Morning all.
In the dressing room it was quiet because everybody knows that it was not a good performance from us. We cannot change it anymore but the positive thing is that it was a warning.
We need to be 100 per cent every game. If we play like today then we won’t reach anything this season.
Bernd Leno is right, that really was a poor performance by Arsenal. Olympiakos should have been well beaten and would have if Aubameyang could have been bothered to do his job properly. He could have had a hat-trick after what were three relatively easy chances for a player of his so called level. Pepe too should have been on the scoresheet and late in the game, Ødegaard too.
I’m not making excuses, certainly not for our captain, but this group of players have had a tough week so I’m not at all surprised they huffed and puffed a bit yesterday evening. Arsenal got the simple things wrong like passing to a teammate. The Olympiakos defence wasn’t put under enough pressure and in front of goal, calm and composure was nowhere to be seen.
But yes, if Arsenal want to make it past the quarterfinals, then performances like yesterday’s need to be exactly that, yesterday’s.
At least we finally got to see Martinelli again and he looked fit and keen.
We’re in today’s draw and that’s what matters right now. Which is more than can be said for that little club down the road. Boy did that result cheer me up. By all accounts, Man Utd huffed and puffed a bit too but managed to get the goal they needed to knockout AC Milan.
Mikel Arteta was asked about the Toots result:
It shows as well the level of opposition, that people take for granted that you play against an opponent and you will go through, because the name of the club that they represent. It is not like that, every team in Europe is difficult to beat.
I smiled.
In the pot today are:
Ajax
Arsenal
Dinamo Zagreb
Granada
Manchester United
Roma
Slavia Praha
Villarreal
My hunch is we’ll draw either Man Utd or Villarreal. The latter because of Unai Emery. Granada would be nice but in all honesty, any team we draw now will be a tough challenge for for Arsenal.
Tough challenges and Arsenal go together right now, or rather the club’s hierarchy, because there’s many tough decisions to be made over certain players within the squad. Big games need big players and Arsenal simply don’t have enough big players who perform consistently.
I know this season has been a weird one because of Covid and the heavy fixture list but that aside, Mikel Arteta has a number of players who either simply refuse to roll up their sleeves when the going gets tough or seemingly, just can’t be bothered. Aubameyang sits in either or both of those categories in my opinion. And no, not just based on yesterday as that would be churlish of me but the season in general. Pepe just doesn’t seem to suit Arsenal. For one or ten magical moments in two years, he’s an expense who I think we could do without.
I know, we could list our ‘sell them’ players but of course, they can’t all go in one summer. Especially a summer after two Covid hit season’s resulting in money being tight but as said before, Arsenal can generate their own funds by selling in numbers rather than with one big transfer.
I’m sure Arsenal are already thinking about the summer transfer dealings as much if not more than we are but for now it’s about who we draw in the next round of the Europa Cup and then West Ham on Sunday.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico and all.
A bright sunny morning here in Norfolk, both outdoors and in. Last night’s results brought a wide grin to my face but was supplanted by a happy smile as my wife and I celebrate our fifty-fifth wedding anniversary today. In these Covid times it’s not possible to go out for a meal so we have put off the treat until my birthday 17th May when the pubs should be back in business
I’m not bothered who we draw for the quarter finals, I’m just glad that we are in the pot.
Congrats to you both, Cicero!! 🥂 💕
I don’t think any of those teams will be easy, especially as we never know which Arsenal will turn up!!
I’m glad we’re through, disappointed with the performance though. Poor from most, not just Auba.
Some positives though Gabi’s back!! And Ødegaard played well…oh and the spuds 😂
Big game at the London Stadium.. hope we’re up for it, or I’ll never hear the end of it from half of my family!!
55 years ? congratulations on your staying power .
We are slightly behind you at 51 this year and were unable to celebrate the 50 . Still the pubs and restaurants will soon be back and with them the people from all over the country . Herbert Woods posted a few days ago that they have no boats available for any time from once we are allowed out .
