Morning all.
Chris Sutton:
Break Government guidelines, get caught, copy and paste an apology from your agent on social media, then carry on as normal. That is the way it seems to go.
It did not sit right seeing Luka Milivojevic lead Crystal Palace out on Saturday after spending New Year’s Eve with Aleksandar Mitrovic, the striker of the club whose games are being postponed because of a Covid-19 outbreak. Though Milivojevic flouted Government guidelines, we are told he did not break Premier League protocols because he tested negative before appearing for Palace. Roy Hodgson (right) condemned Milivojevic, yet started him against Sheffield United. Jose Mourinho condemned his Covidiots, yet Sergio Reguilon was sitting there on his substitutes’ bench against Leeds.
It feels as if these players are getting away with their ignorance on technicalities. I would rather see clubs or the footballing authorities police and punish their players. If caught, that is a three-match ban, for example. Let that act as a deterrent. Professional players are in privileged positions — so many at amateur and youth level would love to play a game of football right now.
To not socialise together is such a small sacrifice compared to what the rest of the country is going through.
Footballers did so much good work during the first lockdown. They were charitable and showed great compassion. Now, a minority are not only giving the game a bad name, but they are also giving the Government more reasons to shut it down, especially if infections continue to rise. None of us want that to happen.
I’m not a huge fan of Chris Sutton but in this case, I think he makes a good point. Ordinary Joe Public is expected to follow the rules yet over recent weeks, professional footballers are blatantly flouting the rules. In doing so, they are putting lives at risk. One minute they’re partying, the next they’re spitting on a football pitch, or worse. Man City, Toots, and Crystal Palace players are the ones we are being told about but there’s bound to be more. The authorities in the UK have millions of people to ‘police’ so it’s only right that football clubs take some kind of responsibility for their own players. Yes, I’d ban them from playing too for a few matches, and fine them with the money going to charity.
I’d like to think Arsenal players will be more sensible considering Mikel Arteta himself contracted the virus. To date, I’ve not read anything about our own players breaching the rules. Gabriel tested positive after someone in his bubble unknowingly had the virus. Or at least that’s what Mikel Arteta has said. Luiz and William were said to be feeling ‘unwell’ but with what symptoms has never been disclosed. ‘Snitch fever’ I reckon!
William Saliba is on his way to Nice for the rest of the season according to reports in the media. Arsenal need him to have a positive five months on loan. He’ll either come back in the summer a better player who Mikel Arteta will be convinced by or he’ll sell for more than the amount we paid for him. It’s kind of a win win situation. I don’t know the ins and outs of why he has made an appearance for the first team so I’m not going to try and guess. Good luck to him though, an injury free few months will do him the world of good.
Football is a funny old game isn’t it? Two weeks ago Mikel Arteta was heading for the sack if the back pages were to believed, whereas his counterpart at Chelsea was a smart young manager doing good things with his team. Here we now and the tables have turned as it’s Frank Lampard the media and pundits are gunning for. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t give a toot about what goes on at Chelsea but just like a few good performances/results doesn’t mean Arsenal have cracked it, a few bad results doesn’t mean it should be the end of Lampard. For us, I hope his struggles continue and Chelsea drop further and further down the table but being the cut throat kind of owner Roman Abramavic is, it’s unlikely that’ll happen as he’ll be gone. But how is any club able to achieve any kind of stability if managers keep getting sacked?
Football management isn’t like DIY SOS where a team breeze in and build an almost new home in nine days, it takes time, the right tradesman and tools. For Lampard, Roman expects instant success no doubt, especially after spending so much money on new players but at Arsenal, the process takes longer as money isn’t as freely thrown around. This transfer window, and the summer in my opinion, is about clearing the deck of players who don’t fit into Mikel Arteta’s style of football and replacing them with players who do. Trimming the squad and reducing the wage bill at the same time.
Over the last three matches we’ve seen how Arsenal can play with younger and more energetic players. We’ve seen how an injection of enthusiasm has brought the best out of Lacazette too. No doubt the ‘process’ Arteta has often referred to is about finding out who is with him on this journey and who isn’t and the ‘isn’t’ will be moved on where possible. This has also now led to much more support amongst fans on the success of the side, with many picking up different offers here, whilst using the different games available at these top uk platforms. Let’s hope this success continues and Arsenal also continue to climb up the Premier league table.
