Daily Bits and Bobs

Sokratis the first of three in at Arsenal? Atletico away goal not such a bad thing?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Before you think I’m going bonkers, of course I’d much rather we were heading to Madrid with a 5-0 advantage and to be honest, we certainly had enough chances to do so but in typical Arsenal style, we conceded a goal late on. But, perhaps all is not lost, not yet anyway.

Since we progressed through the group stage into the knockout rounds, our second leg to each tie has been little short of awful. From the outside looking in, it appeared that complacency had set in, a trait the Arsenal have shown for a number of years now and in the end, we had to scrap in order to get past the opposition.

First up was Ostersunds FK. The first leg was away and we travelled well thumping them 3-0. Job done we all thought as if we can beat them away, we’ll do even better at home. Wrong! Twenty five minutes on the clock and we were already 2-0 down but thanks to Kolasinac, the nerves were calmed when he scored a very important goal.

Next up was AC Milan with the away leg first. 2-0 at the end and similar to Ostersunds really, surely we’d give them a roasting at home. At The Emirates, we were awful and found ourselves 1-0 down before half an hour had passed. A terrible penalty decision went our way and we ended up 3-1 winners but for a while, it really was touch and go.

CSKA Moscow was our next challenge and once again, we conceded an away goal, shortly after Aaron Ramsey had given us the lead. Never fear, we scored another three and ended up taking a good advantage into the away leg. Another awful performance saw us concede two goals. With just half an hour to go in the game, the home team sensed they could cause an upset. Fifteen minutes left and Danny Welbeck scored a crucial goal and the nerves were settled. Aaron Ramsey added a late one to make the scoreline 2-2 but for much of the game, Arsenal looked more than uncomfortable.

The moral of the story is, this team under Arsene Wenger seem to think their job is done just because they’ve scored a few goals in the first leg and that’s regardless of whether the second leg has been at home or away. This time though they’ll head to The Wanda Metropolitano knowing they’re facing a battle. They’ll be no room the slightest sniff of complacency. Wenger should have them motivated for this one that’s for sure. He’ll want to get a positive result in Madrid and so will his players if they really want him to leave on a good note.

Mourinho has been spouting a load of garbage about regrets. The words he’s fired at Wenger over the years is something he now wishes he’d not said but it’s too late. He’s a ghastly man with a massive ego but one Arsene Wenger should forget about tomorrow. The game means nothing so write it off before we even go there. The trip to Spain on Thursday is far more important.

Transfer gossip:

Sokratis Papastathopoulo Is heading to Arsenal in the summer according to reports in Germany. The 29, soon to be 30 year old Greek international Dortmund defender is out of contract in the summer of 2019 so the club want to cash in on him before he walks for free. Bild report that Sven Mislintat is behind the potential move. Mislintat is said to be eyeing up three players this summer  with a goalkeeper, centre-back and central midfielder all heading our way.

Arsene Wenger has been offered £24 million a year to join Chinese club. PSG want him too apparently but not as their manager. Reports suggest he’ll reject both offers as he wants to stay in Europe with Spain or France being his preferred location as he looks for another club to manage.

Finally, with Unai Emery announcing he’ll be leaving PSG at the end of the season, 2+2 are adding up to 5. Us or Chelsea?

rico

39 thoughts on “Sokratis the first of three in at Arsenal? Atletico away goal not such a bad thing?”

  1. potter says:

    I am staying off the merry go round until the new man is announced . The mathematical equations are coming thick and fast and the pace will increase until we know and then they will go into overdrive . The press hacks are scouring the football world for out of contract bargains because of the £ 50 million story , if we get Vieira expect half of the MLS to be suggested as long as they don’t come from the Colorado Rapids who are currently 8th on goal difference in their league of 12 teams.

  2. rico says:

    Understandable Potter. The stories about money available go from £50m to a war chest…

    June the 9th the transfer window opens this summer so not long to wait until we see how it all pans out..

  3. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Totts want Cedric, Ruben Neves e Gelson 3 players in my short list when I wll become Arsenal next manager,
    We are always late !

  4. rico says:

    Who they want according to the media and who they get are two different things Jm. By the way, not sure if you realise yet or not, but you’re not getting the job… lol

  5. DB10 says:

    Hope that we don’t get Sokratis – he’s average. I think we will baulk at the money demands of Enrique, a shame as he would re-invent us. Personally, I would prefer Jardim over Emery or Allegri, but believe any of them could be a good option. Don’t want Vieira or Arteta, simply because they have very little experience and Arsenal is a very big job.

