Morning all.
We’re half way through this dreadfully boring international break. Other than the players who are involved in the World Cup playoff fixtures and the fans of those respective countries, I doubt anyone is interested in the football being played over the next few days. I know I won’t be watching either of the England matches but I will be checking in to see if any Arsenal players pick up an injury. Praying of course they don’t.
Ebe Eze is rumoured to be out for 4-6 weeks which if true, is rotten news, that is unless the 4 week clock started ticking at the moment he suffered his injury because then there’s a chance he’ll be back for our next Premier League fixture which is against Bournemouth at The Emirates on Saturday 11th April. Maybe Martin Odegaard will be back by then if not before.
We might only be in March but already the summer transfer rumours have begun. The Independent suggests Arsenal making enquires about Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Whilst I think he’d be a great signing, I can’t see PSG being willing to sell him and even if they did, his transfer fee would be astronomical I’m sure. The report suggests Arsenal could pay ‘special attention’ to their attack this summer.
Other players Arsenal are suggested to be interested in are Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton. None will come cheap that’s for sure because when it comes to clubs selling players to Arsenal, I’m sure they add a few extra million pounds or twenty….
I think the one thing we all know ahead of the summer is that if Arsenal want to sign players, they will need to sell a number of players already at the club. Something the club doesn’t always do particularly well. Yes, that’s an understatement. Joe Williock, Folarin Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah’s transfer fees were pretty good, as was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi a few years back but seldom have Arsenal bought players in from overseas before selling them for a profit. I think I’m right in saying Cesc Fabregas was the last overseas player who was sold for a vast amount more than what we paid for him.
Speculation is that one or both of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly could be sold this summer, Ben White too but I suspect these rumours ate little more than a result of lack of minutes this season. Well, White has been injured a lot, Nwaneri is out on loan and Lewis-Skelly has been up against tough competition for places and when his midfield opportunity did arrive, an injury to Calafiori in the warm up meant he to drop into left back. Another opportunity was denied because he was suspended. In my opinion, there are other players who should be sold before our English players. However, I do think this summer needs to be about our attacking and creative unit and strengthening it.
Talking of which, Viktor Gyokeres in action last night and scored a hat-trick as Sweden beat Ukraine 3-1 to book a World Cup play-off final against Poland. He tapped in a Benjamin Nygren cross just six minutes into the contest. The forward, who has 16 goals in all competitions for Arsenal struck again shortly after the break when he caught Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin by surprise, before winning and scoring a penalty in the 71st minute to settle the match. (Sky Sports)
Rubbish isn’t he…..
Catch up in the comments.
Shame Gyokeres can’t play like that for Arsenal. Prem football too much for him?!🤔
He’s doing alright in my opinion.
What do we learn from looking at the videos going round ? As I said last night the first was a tap in from an early cross to the far post. No cutting inside no looking to set up a few passes just a direct cross into the 6 yard box . Then a ball over the top where he got between two players and passed the ball into the net from about 8 yards out , again no delay in the final pass . Then the last again a quick ball which drew the keeper into no man’s land and was bought down . The penalty had no frills just power and even if the keeper goes the right way it’s behind him before he gets there.
So the question is whether it’s with him or the supply.
The supply and lack of speed in our buildup play.
Definitely too much faffing about. We must move the ball quicker and take less touches before passing. I would also like to see a bit more dribbling and a bit less spitting. 😉
Amen to that, especially the spitting. Lol
Good ol’ one-touch football.
I miss it a lot too, guys.
It’s the best and most effective imo.
I loved Arsene’s early Arsenal football.
I once heard it described as “scintillating” Rico.
It was Cicero, it was. 😂
Ben White on the bench, Tuchel has picked a left back, Livramento, to play at right back. I guess that’s an example of German logic.
He’s a right back Cicero..
Madueke off injured…
one more…
I only saw bits of the game, Uruguay should have been down to 10 men after that lunge on the City boy and how can VAR spot the White foul in the box and ignore that leg breaker? As for the two yellows for Ugarte, the second apparently rescinded (but only after they’d realised they’d fcuked up) just goes to show the appalling level of world officiating isn’t particular to England.
So England should have been playing 9 players.
I didn’t see Madueke get injured Rico, did he limp off or something like that?
Why are South American teams allowed to get away with the dark arts with such alacrity, it’s been forever thus.
Great performance by Viktor, he could score 100 goals in a season and he’s detractors would still pander the small old codswallop!
I didn’t see it Kev, apparently he tried to run off his injury but had to give in. Hopefully he’ll return to Arsenal in the morning.
Agree re Viktor, amazing how much criticism is thrown his way..
Thanks for the post, Rico.
Gyo did well, a hattrick at international level will do his confidence the world of good. The defences in the EPL are imo somewhat tougher than what he faced against Ukraine, but we are all hoping he will prove his detractors wrong.
Our Ben got a few boo’s when he made his entry, silenced them quickly with a real poachers goal, then was subject to a very poor VAR intervention leading to conceding a penalty. 1. He got to the ball first. 2. The ref only took one glance at the screen before awarding the penalty. 3. Both VAR and the ref should have seen that Ben got the first touch.
As for the foul on Foden. It was initially a good tackle winning the ball, but then the Uruguayan lifted his boot on the follow through and almost broke Foden’s ankle. Not the sort of action that is accidental. Dark arts indeed. Sir Alf would have been on the pitch at full time to prevent any shirt swops.
Pleasure Stuart.
Didn’t watch the game but read about the nasty challenges and dreadful officiating. Just hope Noni is ok.
New post up.