Just a few days ago I watched Sokratis and Mavropanos play some kind of game on the official website.Something to do with naming countries beginning with a particular letter which on this occasion was an A. Sokratis said America which left his fellow teammate in fits of laughter. It’s the United States of America said the younger of the two Greeks. Sokratis was not happy…..
Well, the two of them will be able to thrash that out with the locals in July because that’s where Arsenal are heading for the pre-season. First up is match against Stan Kroenke’s Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. A friendly affair no doubt and one which is likely to be attended by our not so rapid to invest in Arsenal owner.
Then it’s three further fixtures which are our involvement in the International Champions Cup 2019. Bayern Munich, AS Roma and Real Madrid. The last being on the 23rd July before heading home.
Our managing director, Vinai Venkatesham, said:
Everyone here at Arsenal is looking forward to taking part in the International Champions Cup again this summer. Our ICC matches in the United States in July will provide the team with a high level of preparation going into the 2019/20 season, and also give us the opportunity to play live in front of our many supporters across this great country.
We are playing against three of Europe’s strongest and most high-profile club sides in magnificent stadiums, which will provide some very exciting matches ahead of our new season.”
Arsenal.com
There’ll be other pre-season fixtures but we have to wait for those to be announced.
I guess it’s nor great surprise that the first country were heading to after Stan Kroenke took full control of Arsenal is America. No surprise we’ve slotted in a friendly against one of his clubs over there either and why not? It’s a money making exercise which is what the game has become. Certainly for Arsenal as our multi millionaire owner refuses to dig deep into his even deeper pockets and invest in our squad.
It’s no different with the chase for top four. We’ve never looked like we could win the Champions League, not since 2006 anyway and even before that final year, we were miles away, yet we had one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Arsenal team seen in my lifetime. European football and Arsenal FC don’t go together. They seldom have.
- UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (European Cup Winners’ Cup before 1994)
Winners (1): 1993–94
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Winners (1): 1969–70
Two European trophies in 132 years. In fact this is the first since 1994 that we’ve had a manager who has experienced success in Europe as together with Giovanni Trapattoni, Unai Emery tops the list of most successful managers in the Europa League with three trophies each. Perhaps that’s just one of the reasons we as a club opted for the Spaniard.
Premier League football returns this weekend after what feels like the longest international break in history. Injury wise, only Ramsey appears to a doubt for our match on Monday so we’re looking good on that front. Before then though, Liverpool take on the Toots at Anfield. A victory for the home team would present us with a golden opportunity to overtake our north London rivals. We’ve just got to ensure we don’t cock up our own results….
See you in the comments guys…
Have to pull you on the “ miles away” statement” with regards to winning the European cup.should have done with The Invincibles in 2005 bar a bad fixture list pile up,a rotten “ derby” draw .& a jammy Chelsea win it was ours for the taking with Monaco & Porto left who we would have battered.Its one of my darkest moments as a gooner.wayne bridge of all players.jeeeeeez
Can’t blame fixture pileup though surely? Or ifs, buts, or bad luck…
They have to be placed also, those in which we were in the final and we did not win
Well said JM, I with you on that….
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico, seems we have a clean bill of health for Monday (excepting the 3 long termers of course) according to Emery.
In other news Arsenal are being linked to some 17 year old Brazilian striker, whose also been linked to around 25 other clubs already – so a big thumbs up to his agent… BS..?
Also we’ve been linked to some Spanish midfielder whose first name is Joan… 😐
Yep, whilst Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool et al, pick off Chilwell, Rice, Wan Bisaka, plus a host of top foreigners, Arsenal KSE will be going for Joan…
Still the LA Rams are doing ok, so that’s alright then…
Afternoon Kev, you don’t believe all that transfer stuff do you? 😜
I really don’t know anymore Rico, I guess that why I pin my hopes on our academy players because all we could be spending this summer is the Adidas dough.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/29/denis-suarez-impact-arsenal-unai-emery
After three months Suarez is ready to start in the Premiership. What took so long?
I’m not so sure though Kev. A few sales together with the Adidas money and the usual transfer budget, it could be a good summer. I’m quite optimistic about who’ll well bring in but then I don’t care what they cost. It’s what the player brings to the team for me over his price tag every day of the week.
£60m for Aubameyang… pffff!
Difference in league Cicero, climate, new team mates, new style of football etc etc. Perhaps this loan deal is more about preparing Suarez for next season.
New post up now