Morning all.
The Premier League fixtures have been announced this morning.
Date Time Match
14/08/2021 15:00 Brentford v Arsenal
21/08/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Chelsea
28/08/2021 15:00 Manchester City v Arsenal
11/09/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Norwich City
18/09/2021 15:00 Burnley v Arsenal
25/09/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
02/10/2021 15:00 Brighton v Arsenal
16/10/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Crystal Palace
23/10/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Aston Villa
30/10/2021 15:00 Leicester City v Arsenal
06/11/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Watford
20/11/2021 15:00 Liverpool v Arsenal
27/11/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Newcastle United
30/11/2021 20:00 Manchester United v Arsenal
04/12/2021 15:00 Everton v Arsenal
11/12/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Southampton
14/12/2021 19:45 Arsenal v West Ham United
18/12/2021 15:00 Leeds United v Arsenal
26/12/2021 15:00 Norwich City v Arsenal
28/12/2021 15:00 Arsenal v Wolverhampton
01/01/2022 15:00 Arsenal v Manchester City
15/01/2022 15:00 Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
22/01/2022 15:00 Arsenal v Burnley
08/02/2022 19:45 Wolverhampton v Arsenal
12/02/2022 15:00 Chelsea v Arsenal
19/02/2022 15:00 Arsenal v Brentford
26/02/2022 15:00 Arsenal v Liverpool
05/03/2022 15:00 Watford v Arsenal
12/03/2022 15:00 Arsenal v Leicester City
19/03/2022 15:00 Aston Villa v Arsenal
02/04/2022 15:00 Crystal Palace v Arsenal
09/04/2022 15:00 Arsenal v Brighton
16/04/2022 15:00 Southampton v Arsenal
23/04/2022 15:00 Arsenal v Manchester United
30/04/2022 15:00 West Ham United v Arsenal
07/05/2022 15:00 Arsenal v Leeds United
15/05/2022 15:00 Newcastle United v Arsenal
22/05/2022 16:00 Arsenal v Everton
So we start with a short trip to newly promoted Brentford who’ll be keen to get off to a good start before we face Chelsea at home. Then it’s a tough tough trip to Manchester City. The first NLD is in September at The Emirates.
This season, I don’t think it matters when we play who. There are no European fixtures to worry about so it’s just a case of one, perhaps two League games a week. No excessive travelling, no worrying about anything really other than the Premier League matches. There’ll be the international breaks as usual but even they shouldn’t cause Arsenal too much concern as far as fitness etc goes. Domestic Cups will come into the equation but I hope Mikel Arteta uses the fringe players and youth for those, certainly the League Cup.
What Arsenal need to do is assemble the best squad possible with the funds available to give this club a real chance of returning to the top four. Aim to win the League of course but with the money the likes of City and Chelsea are likely to spend this summer, I already believe its likely to be a two horse race this coming season. However, those two clubs, Utd and Liverpool too, will have the problems European football can create.
Transfer rumours:
Social media, NN and even my neighbour, are saying Martin Odegaard is staying with Real Madrid next season. Can’t say I’m bothered about that.
Sambi Lokonga though might be on his way to Arsenal. According to NN etc, Arsenal’s opening bid for the Belgian midfielder has been turned down which is no surprise. No club is going to start with a big bid, you have to test the water first. Would you offer full price on a house you wanted to buy? I wouldn’t. If Arsenal really want Lokonga, I’m sure both clubs can reach an agreement. I read the bid was around £4m too low.
Anyway, here he is in action. His best bits of course.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYWlcanGAk
Yea or nay?
See you in the comments.
Definitely yea but only if he isn’t a Xhaka replacement. He could be great as he develops but I fear he might struggle with the intensity and physicality of the EPL initially. He might adapt instantly but it’s too big a risk to make him the sole DM.
I think that’s maybe why Arsenal are pursuing Ben White instead of Tapsoba (who is a much better player) – White can play the DM role if needed.
Sadly, Arteta wants so much change in personnel to suit his preferred tactics that Arsenal will sacrifice on quality for quantity this summer.
Yea
Ben White can play right back too, he did against us a few weeks ago.
Ben, so you have actually spoken to Arteta about his transfer targets?
Please tell us more.
Forget the blogs, social media experts, and journo’s.
Ben is the man.
Morning all.
Is there a need for sarcasm Scott?
Arteta has said he needs to make a lot of changes which is what Ben is referring to I’m sure.
Ben, its not that Arteta wants so much change in personnel to suit his preferred tactics…..its that whoever the coach was I am sure that the ‘so much change in personnel’ would have had to happen. Even if you and I were the coaches.
We all know that the squad was bloated but not good enough. We all know that many players are not up to standard. And we all know that the wage bill was so high due to ignorance from those who offered contracts which the players signed willingly knowing that its like winning the lottery.
