Afternoon all.
We’re nearly half way through this latest international fortnight of football. I’d imagine every club manager, especially those whose club is still trying to win something or avoid relegation. Arne Slot, having watched his side crash out of the Champions League last week only to then see Newcastle lift the League Cup at their expense on Sunday night will be praying Salah, VvD etc etc don’t pick up any serious injuries whilst the rest of us, although I’d never admit it, hope they do. Mikel Arteta will be no different, not with a Champions League trophy still up for grabs. I know, my optimism knows no bounds. Or is it my belief that Lady Luck is standing by…..
Arsenal’s football has been described as being many things by many people this season. The comments section on a number of Arsenal forums has been full of how our football has been hard to watch. I’ve certainly found it difficult to watch but not always as bad as watching England.
England go into a new era under Thomas Tuchel and he’s said he wants to bring back entertaining football after suggesting Southgate’s team played like they had the weight of the world on their shoulders last summer.
I was surprised to see Tuchel bring Henderson back into the squad, nearly as surprised to see Kane not only selected but kept on as captain. After last summer’s Euros, I thought his international career would be over as he really was dreadful. England might as well have played Raheem Sterling because at least he’d have tried rather than jog around in the final third of the pitch looking like a lost boy. Henderson and Kane aren’t going to be much help if Tuchel wants to make England an exciting football team. Still, I could be wrong, very wrong.
Tuchel’s comments got me thinking about Arsenal. About playing with a fear of losing, or a fear of making errors so instead of risk football which can often brings reward, do we play it a bit too safe sometimes?
Shorts backwards and sideways passing removes an element of danger from the game. Going for precision passes through a defence can been easily intercepted if they’re not perfect, shots from distance are less likely to hit the back of the net than a shot from five yards out so is that why we avoid them? A long ball over the top is a great option in the game but if there’s not a player with the ability to not only get on the end of the long ball, or indeed retain possession until support arrives, nine times out of ten, the ball will come straight back towards the defence.
I know we were spoiled somewhat during the first half of Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal because not only were we winning, we were playing with style and with a swagger. Certainly without a fear of losing, probably because we didn’t lose very often. A back pass? What was one of those eh…. lol
Those were the days eh…
Catch up in the comments.
Rico, Tuchel’s contract is only for eighteen months that is up to and including the 2026 World Cup. He is only intent on winning the trophy. Hence he has stuck, mostly, with the old guard. Pickford, Walker, Henderson, Rashford, Kane all tried and tested. He has also spoken of including Maguire. There are a few newcomers, among them M L S.
Southgate was tasked with bringing in some youngsters and looking long term certainly beyond 2026. Their is no such compulsion on to do so on Tuchel.
He won’t win the WC with the squad he’s selected imo Cicero, although I suspect it’ll change before then…
Dad Army springs to mind Rico.😕
Ha ha Cicero..
Merino scores again. Off the bench for Spain on 84 mins to score their equaliser. 👏
Good morning.
It would seem Senor Merino may have a strikers instinct by getting into the right positions.
We’re seeing a lot of stories regarding us breaking the bank for Isak who has proven his credentials in the EPL, but Noocassel are holding the cards on that one and the only thing I’ve seen that gives us a chance in welcoming him to The Emirates is if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
They’re just lurking below Man C, the Chavs and of course Forest biting at our tails, let’s hope Merino continues his upward trajectory or creates space for Martinelli Nwaneri and co.
Morning Berg, I hope we don’t go for Isak.
Seems Calafiori has picked up another injury…
Don’t panic, don’t panic, don’t panic…
Isak is a really good striker but he’s going to be far too expensive, we need to be looking for the next Isak.
Hopefully Berta will bring with him a whole lot of new possibilities and info on players we’ve not been previously linked to?
I’ve followed your advice now Rico and I stay away from the sites on NewsNow, it’s full of BS and lies and nothing is going to happen before the summer anyway.
😂 Kev
Rico,
I’ve often compared his leggy style to Titi Henry. I’m not a Sesko fan.😜
Kev and Rico, I know Newsnow spouts a lot of crap, but some of it makes good conversation don’t you think 😂
It does make conversation Berg, that is true, not sure about it being good though…
I still get caught out when I go on it, they’re masters at twisting things and when you click on it you discover that it’s an absolute load of crapola…
Yeah I know what you mean Kev, you have to take most with a pinch of salt, I try to be as selective as I can.
What about Delap Berg?
I worry about Isak and injuries.
NewsNow has really changed I think. Most of the headlines nowadays are to a site which doesn’t engage in conversation/debate. The ones which used to, barring a handful had disappeared.
Delay has certainly done the rounds with loans Rico despite having a lot of success at all international levels.
He’ a fairly large lad and if he can throw a ball as far as his dad he’d be an asset on a major weakness of ours, throw ins.
Delap
He is a big lad Berg but he can move. Utd want him apparently
MLS starts for England
And MLS scores after 20 mins
Perfect dream debut
Good evening Rico and all
I enjoyed reading the post.
Now we need Rice to score and Kane draws a blank. Arsenal 2 Spuds 0
What a wonderful debut for our left back…
Thanks Devil, good evening to you.
I didn’t expect MLS to play let alone score. 18 years old. OmG
I agree Rico, the level and quality on NewsNow has fallen alarmingly, it is solely a vehicle for money making clicks almost without exception, whereas in the past you could still find some interesting stuff driven by blogs. It’s been quite depressing in recent times scrolling through an absolute shed load of complete and utter garbage on there. It used to be one of my first ports of call now it’s an afterthought.
Excellent performance by Myles
Brilliant from MLS and nice to see big brother Dec supporting the young man.
Good morning all. Interesting to note that the Albania coach was none other than our former defender Silvino.
Has he got an Albanian passport now ?
I heard that 5000 Albanians came over for the game and about 200 went back.
Silvinho and Cole were both fighting for the same LB spot.
Potter😂
To go with your headline Rico, I can’t see much that Tuchel showed that would improve our team or playing style.
In fact all we saw was the same old same old we saw from Southgate’s time. Stodgy slow build ups, apparent fear of losing as opposed to the vibrant attacking play Tuchel was spouting off about in the build up to the game.
The one bright spot, for me, was the goal by M L S. Kane was his usual lethargic self, slowly dropping deeper and deeper to get a touch of the ball, missing three good scoring chances and then getting a lucky bounce of his knee before scrambling a weak shot into the net. Rashford showed why Southgate dropped him months ago. Foden was hopeless and hapless on the right wing. Pickford and Walker had virtually nothing to do, Albania were that bad in attack.
To say I wasn’t impressed with Tuchel’s debut is the understatement of the year so far.
I think he, Tuchel, has been very lucky that England were drawn in such a weak group.
JM. If you are reading this my family are looking to visit Porto for a week . Is it better to stay in the city or is there any where nice out of town with good transport links . Any thoughts are appreciated .
Morning all.
Me neither Cicero, it was a pretty average performance but I guess it’s early days for Tuchel. I’m not convinced he’s the right guy. Time will tell but if he keeps picking the squad he has this time, he won’t last long.
New post up.
Potter, would you like me to forward your comment to JM by email?