Morning all.
Last summer, Arsenal’s head of medical services Gary O’Driscoll, left the club to join Man. This summer, current physio Jordan Reece is about to join him. Should we be concerned? Probably not. Of course medical people are extremely important in football as they are in our own lives but there are thousands of physios in this world for Arsenal to choose from and in any case, sometimes a new approach can work wonders.
Tonight sees Borussia Dortmund take on the mighty Real Madrid in the Champions League final. One English player will end up being champions as Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham go head to head. Sancho has certainly reignited his career again since Utd loaned him out. The 24 year old winger has been linked to Arsenal this summer. I can’t see such a move happing but these days, I wouldn’t be too quick to write any potential transfer deal out.
International football kicks off this month. There are friendly fixtures taking place, Copa America fixtures, World Cup qualifying matches and then the two big tournaments, Euro 2024 and Copa America. A footballing feast or a footballers nightmare.
Understandably, Mikel Arteta is worried about the mental health of his players and warned the ever-expanding football calendar is putting more stars at risk of psychological exhaustion. Speaking at the Globe Soccer Forum in Sardinia, he said:
We forget that we are only counting acute injuries, muscle injuries, that keep a player out of for three weeks, six weeks, etc – that’s very easy to diagnose with an MRI scan. The problem we’re going to have is that one day that player is going to say: “I’m not fit to play because mentally I’m not in the right condition”. You cannot put that player into an MRI scan; so the doctor is going to have to decide whether that player is available to play the next week or in three months.
I think he makes a very good point as a players fitness is always just physical. Mental exhaustion can be just as debilitating as physical exhaustion and sometimes, one can follow or cause the other. The increase in fixtures in the Champions League is crazy. Whoever dreamt that idea clearly wasn’t thinking about the players health. More fixtures mean more money and sadly, I think that’s it in a nutshell.
On one hand we have the FA scrapping cup replays to prevent a fixture pileup in England which was always going to cheese lower league clubs off yet on the other, we have “people” in Europe adding more fixtures to what already is a very busy footballing schedule. Factor in the international tournaments taking place this summer, the upcoming season is going to be tough, very tough.
I know that there’s a temptation to suggest that clubs in European Cups earn more money which helps build a stronger and deeper squad etc but no amount of money in the world would have prevented Jurrien Timber from suffering a season ending injury on the opening day of last season. Nor has it stopped Thomas Partey from missing a vast chunk of the season again or Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko or Gabriel Jesus breaking down at some stage. We’re not the only club who have had to deal with injuries either, in fact I’d say compared to some, we’ve faired well.
I imagine every footballer wants to be playing in Europe just as I’m sure they’d all love to be playing for their country too but sometimes, it can come at a cost.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and contemporaries.
Zubimendi has, it’s been reported in a low grade Catalan sports paper, intimated that he only wants to join Real Madrid or Barcelona.
So that is that it seems.
And even if it isn’t I’m sure that Edu has other alternatives lined up, in fact it might be the actual case that Zubimendi isn’t really our first choice No.6 anyway – or DM in old money.
It’s a transfer rumour that has become a tad tiring and not particularly interesting and tbh whilst you kinda think he’s the main target for that job, I’ve watched him on TV and he didn’t get me off of my seat.
Zinchenko and/or Lokonga to Bayern Munich has elements of ‘agents putting the story out there’ and/or click-baiter looking for clicks by putting two and two together.
I guess that there could be something in it but Bayern are as tight as a you-know-what and won’t want to spend any proper money on either if there’s any truth in it.
Today is of course is the Champions League at Wembley and City Hall have turned central London into a no-go football zone, so thanks for that Sadiq, you complete arse hole.
Last weekend it was all those dumb, entitled cyclists taking over east and central London today it’s half of Madrid and Dortmund, next weekend? Who knows?
Righto off to sit in a traffic jam, happy days…
Good morning Rico.
Fixture congestion is set to get worse with FIFA’s decision to introduce their latest money spinner The Club World Cup. No doubt it will take place in some middle- eastern desert where human rights are a concept yet to be recognised.
One of the reasons for the success of this year was the injury record and much of thst must go to the credit of the medical staff.
