Morning all.
How lucky were England on Sunday? Another dire performance, another sit back and do nothing about it performance from Southgate, saved by a late late goal from Bellingham and another from Kane in extra time. It’s amazing how a supposed experienced manager can watch the same group of players play the same way for such a long period of time, clearly expecting something to change.
The change we did see, albeit forced, was Bukayo Saka dropping into left back after Trippier went off. Ian Wright is one of a number of pundits who believe England would be better balanced if Saka stayed there. Asked about Wright’s comments, Saka told BBC Radio 5 Live:
No, obviously I love Ian Wright and he says so many great things about me but I don’t think putting me out of position is the solution. But, at the end of the day, I think we can we can talk about this but it’s in Gareth (Southgate’s) hands, so we will just have to trust whoever Gareth selects on the day.
With Shaw unfit and Trippier a doubt for the next game, we might very well see Saka at left back. Unless Southgate turns to Joe Gomez who regularly plays left back for Liverpool.
Anyway, Switzerland are England’s next opponents.
In other Euros news, Leandro Trossard and Belgium were beaten 1-0 by France yesterday so our left winger will be off to put his feet up for a few weeks before he joins up with squad for pre season training. Still in Germany is Saliba, Havertz, Rice, Saka and Ramsdale with Gabriel and Martinelli still in the USA.
At Arsenal, other than another fixture added to our pre season tour in America which is against Bournemouth, the only news coming out of the club is that both Reuell Walters and Amario Cozier-Duberry have rejected new contract offers made by Arsenal and have left the club. I think it’s a shame but can totally understand why they’d want to move. Mikel Arteta has assembled a young squad, a squad which a 19 year old is going to struggle to force his way into any time soon. Joe Willock was pretty good, but he was sold, Folarin Balogun showed potential but he was sold and the academy players who have made the squad, barely played last season. These youngsters probably know that their chances of pushing themselves into Mikel Arteta’s plans are slim to none. It’s just a shame so many leave with Arsenal not getting a transfer fee for them.
Lastly, according to reports in the media this morning, David Raya’s loan deal with Arsenal has now been made permanent.
Catch up in the comments…
Southgate is just stuck in a bog of his own making. He has sunk so low that he can’t see what’s in front of his face so he has to stick to what he believes is right. As Einstein may or may not have said ” repeating the same mistake over and over leads to insanity”
Talking of players on holiday, I hope Martin Odegaard has had, or is still having, a good one as he looked knackered at the back end of last season. We need him back fully refreshed and raring to go next month.
Agree, reminds me, sadly, of Arsene’s final years when he’d just sit and watch a game go by without change.
Saka worries me because he looks dead on his feet. Playing 120 minutes won’t help him, or Rice who played the same minutes.
Arsenal could calmly and carefully analyze the Slovakia left-back.
Hancko Jm? Ch/Lb at Feyenoord?
Afternoon Rico and associates.
Reuell Walters and Amorio Cozier-D should have had their contracts extended 12 months ago, that’s if the club really valued them, that’s my only criticism.
I’m not too bothered by them leaving as I didn’t think that either of them had the level that is required to get onto the pitch, let alone a starting berth. Maybe if we’d had some better cup draws last season and the season before then they may have made an impression but that’s football, you get a glut of young players breaking through when your 1st team is average, as it was under Emery. This team is just too good to get into unless you’re Saka quality.
Afternoon Kev, as the old saying goes, look after the pennies as the pounds will look after themselves. Too many youngsters are let go for free imo. How many players of the 20+ the club the club have let go might have earned a fee albeit small? They all add up.
If any you get a chance you should search out Adrian Clarke’s critique of Gareth Southgate, Clarke just annihilates him. Basically says that England are the worst coached team in the tournament – mind you Italy and France have been equally dire.
True Rico, but a lot of our youngsters leave for fees that we never hear about, compensationary fees of sell on clause based fees, the club keeps that info in house.
I’ve said before that as Arteta apparently does not rate the current crop of u21s, he has decided that the relatively low age of the first team squad allows him to skip a generation and concentrate on brining through the 18s instead.
There must, however, be concerns with the quality of coaching if so many graduates are failing reach the required standards.
I’m not surprised by Clarkes assessment of Southgate and his coaches. Even a retired Wenger could get this group of players playing with more belief and freedom.
Not if they leave for free surely Kev. I read the other day that unless those youngsters who are out of contract are offered a new contract, we get nothing when they move.
Not many other clubs have a glut of young players coming through, certainly not in the top clubs across Europe. Or at least as far as I know which means little of course. lol
It’s a shame Freddie left the youth setup..
Kev is right we should assume we didn’t rate Walters or duberry so much if we didn’t try to lock them down a year earlier. Unless they have that same annoying agent who makes things difficult for us all the time and pushes all contracts until the end. I actually hate that guy, to be honest. Unfortunately he’s got many of our important players in his clutches.
About yesterday’s striker discussion. Gooners are too quick to forget how we dominate the ball and most other teams every week… and even against top teams, how we hold every game close, defensively too.
It comes from having that extra player in midfield … labeled a 9 but doing much more… Jesus or Havertz…
If you put in a striker — even if he seems like a great scorer… you’re giving away the midfield dominance that underpins our whole game. You let the opponents into the game much more.
Rico describes a change of pace striker to bring on late when needed… but what quality 9 is going to sign to play that small role? What options exist in the market unless we think the player can be used as a false 9 and start games.
I don’t know who Arteta and Edu see that can play that difficult false 9 role, and is likely to score more than Kai.
I wouldn’t mind it because then Havertz will become a scoring 8 in games against most opponents except for the biggest matches where we’d maybe want more control from that position.
