Morning all.
What a hash we made in defending the corner which led to their opening goal. But you know what, on another day Xhaka won’t slice his clearance, instead it’ll hit row z or somewhere nearby. Despite that, the Swiss international ended up with a big bottle of something I’d like to get my hands on for being the best performer on the pitch.
He was so much better towards the end of the season and he’s clearly carrying on from where he left off and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this was the first of man motm awards. The best odds on this happening, check SportNation.com.
I thought Elneny had a good game too, he popped up everywhere on the pitch, making tackles, good passes and generally a busy guy. Pedro racked his studs down the Egyptians Achilles which could have left our man out of the game for a few weeks but thankfully for us, he was up and running about soon after. Pedro however, was shown a straight red card for his cynical challenge. That decision shocked the pundits, but I thought it was much deserved and could this be a sign that referees are going to toughen up this coming season. I hope so.
Talking of which, that nasty git Gary Cahill, the one with the bony elbows, stuck one right into the head of Per earlier in the game. Blood and more blood left the big guy with stitches after being substituted. What are the odds on him getting a few red cards this coming campaign, well, have a look at SportNation.bet.
For those of you who like a flutter on the above two site, please note you’ll get your money back on Arsenal if Spurs get beaten – £100/customer.
On in his place came Sead Kolasinac and if he hadn’t already, he certainly would have won the Arsenal fans over after he nodded home our equaliser. Great cross, fine header. 1-1.
That’s how it stayed until the final whistle but we had some great chances to blow them away just as we did at Wembley a couple of months ago. Xhaka drew an excellent save from Courtois, Lacazette had previously hit the post and Walcott would have been through on goal but for a little touch from Cesar Azpilicueta and a few other opportunities came our way too. Lacazette did everything bar score but already he looks at home with his new teammates..
Anyway, no extra time so straight to penalties we went. The new Abba system was in place. So much fuss is being made about the new system but it’s simple, it merely replicates a tennis tiebreak.
Up stepped Gary Cahill. 1-0
Walcott and Monreal both scored from theirs, with great spot kicks I hasten to add, so now Chelsea had two chances to put the pressure on.
Courtois blasted his high and then Chelsea’s new boy Morata, fired his wide.
It was all down to Ollie. Score and we win. He certainly didn’t disappoint… Four perfect penalties!
The boys, all who had been huddled together on the halfway line, bombed towards the Frenchman as the celebrations begun. The injured, not quite fit enough etc joined in with the celebrations and everyone looked happy, very happy, as did Arsene Wenger. Although the latter was huffing and puffing a bit after walking up the Wembley steps to receive the trophy.
That game might well have been a friendly, but as Arsene said a short while ago, when these two sides meet, it’s not a friendly. And judging by the tackles going in, it certainly wasn’t.
All in all, another great day at Wembley for Arsenal and the fans, but Friday is when things hot up and for the next ten months. That’s when performances and results really matter.
When that git Cahill returned to the ball into the area for the slimey Moses to score he had his elbows up and smashing into an Arsenal player’s face again, if you noticed. Still, as Fat Frank Lampard would say, “he ain’t that sort of player”. Of course not. Just as Moses or Willian would never dive and Drogba would never feign an injury.
Morning all, like the post Rico.
I went yesterday and most of the fans around me seemed to agree Elneny is underrated, he was everywhere and i had him as motm, however fair play to Granit, he was good too. I thought we looked assured and other than a couple of shots (Pedro the main one of note) i am confused as to where these missed chances the pundits speak of were….?
I actually thought Theo looked alright when he came on, he was certainly a willing runner and seemed to stretch them a little….mind you they down to 10 for most of his cameo!
If we get the points at Leicester now that would be the perfect start and get a signing over the line and ill be a happy gooner….well as happy as we gooners get at the moment anyway.
I don’t know about gazing at snow covered mountains tbh but when I look outside of my kitchen window I tend to think that I must get a new shed.
Morning All
Morning Rico
BFG won’t be fit for Leicester I reckon, he must have had about 9 stitches, so the defence that finished yesterday is probably the defence for this Friday?
So many players go up with their elbows up, I know it helps give them height etc, but so easy to slyly stick on on an opponent…
Thanks Bumba. I much prefer Elneny to Ramsey.
Morning Kev, will Mustafi not be fit for Friday?
Of the last four competitive games we have beaten them three times – why is it a surprise?
That is the trouble with Arsenal fans – always quick to underestimate…
So Arsenal have won the pre-season treble, Emirates Trophy and that pot in China vs Bayern, another one on pens.
But have you all noticed how Liverpool, ManUre and the Spuds have all been getting some good pre-season results against good european teams, it points to a really competitive season.
Good post Rico, now for Leicester, I wonder if Nelson will stay in the squad, maybe his development is the reason Wenger is holding back on Lemar?
So pleased to see Holding put in another assured performance, he is going to be such a big player for us, I just wish that BFG was hanging around to help guide him beyond this season, also I hope that the club retain Chambers and if they must loan him out get him to sign an extension to his contract.
