David Ornstein has been spreading good and bad news. Granit Xhaka has a chance of playing again before the season ends, Pablo Mari however needs surgery on his ankle after suffering ligament damage against Man City so we won’t see him again this campaign. I feel for the guy, especially as he was desperate to make this loan deal permanent. Whether or not this hampers his chances, I’ve no idea. The Athletic report that Arsenal and Bukayo Saka were close to agreeing a new long term before the break which if true, is good news. Now that the 18 year old has been relieved of his left back duties, hopefully he’ll be more eager to put pen to paper. I think Saka signing a long term deal, if he does, will be one of the best deals of the summer.
Goodness only knows what’s happening with David Luiz though after his sending off and subsequent two match ban, just one fixture is scheduled to take place before his current one year deal expires. Personally, I don’t think the club should give him an extra season. The money it will cost to keep him him for another twelve months would be better spent elsewhere. Yes, we need experienced players to play and train alongside the younger guys but not if that player is showing them the wrong ways. Tugging a player over in the box is stupid. A mistimed challenge can sometimes be forgiven in certain circumstances but a blatant act as Luiz’s was, is unforgivable. He knew what he was doing just as he knew what impact his actions would have on team for the remainder of the game.
It looks like Mikel Arteta is left with just Mustafi and Holding for the trips to Brighton tomorrow afternoon and Southampton on Thursday. Not ideal bearing in mind we’ve seen very little of the Englishman this season but didn’t we say something similar about Mertesacker before ‘that’ FA Cup Final? At worst, Rob Holding will be rusty but as the saying goes, ‘when one door closes….’
This Is the kind of opportunity Holding perhaps needs and if he has anything about him, he’ll prove to Mikel Arteta that he’s good for the future. A player he can depend on.
I’ve taken this extract from yesterday’s press conference where Mikel Arteta talks about Eddie Nketiah and Brighton. More can be read on Arsenal.com.
I want him (Nketiah) to keep doing what he’s doing. The way he played last night against those players, in those difficult conditions, for me is extraordinary at his age. He has an immense personality to play, confidence, he’s powerful and is developing in every area I think. I have a lot of faith in him.
Playing the younger players in general.
The trick here is to get them with the right environment around them. Not to put too much pressure on them. We have a really young squad, a very inexperienced squad, and when you put that in certain parts of the pitch very close together, you can see that there are some deficits and the decision-making is not always the right thing to do.
We are in a position that we have to accept that some things at the moment, in there, probably more than we would like, are going to be like that. That’s the circumstances that we have but at the same time it’s great because it’s a great value for them to have these experiences and see themselves playing against that type of opposition.
I think when Mikel Arteta took the job, patience was always going to be a necessity. Many of us want the younger players to be our future, I know I do but I also know they can’t do it on their own. Even Fergie’s ‘Class of 92’ needed a few older heads in the team to keep them grounded, focused and time to mature. To gain confidence and self belief too. The ‘Class of 92’ was about just six players really, footballers – David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes, with Scholes, Giggs, Beckham and Gary Neville being the standouts in my opinion. All British, English bar Giggs.
Mikel Arteta has the opportunity to emulate their success with the likes of Joe Willock, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, AMN, Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Zech Medley and behind them, coming through Per Mertesacker’s Academy, is the next crop of young British hopefuls.
I’m not suggesting for one minute that Arsenal are about to conquer European and English football anytime soon, if at all but Arsenal could be a team with a high percentage of British born players. British players who the rest of the footballing world will envy. Ok, I’m pushing it a bit there perhaps but I’m sure you can see my point.
Arsenal’s challenge now is to build around them and by that I mean having the right kind of experienced players. I’m not convinced Mikel Arteta has them right now. Which kind of takes me back to yesterday’s ramble about bad apples. Our young guys need to be learning everything about the game from fellow footballers who put the game before money, the name on their shirt before money, everything Arsenal related before money. I’m not suggesting money isn’t important, of course it is and for all of us but football is a short career.
