Morning all.
Call me selfish, I really don’t care but when our players aren’t called up for their respective country, I’m pleased. These guys can talk about how proud they feel representing their nation but I bet there are times, many times I’m sure when they just wish they could stay at home instead of jetting around Europe. Or south America in the case of our Brazilian players. Tuchel can say what he likes about young Myles but one day, he’ll be a regular for England because he’ll be a regular for Arsenal. Ethan Nwaneri too and I doubt they will be the last.
Riccardo Calafiori has suffered an injury apparently and will miss Italy’s fixture against Moldova tonight although he could be back for their second match. I hope he’s not, I just hope he trains but not plays then comes back fully fit and ready to face the noisy neighbours. Still, if he’s not ready for the Totts match, Lewis-Skelly and Hincapie are great options to have in reserve.
In other Arsenal news, James McNicholas and James Horncastle of The Athletic reported yesterday that the club are close to appointing leading Italian scout Maurizio Micheli to a senior recruitment role. Head of the scouting department at Napoli, Micheli, 57, has built a strong reputation during his time in Italy and is seen as one of the architects behind much of club’s recent success. Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been keen to add to the group working closest to him ever since joining the Premier League club in March.
If this move does materialise then it sounds like he’ll be great addition to our recruitment team.
I think it’s a great shame that so many English clubs are having to look overseas for employees with the right knowledge/ability to fulfill roles when they’re available. Managers, coaches, right through to ownership’s, English football clubs are pretty much run by overseas people these days. Just two Premier League clubs are managed by an Englishman, Scott Parker at Fulham and Eddie Howe at Newcastle. David Moyes and Keith Andrews don’t count. lolStill, I suppose if a club wants to be the best, they have to employ the best. Shame the same doesn’t apply to England and their managerial selection(s).
Arsenal’s women played Bayern Munich in the Champions League last night. They went 2-0 up in Germany before losing 3-2. Surrendering a 2-0 lead is unlike Renée Slegers team but just like the first team, the women are missing key players, Leah Williamson being the biggest miss. It’s a bit like Arteta being without Saliba or Gabriel before our two defenders arrived in the summer. We know what a negative impact Saliba’s injury had on the team a couple of seasons ago. That’s not a slur on those who step in for the injured but more a highlight of how good those who are missing are.
Football is a funny old thing really, or rather its fans and I don’t just mean our own. Fans criticise players each and every game but then as soon as they’re out for a period of time, we can’t wait for them to come back. Back in the summer, I wasn’t fussed whether Trossard stayed of left but he’s more than proved why it was important that he stayed. The signing of Madueke was questioned by “many” but how often have you and I wished his pace and threat was on the pitch? Me personally, probably every game. The often maligned Gyokeres has only missed a couple of games, yet on Sunday it was so obvious how much we missed him. The same can be said about Odegaard and the tall and unpredictable Havertz too. I’m not sure I’ve missed Jesus that much but even he has a role to play when he returns, they all do, even if that role is mainly from the bench.So yes, I’m looking forward to seeing how Arsenal fair once this international break is over as it could be exciting. Rewarding as well I hope…
Catch up in the comments.
An international break and although England play tonight total boredom has overtaken football . We all walk around in circles crossing fingers and touching wood hoping not that teams win but that our players don’t get injured .
Not much else to say really , later I will select which game to watch and just hope for the best .
Tuchel needs to understand that he doesn’t pick clubs sides , if the player is good enough he selects them to play for his team , he should keep his opinions to himself and let the club managers do their job .
Good post Rico, you know, given it’s a NLD I think we’d be better off with Myles at left-back anyway, this game is in his DNA, it’s also in the DNA of Eze and Nwaneri so I hope they’re involved?
Calafiori can come back for Bayern, or maybe Arteta will go for Hincapie vs Bayern as he knows all about them from his Bundesliga days?
Give Calafiori a rest, nobody is a fixture in this team and that’s how it should be…
Saw some brief highlights from England playing Roumania, not sure if it was U17’s or U18’s or U50’s tbh but Dowman was running them ragged and he has that ability to ride a foul, unlike Jack, so he escapes the worst of it. Of course he won a penalty. Top quality…
Did he win it or was he fouled , there is a distinction , winning a penalty suggests something underhand and he is already getting a reputation.
Well said Potter.
Thanks Kev. With you there re Myles but if fit, I think Calafiori will get the nod as he’s been in good form.
Afternoon to you both.
Re international football, we’ve had the decorators in so there’s a lot of paint I can watch dry. 😜
Seems like Max Dowman could be moved up to the England under 21’s.