rounds which suggest Arsene Wenger has given up on him and instead, turned is attention to Islam Slimani. Apparently, both Arsenal and Liverpool have seen identical bids for the striker turned down. He’s 27 years old, 6′ 2″ and is an Algerian international who currently plays for Sporting CP in Portugal’s top division. Last season he managed 27 league goals and 31 in all competitions and no, I don’t know how many of those were from the penalty spot! £25 million will probably secure his signature which isn’t that much these days is it?
In other gossip, Arsenal are reported to have been scouting Ramadan Sobhi who’s a young 18 year old winger at Al Ahly. Don’t scoff, he’s already playing for his country (Egypt) and apparently, Stoke are sniffing around him too. He’s valued around the £1 million mark according to reports so this one is right up Arsene’s alley.
Perhaps Mohammed Elneny will have a word in the players ear……
Fingers crossed we soon get some good news on the transfer front, it’ll certainly make better reading than what’s going on at the Euros….
Morning all.
It would appear that Wenger is shopping at Poundland again! Mind you, Morata? Nah, is no better than ordinary. Mr Wenger needs to find his mojo, and very quickly too.
Koeman, a three year contract at Everton. Does that mean another three years for Wenger? And then………??
Spooky Wavy, that thought went through my mind when Sky announced Koeman on a 3 year deal…
3 years for Koeman, three years for AW including this coming season and then Koeman to take over at Arsenal…
Simples.. 😉
Let’s hope Koeman comes shopping at Arsenal with his £100m kitty…….
Won’t he aim higher? 😉
Leicester? 😆
🙂
Just watching 2003/04 on SS1 – AW had a big mojo back then….
Whilst ironing I hasten to add….
A week is a long time in football let alone 3 years time. Koeman to come to the Ems?
We wait and see.
Good afternoon lovelies and Hunkies.
Multi tasking or practicing curling….. 😆
Ha ha, multi tasking…
2018
Mr Adam and me visiting Manzies next to Gorky Park.
I see that Berahino is out of contract next season, perhaps ts is right that we give him a punt for small money.
Dealing with Pulis might be a nightmare….
But we should be aiming higher than him shouldn’t we?
I was thinking as Theo’s replacement more than a top top striker.
Russia have been issued a suspended ban from the Euros. Guess they could be out after Thursdays match…
Afternoon Rico
Afternoon All
There’s a long way to go until the close of the summer window, but if Wenger has another transfer window like he stumbled through 12 months ago and then replicated that dithering last January, then the atmosphere at the Emirates will be toxic, especially if we have a stumbling start to the season…
Do you reckon Theo will be off Brad?
I can see where you are coming from though…
Afternoon Kev. I agree but I honestly don’t think he will this time.
Not convinced the season will be any different though… 😉
Hi Rico, Kev and all,
Hope all okay and that you are all keeping well.
Theo needs to kickstart his career and look at a fresh challenge elsewhere.
Stumbling block is his alleged salary of £140k a week. Sure his Agent
will look at getting that paid up if he does leave.
Cannot be good warming the bench rather than playing. Bit like a band who
constantly rehearse but never play a gig…..
Did I tell you all that Ex boxer Chris Ewbank has a new book out. Its about Ethics. He said that if it does really well, he will write another about Kent…..
HI All:
I can’t quite remember where I heard it, but I think it was BBC Sports, It was said that Theo is on 110 p.w. and not 140 p.w. Btw Rico, about yesterday regarding Loew, even if that would guarantee us a EPL trophy you wouldn’t watch that every week lol.
Hi Marinello, long time, how’s it going…
Rico, has Loew been raking out his hooter again… ?
This boots off again in France, Lens and Lille are 30 minutes apart Russia and England play there on Thursday…………
Brudder Lee, I think the Russians play tomorrow, so UEFA have thoughtfully left them the whole day to organised a trip to Lens and another ambush of the England fans…
It seems as if most of the Ruskin have stayed in the south of France as their final game is in Toulouse, not far from the war zone! Let’s hope that will be their final appearance at this tournament, we don’t want their type around our supporters, do we?
