Morning all.
Pre-season fixtures are funny old things really and perhaps it’s not worth taking them too seriously. It’s more about fitness, selling the club in countries far and wide, putting on a show for fans around the world, getting a few good workouts done and dusted, trying different players and different things and generally preparing for what will be another tough season ahead.
Since landing in China, a few of the squad have picked up some kind of stomach virus. Arsene Wenger has suggested it’s food poisoning which really isn’t very nice. Our new left-back was spotted being sick on the pitch before being replaced which might explain why his game wasn’t the best, yet that doesn’t seem to have stopped Arsenal fans tearing him apart on social media. Why certain fans feel the need to be so critical, certainly at this stage of the season is something I’ll never really grasp. I guess Lacazette is now a waste of money too after missing a golden opportunity to equalise.
Imo, pre-season fixtures matter very little, certainly as far as results go. Of course we all want to see the boys win but I personally also want to see how the depth of our squad looks.
Who will be the next player coming through the Academy rather than where the next £50-100 million player is coming from? That’s what interests me. Yes we need experienced players but at the same time, let’s not forget those who have been working really hard and deserve their chance to play for Arsenal, even if it is only in a friendly. As Kev said the other day, we may just have our own ‘Mbappe’ in the squad but we’ll never know until players are tried. Either that, or until it’s too late and they’ve moved on somewhere else.
I don’t think any one of the the younger players have let themselves down on this tour so far. Reiss Nelson has stood out for me but all have done their careers no harm at all. They appear to be fearless and certainly loving this opportunity and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if one or two find themselves in the first team squad when the season kicks off, ready to be called upon if needed, certainly for the League Cup.
Anyway, finally we managed to beat Bayern Munich which as much as even typing that makes me laugh because it’s only pre season, after they dumped us out of the Champions League 10-2 on aggregate last season, I wouldn’t bet against a few of our players enjoying yesterday’s result, especially when one considers the players we had missing. Ok, the performance, certainly in the first half wasn’t brilliant, but as far as morale goes, that victory might just have done the players the world of good.
A fine late goal from Iwobi which Willock was involved in and off to penalties we went. Martinez surprised us all by doing something we aren’t used to seeing, certainly not when Petr Cech is in goal. Not just the one penalty saved either..
Next up is Chelsea on Saturday before heading back to London for The Emirates Cup.
Morning Rico and all.
All things considered, I’m not sure how anyone could be less than pleased with that performance,
And the result was fantastic.
We were outplayed totally in the first half especially, but stuck to the task, created a few red hot chances and got the result.
Kids v men.
I’d say we can find more positives out of that than Bayern can.
Morning Scott.
Just looking at our back three and I thought we get ripped apart goal wise. Thought both keepers did well and Elneny does like t keep things simple in defence. Must say, I didn’t see that ever happening…
I enjoyed it really…
Rico, I think I said during the game that we scrambled well.
There were quite a few errors, but we usually managed to get numbers back.
Morning Rico. They looked like an Arsene Wenger side to me.:)
I’d say many errors Scott, but some positives too…
Morning Adam. I’d be worried if they didn’t… lol
True. 🙂
PSG reps in london for Alexis according to a few headlines…
Do you know, I think the performances abroad have been something of a revelation. Players whom we have never seen, really have performed outstandingly as well as some of the more irregular players, Elneny especially have played outstandingly. Never mind the fact that all three teams were pretty poor. BM particularly? And losing on penalties. England beat Germany on pens. Now there’s a first!
Perhaps not having Sanchez has bucked the performances of others up. They are all playing ‘harder’ to compensate for his mercurial absence. Transferring him may not be the disaster we all believe it could be. Obviously it is far better to hang on to your best players but, if as it seems likely, that he he a highly divisive team member who disrupts as much as he contributes during games, we may just be better off without him. I’m not sure he offers much to the esprit de corps. Not a good team player! I shall mourn his passing but not to the same extent as I did when Baker and Eastham or Henry were sold.
It looks as though we have the makings of very adequate replacements. And hurrah for that!
Morning all.
Wet, windy and cold here. Not a good day, not a good day at all.
Your comment made me smile Wavy… I’ve got to the point that I really don’t know what’s best re Alexis. Keep or sell..
It’s a tough one…
Morning All
Morning Rico, I’ve not read the post yet but I can just feel it in my bones that it’s gonna be a good one…
The irony…
Equalising in the last minute.
Then winning on penalties.
Almost Germanic by those Gunners.
Considering the food poisoning, the heat and the opposition I thought we did ok, not world beating but ok and at this stage of pre-season ok will do for me.
The priority is beating Leicester, everything thing else is the phoney war.
I actually thought that the injection of energy, enthusiasm and pace our youngsters gave in the 2nd half turned the game our way.