Surely it’s one to be enjoyed, not endured just because it pays well. Mikel Arteta said in his press conference that there are players who would love to sign for Arsenal. In my opinion, they’re the kind of players we need.
As long as they’re good of course..
Have a good Friday guys.
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Morning Rico and all.
As discussed yesterday, bring these lads though, top the squad up with young, promising players and see if we can build something special.
At least when they’re young, they don’t cost as much so the risk is lowered, but if they flourish……
Interesting times, but it’s been like that for a while now 🙂
Morning Scott, plus experience. We can’t forget experience but the question I have right now is, do we have the right experienced players? Luiz commits silly fouls, Auba, Lacazette and Ozil don’t turn up for the big matches. Are these the right role models for our younger players to have?
We need a few Ray Parlour kind of players I reckon, those who’ll roll up their sleeves in a game. Like Vieira, Petit and Campbell did, Adams and co before then.
Rico, we do have experience, so Arteta just needs to work out which of those players to keep, and which to let go.
It’s not easy, but that’s the gig he has.
I hadn’t thought of that Scott… 😜😜
He seems to like Xhaka, Mustafi, Bellerin etc etc
Though time will tell.
One thing we do have out of all of this is one hell of a good keeper!!
Lock him down for a decade!!
I really hope Holding shows that he really can play. I used to like Holding & Chambers for the short time that they did play together. I would prefer that David Luiz goes, & I would not mind if we actually concentrated on the younger players , especially while money is so tight . By the end of next year Ozil will have gone too, so we can have a younger team with s smaller wage bill. I still think we should play Ozil as ESR & other younger players can learn from him & we cannot afford to have £350K a week sitting on the bench , Ozil could have done better on Wednesday night then the young ones on there , but it will be good when he has gone as his wages cause all sorts of problems
He might play them because he has little choice but I guess the summer sales will tell us more. As will the signings.
I would caveat this very very heavily.
Arsenal currently has no idea of a first team. None. And where we have seen regulars – Xhaka and Ozil, it does not bode well. At all. We need to bed in youngsters all right..but the ‘youngsters’ in question are Tierney, Saliba, Torreira Ceballos and Pepe! These, along with Bellerin, Leno and Aubamayang are the present and immediate future if Arsenal. We are a million miles away from being in a position where we can add youth to the skeleton of a team-Artetas team selections have been godawful so far and he is giving the majority of chances to the wrong players largely. There is a big place for youth in this project, but he needs to get the core of the team right first, and so far we are only seeing experiments-I hope! I see two of the young players as worth 20 or so starts for the next 2 seasons..Saka and Martinelli, who looks head and shoulders above the home grown options. The rest I see as squad players..at best..for the moment, but that can change. But none of them have shown anything like the potential to be an arsenal starter..unlike Martinelli. Chances need to be earned. So far, they haven’t done enough for me, and that’s fine- some may make it, most won’t. As is the way. But right now, playing youth for the sake of it can result in absurdity like playing Nketiah over the excellent Lacazette and Willock or Guendouzi over Torreira (who should be first name on team sheet imo) and Ceballos, who they should try and retain instead of the pointless Xhaka. So yes..give youth a chance.. when it’s better than what you have. But Arteta needs to take a second look at what he has first, and get his best players playing regularly or the youth will go down with the rest of the ship.
Hello Rico.. you’ve changed your gravatar! Aww it’s lush 🙂 Thanks for the post… I’m gutted for Mari – just sums our luck up, doesn’t it?!
Haha I think the players Mikel was referring to – about wanting to join us – are 35+ in need of a quick (big) buck and just about ready for the knacker’s yard 😂
I wonder if Ozil will be in the squad tomorrow? I’m not saying the result would’ve been any different if he’d played on Wednesday, but I’d rather he’d played… 350k down the khazi, that we can’t afford! At least let him earn it! As much as I didn’t want to lose him (as well as Sanchez) I rue the day we gave him that amount, it’s killing us!!
