Morning all.
In cricket, England’s tour of Pakistan started off with a history making test. Pakistan scored 556 runs in their first innings setting England a tough challenge. No problem though as eventually England declared with 823 runs on the board. Root with 262 and Brook 317. How they kept going for so long in the heat was incredible let alone the score the runs they did. I thought a draw was most likely if the home team batted in the same fashion in their second innings but England had other ideas. Early this morning, Pakistan’s final four wickets fell and England had won by an innings and 47 runs. The result meant Pakistan became the first Test in the history of Test cricket to rack up a score of more than 500 in their first innings and lose by an innings. Incredible stuff.
Back to football and England were pretty dire last night as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Greece. I watched some of it but not even the inclusion of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice was enough to stop me from switching off. I did see Saka go off injured so by now, I hope he’s back at Arsenal receiving whatever treatment he needs. No way should Carsley even consider him for the Finland game.
Both Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli played for Brazil last night in their 2-1 defeat of Chile. Martinelli came off the bench around 20 minutes into the game. William Saliba played for France as they beat Israel 4-1 and Italy drew 2-2 with Belgium with Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard playing. Trossard got himself on the scoresheet again. Spain and Poland play their first fixtures on Saturday.
Roll on Wednesday when all the international fixtures will be done and dusted.
Going back to Bukayo Saka, I’m sure we’re all desperately hoping that him walking off the pitch last night suggests any injury he might have picked up is nothing serious. Being the cynic I am, I’m hoping it was an Arsenal plan. It looks better than withdrawing him from the squad. Lol
His start to the Premier League season has been incredible but then he is an incredible player. In the opening game against Wolves, not only did he set up our opening goal for Kai Havertz but netted our second. Since that day he’s added another six assists to his name and another goal which he scored against Southampton last weekend. He really is crucial to the way we as a team attack both in open play and on set-pieces.
Considering Arsenal don’t have what I’d call a proper striker in the squad, our goals tally is right up there with Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. City have scored just two more than Arsenal so far this season, Chelsea one and Liverpool have scored two less. Liverpool look good, I’ll admit that but as yet, they’ve not played Totts, Man City, Aston Villa or Brighton at home or away. Whereas we’ve have a really tough start to the season as far as fixtures go with trips to Totts, Villa and City and taken seven points from the three matches. Yes, I’d have taken that with bells on before the games were played.
Another club which seems to be a lot more settled and doing well, or at least according to the football writers they are, is Chelsea. Yet like Liverpool, other than facing City at Stamford Bridge, a game they lost 2-0 by the way, their opening fixtures have been kinder. I won’t say easy because no game is easy but they’ve not gone to Villa Park, Totts or The Etihad yet.
Next weekend, when Arsenal go to Bournemouth, Liverpool host Chelsea in a game which will tell us more about both clubs. Are either or both a serious threat to Man City’s dominance in the Premier League or will the ‘new manager’ syndrome fade away? Only time will tell.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
A bright an sunny day here in Norfolk, but a very cold night left the car covered in ice. Current temperature 7c. Winter drawers on, or should that be draws? 😉
A further musing on the cricket, I watched some of the match on each day and, while Sky attempted to keep the camera’s off the stands, I was shocked at the miniscule spectator numbers. Vast numbers empty seats all around the ground. Even when Pakistan were batting towards five hundred the home crowd, if they could be called that, were largely apathetic.
The second test in a week or so, is to be played at the same venue. I hope for the sake of test cricket that the ground staff can produce a somewhat livelier pitch which will test the batsmen a little bit more.
Morning Cicero, the weather is similar here. Just nice to see the sunshine..
I couldn’t believe the lack of attendance at the cricket either, perhaps the fans had tickets for the weekend. 😜
I think, judging by what you could access from the TV coverage, that there were more England fans at the cricket than actual home fans, mind you I did wonder if ongoing security concerns are also affecting the attendances as well as the home fans’ apathy.