I know that it was a friendly but beating those bastards is most welcome at any time, so I’ll take it…
Wenger is never going to set us up like a Mourinho, so it is what it is fellas, my expectations are for next season, a top four finish maybe being in contention for the EPL up until April, a good run in the UEFA Cup and maybe another FACup success…
I’m gonna enjoy Alexis before he departs and I’m gonna enjoy watching our youngsters take on Europe, especially that, maybe reaching the final in Lyon – a beautiful city and well worth a visit.
Morning all and thanks Rico.
From what I saw of the game, we were very fortunate not to be on another 5-1 hiding, they cut through us like a knife through butter at times !.
I`m going the other way, for the last god knows how many seaons we have had great pre-seasons and then go on to lose our first EPL game !…….so lets have a shit pre-season and win against Leicester !
Trouble with great pre-seasons is that Wenger thinks it`s all hunky dory and we are the worlds best………..”what a great tour, beat the last two AFL winners and BM……………….we dont need any more signings !”
As for PSG in London to buy Alexis !…………what a waste of a trip hoiwever ridiculously untrue………………..Arsenal Receptionist : ” Sorry Mister Garlic Breath, but Mr Wenger is in China, but he did leave a message for you……………….Fcuk off !…………….how many times do I have to say Alexis is not for sale !”…………………………good morning and have a nice trip back !………….thats nice, not, Nice ! “
Rico, it was a very good post…
PSG in London, do they have a friendly over here?
Personally I’d keep him, but maybe the clubs stance has forced his agents to forget Man City and look to France if they in fact want to secure a move this summer.
Wavy, I think we would miss him big time if he left, but if his sale triggers the arrival of Lemar then I’d accept that, even if I’d prefer to have them both for next season…
If Alexis leaves then imo Wengers assertion of needing 3 signings this summer grows to needing 4…
Morning Kev. Good comment and me too re the youngsters. Watching them give everything when they play is refreshing. In fact they almost embarrass a few of the older heads in the team…
Sell Sanchez for at least 50 millions…. well Morata was for 80 millions…
At the moment, it is a “rotten apple” in the team and wanting to play to go to the World Cup.
How much did we sell Szesc to Juventus (grrrrr….) ?
Even Wenger should know that that kind of view will not wash Lc, not anymore. In reality, it hasn’t for a good few years now but he’s on a sticky wicket imo. Start badly and without a really strong squad, he’ll know the fans could well push him out before Christmas. Last season he had a taste of what could get a lot worse if he’s not careful..
Thanks Kev.
Is Wenger waiting to see if Alexis is sold before buying Lemar?
I hope not.
What not buy Lemar and hope that entices Alexis to stay?
Agree Rico, but he is a stubborn bastard and is so far up his own arse that he doesn`t know whether he is travelling through Mont Blanc or the Rotherite Tunnel, all the head lights coming towards him look the same ! hahaha
Morning Master Brewer Scott…………………………………..a pint of Blockley`s Bollox please !
😆
Morata Jm?
Hot and Sunny here, unlike Sherwood Forrest where not only can you not see the wood for the trees, but you wouldn`t know a Belisha beacon from the sun ! 😎
Bet Wavy has his deck chair underneath a Belisha Beacon………………………………dont forget the sun factor 50 ! 🙂
Squad numbers maybe Scott..
He s Lc, but he’s never been under as much pressure as he is right now imo…
True, Rico.
Morning LC.
Jack of all trades, master of none is closer to the truth 🙂
Sometimes Lc, I haven’t got a clue what you’re on about… Drugs or adrenaline? 😉
I think I will give newsnow a miss today as every other rumour is about PSG`s Director in London for talks about Alexis, yet there are no photos of him at the Emirates or Highbury House apart from this outside Rico`s house !.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A5pDt17CQAA8Dni.jpg
😀
Neither am I Rico and the one writing the crap ! hahaha
I used to hate it when people said of transfers “until I read it on Arsenal.com………”.
It drove me nuts but they’re right.
I’ll talk about it, but certainly don’t stress over the rumours now.
Not much point because I reckon Arsenes right hand doesn’t know what’s the left is doing lol
#I`m the one writing the crap# ………………………….
Dont take drugs or drink, must be still be high from the FA Cup win…………………..must watch that again soon ! hahaha
I dont bother with Arsenal.com, Scott…………………………………… I go to Ornstein ! 🙂
Mmmmmm I`d better check to see if he bought someone !
Nope !…………………………………….Ornstein hasn`t bought anyone !
With Sir Chesney gone we have a space for another Johnny Foreigner aka Thomas Lemar !
LC, I still thinks it’s a mistake letting Szczesny go.
We know when Wenger takes a set against a player, that’s it.
There’s a man who knows his onions.
Wasnt Szczesny considered as home grown Cocker..?
Scott, we need to insert more buy-back clauses with some of these players we sell.
That’s true, Kev.
From the dense forest of Sherwood. The trees are cleared, the amber traffic light has just put in an appearance and old Mr Beleisha has been re interred. Unlike storm wracked Cornwall!
