Morning all.
Not the best result Arsenal could have had in yesterday’s Europa League draw but not the worst. Barring perhaps Molde and Granada, every team left in this competition will be a tough nut to crack. Slavia Prague might very well have a UEFA investigation hanging over them when Arsenal play them after Rangers complained of racist comments having been directed at their players. Rangers themselves might be in trouble after reports in yesterday’s newspapers suggested one of the Slavia players was given a going over in the tunnel. Sky Sports report that UEFA are to investigate both clubs.
Slavia Prague deny allegations of racism and accuse Glen Kamara of assaulting their player Ondrej Kudela. A few Rangers players, including Kemar Roofe have subsequently received racist abuse and threats on social media. What kind of example are either set of players setting?
I watched some of the highlights of that game, it didn’t make pleasant viewing that’s for sure. Mind you, neither did Arsenal’s match albeit for very different reasons. I’m still laughing at the Toots though.
There’s a video clip on the official website of the Arsenal squad in training yesterday and it came as no surprise to see a bit of shooting practice was taking place. Good to see Reiss Nelson involved and scoring goals, even if it is in training. His absence from the first team squad on a match day is one of a few mysteries to me. Watching Aubameyang and Pepe cock up so much and so often, I wonder how they manage to keep their place in the squad.
Arsenal play again tomorrow. A short trip across London for a 2.30 kickoff against West Ham. Mikel Arteta v David Moyes, two men who I’d imagine have nothing but great respect for each other having been at Everton together a few years ago. I admire what Moyes is doing right now. Ridiculed by Man Utd fans not so long ago to managing a club which like Arsenal, doesn’t have hundreds of millions of pounds to spend on players, yet his team are not only playing well but are doing very well too. European football is looking likely for West Ham, perhaps even Champions League.
For Arsenal, things haven’t gone as well but we’re still only five points off Liverpool who sit in fifth place. Closing that gap to secure a place in the Europa Cup next season isn’t a challenge beyond us in my opinion. The fixture tomorrow and Liverpool at home right after the international break are our hardest fixtures until we go to Stamford Bridge in May. Certainly on paper anyway. Arsenal as a group should be looking at the next six week fixture calendar and see that this period, if they get it right, could make a huge difference to how we end the season.
If Arsenal are to go on a good run, we simply have to score more goals. Obvious I know but with the amount of opportunities the team is creating, we really should be winning more fixtures than we are. Certainly since Christmas. It’s not like the chances we’ve created half been half chances either as many have been so clear cut, I’d have put money on a Sunday League striker scoring. Slightly exaggerative I know but you get my drift. Aubameyang, Pepe and Ødegaard have missed some ‘sitters’ of late.
If we’re to beat West Ham, any chances which come our way, and I doubt there’ll be too many, we simply have to take.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico. A bonus, I wasn’t expecting a post today, well done and well written too. Thank you.
The racial abuse in the Rangers/Slavia game came as no surprise to me, most East European countries are way behind when it comes to combating racism. It really is time they moved into the twenty-first century and must drag their footballers along with them.
I don’t expect UEFA will do much about it, they’ll probably kick the can down the road in order to avoid a decision that could disrupt remainder of this season’s Europa League. Banning Slavia would mean reinstating Rangers, who could themselves receive a ban for the post- match fracas in the tunnel. A most unsavoury situation all round.
No Saka tomorrow, and Willian is out too, a calf injury apparently.
Ireland v England in the Six Nations, India v England in the deciding T20. So I have to get my chores done early as I shall be glued to the box all afternoon. 😉
Morning Cicero, Sue, Kev, all.
Sleeping, I wonder how you’d feel if you were watching us struggle to score, all the time believing you might have.
We could, probably should be involved in the top four battle had so many opportunities to score not been missed. As Scott often says on here, Luiz, Xhaka or some other player make a mistake which leads to us conceding and they absolutely battered, yet what about the front men?
Sue, I’ve lost patience with his game day attitude.
Cicero, re your earlier, what beggars belief is Slavia have black players in their squad. I wonder how they feel about their so called white mates.
Morning Europans, interesting but not surprising to notice that our terrible performance and defeat vs Olympiarkos has been swept aside by our hilarity over the Spuds defeat, lucky old Mikel. But it shows that there’s still a lot of work (player upgrade) before we can finally see if the work Arteta is doing is what’s required to recover our position in the league after several seasons of fallow.
