Morning all.
France being knocked out of the Euros by Spain last night means William Saliba will get a few extra days break before joining his Arsenal teammates for pre-season training. Hopefully by then, he’ll have got over the disappointment of an earlier than expected departure. I don’t think I’ve seen him pushing opponents as much as he did last night.
France could so easily have won the game had they been better in front of goal but that’s football as we Arsenal fans know only too well. Spain’s equaliser from Lamine Yamal was special. What a moment for the 16 year old. Reminds me of when Sven-Goran Eriksson took a just turned 17 year old to an international competition but unlike the Spain manage, Eriksson didn’t have the confidence to actually play him. I don’t think that decision did Theo Walcott’s career any good at all.
Tonight it’s England v Netherlands with a place in the final up for grabs. Whichever country wins will face a very good Spanish team on Sunday. Every player is available to Gareth Southgate tonight so it’ll be interesting to see if he sticks with Trippier or opts for a proper left-back in Shaw. I’d love to see him drop Kane to the bench but I think there’s more chance of seeing flying pigs.
The Athletic have an interview with Martin Odegaard who talks about last season and the new season ahead:
I am really excited. It has always been good going to the U.S. The support we have there is amazing and it is a great experience to travel around and meet different people.
Last season was Arsenal’s second title race with Manchester City, albeit last season the race was much closer. 2022/23 saw us finish five points adrift yet last season, just two points separated the two clubs.
It was a good season. We made history and we have to be proud. We all felt disappointed with being so close but in football, it is small margins. It is easy to look at one game, but you have to look at the whole season. We didn’t have the consistency to win it. We have to earn it. We know we can improve. That’s what we are working for. It is just small details and how to deal with a long season. We were so close but we are going to come back even stronger.
Unlike the struggles Arsenal went through after Christmas 2023, 16 of their last 18 league games were won but we needed 17 but until the final whistle on the final day of the season, we, Arsenal were still hoping. Hoping City would slip up but knowing it was extremely unlikely.
We had the big dream. We had it on the last day and I really had the feeling something special would happen. After the game it was just disappointment when you are so close and you can see it there, the trophy was there. But it is important to think about all the good things. You learn something every day, especially when you are so close. You can feel it, taste it and you have it there on the last day. It gives us all the motivation we need to come back even stronger this year and to win it — that’s the big goal. If you compare last season to the season before, we looked a lot stronger, especially towards the end of the season. We looked more mature, more confident. We are so connected. It was emotional to speak at the end of the season but it was a nice experience to share it with the fans.
The Athletic outline our captain’s stats for the second half of the season. Individually, Odegaard’s game was consistently outstanding from December onwards. He ended the season with 11 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, but his contributions went beyond that. From an underlying numbers perspective, the playmaker ranked first in the Premier League for open-play chances created (88), expected assists (11.1), shot-creating actions (220) and through balls (39). As captain, he was often the one to set the tone from an intensity standpoint too.
He’s a great player, of that there is no doubt and he’s had a good rest this summer.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
Here is something for you….I am sure you will enjoy it.
now that you finally saw pigs fly it is highly possible that maybe Southgate sees sense, realizes that Kane will never win anything, whatever team he plays in and drops him.
bdw, I enjoyed reading your post.
what I dont agree with is the comparison between Yamal and Theo. First because the skill level and mindset of Yamal is ridiculously high. second, the coaching Yamal has received since he was a kid is of a different nature than to the coaching Theo got up till the age of 16. Erikson should never have taken Walcott with the squad because that made him too much overhyped and considering Walcott’s character he was shy and more often than not held back when in the presence of legends/bullies like Terry and some of the others in the squad. Theo himself said that players like Gerrard and Lampard sort of looked down on him considering him to be the odd one out. That would not have happened to Yamal because he is technically and tactically mature much much more than a good number of players. Yamal would not have been shy on the field during training and if they looked down upon him he would have just made them look silly and like idiots when he begins running rings around them. Theo wouldn’t have done that.
Morning Devil, i wasn’t comparing the two players, just the circumstances.
WE were all surprised when Eriksson took Walcott but he obviously saw something in him which he thought he could use . However he did not take into account the ego’s and cliques of the established old guard of the existing squad.
I have read reports that the Terry , Lampard , Cole clique went out of the way to ignore him and that Gerrard was also too high and mighty to welcome him.
Compared to the Spanish situation where Lamal has already played a full season at Barcelona , Theo had not played one game for Arsenal following his move from Southampton.
