Morning all.
Well, what a night for England, the fans and for Bukayo Saka. A quiet game by his standards I thought but it was his cross which gave England the equaliser they utterly deserved. Previously, a soft free kick to say the least led to a stunning free kick which Pickford could do little about. Then came the penalty in extra time after Sterling took a little tumble in the box which the referee believed was a result of being fouled and Kane, after taking probably the worst spot kick in his career, fired home the ball Kasper palmed back to him. 2 – 1 to England and a Euros Final on Sunday awaits.
This Euros competition has been full of incident. The serious for Christian Eriksen which thankfully he overcame, to moments of fantastic football but in between there’s been a lot of play acting. Sadly that’s the way the game has gone and all the time the officials allow it, little will change regardless of how much it might annoy or frustrate fans. I didn’t like watching Sterling go over as easily as he did, but then Denmark were awarded a free kick which in the PL, probably wouldn’t have been given, certainly not to Arsenal. I know two wrongs don’t make a right, but it makes things even.
Anyway, the better team on the night won and for England, it’s fantastic to be in the final of a major competition for the first time in a long time. Italy will a tough tough opponent for England. They are on a 33 match unbeaten streak and they don’t concede many goals.
Gareth Southgate has managed to do what no other England manager has for years. He’s taken a group of footballing individuals, worked hard with them and turned them into a team. There’s no doubting that over the years, England have had some top notch footballers who for their club, were fantastic but whenever they came together for their country, they didn’t really gel as a team. Too many egos perhaps, too many club v club between the players in the squad maybe but this current group of players are young, keen and quite clearly, together. Much credit has to be given to Southgate for that.
England’s journey over the years I’ve been watching them, is kind of similar to the last ten years of Arsenal. Good players, a few great players but too often they’ve not really gelled as a team. I know as an international manager, he/she has the pick of the best in that country whereas a club manager has to build his/her squad which is a greater challenge. But I don’t think an Arsenal manager has truly built a balanced squad for years. Finances have no doubt played a part of that but some of the players Arsene Wenger signed during his last few years and then Raul during Unai Emery’s short time were in my opinion, bizarre to say the least. Now though, I think Mikel Arteta’s plan is to build a squad, a balanced squad. Players for the position required rather than a player just because he’s up for sale or an agent somewhere is trying to make a quick few million.
Similarities can be drawn between both Mikel Arteta and Gareth Southgate I think. Both are young, very keen, they talk a great game and are clearly desperate to bring success to the club/country they manage. I’ll put my hands up and admit I had doubts about both, but if one can work his magic again on Sunday and the other take his club to a much better place than it’s been for a while, I’ll be thrilled to be wrong. Again…
See you in the comments.
Morning all,
Rico, I wonder how many of the English squad play for their boyhood club.
The reason I ask is back 20-30 years ago and more, imagine trying to merge players from City and Utd, Liverpool and Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham and ask them to play for a common cause after they potentially spent a lifetime learning to hate anyone from THAT club?
No easy task I reckon, but as players move clubs a lot more readily these days, it’s probably easier but that’s not to suggest Southgate has not done a wonderful job, just that his predecessors would’ve been up against it from the start, I reckon
Good luck on the weekend guys!!!
Congrats to all English fans. In yesterday’s match England played at good temp almost like a PL team with high pressing and quick passing. After a long time you have a watchable and competitive squad.
I was kind of thinking more about this century Scott, with the likes of Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, etc etc. I recall no one passing to Walcott just because Sven picked him over someone else that time. Or that’s the story anyway.
Rico, fair enough, and you’re right, Southgate really has them united and that’s the key.
They’re playing for each other.
I admire him Scott, he’s not afraid to make big decisions for the good of the team. Grealish on and off when the door needed closing.
I thought that the enormity of the occasion got to Saka a bit, also we don’t know how fit he really is but Southgate sees him as a player who can cause the opposition problems and he did enough of that yesterday in creating the equaliser despite it being probably his least effective game in the tournament.
Italy having an extra 24 hours to recover will compensate for the emotional stress of going to penalties so that evens things up. England will have three clear days to recover and work on tactics before Sunday arrives and that should be enough recovery time.