I guess sometimes it pays to have a board which doesn’t make knee jerk decisions. Depending on your views on Mikel Arteta of course.
See you in the comments.
er Nice is in France the last time I’m looked.
It’s always be4n in France, I just had Italy in my head for some reason.
Good Morning Rico and all
Nice in Italy??? Well, well, well….maybe someone sneezed and moved the whole city across the Alps?? hehehe
Italy on your mind?? You should definetely go there Rico. Especially the Alps in SudTirol. Firenze, Assisi, Rome, Verona…..all are beautiful cities. But if you want nature and to be literally a step away from heaven go to SudTirol. Similiar to the Highlands. I have been in both and honestly always want to stay there.
Saliba on loan I would really relish. But only if he plays. Because to send him on loan and he does not play is a waste of time. He has had a very hard year emotionally, mentally and it all reflects on the physical. He needs time to be near family, someone who loves him. Arsenal, for all their efforts cannot substitute this. So France on loan is the only option. But I would get him to sign another contract.
Seeing that its a whole week between WBA and NUFC its pointless making changes. I would be tempted to go with the same team as the last game. They had proper rest, NUFC have a whole multitude of problems, we need to continue momentum and also make sure we progress. Maybe the only players I would put in would be AMN for Bellerin and Partey if he is fit. Otherwise I would not change anything.
Morning Devil. I think this loan is more about him going home to France. A chance to be around family if he can be. I can’t see a player like him not playing though, he’s quite a player already in France.
I think it their heart of hearts the club owners know how bad some of this squad is and realise we sort of had to push a big reset button. Also bringing in a rookie manager they obviousely had the intention of giving him the time to rebuild the team. Its not the boards patience we have to worry about it that of our unrealistic fanbase.
Im liking the noises coming out of the club about player in and outs. Kola has gone looks like Sokratis is leaving i think Saliba on loan is a good shout and hopefully settle his head. Guendouzi is doing well at Hertha hopefully it will settle him down as well as the birth of his baby.
We need to send Nelson amd Willock on loans if im honest they need regular game time. Looks like Ozil has realised that he is a fossil of how a 10 used to be, seeing that ESR has probably made for tackles and interseptions in 3 matches than Ozil in 6 years. Hopefully we can tie Balogun to a long term deal but thats not looking to clever at the moment.
Buendia and Bassouma wold be exellent signings or players in their mould. We are moving very slowly in the right direction
France or Italy , I read a report last night that Saliba was off to France but the same story said Torriera was going to Italy. Easy to see where that came from .
In local news Farke said that Buendia is not leaving , they then said that Arsenal were adding cash plus two players . stating ” The report goes on to state that £40 million plus Nelson and Willock could
be enough ”
I think Delia @s been on her half time tipple if they are demanding that .
I’ve reposted a comment I made early this morning.
Cicero on 4th January 2021 at 6:31 am
I see no reason why Arteta should change the winning team for the Newcastle game. We are the FA Cup holders. We need to defend that position, winning the cup again would put us back in Europe and provide a huge boost for the club and fans.
There is a full week between the Baggies and the Magpies, ample time to rest and recover, it is a home game so no travel weariness. The next game is home to Palace five days later. Again plenty of recovery time.
The only change I would make is to replace Aubameyang with Martinelli. Our defence of Leno, Bellerin Holding, Mari and Tierney is developing into a fine cohesive unit, it doesn’t need to be tinkered with to give Luiz, Mustafi and Cedric game time. Heaven forbid putting Runnarson in goal.
Stick with the wining team. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!.
Just read that Nelson and/or Willock are mooted as makeweight for Buendia. While I like Buendia I disagree with one or both making weight as they are good and also Englishmen. I hope they only may go on loan but not permanently
clubs are only able to loan a maximum of one player from another club so if Norwich are serious ,which I doubt , at least one of the two would have to be permanent.
I reckon this is the first hands off reaction as I am sure that they don’t want to sell.
Lacazette’s contract has been put on hold till the summer.
Guendouzi a dad James? Cripes, he’s barely grown up himself.
£40m + two players, Norwich are in la la land.
Last season Lampard had only what he had, mainly a group of players who’ve seen better days but can still put in a shift and a group of exciting youngsters and given the limitations Lampard did really well and Chelsea played some good football, I quite enjoyed watching* them.