And that’s how it stayed towards Theo I think. It’s not like it was his fault he was selected. In hindsight, Wenger should have said no…
Latest from Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth:
Lazio are in talks with Arsenal over the signing of left-back Nuno Tavares.
It’s understood there is a small gap in valuation.
Tavares has entered the final year of his contract at Arsenal. He spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest .
Meanwhile, talks continue between Sevilla and Arsenal over the signing of Albert Sambi Lokonga.
A loan with an obligation to buy is under discussion. There is a willingness from all parties to get a deal done.
Arsenal see £50,000 bid for Wolves’ Bentley rejected
Latest from Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth:
Wolves have rejected a bid from Arsenal for goalkeeper Dan Bentley.
The fee for the bid was understood to be £50,000.
Arsenal are keen to add depth to their goalkeeping department.
Aaron Ramsdale is likely to hold talks about his Arsenal future when he returns from Euro 2024.
Hmm, that could be as early as tomorrow morning Rico.
It could Cicero. 😂
I don’t understand the links to Bentley. He can’t be much good if Arsenal are offering £50k for him.
Afternoon Rico and all.
Reports that Bologna are interested in Kiwior. any chance of a straight swap
Afternoon Geoff.
Where is that rumour from please?
Dan Bentley joined our academy aged eight and was released 2008. What’s the old saying? Never go back.!
I don’t think it’s just 50k. That’s a derisory fee imo. Probably the person who wrote it on NN forgot an extra 0. 500k more like it.
It’s probably that Bentley is being signed simply because he is English, just to add to quota not for his qualities. A cheap option. If he gets called up to play we might be in shit creek.
Probably Ramsdale will leave, Hein promoted to reserve and Bentley 3rd keeper.
Is Hein homegrown?
I’m a never go back too, there’s always a reason for leaving in the first place..
Hein is homegrown..
Hein is going out on loan though I think..
I’ve seen Daniel Bentley play,can’t remember if it was League one or two,and he was very good at that level.
He played a few games for Wolves but very quickly lost his place.
I would say similar in standard to Karl Hein,but goalkeepers often mature later than other players so who knows.
Just seems a really odd move if he’s to be our number 2 keeper.
Rumour has it that he is to be No 3 , and If Ramsdale goes Snr Cana Pavon has another Spaniard up his sleeve.
It is suggested that Arteta and Ramsdale will meet when he gets back from England , hopefully Arteta has something to offer.
Deep joy, I look forward to seeing another Cana gem..
Wolves value Bentley at BP1 million. So if Raya costs 27million, Bentley 1 million and Ramsdale is sold at BP30 million then Aaron (sigh) would have paid for both keepers with 2 million left for the kitty. Good business but I really want Aaron to stay and would be sad to see him go. He is Arsenal through and through. Even when Jenkinson (who wasnt’t Arsenal level) left I was sorry since I love players who are Arsenal through and through since they were kids.
I doubt Ramsdale is Arsenal through and through as he’s was born in Stoke. I think he loves, or rather loved the club but having not played for a year, I’m sure he’ll fall in love with another club if he moves. Regardless, I’d hoped he’d stay too because I think he’s been a big character on and off the pitch.
I read an article stating that he was an Arsenal suppporter and when he signed for us he even took his grandad’s ashes together with his whole family.
Thats why I think he is Arsenal through and through
West Brom apparently…
Great goal from Simons – after I thought he had been disappointing,I thought England got lucky with the penalty,most refs would have waved that away as a coming together.
His Grandfather’s ashes are taken to all football grounds because when he (Ron) was alive, he travelled to 92 grounds. So the family took him to The Emirates.
I think it was a subjective decision with regards the penalty. it was a 50/50. as Limey pointed out, many refs would not have given it.
Bentley had 3 good seasons at Southend United, kept 12 clean sheets in a row before moving up to Championship. Watched him many times, always linked with Premier teams, but that was 10 years ago.
50 50s are not clear and obvious errors. Very surprised VAR called ref over, but once that happens it’s a brave ref who sticks to his original decision.
It’s almost a good thing Saka’s goal was ruled out. If it had stood the Dutch would have had plenty of time to respond. Watkins’ goal came so close to the final whistle that there was just not the time for an equaliser. Genius tactics by Southgate? One thing for certain, Kane would have been nowhere near to being in position to take that pass.
I’ve always known that the name Watkins would be famous one day. 😉
Good night one and all. 😴
Rico @1:50pm It was in a italian sports internet paper, Lucky for me it was written in English as I can’t Italian.
Congradulation England, hopefully you can go all the way.
Thanks Geoff.
New post up.