  15. andrewh1313 says:

    We really don’t need a slow CB! Otherwise might as well have been playing Merts. Shall always remember his cup final appearance, class. In fact, he might have done better than others recently.

  16. potter says:

    Say what you want about Mertesacker slow ? yes but organised too , would have been perfect with Holding and Chambers . Hopefully he will turn out to be a good teacher .

  18. allezkev says:

    Wenger has some serious rotating to do at Old Trafford tomorrow, but he can still put out a team containing Cech, Holding, Chambers, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Aubameyang and maybe Mkhitaryan, that’s 8 players with plenty of senior experience this season, his big issue is organising them properly so the defeat isn’t too debilitating.

  19. allezkev says:

    Hey Rick, what did you think of the FAYC vs Chelsea yesterday, not the result but some of our young players.

    I thought that Robbie Burton looked a very accomplished player, very skilful but can put his foot in when need be, great first touch and excellent range of passing.
    Matt Smith did ok alongside, thought we missed him when he went off injured.

    Dominic Thompson has a couple of speed merchants up against him, but acquitted himself well despite being on the back foot for most of the game. He got in some vital challenges when Chelsea threatened to blow us away early in the game.

    Xavier Amaechi, who you’ve mentioned before Rick, was excellent, took his goal brilliantly and was a constant threat considering that he was feeding on scraps for most of the game.

    Emile Smith-Rowe has it all, I’ll be surprised if he hasn’t got his 1st team debut by the turn of the year. Should be with the senior squad on their pre-season tour I reckon next summer.

    The Arsenal defence was pretty much on the its heels for the entire game, Chelsea looked bigger, stronger and older, but Ballard, Medley and Virginia played well until cramp did for them.
    The referee missed a push on Medley for Chelsea’s 2nd goal and he was a limping passenger when they got their 3rd. But those three were mainly responsible for keeping the score respectable.

  24. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Is a lot when after they leave free.
    For example: Gnaby – he is a completely different player in Bundesliga; Nordveit would be an interesting player for us this season specially after Coquelin gone.
    Would be interesting have an Arsenal B or a team with other name in a different League – Spain, Portugal or Holland, for rotate , win group spirit and be linking to the Arsenal and not disseminate by many teams.

  26. micko says:

    For what it’s worth, I remember reading a statistic last year that stated you are never more than 20 feet away from a Chelsea player at any time……don’t know how true it is.

    rico, Atletico away goal not such a bad thing, I think you might be coming down with something lol.

  27. allezkev says:

    Mavropanos and Osei-Tutu trained with first team. Latter deserves first team opportunities and could become back up to Bellerin 1 hour ago

    Elneny back in individual training already 1 hour ago

    Nelson, Nketiah and Willock trained with first-team. Mkhitaryan in full training. 1 hour ago

    (From Jorge Bird)

  28. Le Coq Monster says:

    Afternoon all and thanks Rico.

    No, dont think you are bonkers, that is some good reasoning. Yes AM have only conceded 4 goals at home in the Spanish League this season meaning their defense is tighter than Stan Kroenkes wallet, but this a cup final in it`s self for us as only a win or a draw above 1-1 will get us through, so there will be no stats when this game finishes that we did not have any shots on target !………..one off game now and anything can happen !………………..although realistically I expect the worse !………………would our team be able to come back from 1-0 down and a player short for 80 mins like AM ?

    My friend went on Thursday and I told him to spy on Simeone, as a Wenger stalker he was impressed by Simeone`s hard looking face and said he would not like to be alone in a dark alley with Simeone and Costa threatening arse rape !………………………..we need ugly muvver fcukers like that ! hahaha

    As for tomorrows game that a completely different kettle of fish, expect a drubbing, players need resting if we are to go for it in mid-week !.

    Just had (and in all my years) ……………my first flapjack !…………………………the consistancy and texture of chipboard and sawdust !………….yuk……………….they should be rebranded pissflapjacks !

  29. rico says:

    Evening guys. I didn’t Kev, that seems far too many on loan and surely should be questioned.

    Micko, I’ve been in bed all afternoon with a hot water bottle and paracetamol…

  32. Le Coq Monster says:

    Yes Rico, but the key words there were “years ago”.. …….I know they used to practice a lot 10 vs 11 in training. one that comes to mind was winning at Anfield when Giovanni van Bronckhorst (spelling) was sent off !…………………..amazing to think that at one time under Arsene we used to be organised, disciplined and able to defend, first job for new manager imo………..sort the defense out.

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