Morning all.
Yesterday morning IFAB announced on that following an internal meeting, the temporary amendment to the rule regarding the number of substitutions during a match has been extended for at least another 19 months.
Last season, Premier League clubs voted against its continuance in England but considering the Euros take place this summer, those who voted against the idea might just change their mind this time around. Klopp was branded “selfish” by Chris Wilder, Wilder was called “selfish” by Klopp after the two differed with their vote.
The idea of five subs would benefit the “top clubs with bigger squads” was the general reason for rejection but in my opinion, the clubs with smaller or less deep squads would have benefited too. Having the option of bringing on an extra player or two for the last ten minutes or so when another player’s legs are knackered, can prevent injuries. I don’t know what the statistics are for injuries which occurred in the final 10/20 mins of a game but just one through fatigue is one too many when it might have been prevented. Anyway, if common sense prevails, the five sub rule will return next season.
For Arsenal, the five sub rule would mean Mikel Arteta could have the likes of Folarin Balogun and Miguel Azeez on the bench, or any other younger player expected to make the step up next season.
The Daily Mail have a story linking Arsenal to both Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling. No thanks to Mahrez but Sterling, why not? For City, his goal return has been excellent and he’s still just 26 years old. If the rumours about Mikel Arteta improving Sterling’s style of play were true, then this story might have some legs, albeit short ones. Just 14 goals was “poor” for him last season yet still higher than any one player at Arsenal. Pepe, Sterling and Martinelli would be a very quick and exciting looking front three. Dreamland I know.
The Man City manager has got tongues wagging on social media after speaking to BT Sport.
I love the fact that nothing is for granted. In two or three weeks I said ‘oh my god, next season’ – Liverpool is back, United is stronger every season and Arsenal is making a step forward and they will invest.
Unless Mikel Arteta has been sharing secrets with his fellow countryman or if Arsenal are already in talks for one of the City players, I very much doubt Pep Guardiola knows what Arsenal will be doing this summer in the way of transfers. But it’s obvious the club will do something otherwise Mikel Arteta’s comments about changes and the board/owners backing will come back to bite him on the backside just as they did for Arsene Wenger when promises soon became empty ones.
If headlines on NN which include ‘quotes’ from Granit Xhaka’s agent are true, the player is interested in linking up with Jose Mourinho at Roma. I know, truth and agents doesn’t go together usually so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what unfolds. I like Xhaka, he’s had a decent season too but that doesn’t mean Arsenal couldn’t find someone better suited to the midfield role alongside Partey. Someone more mobile and quick thinking for starters.
Liverpool have kicked off the summer transfer window by agreeing a deal for RB Leipzig‘s central defender Ibrahima Kontate. I just hope Arsenal can follow suit by being quick off the mark this summer to sign the players they want early. Certainly before the Euros get started.
See you in the comments.
Bang
Is there a prize for being first here??
Or is it that 4th place is considered a trophy as well 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I enjoyed reading the post.
I am not totally against Sterling. But due to his injuries I am a bit cautious.
But Mahrez no as you said as well. Imo not even if he came free with Sterling. He would take the place of someone from the academy and I feel that promoting someone from the academy is a prize in itself as well
Unless Mahrez is being being bought in to help ESR develop. He is 30 and in this case, although I am leaning towards a no, I would have no qualms about him being African and going to ACON. Because ESR can fill his position with flying colours. Plus there will be Willock as well to coach in that position.
But out of the two I would say maybe/yes to Sterling but preferably NO to Mahrez.
No prizes here Devil, wrong site. Lol
What injuries did Sterling have? He still played 35 odd times for City last season. For what it’s worth, I don’t think we’d sign him because of his wages.
Likewise, I don’t think Xhaka will be sold either.
I’m not overly fussed about ACON when signing players. I think it would be foolish to swerve a player just because he’s involved in the competition in February. What’s important imo is what they bring to Arsenal during the other months of the season.
If I recall correctly he had to contend with a lot of injuries in the past. Or maybe I am mixing him with someone else.
Going through google yes you are right….he always played over 30 games. so maybe I am mixing him with someone else.
Not only February Rico….we will lose them from January when they are called up, then throughout February as well.. However, when they come back they lack match sharpness and their fitness conditioning is out of sorts. So that takes up another 3-4 weeks to obtain. and that makes it three months till the end of March.
If you lose one or two players than its ok although I dont like it. However, we already have Pepe, Auba, PArtey, Elneny. If we get a couple of midfielders, a CB and maybe a forward who all to to the AFCON we will be royally stitched up. That will be a total of around 7 players.
Sorry Rico, that last was a cut and paste that went wrong.. Can you delete please?
Good morning Rico. Thanks for the post.
Five subs is okay with me, although I have no real reason to say one way or the other.
Mahrez? No thanks, we already have a better option in Pepe.
Sterling? Again, no thanks he would just get in the way of Tierney.
Regardless of what they could both bring to the team, it’s what they would take away that concerns me. Barrowloads of cash!
Ozil, Aubameyang, Mikhitaryan, Willian, big wages, long contracts and limited sell on values. We’ve seen it all before too many times.
But the same could be applied in relation to the WC, Euros and international fixtures/breaks Devil. Of course it’s not ideal but I don’t think it should be a deal breaker. Plus, not every country will get through the groups or to the final.
