Morning all.
Don’t you just Sunday football every now and again?
Two bore draws played out, the first at Villa Park as the home team were held to a 0-0 draw against Man Utd and then Chelsea only managed to take a point from their home game against Nottingham Forest which ended 1-1. Forest played the last 15 minutes with ten men after Ward-Prowse was sent off.
The best though was down on the South coast as Brighton faced Totts. The away team went 2-0 up before the break and were quite comfortable. Gary Neville muttered something along the lines of how Brighton needed to be careful in the second half otherwise they might concede a few more goals. Brighton weren’t careful, they were on fire as three second half goals won the game. Hilarious.
Add to the above, Man Utd are hogging the back pages with the will or won’t ten Hag get sacked and Big Ange is talking about the worst second half performance he’s ever seen. Or something like that.
Meanwhile, Arsenal, still with a number of players out injured and others not 100% match fit or struggling to find form, beat Southampton 3-1 without a “proper” right-back on the pitch. One could add, without a “proper” striker too.
I think the opening 7 fixtures have been tough, really tough. Away trips to The Etihad, Villa Park and Totts are never easy but we picked up 7 points from 9. Let’s not forget either that we were without Declan Rice against Totts and played with 10 men for more than half of the City game.
Our Champions League fixtures have been good too. A draw with Atalanta away from home was far from a disaster but the highlight so far is the 2-0 defeat of PSG. Plus, Bolton were despatched with ease in the League Cup.
After this international break, it’s highly likely that both Jurrien Timber, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu will be back fit, perhaps Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko too. I’m sure Kai Havertz will have recovered from the “injury” which has forced him to withdraw from the German squad too.
The Arsenal players who are away on international duty for the next two weeks are David Raya, Mikel Merino, William Saliba, Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli, Riccardo Calafiori, Jakub Kiwior and Thomas Partey. I’m sure like me, every Arsenal fan will be hoping all return unscathed.
On the return of club football, Arsenal’s schedule up until the next international break is tough:
October:
A – 19th Bournemouth
H – 22nd Shakhtar Donetsk
H – 27th Liverpool
A – 30th Preston
November:
A – 2nd Newcastle Utd
A – 6th Inter Milan
A – 10th Chelsea
So yes, having our injured players return as we go into the next tough period will be a huge boost for Mikel Arteta. At least for the Preston game, Arteta will be able to rotate his players an bring in one or two younger players as he did against Bolton.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico
Another victory, although not straight forward.
I would prefer Arteta to get the game won before rotating players, but he gave Sterling & Jesus the opportunity to show what they could do. Unfortunately it wasn’t much. We looked very blunt until Trossard and Martinelli came on.
Arsenal are a different beast with Havertz up front. If he is out for a period we will struggle to break teams down. I hope his injury is minor.
So far So good.
Morning Rico and all.
I already can’t wait for these international games to finish.
I’m looking forward to the Liverpool match, unless I am mistaken, they have not played any of the top teams yet.
Morning Pete.
I get that but suspect Arteta believed both Sterling and Jesus would have had more of an impact on the game than they did. Hoped even that he wouldn’t have to sub them..
Morning Geoff, I don’t think they have and nor have City barring us I think.
Afternoon Rico et al,
I can’t say that I was pleased to hear the news about Havertz, I mean what if he’s out for 2/3 weeks? The knee can be a tricky joint, it takes a lot wear and tear – I mean look at what it’s done to Jesus…
Losing Havertz could be as damaging as losing Saliba.
I hope it’s only precautionary!
Afternoon Rico and good post. Yes, we’ve clamoured for rotation and that’s what Arteta gave us. GJ and Sterling didn’t do well but with them they team had such dominance. Let us hope, it was an off day, because i pray Arteta keeps rotating – they need game time and Saka and co need to rest also.
Nobody has even mentioned that with Partey at right back, our attacking moves were also hindered. Because of his lack of pace, he couldn’t bomb up and down that flank to support Saka. This should also explain in our inability to have the cutting edge in the first half, in spite if our dominance.
Afternoon Kev, I just think it’s Arsenal being smart. All the German press do is slate Havertz when he plays so perhaps he’s happy to stay at home.
Afternoon Daniel, thanks. I mentioned that in yesterday’s post. Now only did have neither Timber or White in tandem, he was also doubled up on and sometimes found three players trying to stop him.
It seems a few people don’t like or rate Sterling, but he as only played what 2 or 3 games with us, and it wasn’t that long ago that we questioned Arteta over some other the players who he brought in and who have now come good and that doesn’t even count Raya, I reckon we need to relax and wait and judge both Sterling and Jesus at Christmas and see how they perform with Ben White and co back from injuries. and remember Partey could Easly leave in January as well.
3 more very difficult games in November, with travel.
In December, 7 games without leaving London.
Despite Partey playing at right back on Saturday the danger was generally coming from the other side.
Calafiori looks to be an outstanding attacking player, but he has been caught out a number of times defensively (particularly for pace). It’s similar to the Zinchenko situation. He’s being given licence to roam around midfield, which leaves a large hole at left back.
He’s still learning his role in the side, so I’m sure his positioning will improve, but he is central to the risk/reward strategy that Arteta is using against teams that come to defend. There will be some awkward moments.