Kane vs Chellini should make for a fantastic battle, those two will be grappling and falling all throughout the game. I doubt that for all his dark arts that Chellini or Bonucci will have faced as tricky an opponent as Kane, someone as dodgy as them. 😁
Rico, your comparisons between a Southgate and Arteta are on the money, imo.
Kev, it’ll be a ripper game!!!
The thing is Scott and I do get the points you make, but in a funny way I quite enjoy watching the dark arts now, I think that Chellini is a master at it and he actually makes me laugh, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him tussle with Kane on Sunday and seeing how he deals with Sterling and Grealish running at him. There is a skill to gamesmanship and in an odd way I admire how it’s done.
England used to be naive, but now we can simulate with the best, referees even with VAR can’t work it out so we just have to live with it and learn how to do it as well as the the best exponents of the dark arts.
I’m really looking forward to it, looking forward to being outraged, entertained and having a laugh at their antics, I’m even chuckling now at the thought of it.
I agree Kev, Italy v England is going to be a battle of the dark arts, the wind up merchants and whoever wins that battle, will probably win the game. I’m looking forward to it.
Rico , I can see what amused you now having read your post obviously I am in complete agreement..
We all know that the ego group were not in agreement of Erikson’s decision over Walcott in fact neither was I but they kept the grudge going and he was certainly Billy no mates in the squad probably because he didn’t smoke , drink or gamble on the team bus.
Like the Star trek BORG England’s team is a collective , We just have to hope that Italy’s resistence is futile
Kev, if I want to watch that garbage, I’ll watch Hulk Hogan and co hahahaha
Spooky eh Potter, yet no surprise really.
Morning Rico and all one thing I have noticed is in the past the forward were very hungry individuals who wanted all the glory were as today’s teams seem to be more happy to work as a group
Hi Geoff. I’m sure the message from Southgate was crystal clear when he took the job, play together or don’t play.
Aussie Rules is pretty good for the dark arts Scott, I quite enjoy it…
Kev, all codes are going that way-AFL and Rugby are nowhere near as bad as League though, but football leads the way.
Hi Rico.. Nice post. Overnight the mini roundabouts where I am have been decorated with a red cross! They look fantastic! That’s the spirit, hey?! 🏴
Hi Sue, thanks. You can always count on the Shires… 🏴🏴
You will find the woke police will be round
Just read UEFA to fine England over fans booing Denmark anthem, pointing a laser at the danish goal keeper and finally for letting off fireworks outside the ground
The fact that that’s a real possibility Potter is just wrong on every level. This is England, like it or leave it I say…
Yes Geoff , which ever way you look at it , The England supporters clubs still have a few bad apples in there.
The laser thing is stupid, the booing, totally unnecessary imo. Grow up I say and show a bit of respect. If England fans boo the Italian NA, it’ll inspire their team even more I think.
Boo the Italian national anthem at their peril the fans should be told. Italians are fiercely patriotic.
We wait and see.
Waters cover 70% of the earth. The rest is covered by Bonucci and Chiellini.
Good afternoon Rico and all
Lovely post Rico. Thanks for keeping churning them out
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
·
2h
Sassuolo CEO Carnevali to Sky: “We’re in talks for Locatelli with one club from abroad… and it’s really advanced. We’re gonna meet with Juventus in the next days, but there are no negotiations yet with Juve as Italian clubs are in difficult financial situation”. 🇮🇹 #AFC #Juve
Afternoon Devil, thanks. That’s what I thought re the Italians.
‘Waters cover 70% of the earth. The rest is covered by Bonucci and Chiellini’
Brilliant, Devil, love it 😄
Afternoon Rico and the House
Kev Kido Taylor Hart is traing with the U23s.
He has been given the number 70
which is a professional number
This is fantastic news(in my eyes)
Looks like he is staying.
Afternoon Rick, I know you and Kev think a lot of him so yes, good news. Just need ESR to sign and put and end to all this Villa stuff.
If I am honest Rico, that was thd ond disappointing thing I took from yesterday, the booing of the Danish national anthem, I really thought the English fans were more grown up, it was crass. Maybe the FA should say that anyone booing a national anthem will be thrown out of the ground.
