Morning all.
Mikel Arteta named his squad for the Champions League yesterday.
Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale, David Raya, James Hillson
Defenders: Cedric, Lino Sousa, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ben White, Gabriel, Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba
Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe
Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus
Before reading too much into it, there’s always a B List should Mikel Arteta want to bring other players into contention. This list of players needs to be submitted before midnight of the previous day before the actual game. The B List may only consist of under 21 players, players who were born on, or after, January 1 2002 and has been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday (players aged 16 may be submitted if they have been registered with the club for the previous two years).
I know all of the above because it’s on the official website.
Amazing to think Cedric is in the squad but there you go. It doesn’t mean he’ll play.
Last night brought the end to this month’s international fixtures. As far as I know, all our players will return home fully fit. It’s a shame Southgate felt the need to give Saka minutes from the bench last night but that’s what happens when we as a club have great players. International managers will play them. Football is a ruthless business and managers rise and fall depending on their decisions and results. Even international ones, talking of which, Southgate has felt the need to defend his selection of Maguire this morning. He’s told the media to lay off the Utd defender. Ballsy I think but that’s just the English media doing what it does best, fickle lot. I’m not a huge fan of Maguire, never have been but when he’s representing his country, English folk should want him to do well rather than knocking him at any and every given opportunity. Saying that, I think his better days were a long time ago. Lol
I didn’t watch any other international fixtures but from what I’ve read, Havertz dropped to the Germany bench as the start of a new era in German management begins, Trossard, Saliba and all three of our Gabriel’s played for Brazil overnight. Odegaard played and scored for Norway and of course, Rice and Ramsdale played for England. I’ve probably missed one or two.
Over the next couple of days we’ll see training photos and fingers crossed no one is missing other than Partey and Timber. Not that I wouldn’t be at all surprised to soon see Partey back training.
There’s a great piece about Saliba on AFC.com:
I was just six when I started out at Bondy, my local club. It was the local club where I grew up, so I knew everyone there. I played as a striker back then when I was young and I loved it. I would say I was one of the best players in the team, maybe the best player, I don’t know. Let’s just say I was in the top two or three! There were some very good players in that team too. Some of them have gone on to play professionally, not just in France but everywhere. We had a lot of players come through that club who went on to be professional, not just Mbappe of course, but players in our age group too.
I always wanted to win. That’s all I wanted when I was a young player. I wanted to win every game and that’s what really motivated me at that age. I wanted to score in every game, but I wouldn’t say I was a selfish player. Some strikers are selfish, but I also looked for my team- mates too. I have to be honest though, and say I was a lazy player. Yes I was lazy, and also I would sulk quite a lot. My manager would always tell me off for sulking, for being lazy in training. This is maybe why I wasn’t captain! As I said, I was young in my head, but then I grew up. My coaches helped me a lot at that age. I realised how you had to be on the pitch and I changed.
Aren’t we all guilty of being a bit lazy as a kid. Nowadays I call it procrastination…..
Catch up in the comments…
Lazy as a kid Rico, yeah, most of us have been there, I think it’s called puberty isn’t it, not sure exactly when it ends but everyone transverses that at a different rate although some doctors enjoy experimenting on young people so it’s important to have switched-on parents…
Absolutely Kev..
Saliba has gone from being a lazy kid to a rolls royce – a truly gifted defender.
Exactly Rico, he is indeed a Rolls Royce footballer, he glides across the pitch like a Silver Shadow, deceptive acceleration at vital moments whilst snuffing out danger without any fuss, in fact, I’d imagine that he hardly breaks sweat during a game. He is an absolute gem and something we have Raul to thank. Not a comment you’d read very often!
Spot on Kev, Martinelli wasn’t a bad deal either..
Just seen the League squad and b list. Can’t believe Azeez is still around as I thought he was out of contract.
G’day Rico and all.
No surprise really about Cedric, we were unable to shift him so why not use him as and when necessary? He is a good defender and has a lot of experience. Maybe he’ll do enough to get back in Arteta’s good books.
So this morning the news creeps out that Saka has been carrying a slight Achilles problem since the beginning of the season . Why did he get released for Southgate to give him an extra couple of hours.?
Afternoon Rico and all.
If the news about Saka is true then questions need to be answered,
Like did Arteta know and if so why did he keep playing him and risking further injuries and if Arsenal did know why didn’t the club doctors rule him out for England matches, and if Southgate new why did he play him.
I hope for Saka sake the story is false.
A little surprised to see Cedric in the Champions League squad,but why not, he’s still on the payroll and a good player, experienced. He must be one of the first Arteta/Edu signings,I’ve read he isn’t thought Athletic enough which makes sense, why Arsenal signed him permanently after being on loan doesn’t really make sense though ?
Hi guys
Vinai is leaving next year. He wants a new challenge apparently.
If Saka is carrying an injury then I’d be very surprised he’s been playing for both club and definitely country. Mikel will probably have something to say about this story tomorrow.
Hi Geoff.
Agree re Cedric but I guess at the beginning of Edu/Arteta, they wanted experience and stability, as well a# cheap. Didn’t really work though..
Absolutely about Cedric,worrying about Saka,he has proved to be unbelievably durable over the past few years,so fingers crossed.
And toes although if he needs a break, we have cover in Trossard, Nelson and even Vieira
New post up.