Morning all.
Three more sleeps before the big day and already the nerves are creeping in. Although maybe it’s just excitement because boy am I excited.
Vincent Kompany spoke after seeing his team beaten by the reigning Champions and raised a few concerns over the way the game was officiated:
We have to look at some of the phases that were decided by the officials across the two games. It’s never an excuse, but it matters. If you look at both legs, probably too much went against us. But the guys gave everything. We tried against a fantastic PSG team.
If you look at both penalties [the one given against Alphonso Davies last week and the one not given against Joao Neves tonight] it’s ridiculous. A little bit of common sense… whatever needs to happen. It’s a one-goal game in the end. Then there’s the [potential] second yellow card [for Nuno Mendes] in the first half. I thought he was giving it and I felt he pulled out because he realised he’d already given him a yellow and he didn’t want to send him off, so he turned it round and gave PSG a free-kick.
As said yesterday, isn’t that every football fans concerns going into a game these days? It’s certainly what I fear ahead of our game. Arsenal players will need to be smart in all areas of the pitch but especially in both boxes.
European football doesn’t seem to care about how the ball hits a defenders arm, it’s handball full stop. Pushing and shoving in the box isn’t generally accepted either which isn’t a bad thing, as long as both sides are treated the same.
I thought I’d take a look at the stats from both PSG semifinal fixture because I know everyone loves stats. lol
The first leg in France:
Possession = 41% v 59%
Shots off target = 7 v 4
Shots on target = 4 v 5
Corners = 2 v 5
Fouls: 14 v 2
The second leg in Germany:
Possession = 66% v 34%
Shots off target = 12 v 8
Shots on target = 6 v 7
Corners = 1 v 8
Fouls = 8 v 12
Yesterday I watched highlights of both legs between PSG and Bayern and whilst Kompany might have a point with decisions which went against his side, their first penalty in France should never have stood in my opinion. Mind you, in England, PSG wouldn’t have been awarded a penalty either because Dembele smashed the ball into the Bayern player from close range and the ball whipped up and hit is arm. But as said, these are things Arsenal players need to be aware of and I’m sure they will be.
As good as PSG are, the stats above suggest they present goal scoring opportunities to opponents and I just hope that on Saturday, the Arsenal stars are aligned and instead of our own chances going high or wide, they hit the back of the net. The big Russian keeper who played in both legs of the semifinal, well he’s no Donnarumma that’s for sure.
Up the other end, we just need to stop Kvaratskhelia and Dembele. Easy eh…
Catch up in the comments.
Havertz off now got to hold the ball up
Morning guys, new post up.
Good morning.
A good read……
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13548799/arsenals-co-chair-reveals-secrets-of-how-kroenke-family-went-from-furious-fan-protests-to-premier-league-title-glory-and-dynasty-planning
At least the Beeb got it right. Five Arsenal players in Team of the season, Declan Player of the season, Mikel Manager of the season. Aliesha and Katie in Women’s Team of the season.
Hello everyone, Nice post Rico. I’m gonna be short of words today and send a message out there to the players and supporters: CALMA! CALMA!!
Good thing about it is that nearly half of the league is now involved in European football which means that less teams are getting longer rest periods between games.
The team to be careful of is Chelsea who have just 38 league and possibly 12 cup matches to play .Whereas had we gone further in the domestic cups we would have played in 65
Congratulations to Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner,a great club.
However that conference league is so weak the English team will always be favourites with the money in the Premier league. I’d imagine Brighton are hot favourites for next year already.
Morning Champions, if Anthony Gordon goes to Barcelona then it probably means that the Catalans won’t be looking to sign Martinelli or probably Rashford?
There was, apparently, some interest in Jesus from a few Serie A teams earlier this year and Italy would, it seems be just the ticket for him as his career winds down, he’ll just have to reframe his financial expectations.
The England World Cup squad fly out to Tampa on Monday for a warm up match. Presumably the Arsenal contingent will be given at least a few days respite after Saturday’s game.
Good morning all
Jesus available for £20 million according to reports.
Nice post, Rico, interesting stats.
Good clip Dev, ’tis a little fast on the graphics but hymn like in its soaring music and vocals. Got my heart swelling again.
Interesting the rumour about Morgan Rogers, essentially a left sided attacking midfielder much like Eze. He played wide on the left when at ‘Boro so may be seen as a replacement for either Gabby or Leo. At 23 coming into his peak years he would be a great addition to the squad.
Yeh, the brown stuff is about to hit the fan at City. Corrigan, Lee, Bell, Summerbee, all that grand team of the ’70’s will be shaking their heads in dismay.
I recall some words Arsene used in his farewell speech, something like, “always cherish the values of the club”. He did, and Mikel is of the same ilk. Josh, too, I think. His Dad Stan was raised Lutheran, and his mum, Ann comes from a long line of Presbyterian’s.
It is a worthwhile study of the values the Kroenke’s have built into their other sporting franchises. It does seem we are in good hands.