The 8pm kick off doesn’t help as it’s far too long for the more loutish to fill up with beer.
Rick, if that’s right about Taylor Hart then that truly is great news…
I will check with Jeorgie B
U18s are away to Tavistock this eveing and at the moment
are winning 3-0
Scott….and everyone else…..with regards the penalty given to England I think we have to reserve the decision a bit…..I have seen the whole action from different angles and I think differently about it.
Sterling was touched on the knee. He shifted his body on the left to keep balance and was barged with a hip from that side. Now if you are running at that speed with the ball, even a mere touch can send one flying. I dont know about you but I was a speedster and could run very fast (40metres in 5.78 seconds) and a mere touch could unbalance me. So in a way, Sterling was touched and I daresay fouled. so its questionable whether he dived or not…it depends on one’s opinion. Looking at it calmly now…I dare say it was not 100% dive. Maybe he made a bit of a meal when he fell down but certainly there was a fouling contact
There is another snag though…..during that particular moment there were two balls in the field of play
Devil, Sterling is no different to most strikers these days.
They’re looking for contact, and falling as soon as they feel it or even worse, ensuring contact happens.
I’ve seen Theo near have his legs taken off, and still chase the ball.
These guys are athletes, one slight touch doesn’t knock them over no matter how fast they’re going.
My use of the word diving is broad, admittedly.
I just call it all diving even when really, it’s forcing the contact or taking advantage of contact to “win” a foul.
A true dive is one where no contact is made but I don’t believe in levels of cheating.
Where will it end because it’s getting worse as these cheats get better at it.
Tonights game was Men against Boys
Westen Premier League against U18s
The boys beat Tavistock 4-0with 4 Different scores.
This years scholars are looking good.
Scott, your opinion is right as well.
Its like two persons….A and B are hit with a punch in the face. Person A (you and I) will surely throttle him and punch him back. Person B however will take him to court. So same situation …different outcome.
In the case of Theo having his legs taken off and still chasing the ball compared to Sterling being touched and falling over….its the same. However Theo chases the ball and scores….and that is well and good imo. Sterling falls over and lets the referee decide. In a way its good as well.
Remember….he was nudged by a knee on the right and was barged with a hip on the left.
Whether he made a meal out of it, dived or was clearly fouled depends on one’s opinion.
In my opinion there were two touches….intending to stop him.
The ref has to decide on it…….the real contravention..and the game should have been stopped…..was that when Sterling entered the penalty area there were two balls on the field of play. And the ref should have stopped the play there and then.
Devil, call me Arsene, the idealist hahaha
I just think players should play and allow the officials to do their job without influencing them.
I reckon it is too far gone now to ever change, but I hold out hope 🙂
This is one of the biggest games in football, I want to see the best side win and don’t want to be talking about “whether or not it was a penalty” this time next week lol
yesterday I said exactly that Scott…..it was too good a game to be decided by something like that. A game like yesterday should have been secured with a screamer of a goal or a ‘worldie’
7-29 Kev, me too. I hated it and thought ‘we’ were better than that. Spot on the the 8pm kickoff although I understand why a# it allows people to get home from work etc, not that that mattered in the early fixtures but Sunday, why not 5pm. Thinking about it though, that’s still plenty of time for fans to have one too many…
Rico. It could be an 8am kick off and there’d still be drunks at the game 🙂
We can only hope that’s the case in the final, Devil.
lets hope both fans respect each others anthem and the idiot with a laser pointer does not turn up.
some of these fans need to remember it’s a game not politics,
Scot please tell your mate Arteta to hurry up and sign players, this waiting is killing Me.
https://twitter.com/PurelyFootball/status/1413226948868853774?s=20
Sue poor Boris it was a miss understanding he was just showing his friend during the match how his new headlight for his push bike has face recognition.
Hahahaha Geoff,
Have no fear buddy, it’ll happen.
I’d love to know who we are getting, no question.
See our muppet premier has raised the restrictions here because we’ve had 1 death this year and no new cases???
Wtf is wrong with these people???
