Morning all.
Yesterday, David Ornstein announced on Twitter that a deal for Flo Balogun to join Monaco was very close and he could be set for a medical this weekend. Also, Kieran Tierney is set to join Seville on loan for the season. There’s no option to buy the player but his wages will be covered by the French club. Brooke Norton-Cuffy has already joined Championship side Millwall on a season-long loan too which should be good for him. Hopefully he’ll be a regular in the team and not just a spectator. Nicolas Pepe could be set for a move to a Saudi club.
Mikel Arteta on transfer speculation surrounding Gabriel:
Gabi is a really important player for us and there is nothing going on with that at the moment.
At the moment, does that mean something might be happening over the next week?
Fulham tomorrow, a team managed by Marco Silva, a team which we defeated twice last season. 2-1 at home August after going a goal down and then 3-0 at Craven Cottage back in March this year. Fulham have since seen Aleksandar Mitrovic depart, one of many who have made the move to the Saudi Pro League. Raul Jimenez, Calvin Bassey and Adama Traore are their new additions this summer.
On the opening weekend of this new season, Fulham beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park but last weekend ended in a 3-0 defeat to Brentford at Craven Cottage. Two of Brentford’s goals coming after Fulham were reduced to ten men.
Results wise, Mikel Arteta’s team has had the perfect start but performance wise, there’s a lot of room for improvement but, the start of a new season can be like that. Last weekend it was backs to the wall for 30 odd minutes after Tomiyasu was sent off and I reckon that will have done the players a world of good. A real confidence builder. The expression on some of the players faces at the final whistle said it all.
Interesting comments from Ben White after the Palace game:
We knew it was going to be a tough game [against Palace]. They’re a very good side with a very good manager who knows what he’s doing. Especially with 10 men, it’s a hard place to go.
We’re all quite young. I’m probably one of the oldest now, so it’s a fresh group and there is exciting talent coming through.
I don’t think you’ve seen the best of what we can do. We’re looking to be better than last year.
I think he’s right, this group of players are yet to find their groove. We have players who so far, haven’t started matches. They all have something different to bring to this team, especially Trossard and ESR. Perhaps this season we’ll see a more confident and effective Vieira and as we saw last season, Nelson can be a handful on his day.
A factoid for you, we have never lost a home league game against Fulham in 30 previous meetings – an English league record and as said last weekend before the Palace game, London derbies are our thing. If Heineken did derbies…….
As Mikel said in his press conference, Jesus is back and ready to go but Tomiyasu misses out through suspension. Good job Zinchenko is back fit then.
Fulham captain Tim Ream is suspended after his dismissal in the defeat by Brentford. Willian is a doubt because of an Achilles problem, but Joao Palhinha could return from injury. Shame!
Mikel Arteta on Fulham:
I think what Marco and the coaching staff have done is remarkable. The way they played last season, where they finished in the Premier League and especially the way they did it, it was incredible. He is a coach that I always admire because they’re really well organised, they have really clear ideas of what they want to do, and you can see his team exactly in the way that he wants them. Tomorrow, we’re going to have a tough match.
Every match is a tough match…
Catch up in the comments.
A’noon Rico Hope you’re well.
Looking forward to this one, despite the train strikes (Slow Hand Clap RMT).
Hoping Arsenal have sorted out the turnstile issues. The Forest game came close to becoming a full scale emergency with people getting stuck and squashed outside the narrow entrances to the West Stand. This was caused solely by the poor planning by Arsenal, and I’m surprised it received relatively little coverage in the media. I genuinely believe ‘Arsenal faces’ on social media chose not to report because negative coverage might reduce their access to the Club and players. A dirty faustian pact.
Luckily most fans were patient. I got a bit concerned for my youngster and took the decision to break through the barriers and get a steward to let us in the wrong gate. Many sitting around me got let in without showing their tickets. Disabled entrances were opened to reduce the crush. Stewards inside the ground didn’t have clue what was happening outside.
All this for their precious digital ticket system, which was clearly not tested properly. It feels like the clubs have little concern for the welfare of the fans, outside some choreographed flannel on their social channels. Let’s not forget Hillsborough was only 34 years ago.
Stewarding has never been a strong point since the move to the new stadium. Most of the senior stewards at Highbury were not retained when we moved as I believe a new company was employed.
It always seems to be that I.T people cant leave things alone , they have to learn that a large number of their customer base are not as technically as savvy as they are.
Hi Pete, must have been scary.
Now that Jesus is back, we will see how awesome the frontline can be. With Jesus’ ball intelligence and movement, Havertz movement and ability to occupy defenders, Martinelli being Martinelli, it will be very difficult to run 2 or 3 defenders at Saka. This team will be something special. It’s a bummer that Timber.
I love your optimism Obi. Hope you end up being right of course.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12444377/Mike-Dean-admits-didnt-step-major-stupid-VAR-decision-protect-mate-Anthony-Taylor-grief-96th-minute-equaliser-disallowed.html
Shocking, albeit not surprising.
It’s a brotherhood that sticks together , trained by Riley in the secret world of subterfuge that is the PGMOL .
I am not surprised in any way . There was a time when we put things down to human error but now with cameras at every angle and VAR , television analysts it is hard to believe that it is not down to corruption .
Unfortunately when Webb was refereeing he was said to be be in Ferguson’s pocket and now that he is at the top , one has to wonder if his strings are still being pulled.
Finally remember Mark Halsey.
