Morning all.
What a lovely couple of moments captured on film. Alexandre Lacazette giving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a few confidence boosting words prior to him taking our penalty and the Bern Leno. Nothing over elaborate, just a little fist pump. No doubt fully aware of what part he’d just played in our victory over Man Utd. No wind, no rain, could keep him from stopping Lukaku and co from scoring. Ok it’s cheesy, but I liked the original…
I’m sure there are more photos scattered around the internet but these two caught my eye.
Only just a few days ago, Aubameyang was pictured looking like a petulant child having been substituted against Rennes but on Sunday, he was all smiles again. He’d been out on the pitch with his buddy. They’d caused Utd problems and together with the rest of the team, they’d won. What was there not to be cheerful about. Especially as the gap between us and 3rd place was now just one point.
I also liked what Iwobi and Guendouzi did too. There they were warming up on the sidelines when Moss awarded us a penalty. Apparently a shout came their way from a few home fans whose view was being blocked by them. Down they went onto the ground so those same fans could witness Aubameyang beat de Gea. Such a rare sight could not be missed eh? Us getting a penalty against Utd is something not often seen.
But there was the ugly side on show too, the kind of behaviour which lets the game down and contributes towards the divide between football and other sports, especially rugby. The majority of which are seldom in the media for the wrong things related to their followers. Racist or other abusive chants aren’t hurled towards players or opposing fans, fighting before or after matches is as rare as rocking horse poop and apart from the odd streaker or numpty who runs on the pitch every blue moon, the players who are actually playing the game, are safe. The throwing of objects at the players just doesn’t happen. Or at least I’ve never seen or heard of it in the other sporting events I’ve watched.
Last month a fan confronted Cristiano Ronaldo during a Juventus match. Sheffield United defender Jack O’Connell had a coin and a plastic bottle thrown at him from the crowd as he prepared to take a throw-in during the goalless Championship draw at Sheffield Wednesday on March 4th.
A couple of days ago, Rangers captain James Tavernier was confronted by an idiot from the stands who’d ran onto the pitch and tried to get physical with him. Just the week before a bottle had been thrown onto the pitch too when Celtic visited the Easter Road stadium. Ghastly. At The Emirates on Sunday we saw one of our own fans run onto the pitch to have a go at Chris Smalling but worst of the lot occurred in the West Midlands where Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish was actually assaulted by an opposition fan from local rivals Birmingham City. The offender was swiftly escorted off the pitch, arrested and is now serving a fourteen week prison sentence. All those responsible will be banned from attending football matches for life but it’s a bit like locking the stable door after the horse is bolted isn’t it?
A fourteen week prison sentence isn’t much of a deterrent either. I’m not suggesting they should serve years at HMP, but just the kind of punishment which might make these idiots think twice before doing what they are. It won’t be long before a footballer is seriously injured otherwise.
As always the blame is being shifted from one organisation to the other but I suppose there is only one of two ways to try and prevent further incidents once a match has kicked off, more stewards or more police inside the ground. At least that’s the best I can come up with.
After all, it’s not like a potential pitch invader can be spotted at the turnstiles is it?
See you in the comments guys…
A death knell for all those that wanted safe standing as the inevitable tightening comes . 14 weeks cut to 7 in all probability whilst clever lawyers keep knife crime perpetrators , illegal migrants and drug lords away from her Majesties pleasure getting them bailed and asked to return to court in a few months for sentence.
Football :- so Zelalem goes on another free , no doubt any contract negotiations were concluded long ago and he made his decision then. We can’t level criticism at the new regime for the things the last one was responsible for however unfortunate the timing of the announcement .
Mkhitaryan it appears is back for Thursday so apart from Holding and Bellerin ( injury ) and Sokratis (suspension ) we have a full squad . No greek means that Mustaphi will likely play so we will need three goals as clean sheets with him are very unlikely . However we mustn’t panic and keep it as tight as possible at the back any early goal for them and it’s goodnight Baku . i expect a last ten minute charge to the North bank as we strive for a third . Exciting stuff get your six packs in.
If what’s been written about the two year contract cut off point is right, it has to be a good thing. Although surely a player can refuse to be sold, or is this something which is already written into a players contract I wonder. Eg, if a player refuses to be sold, his contract can be terminated or something similar..
