Morning all.
Yesterday afternoon, Sky Sports reported that Arsenal had made a £60 odd million offer for Villa’s Ollie Watkins. The offer was rapidly rejected. £60 million is a lot of money for a player who turns 30 years old in December but Arsenal are expected to up their offer. Part of me thinks this could be another “Mudryk” situation in as much that whilst the media expect us to focus on one player, we do a deal for a different player altogether. Maybe I’m being overly optimistic, especially with just five days of this transfer window remaining.
Jhon Duran is reported to be on his way to Al-Nassr so he’s out of the equation. Or is he?
Mathys Tel is another player linked to Arsenal as well as a number of other Premier League clubs.
Back to last night…
Neto made his Arsenal debut last night in place of David Raya who Mikel Arteta confirmed afterwards, is injured. All I have to say on that is, I hope the Spaniard is a very quick healer. I think he was having a rest.
Arsenal: Neto, Partey, Kiwior, Gabriel, Calafiori, Jorginho, Merino, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Sterling, Trossard
Subs: Setford, Porter, Timber, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Tierney, Saliba, Rice, Salah, Martinelli, Butler-Oyedeji, Havertz.
Arsenal needed a point, they came home with all three which is all that mattered.
Both Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard came close to giving us the lead but both attempts went just wide. Riccardo Calafiori did find the back of the net but was denied by an offside decision.
Then we went behind. Danjuma had got behind Thomas Partey, he picked up a through ball, looked up to see Neto a long way off his line before finishing really well. Neto, out of his area, dived to stop the shot but thankfully, he made no contact because if he had, his debut would have been over.
Ten minutes later, we were level. Partey challenged by Martinez as he tried to go through the defence in the box but the challenge was clumsy, leaving Partey on the ground. The referee pointed to the spot, Jorginho converted the kick.
With half-time approaching, all eyes were on 17 year old Ethan Nwaneri as he picked up the ball just inside their box. In a fashion hard not to compare with Bukayo Saka, he kept the ball, moved into a space where a shooting opportunity was available, before rocketing his shot past the Girona keeper.
There was still time for Trossard to hit the crossbar before halftime.
The second half presented more opportunities for us to extend our lead. Frances nearly scored what would have an amusing own goal before Gabriel, Timber and Nwaneri saw opportunities go begging.
Girona then caught us on the break with ball ending up in the back of the net but like Calafiori’s earlier in the game, a tight offside denied Stuani an equaliser.
We were awarded a second penalty late in the game but by this time, Jorginho had been replaced so up stepped Sterling. Were you confident he’d seal a 3-1 win for his team? Me neither.
I’m glad Girona are out of the competition because what a bunch of “kickers” they are. Talk about if you can’t get the ball get the man, they were more like get the man first and then the ball.
One of Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven will be our next opponents depending on who progresses from the qualifying fixtures. The draw takes place tomorrow lunchtime.
I’m off to watch Nwaneri’s goal again….
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico.
I like the post, it was as I saw it and I particulary like your comment on Sterling not converting his penalty, that brought a grin to my ugly face😊.
I also hope Raya is fit for Sunday, in fact I read a story recently that the coaching staff were not impressed with Neto. as well as the obvious error, he seemed to take an age to get the ball under control and away to safety.
Good morning Rico
You said yesterday that we needed a strong referee, well I think we got a very good one. He ignored numerous attempts by the Girona players to con him into awarding free kicks for non existing fouls and, quite rightly, booked Sterling for simulation when he went down claiming a penalty.
A couple of close offside decisions turned out to be 100% right and thanks to Nwaneri’s stunner, Sterling’s poor attempt from the penalty spot did not turn out to be significant.
Neto? No no!
Danjuma has revealed they targeted Partey and it worked as they had planned.
Partey will get a bit of stick mainly from pundits alike, but to be fair he is not a natural RB and I know Arteta has injuries to contend with but I hope he’s learned from that goal and the fact his “plan” has failed because they’ll all target that weakness. Ben isn’t far away I believe.
There’s a headline in this morning’s Telegraph “Angry rejection of £60illion Arsenal bid for striker Watkins”. Although further down the page the hack admits that Villa had made no comment on the bid. Just an instance of click bait headlining.
MOTD last night said the bid was weeks ago?
Typical anti Arsenal media.
Morning Berg, Cicero.
I guess the idea was for Sterling to gain a bit of confidence, however. I’ve nothing against the player and it’s clear he’s trying. Possibly too much as daft as that sounds.
What a difference to those in the PL Cicero. Much stronger and no agenda. Really good officiating all round I thought, including VAR who got both offside calls right regardless of how tight they were.
Not surprised to see that re Partey and I get why they would target that side. He’s not a right back, he’s just a great midfielder.
It certainly does look like Sterling is trying hard but he’s still not for me, I’d much rather Ollie.
Isn’t it great that we can applaud the officiating, maybe rotating refs from the whole of Europe would be a relief from some of the pathetic fools we have in the EPL.
I say I’d rather Ollie although we may not get many years from him, perhaps Mathys Tel would be a better option, although Titi Henry likes Ollie W.
I forgot to post yesterday that it is worth teaching Neto the rules of football, namely those of the goalkeeper when he leaves the penalty area.
Today is the 30th. Does the market close on the 31st?
February 3rd JM
Morning Rico, good post…
The servers went down in my area so I only saw the first half, I listened to Harry Symeou’s ‘watch along’ for thd 2nd half.
I thought that Sterling was far more effective from the left, just as he was for England/City. In fact he was desperately unlucky with his first real effort, twisting and turning past defenders on the edge of the box and narrowly bending a shot wide, such a shame he didn’t score. I’m not sure that it was the wisest choice giving him the penalty, missing it will wreck any residue of confidence he has left.
