Morning all.
I doubt any Arsenal fan will be overly shocked to see Kieran Tierney pick up the June player of the month award. Nor Dani Ceballos being awarded goal of the month either. Two players who for different reasons, have had a mixed season yet here they are now, probably two of our best performing players. Certainly the most consistent. Martinez and Saka are two more but after them, I’m struggling a bit.
Today we face the newly crowned Premier League winners, a club I detest almost as much as the neighbours. Actually, as much but one can only sit back and admire what Jurgen Klopp and the clubs owners have done over the last four years. Yes, four years, not a few months.
I’d imagine all Klopp and his players want now is for the season to end and their party to begin. I’ll just be glad when the final whistle blows and hope the previous 90 odd minutes weren’t too painful.
A defeatist I am not though, just a realist. As said the other day, too much damage had been done prior to Mikel Arteta’s arrival for this season to end on any kind of high. Too much negativity has been wafting over London Colney for Mikel Arteta to blow away with one mighty outward puff. He himself signing for Arsenal came as a result of one of the worst results and performances under Arsene Wenger. If anyone knew what huge a task was on the table, Mikel did. He was part of it as a player. As was Per Mertesacker. Both of them now responsible for removing the negative mindset of the players at their respective level. Half the battle will be won if those coming through the academy join the first team squad with their feet firmly on the ground. Knowing that only hard work and the right attitude will bring reward. A culture shock to a lot of them I suspect. Good, it’s needed.
Coaching the younger players must be easier in many ways as they’ve not had enough years to pick up all the bad habits a player ten years senior might have. Old dogs and new tricks doesn’t always apply. But if the ears go up, the nose twitches and the tail wags, at least it’s clear that woofa is willing to try. Repetition, repetition, repetition and then one day, it clicks. But even the best dog trainers out there in the world have to admit defeat sometimes.
Arsenal need to decide which of our players has their ears up and tail wagging. Although I’d imagine such a decision has been made by now. It’s a process every new manager goes through when he joins a new club. Klopp was no exception although in some ways, he has been the exception. Fenway Sports didn’t give him an open chequebook to build his squad. Liverpool spent wisely on who they needed, sold well to cover much of the cost. Champions League football followed and here they are today, the best club in England.
Liverpool are living proof that a club can be self sustaining AND successful. All Mikel needs to do is have his teeth whitened, wear a baseball cap, big glasses and run up and down the touchline with great enthusiasm.
I don’t expect Arsenal to win tonight but I do expect to see a reaction from what was a sloppy performance in our last match.
See you in the comments guys, or behind the sofa later….
Good morning Rico, behind the sofa for me tonight. 😕
Morning Cicero, ditto.
Thanks Sue. I thought it was just Kev and I who detested this lot. Lol
Another good read, Rico 👍
I’m with you – I can’t stand this lot and it’s a fixture I dread every bloody season!! I can’t stand losing to this lot, so will probably watch Glee all over again!!
We couldn’t even beat a poor spud team, we’ve got no hope tonight!
Ornstein has said about AMN wanting to leave…
Yep, seems AMN realises he needs to move in order to play. I hope not, I’d rather he played at left back than Kolasinac on current form.
Morning Andrew, thanks. AMN has looked different since his alleged wrap on the knuckles. Wasn’t it against Wolves he came on and played really well. Aggressive and solid.
Morning rico, Cicero, all. Lost a bit of anticipation as still suffering from the spurs defeat. Just read yesterday’s blog, good thought provoking, for me our never say die attitude was last seen with Sanchez, and he took or forced a few along with him. AMN is typical of our current dozy-looking crowd. I know many like him, but compare his attitude to Ray Parlour. One brighter showing but I want to see some grit, Savage-like! Until we do, nothing will change.
Have high hopes for Arteta, studious, nice, also firm. But I thought exactly the same about David Platt and he never cut it as a manager. Given resources though, keeping fingers crossed.
Morning Rico and All
Sounds like Mickys appealing for some
dough from the Syrup,straight after a defeat.
I hate losing at anything,but Micky has to
pick the right time to beg,some good can
come out of losing to the scumbags.
We got sucked in sunday,but with better
finishing and a bit of ladyluck we could have
won that,looking at the better chances.
Not sure why Micky has abandoned the
three across the middle on set plays we
look opendoors at times with the
Keystones Cops bombing around at the
back when the speed merchants get going.
Watched the Hub-Caps v Burnley the other
day the champs could have lost that.