I’m a little nervous about tomorrow… injuries already… and a suspension that I have to say I’m actually happy about 😂
I agree about Leno… what a steal at 19m…. he’s been magnificent and with that defence in front of him!!!
Afternoon Gooners, thanks for the post Rico…
Agree with Sohara, one door closes and another opens, I feel dreadfully sad for Mari and really hope that Arsenal sign him because I’ve liked the little that I’ve seen from him.
With Sokratis and Mustafi both under contract and unlikely to leave it just has to be Luiz out the door despite what he said after the game. Arteta is saying all the right things but I think he knows that Luiz needs to go to free up finance in other depts.
The injuries to Mari and Sokratis plus the suspension of Luiz give Holding the platform to show what he has to offer and to get back to being the defender he was before Rashford crocked him at Old Trafford. I would personally love to see Rob have a productive run of games up to our FACup final win in August. 😉
If anyone deserves some good luck after what he’s been through it’s Rob Holding…
Hey Sue, do you come from Barry Island?
Kev.. do I really wanna know why you’re asking me that?!
Sg, I understand where you are coming from in principle but as far as players go, surely how good or bad they are or are not is merely an opinion. Torreira is only just returning so wasn’t fit for City, plus, Arteta has made it clear that his team selection right now depends on how hard players work in training. Perhaps that’s why Eddie started in place of Lacazette and has done for a while.
Hi Sue, I hadn’t changed it for a while so thought by doing so, it’d bring better luck for Arsenal. Btw, ‘lush’ is popular in Gavin & Stacey, hence Kev’s question. (At least I assume so)
I too worry about Potter’s Brighton… What a sad reflection of where we are.
I feel sorry for Mari Kev, Cedric too in some ways as neither have yet to really prove what they’re about. Perhaps Mikel will have seen enough of Mari in training though.
Rico.. ah ok got ya! In that case no not from Barry, Kev!
Yeah, I know Torreira has been out, but I don’t have confidence that he will be the preferred holding midfielder. Artetas faith in Xhaka is disturbing. We know what Xhaka can do… forget the BS that hes is a different player under Arteta. He’s not. He often plays well in little spurts. He just is what he is…he just doesn’t have the physicality or defensive nous to be a deep lying midfielder in a pressing system.
I don’t buy into the work harder in training thing. I’d work harder than most, he wouldn’t pick me! We need to win games now…If Nketiah exceeds his potential he probably won’t be as good as Lacazette is now anyway, and to be honest he has looked like a little boy lost most weeks. And no harm…he’s simply not ready yet. He’s an ideal sub. Pepe is the other one who should get a start every game. The guy was genuinely world class at times last year and you can see the potential. Skills like any winger but with a left foot like Kevin Sheedy. There’s a superb player in there..he needs to play. He’s not going to get better sitting behind Nelson! Overthinking can ruin.
Wouldn’t it be wise to wait and see who starts the new season and what the club does in the transfer market?
Perhaps this period of time under Arteta is little more than seeing what players are for him long term? Judging his team selection based on a squad he inherited is imo, unfair.
That’s cracking Rico…
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
I`m quite concerned for our defence in our next game as I`ve just read on my fb page that Brighton are going to appeal Luiz`s red and try and get it rescinded for Saturday! 🙁
They have also offered to help get Ozil fit for the game!
Don’t get me wrong..im not rushing to judgement yet. He has proven nothing either way yet, far too short a tenure.. I like his rhetoric…he sounds ruthless and confident..reminds me of GG. But his team selections to date I have largely disagreed with. And his attitude to Xhska, Luiz and, until now Ozil are very un-GG. Of course hr should be seeing who’s there for the long term, and that’s pretty much what I’ve outlined above. But this is not preseason where everybody gets a run out. There is some proven young quality in this squad and that should be the emphasis and core. There is also a cache of players we all know aren’t good enough but who can fill holes, and then there are the kids. But the first group there should be his priority. If we don’t get CL football, the very least we need is to know who 7-8 of our starting 11 is for next year are. We will have a better idea who Arteta is by then I sincerely hope. If we fail in both those objectivies we, and the Manager, are in big trouble.