There will be many that will not venture out so soon .Remember that you are not fully protected until 21 days after your second jab and even then it’s only 80% . Along with the Broads I reckon Cromer, Sheringham , Wells etc will be a nightmare.
PS… Hi Rico, nice post – better late than never, hey?! 😄
Morning Cicero, congratulations to you both. Have the Toots won e league since you married? Lol
Hi Sue, thanks.
I’m of a similar opinion. Any side we face won’t be easy, hopefully last nights blip was just that. Lord knows what’s going on in Auba’s head because he’s really poor right now.
Thanks ,Sue, Rico and Potter. 1960/61 was their last Rico. Back in the days before colour tv. 😉
And MOTD I think. (1961)
55 years! That’s a long time……and never a cross word, of course? Well done the pair of you.
Last night was typical Arsenal. Sunday really impressive next game no how. They were embarrassing,, to be honest. A very poor performance from most. Why is there this disconnect? What is the spark that is missing from game to game? Shocking, absolutely shocking. Like everyone else I hope it’s just a wee blip but there is just nothing about this squad that seems capable of any thing like consistency in performance.
Still roll on Sunday and Wham. There was a time when any result, other than an Arsenal win was unthinkable. I’m not so sure this time round. It will all depend on which ‘team’ turns up on the day. Good Arsenal or poor pathetic ‘tired and unmotivated Arsenal?’
Here’s hoping that Sunday tea/dinner will be eaten with a smile on my/our faces😀
Congrats Cicero, great feat.
In December we hit 43 years, went down our garden shed and had a beer, torch for light, peanuts and cheese, and stayed until we got too cold. It was actually fun!
Congratulations Cicero. 55 years…..may your days be blessed more than ever before.
I was still not born yet. So I can never recall the spuds winning the league. My old Pa was still 18 years old but he does not seem to recall it fully….says it is a hazy memory. Sort of misty now.
Next Sunday it will be WHU. If Auba plays after the shenanigans of the weekend and yesterday’s abysmal piss poor performance from him, I will eat my hat. I hope he goes to the bench…….and Arteta changes his mind about selling Lacazette. Because I prefer the latter to stay and Auba sold.
;Tierney looked knackered yesterday. I am still of the opinion I had since the spuds game…that he should have been rested. It would not have harmed Soares to play left back yesterday and then play right back on Sunday.
😂 Cicero, I thought as much.
Fc Porto – Chelsea
Agree Wavy, there’s not one fixture we go into, that I feel confident.
Congratulations Cicero.
That’s a fantastic achievement.
Morning all.
Man City vs Borussia Dortmund
Porto vs Chelsea
Bayern Munich vs PSG
Real Madrid vs Liverpool
Tasty CL fixtures.
Then the semi-finals…
Bayern/PSG vs Man City/Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid/Liverpool vs Porto/Chelsea
Cicero congratulations to you and your wife may you have many more
Very tasty indeed, Rico!
Many congratulations Cicero we are also 51 years this year,no time off for good behaviour.
Against Sparta Prague Home first leg
Slavia Prague
I hope the spuds dont get drawn home as well as that will mean someone will have to change the first fixture
Get through and a possible meet with Unai
Dinamo Zagreb/Villarreal v ARSENAL/Slavia Prague
Granada/MAN UTD v Ajax/Roma
We avoid Man Utd and Roma.
Unlikely to happen DG, Spurs are not in the draw.
😀 Cicero
Arsenal v Utd in the final then. 😂 😀
oh I am surprised Cicero. I thought they were in the draw as well 😂😂😂😂
Not a bad draw! Thank you, Clichy!!
Well done Cicero, your wife is obviously a very calm and patient woman… 😉
It’s Slavia Praga not Sparta !!!
I see Rangers are alleging racism from Slavia during last night’s fixture.
“Zagreb ‘s ex-Arsenal youngster taunts spurs after embarrassing Europa League loss ”
Come back, you are forgiven!
