Morning all.
In the end, I decided to watch that ridiculous match last night and I’m glad I did. It was fun although I was a bit disgruntled to see both Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka in the starting eleven. They both had really good games though, Rice scored England’s opening goal and Saka went on to score a hat-trick. Post match, our number 7 told the world he’d been fit and had wanted to play more. Another downtick for Tuchel whose tactical decisions throughout the tournament will continue to be scrutinised for a while yet. Now our English players can go off and have a well earned break.
It was good to see William Saliba on his feet and mingling with the players, in fact I thought the game, as well the post match “stuff” showed great respect between two sets of players. M’bappe sulked on the sidelines for a bit but eventually even he joined in with the gathering. No, I’m not reading anything into the conversation and smiles between Bradley Barcola and Bukayo Saka.
Yesterday, news broke that Chelsea had agreed a £118m deal with Aston Villa for Morgan Rogers. I had hoped he’d join Arsenal as the footballing media told he would but for that kind of figure, well, no thanks. I think he’s a very good player but shouldn’t £118m be getting a world class player? Looking at the kind of money which has changed hands so far this summer on signings, it’s clear the English/Premier League market has gone mad. But what about Rogers though, why would he not want to be playing Champions League football next season?
Never mind, what Arsenal do between now and the end of the transfer window matters far more than what the west London club are up to.
Now that the World Cup is into its last day, things should become more clear, especially if Arsenal are looking at Spanish or French players. Or even English players although I cannot think who from the latter. Jude Bellingham perhaps? I jest of course.
Let’s not forget though, whilst we all want to see a couple of top notch players through the door, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman are a year further down the line and both could play a big part in this coming season’s campaign. Christos Tzolis is expected to soon become an Arsenal player, replacing the outgoing Leandro Trossard and in midfield, Myles Lewis-Skelly is quite likely to feature a lot more than he did last season.
Also, Arsenal have a few players they need to move on because to bring players in, spaces need to be created. Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson, Christian Norgaard and Fabio Vieira are all listed within the 26 squad players on Arsenal.com so right now, there’s no room for more.
Lastly, good luck to David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi for tonight. They might not play but I hope when they return to Arsenal, they do so as World Cup winners. The thought of that ghastly little number 10 in blue and his equally as ghastly teammates lifting the trophy tonight is enough to put me off my breakfast.
Catch up in the comments.
New post up.
Wayne Rooney’s comments on the halftime “show” were hilarious. True too.
Half time muppets summed the whole thing up.
Football won on the night thankfully but if Argentina and a large number of their players are allowed to walk away from this competition without fines/bans etc, FIFA needs to asked some serious questions about what it stands for.
I too would be all for them being kicked out of international football.
Morning all.
We witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly of football in one match. A dominant Spain played their own good game in the face of the the bad and the ugly Argies who were determined, right from the kick off, to use every dirty trick in the book to intimidate and foul their way through. Their violent behaviour after the match was an utter disgrace. Infantini’s Fifa should seriously consider banning Argentina from International football altogether.
A nice way to wake up and read that Spain have won, and the photos showing the Argentina players trying to start fights, it’s now time for FIFA to stand up and show balls and suspend the Argentina players for their normal season for their action after the final whistle and the political banners.
Argentine tears, so delicious,
I was extremely pleased to see that the Spanish national football team came out on top against the Argentine national bar hall brawlers, football won the World Cup and now Messi can bugger off and so can all his insidious team mates.
I suspect that as a nationality that Argentines are quite unhinged, maybe bordering on the spectrum.
You and me both, the final five minutes Spain hit the panic button. Lol
Night guys..
Thank god for that , thought Argies were going to win on penalties
My word that halftime goings on was dreadful.
half an hour to take the dog for a walk .All I need bow is a dog .
Twitter:
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9h
🚨Marc Cucurella on Lionel Messi:
🎙️Reporter: “Marc, are Spain afraid of facing Lionel Messi?”
🗣️Marc Cucurella: “Lionel Messi? No. We’re not scared of Messi—we’re scared of the referee.”
Plus they will probably sell off a few other players for obscene amounts. Just hope we don’t help them out again. Seen enough ex Chelsea players come our way.
So they buy Rogers for 120 over 6 years works out at 20 a year on their books if they sell Jackson for 25 million they make a profit and PSR goes away
Sounds very much like a Chelsea move. Suits Villa too.
So if Villa buy Jackson from Chelsea then is it a stitch up to get past PSR
I went away from the city, towards Viladecans. A long time ago now though..
it was on the right as you drove out to the C32 towards Tarragona .If you went into the city you were probably on a different road .