So blaming Arteta for the vast change in personnel is a bit off the mark. He will make mistakes but certainly not as much as Gazidis did or AW did in his final years. I am not blaming Unai Emery simply for the reason that certain signing were not his own but were ordered from above through Sanlehi.
We need an upgrade in every department. Plus also better back ups because certain players we have right now are not even good as back ups.
Morning everyone and thanks for the post Rico
Devil, I don’t think Ben is criticising Arteta, he’s just stating the bloomin obvious.
Arteta has said he needs to make changes, he’s said the owners will back him. No one knows whether or not Kroenke will invest heavily but history and the restrictions we face because of Covid, it might be Arteta has to settle for his plan b player because of the price.
Ben has said little different to what many of us have said imo.
‘Sadly, Arteta wants so much change in personnel to suit his preferred tactics’ ……can anyone tell me what does that mean then??
It means that of all the people we have been ‘Linked” with, only 2% look an upgrade to the current sqaurd. Take for instance Lokonga, could we only say he is better than say even Xhaka? Nope. Honestly, i would pick from the Academy before even thinking of buying this guy who from my initial assesment isnt even better that Willock or even AMN. Arteta must focus on creating the starting line up first, with each addition being better than what we have, not just number crunching…
What it says imo Devil, is he needs to sign a few different players who fit into his style of football.
Anyway, I doubt Ben will be back so.
Rico, are you never sarcastic?
Is nobody else here ever sarcastic???
Funny you never call others out though..
Some things never change.
Come back Ben.
You’re obviously a much valued contributor.
And yes, that WAS sarcasm lol
You really don’t get it do you Scott.
Nahum, who Arsenal are linked with means very little though surely? The count is up to the late 60’s of players linked with Arsenal.
Maybe it’s a good thing that we get to play chavs and City in first three games. They will have quite a few players missing due to Euro.
Ok Rico.
The latest player to be linked is Scott LeGun. He is so versatile he can play in any position.
Devil, we have to play them at some stage, so let’s test ourselves early and see exactly where we are at.
Not that we have a choice 🙂
Devil, he just can’t be bad hahahah
If it were for me I would have had the fixtures in this order….City, dippers, Chavs, Mancs, Spuds in the first 5 games. That would put us on our toes.
Get those games out of the way ASAP.
Bdw….the players which go on ACON will lose two lge games….one of those is against the spuds
Good afternoon Rico and all.
Partey looked brilliant on you tube, just saying.
Tierney was not fit enough to sit on the bench the other evening, he has a calf problem, took no part in training yesterday but hopes to be fit enough to play against England on Friday. Arteta needs to have words with both the player and the Scottish management. They have an adequate replacement in the Liverpool player Robertson. We don’t want him crocked for the sake of rescuing the Scottish hopes of progress in the Euros.
The most sensible thing to do imo is see who we sign and how they then play in an Arsenal team before getting too stressed.
Afternoon Cicero, and in a Atletico shirt, however…
Nice to see some new names posting today , just like Arsenal we need new names to replace the ones that have gone.
Never thought that we would get an easy ride with the opening fixtures , two top teams and twio newly promoted in the first 4 , so we need to be ready.
The dates for African cup if correct are 9th jan to 6th February if that’s right we play man city as the players leave then spurs , burnley and wolves and Chelsea as they return.
Just a shame they don’t return Potter but that seems to be the way these days.
In some ways it might be good we start with tough games as it’s probably more likely that City, Chelsea etc have more players at the Euros and in teams which will go further. I think we have just four players involved. Three of which haven’t played yet.
And Xhaka will soon be gone Rico. The fact that Arsenal have put their foot down on the price of £20M and they are refusing to budge means that he will be gone by the end of the window. So only three will be left….unless we sign anyone who is already playing. Like Locatelli, Maddison, Grealish and White. Now that would be enormous.
Dream on Devilgunner
Hopefully so Devil, Auba too although his wages will probably be an issue. I just hope the club have a good transfer window so we can really see what Arteta is all about.
Re Xhaka though, at the moment his potential move is media speculation only isn’t it?
Sky Sports report Brighton have rejected Arsenal’s £40m bid for White.
Sky Sports also report that ARSENAL INTERESTED IN RAMSDALE
Arsenal are interested in Sheffield United ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale is one of a number of keepers Arsenal are looking at. They also remain interested in Brighton’s Mat Ryan.
Once again throws into doubt the future of Bernd Leno who has intimated it may be time to move on.
Ramsey has left his shooting boots in the changing rooms, he’s missed two..
More from Sky Sports
BREAKING NEWS
Arsenal have rejected a bid from Aston Villa for forward Emile Smith Rowe.
He didn’t miss that one Rico.
He sure didn’t Cicero. Good finish.
ARSENAL UPDATES: XHAKA, NKETIAH, NEVES – Sky Sports.
