Morning all.
The international break couldn’t have come at a better time, something I’ve often read when Arsenal have had a negative result before many players go off to represent their respective countries. It’s not a sentiment I necessarily agree with though because after Saturday’s awful showing, I think it would be better if Arsenal players and coaching staff were together and working out what went so horribly wrong and how to ensure it doesn’t happen again any time soon. This wasn’t just one or two players having an off day, it was worse. Mikel Arteta had an off day too because he sat and watched it for over an hour.
Brighton was Arsenal’s first really big test this season and sadly, that test was failed with a capital F!
But, it’s one defeat, no more, no less and as much as we all might be cheesed off, for our own sanity, it’s best to forget it. Unless of course it becomes the norm rather than the exception. I see no reason why it should be. Personally, I think Arsenal cocked up in the summer transfer window and that’s not because of Saturday but because of not replacing Gabriel Martinelli. Not replacing the pace he possesses.
Again though, it is what it is and like us, Arteta has to deal with it.
But going back to the international break, Arsenal have a large number of players who be away:
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Ebe Eze, Ezri Konsa and Myles Lewis-Skelly – England
David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi – Spain
Gabriel and Bruno Guimarães – Brazil
Martin Odegaard – Norway
Viktor Gyokeres – Sweden
Christos Tzolis – Greece
Kai Havertz – Germany
Jurrien Timber – Netherlands
Riccardo Calafiori- Italy
Ceadach O’Neill – Northern Ireland
Max Dowman, Ifeoluwa Ibrahim and Marli Salmon are on duty for the England under 19’s and 18’s. Other younger Arsenal players are away with their respective countries too but I’ve only listed those who have been involved with the first team this season.
The next three weeks will certainly give Ben White, Piero Hincapie and William Saliba more recovery time and hopefully we’ll see two of them return after the break, leaving just Saliba on the injury list.
The Sweden fixtures are the ones I’m hoping to watch over the next couple of weeks because I’m interested in seeing how our striker plays. What would benefit him, his country and Arsenal is that he gets his mojo back because Arsenal need him back and firing. Oh, and playing!
Four international fixtures take place within an 11/12 day period for European countries which is ridiculous in my opinion. I get the reasoning behind it but I do think it’s too much for the players, especially after a summer World Cup. Brazil only have three fixtures and all are friendlies.
One can only hope that the managers use their common sense when it comes to rotation of players.
I’m away on holiday this week so posts will be limited.
Catch up later.
The Evening Standard is reporting the up 5 players have pulled out of the England squad, one of those being Declan Rice.
Apparently Brazil are flying halfway around the world for their matches, not good, for the rest of our players maybe hearing different voices coaching them will be beneficial and maybe Arteta and our coaches need a break as well because 4 games in 10 days is quite intense.
Arsenal almost equalled a record 8 wins winning streak from the start of a season last achieved in 1903, 123 years ago, Chapman, Graham, Wenger, Whittaker, Mee, did any of them ever come close to that?
Rico, you’ve well earned your holiday, enjoy the South of France and come home safe… 🙂
Brighton was our first really big test???
What, bigger than Sunderland (a), Aston Villa (a), Chelsea (h), not sure I agree with those sentiments Rico, we took 6 points off of them last season.
When we lose we magnify the result and when we win we lessen the result, it’s an emotional thing, it’s why we remember our worst defeats in cup finals more than our victories.
Anyway Arteta will be stewing on that game at the Amex for the next three weeks and I reckon that we’ll go on a long unbeaten run when we reconvene next month…
Morning Rico and all.
I still not sure Arteta will pick Gyokeres even if he kick 3 goals every international match, it seems to me that Arteta loves Havertz more.
Enjoy your holiday Rico, you deserve it
Good morning Rico.
The break will give players and staff time to take a deep breath and think rationally about their poor performance against Brighton.
Arteta will need the time to get the seagull shit out of his hair and his mind.
Bon voyage Rico, have a great time.