Morning all.
If the last two England performances are anything to go by, Bukayo Saka could soon be back home, or at least enjoying a break from the game. Boring and uninspired, that’s England under Gareth Southgate. A bit like Arsenal last season really. Jack Grealish showed his worst traits by winning a penalty and yes, in my opinion he won it after his theatrical fall conned the referee into pointing at the spot. A second penalty for England saw a selfish Jordan Henderson step up and miss. Hilarious!
I hope Southgate can get his players to produce something more dynamic when it matters. He has the players at his disposal who are capable of taking England deep into the Euros. This has led to much more support from the England fans and media alike. It’s the best opportunity the country has had in a while to do really well in a major competition with many picking up different betting sites whilst using the different games available at these top uk platforms. Let’s hope this England squad can finally experience success.
I think if Gareth Southgate’s men fail dismally, the FA will be looking for a new man to take England to the World Cup.
The Euros kick off later this week and Arsenal have just four players involved. A small number compared to previous years.
Bernd Leno:
Tuesday, June 15: France v Germany
Saturday, June 19: Portugal v Germany
Wednesday, June 23: Germany v Hungary
Granit Xhaka:
Saturday, June 12: Wales v Switzerland
Wednesday, June 16: Italy v Switzerland
Sunday, June 20: Switzerland v Turkey
Kieran Tierney:
Monday, June 14: Scotland v Czech Republic
Friday, June 18: England v Scotland
Tuesday, June 22: Scotland v Croatia
Bukayo Saka:
Sunday, June 13: England v Croatia
Friday, June 18: England v Scotland
Tuesday, June 22: Czech Republic v England
The most interesting fixture as far as Arsenal fans are concerned has to be the England v Scotland match when Tierney could be up against his teammate Saka. That’ll be a battle worth watching as will that fixture in general as the two British teams go head to head.
The Euros Final date is the 11th July so at least Saka, Xhaka, Tierney and Leno will have a few weeks of rest before the new season kicks off although they’re likely to miss a chunk of pre-season.
In July of course, the Olympic Games take place and both Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhães will be competing with Brazil. The Gold Medal Final takes place on 7th August so if Brazil are in it, we won’t see either player turning out for Arsenal until September at the earliest I’d have thought.
The new season kicks off on the 14th August. Arsenal’s pre-season fixtures start on 13th July with two matches in Scotland against Hibernian and Rangers. Then we head off to the United States to compete in the Florida Cup along with Everton, Inter Milan, and Colombian side Millonarios. There are rumours which suggest we could be playing Chelsea and Toots in early August too. Friendlies? I don’t think so
So there’s a lot of fixtures for Mikel Arteta to try and test some of the younger players like Balogun, Azeez, Ballard etc before making a decision on whether they’ll head out on loan or not. Hopefully Arsenal’s pre season will be televised.
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico, thanks for the post, there really isn’t anything to write about is there?
Anyway, I saw enough of the England game yesterday to see that under Southgate’s uninspired leadership that watching England is still going to be difficult. England will be hard to beat with three at the back and a hard working central midfield, but the inspiration will come solely from Grealish and Saka, both players will been on the receiving end of a good kicking and Bakayo needs to learn from the Villa man, Grealish goes to ground easily but he avoids injury and Bakayo has to do the same or else he’ll suffer.
Grealish is a constant target, just as Wilshere was and there’s the difference, Our Jack wouldn’t go to ground and he got kicked out of the game, he should still be the fulcrum of the England team but his style saw him battered and beaten into what we see now. Both Saka and Smith Rowe need to learn from Grealish – who incidentally hasn’t long come back from a long injury layoff after being clobbered.
I thought that the referee yesterday was poor, he missed a succession of fouls, the kind of fouls that Spain or Germany or France would have got, England like Arsenal also suffer from the vagaries of the refereeing profession.
Morning Kev, all.
Totally agree. I worry for Saka, as you say, he’s a constant target for the fouls.
Is VAR in place at the Euros? It should be.
Hi Rico.. The pitch invader and that penalty miss were the highlights for me 😄
Hi Sue, ha ha. Nothing better than seeing a Liverpool player missing a penalty. Can’t believe he grabbed the ball so swiftly. Should have left it to a striker.
Grealish.
Bale.
Vardy.
Bruno.
Alexis.
Superb divers over this past few years.
VAR was supposed to sort them but no, it helps the cheats.
