Morning all.
The Arsenal women thrashed Totts 5-0 at The Emirates on Sunday afternoon. I bet Renée Slegers players wished they could play them every week as it was an easy victory. A Russo header deflected in by Totts Hunt, started things off with goals by goals from Caldentey, Maanum, Russo and Fox to follow. Watching on from the stands was Bukayo Saka, his partner and their cute puppy as well as Jurrien Timber. I’d imagine Ian Wright was there too, he usually is. 56,000 fans watched on from the stands which is brilliant.
On to the men and there’s a reason for this particular photo this morning as there’s an element of me clutching at them within this post.
Raheem Sterling is this season’s marmite player, although finding an Arsenal fan who loves marmite in this context might be like trying to find hens teeth. But, I personally believe he has a role to play over the next three and a half months.
Before you think about sending the men in white coats round to whisk me away, hear me out please.
For starters, I don’t think Sterling knows what he’s going to do when the ball arrives at his feet so there’s little chance the opposition know either. Lol
He has a bit of pace which despite his lack of confidence etc, will keep defenders occupied and most of all, it’s clear he’s trying hard to make something happen. Yes, he’s frustrating to watch, do I dare say painful to watch but for another three and a half months, he’s ours. He’s a player to bring on when another needs a breather at the end of a game when the result is done and dusted. A player to try and wear down a defence before Mikel Arteta makes changes as he did on Saturday.
I know I’m one of the worst at suggesting Mikel Arteta should play one of the academy players but deep down, I know that if he and his coaching staff truly believed they are ready for this level of football, they’d be in the squad or actually on the pitch. Not every young player is an Ethan Nwaneri or Myles Lewis-Skelly even though I know I’m desperate for them to be.
It’s a bit like when young players like the two who have left us recently depart, it frustrates me no end but I soon realise that if they truly believed in themselves, and the club for that matter, they’d stay and fight to get into the first team rather than jump ship for pounds, shillings and pence. There’s absolutely nothing about Man Utd, other than history, which should tempt any wise young footballer to the club in my opinion. The club is in a mess, their coach is struggling and whinging about how hard his job is and they’re letting go of staff by the hundreds, reportedly to avoid getting into financial difficulties.
On Sunday they were beaten by Totts who have half their squad out injured, including three of their usual first team defenders.
Utd players have left on loan rather than be a part of what’s going on in Manchester, including boyhood fan Rashford, Sancho and Anthony.
Enough about them but Sterling was in all likelihood in a similar position at Chelsea. He saw the opportunity to get out and took it. Whatever you and I think about his move to Arsenal is irrelevant really but when he’s wearing an Arsenal kit I desperately want him to find the kind of form he showed at Man City and at Chelsea.
It easy for me to suggest playing Ismeal Baccia instead of Sterling but in this league, which is a big step up from the under 21’s, it’s tough. Enthusiasm, passion and energy will get a player so far, but they have to be robust and be able to take the knocks too. Not to mention the ability which bearing in mind these younger players are training under the nose of Arteta and his staff each day, they’d know if these guys are ready better than anyone else. If they were ready, there’s a good chance Sterling would never have stepped foot in Arsenal FC.
For the likes of Baccia, Edwards and co, I think next season will be key. A pre-season with the first team, more game time in the friendly fixtures, especially as Jesus and Havertz are expected to be missing, and then see what happens.
It might transpire that they are the very reason Arsenal signed someone like Sterling in the first place instead of a younger and better player on a permanent deal.
Catch up in the comments.
Good Morning Rico and all
I had already typed the following from your previous post when I refreshed the new post was up…..
I am undecisive with regards MLS on the international stage. Only 17 years old he is already at the level where he is being eyed for the national team. That says a lot about his progress (I think that even Nwaneri will get called up soon as well).
I think I feel apprehensive about this yet at the same time feel that its wonderful for him. As Rico pointed out its too soon for him to be called up. It may work against him…..remember Walcott and being called up too soon. Some nationals may look down upon him considering him to be inferior. It will put pressure on his shoulders and his form may plummet. Add to this the fact that amount of games will increase for him and he is still developing physically and mentally.
However it may be beneficial as well. He has taken to the first team games like a duck to water and never seemed fazed about it. It will be beneficial to him because he can learn from seasoned pros about tactics and game awareness. Hopefully he will not be plunged into action, however, if he is good and continues to improve then why not?
My top question is this though…….what if he gets picked up to be LB for the national team but eventually Arteta transforms him into a DM?? We all know that his natural position is DM and since there is a chance that Partey and Jorginho go elsewhere he may be a natural replacement together with the incominng Zubimendi(?).
So I hope that Tuchel does not rush with MLS even though LB for England is a problem position.
Off to read the new post.
This is why like Theo I said that it’s too soon. He is doing a job for us really well but his development needs to be carefully controlled and his club is the best place to do it .
The same for Nwaneri at the moment he is replacing Saka but could he be a replacement for Odegaard ? or even a central or withdrawn striker . Again that’s the responsibility of the club and not a bunch of neanderthal international coaches .
Good morning Rico.
As you say of Sterling, he has got a bit of place but only for a short Sprint, he cannot maintain that pace over three quarters of the pitch a necessary requisite for our counter attacking style.
