Enjoying life with domestic football? It’s weird I think, it’s November and we should be watching our club carry on the fantastic run, not waiting for Sunday’s World Cup opener just to catch some competitive football. The television viewing figures will be interesting that’s for sure. I’m confident there’ll be Classic Coronation Street I can watch instead.
Talking of Qatar, as if there’s anything being talked about at the moment, well, other than Ronaldo, the country has decided to pressure FIFA to implement a ban on alcohol being consumed within the stadiums. Sponsors Budweiser have taken to Twitter with a simple, ‘well, this is awkward…’ comment. It’s awkward alright, if not embarrassing for not only Budweiser but FIFA too as something like this should have been sorted out a long time before now and certainly before fans bought their flights and match day tickets. Alcohol will be available as normal in licensed hotels and restaurants. £12 for a pint of beer? Dry November and December would be my thought if I was in Qatar but then pigs would fly before I travelled to such a country.
I understand the alcohol ban and always believe in when in Rome etc, not entirely of course in Qatar’s case but it just seems odd for this competition to be sponsored by a company which brews beer only to then ban it from being consumed at that same competition.
Anyway, when are our players on duty over the next week?
Monday, November 21
- England (Ramsdale, Saka, White) v Iran – 1pm
- USA (Turner) v Wales – 7pm
Tuesday, November 22
- France (Saliba) v Australia – 7pm
Wednesday, November 23
- Germany v Japan (Tomiyasu) – 1pm
Thursday, November 24
- Switzerland (Xhaka) v Cameroon – 10am
- Portugal v Ghana (Partey) – 4pm
- Brazil (Jesus, Martinelli) v Serbia – 7pm
Friday, November 25
- England (Ramsdale, Saka, White) v USA (Turner)
7pm
Saturday, November 26
- France (Saliba) v Denmark
4pm
So there is something positive and that’s all of the fixtures are at a good time of the day for football fans in Europe.
Ronaldo continues to dominate the back pages following his interview with Piers Morgan. Apparently he criticised the young players at Utd suggesting they don’t care as much as players did back in his day. Whether true or not, it’s not a nice thing to be saying publicly. What he also said was he hoped Arsenal win the League if Utd don’t. Utd’s chances are slim to none in my opinion, and even if by some miracle they do, I very much doubt he’ll be part of it.
Whilst he knocks the Utd youngsters, Aaron Ramsdale has done the opposite. Here’s what he told ESPN about “man mountain” William Saliba:
He glides across the pitch, he doesn’t seem to sprint. He gets his big arm across people. He’s got everything honestly and he’s showing it on the pitch. He’s keeping some of the best strikers in the league quiet at the minute and all the credit goes to him.
Saliba has been superb. A few mad moments perhaps but he’s 21 years old and in his first year of playing Premier League football. What he’ll be like in a few years time is something I hope we witness whilst playing in Arsenals colours because he has the making of a world class central defender. They are like gold dust these days. If things go as we probably all hope, Mikel Arteta has a back five which might just be as good as the back five Arsene Wenger inherited.
Lastly, Edu Gaspar has signed a new deal with Arsenal which sees him become the club’s first sporting director. The Brazilian’s promotion “sees him assume over-arching responsibility for all our academy activities, in addition to his existing responsibilities across men’s and women’s football.”
Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham said:
We are delighted that Edu is recommitting his future to the club that he so clearly loves, after making such a positive and critical contribution to our progress in his time with us so far.
Excellent, just need Saliba, Saka and Martinelli to follow suit.…
I really hope that Budweiser’s lawyers are sharpening their quills and Infantino and his corrupt organisation get taken to the cleaners.
As for the matches I have a kind of Meh about them. For the first time that I can remember since 1958 that I am not sure that I can be bothered.
I am meeting friends in my local on Friday so probably will see the second half as it’s being shown.
Same here, close to zero interest in this World Cup and that’s a first for me.
Qatar first they stop the Dutch sports reporter from videoing and threaten to smash his camera, now it’s time to upset the sponsor by saying no beer. What next ban the referees from blowing their whistles to loud.
Can’t wait for January bored of the world cup already.
I don’t feel sorry for any of the football fans going to Qatar and missing out on some match-day beers, serves you right for going there in the first place, the whole thing is a sham and should be ignored and that’s just what I intend to do.
I’m glad that Edu will now have some input in the Academy because maybe he can do something about our best young players getting tapped up and poached as Man Utd and Liverpool are trying to do with Patino, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly
Good morning all.
Take your minds off the WC, this evening Arsenal Women are playing Man. U. and England take on the All Blacks at Twickers.
Twelve quid for a pint of camel p**s? Oops sorry, Budweiser I meant to say, still there’s not that much difference 😉, the Qataris are doing the fans a favour by banning it from the stadiums.
I’ll watch the England games and maybe a few of the more interesting match ups but in all honesty I can’t see our lot getting past the quarter-finals.
Ah well time to catch another couple of hours sleep, laters.
Apparently, Budweiser has pulled out of its sponsorship…
Hi all.
Football without beer? That’s just not cricket old chap! 😉
The old back five could have entered strictly as a formation team and probably were a bit more synchronised than the present one but the way things are going at the moment I ain’t complaining.
Ditto, plus they have age on their side. Just have to keep them together.
Not a good half from Arsenal..
Not a good finish either!
Nope, disappointing all round…
It’s bin a funny old day, England and the All Blacks draw 25 25 and bloody Man U put an end to Arsenal Women’s unbeaten run with a winner in Fergie Time. Plus sa change plus sa meme chose. But we stay top of the league. Vive la goal difference! 😉
Morning Rico and all
Shame the girls lost but they must be proud to have around 40 thousand fans turn out.
I know it’s Arsenal but there are rumors that Everton are looking at Celtic coach Ange Postecoglou (his an Australian that me and Scott mentioned when Emery was around) to replace their current coach. This story may have legs as both Everton and Celtic are in Australia now for practice matches,
The coaching merry go round continues.
Good experience at the Arsenal women’s game on Saturday. Lots of families in attendance. Somewhere between 30,000-40,000 in the crowd.
Shame about the result. A lot of Arsenal players looked like they weren’t fully fit, but the defending for the two Man Utd goals at the end was poor.
If Arsenal follow the same formula they could play all the home games at the Emirates. £6 for juniors is a great deal. £35 adult ticket for the full treatment in Club Level.
It’s a great alternative to the overpriced men’s game, particularly with that circus going on in Qatar at the moment.
I would go again.
If I lived nearer Pete, I’d go to every home game. I watched the game on television and I agree, they didn’t look 100%.
New post up now