Morning all.
Declan Rice has been named Premier League Player of the Year at the 2024 London Football Awards. His goal against West Ham United is a contender for February’s Premier League Goal of the Month too. Speaking on-stage at the event, Declan said:
Since I’ve walked through the doors [at Arsenal] I’ve loved every single moment of it. I was at West Ham for 10 years and it’s such a big change with the environment, life, a different manager and different friends, so my thinking was just to go there and be myself. As time has gone on and the games have gone on I’ve tried to be confident and do the best I can for the team.
So far we’ve been going really well and hopefully we can have a good end to the season. There have been so many good moments so far, but I think due to the stature of the game I would have to say the goal against United was the best. It was my first goal for Arsenal – Garnacho had one ruled out for offside five minutes before and then I took one down off my chin and put it in the back of the net so I was happy with that one. That was the best moment so far.
Bukayo Saka is on the shortlist for February’s Premier League Player of the Month award and for the fifth time this season, Mikel Arteta has been nominated for Manager of the Month.
Honestly, I’d be amazed if all three didn’t win. The Rice goal against West Ham was a stunner. Saka has been brilliant all month and Arteta hasn’t put a foot wrong. But, there would be a place for Jorginho if I had my way because he played a huge part in our victories against Liverpool and Newcastle. Rumours are he’s to be offered a new deal with Arsenal and I hope he signs it. Even if it’s just for a year, players like him are hard to find.
Over to the Arsenal women’s team and they have a NLD tomorrow. There are only a few tickets left for the match at The Emirates so it’s very likely, Jonas Eidevall’s team will be playing in front of a sell out crowd for the second game running. The WSL is tight, with Arsenal sitting 3 points behind both Chelsea and Man City. Big games lay ahead, especially the Chelsea and City games but there are seven other fixtures too which need winning if Arsenal are to have any chance of lifting the trophy at the end of April.
Same with the mens team who sit just two points off Liverpool and City. One might be tempted to look at the fixtures against City, Chelsea and Utd as being key games in our run in but they’re no more crucial than Sheffield Utd on Monday or any other league fixture between now and the end of May. I’m sure we’re all hoping, praying even that Liverpool and City drop points each time they play but if they do, we need to be in a position to take advantage.
Anyway, I’m hoping for a Forest win later today and a Ten Hag masterclass tomorrow. Not forgetting of course, a resounding win for Arsenal in the NLD.
Catch up later.
Thanks for the post Rico, now let me see what I can suss out from its contents? 😄
Rice has been a revelation, in fact I’m struggling to recall an Arsenal signing who’s been so consistently good since we signed them without having a dip in form?
The shame is we might have saying similar things about Timber if he hadn’t been so cruelly struck down.
Good to see the U21’s getting a 4-2 win at Chelsea, it’s been such a mixed season for our academy teams. Whether you can point the finger at the Coaches, Mertesaker, the players’ quality, injuries or just plain bad luck things need to improve in that area of the club…
Arshavin perhaps Kev, he was brilliant from January through to May. Alexis too. But yep, Rice has been excellent and worth every penny.
Declan Rice worth every penny of the £105 million…and there is so much more to come.
Ben White has gone on the record to deny some reports that he doesn’t like football. He doesn’t like watching football but absolutely loves playing it. Particularly the physical side of the game.
Nil nil halftime at the new swamp also nil nil Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool.
8 minutes of added time and Liverpool’s goal in the 9th minute of added time… And the ball was stopped.
Disappointed that today’s results haven’t gone our way, but then it’s surely better not to rely on gifts from the footballing gods.
Liverpool are definitely below par, struggling with injuries, but somehow avoiding dropping points. It can’t last… can it?
Jammy Liverpool. Offers a lot of hope for other opponents though.
Liverpool v City will be interesting later this month.
United need to invoke the ghosts of Scholes, Neville and Keane tomorrow in order to give City a good kicking. Sadly though, I don’t think they have the skill or pace to do it without accumulating a handful of yellow cards.
Or red for Casemiro (spelling)
Last season, at this stage, if I recall, Arsenal were just getting by, squeezing out tight results and hanging in there – then the wheels came off and they’ll come off for Liverpool and hopefully Man City as well?
VAR helped Liverpool to win,
Rice has definitely settled in well and showing why we paid so much for him.
Come On You Useless Red Mancs…
At least get the draw… 🤞
No such luck…
What a shower of shite, but I bet they’ll turn up when we visit Old Toilet?
We have to win today to keep pressure on the top 2 team and also keep a better gap between us and Villa
A good win for Arsenal Women in the NLD. Keeping the pressure up in the chase for the top. All other results went against us. Scandalous refereeing by Tierney and his Var mates in presenting Liverpool with three points.
The premier league officials are trying their best to give klopp a fare well gift, I’m guess the next thing will be finding Man C not guilty of breaking any FFP rules.
VAR seems to be helping the super league raise its head again
Morning all.
New post up.