West Ham have had a great season by their standards and are 7 points ahead of Arsenal having played the same amount of games. Rico you rightly point out the job that Moyes has done and even the West Ham fans, notoriously difficult to please, are warming to a manager they weren’t really keen on to start with. So we are in for a tough game tomorrow with not least the fact that the useless Jon Moss is the referee so expect some questionable decisions from that rotund official.
Rico it’s quite revealing to see the reaction of some of our players as they begin to see the way the wind is blowing. Willock for example has made a few ill advisable comments whilst at Newcastle making comparisons between Steve Bruce and his old boss and in the meantime I reckon sealing his fate this summer.
Likewise Matteo Guendouzi with his Ozilesque rent-a-comment behaviour that has seen him mood swing and Tweet between piss taking to arse crawling as his situation in Berlin deteriorates and his reputations nose dives, another one way ticket to anywhere for Matt I predict.
Maitland Niles has pretty kept quiet, played well and just got on with increasing his value, good lad and good luck at your new club next season.
Bellerin is playing as if his heart isn’t in it anymore, he still puts in a shift of sorts but the energy, enthusiasm and drive is not what it was and makes me wonder if a parting of the ways has already been discussed between player, agent and club?
There’s plenty more players whose futures are in flux and this would be the most favourable summer, financially, for Arsenal to make a splash as other clubs need to sell and in particular foreign clubs, so if KSE could see its way to guaranteeing some extra funds/loans it might well be the most cost effective business they’ve done since they took control?
Agreed Kev, I think players can be quite stupid sometimes as they seem to forget they’re on loan. I’m pleased AMN is just getting on with things because I still hope he has a career at Arsenal. Unlikely perhaps, but never say never.
But yes, all these loan players, plus a few from the squad could easily raise £100-£150m if all sold 😀
Hi Rico.. Looking forward to the game tomorrow. Should be end to end stuff! I’ll be rooting for Auba! After a difficult game on Thursday, I cringed at some of the comments (elsewhere) made about him. He’s still my main man, if not anyone else’s 😆
I quite like watching West Ham, in particular Rice, Antonio and Bowen. Moyes is doing a fantastic job.
Leno will have a busy afternoon and I really hope he manages to keep Lingard (😡) out!
Let’s hope we have a good ‘un as the break is upon us – 2 weeks without Arsenal, how will we cope?!!
You negative lot, we will be winning 3-1 without a doubt 🙂
Morning all.
Did you really just say you wonder how Nelson isnt in the team while Aubameyang and Pepe are?
Maybe because hes a player who is intrinsic in the u23s getting humiliated ever week whereas Aubameyang is one of the best strikers on earth?
Same reason why Mbappe is in the French national team and yaya Sanogo isnt.
Hi Rico and all I think this weekend match will give us a better idea were we are, let’s hope our strikers are switched on. As for Slavia and Rangers I feel that both clubs will receive a heavy fine only.
Hi Geoff, I’m with you in some ways. There’s no doubting Auba’s class but this season, that class has left him.
Giant, I could miss the easy chances Auba has shanked this season, and I wouldn’t charge anywhere near as much 🙂
Sleeping giant if Auba is one of the best strikers on earth then why does he miss so many easy goals and why is he not leading the premier league goal scoring
Geoff, we all know how good Auba is when on song, but we really haven’t seen him even close to his best this season, for whatever reason.
It’s a shame as at his best, he is right up there, but I think it’s time to see at seasons end.
Time to sell……..not see.
I need a proofreader 🙂
Afternoon Rico and the House
Kaylon Edwards has scored to give our 18s the lead in FA youth cup
at blackburn
Afternoon Rick, a good start then. 🤞
Taylor Hart makes it 2-0
We will win 10-0. I can assure you. Lacazette to score 10 and Odegaard to assist all 10.
One day I am bound to guess no???? 😂😂😂😂😂
Good Afternoon Rico and all
Wasn’t expecting a post today. But suddenly I got a good one. And enjoyed reading it.
Sleepinggiant….its like you comparing a sofa to a bed. you would not know the difference. Maybe you admiring Kim Khardashian all the time and fantasizing about her has stopped you from noticing the beautiful girl next door.
