Morning all.
The below list of Arsenal players are alleged to be injured. Some withdrew from international duty pre this break, others have returned during it. Either way, Mikel Arteta potentially faces a selection nightmare ahead of the FA Cup game against Southampton on Saturday.
Ebe Eze
Declan Rice
Bukayo Saka
Martin Zubimendi
Gabriel
William Saliba
Piero Hincapie
Jurrien Timber
Leandro Trossard
Noni Madueke
Mikel Merino
Martin Odegaard
Personally, I think it’s all poppycock, certainly the injury part because I think it’s more about international managers knowing certain players have nothing to prove ahead of the World Cup and their place in the squad is already secure.
In the friendly fixtures, why not use other players who still have an outside chance of making the squad? It makes sense to me but then perhaps I’m biased because for the first time in many years, it’s Arsenal who are, I hope anyway, protecting their players because by the time we face Southampton on Saturday, all of those in the above list will have had either three weeks to rest, or the same time added to their recovery without missing a match.
Not even Arsenal could be this unlucky with injuries surely?
Later this year and into the 2026/27 season, FIFA have reportedly going to merge the September and October international breaks into a three week break. This has to be better for the players. One week less away from their clubs and less interruption to the domestic season. The November break is still set to go ahead but if the first merger is successful and if common sense comes into play, hopefully the November and March breaks will turn into a three week break too, preferably when the domestic/European schedule is not quite as hectic and certainly not when clubs are fighting hard for league titles, promotion or desperately trying to avoid relegation. International breaks are going nowhere so two is better than four. But ditch the friendlies, then we are less likely to see players leaving their respective international camps, certainly in March.
The internet is already in overdrive ahead of the summer transfer window. Myles Lewis-Skelly has been linked to Man Utd, Ethan Nwaneri has been linked with a move away for game time, both stories which are likely to be poppycock. This morning though, “Arsenal are favourites” to sign German striker Nicolo Tresoldi from Club Brugge. True or not, who knows but I do think another striker will join the club this summer if Gabriel Jesus departs which hopefully he will. Not just him of course as personally, I think Leandro Trossard’s Arsenal days should come to an end too. A bit like Jesus, he was exactly what Arsenal needed at the time but times have changed. Arsenal have changed. I’d hate to see Gabriel Martinelli leave but that’s a case of heart ruling head. If a big offer comes in for him, I think Arsenal might accept it.
Whilst it seems too early to be thinking about the summer transfer window, I’m pretty sure Andrea Berta and his transfer will be doing just that. After all, that’s their job. Making the Arsenal squad stronger, regardless of what happens over the next two months.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico. 100% with you regarding using players for friendlies when their positions are secure. I put it all down to the TV Channels wanting to make more money.
99% of us are not interested in friendlies at this stage, especially with the Prem season nearing the end with it still being exciting at the top and bottom, and the FA Cup and Champs League still ongoing.
Sadly a non-sensical game has caused Madueke another unwanted injury. Doesn’t look good but lets hope the Arsenal Medical / Training Teams can work some magic on him. Glad to see them all back.
Good morning Rico.
Excellent post, thank you. To add to your possible departures list Ben White is wanted by Everton and maybe by Newcastle if their fullback Livramento leaves.
Once the World Cup is over the authorities should introduce a mid-winter break in all professional leagues.
The good of the players should override the scandal of money grabbing extra club competitions.
Morning Laura, Cicero, all. Thanks Cicero.
Christian Norgaard too I think because he’ll be wanting to find a club with a manager who needs him. Perhaps one of the newly promoted clubs. Similar with White perhaps. Another heart over head not wanting him to leave…
Laura, I think they are just filling slots at the same time as the playoffs to make things kind of even. Pointless though at this stage of the season and as you say, it looks like Madueke has paid the price, Foden too.
Our mole at Totteringham has done at great job undermining our not so noisy neighbours. Hats of to Vinai V. 😉
🤣🤣
So Spurs are in talks with Roberto De Zerbi,he’s a good manager but it’s going to be hard for anyone going in there. I know some Arsenal supporters who don’t want them to go down because that’s 6 easy points for us.