Apparently all the Engerland fans are staying in Lille…
Remember the two Nigerian U17 Word Cup winners that we “had signed”; well although Kelechi Nwakali has confirmed he has signed with Arsenal, apparently Samuel Chukwueze has performed a U-turn. He will be joining FC Porto in the coming days, according to his reps.
Koeman, dream on.
Wenger will be there until health physically means he can’t do it. By then technology would have moved forward and we’ll replace Wenger with a Wenger hologram
It’s worse than that Kev…
Evening guys, have we signed anyone whilst I’ve been busy with DIY and ironing… .? Lol
Obi, I wonder why he changed his mind….
Evening all.
Through the years we have had revolutionary formations….Chapman with the Arsenal`s WM formation……………..even the Spuds push and run, Ramsey`s wingless wonders, 70`s Brazil, Dutch Total Football, to the heights of Spains Tippy Tappy and this Euro`s could see a Low with Germany`s ……………..Scratchy and Sniffy !
It’s all kicked off in Lille between Russian fans and the Welsh/English….
LC, Podolski has defended Low… Lol
Catch up tomorrow, night guys.
Where does that leave the World Cup in 2018, if Russia get sent home from the Euros…?
Surely FIFA should take the World Cup away from them…
And given to another European country…
They could give it to England for example… ?
Gotta give great credit to Iceland, that’s an outstanding result…
Evening All,
Rico and Obi this is what I have been told about the 2 Nigerian players.
There is a FIFA rule which states they cannot play in the UK until they are 18
Nwakali is now 18 and can now play.
We have met the transfer fee and he will be our player when the transfer is ratified by the FA and we have obtained international clearance for him when the transfer window opens on July 1st’
On the 2nd player he is not 18 until next year and the club was not prepared to pay the full transfer fee until he was old enough to play.
The Academy who own him wanted the fee in full now and as a result they called off the transfer.
I should add this has not come from the club but from a source I think is normally spot on
Kev.
More info.
In line with the expected U21 changes for next season Academies will be represented by U23 teams in the EPL Trophy as in the league.
I also understand the new u21 format could be made known ” When the P/L fixture List” is released.
This is 9am tomorrow morning.
Cheers Rick, that sounds very promising and a forward thinking move.
I’m looking forward to seeing all the details over the coming days and weeks…
As far as the younger of the two Nigerians, why didn’t the club just sign him and loan him out as they do with South Americans.?
It all sounds a bit fishy to me. Maybe the agents involved weren’t getting a big enough slice of the cake?
The Loev video clip:
We all scratch our excretion orifices, from time to time, however, not usually from the ‘inside’ of our clothes, and being British, rarely in public! My take on his obvious discomfort, was simply he had just farted and was eager to check that he hadn’t followed through! I mean can you imagine the mess and those old embarrassing stains as the leak became ever increasingly obvious. Wise man, in my view. Wonder if his staff got wind of what he was doing and why?
And with that enervating revelation, I bit you all goodnight!
Rick thanks for the info very helpful. I had heard that the kid really wanted to join Arsenal.
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
I thoroughly enjoyed Iceland’s result yesterday. Their teamwork and never say die attitude really impressed me. tbh…..Portugal had so many chances to win that they must be kicking themselves.
So its not only AFC who waste chances. And remember….Portugal have Ronaldo.
Today its fixtures’ day. Let me see if I get the sequence right beforehand…….
Brighton
Southampton
Tottenham
Burnley
Middlesbrough
Sunderland
Liverpool
WBA
Chelsea
Watford
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace
Manchester United
Leicester
West Ham
Stoke
Everton
Swansea
Manchester City
Oooopppssss should have put Hull instead of Brighton
10% of Iceland’s population were at their game last night!
they only have 320K population Lee
Morning Lee, Devil and all..
Loved Iceland’s result too, I watched some of that and boy did they defend well. I see Ronaldo is all bitter and twisted about the result…
🙂 Lee and they were well behaved…
I prefer Bejams…
I saw a vid on you tube of the Swedish and Irish lads together……that is real support and enjoyment. They were mingling together and having fun……well behaved and truly enjoyable to watch.