There are two options for Arteta, play Sterling from the start in order to wear down the defenders by making them run around a lot and then sub him. Or save him for when the defenders are already knackered and heavy get an opportunity or two at a scoring chance.
Incidentally the two players to leave our academy recently, Obi and Ayden Heaven, did not start of as eight year olds. They came in later and so were not brought up and nurtured in the club’s philosophy. Obi made his debut for United in the defeat by Spuds coming on with three minutes to go but without getting a single touch of the ball.
Morning Devil, Potter, Cicero, all.
This is one of the downsides of our young players doing so well. Great for Arsenal but as we’ve seen in the past, they won’t be managed internationally in the same way they are at their club.
It’s exciting for young players to play for their country but I just hope they have wise people advising them about their long term career rather than the here and now.
That is a good article Rico.
However, Sterling doesn’t and will never convince me at all. Like Cicero pointed out, he can wear defenders down until the heavy cavalry arrives but that is all imo. If he scores the winner against NUFC and Liverpool I will change my mind but am not holding my breath.
At least he will not be in the way of an upcoming youngster as you rightlypointed out
Obi is another Anelka in my opinion, used us to put his name out there and ditched us for what he perceived to be a better club which it isn’t. It’s in a mess.
Thanks Devil, I don’t think Sterling convinces any of us, hence the clutching at straws comment but he has a role to play. He’s experienced whereas if Arteta plays a youngster instead, yes he might be great but if he struggles, imagine the fallout.
Gakpo and Gomez ruled out of Liverpool’s game against Villa tomorrow. The start of a few injuries for them perhaps….
My one major concern, about our two starlets being called up for the national side, is that they will training and, possibly playing with some of the overpaid primadonners currently populating the England squad.
Afternoon all.
Arteta will have known Sterling had lost a lot of his qualities having watched hours of footage on all the EPL and likely European teams as well so he knew what he was getting but maybe thought he could get the best out of him.
He’d probably also have decided the same as the discussion in all of the posts above that he can be used as a tool to wear down defences early on or later as said above plus he’s a different attacking option for our defenders in training.
As Rico pointed out, he’s here for the remainder so even if he’s playing awful he’s being used for a purpose even if we don’t see it.
Good point…
Not something they’re used to at Arsenal.
Craig Pawson will referee Arsenal’s Premier League clash vs West Ham United on Saturday.
Peter Bankes will be on VAR
Wasn’t Sterling one of Chelsea’s “better” players last season but a change in manager and his days were over. 😝
Sterling isn’t a player I ever liked so I wouldn’t have seen much of him.
I read that Berg, no watching of Chelsea for me either unless they were playing us.
Kabia as you say Rico is the best of ‘the rest’ of the MLS/Ethan generation, after him the pickings are slim, some adequate and some good players but not at the level we need at the level we’re currently operating at, Max Dowman as everyone knows is the next real deal and he’d be in and around the senior squad now, on match days, if he was allowed to play. Whoever registers our players needs to reconsider how it’s done in future?
As for Raheem Sterling, he of the Gillette advert, well he looks like his career is on the wind-up, a slow downward spiral, but he’s not exactly old old is he, he’s only what, 30 years old?
So there might be a confidence issue at work here as well, I mean Stamford Bridge isn’t exactly the place to go to revitalise a career is it folks?
And we kinda need him, so piling in on him doesn’t really do us any favours because he’s all we’ve got for now!
Maybe he needs a moment, a big moment which will get the fans on side, a big moment that allows you to go into work on Monday morning and dig out your Chav workmates?
He needs a goal, a goal that’s important, not a tap in from under the crossbar vs Bolton but a big goal, a game changer.
Merino got his game changer at Leicester, now he has the fans onside, he has his song, Raheem needs that moment and so do we because if he can rediscover just a percentage of what he was at City then he’s going to be useful and the alternatives are 3 or 4 weeks away.
Apparently Sterling is great with Ethan, Myles and Saka and they look up to him.
Rico I think my loathing of Chelsea began when Mourinho swaggered down the Fulham Road, I mean I didn’t particularly like them before him but I still love to see him fail.
The young striker Edwards is meant to be special too but having not seen him, I’ve no opinion.
Totally agree re Sterling, all it takes is one moment. If that moment comes in the 91st minute at Anfield, he’d have been worth every penny..
I think Dowman has been training with the first team Kev. Roll on his 16th birthday eh..
From what I understand Rico, even though Dowman was in and around the U18’s some bright spark registered him in our U15 group for this season. Being U15 excludes him from any senior 1st class football. If he’d been registered among the U16’s he could have played in the first team this season. As it stands he can’t play until next season.
I read that he can’t play for the first team yet too Kev but he travel to Dubai for training though.
Just looked up some stuff on Dowman. He’s already played for the under 21’s back in September, it’s the PL he can’t play in purely because of his age.
Yeah, Dowman can’t play in EPL or CL but I could have seen him getting a run out from the bench in one of our remaining games.
Feyenoord through then so it’s either them who we face or the winner of tomorrow’s match..
I couldn’t Kev, because he can’t… 😂
Good Morning
Seems we got fined 65k for something which Michael Oliver caused. So he sends off MLS, a red which was undeserved, and he expects the players not to ask him anything at all???
New post up.