Comparing Sanogo to Nelson is bordering on the ridiculous. Hilarious stuff. What have you been smoking?
I hope we turn up tomorrow. And the players will have rested well. Especially Tierney, ESR and Xhaka. They badly need a break. Can’t they get a sore toe in the 90th minute? So they won’t go with their national team!!!!
Afternoon Devil, thanks.
Not much time for ESR, Tierney and Xhaka to have rested though. They’re not going to get a rest anytime soon either.
Rico….this morning I went through the Slavia squad and my mouth dropped open as they have quite a good number of black players in their squad as you rightly pointed out. If I was in that situation I would refuse to play with someone like that. It will be either him or me.
Devil, perhaps there was no racism in the first place. Who knows but the whole Rangers v Slavia hasn’t done the game much good imo.
Its now 3-0
Stunning long range goal by Azeez.
Rico the big difference today is that 5 of the team
are playing forU18s first time this year.
They have been playing with the u23s where they have had problems .
But saying that they have learnt a lot from playing with Reiss Nelson
I didn’t know that Rick.
There’s a big difference with Auba and the likes of Bergkamp etc, when Auba isn’t scoring, he’s not doing a lot else in my opinion. I get the defence of him re his drought etc etc but this is a guy heading towards the end of his career whose just been given a new contract. Is his situation that different to what we went through with Ozil?
A captain who turns up late for a game?
I can’t believe what I’m reading here
Do you remember Alan Smith’s droughts between bis championship years? Or Bergkamps? Form is temporary..class is permanent.
Rico….there is one thing criticising…we all do that and it’s to be encouraged…its another thing saying he should be dropped for a complete dud. I will scream at Auba when he misses like everyone else…but I know full well that I am screaming at a world class player who has missed a chance. Xhaka and Luis I criticise because they’re not pl quality players in my opinion. There is a universe of difference. Over the years of social media, I have seen a trend develop where really bad teams tend to turn on their good players because they expect them to do everything, rather than continue to demand the replacement of the bad ones. Its not the good players who ruin a team, ever, ..even on an off day. …every striker misses chances..It’s the bad players who never ever ever step up who are to blame. Being good dressing room guys is the biggest excuse for dross currently going. So I will back class. Particularly when the offered alternative is a Nelson.
Aussie Geoff….are you serious? Haaland isnt leading the charts in Germany..is he top class? From memory, Ian Wright led the scoring charts once (same as Auba to date),so should he have been dropped every other year? Of course not.
Auba is fine. Replace him when he declines
and we sign a Haaland or somebody of equal class. In the meantime, let him get his form back and assist Gabriel, Partey, Leno, Tierney Saka, maybe Odegaard & very few others to try lift this team of journeymen to a season worthy of the Arsenal.
Sleeping, did I suggest dropping Auba for Nelson?
What I said in the post was, it’s a wonder how both Pepe and Auba keep their place and it must be tough for Nelson, or any other player for example, to be left out when others aren’t performing very well.
H/T 3-0
A superb first half performance.
This shows what the boys can do playing in their age group
D/G loved your comments about Sleepinggiant.
SleepingGiant…..the problem with Auba is not the draught. It lies between his ears….the grey matter called brain and in his mentality….ATTITUDE. Goalscoring draughts are something everyone goes through….Bergkamp went through it. Henry as well. Wright as well. Smith as well. But what Auba is going through right now is not a draught….its his attitude.
He scores when he wants. And when he wants he just sulks. And its like playing with a man less. With the above mentioned players we never seemed to carry them They had a good attitude. Auba does not. Just see how he reacted to being dropped.
Devil.. its not ridiculous at all. I stand by it. Sometimes necessary to use an extreme to highlight an absurd proposition. Dropping Auba for Nelson…ffs.
I have seen a lot of prospects get pushed as the next big thing, not just at Arsenal. A tiny proportion make it as true stars (which there is absolutely no doubt incidentally that Auba is, and is certainly Arsenals only claimant to that level), a chunk become pl players, many disappear without trace. I haven’t seen much from Nelson to get me off my seat. Certainly nothing ever to put him in the first category, and a lot more red flags directing him closer to the third category than the second. We will see. But right now, his absolute ceiling is as one of the squad players for the wings. At best. Its certainly not as a replacement for our best player by far.
