Morning guys.
Thursday night football brought the worst start to this international break with the news that Kai Havertz has a hamstring strain and it’s to the same leg as last years. His injury hasn’t been confirmed by Arsenal yet but whatever it might be, I hope it’s not one which will keep him out for months again. Regardless of whether you or I think he’s our best option up front, Mikel Arteta clearly does so he’s going to be immensely disappointed.
My fingers and toes will be crossed, hoping that neither Viktor Gyokeres or Mikel Merino pick up any kind of injury over the next couple of weeks otherwise we really are going to struggle up front.
I still find it odd that our highest goal scorer of last season has been given limited minutes so far but that might have to soon change. Unless of course, Arteta opts for his namesake up front instead which would in my opinion, be a strange move.
In other fixtures, on Thursday, Jurrien Timber didn’t take any part in the Netherlands game. His brother Quinten did though and in case you didn’t know, it was he who caught Havertz with a high boot before our forward left the pitch. Whether the two were connected I’ve no idea. Martin Odegaard put in a fine performance for Norway, picking up a couple of assists and Christos Tzolis scored for Greece. Summer signing James Scanlon played 45 minutes for Gibraltar the night before.
Yesterday, Viktor Gyokeres, Bruno Guimaraes and Riccardo Calafiori were in action. Gabriel was an unused substitute for Brazil. Viktor got his name on the scoresheet.
Tonight it’s Spain v England with seven Arsenal players potentially involved. Bukayo Saka, Ebe Eze, Ezri Konsa and Myles Lewis-Skelly on one side, Mikel Merino, David Raya and Martin Zubimendi on the other. It’s not a friendly, but I hope it’s played like one.
The biggest news to come out of English football yesterday though was that Man City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the FA. As expected, City is appealing the decisions made. One would like to think that considering the amount of time this case has been mulled over, certainly post hearing, any appeal would be futile. The news kick started guessing about what City’s punishment might be but I just hope they get the book thrown at them. Just as I hope the clubs owners are booted out of football in England because quite clearly, they and their money have been behind all which has gone on. They clearly should not be considered fit and proper owners.
This will no doubt rumble on for a while as the appeal process takes place but hopefully, not for too long.
Catch up later.
Maybe we did Kev but the brown envelope sealed the deal.
Rico, I think if we’d thought Monga was a sure fire thing we would have matched City’s offer
Even considering all the players’ they’ve signed, banning them for 5 years is a long time, things change, players get injured, they lose form, it means their competitors have free hand in signing players they cannot.
I wonder if a brown envelope made sure Monga signed for City rather than us. After all, he was meant to be joining Arsenal all summer.
Afternoon Cicero, Geoff.
HH has been playing up Cicero, then it crashed yesterday.
I read the appeal process must be concluded within 12 weeks and there is little to no chance of City being successful. Makes sense really bearing in mind how long this case has gone on for.
114 of 115 that should read.
Potter with 149 charges to be appealed, they’ll all be reaching retirement age by the time the whole process is completed.
Anticipating a transfer ban with a few other bits of their punishment ?
PlayerAge Signed From Reported Fee Bouaddi18Lille£81.4m – £86mMathys Detourbet 19 Troyes €25m (~£21m)Sverre Halseth Nypan 19 Rosenborg£12.5m – £15m Jeremy Monga 17 Leicester City £10m – £12.5m Pierce Charles 20 Sheffield Wednesday£3m Cavan Sullivan 16 Philadelphia Union Undisclosed (Structured deal) Mishel Nduka 16 Arsenal Free / Academy Compensation .
Stacking up for the future , All in the last 6 months
Morning Rico and all,
Limey, I would pick Gyokeres, I still don’t get why Arteta has cast him aside, hopefully he gets a chance and takes full advantage of it,
Of course Potter,I saw it on twitter anyway,if the appeal comes through(cough) we might have to re think that.
Good morning Rico,
I hope this comment gets through, none of mine have since Thursday.
Man guilty !,…….. I like that , may I use it elsewhere.?
Gyokeres or Merino? Gyokeres for me,we have an insane schedule coming up anyway so both will probably get a chance.
There was a story recently that Man Guilty have spent 100s of millions on lawyers to delay this process,we can expect them to double down on that now.
The Leeds game is only 2 weeks away,right now that seems a long way off…
Maybe someone in France could have a close look in the PSG model?
I can’t get excited about the 114 guilty charges because City will throw a shed load of legal cash at this verdict, I think that the authorities should go in massive with its penalties because the appeals will get them reduced so go in OTT and you’ll end up with close to the penalty you actually wanted.
After the appeals shenanigans, I’d like to finally see a transfer ban covering the next 10 windows so basically the next 5 years and a 150 points deduction spread over the next 5 years so 5 years from 2027/28 where City start 30 points in arrears therefore hampering European qualification without actually banning them from Europe.
They could still qualify through winning the FA and League Cups but not the Champions League.
Then Etihad and the fit and proper ownership rules and regulations, could they be forced out and not to another family member or friend?
Off to sunny Falmouth so catch up later..
I’ve corrected it now, what a chump I am. 😜
Morning Kev, 4 weeks out apparently which might mean 4 months so yes, hold that contract. Lol
Morning Rico, the same hamstring is a bit of a worry, maybe that new contract should be put on ice?
Has Zubimendi changed his name ? Anything to get a game ? ( Joke )
As usual the most dangerous time for us is international breaks
I finally spotted it, thanks. Autofill is too used to following Martin with Odegaard.
What about him?
Martin Odegaard ❓❓❓❓❓