And what about Kos?
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Great to beat Chelski once again to pick up the Community Shield. However, the icing on that cake was to see our hit & miss Swiss make Cesc Fabregas look quite ordinary by comparison. Well done Granit!
Koscielny is suspended for Leicester and Stoke
Kev – It would be good to hang on to Chambers. If he is sold, I’m sure the club will insert a buy-back clause.
Thanks Kev, even Brighton did well against At Madrid yesterday, but as much as these teams have been getting good results against strong sides, I think pre-season results mean little really. A lot of players won’t be at 100% both fitness wise and commitment…
Mind you, I hope Poch thinks he’s sussed it and fails to add to his squad… 😉
Morning Cg.
Morning all, hi rico.
What a relief to get that win under our belt. Anyone who says it was only a friendly, must be mad. That was so not friendly. Cahill is known for using his elbows, and anytime a player does that, it is never accidental, imo. There is always intent there.
He did go into see Merts and apologize though, after the game.
Pedro showing his studs, then trying to do Elneny, deserved his sending off too.
I hope we can trim some dead wood, to make room in our large squad for one or two more classy players. No-one wants Wheelchair or Ozil though, and the others are hanging on in there because the club were too over generous with their wages. A move would mean a pay cut. However, if they have faith in themselves as players, they should feel a move can only be good for their future careers. A couple of seasons whilst contracted, without getting a game, and they will be finished.
Perhaps a pay cut now, and playing regularly, would extend their careers.
Has the Lemar deal died a death?
Morning all and a fine post, Rico.
Two players who are vastly underated imo are Elneny and Giroud……….Goodwood rather than the plenty of Deadwood we have !……………………..talkng of which, maybe Wenger is slow on the transfer incomes because of high wage Deadwood he cant seem to shift !……………although I`m with Kev` in thinking we have done our business and that will not go down well as with enough money in the bank to buy Neymar we should not be haggling !…………………..Wenger is always behinf with the new prices, he wants to pay old prices and next year he will pay this years prices but they would have gone up again !…………………….I mean……. we had £200M in the bank before we got £140m for last seasons 5th place and thats not taling in the sponsors and the £3M every home game !………………Wenger`s mattress must be ten foot deep !
Again I say, with our 5 closest rivals in CL, this should be our best chance of Title glory, something I`ve wanted for years……….being out of CL to win league !………………..the only thing trhat mucks up my equation is ………………….Wenger !………………and his lack of activity !
Cahill tries to snap Alexis’ leg a few season back and got away with it-not even a foul if I remember correctly.
I am not sure what he was like at Bolton, but certainly since joining Chelsea, he’s been a thug.
PSG looking at Mbappe, according to rumours.
How??!!!
Hi Meerkat. Not sure re Lemar. Sky Sports reckon we are still in talks..
Thanks Lc.
How ??!! Scott……………………………………..because UEFA are testicleless !
🙂
Made me laugh that Neymar paid his own buy out clause and the loop hole was that they/him/Neymar dont have to say where the money came from !……….unbelievable !………so why cant Wenger go to Monaco and deliver his mattress in exchange for Lemar ! hahaha
CG, maybe, but I think if we sell him we might regret it, you only need a couple of flying elbows and you’ve got Maitland-Niles at centre-half.
LC,
It really is a joke.
What if Chambers goes and we get Virgil? (spelling)
True, is Virgil really that good, £60m…?
Mind you, sinceNeymar the price is probably £70m now.
Scott
Are you sure Alexis didn’t dive that few seasons back?
Kev
When you looked out your kitchen window at your shed, was it above 10 degreesC
BFG, more like BFS. Had to go off for stitches! Terry Butcher would be in stitches ?
GG, maybe it was Santi.
I really like him Kev, strong in the air…
Gg, I resisted… 🙂
66’F in old money GG.
But rain is on it’s way, which is normal for an English summer.
Luxury!!!
Looks like Chelsea are in for him now Rico…
Yes GG, I’m thinking about firing up the barbecue
Chelsea are in for everyone Kev…
I’m glad that a possible snapped leg to our player was funny to some.
Scott, don’t be so sensitive. It was a lighthearted funny….
As was mine.
Ox to Liverpool seems to be gathering pace…
Rico. What about the Ozil to Barcelona rumours?
I like those Adam… 🙂
Afternoon Rico and All
Algerian international and right-winger Rachid Ghezzal completed a medical with AS Monaco yesterday, according to Foot Mercato.
His move should be official imminently, with a 5-year-contract expected to be signed in the next 24 hours.
The player was desired specifically by manager Leonardo Jardim.
Left footed wide player playing at times on the right.
Plays both flanks cutting in from the right.
In my opinion he was the one Jardim wanted to replace Lemar.
But I could be wrong again.
Afternoon Fred. Good news for us, or Barca….?