I would like to ask the same question as KEv…..If the Russians get sent home…..will they still host the WC in two years time???
Answers on a post card.
Christiano Ronaldo in Euros and World cups 34 free kicks taken zero scored!!
That’s going back in time Lee..
I’m 50 soon………….
I really hope we play Utd, City & Chelsea very early in the season.
I know Lee…. 🙂
50 is the new 40, trust me…. 😉
.If the Russians get sent home…..will they still host the WC in two years time???.
Don’t know and don’t care . One thing is for sure I won’t be going and I doubt anyone with an ounce of sanity will. So expect to see all the knuckle dragging , trumpet playing , no surrender mob turning up for their bi-annual punch up.
I certainly wouldn’t go to Russia for the WC, no chance!
why do you prefer to play them early Rico???
Liverpool at home on the opening day…
Before they find form Devil under their new manager…. And they have players on international duty, probably more than us..
Fixtures are out it seems
http://www.arsenal.com/fixtures/first-team
We begin with the DIPPERS…..home
And we end it with Everton…..Home
Morning Rico, Brudder and all. I never watched the game last night. The Belgium game was enough for me.
The WC in Russia sounds like a really bad idea. Death and unpleasantness all round I imagine. Right up Putin’s street. By then we might be a pariah state if the Brexit stuff becomes reality, with the inspirational Boris as PM.
Jeez.
August
13/08/2016 15:00 Arsenal v Liverpool
20/08/2016 15:00 Leicester City v Arsenal
27/08/2016 15:00 Watford v Arsenal
September
10/09/2016 15:00 Arsenal v Southampton
17/09/2016 15:00 Hull City v Arsenal
24/09/2016 15:00 Arsenal v Chelsea
October
01/10/2016 15:00 Burnley v Arsenal
15/10/2016 15:00 Arsenal v Swansea City
22/10/2016 15:00 Arsenal v Middlesbrough
29/10/2016 15:00 Sunderland v Arsenal
November
05/11/2016 15:00 Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
19/11/2016 15:00 Manchester United v Arsenal
26/11/2016 15:00 Arsenal v A.F.C. Bournemouth
December
03/12/2016 15:00 West Ham United v Arsenal
10/12/2016 15:00 Arsenal v Stoke City
14/12/2016 19:45 Everton v Arsenal
17/12/2016 15:00 Manchester City v Arsenal
26/12/2016 15:00 Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion
31/12/2016 15:00 Arsenal v Crystal Palace
January
02/01/2017 15:00 A.F.C. Bournemouth v Arsenal
14/01/2017 15:00 Swansea City v Arsenal
21/01/2017 15:00 Arsenal v Burnley
31/01/2017 19:45 Arsenal v Watford
February
04/02/2017 15:00 Chelsea v Arsenal
11/02/2017 15:00 Arsenal v Hull City
25/02/2017 15:00 Southampton v Arsenal
March
04/03/2017 15:00 Liverpool v Arsenal
11/03/2017 15:00 Arsenal v Leicester City
18/03/2017 15:00 West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal
April
01/04/2017 15:00 Arsenal v Manchester City
04/04/2017 19:45 Arsenal v West Ham United
08/04/2017 15:00 Crystal Palace v Arsenal
15/04/2017 15:00 Middlesbrough v Arsenal
22/04/2017 15:00 Arsenal v Sunderland
29/04/2017 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
May
06/05/2017 15:00 Arsenal v Manchester United
13/05/2017 15:00 Stoke City v Arsenal
21/05/2017 15:00 Arsenal v Everton
November collapse looks good this year , Spurs and ManUtd ? you have to wonder.
Morning Adam.
I reckon we’ll get top four with that fixture list…..
I don’t… 😉
we have to play them some time or another.
If AW gets a quality CB (Benatia/Koulibaly) a good forward and a winger I don’t think we should be afraid of the fixture list.
