Morning all.
Arsenal’s Gabriel has been called up for the Brazil national team who have two fixtures during this next fortnight. His debut could come against Colombia on November 11th or Argentina on November 16th. Emile Smith Rowe has also been added to the England squad after one or two others who’d been selected had dropped out through ‘injury’.
Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale are already in the senior England squad of course. Young Albert Sambi Lokonga returns to the Belgium squad, Takehiro Tomiyasu will be away with Japan and Martin Odegaard with Norway. Kieran Tierney, despite only just returning from injury, will be with Scotland. Daniel Ballard has joined up with the Northern Ireland squad. Incredible really as all are 23 years old or younger. Karl Hein and Omar Rekik, both just 19 years old, are already regulars for Estonia and Tunisia respectively.
The list doesn’t stop there though as a few more mature Arsenal players will be away during the next two weeks. Bernd Leno, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Sean Kolasinac and Mo Elneny, whilst both Nuno Tavares will be on duty for Portugal and Flo Balogun England in the under 21’s.
I think I’m right in saying that the second of the two international fixtures take place on the Tuesday of next week which should mean everyone will be back by Wednesday. Even Takehiro Tomiyasu as Japan kick off at 4pm UK time, a week today. Two full days of preparation for the trip to Anfield.
I know I’ve missed out Thomas Partey but that’s because I’ve no idea if he’s fit or not.
Even though so many players are leaving the club during this break, there are still plenty left for Mikel Arteta to work with. Plus, there’s the academy players to add into the training sessions. Some of whom Mikel Arteta might need to turn to in the New Year.
Talking of which, Granit Xhaka might just be back sooner than we think as he’s posted photos of himself back in action. He’s been running with one of the Arsenal coaches which is good news. There’s a long way for him to go yet but at least he’s out there on the training ground strengthening up his legs. Regardless of what you and I might think about his abilities, I think he still remains a key player in Mikel Arteta’s mind. But, having seen AMN put in such a strong performance against a bullish Watford team at the weekend, his position in the midfield pecking order might just be on the rise. I’m glad to see him concentrating of Arsenal, concentrating on his performance too because his Arsenal career depends on him really. Work hard and he’ll get the extra minutes he craves I’m sure, especially as Mo Elneny seems to be on his way to Turkey in the January transfer window. Or at least that’s what NN headlines would have us believe.
Reality is, none of us know what Arsenal will be doing in the winter transfer window but I don’t think the club will stand still. Not anymore. Things are improving but the squad still needs trimming on one hand, yet adding to in the other, if that makes sense. Whether that can be done in the New Year or the summer, I’ve no idea, but the rebuild is definitely heading in the right direction.
See you in the comments.
It’s a double edged sword .
On one hand I am pleased for any of our players that get called up for their country . Afterall it’s the pinnacle of their careers. They want to progress and they want to play at the top tournaments , they want to be the best they can .
However from the clubs point of view , players are an asset and you have to hope that they will be treated with the same level of care that you afford them as you want them on the pitch performing for you.. Not to mention the disruption to their own match preparations mid season with potential injury and burn out .
Chances are that in ESR’s case the senior trip may well be less taxing than the one he would have had with the under 21’s . For the latter he would have played the full 180 minutes of two games whereas with the seniors most likely he will play a half of that or maybe less.
As I said there are pros and cons . As supporters all we can hope for is that they come back safely , enjoy their experience and are fit and well for their next match with us.
Morning Rico and All
Yes I got out of the wrong side of bed as I hate the international matches, there are far to many of them.
Morning Geoff, Potter, all.
I feel the same. Thrilled for all our younger players who are being selected for their country but fear they’ll be burned out or pick up injuries. But I suppose they could do that in training too.
ESR must be feeling so proud.
Good morning all.
How long is it since there were three Arsenal players selected for the senior England squad?
The call up for ESR added to those of Ramsdale and Saka are testament to Arteta’s belief in promoting young players to the first team squad, the fact that we have plenty of England qualified players in the academy finally puts paid to the scandalous time when Wenger started a team without a single English player in it.
White should be in there too really.