Sue, there’s a pic going around with the Queen in charge of VAR the other day hahahaha
Morning everyone
Sambi Lokonga is doing his medical this morning
I’m sorry, Geoff, but that picture of Boris really tickled me as did that one of the Queen…
Scott.. bloody hilarious 😂
Sue have you seen the one with Saka sitting on a blow up unicorn. The Queen one was funny too.
Scott Maybe your premier has been listening to our premier and decided to take away every one’s freedom even prisoners get treated better then us
Devil hope your wright about Lokonga I just get feeling he will very good for us.
Santi Cazola winning Qatar FA 2020/2021 player of the year. one of the best stories this year.
after all his injury setbacks, still one of my favourite players
Geoff,
I reckon Santi was as loved as almost any Arsenal player I’ve seen.
What a talent, and always played with a smile.
Proper footballer that man, and someone all kids should look up to.
Our premier is panicking imo
Sue, it was a ripper pic lol
Devil, how do you rate the guy?
Yes, I saw that, Geoff – bless him!
That’s wonderful about Cazorla – rolling back the years!
We’re set to be the subject of Amazon’s next ‘All or Nothing’ documentary 👍
Santi was loved by the Arsenal crowd but was a target like Wilshere . The only difference was that as he was two footed he could get out of trouble two ways whereas Jack got caught too often.
Santi though was a pleasure to watch and wherever he goes I hope he enjoys his footbasll . I certainly enjoyed it whilst he was with us.
We are changing our approach to how priority tickets are allocated for FA Cup Semi-Finals and Finals, League Cup Finals and European Cup Finals, should we reach them. It follows consultation with supporters’ groups, including the AST and AISA, discussion with the Fans’ Forum and is based on consistent feedback over several seasons from many supporters.
From the start of the upcoming 2021/22 season, priority access to purchase tickets for these matches will be based on Gold and Platinum members’ home attendance, which will be recorded and illustrated in the My Arsenal Rewards portal.
This replaces the current scheme, in which priority Cup Final access has been based on a qualifying number of away matches attended over a period of several seasons. Given the very limited number of available away tickets and the very high level of demand for each away match, we recognise the difficulty many of our fans have in accumulating away credits.
Our change in approach ensures that more fans will have the opportunity to secure tickets to domestic and European Cup Finals.
For detailed information on how the new policy will work, including an FAQ section, please click here.
Our Fan Services team is also available to answer any questions – they can be contacted on +44 (0)20 7619 5000 and ask@arsenal.co.uk.
Thank you, as always, for your fantastic support.
Can see the away credit boys up in arms on this one .
Potter, so what’s the answer?
Is Santi left or right footed hahahaha
Pedidextrous Scott
Good day all.
After a morning spent enjoying the warm sunshine in the garden, my wife and I decided to walk round to our local for lunch. Within ten minutes of sitting down and ordering a pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord bitter it started to p**s down with rain. A really nice lunch and two more pints of TT’s nectar later the rain stopped, at 2.45, and we were able to walk unsteadily home. The sofa’s siren call is drawing me irresistibly to it’s warm embrace. Can I resist? You gotta be joking! Zzzzzz.
3 pints of Landlord ? That’s a fair lunchtime session , have a meal and sleep until evening.
Arthur Okonkwo has signed new long-term contract. Good.
Afternoon all.
According to various sites Arsenal and Neves have agreed personal terms. Now the clubs have to agree the fee
Oh dear….
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
·
8h
Albert Sambi Lokonga deal. €17.5m to Anderlecht plus add ons, final fee around potential €21m. Arsenal have reached an agreement since Tuesday evening – now preparing paperworks. Flag of Belgium #AFC
Lokonga turned down two bids from Italy to join Arsenal [until June 2026].
Here we go.
Excellent, Henry reckons he’s special so that’s good enough for me 😉
Evening Rico and the House.
Very pleased to see Okonkwo sign new contract.
If we handle him well he could become a top goalkeeper.
I see the U18s have spent the day with the Royal Marines in Plymouth
They play Plymouth tomorrow.
RIP Paul Mariner.
Gosh, that’s a shock. RIP Paul Mariner.
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/07/10/xhaka-or-neves/