Morning all, or is it afternoon now..
Arsenal take on Barcelona in the early hours of tomorrow morning. (UK time) I doubt Barca will be as ‘rough’ as Man Utd were the other day. I don’t think Barcelona are as strong as they once were, but they’re still a top top club who play good football. It should be a good and entertaining match for the fans of both clubs, it’s just a shame that most of us based in England and around Europe, will be fast asleep.
It will be (different to Saturday’s game) because when you play at the level that we are playing, with the type of opposition that we’re going to be facing tomorrow, in that stadium and there are so many people. They have to expect that and we are expecting that. So tomorrow again, I think will be a very competitive match.
Very subtle Mikel. Lol
Arteta, and Jesus were asked a number of other things but the question which stood out for me was about the vice captain and who it would be now Granit Xhaka has left:
We need a bit more time just to make sure that the squad is clear, the roles are clear and when we make one decision, that’s the decision. If we do it too early, we’re going to have to change it maybe because the market is so unpredictable and I don’t want to do that.
Read into that as you will but in my opinion he’s saying that he doesn’t want to make appoint a vice captain in case that player then leaves. If I’m right, who might that be I wonder, Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, Gabriel, maybe even Jesus, Zinchenko or Jorginho? It’s certainly not going to be one of our summer arrivals and surely it has to be a player who plays regularly rather than sits on the bench.
Talking of bench players, onto Eddie Nketiah who has been quoted as saying he’s more than just a backup player.
No I don’t think I have accepted (being a backup) and I will never accept that. That’s not my mentality. That’s not why I signed here to sit and be second best. I want to be the best, I want to play and that’s the mentality I have. I realise I might not play every game and that’s the coach’s decision but it’s never going to be my mentality to accept not playing.
I am going to always push in training to get opportunities to show why I think I should be playing and to give the manager a headache. Most players should have that mentality. There’s ways to do it. There is no point sitting around and moaning every day. The manager’s door is always open so you can have conversations but you have to show it on the pitch, there is no point sitting outside the pitch and complaining.
Interesting timing I think because of the reported rejection of a second loan, contract extension and the supposed assurances of first team football at Arsenal by Flo Balogun. If I was a cynic, I’d think Nketiah is telling Balogun he should be patient and wait for his chance, just as he did Lokonga – and at the same time, telling Arteta that he’s the guy who’ll put the team/club before anything else. Admirable is some ways, perhaps defeatist in another, despite his comments.
It’s hard to decide who’s right here, or perhaps ambitious is a better word. Balogun for believing he’s good enough, or certainly too good to play second or third fiddle to Jesus and or Nketiah, or Nketiah for just being happy where he is, knowing that in all likelihood, he’ll only ever be a backup for Jesus…
Catch up in the comments.
Man Utd back to their best eh?
Wrexham beat them 3-1 earlier. 😆
Good interview with Declan Rice.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12927601/declan-rice-exclusive-arsenal-midfielder-already-seeing-football-in-a-completely-different-way-at-new-club
Nketiah will never be anything but a back up because he isn’t good enough
Maybe he’s thinking Rice is a future captain or vice but it’s a bit soon for that. Glad to see manure lose even if it was an inexperienced lot.
I too think Rice for captain/vice captain in time but this season? I’ve no idea after Mikel’s comment. Partey for a season if he stays perhaps..
We have a club Captain in Martin Odegaard, he may be just a little passive when it comes to approaching referees, so maybe someone a little more forthright would be an idea. What we don’t want is some hot head who barely speaks English and has a tendency to grabbing referees shouting in their faces.
Gabriel it is then. 😂
😂😂
I see Chelsea did well against Aldershot Town…. 😆
Chelsea fans have got upset after their club was described as “a mid table side” by an Aldershot fan on social media. After losing to the non-leaguers 3 – 1, what have they got to compare about? 😀
Complain, not compare. 😕
Complain not compare. 😕
Saka, Havertz , Trossard x2 and Veira give us a 5 – 3 win over Barcelona.
@Cicero, I’m in support that a captain oughta be one with a good amount of self control and a good command of the English language 🙏
Morning Rico and all.