A spud tweeted after our game saying he was happy for the Evertonians that Liverpool won’t clinch the title there on Sunday, as he was at WHL when we did it and that no fan should ever have to go through that 😀
Spuds in action later… surely the Mancs will win?
Sue, I dont believe the Spud fan, they are deluded masochists and are probably upset that Liverpool are not going to win the title at Spudstadia, in their fantasy world it`s the only way they get to see a title won !
I prefer ‘orlight Dave, orlight?’ Kev.
Sg, that’s assuming Mikel Arteta sees things the way you do though surely?
😄 nice one, Le Coq!! I’m watching Norwich. What are the chances of a drunken Delia shouting “let’s be having you” at the cardboard cutouts at half time?!! 😝
Depend on what you mean Rico. I don’t think it’s arguable at all that he needs very quickly to get the bones of his first 11 in place. Well maybe not.. maybe the media reports are crap and we are going to spend 800m on a whole new squad in the summer and we can start the process next year with a fresh canvas! But just for now, I’m not expecting any more than 1 or 2, so its vital that he gets his head around who and what he has at his disposal trom within so that he knows where they need to strengthen.
And of course everyone has their opinion on players. Managers included. But if he’s looking at a pressing game, I hardly think Ozil Xhaka and Luiz would spring to anyone’s mind as the kind of high octane athletes needed for that system. We shall see.
Rico.. you’re a Gavin and Stacey fan then?!
I want a draw tonight . I heard the odds this morning were 2 to 1 that Spurs would win !!!! thought that was odd ,,if they draw & we beat Brighton tomorrow we will only 3 points behind Man U & 1 point above Spurs 🙂 🙂
Sohara.. I’d love a 0-0 bore draw! But if the Mancs were to win, imagine that smacked arse look on Maureen’s face – lovely jubbly!!
This probably sums it up for me with our defence……………
Arteta:…………..”David, I want to talk about Tactics!”
Luiz:……………” I like the Green and Orange ones, El Bosso, the White one`s are too minty!”
I dont watch other teams, so I`m watching Love Island Australia!…………………….I think the one wearing the budgie smugglers is Scott!
I reckon Luis Suarez has a shirt with ……”All Dives Matter”
Obviously, Polygamist and Bigamists have shirts with………..”All Wives Matter!”……………the only difference is the Bigamist wears his one secretly!
Sg, I think you and I are going round in circles. I just prefer to see where we’re at after the summer when Arteta will have had longer with his players. For what it’s worth, I’d be selling so many of them if I could, there would barely be a first team, over the age of 25 anyway.
Massive fan Sue, can’t wait for the next series..
This seems plausible;
Pablo Mari fee breakdown:
Arsenal paid 5 million in January
They will pay 3 million right now.
And a further 1 million for every 10 games he plays. Up to the limit of 8 million.
That is, if Mari plays 80 games for Arsenal, the total is 16 million euros.
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@vitorsergio
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Have we signed him then?
LC, I’m the handsome one 🙂
Maybe Rico, maybe?
Scott, you have those rugged antipodean looks, a bit like Sir Les Patterson. 😉
Well, was happy with a draw… De Gea hasn’t improved much 😄
Rico.. When will it be back, do you know? And will Smithy say yes?!!
That’s it, Kev-we could be twins hahahahaha
Late Late Rico good evening.
Question to sleeping giant..Do you have football backgoound?
Christmas I reckon Sue, and yes, he’s bound to and then I reckon that’ll be it for good.
Good Kev, I certainly hope so. He has a nice smile. Lol.
Evening Fred.
Auba…Stats ie:goals
Big games.
Never scores against:The big clubs.
Never scored against..Liverpool and Man City.
But has scored against vital goals in other big games.
Real Madrid
B Munich
Leipzig
Chelsea
Man Utd
Spurs
Wloves
Very under estimated by us gooners.
Hi Rico
Hope you are well
Later Guys
I am thanks Fred. You too I hope?
New post up.