It does make me wonder though, we’re our previous academy simply not good enough or just not coached as well as ESR, Saka etc were/are now? Freddie certainly played a huge part in the careers of the players we’re seeing now but what about before then.
Ben White would definitely be a better prospect for England than Maguire whose fitness is in serious doubt and his confidence rock bottom after the recent humiliations suffered by him and his club.
Absolutely agree, I’ve always thought he was overrated. I think Rob Holding would be a better option for England than Maguire.
Afternoon all. Never mind Maguire, you guys are forgetting that wonderful chap Mings who is ahead of Ben in the order of selection 😒😀
A couple of days ago Southgate was talking out “un-dropable” England players he mentioned Kane and Maguire, amongst others, such comments bring into question his ability to recognise when a player is beyond his sell by date.
Talking about !!!! Not “out”.
I think we all know exactly what ‘sort’ of player Mings is, having seen him recently.
Ghastly, that’s Mings.
Rico. He is.
Southgate’s selections have always been suspect but no more than previous managers . He picks from a fear of not losing which takes him so far but will never take him to success.His final selection against Italy was defensive and apart from Saka waited until extra time to introduce Grealish and Rashford and Sancho only to take. Penalties.
Why would anyone pay 90 million for Maguire? Rico, Holding is way better than Maguire and Mings. It’s a shame that he’s not getting a chance to play regularly for the Arsenal, but with Gabriel and White forming such a solid partnership, I guess he has to wait. I have followed Holding since he was at Bolton very good defender. But our manager wants to play out of the back first rather than defend first and that doesn’t help him.
Obi All players are only worth what someone is willing to pay,
we paid something like £72 million for Pepe is he worth it and remember Emery didn’t want him.
How much did we pay for our keeper Ramsdale, remember everyone laughed at Arsenal for buying him, the guy was called any think from hopeless to a relegation specialist now he has joined us he is like a totally different player.
Good Morning All, Geoff you are right, many teams do overpay, that’s my point; however, Maguire’s was ridiculous. A CB with no pace, questionable strength, gives the ball away often and often injured, just solid in the air. With Pepe at least he had the stats to backup his price tag (22 goals, 11 assists in 38 games) and the deal was structured in a way that it was Arsenal friendly, although 72 million is 72 million. IMHO, Pepe’s problem is not skills related, as Maguire’s, it is more of a mental problem. In Pepe’s case, his mind doesn’t work quickly to match with his skills set for the EPL game so he slows down everything and that can be fixed. He needs to realize he’s no longer in France.
Obi I recon Pepe will come good once Arteta gets his side set and sticks to the same team, saying that Arteta seems to be more relaxed on the side line during the match which I believe is the reason why the players are now starting to relax and play better football
Potter, perhaps a sweeping statement here but doesn’t that tend to be the mindset of English managers? Not helped of course by the gutter that is the press who are as fickle as they come. They love to build England up but at the same time they’re probably sharpening their pencils ready to knock them down again.
That’s what Man Utd do though Obi and at the time I guess it was no different to White this summer. If a club really wants a player they have to pay what the selling club demand.
If and I suppose it’s still a big if, Saliba returns to the club next summer, Holding’s opportunities might lessen, especially if we don’t return to European football next season.
Morning to you both and all by the way.
I think Pepe will be sold this summer.
Pepe might well go but for nothing like £72 million and then the scribes will be leading the criticism of Edu and Arteta and the clubs negotiating skills.
I was taught years ago as a junior salesman that sometimes you have to cut your losses , invest and start again and if that’s the decision the club makes so be it.
Saliba age 20 is making all the right noises about getting his chance at Arsenal but I think it’s a lottery as to which defensive player goes to accommodate him and Holding and Chambers both 26 have the advantage of being English . I would think that Mari Kolasinac both 28 years old and Soares 30 might be under pressure especially if Ballard 22 gets the nod as well.
I think the club would take the financial hit Potter, as they did with Ozil. Hopefully fans will remember that neither Edu or Arteta had anything to do with Pepe coming to Arsenal and if he is sold for someone far more effective in that role, or an academy player steps up, I can’t see many complaints.
After all, Pepe is always being criticised on the internet..
New post up now