Afternoon all.
It’s happened again. I go off on an overnight stay elsewhere and Arsenal dish out good news. This time it’s Dani Ceballos returning for another season on loan which is great news I reckon. Hopefully there’s an option to make the deal permanent next year but I’d be surprised if Real Madrid would agree to that. Honestly, I don’t understand why Ceballos isn’t playing for Spanish club but then I don’t understand why Bale has been cast aside either. Still, their loss is our gain because our midfield played better when he was in it. Certainly after Mikel Arteta arrived with his plan for the squad which whatever it is, is working right now. At least it’s improved the teams football. Instead of looking like eleven men chasing a ball around for 90 minutes, they actually looked well organised and together. Happy too which goes a long way in life. It wouldn’t have mattered if Arsenal had won the Premier League, if Dani Ceballos hadn’t enjoyed his time in north London, it’s unlikely that he’d have been so eager to return. A happy camp is an attractive camp.
Willian will have talked to many Arsenal players before deciding to move across London from Chelsea, as would Gabriel Magalhaes. Footballers are no different to you or I, they want to know what they’re walking into before they walk into it. Well, apart from Alexis Sanchez who clearly didn’t think training/playing under Mourinho would be a nightmare.
I cant see the club doing too much more now though. A midfielder and I reckon that’ll be it. Any other business is likely to be exits, including loans. If that’s the case, I think the club will have had an excellent transfer window. It’s pretty darned good already and way better than I’d imagined. Even so, I’m sure there’ll be people in the media or elsewhere who’ll not be happy unless Stan Kroenke throws another few hundred million into the club for transfers. Personally, I prefer to see a manager prove himself without trying solve every problem with money.
Dani will continue to wear the number 8 shirt in the forthcoming season.
Edu:
“We’re thrilled to have Dani back with us for the new season. We all know his qualities after an impressive 2019/2020 campaign, which ended with him playing a key role in our FA Cup success. We’re excited to add Dani to the list of quality players we are bringing in.”
Mikel Arteta:
“Dani was an integral part of our team last season and finished the season in excellent form. I love Dani’s passion and commitment and he’s a highly skilful player. We’re all delighted to welcome him back and we look forward to seeing him pick up where he left off.”
The loan agreement is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Rico:
Fandabedozi!
Yep, I’m thrilled. In fact I’m feeling pretty positive about Arsenal Football Club full stop. Never did I imagine we’d end the season with another FA Cup. This time last year, so much was wrong at the club and Raul, at least I assume it was Raul, let things drift on for far too long. Unai Emery had been struggling before the new arrived, let alone at the start of the new one. It was painful watching him struggle on the sidelines and I often wondered why he just didn’t throw the towel in but in the end, someone finally made a decision and after a few weeks of Freddie, in came Mikel Arteta. Results had to be forgotten, performances mattered more. They still do because logic says as performances improve, results will sort themselves out. The season was over in my mind but the FA Cup threw up a few cracking games in which Arsenal’s performances proved the theory on results.
The 2019/20 season kicked off with the previous season collapse still raw. This season however, we finished on a massive high and now we’ve a reason to be more optimistic than we have for a long long time. Behind the scenes there’s clearly been a lot of sorting out. Raul has gone, taking his little red book of contacts with him. The signings we’ve made are a mixed bag of brilliance in the making. Ok, Cedric and Willian aren’t youthful but every good side needs experience in it. Players who I wouldn’t consider to be an afterthought. They’ve been planned and a deal done. Cedric might be the one who has raised a few eyebrows but I don’t think we’ve seen enough of him yet to really judge him. Not every squad player can be top quality.
Anyway, this time next week, the players will be in action and I can’t wait. Well, I can but you know what I mean…
Catch up in the comments guys.
Afternoon, Rico.. and what a lush afternoon it is! Perfect for a dog walk – just got back 😉
Great read, btw. Did you have a nice night away? You’d better sort another one sharpish and then maybe Auba or Partey will be announced 😁 haha!
Chuffed Dani’s back…can’t wait to see how we line up at Craven Cottage – spoilt for choice! This time next week, I wonder if we’ll be buzzing after bagging 3 points?! Then see who has replaced Le Tiss, Nicholas and Thompson…
Soccer Aid is on tomorrow. Yaya Toure has been kicked out! Due to a joke about prostitutes!
Scott.. I’ll be shocked if we don’t end up with Partey! MA is a long term admirer.. this has gone on for so long… he has to end up in NL….
Hi Rico and all well written, It’s definitely a good sign to see any player especially a top player we have on loan want to come back and play another season under Arteta.
Must admit I would like to of been a fly on the wall when Willian asked Giroud about arsenal
I bet Willian’s relishing the thought of playing for us, who wouldn’t?! 😁 Can’t wait to see him in our colours….
Afternoon Sue, thanks. Perhaps I should push the boat out for a weekend so we get both sorted. Lol
Things gone a bit quiet about Houssem Aour from what I watch of him he looked good and could help our cm being a right footer
Hi Geoff, Arsenal during Giroud’s time was different to Arsenal now I’m sure. But the club’s history will never change
Geoff.. it’s been mentioned today that we’ve agreed personal terms with Aouar… negotiations ongoing… watch this space, hey?!
Omg if we got him & Partey – euphoria 😆
Hahaha, love it, Rico 👍
afternoon all!
I read Torreira and Sokratis are in the way out (almost confirm)
Who is more important? Aour or Partney?
I Think is Aour.
If we sign both Partey and Aouar, I’ll be amazed.
Sue, I couldn’t find anything on our pre-season game yesterday. Who did we play and what was the score?