Good afternoon everyone
Just the tonic for a Monday during the boring international week….and that was reading the post. Otherwise NN is full of the usual crap. Thanks Rico
I guess that Arteta will be rotating the permutations at RB/LB. There will be games in which it will be White and Timber. others it will be Timber and Calafiori. Others will be White and Tommy while in some it will be Tommy with Calafiori.
Where that leaves Zinchenko I dont know but he will come in if one of Saliba and Gabi need a rest/are injured and anyone of the above four FB incumbents take the CB position. And remember, we have Maldini, Heaven, Lewes-Skelly to play as well. But theyre still young so their time will come. but not yet.
With regards Calafiori he is still getting used to EPL. Plus no Merino on his side. So we wait and see with regards his tactical directions. I guess that is why in certain games he will have a different job or the team a different FB. For example I expect Timber to play at LB if White is fit. I dont suppose Arteta will risk Calafiori on Salah. But he will be used in others for sure.
Agree re Calafiori, he needs time to adapt and I think he will the more he plays. However, when both White and Timber are fit, I think they’ll be the first choice left and right back.
Ditto Geoff re Sterling, he too is adjusting to Arsenal and his new teammates although I’m not sure Jesus has it in him to bounce back. A new challenge in a less demanding league might help him.
Devil, I’m quietly confident that if Timber is fit, he’ll be tasked with stopping Salah..
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13915093/Man-City-defeat-Premier-League-Sponsorship-Rules-Unlawful.html
If City win then they might as well get rid of the FFP rule, will the premier league appeal only time will tell.
I see that three players have dropped out of the England squad, Mainoo, Konsa and Gibbs-White have made themselves unavailable. This means that Rice and Saka ,will play all of both games as the muppets at the F A have not called up any replacements.
Partey has pulled out of the internationals.
Excellent news Cicero..
I’m amazed that Saka even gets close to starting in the England team as I’m forever reading how superior Palmer and Foden are?
🤣 spooky Kev, I thought similar after reading about Carsley has to get the best out of Palmer for England to tick..
Foden is a bit part player for City who rarely starts a game for them, I’ve long been of the opinion that he is grossly overrated by the sports hacks. I sincerely hope that Carsley rates him higher than Saka and picks him for the next two fixtures.
I have to admit Rico, ashamedly, that I’ve not yet read anything that Carsley has said or listened to any of his pressers, in fact, to coin a phase, frankly my dear I couldn’t give a damn, or something along those lines.
I would love to see Saka on the subs bench for the next two internationals just to see the result, but I guess he’ll play the full 180 minutes+…
I would prefer to see Saka and Rice not selected so they can have a good rest.
I just saw the headline Kev. I find the international football, certainly England, an absolute bore.
As do I Cicero re both.
This court case with City is sounding very messy with city claiming a victory and the league claiming it has nothing to do with the other charges.
Evening all
Just a passing comment re the Ladies drubbing at the feet and heads of Bayern this evening. Despite scoring 2 goals themselves, the start to this domestic season has been notable for the side’s lack of goals, strange really for a team that is universally known for its free scoring individuals!
Preamble over. Who can be surprised when the club aka manager preside over the departure of their record goal scorer for free without seemingly making NO attempt to keep her! Madness absolute madness. Little wonder the goals have rather dried up. Also the personnel are almost unrecognisable from this time last year. Has the team gelled, no it has not, are the new players bedded in? No they are not!
I’ve no idea what’s has or is going on behind the scenes but whatever may be occurring it is not helping the ladies progression.
A defeat at Chelsea this weekend and their season is effectively over in terms of the League and as for Jonas assertion that they’re goos enough to win the Champions league you have to ask, what has he been smoking???
I’m sad to say that this season is almost derailed already unless something quite unforeseen happens to positively turn it round.
Im not holding my breath!😡
Does any know why Vivianne Miedema left in the first place, or did just see the wheels falling off
Her contract was up, she had a bad season due to injuries and the chance for a lucrative move to boost her pension pot was a no brainer.
Dreadful result for the ladies but I don’t think all is doom and gloom. Not just yet anyway.
As Cicero said Geoff, her contract was up.
Can’t wait to watch England later. Not!
Morning guys.
Saka goes off injured!
Some say Hamstring others say groin whichever we need him back at Colney and don’t let Carsley patch him up and play him again.
Let him play Palmer to death , shame that Rice didn’t pick up another yellow and get the Finland trip off . This competition is a toytown one no better than the Rumbelows cup.
Having said that Arteta needs to give him some time to fully recover and with the form that Sterling has been showing it looks like Nwaneri should get more pitch time
Unbelievable! Pakistan first innings 556 all out. England first innings 823 for 7 declared. Pakistan second innings 220 all out. England win by an innings and 47 runs.
It seems like the touchline squatter will be looking for a new job after last night’s debacle.
Muddled, selection process, muddled thinking, muddled tactics. Why play a “false nine” when you have two of the real things on the bench?
At times we seemed to be playing 2 1 7 formation with just Stones and Colwill in defence and only Rice in midfield while all the rest poured forward without any cohesion whatsoever. Pickford had his worst game in an England shirt to date and Carsley should have no hesitation in dropping him.
It had to eventually happen to Saka, talking about overplaying him . Hope it’s not his hamstring .That Carsley is totally clueless and I really wonder how many players want to put on the England shirt .
Morning guys.
I’m an old cynic, I reckon Saka will be fine.. 😂
Carsley is another Southgate and this time he should stay with the under 21’s imo.
New post up by the way…