I’d add Kane, Son and Salah to that list, Scott. I call Salah ‘Platoon’ (after the movie – check out the dvd front cover – carbon copy!!) 😂
Yes, Rico and listening to his excuses afterwards – cringeworthy 🤣
The penalty fiasco should be laid down at Southgate’s door. He should have designated the penalty takers beforehand…..but that is something which many will say that it escaped their mind. A good coach will see that nothing escapes his mind. Especially at national level during friendlies when wholesome changes are made.
And I felt irritated that Henderson did not let DCL take the kick….because I like DCL
England have top talent and top squad….but as Kev pointed out the management and coaching are crap. I have a sneaky feeling that Mr Arsene 4th/3rd place trophy Wenger will be asked to take the English national team in his hands after the Euros😉 😉 😉 😉 You will arrive to the semi…AW will claim its the 3rd/4th place trophy only to discover that there are no Champions league for national teams 😂😂😂😂
Joking apart….it will be great if AW took over the English national team. At least…the football on offer will be
oooopppppssss forgot my manners…..Good morning Rico and all
And I enjoyed reading the post.
I spared myself from listening Sue.
Spookily Devil, I was thinking similar about Wenger and England just yesterday. At least we’d see England go forwards then. The defending would be all over the place though. Lol
Morning to you Devil and thanks.
Keep your eyes on Italy my friends.
They have a team which can go all the way to the final and win it.
Mancini has a squad built as a team…no fancy primadonna ballerinas among them…they work for each other. And Mancini has called players not basing on names….but basing choice on how they fit into his system and with each other.
Calvert Lewin, as a striker, needed the goal to boost his confidence and to make him feel like a proper member of the squad and a proper captain would have known that and would have acted accordingly to help his team mate out, but it seems that from what I heard, as I’ve not seen it, that Henderson was giving it a case of me, myself and I…
But isn’t that typical Liverpool FC…
Yes Sue, missed a few lol
I doubt that Arsene Wenger would ever manage England, not before he’s managed France that is…
Wasn’t Gerrard similar Kev?
Morning Rico and All
Did not see England’s match but it sounds like watching paint dry would of been more fun.
If the coach forgot to mention who takes penalties, and from what I read Marcus Rashford was the captain then he should have stood up and named the penalty taker and not just let Jordan Henderson take it because he wanted too.
It would be interesting to see Wenger and sir Alex come back as a coach maybe not for Arsenal or Man u – just to see if they change there coaching style now they have both had a good break from coaching and seeing it more from a spectators / commentator’s side.
DG, Southgate had designated Rashford and Ward-Prowse as penalty takers. As ward-Prowse had been subbed the next designated penalty taker was Calvert Lewin. The decision to take the penalty was Henderson’s and he has been warned to stick to the manager’s instructions in future.
So no blame can be laid at the manager’s door….in that particular instance.
Henderson was being entirely selfish, His record for England ….50 games and no goals. Says it all.
Arsenal superstar Thomas Partey has been kicked out of the Ghana squad after arriving late to training.
Ghana Soccer Net claim that Partey has been dismissed from the national team camp after arriving late to team training days before the side travel to the Moroccan capital of Rabat for a friendly.
Manager Charles Akonnor is clearly unimpressed with the big-money Arsenal signing’s failure to turn up on time, with the ‘commitment and leadership’ of the national team’s vice-captain now in question.
Ghana Soccer Net add that Partey has subsequently been cut from the squad for the international friendly against Morocco, suggesting that the midfielder could feature later against Ivory Coast.
It’s certainly not a good look for Partey, with the report adding that the 27-year-old was actually ‘reluctant’ to join the squad, despite already being in his homeland for a holiday.
Although I dont agree with disrespect that can only be good for us…..as he will rest instead of playing.
And this contradicts the above…..
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/thomas-partey-truth-ghana-absence-20757837
Hi Geoff, I think it was Henderson wearing the armband at the time.
If Partey has upset the Ghana coach, maybe he won’t be selected for the ACON, every cloud… lol
DG, your comments at 3.29 and 3.33 just go to show what a load of old b******s is passed of as news.
Morning Rico, are we under attack by Big Tech again?
What’s happened to the site?
They want to silence any dissent. 😀
Morning Kev, I think we’re all enjoying the sunshine.. 🌞
It’s raining here 🙂
Morning guys.
nothing seems right when I try to access. its all mixed up Rico.
Thanks for letting me know Devil. Mine keeps switching how it appears on Safari
Doesn’t the league table on this site look awesome?? I know its alphabetical order….but its great to see us in first place….I hope we stay there
Where does that table sit as you look at the site Devil?