If we sign both Party and Aouar, I will fly.
I think the arrival of Dani Ceballos means we will drop our interest in Auaor and go for Partey who is much more defensively minded, which is our priority.
Twinsy Ryanair or Easyjet? 😉
Anybody watching the Iceland/ England game, it has all the hallmarks of a nil nil draw. Iceland with a massed defence, England without a clue how to break it down.
Just time to get another G&T before the second half starts.
Fly Emirates I’d have thought Cicero 😆
Maybe Ceballos will play in the deeper defensive role and we go for Aouar. Or someone totally random from Brazil. Lol
Hi Cicero.. it was England U21s… against Kosovo.. 6-0
With an ice and slice, Cicero?!
Although I’ve just seen we were beaten 3-2 at the Emirates today. Auba with both goals…
Thanks Sue, a slice yes but no ice. It waters down the gin, I keep the tonic in the fridge.
Aren’t Emirates grounded at the moment Rico?
Against Villa!
Who did we play Sue?
Probably Cicero, no idea really. Just the Arsenal connection with a slice of irony.
You answered my question before I asked it. Are you related to mystic Meg? 😁
Aston Villa beat us today.
Oops. There’s an echo.. 😆
That’s my middle name, Cicero 🤣
Willian, Ozil, Ceballos and obviously Auba played…
Hmm, a right load of old tosh from England, had to rely on an iffy 89th minute penalty and then Gormless Gomez returned the favour but the Icelandic player put the ball over the bar.
The commentators were talking, before the game, about a new golden generation of England players. Fools gold only though.
I only tuned in to see if Ainsley was playing…
Right time for a Ruby Murray, Home cooked chicken madras. Luvvly jubbly. No Kingfisher so I’ll make do with a couple of Becks. 😉
On the bench Sue, close but no coconut.
Thanks Cicero… enjoy your curry 😉
That England display was best described as Turgid ,boring , depressing . We have seen it before, a packed defence stymying a slow moving sideways passing crab like advance .
Preliminary matches like this just ruins the object of international football. Until they restructure the way the final tournament’s qualification is achieved . Games like today will become the new normal and the paying public will leave it alone.
WSL Arsenal Vs Reading today, live on BBC Red button 12.30.
Good morning all.
Our U23s played against the spuds, at their training ground. Finished 2-2… George Lewis and Balogun with the goals…
Are all our U23s self isolating after visiting a plague zone? 😉
Cicero our under 23s are fine we wore full space suit including oxygen bottles
So, the mighty Aston Villa beat Arsenal 2-3 and the doomers are primed as Twitter is on edge, so how long will it be before the first twerp tweets ‘Arteta out’ or ‘be careful what you wish for?’
or even ‘buy some fecking players’ – you know the drill…
Seems to me as if Arteta is working on some changes to our tactical system and wants to keep it in house thus the QPR and Villa games being behind closed doors. We don’t even know the line ups as that could give it away, all very suspicious, hmm…
Ozil playing, hmm, does that mean the mystical No.10 who plays when he feels like it will be integrated again – has Arteta decided that he may as well use a player who no matter how unreliable will cost the club a small fortune? All very suspicious….
Saliba played, Willian played, hmm, did Arteta play a back four with Willian on the left or through the middle or in the double pivot? All very suspicious….
Lacazette played, hmm, was he playing his withdrawn false 9 role with Aubameyang on the left flank where he seems the most effective? All very intriguing and suspicious….
Right, I’m off to make some toast, hmm…..
Hahaha Kev,
Trials-They are exactly as their name suggests 🙂
If we win them, the whiners tell us they’re only trials, yet if we lose…..
Scott, you’ll be pleased to know that my toast was a triumph.
It’s a balance Scott isn’t it, our players have had their playing regime pulled and pushed all over the place so you have to wonder how their bodies will react to the overloaded and compact programme coming up, especially now the short sighted clubs in the Premier League have voted against 5 subs?
Will we see a spike in soft tissue injuries around the halfway point of the season?
Arteta is a very smart operator and he’ll be aware of the risks so we might have to kiss goodbye to the League Cup with a team of U23’s. Even the early stages of the Europa will be problematic, we really need some luck in that draw.
16 minutes Arsenal one nil up. Kim little the scorer.
Kev, it’s a very fine balance, especially this coming season.
I hope we have a real crack at top 4 as our priority, and see how the other competitions unfold.
Miedama and Roord make 3 – 0 at half time.
Great half for the women, Cicero…
The carabao cup – 2nd/3rd round – draw takes place after the Brentford/Wycombe game…
Poor Reading… 😆
Afternoon guys.
Not much news about today other than Grahame Souness saying we’ll still be disappointed this season. What a chump that ghastly bloke is!!
12:19 Kev, as I wrote the other day, results don’t always mean anything. This is the time to try things, experiment, not once the season has started etc. Especially when the preseason is so short.
Shame the five sub ruling was voted against. Arsenal wanted it apparently.
Dirty old lot are Reading.
Well done to our women. .
We’ve drawn Leicester away in Carabao cup….
on the 21st September?
Yesterday’s score was not very encouraging.
After having seen several national team games, I have to recognize that Portugal is the best team in Europe (he did not play Ronaldo).
Tough draw.
I think it was Bruton, very lucky to stay on the pitch, cynical fouls that could have resulted in injury.
6 – 1 and it it could have been several more.
Our U23s will get the job done Rico, no worries.
They’ll certainly give it a good go Cicero.
Our under 23’s and a few squad players..
New post up now. By mistake. 😂