We may see Holding play to-nite,looking
back over the last two games would he have
done less than the other three.
I think we could surprise the MickyMouse’s
Morning Fred, I’m surprised we’ve not seen more of Holding, he’s the future, or at least I assume he is. There’s a part of me which thinks Arteta is still trying to make his mind up on a few.
Solid rico, till he ducks at an opposition header, and it comes off his shoulder into the goal. I still can’t forget that feeble effort I’m afraid. I know a lot of defenders turn their back from a shot, which so annoys me, but this was the weakest defending I’ve seen this season.
And if reports are true, being late once can be excused, an alarm could fail to go off or be set. But if I was in trouble like that, I’d set two alarms to make sure it couldn’t happen again. Just seems too laid back, can a person change to suddenly have aggression and increased appetite? Maybe, but I think it looks like someone who had things come too easy, many footballers now seem like this. Get them cleaning boots of seniors like they used to! Sorry, rant over, but I’m still pis#ed at last performance.
Andrew, isn’t that the mentality running through a number of our players right now? Sunday alone would suggest that. Maybe I’m just more optimistic that Arteta can change a lot yet and we’re only just seeing the beginning.
Morning All, ‘It’s Game Day’ as the media spin goes, yawn. The media spin and slanted gibberish type commentary we get is the reason I watch games with the sound down. Once you get used to it it’s quite pleasant to see what your watching and make up your own mind without some idiot rambling away and spoiling the experience.
Morning Rico, nice post, Liverpool eh, I can’t stand them….
But we have to admire the way that Fenway have supported Klopp, they have shown the kind of ambition that we’ve wanted to see from KSE, they also actually seem interested in the Liverpool project unlike Stan who always looks completely bored when at an Arsenal event.
Morning Kev, thanks. ‘and it’s live……’ what a load of old tosh.
Stan is like Ozil, can’t help his game face..
Has Fenway/Henry ever invested their own money I wonder? I don’t know the answer but I think their sales paid for Klopps first signings and then income the rest.
Confirmed.
The Premier League summer transfer window will open on July 27 and run for 10 weeks until October 5.
Hi Fred, I thought that Arteta picked just the right time to load a bit of pressure onto the owners and management team regarding transfers this summer.
Restructuring the stadium loans doesn’t affect KSE as that loan is still on the club and I’m under no illusions that the club will be, in a roundabout way, paying off the £505m loan that Stan took out to buy out Usmanov. So there is still plenty of wiggle room for the club to raise revenue that can be used in the transfer market. FFP doesn’t work so that opens the door even more.
Does that mean that next season kicks off on October 5th Rico?
When is the Charity Shield?
Don’t think so Kev. Isn’t it a planned September start?
I was chatting to my son a few days ago and he expects Arsenal will soon be sending out it’s season ticket renewals, that in essence is an interest free loan to the club from the fans who probably won’t get to use their tickets this side of Christmas.
I had read that fans could return next season. Think it was Karen Brady making the bold statement.
If we do manage to sign Partey then AMN will slip further down the pecking order, he says he will have to look elsewhere for regular first team action. Rather than sell him in a depressed market he should go out on a season long loan, perhaps with a January recall option.
Or Cicero, if Kolasinac goes, AMN could be backup to Tierney.
Hi Geoff.
Poor you Sue, having a Liverpool supporting nephew and his partner is bad enough, although at least she is a scouser. My nephew and his dad though, are not. Shows how far backwards we’ve gone though as they seldom mention Arsenal these days…
Hi Rico and All If Kroenke cared about us he could easily take over the sponsorship of the stadium to inject more money but he does not give a crap about us.
As for Arteta in a way I glad we will not qualify for Europa or champions league as I feel that this will help him next season to just concentrate on the Home and away season and the FA Cup
I reckon Cicero, that was might sell Maitland Niles to finance the signing of Ceballos?
Rumours coming out of Germany that Stuttgart (Mislintat) might also be interested in signing Sokratis as well as taking Mavropanos on loan?
Some gooners are saying MA should rest certain players tonight, so they’re ready for Saturday, as it’s last chance saloon with Europe qualification. Oh yeah so we let those car-jackers have a rout tonight and we end up being dumped out by City anyway!!
After that horror show on Sunday, does anyone even expect us to win tonight or Saturday?? Come on.. the thought of Luiz and Mustafi up against Salah and Mane… or Sterling and Jesus, brings me out in a cold sweat!!! Always said this was going to be the week from hell… and it’s proven me right so far!!