Multiple sites are down bbc guardian etc etc may explain air silence. I always preferred snail mail
Format has changed again.
I like this one 🙂
Hey Scott, is Victoria the Australian version of California?
Morning All
Kev I”m not sure what California is like but Victoria is like a huge jail every time some one cough’s we go into full lock down only allowed out to get food and pay bill been like that for the last two weeks and our stupid premier does not know when he will lift it and he and his deputy refuse to answer questions
Kev, did you see Moller is heading out on loan?
Arsenal plan to loan out a significant amount of youngsters again next season, with striker Nikolaj Moller amongst the players who is set to head out on temporary transfer.
Midfielder Ben Cottrell, who made his first-team debut last season, is also set to go on loan for the first time, as will right-back Ryan Alebiosu.
Others who have been made available for loan include George Lewis, Jonathan Dinzeyi and Tim Akinola, who all failed to make a major impact in their first season at the club.
Defender Harry Clarke, who impressed at Oldham Athletic this season, is set to go on loan again along with Zak Swanson, whose spell at MVV Maastricht was cut short due to injury.
Jeorge Bird.
the league table on the present site appearance is down at the bottom….similar to the one I get on smartphone.
Usually its on the right hand side…upper corner by the side.
It’s great to get these younger plays more experience but if We keep putting these young players out on loan how are our under 23 meant to win
I see NN are claiming that Liverpool should buy Saka and Willock from Arsenal for 72.9 mill pounds for both, what a joke Saka worth more than that on his own.
Kev, Victoria is the most “left” of our states, no question.
Their premier is further left than you can imagine, and even though he’s failed dismally in the past 12-18 months, is still widely supported.
His decisions directly caused the deaths of hundreds of people, something he’s lied constantly about and still has support.
I can’t explain it.
Yep, it’s the Aussie version of California.
Geoff, I reckon he’s worth closer to 100 million in his own.
site gone bananas again
Scott there are plenty of us Victorian’s more than happy to send our premier os in a leaking boat and his side kick with him.
Rico are you getting that bored that keep changing the way the site looks haha
G’day all.
The site looks perfectly normal on my PC using Microsoft Edge, and on my Amazon Fire using Bing.
Thanks Devil, same for me.
No Geoff, there’s a glitch somewhere.
Scott/Geoff I watch a bit Sky News Australia as they’re so unwoke and tell it line it is, even if it means offending a few snowflakes and they were talking about the state politicians in Victoria and what a fine bunch of muppets they are. Good luck Geoff.
Yes Rico I did see that about the U23’s.
Well they can’t blame Steve Bould this coming season can they so It’ll be interesting to see how it goes?
Any idea who’s replacing Bould Kev? Whoever it is, they’ll struggle..
I thought he wanted to go back home and spend time with his family and have some time out? Pff!
BREAKING NEWS
Ex-Arsenal Women boss Joe Montemurro has been appointed as the new head coach of Juventus Women.
Montemurro confirmed his departure from Arsenal in March and left the club in May after leading them to a third-placed finish in the 2020-21 Women’s Super League (WSL) season.
The 51-year-old Australian joined the north London side from Melbourne City in November 2017. He steered Arsenal to the WSL title in 2019 – their first in seven years – and also guided them to Continental Cup success in 2018 during his tenure.
Montemurro will take charge of the Italian side from July 1.
Juventus, founded in 2017, won all 22 of their games in Serie A this season and retained the league title, but they were eliminated from the Champions League by Olympique Lyonnais in the round of 32.
Not heard anything Rico, personally I’d move heaven and earth to get Freddie back although he seems to have itchy feet but his best coaching work has been at Arsenal.
Maybe the club are sending so many youngsters out on loan, or plan to, as they see the Academy as a revenue stream.
You know, raise the profile of our youngsters and then sell them for a good price!
It was a policy that Raul apparently was in favour of, I was reliably told, and might still hold sway at the club?
I would too Kev, he seemed really popular with the younger players and I got the impression they looked up to him. I’m not convinced he was the one who got itchy feet though..
As long as we get to keep the cream of the crop I suppose that would be good practice. It worked for Southampton after all.
Kev, Sky news is the only media outlet in Oz without an agenda.
They do what all of the media used to do-report the news.
Now, the hour is and presenters make it all about themselves and their opinions, and the story is secondary.
Should read journo’s , not “hour is”….
Yes Scott, television journalism in particular used to be about the facts, reporting the story in an even handed manner and not letting your own personal feelings and prejudices get in the way.
