Afternoon guys.
I don’t think I’m over Englands performance against DR Congo, it was so bad. It was depressing. Harry Kane eventually came good, firstly with an equaliser and then a winner but honestly, I thought England were going out of the World Cup. England had been trailing since the 7th minute but finally equalised on 75 minutes then with just a minute of normal time remaining. Phew.
I watched the Belgium game on the same night and like England, they went behind in the game. On the hour mark, they were 2-0 down against Senegal and looked a certainty to exit the competition but two goals between 86 & 89 minutes took the game to extra time. A penalty, converted by Tielemans kept them in the competition.
Wimbledon and the Women’s T20 World Cup has since been a welcome distraction from the goings on in the USA.
Not sure if I can be bothered to watch Australia take on Egypt later and I’m certainly not staying awake to see Argentina go up against Cape Verde but I’m pretty sure I’ll be tuned in when England go up against Mexico. Thankfully, Reece James looks like he’ll be fit to start that one meaning Declan Rice won’t be used at right back. Having seen what condition he looked in towards the end of the DR Congo game, I’m not convinced he should be playing at all for a while.
I’m sure Arsenal fans have already seen reports about how Arsenal are reported to have walked away from a deal with Leicester City for Jeremy Monga because £10 million is considered to be too much. This has reportedly allowed Man City to nip and in all likelihood, cough up the money to seal the deal. Seems a strange one to me because this has been rumbling on for a while, long enough for Arsenal to have sealed a deal if they really wanted Monga, regardless of whether or not there was a couple of million pounds difference in price valuation. Plus, surely Leicester City would have made it quite clear right from the off how much they valued their player. It’s an odd tale that’s for sure.
Talking of young players, Arsenal have appointed Pascal De Maesschalck as their new academy director. He joins from Strasbourg where he was technical director and replaces Per Mertesacker who left at the end of the last campaign.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta said:
We are delighted to welcome Pascal to Arsenal. He brings extensive experience from some of Europe’s leading football clubs and has an outstanding track record in youth development. We are excited to have him with us as we continue to build for the future, developing young players and identifying the best emerging talent to join Arsenal on a journey towards professional football.
Perhaps Pascal will intervene and the club stumps up the extra money for Monga. I jest of course.
On the ladies side of the club, Georgia Stanway has joined from Bayern Munich. The 27 year old England international midfielder will wear the number 4. A good signing I reckon.
But where are the men’s signings? I know the club are sorting out the medical team but what about players who will strengthen our chances of retaining the Premier League trophy? Surely they must still be involved in the World Cup otherwise one would have expected the club to have been active in the transfer window by now. Lots of names are floating around but as yet, there’s nothing to suggest anything which is written in the back pages is worth believing.
Maybe this coming week will bring some good news on that front. After all, pre season training cannot be that far off. Andrea Berta needs to get a wriggle on… lol
Catch up in the comments.
New post up by the way.
Tzolis might not even sign for us..
Me too Devil. I was desperate for Paraguay to win last night too.
Tzolis might turn out to be as good as Trossard or better as well. He might turn out to be a downgrade.
I just hope he fits in and improves us.
yes Rico. the earlier they leave the better. Sorry for saying England as well, but I want our players back ASAP. More time to recover.
Tzolis was linked to us a few weeks ago so perhaps this one might have legs. He was at Norwich City for a few years as a youngster.
Morning Devil, Geoff, all.
Two Gabriel’s or Odegaard will be leaving the WC later.
Good morning Rico and all.
I am not impressed that much by the fee we might get for Trossard. Yes he is 31. But like Cazorla before him I am not happy to see him go. Because with him goes experience versatility. He has a very top tactical mind and came up with crucial goals.
So no I did not want to see him go. For whatever sum.
But as I used to tell Pa…..for someone to come in it means someone has to go. You can only play 11 players (plus squad). And time forgives no one.
Trossard. The consummate professional who has gone through a lot this past year and still was never found wanting.
I will remember his name with affection.
Afternoon Rico and all,
sound a bit low for Trossard as we paid around 27mil, however saying that it could be a good deal to help get in a player who we need now, as this would give our younger player another year to improve and get a bit more physical strength.
Christos Tzolis is the one being touted to get the position
I thought so too. Guess we can expect at least one winger to come in. Better than the one we signed last summer I hope..
That’s a decent price for Trossard, 31 years old and one year left on his contract.
Besiktas agree deal for Trossard’
Besiktas have agreed a £17.1m (€20million) deal with Arsenal to sign Leandro Trossard, according to The Athletic.
The deal will see Arsenal get £15.4m up front and 1.7m in add-ons for the 31-year-old.
Trossard, who is at the World Cup with Belgium, only has one year left on his Arsenal contract. He joined Arsenal from Brighton in 2023.
Potter, that type of CF, the big bulldozer leading up front, is what I have always preferred to have in my teams. I dont like the nimble centreforwards who irritate you like a mosquito, although I have a soft spot for Pippo Inzaghi, who wasn’t tall or got the others in the game but always pressed, harried and was always in the right place and right time to bury what his nose smelt.
Even when I played for my hometown I always preferred to have a big CF to aim crosses or passes at.
That is why I love players like Gyokeres, Giroud, Drogba etc. Players who were strong, lead the line well, bought others into play and scored as well. I did not mention TH14 simply because in my opinion he was not like the above mentioned type of CF but was more mobile than them.