It’s my daughter’s birthday today, so I really don’t want to get stressed and rage.. so I’ll just check the score on my phone 😂 Plus, Rico, I live with a Liverpool fan, so every time they score and we lose, I want to throttle him 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi Sue Just throttle him any ways, you will feel so much better then you can really enjoy your Daughters Birthday LOLO
Sue lives with a Car Jacker !!!………………………..I bet on her side of the bed the castors are missing!
😆
Lucky for me I have a season ticket at DFS for games like this, last Sunday and this weekend!
Extra big one for weekend as it`s out last chance of trophy!!!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGTf02IVCZg/UFh1VM-Sl7I/AAAAAAAALvY/enYiQuX9K0o/s1600/biggest+sofa+in+the+world+world+record.jpg
Hi Goeff.. to be honest, it’s a miracle he’s still here after they knocked us out of the carabao cup!!! 🤣
I shall take your advice hahaha!!!
It’s terrible, Rico, of all the teams…. urgh! Luckily my youngest son followed me with Arsenal (there is a God 😆) although I reckon he’ll come up to me in the not too distant future and say “why did you do it, why did you brainwash me, it’s torture!!” 😂
Luckily mine isn’t from Liverpool (that bloody horrible accent) otherwise he’d be gaffa taped!!
You’ll want to avoid your nephew after tonight, Rico!! Yes, whenever we’re mentioned by them, it’s to rip the p**s!!
🤣🤣🤣 Rico, there’s plenty of room behind that sofa for me too!!
I’m still hurting after Sunday… I can’t take much more 😆
Sorry I meant Le Coq!! Doh!!
I’m amazed, still no Mike Dean… not tonight or Saturday!! Paul Tierney tonight and then on Saturday, my ‘favourite’ little weight watcher – Jon Moss… urgh…..
Stitched up by fatty Moss
AMN is reported to have said he’s happy to play anywhere Arteta asks him Cicero.
Sue, look on the bright side, they could all support Toots. Lol
Rico, the reason AMN hasn’t reached his full potential is the constant positional swapping from left back to midfield them midfield to right back and now midfield again. He is not a fullback, left or right. He needs to play regularly in his best position and he won’t get much opportunity to do so at Arsenal so a loan is the best option.
Kev, what we could get for AMN right, won’t pay much towards the Dani Ceballos fee.
So, Real want 23m for Ceballos…
£23 million for Ceballos shows how the market has reduced as far as transfer fees go.
Pounds or Euros, he’s worth every penny or cent Sue.
Pounds, Cicero….knowing us that’ll be far too much!!
Pocket change for the Kroenkes if only their pockets weren’t padlocked. 😉
Haha that’s for sure, Rico!!
It sure does.. because at one point 36m was mentioned..
Should be £30m for Aubameyang then Sue..
Hi Kev..Got the renew notice for a silver
last week.
Ozils greengages..We could sign two top
boys for that.
The Little Terrier…..30 mil or more
Bellrina……………….30 mil or more
Hackney Gazette…30 mil or more
Gwendoozy…………30 mil or more
Bubbleunsquerk….30 Bob or more
Musthavacraper….8 mil or more
Elneny…………………god knows
Mickytearaway…….8 mil or more
maybe/piles………..20 mil or more
all this lot must come to a few bob
Am I in dream land with this guys
we have always sold players yet
no one talks about what comes in
its always what we spend on new bods.
David Silva, rolling back the years! Oh I’d much rather they’d have won the league….
Will we have to give them a guard of honour later??
Kev.. I can renew my membership now (Red)
Rico, AMN may well be happy to play whether Arteta wants him to but he won’t get much chance in any position and would progress must much better if he played regularly for another team, probably in the Championship or abroad.
We’ll have to agree to differ Cicero.
TEAM NEWS: Martinez, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Cedric, Xhaka, Torreira, Saka, Nelson, Pepe, Lacazette
Nice to see Torreira and Holding back. A rare start for Nelson..
Fred, amortisation mate, I didn’t have a clue what that meant when Gazides first started rabbiting on about it 5 or 6 years ago, I only sussed it a couple of years ago, but in essence it means if we sign Ceballos on a 5 year deal we spread the £23m over that 5 years and things will be back to normal long before then.
It also means when we sell players that in general we get paid in instalments as well, but Cicero I’m sure that Arsenal will get between £20m & £25m for Maitland Niles, maybe more, especially if he goes to an English club, you know the domestic premium. English and German clubs are said to be interested in him. If nobody comes up with the dough we just keep him, in a years time prices will start to rise again.
