Morning all.
With the international break around the corner, much speculation surrounds Gareth Southgate’s squad selection. Whilst Jordan Pickford’s Everton are going through a bad patch, Aaron Ramsdale has been outstanding in goal for Arsenal. Harry Maguire has been heavily criticised in the media of late and John Stones seems to have fallen out of favour at Man City, again whereas Ben White has been playing regularly and doing rather well. Finally, Emile Smith Rowe has been outstanding for Arsenal and would add something special to the England team.
I always hope that none of Arsenal’s players are called up for international duty but that’s for selfish reasons. For footballers, or any sportsperson for that matter, it’s their dream come true when their respective countries come calling.
In some ways though, an international manager goes through something very similar to a club manager because when he picks the under 21 players for the senior team he weakens the squad from which they’ve come from. In England’s case, the under 21’s who are themselves hoping to qualify for the Euros in 2023. England face the Czech Republic on Thursday in a qualifying match but their second fixture is a friendly.
However, to see four Arsenal players turn out for the England senior team would be pretty special wouldn’t it?
If NewsNow headlines are to be believed, Kieran Tierney might be fit for the weekends game against Watford. What a dilemma Mikel Arteta has if true because does he stick with Nuno Tavares or bring the Scotsman straight back into the team? I’ve really enjoyed watching our young left back play in this team, he’s busy, exciting to watch and he just doesn’t give up. I think if I was Mikel I’d be tempted to leave Tierney out of the team so he stays at the club during the international break and concentrates on getting fully fit. Easy for me to say but not so easy for Mikel Arteta to do as Tierney will be desperate to play for Scotland I’m sure. However, there was no sign of him in the training photos on Arsenal’s official website.
In other news, Antonio Conte takes charge of Toots training from today so it’ll be interesting to see how his ‘rule with a strong arm’ tactics go down with the players. At Chelsea, he breezed in, won the League and then got the sack. Up in Newcastle, their hunt for a new manager goes on as Unai Emery said thanks but no thanks. Just goes to show that money doesn’t always get a club what it wants. Still, there’s always Tony Pulis to turn to.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico the Tierney question is easily answered, he’s been out injured for a couple of weeks so match fitness is a problem. Stick with Tavares for the Watford game and let Tierney go with Scotland on the understanding that he gets only limited playing time which will help is overall fitness.
Morning Rico , You do manage to keep churning them out ,
I’m with you on the international call ups and just wonder if “”A Leetle niiggle “” can’t be found here and there.
Having said that our first game back from the international circus is away to Liverpool and they will be just as affected by missing players as we are if not more. Then we play rudderless Newcastle and then it’s downhill to Christmas .
Morning Rico and all
Rico please stop saying how good our players are, I’m Selfish and want to keep them all for our team this season. England can have them maybe next year
Morning Potter, Geoff, Cicero and all.
It gets harder Potter. I’d love all our players to have a little niggle which kept them at the club for the next two weeks.
If he’s fit Cicero, I’m sure Scotland will play him, they won’t care about Arsenal I’m sure.
Ha ha Geoff.
Talking of Liverpool, can any league team beat them this season I wonder.
I’m conflicted when it comes to international call-ups for our players. On the one hand it’s good for the player’s ego and a good performance can only enhance their reputation (and value), although in the case of Martinelli it hasn’t worked as far call-ups for our starting eleven is concerned, Mikel take note please.
On the other hand the risk of injuries and the fatigue of long distance travel are always a concern.
That’s how I feel too. As for Martinelli, he must love the international break.
Tony Pulis at Newcastle would be bloody fantastic! Can you imagine the scenes? They “get their club back” in the form of the bloodthirsty Saudi monarch, then the only manager they can get is Tony Pulis and they are forced to endure the humiliation of relegation and being the richest club in the Championship.
Sure, they’d be a shoo-in for immediate promotion, but it would be hilarious to watch just the same. Plus, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when they go to tell Prince Bone Saw that his sportswashing project is languishing in the lower division of English football and therefore not getting the visibility he expected. That messenger would have to check that they’re not standing on plastic.
MrB, sadly, I can’t see it happening.
Tierney is a good player however if he comes back then gets injured again, is it time to sell him before he spends more time out injured than he does playing
Geoff, Tierney has a long history of injuries from long before we signed him, he arrived carrying an injury and I was surprised that he passed his medical. Since then he has frequently been unavailable for one reason or another, I believe the Tavares signing was a recognition of Tierney’s fragility.
I do think he has a future at Arsenal but will need careful management of his fitness issues.
Plus, he’s not long signed a new deal. I don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon.
Eddie Howe is the latest candidate for the vacant position at Newcastle, come the end of the season his experience of being relegated will be of vital importance to his new employers. 😉
Howe’way the lads.
Morning all
New post up now