Trossard had one of those cow’s arse and banjo evenings and Califiori was so unlucky, fortunately Ethan gave us a glimpse again of the potential he holds in store for us…
Apparently Arsenal have earned, from bonuses and finishing 3rd around £60m already, not to be sniffed at.
The only good thing about Sterling Berg is that he won’t be at Arsenal next season. Nor Neto imo.
Neto certainly kept me on the edge of my seat, City will have noticed him with the ball at his feet so just getting it up the field is the way to go for him. Wouldn’t it be just so AFC vs MCFC these last few years for Raya to be absent.
Now unless Arteta is trying a double bluff on Pep, we’re in for a very unpredictable afternoon this Sunday, because if Neto plays he’s either going to be the unlikely hero or the reason we drop pints or points.
Morning Kev, thanks.
Sterling was better on the left and perhaps unlucky not to score but it’s those moments which he needs to make count. It can’t be easy for him having not played that much, however….
Yes Rico I agree but any kind of improvement from Sterling is a crumb of comfort. I guess he looked better given the opposition but for me he’s not got any part to play this Sunday.
I wonder, if the Watkins bid was a week or two ago if his agent, urged by Olly himself, leaked it to try and persuade Arsenal to try again?
If the other boy Duran leaves for Saudi then it’s pretty well dead in the water.
I think we are still “managing” Timber”s fitness, following a long injury lay off, hence playing Partey at right back for half the game. The same may apply to Calafiori, thus his early replacement by M L S. That has a double benefit as our brilliant left back gets just a run out rather than a ninety minute slog. All three players will be needed against City on Sunday.
Just a quiet word about a player who did little wrong, last night, but hardly got a mention Jakub Kiwior who again stood in for Saliba and did quite well.
Afternoon Rico and all.
I see Gary Neville, is claiming Arteta is influecing Arsenal fans to think the ref’s are currupet, He must be paid by the ref’s to back them up so they can feel good about them self.
Good point Cicero re: Kiwior, he had a steady game.
Neville, Carragher, Webb, the unholy trinity all paid for by Sky subscriptions and as bent as a 9 dollar bill.
Hey Geoff,
Neville is more nauseating now than when I hated him at Man Ure, him and his little brother bullying the late great Rayez and grinning about it as they hacked him down mercilessly.
What’s worse with GN is he’s an absolute total failure at management but still believes his opinion is valid.
Utterly detestable little jerk, him and Carra, maybe we should have a table of most disliked pundits 😂
Absolutely Kev and I’m with you, the only time we need to see Sterling on the pitch on Sunday is if we’re 3-0 up and into extra time… 😜
Agree on Kiwior, cool and calm I thought, although if my memory serves me right, still under the influence of anaesthetic as I watched I hasten to add, he might have done better for their disallowed goal.
Afternoon Geoff, nothing Neville says about Arsenal is worth the paper it’s written on. He’s a p***k!
I really like Calafiori, he reminds me of Charlie George, not with the scoring but that gung ho attitude and still only 22, he did play Danjuma onside though.
I like Calafiori too, just hope the Arsenal medics can sort out his injury niggles.
Well one bit of good news via The Athletic is that Raya will be fit to play on Sunday.
It also alludes to the fact it was a mistake by Edu Gaspar to hire him on loan with the view to using him for the Carabao Cup having featured for his parent club previously in the competition.
There were also concerns from staff regarding his training and annoyingly he takes up one of the 2 spaces allowed for loan players and Evan Ferguson is available on loan.
Hopefully Calafiori’s niggles are due to his age and still developing strength with the aid of the team.
We moved too late in the window for a keeper, just as we’re doing now re a forward player. Our transfer action is nearly as slow as our football sometimes is… 😜
I see we’ve been charged by the FA for our reaction to the sending off of MLS. What a joke except it’s not funny…
Charged 😉 😉 How can the Team not be expected to inform this useless referee of the rules for a sending off, when he plainly doesnt know. Mind you 4 on VAR didn’t either, only 95% of the pundits including those that dont like Arsenal.
So we’ve signed a fullback. Jenna Nighswonger an American international aged 24. She appears to have a pretty good level of experience, let’s hope she fits in and settles down quickly, there are some big games coming up.
That’s great news that Raya will be back Sunday,I saw somewhere Neto is the oldest Arsenal player(35) to make his debut for over 100 years.
A fiver apparently Andrew. Lol
Good evening Lady and gentlemen
That’s a good report Rico. Enjoyed it like all the reports after games.
We have been charged. Hilarious isn’t it. Pathetic as well. Anyone betting a tenner we will get points docked off for that???
We played a good game yesterday. Except Neto. I dont want to see him in our shirt again. Better the young ones.
Arsenal loan bid for Kelly accepted by Man City
Arsenal have had a loan bid accepted by Manchester City for Chloe Kelly on Women’s Super League Deadline Day.
Kelly had turned down a move to Brighton as she preferred to stay in Manchester due to family and location amid interest from City’s rivals Manchester United.
But the England international is now set to move to London to join Arsenal until the end of the season ahead of Thursday’s 11pm deadline.
Evening Devil, thanks.
Can’t see a docking of points being dished out, not whilst there are so many stories out there discussing the officials and how clubs are officiated differently. A hefty fine probably.
According to a post on twitter , { X } Michael Oliver threatened to take legal action against Howard Webb for workplace bullying if he did not fully support disciplinary action against Arsenal!!
Apparently a leak from PGMOL
Wonder if there’s any truth in this. Or just the figment of the overactive mind of one of Starmer’s bedroom teenagers.
Trouble in the PGMOL then…