Over the years we have had varying medical records whoever we get needs to be able to keep our recent record going.
Morning guys.
Agreed, apart from the usual suspects, we didn’t have too many long term problems. Timber’s was freak I think.
The number of fixtures these players are expected to play is ridiculous.
I’d not heard about the club World Cup Cicero. Another stupid idea from Europe.
No FIFA, a world cup for clubs that could lead to a fully international club league . All part of the Fifa / Uefa power struggle.
Afternoon all! Any important news?
If you’re right, how childish. Why don’t the two just grow up and put the game before money.
Morning Rico and all.
I wonder what would happen if a club refused to play some of these compations claiming it is on health and safety grounds, otherwise clubs will have to have 2 teams, one for the premier league and one for all they other matches.
Just thinking outside the box, are we heading heading for the premier league to be cut down from 20 teams to only 10 teams and have premier league 1 then premier league 2 then 1st division 2nd dicision ect as a way of having a step closer to a super league.
It was 5 years ago today that Jose Antonio Reyes died… 🥲
Hi Geoff. I doubt clubs will want to pull out of any competitions. The league cup has been considered a Mickey Mouse cup for years but clubs still want to win it because it’s a trophy and a winners medal..
Well Trump was found guilty on all charges JM. But no Arsenal news, sorry. ..😉
I just flicked through the channels and TNT have got three talking heads on the Wembley touchline and the game doesn’t start for hours yet.
Kev, you should get out of town before the after match mayhem kicks off later this evening.😕
Cheer up Kev , it’s only 1 month to the Wimbledon fortnight.
Queens before then… lol
Rico UEFA could easily have changed the format without increasing the number of games… but greed as always wins out.
Kev,
What you said about Zubimendi matches what I heard a few weeks ago. I even heard more specifically that he thinks he’s going to Madrid in a year or two to play for Alonso. So specific that I believe it.
Good news though! Doing a little YouTube research and I want Joao Neves anyway. I think Arteta would love him. I haven’t heard any real links but if he’s available, he’s who I want most.
Absolutely Nigel, money has taken over the game, or over taken the game…
Ah, Queens the tennis warm up for Wimbledon, the tournament where all the Brits go out in the first week. Andy Murray, sorry SIR Andy Murray is teaming up with his brother, Jamie, to play in the men’s doubles and hoping to get further than the first round. I’m not hurrying out to the betting shop on that one. 😉
I never watch that one..
What a player that Vinicus Junior is, the pace, ball control and trickery is amazing. If we get to face Real Madrid, Ben White will have his hands full.
Wimbledon grass court tennis is the real thing Rico. The only thing wrong with it is the BBC coverage, constant swapping from one channel to an other, it drives my wife potty.
Cicero, thanks for the advice and yes, I did bugger off home early, the traffic was what you’d expect in Khan’s London…
Potter, thd good thing about Wimbledon is that a lot of drivers that are based in SW London, work the tournament for those two weeks and that means they aren’t in central London and I’m busier than ever. 😉
Nigel, Alonso at Madrid sounds plausible. Let’s see how he copes with Mbappe, he didn’t really have to deal with any big egos at Bayer, Real will be a different gravy.
Don’t know anything about Neves, not been a player I’ve watched but he does seem to be getting some positive traction in the gossip pages
Could be worse Cicero, there could be adverts… 😜
There is that Rico. 😉
Apparently Mikel is on holiday now with his family so there’s little chance of any signings. 😜
Good for him, he’s probably on the beach now coaching all the kids. 😄
The window doesn’t open until the fourteenth, Rico. I expect Edu has everything under control.
Wenger used to get berated for having a holiday at the end of the season.
Me too Cicero, I think he and his team will do the club proud again. 🤞🙏
Ha ha Kev, his own especially.
Omari Hutchinson Could be in his way to Ipswich then. Another academy player who tried to run before he could walk.
Good afternoon Rico and all
Just saw that KEvin Campbell has been hospitalized following sudden illness and fighting for his life
Afternoon Devil, that’s awful news…
Yes. having read further its kidney failure it seems.
That doesn’t sound good at all.
Apparently he has been having treatment for a few months and its just turned worse .