All the same it doesn’t take anything away from the monumental achievement of this England team, we’ve actually been blessed in recent years to be able to live through an era when we’ve been able to watch England’s two most prolific batsmen in Cook and Root whilst also watching our greatest ever attack in Broad and Anderson.
Good post Rico 👍🏻
Thanks Kev, I thought Englands performance was brilliant. History makers. 😂
Nice one Rico,
the tiny attendance at the cricket is shocking,especially as they said there was free entry to parts of the ground I think for days 4 & 5,also for some of next weeks game at the same venue. Great performance by England though,Joe Root is a true great and Harry Brook is a bit special too.
I saw some of the England game,Greece were by far the better team so much so it was embarrassing.
The suits at the FA might have to think again about a permanent manager. The hype about Cole Palmer seems just that,the team looked better when Ollie Watkins came on.
Fingers crossed on Saka,I wouldn’t be surprised if tried to play him in the next game. Hopefully he will be back at Arsenal by then.
Thanks Limey, agree re Greece, from what I saw they wanted it more. Could have scored more too.
A’noon Rico & team
I caught a bit of the England game last night. Mesmerising. I was laughing so much at some of the play & tactics that I had to switch over to calm down. It’s friendly, so don’t knacker your best players Carsey!
Did anybody catch the Northern Lights last night? First time I’ve seen them. A far more spectacular show than the England team!
Afternoon Pete, I missed the lights again. The football sent me into an early sleep… lol
I saw comments by the Norway manager yesterday saying he had spoken to Martin Odegaard and hinting he might return to training soon.
I would have thought Arsenal will be cautious.
Good afternoon Rico and gentlemen
The thought you had Rico, about Saka’s injury being a part of Arsenal plan. Do you know that I had the same feeling BEFORE the match itself? I felt that both Saka and Rice should do exactly that. Play the match and hobble out in the 2nd half. Saka did. Rice did not.
I saw just the first half. Were they really shit or was it that actually some players refused to get out of the 1st gear?? Bellingham does play up front for RM but how much service did he get in the England game?? Greece were by far the better side it was almost embarrasing however were they really that good or was it England who made them look so good??
I felt that the majority of the English players did not want to jeopardize themselves and maybe get injured. So they played at a low percentage of what they can. I just hope Saka’s ‘injury’ is only a slight one which needs rest. He definitely should not play for England against Finland
I think Arteta said he’d soon be back Limey..
Afternoon Devil. Great minds eh, perhaps Rice will follow suit against Finland.
Odegaard will not be back till December at least if we are lucky
That’s not what Arteta said..
Good morning all.
I can’t find any substantive news about Saka’s injury other than he is to have a scan today. Whether that is at St George’s Park or London Colney is not clear. Logically he should return to Arsenal for evaluation and treatment, I can see no purpose in remaining with the squad, let alone flying with them to Finland.
Apparently he is returning to Arsenal today , after the England doctors gave him a chance to recover in time for Finland.
Which suggests that even if he was 50 % they would have played him . International football has no conscience.
Morning Cicero, totally agree.
Arsenal v Chelsea shortly in the WSL.
Knowing Saka, or as much as we can know about him, he probably wanted to stay with England and play!
I don’t mind the uncertainty over injuries, why give the opposition any prior info over player availability?
Given the improvement over player recovery times it does seem that there’s been a definite upgrade in the performance of our medical dept since those frustrating days of Wenger’s ‘sick notes’
Hmm this is not good to watch. Two down after sixteen minutes. 😕
Foord gets one back with a finish from an impossible angle. HT 1 – 2
not a good score for the moment…
Hugo Viana future manager of M. City.
The Ladies played better in the second half and hit the bar but overall didn’t deserve to win .
Saka is back at the Arsenal camp,he’s been overplayed but we are so reliant on him .
Mixed news about Odegaard if he is out longer than expected or not.
Rotten result for the women..
