Morning to all you disappointed Arsenal fans…
Just as it looked like a deal for Mykhailo Mydryk was close to being agreed, Chelsea went and made Shakhtar Donetsk a better offer. David Ornstein broke the news yesterday evening and at the time of writing this, the player has agreed a seven year deal. Oh well, if the player can switch his preferred next move as quick as he has appeared to, perhaps we’ve swerved a player who might get itchy feet if a better offer came from elsewhere in the future. For the last two weeks he’s been teasing Arsenal fans, hinting he was ready to play for Mikel Arteta, yet when all he had to do is say no to the move to west London, he didn’t.
Shakhtar have played a blinder haven’t they but it’s their prerogative, just as it’s Chelsea’s to outbid us for a player. Again. Other than a massive salary, I can’t for the life of me understand why any player would want to sign for Chelsea right now.
I’d like to think Arsenal have a plan b, assuming Mudryk really was the plan a. From the outside, it looks like history is repeating itself as in last January the club (according to the media) chased a player who had eyes on a different club. I don’t blame Edu at all here, I’d much rather we as a club aren’t prepared to held to ransom and certainly not for a player who is 21 years old and with no Premier League experience.
More pressing matters ahead though as Mikel Arteta and his players face Totts at their place. I had to laugh when I read this:
Arsenal face a big test of their Premier League title credentials on Sunday when they make the short trip to arch-rivals Tottenham. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, seeking their first league title since 2004, start the weekend five points clear of second-placed Manchester City. Fifth-played Spurs are vying to win four consecutive home league matches against Arsenal for the first time.
No mention of Totts trying to win their first league title since 1961!
I think the players are in a good emotional state. They are excited, they are enjoying playing together and obviously we are in a good position. We have to now improve a lot of things and maintain a lot of the good things that have taken us this far. Mikel Arteta
All Conte has done is send a message to Craig Pawson about players keeping control of their emotions when decisions go against them. That and how Arsenal now need to prove they can stay top of the league.
Richarlison and Bentancur face a late fitness test but Moura is ruled out. Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson remain on the sidelines for Arsenal.
The 4-0 thumping of Crystal Palace on the road is probably the highlight of the season so far for Conte’s team. At home, they’ve been pretty dire, losing three of their last four matches. Before the break for the World Cup, Totts conceded three goals at home in a 4-3 win over Leeds and two in a 2-1 loss to Liverpool. They’ve only played one League game at home since the season restarted and that ended in a 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa.
Arsenal on the other hand are unbeaten in all but one fixture so far this season. We’re scoring goals a plenty and conceding few. Only Newcastle Utd have conceded less. Only Man City have scored more. Just.
A North London Derby is like an FA Cup fixture I think. Form goes out the window as it’s winner takes all. The result perhaps matters more than performance on this occasion although I’m sure Mikel Arteta will want both.
Me, I just hope we win, regardless of how we do it.
Catch up in the comments…
Hello Rico, Must admit that this failed transfer for the Ukrainian is areal disappointment in a long time. I think this transfer generated so much publicity to to Seller’s, agent’s and the player advantage.
Anyway it’s time to move on and see how plan B or C unfolds.
That said, I’m sure the team will make spirited performance and get away with 3 points. Otherwise irrespective of the result today, Arsenal will end the weekend still top of the league.
Hehehe 😊 came across this tweet..”Mudryk was like, I love Arsenal after agreeing to £35K per week wages from £4K at Shaktar.
Bullion van FC arrived in Ukraine with £200K per week on 7 years contract, man changed his mind & shouted, I say no to Poverty.” 😂
A good afternoon Rico and all from warm and sunny Sharm el Sheikh.
Snorkelling this morning, the Red Sea a bit chilly on first diving in but quite comfortable to stay in for half an hour or so.
The hotel is amazing, after the morning swim I walked over to the beach bar for a couple of beers and the barman insisted on carrying them back to the sun lounger for me, the he staff can’t do enough to help and the food is excellent.
I don’t think I’ll get to see the match, it’s not on Egyptian tv. I’ have to follow the text commentary on BBC Sport website.
How about City dropping three more points?
Right, back to the sun lounger by the pool and another beer.
Afternoon Rico and all.
Cicero sounds like a nice place, keep enjoying your holiday’s.
I wonder if Mudryk felt Arsenal didn’t really want him or changed his mind, due to Arsenal taking too long to get a deal done.
Afternoon Kyalo, Cicero and Geoff.
Just watching Arsenal v Chelsea in the WSL. It’s a good game which Arsenal could so easily be 3-0 up in. Instead, it’s 1-0.