But now that’s been completely turned on it’s head and is the reason why audiences are turning increasingly to the Internet for their news.
These days the reporters on the BBC, CBC, ABC and most of the other channels are staffed by political activists masquerading as journalists.
You have to wonder who is training them and what their agendas are but whatever those agendas they’re losing viewers hand over fist?
That’s it Kev.
Reporting the news suddenly became making the news-thats not the media’s job.
The worst offender here in Is are the ABC, a tax payer funded media organisation who are so far left, they couldn’t find the centre with a map and compass.
Absolute fukktards who wouldn’t know how to present an unbiased report on any political issue.
The public are starting to resent them a d hopefully, they’ll be shut down one day.
Why should I fund wankers like this???
Just to add, talk show hosts and certain media analysts have their shows that allow them to offer opinions, and we all have the option to watch them, but I’m talking about alleged news outlets who’s history and reputations revolve around telling us what’s happening in the world, without their own spin on things.
Good morning from my smartphone today. The site on laptop is all funny bananas so am not bothering to attempt as it would be useless.
I was thinking about the team I would love to see next season…..so it’s time for some fantasy manager…..
GK…..Onana, Woodman
RB…..CHAMBERS, Aarons
LB…..TIERNEY, Doig,
CB….HOLDING, GABRIEL, SALIBA, MARI,BALLARD
MIDF… PARTEY, ELNENY, AMN, Neves, AZEEZ,
CAM….ESR, WILLOCK
W/F….SAKA, PEPE, MARTINELLI, NELSON
CF….. LACAZETTE, BALOGUN
There is still one place left to fill in a 25 man squad. And with 12 HG players we would have a healthy squad.
What do you think about it?
As you can see I only strengthened the obvious areas. Onana, Woodman, Aarons, Doig, Neves. That is 5 players in while I promoted Ballard and Azeez. One might say that Ballard, Azeez, SAKA, ESR, Willock, Martinelli etc can all go in list B. True. And we can get other players to fill up the senior squad places. But what’s the point of getting someone like Willian and he takes the place of someone who can offer more for less money? I would have loved to see Nelson play the minutes Willian got.
And it’s easily noticeable that I did not get any players on loan.
Obviously if we get someone like Berge then that would have to be someone out….in that case it’s Elneny.
Players out…..Leno (18), Soares (5), Kolasinac (8),
Mavropanos (8) Bellerin (20), Xhaka (20), Guendouzi (18), Torreira (15), Auba(30), Willian (10)……total Eur153M.
You may differ in the prices of players due to Covid situation. But I felt feed to be realistic ones
Fees not feed…lol
Morning Devil.
There is no question we have the basis of a very good squad, just a few tweaks and we will be competitive.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/daniel-ek-arsenal-takeover-latest-24278505
The plot thickens
Potter, a few weeks back I was told this will happen, and if it doesn’t, it won’t be through a lack of trying.
The guy is serious, as are the ex players/legends behind him.
I thought you wanted Nick Pope at Arsenal Devil 😀
Morning all.
Still don’t think Kroenke’s will sell up unless a ridiculous offer is made. Sure hope I’m wrong though.
Morning Rico. Who knows what Ek would bring? Would he provide as much money as the Kroenkes have? Would he load his borrowings on the cub?
He won’t be a sugar-daddy will he? I doubt he’s a romantic. His links to ex-Arsenal greats is shrewd though as it softens his image in comparison to hard-nosed businessman who doesn’t give a damn, Stan, the bete-noir of so many supporters.
Yes I prefer Pope Rico. But it seems that he will not be available.
If he is to be available then yes I prefer him over anyone else
Morning Adam, we know what we get with Stan, and it’s not that great.
Who knows what this gent will bring, but mediocrity is what we have.
Limpar is the link..:…the others aren’t just names that Ek has latched on to, that’s for sure.
I wonder how Involved the other guys will be after a deals done, it it happens, but surely they wants what’s best for the club.
Morning Adam. Agreed, so many questions about Ek hang don’t they. He’s wealthy, but if all his resources buy the club, how he expects to finance the rest being the biggest.
On paper, him taking over seems the ideal solution but I’m not convinced we’d not be jumping out of the fireplace into the fire. A club won’t be successful on emotion alone.
Just teasing Devil.
Rico. I think that most Arsenal fans would say that we don’t want to be like Chelsea or Man City while simultaneously moaning that we haven’t signed this or that player. Those 2 clubs have changed the face of the PL and I don’t believe for the better but, as long as they have excellent managers and are supported financially by their owners, it will be difficult for any team not funded in that way to break through.
