Afternoon guys.
No more talk about “them” from me in the morning, or afternoon for that matter.
International football is coming to a close for this period and I for one am relieved. We’ve already picked up two injuries with both Kai Havertz and Christos Tzolis suffering hamstring problems according to reports which is not good news at all.
Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres has scored three goals in three games for Sweden and was perhaps harshly denied another just a couple of days ago. With Havertz likely to be ruled out for our match against Leeds on Saturday, I hope Mikel Arteta can give Gyokeres a big hug and tell him just how much he’s loved. Ok, needed, very much needed. Noni Madueke and/or Ebe Eze will be needed too, I mean from the start rather than from the bench. Injuries to one opens the door for another and without sounding too harsh, Both need a better season than their last, certainly a more positive and consistent one.
Eze came off the bench for England last night but by all accounts, didn’t do an awful lot during his 20 minutes on the pitch other than to miss a goal scoring opportunity although if he had have scored, he was offside. Bukayo Saka played the full match annoyingly but scored twice in England’s 7-0 thrashing of Croatia. Ezri Konsa also played the entire game so when Tuesday’s fixture against the Czech Republic comes around, I hope Tuchel thinks about giving them a break. Myles Lewis-Skelly also came off the bench late in the match. There was a rare start for David Raya yesterday as Spain defeated the Czech Republic 3-1. Both Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino were introduced in the second half with the latter scoring Spains third goal. Bruno Guimaraes and Gabriel Magalhaes Were second half substitutes in their final friendly of this break so now they’ll be heading back to north London.
Martin Odegaard is likely to be in action later today as Norway take on Portugal but then he too will be on his way back to Arsenal.
Monday, October 5th:
Liechtenstein v Gibraltar (Scanlon) | 7.45pm | Friendly
Italy (Calafiori) v Turkey| 7.45pm | Nations League | Bologna
Northern Ireland (O’Neill) v Georgia | 7.45pm | Nations League | Belfast
Romania v Sweden (Gyokeres) | 7.45pm | Nations League | Bucharest
Tuesday, October 6th:
England (Konsa, Saka, Eze, Lewis-Skelly) v Czech Republic | 7.45pm | Nations League | Wembley
Croatia v Spain (Zubimendi, Raya, Merino) | 7.45pm | Nations League | Split
Whilst many of the players have been away, others have been working hard back at London Colney. Piero Hincapie, Ben White, Noni Madueke and Marli Salmon can all be seen in the training video on Arsenal.com and all look fit and healthy too. Theo Julienne and Elijah Upson were involved in the training session before younger players joined in later. They were Igor Tyjon, Jaden Dixon, Demiane Agustien, Elyon Mbala, Charlie Purdy, Archie Stevens, Bowen Phillips, Maalik Hashi, Evan Mooney, Teshaun Murisa and Brayden Clarke. Schoolboys Luis Munoz and Mikael Bonaventure Yetna have also been involved in first team training this week. (Jeorge Bird)
I’ve not read anything about Declan Rice since he withdrew from the England camp. Nor Jurrien Timber but hopefully this is case no news is good news. I’m sure Mikel Arteta will update us on injuries later in the week.
Today sees the Arsenal women take on Man City at The Etihad. Our players need a win, Renee Slegers needs a win too because there’s a bit of noise in the back pages about whether or not her job is on the line. A win in Manchester would help stop such chitter chatter.
Catch up in the comments.
Does Arsenal women’s team play rarely, or do they lose every game due to “bad luck”?
Agree Stuart, Mikel is bound to be asked about things. As might all PL club managers but obviously for Arteta, he was there.
I thought the women were going to win. Gutted..
Finished 4 – 2. 😒
Thanks for the post, Rico.
I think this is the best International Window I can remember. Normally they are to be endured, but the enjoyment from watching England, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands has been abundant, and even heightened by the tsunami engulfing City.
England have been exceptional, Spain metronomically beautiful, our Arsenal representatives have fared well tho’ I thought our David had an very untypical off day between the sticks.
The fall out from the Cityruption is immense with repercussions far beyond the football world. I’m hoping dearly that our Mikel doesn’t get caught up in it. His first presser before the Leeds match will likely see the question of whether he had more than one contract at City raised. I imagine Arsenals lawyers are all over it and trust he gets the right advice and, more importantly gets it right. This searchlight is going to go deep.
One all at half time.
Potter, Arsenal paid TfL money to upgrade Holloway Road station and we’re still waiting.
Potter, my Dad’s brother was in the army when they pulled out of Palestine after some quite outrageous terrorism from both Jews and Arabs, I think it was 1947’ish.
Anyway the Royal Navy turned all its guns on Haifa and told the natives if there’s one shot fired as the army pulled out that they’d flatten Haifa. No shots were fired.
That’s what our military leaders had a backbone…
Quiet times.. lol