I didn’t think you’d plan to watch it Cicero. 😂
Sounds like you’re having a great time, good.
Enjoy your holiday, don’t let The Arse spoil it for you.
Mydryk introduced to Chelsea fans today and according to Sky it’s an 81/2 year contract , which sounds like a way to get round FFP.
Thats 8 and a half.
There is a great lack of ethics nowadays in football.
I hope he and Chelsea fail together.
Apparently, Zinchenko has ditched him on social media.
Same starting eleven again.
Almost our strongest starting eleven, only one man missing, Jesus.
C’mon The Glorious Gunners!!
day going from bad to worse . my son coming over for dinner and match and his car has broken down . may have to go and get them .
Wouldn’t be surprised to see either Tierney or Tomiyasu come on behind Zinchenko to sure up our left side..
Hope you both got back in time Potter..
Excellent result…
Great win. Should have been 4.
Just how did Romero stay on the pitch?
🙂 Excellent!
Evening rico, all. Was too nervous to post today, and during match didn’t want to jinx anything!
Adam, ref who was otherwise good, bottled it.
Great great result, and terrific Ramsdale.
I was glad when Arsenal didn’t get Raphinha because I didn’t think he was as good as people made him out to be. When I first saw Mudryk, I said, “he’s a good one”. But I am glad Arsenal didn’t buy him. He’s not a 100 million player. For that amount we can get 3 players that will win us the trophy.
Dimitri Bebetov on Premier League Channel, “Arsenal has very intelligent players”. Enough said.
Great win after all the crap Conte was talking all week.
Just got back to the room after a very large curry, what a great result, any away win is good but to beat the Spuds on their own pitch is very special. Thank you Hugo Lloris for your kind gift, such a generous goalkeeper.
We ordered an onion bhaji as a shared starter but got a double sized one plus a complimentary lamb kebab. Then my chicken curry and my wife’s fish curry was added to by a complimentary chicken tikka masala. There was also rice and chapattis. The waiter topped up my wife’s white wine almost every time he passed the table and was happy to provide a glass of beer whenever mine was getting low. The whole meal was part of our all inclusive package so we didn’t get a bill.
All that topped up with an NLD win and three points makes for a memorable Sunday.
I may have to have a lie in tomorrow before a busy day by the pool. 😉 🏊😎
Afternoon Andrew.
Agree re the ref, thought he had a really good game. I’m not convinced he saw the incident which should have seen Romero sent off.
Conte has just spoken a lot more garbage Obi, in between his err err err err erring.. lol
Rico, err err err err erring… you lost. You got out coached and out played.
Great win, we were unlucky not to score more goals, but better still we are now 8 points clear of Man City and equal on goal difference.
Yeah, I fully concur, Mr Pawson had a really good game, scrupulously fair and tried to let the game flow, could have booked Partey for deliberate handball and didn’t so a big thank you to him…
Thought that our first half was on a par with the Invincibles in 2004, but without the Tottenham fight-back second half, Ramsdale again proved his quality in goal, I can’t think of any who I’d swap with him atm.
Partey was imperious in our midfield, his control and passing was top top quality and Odegaard again proved what a smart piece of business Edu made in getting him from Real for only £35m, a steal when you look at some fees being paid recently.
Xhaka had another impressive game, I keep on reading fans saying that we should look for an upgrade on Granit, but I don’t see it, I think his influence on the group is crucial. Zinchenko was again superb, he may lack a bit in stature but he makes up for it in so many other ways he’s such an intelligent footballer and probably the only guy in our squad who come close to Partey in directing operations.
As for transfers, well I’m beginning to think that we might go through January without one, maybe taking someone on loan, two would nice but with Smith Rowe returning we have a quality addition to the squad and Vieira has to be settled now so hopefully he’ll start to have more of an impact on games, as he did at Oxford, Tierney is a quality player and the others in the squad just have to step up if needed.
I’m sure I read somewhere that there’s a bit of a concern over Jesus and that it’ll take longer than first thought regarding his recovery, so we might be looking at late March early April before he returns and later than that before he’s ready to play – thanks Brazil…
As hard as Eddie works I can’t see him carrying the load in EPL, FACup and Europa League games, it’s just too much, so maybe recalling Balogun at the end of the month is a necessity rather than the preference?
Will the officials take any action against Richarlinson for hitting Ramsdale after the match and Tottenham for not controlling their fans, and not to mention the piss weak security that let the fan run away like a coward after kicking Ramsdale,
New post up now