If AW is thinking about selling Walcott to Liverpool, I hope he doesn’t until after the opening game… lol
Why not Rico? 🙂
I don’t know why Adam, but I just have a horrid feeling…. 😉
You’ll change your mind when the signings arrive. 🙂
If we have better Rico he can go anywhere by all means. Our club should be superior to that. The earlier he goes the better imo…..if we get better and we get someone who is arsed enough to play for the club than he can go anywhere imo.
I think that if he goes there he will not be too happy to face us either…..as he knows that with the additions the team may be more competitive.
Is Theo worth 25mill???
Imo he is not worth more than 14mill. So if they offer 25mill for a player who has lost a bit of his speed and is now 27 plus tactically he is very poor…..I would bite their hand off.
Yes, Klopper may teach him a few tactical tricks…..but that happens throughout a whole season not on the first game.
🙂 Adam, but they’ll still be coached by the old has been….. Still, perhaps he’ll have a new lease of life this coming season…..
We’ll have to wait and see Devil. I just have a hunch that under a more strict manager who demands more from his players, we’ll see a different Walcott.
And of course, a manager who doesn’t insist on playing crab football.
Theo is different to when RVP left. To when Cesc left. To when TH14 left. He is just not on their level. His strength was his speed which after his cruciate has gone a bit down now. So yes we might see a different player, but not in the sense of who he was 9 or 8 years ago.
Plus if he is starved of service because our midfield plays well he will soon revert to the Theo we have seen these last few months.
Rico. If the Euros are showing us anything it’s that, at International level anyway, there is a dearth of quality, from managers to players at this time. Where are the great tacticians or the new thinking coaches? New formations, brave new transitional play? No, not really.
Where are the new breed of strikers? In fact, where are the strikers? As a showcase and a pointer as to how football has moved from the ice age of the Mourinho’s and the Conte’s I am struggling to see much except perhaps the dawn of a new kind of pragmatism allied to a continental cynicism and acting ability that surpasseth comprehension. Unless you are a fan of the Mourinho world-view of course.
Adam, I can’t disagree there. Football has become rather boring and predictable really hasn’t it. Maybe that’s why Leicester won the PL because they actually did something quite different, ‘kick and rush’ I think you called it which is about right but it worked for them for one season.
It’ll be quite interesting to see what Pep does with his City side in the PL. The strikers are at the COPA aren’t they? 😉
Bejams, blimey that’s a blast from the past.
Morning All
Morning Rico
Just catching up…
Ah Ronald Koeman has the perfect opportunity to frustrate Arsene, nice and early in the season…
That will be an opening day 0-0 and our league title challenge will evaporate in February…
Morning Kev, email… 😉
Rico. Perhaps that’s why those players with the ability to change things or thrill the crowd are so expensive these days and why we have an old geezer like Hodgson who got the job because he wasn’t a religious nut, a nonce or a nazi in his spare time.
Ah, bloody idiot, it’s Liverpool not Everton…
I’m not with it today ☹️
Get it together Mr Allezkev. 🙂
Ronald Koeman to frustrate AW nice and early in the season KEv???? how come??? We wont play Everton till December and then the last game.
How are you mate
Sunny over there??? Here its bloody sunny and from tomorrow onwards we fry in temperatures of 37 degrees plus.
I hate summer
Morning Mr Adam ?
Igor Lebevev, the fascist Russian MP has all the makings of a modern football manager…
Adam, but who are those players?
Kev, I didn’t want to say anything… 😉
It’s called a Peroni moment…..
Rico. I imagine we all have our own ideas on that one. 🙂
Kev. Lebevev is a real charmer in the old Russian way isn’t he?
The modern Uncle Joe.
Rico. I’ll tell you who mine are when Brudder, Mr Allezkev and I meet you for a Dishoom lunch. 🙂
Ok Adam, deal… Over a nice bowl of spicy lentils… 😉
And a garlic nan of course. Possibly a small beer?
I better get down to Bejams… ?
http://www.gunpowderlondon.com/
Is it recommended Brudder ?
It is Brudder….
For sure re the naan Adam, extra garlic and not for sharing… 🙂
No small beer though…
New post up now…