As for smoking something..think that might be a bit of an admission on your own part. Support is available. Something amiss with your imagination…Would never fantasise about that Kim one….she’d be punching waaaaaaay too far above her weight, lad, even in a fantasy. Now that would be just ridiculous.
Sleepinggiant…..where was dropping Auba for NElson suggested???
All Rico did was wonder what Nelson must be thinking if both Pepe and Auba (and I put Willian with them as well) were playing crap and still keep on being picked and he does not make it to the subs bench sometimes.
Nelson is a more than a good player. I think if he did not make it with us, he will go on to prove himself elsewhere. And I presume that when that day comes you will be the first one to criticize the club for letting him go away.
Rico, the fact that the Slavia player covered his mouth to say something says a lot. Why did he cover his mouth??
Devil, I can think of plenty of things. Lol
Think what we need accept about Auba is, now that dust has settled..hes always been that mercurial type of player. Always. Hes going through a bad phase so people now jumping on him…but that’s Auba..the modern football star..warts and all. I’m not worried about him just yet.. he has enough of a track record to suggest he will come back to the world class striker we know he is and in fairness to him consistently has been. And also I wont start screaming get rid of our top player when rest of the team is so poor. Wait until we have a few more younger guys at his level and then ease him into sunset.
But people will have different opinions. Certainly not going to start a fight!
“But people will have different opinions. Certainly not going to start a fight!”
Well said Sleeping, it’s healthy to debate things like this because we do all se things differently at times but no one always needs to be right. Personally p, I hope his form does return, I hope I’ve judged his sulky attitude wrongly and he scores the goals to push us up the table.
Finished 4-1
Final goal right back Norton Cuffy
No..with Nelson I just dont see it, but i know others do. I would loan him and see what hes got on e and for all. But right now, I wouldn’t complain if they sold him ..even if he came back to haunt us. Iwobis early yrs were far more promising and I was ok with losing him. Same with Ox…though I ever saw a player there. But of course everyone fears a Gnabry….but in my opinion it was clear he was a star in the making.
Anyway..peace..must go.
Have a great day all
Omg, what a catch in the cricket. Stunning.
You too Sleeping.
SleepingGiant….those who know me know that I always prefer the Laca type of CF to Auba. Although he scores a lot I still dont prefer him. And the team plays better when Laca plays anyway. The majority of crap games we plays Auba was sort of everpresent.
I respect your opinion…and no one is looking for a fight. Just in case you dont know….Highbury House’ motto is…..Where its ok to disagree. So no one is looking for a fight. We love having your opinion…just dont shove it down our throats. Otherwise Scott will come out of Oz with a couple of crocodiles searching for you.
Rico why can’t we post pics on the comments….I got a couple about the spuds which are really hilarious.
Phew!! 😄 You’re right, Rico, everyone has an opinion and a right to express it but shouldn’t need thick skin whilst doing so!! There is no right or wrong it’s an opinion.
I’ve been pounced upon (elsewhere) for my support of our players (now Auba!) 😱 smh!! Things turn nasty in the blink of an eye and I don’t understand why, because we all have at least one thing in common – our love for the greatest team the world has ever seen!!
Exactly Sue. I just get frustrated when players look as if they couldn’t give a toss. Because we all do.
sleeping giant you say Auba is one of the best striker on earth then why is Laca on more goals than Auba for the money Auba is being paid there is no excuse. on his day Auba is good but their is now way I would rank him with the top strikers. as much as I hate to say it and yes there is more than just stat’s to a game, how ever just look at the premier league stat’s and you will see in the top ten goals and top 10 assist both kane and Song are there.
If Auba has some personal reasons to why he is not playing well then take time of and the club and it’s fans will respect and support him and his family but the minute any player walks on that pitch they have no excuse to why they misses so many easy goals.
We’re getting right thrashing in the T20. India 157–2 off 15 overs. Tremendous batting by India.
Hey Rick, just catching up, what a fabulous result and just goes to show how thin on the ground our talent has been stretched this season, maybe explaining some of our disappointing league results.
https://twitter.com/afcDW/status/1373276576570355714?s=20
Azeez’s goal 👌👌
Stunning strike by Azeez Rick. I guess we’ll see him in the Cups next season.