There has been a flurry of big transfer stories from Arsenal so far today, but here are a few more transfer updates from around the Emirates…
A gap in valuation remains between Arsenal and Roma for sale of Granit Xhaka. Talks continue with all parties remaining hopeful a deal can be done.
Marseille are interested in Matteo Guendouzi. Arsenal are listening to offers for Guendouzi and want to do a permanent deal. Guendouzi spent last season on loan at Hertha Berlin.
Arsenal are in talks with Anderlecht over the signing of midfielder Albert Lokonga. Lokonga is 21 and has been capped by Belgium U21s.
Arsenal remain interested in Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves. There is a gap in the valuation for the player.
Arsenal listening to offers for striker Eddie Nketiah. Nketiah has one year left on his contract and talks over a new deal have failed to find a resolution.
Arsenal are in advanced talks with Stuttgart over the sale of defender Konstantinos Mavropanos. Mavropanos spent last season on loan at Stuttgart. A deal is expected to be finalised this week.
…and Bale put a penalty over the bar.
Hilarious.
Now it’s all kicked off…
What a jewel of a player Locatelli is. He began the move, did a long pass a-la David Luiz and went in for the return to make it 1-0
Locatellliiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 2-0
Settle, Devil, settle 🙂 🙂
Hi Rico and all
I say yes to Locatelli, don’t forget his coach is a Ex man city player when Arteta was at Man city
Hi Geoff, I’m pretty sure Roberto Mancini and Mikel Arteta were never together at City. Mancini coached City when Arteta was still playing for Everton and then Arsenal.
Rico I believe that Locatelli. Is coached by Vincent kompany
My apologies then Geoff, I thought Kompany managed RSC Anderlecht though.
Locatellli plays for Sassuoloin Serie A and is coached by Dionisi.
Good morning everyone.
That’s what I thought too Devil. Signing him should be a possibility I’d have thought. That’s if Arsenal are interested in him.
yes that is the crux of the matter Rico….if Arsenal are interested. Me personally?? I would buy Lcoatelli, Barella and Jorginho as our three midfielders. Imagine them behind Saka and Pepe on the flanks with a CF who can hold up play plus score.
Mouthwatering I’d say
I have known Locatelli since he made his debut for Milan. Even Barella.
Italy have a dearth of good midfielders. Very mobile, strong and technical. Mandragora, Pessina, Sensi, Tonali, Castrovilli, to name a few others. And I did not mention the best of the lot…Verratti, since he is out injured.
Italy are playing in the 4-3-3 favoured by Arteta. That is why I said that if it were for me I would buy all three midfielders. And as backup I would get Pessina, Mandragora and Tonali. Still young and in my opinion are better than Jorginho and Barella at the same age especially Tonali.
Even though as I stated above I would go for an Italian midfield I would still go for an all English defense and goalkeeper. English players are still behind in development when it comes to defensive midfielders and infact countries like Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Portugal have paid a lot of attention to that department.
All of them are technical, mobile and strong. Spain thrive more on the technical and mobility aspect, but Italy focus on it as well.
We can only wait and see when Italy face someone like France (if both finish top of their group they will meet in SF stage). It will be then that we will know how much strong their midfield is. But for now we go a game at a time….I am enjoying what I am seeing, especially because Italy have never ever played the way they are doing now.
Long may it last
DG, you mention six, “plus a few others” good midfielders, that is hardly a “dearth”. More a cornucopia I would suggest. 😉
Good morning all.
I mentioned the top ones Cicero. Otherwise the list is longer.
I don’t know anything about the guys you mention Devil. One or two I might have caught a glimpse of but how they’d fit in at Arsenal is anyone’s guess. If Arsenal sign any of them, I’ll take a bit more interest in them. 😜
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/06/17/defender-striker-on-their-way-out-as-arsenal-start-to-move/
hehe I expected that Rico.
I follow Italian soccer a lot and see many Serie A games. Like England, Italy suffered a lot when ‘foreigners’ began populating the Serie A. But they clubs employed foreign coaches which instilled different mentality….that is why you are seeing Italy play in the way they are doing for the first time. England will come out of it eventually and are already producing better players….just look at the youngsters playing in first teams and in the national team.
In a way I always said that the advent of foreing players in the EPl will only benefit England in the long run, to change their mentality of how football should be played. We are seeing more players with a higher technical level and better level of mobility already.
that is why I would love to see more English players in the Arsenal squad right now. Because I feel that the English players being produced now are of a higher level than they were a few years ago.
And before any of the ‘journos’ stick their knife in and say Arsenal dont have much English players may I remind them that in the first 11 which played against Croatia there were no players from Manchester United and Liverpool beside Arsenal.
I think you make a good point re overseas players and coaches Devil. After all, without them, the English clubs might still be playing the Big Sam or Pulis way. The changes to the game Arsene Wenger introduced was huge for the game in England imo.
But yep, the cap had to come in across the game for the sake of international football.
Even less of a dearth then and a greater cornucopia, DG.