What’s important is to have contingency plans which I why I doubt Xhaka will be sold.
No problem Cicero.
Sterling-a big no. He’s a compulsive cheat who would bring the refs down on us even more unfairly. Mahrez is an excellent player and as greedy as Sterling. He has a superb first touch and skill, but we need to avoid players of that age who are looking for another big pay day. He has Spurs written all over him.
Personally I’m hoping that Arteta approaches the new season with more focus and intensity, buys players who suit the way he wants to play and in doing so, lasts beyond Christmas.
Sterling a cheat, surely not…. lol
Rico. Honestly. He is. I’ve seen him. 😀
Ha ha Adam.
Hi Rico and all in regards to the two Man C players I say thanks but no thanks Sterling is good but their has to be a good reason why Pep would let him go. I recon we need to look for players around 22 / 23 years old at the oldest.
Morning Gooners, I would imagine that whenever a Man City player is made available and he’s of a certain quality – and given Arteta’s history with City – that the media will immediately make that link, it’s what they do, it’s lazy journalism but tbh journalism is dying on its feet anyway!
Sterling is still a very very good player but he’s not what we need and Mahrez is at that ‘one last big pay day’ age so steer well clear of him.
It seems as if Man City are preparing for a major bid for Harry Kane and are clearing the decks.
Sterling, Zaha, Grealish-we will get penalty after penalty each week 😉
Though to be fair, Sterling is nowhere near as bad as those other two.
Scott the minute the put on a Arsenal shirt they will be done for Diving
Geoff,
Probably right lol
All damn talented players who would easily slot into our side.
Hi Geoff
Kev, Grealish too according to the back pages..
Now where have I seen that game before? A team building passing and hitting a wall that soaks everything and gets hit on the break.
Once Rudiger took De Bruyne out City lost all impetus , not that they had much before. Once Tuchel had the lead it was break us down if you can and the passing began.
Would it be an Arsenal fixture by any chance? I didn’t enjoy watching, not that I saw much. I got bored.
So the 3rd best team in England is the best in Europe 🙂
That’s exactly why I don’t rate this competition.
The 3 biggest spending clubs in England were 3 of the 4 finalists in CL and EL.
Good Morning everyone
And Chavs get their hands on the Champions League. That is what you get when you have an owner who cares. And owner who wants to win. Because they did win it.
I wanted City to win. But on the other hand I am happy for Tuchel. If Tuchel has won the Champions lge he should go in person to the sheik of PSG and thank him and present him with a MUG……for the biggest prized stupidity trophy. He got rid of Tuchel who went to Chelsea and win the cup. Meanwhile he hired a serial loser who managed to finish 2nd in a 1 team league.
Oh and bdw….even Emery should go to the sheik….because he got rid of him as well.
Imagine….sacking two coaches who end up winning the top two European prizes. Its true that Emery has since been sacked by Arsenal however we have already discussed that. Because if he had been backed by the board he would have won with us earlier.
PSG fans are asking alot of questions.
But I am happy for Unai and Tuchel.
In the meantime just remember that Arteta won both games against the Chavs.
Devil,
Arteta is a genius and one day, Arsenal fans will get it :)!
going through yesterday’s game, City lost it because Guardiola tried to be too clever. he tinkered with the team, thinking that he could outwit Tuchel but ended up leaving his players muddled. He left Fernando and Rodri out. You dont leave your two best DMs out in a game like that.
I feel that Guardiola thought (and he guessed right) that Tuchel would defend the area and counter attack. He was right about that as Tuchel lined up in a 3-4-2-1 (or more aptly 3-6-1) which limited space. He went 4-3-3. what he did not do right was that he omitted the above two for the simple reason that he wanted to keep the ball flowing. Well his midfield did not have a clue how to break down Chelsea. Guardiola does not know how to defend (like AW) and tries to outscore the opposition.
This is were Arteta is different I feel. In his early days he has played 3-4-2-1, 3-4-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and 3-5-2. He favours the 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 but there were games when he tried to adapt. Were Arteta failed was during the games when he tried to fit the players we have to the formation he favoured especially when the players used where the old horses. They will not adapt. and so games were lost.
its a fine line…..on one hand he wants to get his formation across but on the other he needed to adapt, because in getting his formation across this season will mean less work next season. Let’s say he played according to the player’s strengths. We would (or might)have got those 12-15 points extra meaning Champions league football and the Kroenke’s would say….right, you achieved your goal with those players now just buy one or two players and that will be enough. There are no problems.
So in a way….that would have seen us going through the same motions next season again. But the situation, being what it is, means that the team has to be overhauled and the board have to back him in bringing new players.
It might be to our benefit that we did not get those extra points to end up in the CL although if we got into the conference cup the young players would have had more time to play.
Incidentally…..why introduce the conference cup when UEFA could easily resuscitate the Cup Winners Cup and those who got to the final (winners and runners up ONLY) would get to play in it? Makes more sense imo.
Without Rodri and Fernando behind them, Gundogan and De Bruyne did not have a clue where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to do. And when Rudiger took the latter out, the Chavs simply controlled midfield…6 versus 3.
And to think that we beat the Chavs twice. It just rubs salt into the wound.
Morning all.
https://highbury-house.com/2021/05/30/shock-call-up-for-arsenal-man/
New post up now