Injuries a plenty, Arsene Wenger and Bayern in town…

Afternoon all.

Arsene Wenger has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. So has Fergie but only one of the two needed many extra minutes to get a win. Only one of them managed to go an entire season undefeated but when it comes down to who was more successful, I guess Fergie edges it.

I am very grateful to have been selected for the Premier League Hall of Fame. We always wanted to give something special to the supporters and when you have players capable of remarkable things, the most important thing for me is the obligation of perfection. I’d like to be known as someone who loved Arsenal, who respected the values of the club and left it in a position where it can grow and become even bigger.

I’m sure we all have different views on Arsene Wenger’s managerial career at Arsenal but there’s no doubting the impact he had was huge. On football in general really and still is. His early Arsenal teams were simply fantastic to watch. Many of his signings were great, from Nicolas Anelka, right through to Alex Hleb, although there were many duffers signed during his time too. Picking a best and worst would be almost impossible to do.

We don’t have the big, strong and powerful players Arsene Wenger had back in glory days, but we do have an awful lot of talented players who are growing together as a team. Regardless of where we finish this season, I’d imagine the summer will see a few fresh faces join the club them. Mikel Arteta doesn’t seem the kind of guy who’ll settle for what he’s got, at least that’s the message he sends out during his press conferences. Even after a win, the team could have done better. Isn’t that true 99% of the time? Life is about learning new things and being better at what we do and sport is no different.

As good a squad Mikel Arteta has built, it’s lacking depth. That’s not a criticism by the way, far from it but I bet he’d say the same if asked. Assuming we finish in the top four, Champions League football is going to be a much tougher challenge than the Europa League and I can see Mikel Arteta fielding a much stronger team, even in the group fixtures. I know we bemoan Thursday/Sunday football but Saturday/Tuesday isn’t any different really but we’re going to need more than just Bukayo Saka for the right wing, more than just Thomas Partey and Jorginho as midfield options and certainly more options up front. If the Kroenke family want Arsenal to be a success story, they have to keep backing him in the transfer windows as much as they can.

Rumour has it, both Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney have picked up injuries whilst on international duty. I guess we’ll have to wait for Mikel Arteta’s press conference to find out just how serious these injuries are. Leeds Utd have five players missing through injury according to NN headlines.

Top of the 2023 BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour Power List

Arsenal’s Women take on Bayern Munich in the WCL. They trail 1-0 from the first leg but were unlucky. 20,000 home fans at The Emirates will hopefully see them through to victory. The match is live on Arsenal.com.

Catch up in the comments.

 

 

 

17 thoughts on “Injuries a plenty, Arsene Wenger and Bayern in town…

  1. Wavy says:

    Got there eventually!
    What a result and all achieved without their two best players, for most of the season. What a squad what a team😀

    As good as the men just another gender.

    Arsenal football club and all their supporters can be very very proud. I know I am.

  2. Adam says:

    Hi Rico. Yes, I watched it on YouTube. We should have been a couple clear I thought. The officiating was horrible again. But well done to them in what looked like an energy-sapping evening.

  3. Cicero says:

    A great result for The Arsenal Women Maanum’s goal was almost a replica of Saka”s effort on Saturday.

    It’s not just The Premiership that has crap referees, tonight’s one was up there with the worst. Or should that be down with the worst? 😉

  4. Aussie Geoff says:

    According to a several newspaper report someone is trying to sell a 42 pound ticket for our last match, online for 53 thousand pounds. I hope he can’t find a buyer.

  5. Aussie Geoff says:

    We are being spoilt this season, with our men on top and our ladies pushing hard for the top spot,

  6. Aussie Geoff says:

    Morning Rico and all, Glad for Wenger he deserves it and so does Fergie, 2 great managers of their time.

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