Morning all.
Dani Ceballos:
š“āŖļøšŖā½ļøBelieve + Determination + Effort + Work + Team = Great victory!šš»
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang:
āWTF didn’t even get the VAR on this one.”
The second relating to Alexander-Arnoldās tackle on Bukayo Saka. Itās a question many in the footballing world would love answered by Mike Riley. Especially Eddie Nketiah who misses out on Wembley tomorrow because VAR scrutinised his challenge which had initially been deemed a booking.
Cedric Soares:
“It was a great win for us. In football, in some moments, you need to be able to suffer to win. I think we are improving a lot at this. The spirit is getting better and better in the team and we showed here without suffering you cannot win.ā
Between the ups and downs of our Europa Cup, League Cup and Premier League campaign, the FA Cup has so far served us well. Apart from our first fixture against Leeds, every other match was away from home. The Vitality Stadium, Fratton Park and lastly, Bramell Lane. Next stop, Wembley which I think is ridiculous. Why on earth did the FA ever think that playing the semi-finals in London was a good idea? Itās great for Arsenal and Chelsea this weekend of course but for the other two clubs, itās a long day out.
I much preferred the semi-finals being played at a neutral ground, keeping Wembley for the special occasion. The big day which every football fan in England wants their club to be involved in. But as we all probably know, the new Wembley stadium needed to be paid for, so thatās why the using of neutral grounds was abolished from 2008. More fans, more corporate ticket sales, more concessions = more money. Not this year though.
Our last FA Cup semi-final. A carbon copy of Wednesdayās Liverpool game. Perhaps with a tad more good fortune. City had a goal ruled out when the ball was judged to have gone over the top of Cechās crossbar and behind the line. Replays showed it hadnāt. The woodwork helped us twice too but other than that, hard work, discipline and doggedness got us through to the final. Holding was part of the defence that day, just as he was in the final against Chelsea.
Rob Holding is one of just five players from the squad Arsene Wenger selected to face City, who are still at the club today. Xhaka, Bellerin, Martinez and Ozil the outcast. The rest have gone on to pastures new. So many gone within a period of just three years.
A quick peep at the Man City lineup from that game suggests that itās similar for them. A different keeper, Kompany has gone but KdB, Sterling, Silva, Aguero and Sane are still there. Plus another few hundred million pounds worth of players who have since joined them.
Utd, Chelsea and Leicester City are fighting for 3rd & 4th place in the league. Two fixtures left, just two points between Chelsea in 3rd place, Utd in 5th. Should Chelsea and Utd secure top four next weekend, what happens to the Europa League placing the FA Cup winners are awarded? Stupidly, it goes to club next in line on the league table whereas perhaps it should go to either the FA Cup runners up, or semi-finalist. If both losing semi-finalists havenāt already qualified fo a place in one of the European competitions, then how about a playoff to decide who wins the place?
More money for the FA to pocket, another day out for football fans and a potential Europa journey for a club who otherwise, European football is nothing more than a dream. Why should PL clubs be awarded in a competition which is open to all League in the game?
Finishing with a couple of injury updates.
Latest injury update on Pablo Mari:
- Now off crutches after surgery and moving freely without aid
- Has returned home to Spain for a short period, where he continues to receive specialist attention and extensive therapy
- Will return to the UK later in July to resume his rehabilitation at our training centre throughout the close season, with the aim of returning to full training in September
Latest update on Gabi Martinelli:
- Currently recovering in a knee brace after his operation, which took place during the last week of June
- Surgery was successful, with consultants and our medical team very encouraged with Gabiās current progress at this stage of his recovery
- Currently at our training centre every day receiving specialist attention and support from our medical team
- Will continue his recovery throughout the close season, with the aim of a return to full training by the end of 2020
Rotten for Martinelli but better news about his team mate, both of whom will eventually be a big part of Arsenal and Mikel Artetaās drive towards challenging for the league.
For now though, the FA Cup is all we have to go for.
See you in the comments guys.
Arsenal.com have just released this injury news too.
Bernd Leno
Right knee. Sustained moderate ligament sprain during Brighton and Hove Albion (a) on June 20.
Latest update on Bernd:
Now participating in outside running, with the aim of starting ball drills in the next few days
Calum Chambers
Left knee. Ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during Chelsea (h) on December 29.
Latest update on Calum:
Progressed to the next stage of his recovery and is now running and integrating outside with light ball work
Will continue to work hard throughout the close season period with the aim of being back to full training as soon as possible this calendar year
Morning Rico and all.
Rico. I believe Sane has left for BM.
Odd that, whilst defending his clubs spending, Pep cites Wenger as being something of a spendthrift. He claims that they wanted Sanchez but couldnāt afford him etc.