It’s a tricky job that Edu and Arteta have, to improve on an already great team. I mean, we did just barely lose out to the cheating juggernaut. We first have to make sure we don’t slide backwards, even a tiny bit.
Watching the Netherlands- Romania game,the Dutch have had so many chances it’s incredible.
Cody Gakpo just scored but I think it’s offside.
Serves them right if Romania get back in it. We’ve been linked with Xavi Simons,he looks like another nice player who won’t score much.
Great goal by Malen,I think he is linked with Arsenal too.
Who isn’t linked with us Limey? 😜
We certainly don’t need any more players who can’t score..
I didn’t Nigel, I suggested a player who is more likely to score than Nketiah or as Cicero mentioned, Jesus.
Had we had such a player we might have beaten Villa, West Ham etc when we created lots of chances but on the day, couldn’t score.
Afternoon Rico and all.
Rico I still believe Arteta had somethink to do with Freddie leaving, so he could fill the academy with all his little yes mates.
Mertesaker runs the academy Geoff not Arteta…
Rico,
Agreed, Eddie has to go.. we should take whatever we can get this summer.. He’s not the level in Artetas style. He will be pretty good in a traditional team that will service him and let him stay higher, closer to the box.
I don’t think that the striker we want exists necessarily, so I want a scoring menace who can play wide like Neto. Very few names I hear linked feel like true improvements.
I always hope that whoever Arteta chooses will outperform because they’re chosen thinking that they’ll excel in our system.
It worked for both Havertz and Rice. Hopefully Timber too, and the unknown additions that will come.
Kev, my understanding is Arteta personally pushed for Mertesaker, to replace Freddie.
Hi Geoff. Freddie was a coach, Merts isn’t. He oversees the entire academy, a position he took up in 2018. Arteta didn’t return to the club until 2019.
Nigel, we agree. I also believe the ‘most gooners’ you often refer to feel the same and your assumption any striker we buy might displace Havertz is slightly off the mark. As Cicero suggested yesterday, Havertz plus a ‘proper’ striker would surely be a match made in heaven.
Mind you, it’s all irrelevant really because it’s what Arteta thinks and does which counts.
Didn’t Freddie take over as a caretaker manager after Unai Emery left the club,
Must be a slow day as someone is claiming Arteta is looking at Jack Grealish, I say no Thanks, we don’t need a diver at our club
He did but left once Arteta was appointed. I suspect he was disappointed not to get the job but by then, Merts was already head of the academy.
Geoff, I don’t know about that tbh, when Arteta arrived Ljungberg was working with the 1st team and afterwards Arteta used him from the stands to watch the opposition.
Maybe Freddie left because he wanted, what he’s always wanted, to be his own boss?
As far as I know, since Freddie left Arsenal in August 2020 he’s not had another job in football and has carved out a career in the media.
Regarding transfers, with the exception of Sesko I can’t think of too many players that we could have signed to improve our squad beyond what we have, of course if we sell a few squad players then they’ll need replacing. I know a striker is on most people’s wish list but if the right guy isn’t available then I’m happy with what we have. Maybe Jesus will rise from the physios room and finally produce some consistency both in terms of form and fitness?
I hope that Mikel takes a few of our youngsters on the US tour, with so many of our main players needing a good rest it would make good sense, well to me it would…
Taking Obi Martin Obi might be an idea, kinda make him feel part of the senior squad. Nwaneri for definite, I mean if they don’t take him then what message does that send, not only to Ethan but to the likes of Max Dowman and Ayden Heaven?
He did it !! He did it !! Mark Cavendish won his thirty fifth Tour de France stage win to become the greatest ever stage winner in the history of the greatest bike race in the World. Fanbloodytastic. 👑
Kev, I totally agree about taking some of our youth players to the America, and lets see how they mix in with the senior players, both on and off the field.
It would seem that there could be some substance in the rumour that Real Madrid are interested in William Saliba, as Arsenal have had a €47 million offer rejected for 22 year old Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, Saliba’s replacement? Worrying! 😕
Good morning everyone.
No Cicero, I don’t think Calafiori is Saliba’s replacement. For one he is left footed, we already have Kiwior and Gabriel as left footed. second, he can play CB in a 4 at the back, LB in a 4 at the back and left sided CB in a 3 man defence. third, Saliba has a contract till 2028 if I am not mistaken, although if RM offered 120million plus I feel the club would be tempted.
I dont think Saliba would be allowed to leave, at least this summer.
But I still think that Calafiori would come to Arsenal. Arsenal and Bologna have quite a good relationship terms.
There are good players plying their trade in Italia Serie A. And I would love to see some of them with Arsenal. I dont mean Italians only, because there are quite some good foreigners plying their trade.
I am always partial to players playing in Germany or Italy.
For what it’s worth, I think Jakub Kiwior might be asking to leave..
Wouldn’t be the first time he’s been linked with a move away.
Morning all.
I like Saliba, but if a offer come in for around 100 mill pounds and it meant we can get a top striker, I would defiantly consider selling him,
I would like to start hearing that some of our fringe players like Eddie and ESR are in negotiation with other clubs, it’s no use wasting there talents sitting on the bench.
I wouldn’t sell Saliba right now, not for any amount.
Rico, we have to accept that Saliba may have had his head turned by an approach from Real Madrid, as a young ambitious player he might find such interest hard to resist. I would hate to see him go and trust that we can keep him.
It’ll come I’m sure Cicero, just not yet hopefully. He has said he wants to stay and become an Arsenal legend and we know footballers tell the truth all the time. Lol
New post up.