If with two years to go a player doesn’t want to commit to the club, it’s highly likely he won’t the year after..
‘morning Rico, that “news” item about player contracts was courtesy of the Metro. I make no claims as to it’s accuracy and deny any liability. 😉
Whether or not it can can be enforced is open to question. Perhaps it’s a condition of all contracts signed from this time onwards.
Quiet day tomorrow, just an early afternoon flight from Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) to Hanoi. It’s expected to be cooler up north, 35c instead of today’s 38.
Phew! Wot a scorcher! 😎
Morning Cicero. Ha ha…
Hi Rico
You make a good point about idiots running onto the pitch.
Luck seems to be on our side for once, we don’t have a match at the weekend so we don’t have to rotate anyone out of thursdays team, The dreaded Mustafi will probably play so we are one down to start with, but hopefully a full first team will see us through
Brian
potter, Laca can’t play either.
True maybe Aubameyang and Nketiah up front
According to TheBleacher report whoever they may be Lacazette ‘a ban was reduced and he is available
Hi Brian.
Just read that too re Lacazette in the Mail. That’s a big boost..
It’s on the official website so it’s true.
Evening all and thanks Rico.
Ballard in the Northern Ireland squad .
We have a friendly in Dubai as well because we haven`t another game after Rennes until 1st April…………..
Evening Gooners…
Evening Rico, 11 comments eh?
If we’d lost to ManUtd it would have been 111, still, everyone must be happy, even Adam… 😀
Great news regarding Lacazette, you get the feeling that maybe things are going our way for a change and that the end of this season could be quite satisfying…
I saw a short vid of Bielik playing for Charlton and he looked really good.
Now if he has a good pre-season and makes the summer tour then maybe, just maybe, he does have a future at Arsenal?
Dont think I`ve ever seen as many goal line clearances from one player !……………….apparently he`s rated a better defender in the academy ranks than Medley !
https://twitter.com/ArsenalAcademy/status/1065217332941922304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1065217332941922304&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belfasttelegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fpremier-league%2Farsenal%2Fwho-is-daniel-ballard-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-arsenal-defender-called-up-to-northern-irelands-senior-squad-37904723.html
Evening Kev. Often the way isn’t it? I gave up earlier as it was so quiet. Probably won’t bother tomorrow either. I’ve plenty of housework and ironing to keep me busy.. lol
I will miss my morning wake up call
Ballard is my “chosen one”-I reckon he’s an absolute star in the making.
Kev, when we signed Bielik, he looked as composed on the ball as any 16 year could be-I thought he’d make it for sure.
Let’s hope he does.
Ballard has been called up and will get about 5 minutes on the pitch to prevent a Declan Rice situation . He probably is not ready yet , however yet is the operative word. Secure him now and let him drift back and see how he develops. It’s kind of like the Jenkinson situation in 2012 unfortunately things did not work out for him and it remains to be seen how Ballard goes.
🙂
Everybody knows America hahahahaha
Morning all:
Didn’t know Australia though.
As Kenny Everett said about Australia ‘Everybody knows where it is, but nobody wants to go there’… 😁
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico, put ya feet up, have a day off, I am…. 😉
Scott, from what he said recently, I get the feeling that Bielik could be looking to leave this summer, possibly to Germany, which is next door to his home country so it makes sense.
His contract expires in 2020 so a decision must be made this summer or he walks for nix.
My hope is that he has a good pre season, impresses Emery and signs a new deal as he can do a job in defence and midfield and that’s a great combination.
From what I’ve seen he can do a job similar to Xhaka and spray passes from a deep quarter back role also he tackles like BFG, low profile interceptions without a lot of hullabaloo but effectively. He’s at a good age now, got over a lot of injuries and could be a valuable squad member. If not we can sell him for a good price to acteam in the Bundesliga…
I notice after all the fuss that Reiss Nelson is out of Hoffenheim squad, a young player with the type of form that fluctuates and now he’s in a dip, it’s usual as youngsters mature and learn their trade.
Australia is still here, guys 🙂
Of course, we are being torn to pieces by our government but you all know what that’s like lol
No deal Brexit voted down! That’s it, we’ll be in it forever. 😠
I did thanks Kev. 😆
New post up now.