According to a report from the Daily Telegraph’s Jim White in 2013, Halsey opted not to take a severance payment of £50,000 from the PGMOL upon retiring from officiating, instead taking on a position with BT Sport. Per the piece, the sum is only issued if the referees agree to a “gagging order” to prevent them discussing their officiating days when they retire.
Halsey touched on a few things in his book but whilst reading it, I always felt he could have said more.. one day, somebody will..
Balogun . 40M euros Monaco
Tierney – on loan to La Real Sociedad
Rico you should… they will score plenty of goals.
ESPN on Balogun… The initial price €40 is below the Gunners’ reported £50million asking price, but it’s fair to assume the add-ons will probably bring the total closer to, or even above, that number.
Even if that’s not the case, Arsenal could be in line for some good money at some point down the line, as they have retained a ‘significant sell-on clause for the future’.
They further states that it was the “significant sell-on” clause that put Monaco over Chelsea.
Before completing the sale of Balogun Edu should wait and see how Jesus gets on in today’s game. He needs to show that he is fully fit and able to play a significant part in the coming weeks and months. Otherwise, Balogun could yet play a vital part, for us, up front.
I would like to know why Arteta doesn’t trust Balogun
Afternoon Rico and all
Ramsdale, Partey, Saliba, White Kiwior Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
I would suspect that it’s to do with attitude . Apparently he came back from France demanding a first team spot and threw a strop when told that he was a squad player He also chose USA over England which I dont think was popular . I think Arteta wanted to see him have another develop year and he refused .
still concerned about the back four make up . Kiwior in and Gabriel still out , bit baffling
The Zinchenko situation worries me most. Apparently he is in full training but is not selected to play in his recognised position, and is replaced by a player more recognised as midfielder than a full back.
The same situation applies on the other side of the pitch with Partey starting at right back l for the third generation in a row this season.
I glad to see Trossard given a chance to start
Not the start we needed, too sloppy from Saka
What a great start one minute one nil…..to Fulham ffs.
We need to focus, we have started very sloppy
Our lack of a true goal scorer is on show today,
Arteta trying to be too clever on his team selection . I know we all want to see rotation but not by upsetting the pattern . Partey and Havertz dont know where to be . Saka is missing White and Trossard is not a central player.
Looking at the weather I would leave Jesus on the bench and not take a chance on him picking up another injury
Leno looked like he was out of the goal square, we have lifted at last
We were lucky to day, The big winner today is Raya as Ramsdale looked shaky at times.
We lost against 10 when we were ahead. Again when we are winning, we play a lot behind. Zinchenko’s loss of the ball against 10 is not acceptable and the way we conceded the goal is even worse.
Ramsdale again conceded a goal due to poor positioning (just like in the Europa League that cost us the tie).
I repeat that I don’t think Arsenal is better than last year. The difficulty in transitioning to attack is enormous. We play a lot in the center because there are no wing defenders.
As for Harvaetz: he reminds me of that guest at a party, who doesn’t know anyone or gets along with anyone and is completely lost and ignored. Too bad there isn’t a proposal this week for him.
Well I got that wrong, I said Eddy only scores when he starts, I’ll keep my opinions to myself in future.
This referee brings us bad luck: we never won a game with him refereeing.
I’ve only seen the goals,but not good enough.I keep hearing that Havertz is a good player but we don’t look a better team with him.
Why is it VAR look for any little reason to rule out an Arsenal goal ?
disjointed , the well oiled team of last year has gone
I’m not surprised re the result, nor the performance which by the sounds of it, wasn’t good. All this moving of chess pieces to anywhere but where they have previously played best makes no sense to me. All which was good last season is yet to be seem.
If I were Mikel, I’d be tempted to return to plan a because plan b, or as he said ‘Arsenal being unpredictable’ isn’t really working.
As I said earlier, Raya must be rubbing his hands with joy when he sees Ramsdale perform like he did last night.
I don’t know why Arteta brought Jesus on for his first match back after injury in the poring rain
Last season White overlapped and made space for Odegaard and Saka to combine and it was very effective. Playing Partey there is not giving them the same support.
Had White been behind Saka then probably the first goal would have been prevented as Partey had gone inside .
Hopefully Zinchenko will solve the left back problem because as a static left back Kiwior is ok but not an upgrade in fact less effective than Tierney and is not giving Martinelli the support which means that he has to go it alone .
At the back Ramsdale hasn’t a clue what the back line is doing , It’s a shambles with players acting like individuals . One mistake and they are all out of position
I used the word disjointed last night and on reflection this morning I can’t think of a better description ..
I’ve just watched the Sky highlights from yesterday’s game.
Two things are instantly obvious, Arteta’s pick-and-mix approach to our defence is causing total confusion in the back four? five? three? He should revert to playing what was our strongest and most effective combination last season. White, Saliba, Gabriel and, when fit, Zinchenko. The other problem is “over passing”, the more passes our side make the more chance there is for the opposition to intercept them or for them to go astray, witness Saka’s gift for Fulham’s first goal, the further forward we are when passing opens up acres of space for the opposition to run into when they snatch the ball. It seems to be a tradition for Arsenal teams, regardless of manager/coach, to be caught out by break-away goals.
NB, Trossard is not a number nine! Nor is Havertz. Nor is Martinelli. Nor is Jesus. The latter was only on the pitch for a very short time, he did not appear in any of the highlights and, as far as I can make out, his only contribution was to be caught off-side.
Arteta needs to sort out his thinking before United rock up at The Emirates next Sunday or we will go into the International break in disarray.
I too think too many changes but why are for what?
But that’s the question in todays post which is now up.