Didn’t we win the toss Cicero and put India in?
Not sure about that…
Good debate on here today, gets everyone thinking….
2.55 Kev, it’s been more like the old days when it was busy on here. It’s all a bit of a struggle when it’s quiet. I love a good debate. 😆
Rico,Dg talk about shooting
Wait till you see the Azeez goal today.
From very long rang a rocket into the top right hand corner of the goal.
And he is no a goal scorer.
Thanks Sue
you can all see where I am coming from.
Kev what a number of fans do not realise is that Azeez and the other 4
are still scholars.
They should be taking their exams sometime soon ,
Like you said we are very thin on the ground and Iworry what type of team Steve will have tommorow.
Thanks for the link Sue,
Kev you are right we are thin on the ground.
I am worried for Steve Bould for tomrrows game..
He will not be able to call on thse kids that played today.
Sorry didn’t think I had posted my 3.09.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9381761/Arsenals-rising-star-Emile-Smith-Rowe-brilliant-breakthrough-season.html
Good interview with ESR.
Target 225 this is going to either brilliant or a complete disaster.
Rick… what a goal it was!!
Stunning catch Rico.
A complete disaster I think. Roy clean bowled second ball.
I will always say it….all of our players are a good shot from a distance. The problem is that it’s sometimes coached out of them. Simply because AW instilled the mentality that we should walk the ball in the net
We’re on our third manager since Wenger and with enough new players so that agreement doesn’t hold much water DG.
Wasn’t it just Cicero.
I’m in agreement that the ‘Wenger coaching’ days are long gone. What goes on now is down to Mikel Arteta. Although I’d imagine a number of players he wouldn’t choose to sign. Auba though is not one of them after the new contract. Willian and Luiz also.
Argument, not agreement
Cicero….it’s a culture id over the years. Yes you are right about new players but Arteta is of the AW school. Mertesaker as well. And they are the two top coaches at the club.
Certain tactics and techniques need time to change. Mentality as well
Suddenly we have seen Odegaard, Elneny, Azeez, scoring screamers from a distance. Xhaka has it in him as well. ESR had a crack, while Soares did as well…..but they hit the post.
They didn’t discover it now. They had it them. So it’s a question of tactics and mentality
Arteta is of the Pep school too Devil, his teams go for the percent goal much of the time. The only difference is the players Pep has to play that way.
I don’t mind a player taking a long shot at goal if there is nothing else on and it’s on target I’M happy that at least they tried. better than keep going backwards all the time.
I think I prefer seeing a screamer from distance hit the back of the net than the so called perfect goal.
Although any goal is perfect in my opinion.
Ballard has scored for Blackpool 👍
Poor old Mavropanos is up against it. Facing a Bayern team down to 10 men, yet still managed to score 3 goals in 6 minutes!!
Yes Rico. Even deflected ones are perfect. They still count as one
Type the word ‘dodgy’ in Google and see the definition.. You will not be disappointed! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Hilarious. Whoever did that deserves a knighthood🤣
That is funny Devil, clever too.
Love that DG…
2 Bad defeats for England today
I agree Rick, losing Roy to the second ball was a blow but while Malan and Butler were there we were in with a shout, sadly the rest of the batting was awful. Some great T20 cricket though by both sides.
In the rugby England never got going and the French ref didn’t help. Jones may be coming to the end of his tenure as England manager. Too many tactical changes, I think he has been a bit too clever trying to nullify the opposition rather than concentrating on England’s game.
Sue, Ballard is my boy!!
He’s the one I’ve tipped to be a captain down the track 🙂
Seems he’s bloody highly rated by his national teammates-any idea how Blackpool rate him?
I’ve seen very little of him but he impressed greatly.
Very composed and solid.
Morning all.
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/03/21/be-aware-of-the-break/
Scott…Blackpool’s boss has hailed him as a leader. And going by tweets I’ve seen from their fans they want the deal made permanent!!
I too have big hopes for Ballard, McGuinnes (spelling) too.
Sue, bugger that, let’s get him back 🙂
Bugger it, Google’s at it again Rico, thanks Rico…
For the link 🙄