Morning all.
Eddie Nketiah’s England career kicked off last night in a friendly against Australia. I didn’t watch it but looking at the Sky Sports player ratings, he didnt impress much in his 17 minutes on the pitch. By the sounds of it, England were shocking. Jordan Henderson was booed off apparently as England fans made clear what they thought about his summer move to Saudi. Politics/religion and sport shouldn’t mix really but as we know, they do. A World Cup held in Qatar proved that, overseas ownership of clubs too. It’s not going away.
So we’re half way through another boring international break in football and as far as I’ve read, no injuries have been picked up. May that remain the case throughout next week.
The transfer gossip pages are already in full swing, despite it only being October. Newcastle Utd are interested in signing Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale could leave after losing his place in the first team and Arsenal will go for Ivan Toney in January. The only one in there which makes some kind of sense is Ivan Toney because Arsenal need a striker. Whether a player who hasn’t played a competitive game since the beginning of the season is the answer I don’t know. I didn’t think Kai Havertz was right for Arsenal but it’s not my/our opinion which matters. Honestly, I’m far from convinced the Spaniard thinks we need an out and out striker because in his four years at Arsenal, he’s not signed one yet. It’s the only position he’s not addressed. Yes, he signed Gabriel Jesus but sticking him in a kit with the number 9 on his back, hasn’t turned him into a clinical finisher has it? According to FootyStats, both Jesus and Eddie Nketiah average a goal every two games. Haaland averages a goal a game which over a ten month month season makes a huge difference, especially when other players are chipping in with goals too. Arsenal in my opinion, need their own version of Haaland as far as goals per game goes.
Defensively, Arsenal are good. At times, excellent, like shown against Man City and there’s no reason that should change, as long as everyone stays fit. Having Thomas Partey back fit again only makes the team/squad stronger, as does a fully fit Takehiro Tomiyasu. That’s not always been the case and it’s hurt us in the past. But, we can defend as well as we like all season but if we don’t score the goals, we won’t win games. Well, not enough to win the League. Last season, our midfield and wide players were scoring goals but I don’t think they’ve got going yet, not really.
Anyway, if it was up to you, which striker would you like to see Arsenal sign in January?
Catch up in the comments.
Although I believe that Toney ticks boxes on the pitch I am not sure about off of it . Watkins is linked but to my mind he is just a better Eddie and I think ww need the more physical player .
It may be that there is aYoung version of Mitrović lurking around in in Europe or South America . I don’t see anybody apart from Toney as being the answer in Premier League football and at the Back of my mind I can’t see Arteta going for him I think it’s all newspaper two and two making five
I don’t think we’ll go for Toney either, he doesn’t really fit the MA profile. The answer imo is a 23/24 year old version of Giroud. If not, stick Havertz in the middle and keep our fingers and toes crossed. Lol
I hope we don’t go for Toney, he been out of the game for a while and is he really ready to walk straight into the starting lineup, he may have been training hard behind the scenes but that doesn’t make you match ready, Also is it worth taking the chance that he will not stuff up again.
Spot on about Jesus – a good player,but never going to be a prolific scorer.I read that in his last season at City he scored 8 league goals,and 4 of those were in one game.
Toney is probably the best available,in England anyway.I can’t see it happening,reports say Arsenal would need to raise money first, which would mean selling someone we’d rather keep.
Roll on the Chelsea game.
I doubt he’ll make another bet until his days of playing football are done Geoff.
G’day Rico and all.
I watched the whole of last night’s game, by the end I was convinced that we don’t have a squad of sufficient depth to compete for a place in the final. Of those who played, in the one nil bore. none stand a hope in hell of starting in any competitive game for the foreseeable future. The worst of a bad bunch was Grealish closely followed by Madison. The former has been credited with an assist for Watkins goal, in fact it was selfish attempt to score from an almost impossible angle and was heading for the touch line when the Villa striker got his boot t it.