We have had 3 bids turned down for Lemar,
one of the reasons being a replacement,
Ghezzals a very good player and was free.
I thought the Ozil & Ramsey-less midfield looked bloody good yesterday…. shame they’ll be shoe horned into the starting eleven.
The Lemar rumours seem to of died a death…shame as I like the look of him.
Another player I like the look of is Goretzka unfortunately I think he’s on Bayern’s radar.
We round up the latest Arsenal transfers rumours from around the British and European press on Sunday, August 6.
The battle to sign Thomas Lemar from Monaco seems to be hotting up.
The Daily Mirror say Barcelona are now also interested in the 21-year-old, along with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.
It is reported the Gunners are ready to up their offer to £50m, having seen three bids already rejected.
Goretzka – is that the Russian Lee?
Arsene Wenger ‘locked in talks’ with monaco
over £50 million switch for Lemar.
Sun 1 hour ago
You never know Lee
I reckon Barca will get Lemar now they have oodles of cash.. Yet again, it seems like we’ve been too slow…
Yeah Rico, played in the same team as Kalashnikov our powerhouse free signing!
We`ve had oodles of cash for years ! …………………………………….look where it has got us !………………everywhere but 1st ! 🙂
He’ll be ours Rico. 🙂
He’ll do me Lee, another busy player..
🙂 Adam.
Isn’t Goretzka a German.
##WARNING##………..Contains scenes of a distressing nature ………………..notably, Alexis happy !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnA7i2EJZZ4
https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/894283968580911104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.footballtransfertavern.com%2Fpremiership%2Ftottenham%2Frival-arsenal-and-chelsea-fans-in-strange-alliance-during-community-shield%2F
Kolasinac what a beast and no slouch pace wise either ?
Think I’ve mixed him up with a different player we were linked with Kev, a Russian midfielder..
Mike Dean for Friday night.
Will he be wearing his Spud kit underneath, Potter ?
Virgil van Dijk has put in a transfer request !.
And this (pretty much what I said before) from Sky Sports……….
17:51
ARSENAL TO SELL BEFORE BUYING
Sky sources understand Arsenal are expected to sell players before they strengthen their squad in the remaining month of the summer transfer window.
The club has signed Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac but will look to sell several players before they consider making any new signings.
Arsenal have thirty three players in their senior squad.
“The number is too high,” Wenger said following their Community Shield win against Chelsea on Sunday. “We will let some players go. Too much competition for places is detrimental, but not enough competition for places is detrimental as well.”
It is understood Arsenal are not in active talks over Thomas Lemar at Monaco but have not entirely ended their interest in signing him this month after a bid was rejected last month.
LOL! Shutyerface LC;-) If you blnked you missed it! He looked grim in the first part of the clip, when they were arriving.
What you didn’t see was him kicking and screaming when Le Prof dragged him onto the pitch at the end, saying ‘you WILL be happy’, Hahaha.
He looked like a reluctant partygoer!
You could say re Lemar’s signing, ‘Act in haste, repent at leisure’ Or there are those that go with ‘ He who hesitates is lost’.LOL.
We’ve done the first one many a time. And the second one as it goes.
Hahaha…….M`kat, you`re probably right !………..I never argue with a woman as I dont want my face imprinted on a frying pan !
How about Ozil, was he subdued ?
and dont repeat this to anyone else on here, but does the Ox always look a bit seriously grumpy ?
🙂
Someone mention arguing with a woman… 😉
Evening guys…
A fight you can not win !………..complete waste of time and energy !
🙂
I`m thinking of becoming a “let off steam” therapist for women only !…………………… I think I`ve found a way to numb pain !, let me explain, I used to torment my missus by pinching her, she would warn me that if I did it again she would punch me !…………..so i`d pinch her again, she would then start punching me and I`d lay on the floor laughing my head off, the more she hit me the more I would laugh yet weirdly I`d feel hardly any pain because of my hysterical laughter !…………………..cant do it anymore as my wife would probably hurt herself punching me with all her ailments, especially as Im` as solid as a Kolasinac bronze statue !………………….however I do miss the beating up, so may offer this therapy for women to get it off their chest/let off some steam etc`……………………as long as I laugh I will be ok!……….hahahaha…………………….that laugh was not because my wife hit me ! hahahaha………………………neither was that one !
Indeed Lc..
A free trial offer for you Rico and I will wear a Wenger mask ! hahaha
You’re mad Lc… 😉
I will watch the game later when I will be homeward bound
Good start
Don’t worry LC, I’ll tell you a couple of jokes before I headbutt you!
The Ox? Grumpy? Oops, I’ve said it, doh! Sorry;-)
He’s just a bit slow on the uptake. Sense of humour bypass.
Reiss Nelson could be the reason that Wenger has reigned in his interest in Lemar?
Nelson may only be 17, but he plays with the swagger and confidence of a player of 22/23.
That’s why I think that Wenger has put his chequebook away.
Morning guys – the new post is up now, it’s sponsored so don’t be too harsh… 😉