Going to be interesting to see who Arteta picks as captain and vice-captain, if Arteta is looking at long term and slightly out of the box so to speak, then maybe the vice-captain could go to Ramsdale, I know can make some silly mistakes but on the other he can raise the fans voice to lift the team when needed. As for the captain I would stick with Odegaard and then maybe look at Rice down the track as the captain, but I believe he needs at least one season to prove to the players and fans that he would be a better captain than Odegaard. I reckon the big-name player to leave will be Partey but I still would not exclude ESR.
@Cicero. Ramsdale is a good call for V.C.
Sorry I meant @geoff
It’s my opinion that Ramsdale is ruled out of the vice-captaincy by the very fact that he is a goalkeeper. The captain must be fully involved with the action on the pitch, the goalkeeper is too often too remote from play.
Joe Lewis will not face any action from The Premiership should be found guilty of his alleged insider trading. It seems that he stepped back from any control over Spurs, some time last year and also separated himself from ENIC the company that that he headed and is the legal owner of the club.
Someone of a cynical mind might think he saw the present situation coming and acted to save Spur’s from any fallout. I have to admit to a certain smidgen of cynicism myself. 😉
Odegaard is staying as captain Geoff, just need a VC. Ben White must be a candidate imo
I watched the second half of the game, Vieira was good. Not just his goal but he looked more involved.
Great result against Barca. Xavi moaning we took it too serious…perhaps we were supposed to let them win?
It’s about trialing new ideas, personnel and intensity to test viability in all ways. If Xavi just wanted a kickabout he should’ve played the scum.
To be honest Rico, I think Ben White would be an ideal candidate. He always looks, to me, to be a level headed character.
BigDen, the performance at times was really good too. Trossard was excellent.
He’d be my choice Cicero.
Rico. I hope to catch the highlights later.
They’re certainly worth watching BigDen. I felt a bit sorry for Holding when he slipped… The pitch looked awful.
Cicero, just thinking out side the box, as it has been done by other clubs, Ramsdale to a certain point, he does control the backline, however saying that I wouldn’t have an issue with Rico option of Ben White.
Then again Arteta might pick Rice, as he has experience, this way Odegaard can concentrate on players and let Rice deal with the refs.
Just saw the highlights, impressive. I’m pleased that Havertz took up a good position, this gives us a new dimension hopefully. Trossard bargain of the century. Barca looked like they were trying to me. Sour grapes Xavi, almost compensates for the scandalous officiating in the ECL against the entitled blaugrana.😂
Rico. Yeah pitch wasn’t good. Although I haven’t seen Saka,s pen miss Arteta bemoaned the pitch apparently.
I like Holding but he’s been overtken now and needs to go for his own good.
Agree re Xavi, bitter after defeat.
Agree re Holding BigDen, good bloke and all that but a move to West Ham, Fulham etc might suit him better. Any club who focuses on a defence first and last.
Raphina didn’t celebrate. Is there something to read into there?
Seems that Palace have made enquiries about Nketiah , , £40 million for Balaogun and £30 million for Eddie . I’d be surprised if we got that much for either of them but we know what Eddie can do are we sure about Balogun if he improves ?.Balogun is 2 years younger , is he the better bet ?
I’d have thought that ship has sailed BigDen, would he accept a place on the bench? 😂
Imo re Balogun, I think so. He seems to have more about him.
It must be hard sometimes for our younger players to sit on the bench and watch a player make mistakes after mistakes and keep getting game time and they don’t get a run
Arsenal apparently are in the midst of a mini injury crisis with 7 players having treatment and possibly unavailable for Monaco, they are: Rice, Zinchenko, Holding, Lokonga, Balogun, Nelson, and Trossard.
So maybe, Cozier Duberry, who got his first game in the senior team at the end of the Barcelona game will remain in the squad for the Emirates Cup?
Let’s hope that none of the injuries are too serious
The games have been fairly competitive ,I Wonder if they have come a bit too soon and not enough fitness training has been done and If they are knocks or strains .
Having said that the squad size is not sustainable , it seems that Palace are making a move for Nketiah . Prices being banded around from £25 to £35 million .
Thoughts
Morning
New post up.