I read that MC want Grealish and Kane and that Chelsea want Haaland ? It’s a good job that FFP has done such a good job isn’t it?
And they said that the EL was bad because it was all about money. I don’t know why Chelsea and City, along with Barca and Real Madrid don’t break away and play an endless stream of vanity matches really.
I certainly don’t want Arsenal to be like City or Chelsea because I don’t like the kind of owners they have. I think you know what I mean by that. I still think it’s possible to beat either club to the title but only with the right tools. This coming season should be the best chance we’ve had for years to at least secure a top four spot. Or shock the nation by winning the PL. 😂
Rico. I’m counting on that then 😀
Morning all
No one is going to send them self broke just to buy a club to show off.
I maybe wrong but I recon that some of these ex players that are supporting EK will also own shares in Arsenal for ex-sample Ek 60 percent and 40 percent buy ex players and silent business partners.
Adam, I prefer to go beyond that since I dont like moaning that we haven’t signed this or other player. My preference would be the Ajax model where we develop our own players. Or at least buy them when they are young and not many had heard of them. I can assure anyone that in the lower divisions there are others like Halaand, Mitchell, Bellingham, Holding, etc. Players who will not cost a bomb but can develop into good ones. In Scotland as well…..Hibernian have said that Doig’s price is £5million. At that sum he would be perfect.
And even in the academy one can develop footballers. our academy has produced Saka, ESR, Balogun, etc.
Why should I moan that we did not get this or that player when we are producing them? Juventus are good examples of this…they dont spend much and are well run financially. They go after good/very good players who are on a bosman usually but also develop their own young ones. And they generate the money by selling those who they get on a bosman and those they develop when they want to buy a better player in that position.
Surely we should make sure we invest enough money in good coaching for all ages at the academy so that such players can be easily developed.
rico…Leicester shock the universe not the world by winning the EPL. And they bought shrewdly and put in charge a manager who was not one of the big ones. All they asked the players was to play with pride for the club. And they are the envy of many nowadays with how they are run and how they play.
Yes I believe that with the right additions and mentality we can do what we all wish for. A few weeks ago I said that with the right mentality Arsenal can do another season unbeaten. And I still have not changed my opinion. GG came very near to it….in 1991 his team lost 1 game against Chelsea….and that was due to tiredness. We came close….a whisker. and with the right players yes…we can do it again.
Exactly Devil and that was my point. Until now, Arsenal have had Europe to contend with yet this coming season, imo, there needs to be one focus and that’s the League. This summer is so important and signing £40m players isn’t necessarily the solution. Buy right and we’ll have the best chance I think. This is probably Arteta’s most important 12 months at Arsenal, including this summer.
Imo, now is when he’ll start being seriously judged.
Me too Adam. 😂
You might be right Geoff. In which case they’ll be a lot of testosterone in the boardroom. 😂
Rico. It’s a more pressing issue for Mikel of course. He’s going to be up against it from the opening day and will only survive on the back of results. He doesn’t have time to develop the youngsters right now and apart from Balogun, who will really help the first team this season? Azeez perhaps, but he might go on loan. Mikel and Edu need to up the quality of the team/ squad considerably right now because all the other teams will be striving to do the same and another low finish will do for both of them.
It’s gonna be edgy I think.
Better to have an overload of testosterone because they care rather than a guy who doesn’t even know where North London is 🙂
Yes, some big egos, for sure Rico, but then, they will not like failure so there’s plenty to like about the possibility.
Adam, I agree he’s going to be under pressure from day one now fans are back. I don’t know whether results alone will keep people happy if the performances are hard to watch but I suppose City fans have proved winning is what matters.
Agree we need quality but we also need one or two grafters too imo, players who’ll get stuck in when it matters, roll up their sleeves and do the dirty work.
With the younger players, I guess the answer is, we don’t know until they play. I suppose what transfer business the club get done will dictate who stays and goes on loan. I think Arteta is afraid to give younger players a bit of a run in the team.
If a manager overplays a youngster and they end up injured, he’s wrong.
If he takes things slowly and allows them time to mature, he’s wrong.
Plenty of fans will never be happy unless they’re unhappy.
New season, new start.
I hope everyone gets behind the manager and squad and gives them a chance.
Both can be destructive Scott.
There’s a new post up now.
It’ll be interesting to see how football crowds have changed post-lockdown in this era of taking the knee and being told how privileged you are by millionaires?