Congratulations to Palace, poetic justice from their treatment in the Europa League earlier this season
Gordon to Barca , Rashford to where ? He is still under contract at United with a £ 26 million buy out. According to the Spanish press they want to keep him but they would wouldn’t they.
Me neither Cicero..
Pleased for Palace too, nice way for Glasner to depart.
Phew indeed Rico, not a player I would want at Arsenal.
Congratulations to Crystal Palace for winning the UEFA Conference League. Some recompense for being chucked out of the Europa League.
Anthony Gordon to Barcelona close.
Phew 😂
Maybe PSG potter, don’t think he’s tried France yet and they have money..
Isn’t it usual for a managers back room staff leave with the manager..
Great minds Cicero. Lol
Deriding Guardiola for leaving is one thing but it’s nothing new. He did the same at Barcelona and Bayern. when he realises that he has gone as far as he can he walks away .
It’s another sabbatical and as soon as another pot of gold comes into view he will return again
Pep’s gone now…and he didn’t walk out alone — Lijnders, Kolo Touré, his entire backroom staff. Gone. Bernardo Silva. John Stones. The ones who knew what was inside those walls, quietly slipping out the back door.
You don’t just leave a club that size, with that wage bill, when everything is fine. You don’t pack your office a year early when the vibes are good. You don’t take the whole coaching staff with you for nothing.
Coincidence?
The rats aren’t fleeing a sinking ship. The captain has already left. The man who won them everything, who defended them at every press conference, who staked his entire legacy on their innocence — packed his bags before the verdict even landed.
A 60+ points deduction? A two year transfer ban??
And they say he is a super coach. Give him a club in shambles like the spuds. Give him Hull who are promoted. And then see how he works out.
Would he have done the same with Arsenal post Emery?? We may not know. But we can always assume. My feelings?? NO
I couldn’t agree more Ricco.
Afternoon Cicero, I’m so pleased for Arteta. Mind you, how could he not win it. I’m amazed that Fernandes was voted player of the season though. Ridiculous decision imo.
G’day Rico, Devil. I’m completely relaxed about Saturday’s game, I’m fairly sure P S G will be getting a little anxious, trying to work out Arteta’s tactics which have subtly changed over recent games.
Congratulations to Mikel the Master on winning manager of the season. 🏆 No longer Guardiola”s apprentice. 😉
A double page spread in this morning’s Telegraph on Declan Rice highlighting his importance to the team both on and off the field.
The YouTube clip is good albeit it runs a bit too fast 😂
yes i agree. they felt more like a good bye.
Money talks though and if players want to move, nine times out of ten they do.
i haven’t watched it yet..
I’ve a feeling Martinelli could be departing too Devil, something about his comments on Sunday sounded like he could go.
It seems that various English players are being linked to us. Rogers and Alex Scott are both English.
I am in favour of it because imo it will mean less travel for our players who are involved in internationals, higher amount of players in the English homegrown quota plus they will be training together whole year all the time.
Whether or not Bournemouth and Villa are willing to sell is another matter.
Just read that about Rogers as well. I think that if he comes it means that one of Trossard or Martinelli will be leaving. I think it will be the latter because he will fetch more money. Plus Trossard seemed to be preferred more last season.
Did you watch the YouTube clip I sent Rico??
The transfer talk is up and running.
Morgan Rogers is linked to us..
I’m not so fussed about the league cup but FA Cup I love.
I agree Rico, now we are in it I want to win it as well. However imo the EPL carries more weight and is the higher honour. Give me another unbeaten season, winning the EPL 5 years in a row. Those are the ultimate achievements for me.
I also hate losing even the Carabeo and love winning the FA Cup, however the ultimate prize for me is the EPL. especially if its unbeaten.
Morning Devil, all.
PL for me too but now we’re in the CL, I so want to see us win it.
Mikel Arteta has been crowned as the EPL Manager of the season.
Good Morning Rico and all
Lovely post. It doesn’t settle the nerves though. I get that before every game. Once the whistle goes I just concentrate on what I am seeing unfold.
Would I love the CL?? Yes. but not for obvious reasons. I always wanted and will always want to win the EPL which imo is superior to the CL because it is played over 38 games home and away. CL is played only on 15 games. So while it seems more prestigious, the EPL title is worth more for me.
I only want us to win the CL simply because it will be nice to ram it down the throats of haters and those who keep on banging the drum that we have never won it. I can assure you that if we are nervy before the game, think about those lot who keep on saying we never won it. They will be more nervy than us because they know if we win it we are goijng to rammmmmm itttt down their ugly mug till it emerges from shit creek. They are more afraid that we will win it then we are afraid of losing it. You heard it here first.
2ndly and most importantly, I hope we win it for Pa. Yes he has been gone for two years now, but it was the trophy he always wanted us to win. You can bet your bottom penny that it will be two chairs in front of the TV, one for me and one for Pa’s/gramp’s picture on the other one beside me.
This is beautiful……
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/is3qYcetKUY