Hallelujah! We are playing two centre backs at centre back, and two full backs at fullback….and….on the correct side.
Still farting around at the back and putting Martinez under unnecessary pressure.
That might just open the floodgates. Not sure I want to watch this.
Even the best defenders can f**k up at times. 😉
1 – 1
Another Liverpool cock up. Nelson gives us the lead.
OMG!!!!! I am buzzing!!!
That’s not the halftime score line I expected to see. Is there anyway that the game can be abandoned and this score remain? 😁
I’m watching, just not counting any chickens…
I thought I was the only one watching, Sue.
Well, Cicero, I wasn’t going to, but couldn’t help myself 😆
VAR??
That by Robertson was almost identical to Eddie’s
Is it 10 o’ clock yet??!!
The flying pigs are aiming for the cow jumping over the moon
Never in doubt.
Didn’t expect that result 🙂 had a bath half-time as couldn’t watch ho!ding on for complete half!
I like your confidence, Scott. 😉
I’m stunned!!! 😆😆 but on the other hand I want to go to work now…to brag!!!
Been such a long time coming!!!!!!
Yesssssss what a way to make up for the disappointment of Sunday!!! I’m so happy…
Oh, and City – you’re welcome!
Is it safe to come out from behind the sofa yet? 😆
Can someone explain or give me a difference between Nketiah’s play and Arnold’s play?
– Did you intend to throw the ball? Both
– Wasn’t it intentional? Both
– Didn’t you notice the opponent’s presence? Both
– There is no VAR? Only in one of them
Final result: One has red. The other yellow.
That’s the way it goes, JM. 😕
I’m looking forward to reading all the excuses for Liverpool’s defeat. The hacks will have to cover up their season long love in with Klopp’s Keystone Cops style of defending.
Good night folks. 😴
Yes, it’s safe, Rico 😂😂 those last 10 minutes or so were sooooo tense… I was pacing!!!
I was watching the bats flying around Sue.. 😂
Goodnight, Cicero… sweet dreams about that look on Klopp’s face!! 😆😆😆
😂😂 anything to pass the time, Rico!!!
I quite enjoyed that, Alexander Arnold’s yellow card again confirmed Hackett’s view that VAR is being run like a Butlins Holiday camp, I guess the refs should wear red coats…
Spot on, Kev..
Tonights decision that VAR does not even look at the tackle on Saka is proof there is an agenda within the EPL.
What was the difference between that challenge and Eddie’s……Can someone explain. please.
Superb result.
Don’t let anyone downplay the result due to defensive errors as they still 24 shots on goal, so ample opportunity but we held tight in defence.
Martinez was AGAIN superb and the more game time he gets, the more likely offers will start coming in.
He’s too good to be a back up keeper imo
We held tight in defence – you don’t hear that very often, Scott!! Oh how all the scousers will be quiet tomorrow – ah bliss!!
On VAR, it’s abundantly clear there is a set of sorts agains the Arsenal.
Some were saying that 5-8 years ago but were often shut down with calls that we shouldn’t be leaving it in the hands of officials, but that never made sense to me as they control the results of games.
I think it was more the frustration with Wenger that led to that argument but here we are still suffering poor calls and blatantly obvious errors.
That’s why I was happy Arteta spoke up last week on the Vardy issue.
F.C, Porto champion of Portugal!
Sue, my Aussie mates who follow that lot haven’t been sighted yet.
Same every time with them and that’s what I can’t stand about their club.
More Plastics than any 10 clubs combined!!!
Dec 17: Quadruple ❌
Feb 29: PL Invincibles ❌
Mar 3: Treble ❌
Mar 11: League & CL double ❌
Mar 11: Retain European Cup ❌
Jul 11: Perfect home record ❌
Jul 15: 100+ point season ❌
Dontcha just love it?!! 🤣🤣🤣
😂 Scott!! Brilliant!! I’m looking forward to tomorrow and will ask them all is yours gold?! Hahahaha!!!
I’ve got one bite already, Sue.
That’s one from many who’s surfaced 🙂 🙂
Benfica were robbed.
Hi All well what a great win after all did Liverpool fans and the media say they would smash all records as they say easy to win the title but harder to keep it roll on next season
Scott.. Give ’em hell 😄
Sue, It’s what I do bahahahahahahahahahaha
New post up now.
Morning all