Iām a big fan of Pep but he does talk nonsense sometimes.
The excruciating Mourinho had it right about the peculiar and perturbing decision to throw out their ban.
Hi Rico and all Can you Imagine how the FA would feel if a 4th division team or lower won the FA Cup
Am I miss understanding or taken out of context what Arteta said in an interview,
Arteta said that he hoped there was funds for this transfer season and if this is correct to me it sounds like he is saying they promised him money for transfers but now he has been told it may not be available untill next year
Morning One and All
You have to ask yourself āwhere is the justice?ā when Eddie Nketiah is forced to miss the biggest game of his short career due to an over officious 3 match ban and Trent Alexander Aronold esquire just suffers a yellow for a challenge that was almost exactly the same in terms of recklessness. We lose our young striker for 3 games whilst Vardy escapes completely and TAA receives only a caution, itās endemic favouritism and itās one of the reasons why I canāt stand Liverpool.
Hear hear, Kev š
Nice one, Rico š I’m looking forward to tomorrow š hahaha!! Everything is quite exciting now – race for Europe, relegation, promotion….
Kev. Most of us know thereās has been little in the way of justice where Arsenal and referees are concerned. Itās obviously bent but, until we get a few diligent journalists with integrity, who donāt mind missing out on their freebies, itās gonna go on. Thereās a Truly massive story waiting to be told but with the amount of kickback money involved, few editors will want to rock the boat.
If it all came out, the PL would go the way of the Italian league.
Actually I think that Arnoldās tackle was worse because he could see and measure his opponent.
Morning Adam. I lost sight of contracts etc, I knew Sane was off, just forgot heād already gone. Lol
Agree re Pep, but then thatās managers all over imo. Always have something to say about others whilst forgetting what theyāve done.
Hi Geoff. It was bad enough when Wigan won it, just days after being relegated. But itās a fair solution I feel but fair and football donāt always go hand in hand.
Thanks Sue, youāll be having a footie feast for a couple of weeks then. Lol
What I found odd was Mikel Arteta playing down the Alexander-Arnold challenge, saying it was part of the game.
Doesnāt want to irritate Riley before tomorrow perhaps…
That dirty little sod, I can’t stand him!! Yes, Rico, you could be right… how they’d love to screw us over tomorrow!
According to Boris, fans could be back in October š
They probably will anyway Sue should the opportunity arise. Saying that, City might not be in the FAās good books after their successful appeal.
I reckon thereās more chance of a second lockdown in October…
Hi Sue from what I herd on our news channel in Australia the premier league are hoping to allow the fans back at the start of next season which will be great for use and the game, hope fully you don’t get the virus 19 come back in Victoria were I live last month we had all most no cases but we are now back in to stage 3 restrictions looking at stage 4 with 428 new cases and 3 deaths in 3 days
allezkev…11-01….It’s not only Liverpool who the FA protect.
Go back many, many years and have a look at Manchester United decisions. Thats partly why I cannot stand the favoured Cockney Reds.
You could very well be right, Rico! I have to say as much as I’ve missed going and can’t wait to go again.. how different will it be to what we’re used to!! Not sure if I’ll want to go right away!!
Hi Geoff.. just when you think we’re getting back to some normality… bang, the cases spiral…it’s going to be with us for a long while yet…
Good old Boris, now if he can sort out the economy, unemployment, tax dodging tech companies, then Sue, I might rent out one of his bikes….
Hi VCC.. I remember the days when the Mancs were everyone’s darlings! Fergie time..the only penalties that were given at Old Trafford were to the home team… Fergie had them all in his back pocket!!
Not as bad now… Liverpool are closing in… can’t stand either of them…
Footy humour have been ripping it out of Liverpool lately (love it!!)
This made me laugh –
https://twitter.com/FootyHumour/status/1283496016071790593
š¤£š¤£ Kev…
Adam, I canāt see any news outlet really delving into the PGMOL, I mean thereās so much going on with FIFA, UEFA, Man City, Qatar slave labourers, the next World Cup the Euros etc and all the media talk about is Love Island. Itās why I ignore most of them both print, radio and TV theyāre all shit…
Kev. Youāre probably right.
Just me daydreaming again.š
Thatās right VCC, weāve had years of Liverpool being untouchable and itās not really gone away despite the long gap between them being champions and it continues today and yes Man Utd enjoyed a lot of favourable decisions mostly because all the referees were terrified of Ferguson, but with Liverpool it doesnāt matter if the manager is Paisley or Charlie Cairoli theyāll still get an unfair rub of the green…
Morning all.
Itās great to see Arsenal fans united in their condemnation of officials.
