Morning all.
England take on Iceland tonight at Wembley. A dead rubber I think after Gareth Southgate’s team were defeated by Belgium in their last match. I’m not even sure what this Nations League is all about and to quite honest, I’m not that interested either. England are only worth watching when one of our guys are playing which in Saka and AMN, might be tonight although I hope they don’t, especially Saka. Tonight though should give Arsenal fans the chance of seeing Alex Rúnarsson in action which is a rarity since his arrival at the club.
Quite nice to see both cups Arsenal have recently won and hopefully as the years go by, Mikel Arteta and his players will win more and start competing for the big one in England. The Premier League title although we’re a long way from that right now. I did think Liverpool would run away with the title again this season but as things look now, it could be any one of the teams in the top half of the table who end up lifting the big trophy.
Arsenal are six points off the top spot, level on points with Man City, two ahead of Man Utd which just goes to show what a weird season this is so far. We’ve already played City, Liverpool and Utd away from home too which can only be a good thing.
If Mikel Arteta can get a response from his players in the next game, Arsenal might suddenly click and start playing better football. More high energy with quicker passing between the team.
It seems Willian has breached the Covid restrictions within the last week by travelling outside of England. He’ll need a negative Covid test before he’s given the all clear to play on Sunday. One might be tempted to change that sentence because he’s looking like a disaster signing right now. An expensive one at that. Pepe too, yet we know they can do better. Mikel Arteta has to find a way to get them playing better. I’ve not seen anything about Partey in relation to his injury. The thought of going to Leeds with Xhaka back in midfield is concerning, or is that unfair? After all, he was in midfield when Arsenal won both the FA and Charity Shield..
See you in the comments guys.
Rico, I don’t know if there’s anything wrong with Pepe but it depends on what the Ivory Coast have been up to and where they’ve been playing? I’m just saying that Nelson has remained in the Arsenal bubble and should be ready to play whatever the circumstances.
He won’t let us down.
You gout my hopes up then Kev.
Absolutely agree re Nelson, perhaps Willock too with Elneny out and Partey a doubt.
Arteta has had a long time to think about the Leeds game Rico, lets hope that he hasn’t overthought it…
No news about the 5 subs yet which is disappointing, interesting to see a spike in footballer Covid cases during this inter lull, well done FIFA and UEFA, a right pair of super spreaders.
I REALLY hope we do get to see Runar in action, makes the game more interesting for us all if he plays. Otherwise I just hope neither Saka ,AMN or Runar get injured.
Kolasinac has Covid apparently .
Kev, English Football League clubs will be allowed to use five substitutes per game for the rest of the season. Now that’s going to be very odd if Prem clubs cant!
Andrew, the majority of people running football are really the last people you’d want to run anything, but yeah, the Football League just makes those luddites in the Prem look so stupid.
Afternoon Rico and All
Easy said than done regards playing youngsters at the top can’t see any of the top teams blooding many at the moment,if anything we are the only club if you look at the cup games,
Micky is under pressure after 4 premier league games lost,whenever I’ve seen clubs bring in the youngsters it normally means last throw of the dice,for arguments sake Brady,Stapleton and O’Leary,then of coarse the 3 Degrees.Watched Eddy play last night and he done great,if Hackneygazette was playing in that game you would see the deference in strength for example,I’m sure Micky sees this in training and has to go by what he sees.
We’ve all got our first eleven,be amazed if we all agreed at this stage selection wise,I want him to succeed and willing to give him a chance to get it right,but it’s no cakewalk.
I hope so too Kev, it almost like Mikel tries too hard and overthinks how to negate the opponents instead of playing our own game.
That’s disappointing re Kolasinac because of Europa.
The league aired PPV fixtures cheaper too, £9.99 I think.
Afternoon Fred.
Southgate is a hypocrite, he was talking today about player burn out, now he has picked Saka to start in his second game in the interlull plus coming on as a 38th minute sub in the other one.
Practice what you preach should be his watchword.
Cicero,
Saka has played 50 games since the start of last season,
and they are kicking lumps out of him.
He will be burnt out by xmas
Got the full match too , whilst he made 5 substitutes for Kane , Grealish,Mount.
Wonder if Arteta kicked his cat once
What he has done tonight is to tie him down to England
Nigera were trying to get him to play for them,butnow he has played four games for England he can only play for us..
I honestly think he should not play against Leeds he deserves abreak.
Could have subbed him though . 3 games in a week not good for one so young . Just ask Jack Wilshere
Rick, I’d have Saka on the bench vs Leeds, he just needs a breather, we don’t want him Wilshere’d…
So is that right, you have to play four senior games?
I thought it was one competitive game and that’s it, must have changed?
Anyway, he’s ours now, you got Iwobi, fair is fair…
New post up now