I wish him all the best .Good luck Kevin.
Kev I have to do some more research on Neves passing stats.. but he really looks like an Arteta player. I’d be thrilled to see him come. Like most players, Arteta and his staff would make him even better.
Stats lie, I could make 100 accurate passes if the player I passed to was a couple of feet away…
Didn’t Denilson’s stats look good. 😜
Latest rumour is Chelsea want Sesko…
But Sesko has said he wants CL football. Specifically Arsenal
Surely Champions League football would be a big draw for Sesko.
Even Man Utd want him.
I value Sesko over Gyokeres, Martinez, Osimhem etc. the last two specifically have baggage and a large fee/wages.
Means nothing Devil.. Mudryk wanted Arsenal according to the media, probably the same ones writing about Sesko and Arsenal.
I thought you’d only seen him play once Devil? 😂
You’d like to think so Cicero, but so is money…..lol
I understand that Chelsea have to sell players before they can buy to avoid breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules. For the same reason, United have to unload some of their very high earners in order to drastically reduce their wage bill. Neither club will look as financially attractive to prospective transfer targets as they once where.
yes only once Rico. But the once I saw was enough I think, he is a good leader of the line and is very similar to Giroud……but he has much more speed. Martinez and Osimhem I see playing in Italian Serie A and read all about them…..and they will bring a lot of baggage imo….which could translate in disharmony. Osimhem even had a fallout with club directors over his attitude.
If we really want Seskothen we will need to get the deal done on day one or we may either loose him to someone else or have to pay a lot more for him as interest grows.
he may want to play in major compations but at the end of the money will be the big fact in who he and his manager pick
R I P Rob Burrow C B E, the Leeds Rhino’s player who died yesterday of motor neurone disease aged just 41. Rob, together with is boyhood friend and teammate, Kevin Sinfield raised £14 million for research into the disease and for the Rob Burrow Centre for M N D in Leeds.
Good afternoon Rico and all
a whole load of players are being let go by Arsenal.
First Team Arthur Okonkwo, Mohamed Elneny. Cedric Soares
Academy
Mauro Bandeira, Omari Benjamin, Luis Brown ,Catalin Cirjan, Noah Cooper, Henry Davies, Ovie Ejeheri, Taylor Foran, Hubert Graczyk, James Hillson, Henry Jeffcott, Tyreece John-Jules, Alex Kirk ,James Lannin-Sweet, Kamarni Ryan, Kido Taylor-Hart
That is 19 players while there are three more from the Ladies’ team
Talks are still going on with three players namely Hein, Cozier-Duberry and Walters. There is confusion over the latter as it was claimed that he didn’t want to sign. but it seems that there are talks of renewal
The best of the youngsters should go out on season long loans, to Championship teams or overseas clubs. That would give them the chance of regular football and to impress both Arteta and other clubs who may wish to buy them.
It would also free up spaces in the u 23s for the youth team players who have been impressive in the age group games.
It seems likely that Arteta/Edu have decided to skip a generation and bring on the more promising teenagers.
Fulham are said to have ESR at the top of their wish list and are hoping to snap him up as soon as the window opens.
Cicero, that is why I am a firm advocate of the B club which plays up till the Championship but cannot go further. The only problem is that English football does not allow it. Imagine them playing regulary week in week out against tough adult opponents.
We will soon get an idea of who are the top 11 players in our club who dont play for our senior team.
I wonder if we can get a club somewhere around Europe to be the B club.
With regards ESR I just hope we dont sell because he is a player I really like…..but if we were to do business I would rather he went to Crystal Palace and Michael Olise came the other way. We would be getting a top player for a top player, a homegrown Englishman and also one who knows the league.
Imagine having wing options between Saka, Martinelli, Olise and Trossard.
Even though the majority of you dont want Rashford (and I believe its all concocted by internet) I still would love him at Arsenal. because I believe Arteta will turn him around and he will give us quite a great number of years.
Afternoon guys.
New post up.
No need to tell me it’s rubbish as I already know 😂😂
In principle, a brilliant idea Cicero but it depends on their length of contract imo.
That’s interesting re Walters Devil as I thought he’d already said he’s leaving..