🚨 Erling Haaland on the toughest defender he has faced:
🗣️ “Honestly, it’s those two Arsenal F.C. boys, Gabriel and Saliba. But Gabriel? That guy annoys me.
Gabriel doesn’t defend like somebody doing a job. He defends like a man trying to protect ancient secrets. I remember one time I checked my shoulder before receiving the ball and somehow he was already there staring at me aggressively. It’s honestly unsettling.”
“But seriously, he’s top class. Every striker complains about defenders like him because they make your life miserable, but deep down you respect them the most. I would absolutely love to have a player with that mentality in my team. Facing him again at the World Cup will be special.”
Just why I like Gyokeres too, a proper striker and one who knows how to take a penalty.
Thanks for that , his figures in Italy have not exactly made time stand still but considering our previous interest in him I thought it was worth looking at
Personally I like Gyokeres but perhaps that is because of my age and the way football was played when I was able to. run about .
However we do need another forward that leads the line because I see that we have Havertz who like Eze and Odegaard are more what I think of as inside forwards .
Morning Devil, all.
Shame re the kick off time, guess I’ll have to stay up..
Good Morning Rico and all.
I think its smart for Arsenal to move away if they feel that the valuation of Monga is being inflated. If Monga is worth 10M then how much does that make Dowman worth?? I have never seen Monga play so can only get glimpses of him from youtube.
Potter, I answered you with this yesterday……Vlahovic from what I see. That’s quite an interesting one. I will go one better…compare him and how he fares with VG14.
Vlahovic is a good forward but not elite in the terms VG14 is. Gyokeres gives Arteta more tactical options all around while Vlahovic is more of a box player. Vlahovic does no attack spaces like VG does but that is understandable in Italy. Vlahovic is dangerous but he needs to be supplied well and he doesnt use his physique like Gyokeres does. the latter’s pace and strength helps him a lot much more than the other.
Vlahovic is more of a classical no 9 but as I said earlier he needs excellent service all the time. he is excellent at attacking crosses and cut backs but is less involved in build ups. Vlahovic doesnt attack the channels that much while Vik does. The latter can carry the ball 40-50 yards using his body strength but DV does not. With regards left foot and heading, DV is better than Vik. but overall I would prefer VG14 to lead my attack.
Fifa has backed down. The game will kick off as originally scheduled at 1am our time. Both Mexico and England protested at the Fifa proposal as the change would be detrimental to the players preparation.
Infantino makes almost as many u turns as as Kier Starmer.
I’m hearing kick off is now 7pm
I’ll be at work anyway
I’m just think pre season Kev but then if we’re signing players involved in the WC, they won’t get much of a pre season anyway. At least Merino, Zubimendi and Raya aren’t getting many minutes, we’ll need them so Rice gets a proper rest. Plus MLS of course, he’ll be well rested.
I really hope the game is brought forward, we can all be put out of our misery sooner then. 😂
There’s a rumour going round that the kick off may be bought forward due to problems with an adverse weather forecast..No it’s not April the 1st.
‘evening all.
No way will I be sitting up to watch the Arsenal/Mexico game. I shall record it and get up about six in then morning to watch it taking care to not know the result.
If Monga was elite and by that I mean Dowman elite then I reckon we’d have done the deal, as it is he can join the long list of Cozier Duberry, Hutchison, Heaven, Obi Martin and Co who thought the grass was greener, maybe Monga’s decision will open up an opportunity for one of our current lads to take advantage of?
Rico, I’m not too worried about signings just yet, the priority is that I want to see a few of our existing stars extending their contracts first and securing their futures at Arsenal.
Testing
DSH, Monga could always come to that conclusion for himself. Doesn’t matter what City offer if he makes clear he wants to join us.
Haven’t understood how we walked away from the Monga deal. Think that we were too tight with the money and allowed that scurvy outfit of financial criminals to grab him.
Berta should have convinced Monga that we are a better fit, that cheaty115+ are going to be relegated for financial misdeads going back many years. Also that we are a LONDON team with a glorious history, compared to those illegal latecomers from the dismal provinces.
An opportunity lost, methinks!
Absolutely agree, we can afford both now. Arsenal I mean, not me. Lol
I thought so too Stuart, really good signing.
I hope so re City, it’s been far too long..
Nice place to visit Prague , the Christmas markets are worth a visit but you are there a bit early for that.
Thanks Rico. Great news about Georgia Stanaway. She is a class act and getting her on a free is a real coup. She’ll bed in seamlessly with the other England players in the squad.
As was mentioned in the previous post, surely we will hear soon about the charges against City, hopefully before the Monga deal goes through. According to a Leicester supporting mate the lad is something very special.
I am staying in a hotel next to Charles Bridge and was awoken by drunken Spain supporters in the early hours olaying their way past my window. I hope to hear English rather than Spanish voices doing the same in the early hours of Monday morning.
Afternoon Darren, all.
I feel that way too really, what is Monga, 16 years old? It’s a ridiculous price for a league one player. I doubt he’ll get a look in at City, he’ll probably go out on loan. Obi Martins? He’s just gone out on loan too I believe.
Smart arsenal not being held to ransom in this ridiculous market! Dowman is younger, a much bigger talent and has vision far beyond his years. Correct decision not to spend that stupid amount on monga, we have other super talent in our academy also, he is not needed. Overall, we missed out on nothing, city will ruin his carrer and he will be unheard of in a few years, anyone heard anything on the striker that went to united, cant even remember his name 🤣