I’ve just watched Croatia v Brazil . I use the word watched loosely because I got bored and and mentally switched off. Until extra time and penalties. I’d have loved it if Gabriel Martinelli returned to Arsenal with a World Cup winning medal but I’m loving it even more knowing he’s now on the number 9 bus home. Anthony really is a diving cheat who in the end, got what he deserved.

I noticed Michael Oliver has got himself a smart looking sun tan..

Away from Qatar but not very far away, Arsenal spanked Lyon 3-0. Goals from Gabriel, Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira did the damage. The woodwork spared the French club from an absolute hammering. The more senior players played the first half, the younger ones, the second half. Then came a penalty shootout which gives either an extra point and we won that too. Just.

I think it’s great that Arsenal are playing these matches because of fitness first and foremost but also, it gives the younger players time on the training pitch with the senior guys, and competitive minutes against stronger opposition than they’re used to.

I think we’ve worked really hard in training, that’s why in the game we look like this. We have discipline and everyone working really hard. It’s a great message to everyone, we don’t come here for holiday, we’ve come here for work. We’re taking it seriously even though it’s a friendly game. We look forward to our Premier League game of course but we have to focus here first to make everything right to build what we actually work on every day. We test ourselves in the games and it’s a good result for us.

Of course it’s not a holiday, the players would be training and playing if they were back in the uk but it’s far better for their bodies to be doing this in warm weather than in the cold and frosty conditions in the uk. The next game is on Tuesday against AC Milan and then a week today, we play Juventus.

Brazilian defensive midfielder Danilo has declared his readiness for a move away from Palmeiras according to TalkSport. Edu has been an admirer for a while, or at least that’s what the headlines on NewsNow have been saying since last winter. The links to Arsenal have gone up a gear after the player trained with Brazil back in May and spoke to the press.

Being there with the best in the world, players I’m a fan of, only helped me. It was very good. I made friends and learned a lot. I got closer to Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Dani Alves.

We’ll see, just as we’ll see if the rumours about “Arsenal ‘reach agreement to sign Evan Ndicka’ are true when January arrives. Evan Ndicka is out of contract at Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of the season and the Express report that he will move to Arsenal then. 6’ 4”, left sided, makes sense. Positionally, Danilo makes sense too. I do love a good rumour.

So, Brazil are out, one of Netherlands and Argentina will join them in just a few hours and then tomorrow, it’s England v France. Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka v William Saliba, who will be on their way to Dubai soon after the game?

Have a great evening guys,,,