Itās happened for way too long, and itās been so blatantly obvious that I canāt believe there hasnāt been more said about it.
I guess the media around the world these days seem more intent on making the news than they are just reporting it.
Thereās nothing wrong with daydreaming mate, I spend an inordinate amount of time in that state, it helps me to forget about Camden and Westminster Councils shutting off dozens of roads and constructing cycle lanes that nobody will use so that cycling czar Will Norman can justify his gold plated TfL salary….
So if anyone has a relative stuck in an ambulance in a traffic jam created by TfL and cycling activists who unfortunately passes because they couldnāt get treatment, then Will Norman is the one to blame and sue….
I wouldnāt be going Sue, not until things have greatly improved. You wouldnāt even get me on a train/bus right now.
I’m with you, Rico… public transport is a no no as far as I’m concerned.. it’s my car or nothing!!
We’re taking Coco on holiday next weekend (Devon). been booked for ages… contemplated cancelling, but we’re going to go… don’t really know what to expect. Have to take bloody face masks.. I know they’re for our own good, as well as others, but I can’t stand wearing them…. at work and now outside of work… argh!!
A colleague of mine has just returned from Burnham on sea and said it was fine, hardly anyone about….
Anyone heading for North Norfolk should turn round and go home, judging by the number of caravans, motor homes and generally over loaded cars heading for the coast the resorts will be jampacked.
We cancelled ours which was due in September Sue. Masks are awful, especially if one wears specs..
Has Coco got her own bucket and spade? šHave a fab time.
Rico, if masks with specs are bad try them with hearing aids as well. š
Where would you have been heading, Rico? Will you re-book or…..?
Haha I think her paws will dig a bigger hole than a spade, especially if we bring a bone š thank you, Rico š
Double nastiness Cicero.
Dorset Sue, will wait until next year now. All being well.
š re Coco.
Well at least that’s something to look forward to, Rico š
I’m watching Huddersfield v West Brom… the Baggies are 2 wins away from promotion…ā¹ I can’t stand them, Rico, they’re sooooo boring!!
There’s a 6 pointer tonight – West Ham v Watford, now that should be good!
Cicero you are right , the broadrs are packed , people are moaning because the pubs and restaurants can’t keep up with the new restrictions . There’s no space to moor the spaceships that Richardsons , Herbert woods and the like call boats and when the do manage to moor there are no seats at tables in pub gardens and staff are getting hammered by them. I heard yesterday about a man being quoted over Ā£1000.00 for a long weekend for 4 people.
It’s almost as if they believe that the virus has caused them to suffer at home and that the locals have not been in lockdown too but now that they are on holiday they can do what they want and it’s the locals fault that there are queues everywhere.
It’s certainly not nice at the moment.. We have been locked in for well over 100 days and if it goes on like this looks likely that is going to stretch to 200
ESR scored Huddersfield’s winner!! You ripper!!!
Leeds are up then!
West Ham 2 up already, been a good game so far…
Wow what a goal from Declan Rice šš
As we were crowned invincible, Leeds were relegated.
ESR & a Willock. A lucky charm for tomorrowās match perhaps… lol
What a season finish,a cup semi final and two games against teams avoiding relegation.
Chris Willock in the Premier League facing his brother Joe, thatāll be cool…
Emile Smith Rowe scores the goal that gets Leeds back to where they belong, itās always a good game with Leeds, well it has been since Revie left.
I wonder if Leeds will approach Arsenal with a bid for Martinez?
His value to me has skyrocketed, Iād say heās worth at least Ā£30m, donāt laugh, when weāre talking* about Ā£70m for the goalkeeper at Chelsea, then Ā£30m is cheap…
Personally Iād keep Martinez and see if Bayern come in Leno?
Chris Willock is signed up with Benfica Kev but on loan at Huddersfield.
Martinez is considered homegrown too which is a bonus but yep, Iād keep him rather than Leno If came to it.
Let’s hope it’s a lucky charm, Rico!!
Would Leno go to Bayern? Wasn’t that long ago he said their superiority is boring and sad and that every season is over before it’s begun š He’s right though!!
I can’t wait to see how Leeds fare…Phillips and Ayling have been superb.. wouldn’t have minded either at the Emirates…
Ayling was one of our academy boys Sue, he left when he was about 18.
Phillips is very good, but a season in the Prem will see his value race out of our price range.
Anyway Rico, as the Bard of Sky says, Its Game Day!!!
Yeah I thought he was with us for a while back in his early days, Kev.. obviously didn’t work out…
I think it’s safe to say most players will be out of our price range š
Kev, And itās live……
Morning to you, Sue and all.
New post up now