Not fussed either about the injury updates or lack of them. When Odegaard is on the bench at Bournemouth and both Saka and Havertz in the starting 11, it’ll be a nice surprise. Ben White and Jurrien Timber’s return too…
Good evening everyone
Unbelievable as it may seem…..VVD and Salah have been released from national team duties. VVD was sent off and so is inelegible for the game against Germany. Very weird imo. The best way to avoid playing in the 2nd international friendly.
Salah is released for no reason given. No sent off. no injury. just released. Slot must be so so so happy
No player can be compelled to represent his country. Most want to be selected and are proud to play for their national side. Indeed they take it as an honour to be called up.
Much as we may want our players to be left out of matches, I don’t think any of them would wilfully feign injury or find other reasons to be released early from squads.
There is nothing odd about a player who has been sent off, and is therefore unavailable for the next game, leaving the squad and returning to his club. One only has to watch the reaction of VVD to his red card to know that he did not deliberately get dismissed.
Thank God for the cricket this week.
Joe Root needs 336 more runs to crack 13,000 career runs and another 229 to overtake Dravid.
Indian cricket fans will be getting twitchy over Tendulkar…
Absolutely agree re the cricket…
Although have a year old puppy has helped too, especially as the weather hasn’t been too bad. 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Agree about the players too, what we want them to do is irrelevant because for them, playing for their country is a big deal.
I see David Raya played for Spain last night and Merino came on for the last half hour.The nations league is so Mickey Mouse it should be sponsored by Disney.
I think Spain’s number one keeper is injured.
Merino getting minutes is good, as long as he suffers no injury.
Well Declan Rice played the whole ninety + minutes, got on the score sheet and didn’t pick up any injuries, so I guess that’s a plus at least.
Morning Rico
It’s flown under the radar (although JM referenced it earlier in the comments 👏) the Man City sporting director Begiristain has announced he is leaving at the end of this season. He’s close to Guardiola, whose contract also expires at the end of this season.
It appears that the top brass are packing their bags at City. I reckon they know something big is coming down the track towards them. Demotion?
If that happens Chelsea will follow.
Now I see Martinelli has a calf problem,he hasn’t been ruled out of the next Brazil game so maybe it’s not serious.
Beast me to it Limey , seems like it’s a tendon problem in the reports I have read . Perhaps the Brazillians will have the sense to pick someone else.
Or probably not .
It seems like there’s no end to it Potter. The only good thing about this break is hopefully our injured players are nearer to coming back,the injuries keep
coming.
Morning Pete, as long as City don’t come after Arteta if Pep walks. Bother anyway. Lol
I’m hoping Martinelli is looking after his club career first and foremost..
If Guardiola does go whoever takes over will have one hell of a rebuild on his hands. The squad is aging and a lot of them will need replacing soon. If the case against City is proven there won’t be much in the way of funds to work with.
Fingers well and truly crossed that happens…
I read an interesting comment re: Martinelli on the comments of Arseblog News.
Basically it was along the lines of that Gabriel Jesus has in essence buggered up his Arsenal career by risking his fitness and playing for Brazil when he wasn’t fit.
6 months after he joins Arsenal as the main man up front whom Arteta is putting all his trust in, he goes to the WC with a bum knee, makes its worse and pretty much wrote off the rest of 22/23 and most of 23/24 and whilst he was recovering Kai Havertz takes his crown as the main striker at Arsenal…
So the next time Jesus is sitting on the subs bench with a face like a smacked arse he should maybe look in the mirror?
There are consequences to every decision you make, so keep that in mind Martinelli because there’s plenty of left-wingers out there who would love your Arsenal gig…
One could say the same about any player who represents his country, especially Arsenal players like Zinchenko, Partey, Tomiyasu and Tierney when he was in contention..
But, when they go away, surely they are fully fit otherwise Arsenal wouldn’t let them go. Or at they shouldn’t.
New post up.
Just a page refresher really