Must be bored all this non football chat
I don’t recall every seeing it.. Worrying…
I was always taken by the brewery as you drove out of Barcelona El Prat airport. It’s enormous . I used to supply Allied Breweries factory in Watford where they brewed Double Diamond which worked wonders apparently but El Prat is much bigger.
One of my favourites is Estrella. These days I usually stick to the zero version though.. Madri is rather nice too although I’d never tell my Catalonian friends that.
Estrella Dorada for me tonight brewed in Barcelona, Lighting the bbq about 4.30 and family round and say goodbye to Infantino’s charade for another 4 years.
Best game of the tournament for me Limey..
Me too Kev, me too..
Just noticed that’s Thierry Henry,not Fabregas. I mis read it,I thought it was strange,Fabregas could end up at Chelsea,probably sooner rather than later.
I really enjoyed the game,when France started to get back into it,it looked like they might draw level for a time,as someone said they had so many chances.
It was entertaining to see if England could hold on,thanks to the Arsenal boys largely. Also it was ironic how poor defensively France looked minus Saliba.
Those Fabregas quotes about Morgan Rogers are hilarious,you have to worry about his judgement and even mental state to go to Chelsea. He is a good player but £117m is just mad,the problem for Arsenal is it will drive up prices for everyone else.
Although I will watch the Final,cheering on Spain,San Miguel in the fridge,I will be glad it’s all over.
I really hope Thierry said that… 😂
Real or not I don’t know but it’s funny. 🤣
Thierry Henry shocked by Morgan Rodgers decision to join Chelsea after being strongly linked to Arsenal
🗣️ 🎙️ “Listen, I look at Morgan Rogers and I see a boy with immense quality, power, and a very bright future. But when I heard he chose Stamford Bridge over the Emirates, I honestly had to stop and check if my phone was working.
” I think his agent must have entered the wrong postcode into the GPS. You have a choice between playing beautiful, structured football in North London, or joining a squad in West London that is currently large enough to form its own independent country.
” Maybe he just really enjoys a challenge, like trying to find his own locker among sixty-five other players. Look, I wish him the best, I really do. But if he ever gets tired of competing with twelve other wingers just to make the matchday squad, he can call me. I will personally buy him a map of London.”
I too wouldn’t bet against a red card for a Spanish player and Cucurella is an easy target because he makes himself one.
Surely Arsenal will have to sign 2/3 players before long, who they might be other than the Greek is anyone’s guess.
If I was a betting man which I am not , I would have a few bob on Cucurella getting a red card for a foul on Messi tonight .
Hopefully our bench warmers will have had a month of gentle exercise and will have their time on the beach and return fully rested and raring to go.
Saka appears to have recovered but a couple of weeks won’t harm him and Rice and Saliba need careful handling.
Our squad is not light on numbers but with ,Tzolis , joining it we may have to shift some out ,. Mosquera is no longer an under 21 but Dowman is and will be for a long time
The squad on .com is somewhat misleading as it still lists many that we apparently want to move on . It shows 4 keepers including Kepa and Setford one must go whether a sale or a loan.
Defenders we are showing 8 including MLS where I doubt he will play , with Saliba’s injury it leaves us light at the back
Midfield you could say we are over subscribed ,we are showing 8 and with Dowman coming in that makes 9 for three places if we continue with wingers that hug the touchline. Some to leave surely.
Forwards we are showing 7 not including Tzolis if he signs, with two wingers and 2 centre players departures are on the agenda.
We have been quiet so far in the market but surely it’s time to get in gear and start to do things
Water Cicero? What’s that…. Lol
Morning Kev, Cicero. Thanks.
I thought the game was great to watch but obviously not for the purists with ten goals. All were good too, Bellinghams was so good..
The rugby result was good too, what a ghastly lot they are.
Vamos Spain.
I just went outside and experienced a very strange phenomenon, water falling out of the sky!
Good morning Rico, like you I changed my mind and watched the game, only a recording, early this morning.
As you say, an entertaining and, mostly, played in a good spirit in till the thug Digne tried to break Saka’s leg.
Two outstanding solo goals the first from Declan Rice, the second from Jude Bellingham. They bookended a fine hat trick by our own genius Bukayo Saka.
It was good to see Rice and Saliba chatting on the pitch post match, they can now have time to sort out their fitness issues.
Morning Rico, good post and yes I couldn’t agree more, despite the obvious favouritism to the Argies I think and hope that in Spain they’ll meet a team that’ll surgically chop them up. I enjoyed watching the highlights of our rugby team beating the Argies yesterday and even in that game they lost their self-control. They really are a nation with the mentality of an unruly child.