Smokin’ Wo, never had a chance once the old wrinkly one fell out with him, mind you he gave him plenty of opportunities to reform but, the daft pole just couldn’t behave properly! So, he had to go and go he has. I’ve noticed that the attitude to smoking in Europe is seen entirely differently to how we view the pestilential habit! Italy in particular are very lax about enforcing their non smoking regs. Although they are better than they were, even five years ago. Chesney’dad will be happy now though……..!
Lemar I think is a pipe dream. Hope I’m wrong but………
Sod the zebra crossing like sun, I’m off to find a traffic light stuck on Amber…………and here it is?
Didn`t think about that Kev`, you could be right !…………….Ok then, what Johnny Foreigner on our books isn`t classed as a home grown Brit ?……………….need a few Aussies on the books, they`re just like us, but with better tans and bigger gobs !…………………well, apart from us Cockney`s anyone north of Highbury is from the frozen North………….just like in Game of Thrones………….white walkers ! hahahaha
Wavy…………….Hope that Zebra of yours got safely across the road without some amorous advances……………….we know what you wood walkers are like, anything with foliage and your chopper goes mental ! 😆
💡 that represents me !…………….I`m going out…………………..the lights on, but nobodies in !
The local big question is, ‘who Made Marion?’ I leave you to guess who that might have been!
As for the zebra it turned out to be a bit of horse play! But the light was on green!?
chelsea bought Morata for 80 millions euros
Antero Henriques (PSG) is in London. Confirmed!
Afternoon guys..
Jm, confirmed by who please?
Kev, spot on re the buy back clause, all the club seem to do is ensure we get a few pounds when they are sold on again…
Saying that, didn’t we have first option on Cesc?
Monaco have reported to clubs to FIFA for tapping up Mbappe.
Surely we could be one of them…?
Phew!
Monaco have asked FIFA to take action after accusing “important European clubs” of tapping up Kylian Mbappe.
Sky sources say Monaco’s complaint concerns the alleged conduct of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain but not Arsenal, who are also confirmed admirers of the teenage striker.
A statement from the French champions read: “AS Monaco regretfully notice that important European football clubs made contacts with Kylian Mbappe (and his entourage) without its authorisation.
I touched on this subject a while ago and someone sensibly said Wenger probably had permission to speak to Mbappe given Wenger`s history with Monaco ………………………..anyway, Wenger`s not the type to tap up as he usually goes in straight away with an offer well below the asking price……….or a pound over at the most !…………………………tight fcuker ! hahaha
LC, I happened to be the sensible one…LOL. And that is because I had inside info from my ‘sauce”.
JM, Morate went for 60m not 80m. Madrid wanted 64m.
JM, Sorry I guess is the euros/ pounds thing. You are right 80 euros
The Sauce of Sanogo ?………………………. 😆
LC, you better get one of those Sonogo jersey, it’s going to be a collector’s item…..lol.
rico, portuguese newspapers
Well if the Portuguese newspapers say it is so, then it must be so…
Barkley for Walcott, swap deal, surely not!
I just wanna see Arsenal get the Lemar deal over the line.
Pay them what they want, if he is that good.
Next season he’ll be going for £100 million…
Oh dear, I didn’t realise Alexis has had a change in shielas. That changes everything!
Jm, the English press write the same, but we here know they don’t always print the truth… lol
Kev, can’t see that being true, do we really need Barkley? His attitude is questionable to say the least.. I hope we can get Lemar too, perhaps once the team/Wenger get back to the uk we will.
Morning all..
Morning Rico. Up early this morning?
Morning Adam. Annoyingly, yes, as are you…
I am rising earlier these days Rico. 🙂
Must be the dawn chorus Adam…. ?
A piece of useful/useless information depending on how fans feel about the Emirates Cup.
All four matches can be seen on Quest TV which is on freeview, Sky, Virgin, etc etc….
Good news Rico. 🙂
Evening rico/Adam
Well I finally got to watch The Arsenal v Bayern game in full on Bein. England beat Germany on penalties!!
My thoughts are no penalty it was a dive, they were denied a clear goal which was onside. That evened things up.
The Arse were played off the park, especially in the midfield. It really looks bad tbh, so old mon ami needs to get more signings in.
I have a bad feeling that Alexis will be allowed to leave at the last minute of trade period. It’s Groundhog Day……..again!!!
Read Angry of Islington this morning Apparently there is movement in Arsenal shares and the price has rocketed. Quite who is buying or selling isnt known .But with the money being pumped into Everton you have to wonder.
You old cynic Adam.. 😉
Hi George.
I hope it’s not Usmanov selling his shares to Kroenke…
Alexis is going no where George ….. My “sauce” (same with Obi’s) says so.Me saying it here might jinx it though ???
Bondex
The new girlfriend has thrown a spanner in the works for me. She may want a different playground to his previous, hence a move away from London.
New post up now.