This season he’s spent a mint and none of the new expensive overpaid toys are delivering, his fault or theirs, you decide?
Losing the FACup final to Arsenal hurt them big time, Roman doesn’t like losing to us because despite all his success and Monopoly money Arsenal are still the big dog in London and he hates that…
Looking up to Mourinho will also piss off the Russian with multiple passports, but I reckon that as with Arteta and to a degree Ole that Lampard can turn it around. Chelsea have Morcombe in the FACup this Sunday so they’ll get 5 or 6 goals there I reckon.
Cicero I doubt that you’ll be far wrong in your assessment of the team for this weekend but I still reckon that Luiz and Willian will be in the starting XI
I wasn’t excited by the Isco rumours and I’m not excited by Buendia either and certainly not at £40m, but then I don’t want to lose Nelson, why not offer a straight swap, Pepe for Buendia?
25 million max for Buendia imo. That is why I would sell one of Pepe and/or Aubameyang as they would finance a move for at least three to four good players. Buendia is not in the 40 million bracket although he has played in the EPL and is used to weather now. He would thrive in a team like ours and under Arteta. But paying 40million plus Willock and Nelson is totally unrealistic.
Nelson and Willock are both English and homegrown. I doubt if the club are daft enough to sanction that. Maybe Willock, but only if another Englishman comes the other way.
Hi Kev.
Pepe for Buendia?? Nope mate. Pepe cost 70million. Buendia is only a 25 million at max. I would love the club to sell Pepe, maybe not for 70 million but 55-60 will do imo.
Rico please delete the comment awaiting moderation as I must have done something wrong. Thanks
Nice Idea Kev but I reckon wages might get in the way , I reckon that that Pepe is on about 3 to 4 times more than Buendia.
I’m quite enjoying the shennagins at Chelsea,Fat Frank might get a bit more leeway because of being a successful former player.I think Rico said other clubs would have sacked Arteta, Chelsea fall into that category.I actually thought Lampard was doing well until a few weeks ago,as we’ve seen things can change quickly.
Owen Hargreaves says :- “I think Smith-Rowe is good. He’s smart, he plays quick, he doesn’t take too many touches – he knows he’s not a skillful flair player. Arteta has found a blend with these young guns to go alongside Aubameyang.
Someone ought to tell him that it’s Lacazette thats getting the goals . If you are going to comment try to get it right.
Limey, I think the FA Cup helped Arteta, and as Kev said, really hurt Lampard.
Anyone here feels like me that Tierney could do a better job in DM (if ever he is put there) than Xhaka and Elneny combined???
Not imo, but Chambers could. A season at Fulham proved that.
I’m sure Tierney could play the DM. role but why would anyone in their right mind move him from left back? He’s a really good defender and brilliant when he gets forward.
If we need a fill in until Partey is fully fit then, as Rico says, Chambers is the man or at a stretch why not Luiz? He started there at Chelsea I believe.
Busy day, Coach I think that Arsenal probably paid £20m more than Pepe was worth when he was ripping it up in Ligue Un, we of course as fans were just excited by Arsenal signing the hottest property in France at that time, although when we signed him some wags opined that we were just signing another Gervinho – yes very funny…
Well in 18 months it’s clear to me that Pepe isn’t anywhere near a £72m player and not really even close to being a £52m player either. I reckon in hindsight that Arsenal paid at least £32m more than he was worth and that at his peak that he’s a £40m player and that’s at his peak and he isn’t now at his peak, therefore in a Covid recession I reckon you can chop off another £10m as well, so I’d say conservatively that Pepe at this particular time is a £30m player, no more than that…
Owen Hargreaves usually comes across as more sensible than that but what on Earth does he mean by flair player? Pepe is a flair player isn’t he and he’s as useful as a chocolate frying pan, so Smith Rowe isn’t a flair player, what a dumb comment…
So if the season ended now,Man Utd would win on points per game.Even as it is if they win their game in hand they go top.Arsenal beat Man Utd not so long ago. It’s a crazy season with not much between the top and mid-table.
Morning all.
It is a crazy season. Not that long ago, Utd were below us in the table, and Toots/Chelsea were in the top two. 😂
Good morning Rico and all
We are just 10 points off the top. While it’s a long shot and nearly impossible dream I still feel that this season has lots of quirks and changes in store
Morning Devil. I think so too.
New post up now