Morning all.
Last nights opening fixture of the World Cup knockout stage saw Brazil go up against Japan. As a neutral, I wanted Japan to win but with my Arsenal hat on, I wanted Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli to go through to the next round. Japan took the lead thanks to an inch perfect strike from distance but in the second half, Brazil equalised. Gabriel with the cross, Casemiro, who’d been awful in the first half, with the header. Honestly, I’d literally just said out loud, “not seen Martinelli play yet this summer” when he appeared on the sidelines, ready to get on the pitch. The rest as they say, is history.
The ball was played into his feet, he took a touch and then tucked his shot inside the far post, skimming the woodwork on the way. It was a joy to watch from the then Brazilian striker. Yep, he was slotted into the middle and it paid off. Who’d have thought eh?
Martinelli is one of our players who could be for sale this summer and whilst I’m all for sentiment not playing a part in Arsenal’s decision making, I hope Martinelli stays because just like for Brazil last night, he can be an excellent squad player for us. He is already really as Mikel Arteta seems to favour Leandro Trossard when everyone is fit. But, if Martinelli is to go, his goal last night might just have added a few pounds to his valuation.
Being a sucker for punishment, I watched the Germany game and just like Brazil, the Germans went a goal down against Paraguay courtesy of an inch perfect shot which beat Neuer. A lovely strike. Germany struck back through Havertz and thought they’d scored the winner but VAR intervened for an infringement on the Paraguay keeper. An infringement which made the challenge on David Raya against West Ham look like a brutal assault. Anyway, after extra time, the game went to penalties. Germany are on their way home and they have only themselves to blame but there’s something quite cathartic about seeing Germany losing a penalty shootout for once.
The Netherlands are on the way home too. I watched the highlights this morning and it looked like it was a cracking game. Netherlands took the lead early in the second half before Morocco equalised very late. Neither side could get a winner in extra time so penalties were again required. After what can only be described as an awful set of spot kicks, Saibari clinched it for Morocco.
Tonight’s fixtures sees the Ivory Coast face Norway and France go up against Sweden. Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Viktor Gyokeres will be in action so at least one Arsenal player will see his World Cup run come to an end.
According to the Telegraph, Aston Villa are expecting somewhere in the region of £130 million for Morgan Rogers this summer. In their dreams in my opinion, in their dreams.
Catch up in the comments.
Thanks Stuart. I wasn’t overly impressed with Brazil. Jnr had his moments but overall, all three of the “big” sides were disappointing.
Thanks Rico. Good round up. Like Kev said, the Germans were ripped off, but good that Kai has a longer rest before the EPL starts, and some time to practice penalties…
If you missed the second half of the Brazil game, Gabby M’s goal was a treat but Vini J’s mastery of the ball was pure Rio. I’d pay 130 mil to see him in red and white.
Just getting on a flight to Prague, first leg in a road trip with my three sons. Will hope to catch the second half of the France game once landed.
You wouldn’t want Quinten taking a penalty though Kev..
That’s a shame because with the wind direction you might easily have gone over my house. Just make sure that he avoids the 65 foot windmill in my garden.
Flight cancelled
Cicero, enjoy your trip to Northern France 😉
Back in May last year my wife booked us a hot air balloon ride. It was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. Since then we have rebooked ten times and all have been cancelled for the same reason. We are due to take off at 4pm today from Tibbenham airfield, we are waiting with bated breath to be advised that the flight is going ahead.
Sadly the wind strength is at the upper limit, 10mph and wind gusts are predicted to be marginally over the the safe limit. It don’t look good.
Alex Scott is decent Rico but he’s not even in the England party so the valuation is clearly there to put off suitors. I’m sure that there is better value abroad, we should have gone for Timber’s brother when he was at Feyenoord.
Just why I don’t believe the rumours as most are little more than a smokescreen. Or an agent trying to get his player a new deal.
It’s not just on Man City alone, last summer Liverpool paid out twice, obscene amounts for Wirtz and Isak, those two transfers have failed up till now but hugely inflated the amounts selling clubs are demanding, Anderson is a good player but he’s not a £100m plus player, nor is Rodgers who has shown his limitations so far in the WC.
I can’t imagine that Arsenal will entertain doing business with Villa, they tried to rip us off over Douglas Luiz a few years ago so they have previous. All the same Berta will almost certainly allow the rumour to bubble along whilst he’s working on other deals?
There is Potter. Lol
A dreadful decision Kev. Agree re the officials, they have been poor.
Bournemouth want a similar amount for Scott too. Ridiculous.
Morning campers, I saw most of the Germany game and thought they were robbed, if that disallowed goal is the standard for next season then Jover has his work cut out.
I still cannot balance the enthusiasm that VAR took in disallowing the goal and again how absent they actually were when attacking players were held, obstructed and generally manhandled during corners, there has to be some kind of equality in decision making.
Overall the level of officiating has been below average in this World Cup.
Must be an echo somewhere.
Apparently Villa made a healthy profit last year and are not under any PSR pressure . The price comes because if they sell him they have to pass 20% to Middlesbrough which would bring their profit to a hundred grand which is where we stood with Rice.
The homegrown rule is the cause of inflation.
Anything above £70, Villa can keep their player.
Plenty of other fish to fry.
It doesn’t help that City have paid so much for Anderson either. The price for English players is out of control imo. The homegrown rule has inflated prices imo.
Morning Cicero, Potter.
Thanks Cicero, I hope Arsenal don’t entertain paying that kind of money if they are interested in Rogers.
I wish I’d watched the Netherlands game, the Germany game was pretty dire.
Everyone’s eyes lit up when we paid £ 100 million for Rice , Our reputation of the bank of England club is back.The papers have been full of the money that we have earned in the last few years and anyone that we try to buy from not surprisingly want their share of it .
This is why we bought in Berta , he is meant to be a top quality negotiator .
Time to show us how good he is .
Good morning Rico,thanks for another fine post.
I started to watch the Germany game but gave up at the first hydration break. Talk about parking the bus, Germany couldn’t find a way through what appeared to be a solid wall of defenders with a sole forward occasionally trying a swift counter attack.
I don’t think Villa are, for a moment, expecting to get £130 million for Rogers and I’m sure Arsenal will not consider paying that amount, but there may be room for negotiation, perhaps a player exchange plus cash could be the answer. Eze? Odegaard? Who knows?
https://x.com/BBCMOTD/status/2071822023186121195?s=20
Netherlands penalty shootout…