Apparently there was a punch up in the tunnel involving the Police, so this will be hanging over Slavia when we play them…
I read that too Kev, a few reports in the media suggesting they should be thrown out.
I might be confident going into that match if they are. 😂
2003/04 on PL years, Sky Sports.
Slavia is very dangerous. Eliminated Leicester and Rangers. At the very least, British food is good. I saw the games and they have a good team.
Ceballos, in the last games, lost 4x the ball and there were 4 goals.
Arsenal thrashed Leicester Jm. #justsaying
Kev it’s me that’s calm and patient, except when grossly overpaid strikers on long contracts can’t be bothered to chase a pass and miss all three of the clear scoring chances laid on a plate for them.
JM, that’s’ a very valid point about Ceballos, four matches and four cock-ups equals four goals against.
William Saliba has Covid according to reports.
Maybe that’s why Ceballos barely plays these days.
To be fair he has been crap just lately! He just dwells on the ball a second too long and I think he has shown a bit of indecisiveness recently too. Probably the reason he keeps getting s ragged in dangerous areas.
Perhaps he’s past his best!
If Slavia get thrown out I wouldn’t put it past UEFA to reinstate Spurs..
Can’t see Arteta wanting to keep him another year.
Didn’t think of that re Toots, hope Slavia stay in then.
No they cannot reinstate spuddies. Because spuddies got knock out by Dinamo not Slavia. If Slavia are kicked out it will be Rangers who are reinstated.
No toots cannot be reinstated because Slavia played Rangers. Spuddies got knocked out by Zagreb.
So sleep soundly Rico
Afternoon Rico and the House.
Its been a nice sunny day in Kent and for the first time this
year we have been sitting on the patio taking it all in.
Afternoon Rick, lucky you. 😆
Definitely need to sell him Devil, the boy’s got issues I think.
Cicero many congratulations to a fellow gooner,may you have many more.
In May my family are planning a party (within the rules) to make up
for the Birthdays ,Wedding annerversarys and a funeral that we were unable to attend
I feel we all have a tale to tell but one of the main things is we are still Gooners
https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/transfers/insight-provided-into-matteo-guendouzis-future-as-hertha-come-to-decision-on-theatrical-arsenal-star/
His contract run out in 2022. I hope we get to sell him this summer…..or he will sit out the coming season. And leave for free.
Good win for The womens 2-0 vManu
There’s a clip going around showing the individual training Martinelli is doing to become a CF.
Ok, it’s only training, but he will be amazing in that role and looked like one in the making the first time we saw him.
The future is bright, no question at all.
Rick, a win over Utd on Xbox is something to enjoy hahahahaha
Scott I’ve always seen Martinelli as a centre forward, he has all the tools and is fearless.
Excellent re Martinelli if that’s true Scott. CF all day long I reckon. Power, speed, will run at defenders and imo, will score goals.
Morning all
It was a good win particularly as we had Beth Mead sent off for two yellow cards. Now the Man. U. manager is bleating about “atrocious” refereeing, the foul count was Arsenal 14 – 12 United. Perhaps she should take a look at her own players.
Hi all , fences to put back up . See you later.
Rico/Kev, yep, he just looks like one, plays like one……I’m rapt that he’s not being left out without a plan being in place.
His time will come.
We assume there’s a plan Scott. Lol
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/03/20/slavia-prague-not-nice/
Just watched highlights of Slavia vs Ranges seemed to me both teams played dirty not to mention the dangerous kick to the head of the Slavia keeper, didn’t see what happened in the race way
I did too Geoff, not a nice game.
Bookmarks still bringing up Fridays post so thanks for the link Rico…
Same issues with Arseblog where the posts are frozen, I wonder if this is me or WordPress or Big Tech messing about?
Other blogs are fine so it’s a mystery to me?
Kev, changes had to be made to comply with Google’s loading speed requirements, it could only HH and Arseblog have made the changes right now. 😇😇
Ah, is it to do with Google Ads Rico, if so then at least it ain’t me.
Not sure it’s the ads Kev, just loading speed.