Guardiola has gone for the big centre forward, I expect Arteta must at least be thinking of following suit, but Toney? No thanks.
I’d rather we didn’t sell to buy too Limey, certainly not at this stage of the season. Or in January to be more precise. Especially if that player is ESR.
Afternoon Cicero. I once thought Toney would be ideal but now I’m not so sure. There must be a striker out there who can add something more to this teams goals. I’m hoping Havertz will eventually get going. However…
Liverpool, Chelsea, Utd and City have a big guy up top.
I think the change of goalkeeper was due to the need to better start playing from behind. Maybe the idea is good but what happens is that Ryan played well with his feet but at Brentford. Here, he made long kicks asking the forwards. In other words: he plays well (?) with his feet in long passes; At Arsenal, due to the imposed tactics, they need to start playing from behind. If Ramsdale had difficulty, Ryan also has it. At crosses, it seems to me that none of them are safe either. In short: they seem very equal to me.
On the other hand, excluding Niketiah, no Arsenal player wants or feels comfortable playing number 9.
Sevilla will change coach
As I said yesterday I reckon Arteta will sell players in January to raise money to buy a true striker from some unknown club, and unfortunately he could sell players that we all really like and want to keep.
Sevilla FC has officially announced the appointment of Diego Alonso as their new head coach. The contract with the Uruguayan has been secured until the culmination of the current season.
Alonso has assumed the role, succeeding José Luis Mendilibar, who, despite securing the Europa League title in May, delivered lackluster results at the outset of the 2023/2024 season.
Diego Alonso previously served as part of the Uruguayan national team’s coaching staff. While he possesses a substantial coaching pedigree, his venture into European football marks a first. However, as a footballer, he graced Spanish clubs such as Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Racing, Malaga, and Murcia with his presence.
NEW MANAGER BOUNCE !
A great come back for Arsenal Women, a two one win after being one nil down. Beth Mead on as a sub and provides an assist for Russo”s winner.
A mixed bag for England, a win against Fiji, just, in RWC but England lost to Afghanistan in the cricket.
Brilliant from the women, the comeback I mean and great to see Beth Mead back in action.
The cricket was shocking. I reckon England thought the points were in the bag before they stepped onto the grass…
Morning guys.
I despair of this country , 2 weeks ago I had a physiotherapy appointment where the very nice lady from somewhere in eastern Europe referred me to the hospital to see a neurologist as my nerve endings in my feet are deteriorating . ( too much football, )Today I get an appointment text from the hospital to attend the urology department . Not bad they are only about 2 1/2 feet out and 25 minutes on the phone later , nobody knows what’s happening and I am advised to go to the hospital which is 15 miles away and ask to speak to the secretaries of both departments .
WHY ?
That, Potter is the general state of the NHS at present. You should be grateful that they actually invited you to the hospital at all! Even if it was only to speak to the ladies(probably) at the secretarial dept. I’m sure they would have sorted your cold feet out😵💫
Any other result for the ladies yesterday would have been total injustice. As a team they were streets ahead of Villa in every department of the game. But like our gents team, they play excellent poession football but find finishing very difficult. However, the winning goals, when they eventually arrived were both things of great beauty and class. We’ll done ladies you’re on the way back after a rather shaky start.
Potter, I feel your pain re nerve end problems in your feet as I have the same problem. No cure just drugs but I have found some socks (short open toe) which are for nighttime to help. Other than a dose of codeine, they’re the best thing I’ve found to help…
Having Mead back will help Wavy, Williamson and Viv too once they’re up to full speed…
It seems that Timber will not be back before March rather than January as previously expected. His rehab is not going as well as it could.
Good old NHS, I’ve just received an e mail advising me to book my appointment now for my Covid booster and my Flu jab. Guess what? I had them both at 8.45 this morning.
NHS is a hot topic at the moment. At our survey, it’s yonks for a GP but we can see a paramedic on the day… Hopeless..
New post up..