Morning all.
Arsenal still have five players on international duty. Jakub Kiwior, Mikel Merino and David Raya as Poland face Croatia and Spain take on Serbia this evening and then in the early hours of tomorrow morning, both Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli could feature for Brazil as they take on Peru although the latter of the two is a doubt.
This international break has come at a cost, IF the injury reports hold any truth. Bukayo Saka returned to the club early after reportedly picking up an injury in Englands first game against Greece and Gabriel Martinelli is rumoured to have picked up a knock too. However….
England’s interim manager Lee Carsley said:
Bukayo would have been close but it would have been unfair to take a risk with him. He’s a positive person and I expect him to be fine.
As for Gabriel Martinelli who unlike Saka, has stayed with his international teammates but is a doubt for their match tomorrow morning.
The Brazilian camp had this to say:
Player Gabriel Martinelli complained of pain in his right calf and underwent an MRI on Sunday night which showed a small area of muscle edema in the area. The athlete continues to undergo physiotherapy treatment under the care of the Brazilian national team’s medical department.
Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko could in theory be absent for the weekend, however, it’s highly unlikely in my opinion. In fact if I were a betting person, I bet on all bar Martin Odegaard being in the squad and perhaps Gabriel Martinelli.
Before the Southampton game, Timber and White were very close to a return and Mikel Arteta said that Zinchenko hopes to be back after this break so there’s a reason to be optimistic about injuries two weeks later. Plus, Tomiyasu has already made his return which is great for the squad. Whisper it quietly but Partey is fit in October for once.
Don’t let the media fool you with their negative reports.
Talking of media negativity, the French sports writers are heavily criticising William Saliba for his performance against Belgium last night. His side won the game but apparently he was at fault for giving away a penalty which Tielemans missed and then being beaten for the Belgium goal. Obviously the British media have picked up on his performance and are regurgitating the news but hey, from an Arsenal fans perspective, I really don’t care. What he does in an Arsenal shirt is far more important. I still believe it’s the German critics of Kai Havertz to blame for him staying at Arsenal for the last fortnight. I’m sure it’s a honour to play for one’s country but there’s only so many times a human being can take being kicked. (Metaphorically speaking)
Anyway, fingers crossed all five Arsenal players in action tonight have a nice easy game and return home tomorrow fighting fit and healthy…
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and all.
I see our lady’s manager has quiet, as I don’t watch them play that much was it a surprise that he left or was it on the cards as reports say the fans were ready to protest against him, makes me wonder if he was part of the reason Vivianne Miedema leaving.
Morning Geoff, hadn’t seen that..
My guess would be he’s been sacked..
From Wiki re our new interim coach.
Slegers coached IF Limhamn Bunkeflo’s under-19 team in the 2018 season and was promoted to the head coach role in November 2018.
In March 2021 she was appointed Head coach for Sweden’s U23 National team. She went on to manage Rosengard B, before succeeding Jonas Eidevall as head coach of the club’s first team in June 2021.
Slegers led the team to successive Damallsvenskan titles in 2021 and 2022. She left the post in April 2023. In September 2023, Slegers joined Arsenal, where she became Eidevall’s assistant coach. On October 15th 2024, following Eidevall’s resignation as Manager, Slegers took over as interim manager of Arsenal WFC
Not sacked, resigned! It’s official, it’s on the Arsenal website.
Good day Rico, it’s nice to have you back.
Hi Cicero, I’ve never been away just nothing sprung to mind.. 😜
Resigned is just polite for sacked isn’t it? Lol
It was pretty toxic at the Emirates on Sunday. I’m fairly certain he and Miedema had ‘issues’. She had to go, him or her! He lost but so did the Arsenal, they lost a world class un replaceable asset. The performances have been poor by their usual standards. Ironically the second half against Chelsea was probably their best half of football this season. But they still lost! They’re now too far behind despite being only four games in to be considered as potential league winners, so good are the top two.
I’ve no idea who will replace him, but Casey Stoney was amongst the crowd on Sunday. Coincidence? We’ll see.
Sadly( for him) I’m not sorry he’s gone. The players he’s left behind are very very talented, but at present they are not a good team.
Let’s all move on
He’s had a few squabbles with Emma Hayes too in the past Wavy. She even accused him of being a bully although that seems to be a bit of a trend these days..
Casey Stoney Is a good shout although I wouldn’t be surprised to see Slegers appointed if she turns things around quickly.
Tuchel the New England manager apparently. Oh the irony…
Mein Gott! Does that mean that Tuchel can pick Kai Havertz for England now?
Good luck to him, he’ll need it.
Maybe he’ll have more sense than to pick that useless lump Kane again.
In this morning’s Telegraph, Sam Wallace makes a relevant point. International football should be the best of one nation facing the best of another. That includes not just players but managers, coaches and backroom staff even down to the tea lady.
Wheeling in a foreign manager is contrary to the spirit of international football.
It is not expected that Tuchel will start work before January the first, leaving Carseley a dead man walking.
Morning Cicero, all.
I’m of the same opinion re international management but it seems that’s a thing of the past. Rugby and cricket have had overseas coaches for a while.
The Fergie thing made me chuckle. Dreadful way to treat the clubs most successful manager though…
New post up.
In a sign of the financial mess Manchester United are in their Global Ambassador, Sir Alex Ferguson, has been removed from his £2.16 million a year sinecure as part of the new ownership’s cost cutting campaign. Apparently he will still be welcome in the Director’s box on match days, where he can hang around like a fart in a phone box. 😉