That is quite a list of injured players,I hope a few will be ready for Lisbon,I don’t know who will play against Saints though. I think players don’t want to rush back from injury with the World Cup coming up.
Even if Trossard goes and Kvaratskhelia joins we would be silly to sell Martinelli , The Georgian has played less games for PSG that Martinelli for us .We would need both of them to ensure that neither burns out .
Equally if Norgaard goes why sell MLS and also should Calafiori leave as suggested when Hincapie signs then MLS’ verstatility would be needed .
Furthermore it is pointless selling Nwaneri with Saka , Odegaard and Madueke looking injury prone and who knows what he will develop into and where he might end up playing.
Kepa may go Is Setford the man ?
And if White goes is Salmon the man ?
In the words of Jimmy Cliff , There are more questions than answers..
I can’t see a top manager wanting to sign on at Spurs when they are so close to relegation. De Zerbi has previously said that he would only sign when Premiership football was guaranteed.
Can’t see De Zerbi taking the job, Arry is more likely or Sherwood imo.
I’d rather we kept Martinelli, his goals in the CL have been crucial imo. Definitely don’t want to see MLS or Nwaneri go.
Morning all. Naughty is good, Rico. I can see them lot in the Championship, tho’, it looks like De Zerbi who has the nous to keep them up. Kinda hope so as the six points are handy and I do love the North London derby. First time I ever saw The Arsenal live was at the Lane on my first visit to the UK back in ’85, Glenn Hoddle’s testimony. I remember him playing in Arsenal colours for Merse’s testimony in ’96.
Great photo of our wee Scottish maestro. I have his autobiography on my shelf. It contains some truly wonderful stories and photographs.
Hi Stuart, I’d rather they got relegated, just because it would be hilarious.
I like the old photos but I’m far too young to know who most of the players are. Lol
Alex James, mate. Up until Bergkamp, probably the greatest signing Arsenal ever made. I’ll post a story about him later. Just off to assist our plumber with a solar project on our roof.
Really? That good eh..
The late great Alex James, what a great picture that is Rico, I’ve seen it a few times before, Arsenal vs Man City! One of those three bemused Man City players on the right of the picture was a certain guy by name of Matt Busby.
Good post Rico, after this important summer Leo, Jesus and Martinelli have only one year left on their contracts so it’s a big summer for Andrea Berta to try and move at least two of them on, Martinelli has a one year extension. It would be great if both Gabby and Leo go and have impressive world cups to boost their value. Jesus, I would suspect, could eventually end up in Italy if we don’t get low-balled by those Serie A tightwads.
Selling to other Premier League clubs might be the best way forward financially but the rumour of Chelsea sniffing around Calafiori left me pretty unmoved. It would take a seriously serious bid from the Fulham Broadway cheats to tempt Arteta I suspect.
For me, unless it’s unavoidable because Berta hasn’t moved on other players, I would not sanction the sale of Lewis Skelly and certainly not to Man United who’ve sold us some right old crapola down the years. Nwaneri I wouldn’t be so upset about as we have Dowman coming through but in essence I’d prefer to see him stay as well.
We have a few out on loan to sort out as well so Andrea is going to have another busy summer.
Off to read the comments.
Ben White and Kepa Unpronounceable are two very good shouts. I’m sure that Arsenal could make a bit of a profit on Kepa, maybe even double our money although his ric at Wembley might put a few suitors off. Personally I think that Tommy Setford is good enough to be our No.2 but if Kepa stays another year then get Tommy out on loan.
Ben White’s recent injuries might have an affect his value, any bid certainly won’t match the £50m we paid Brighton for him. Personally I’d like to see him stay as Everton won’t match our valuation of the player, he’s one we’d have to replace with no financial benefit so keep him at home.
I’d be interested to read the opinion of others on this blog on the question of Arsenals greatest ever signings. Most contemporary opinions would have Thierry, Denis and Patrick in there with Declan also in with a sniff, and perhaps Sol for the sheer audacious pleasure it gave us all.
However the likes of Eddie Hapgood, Alex James and Cliff Bastin were true superstars who hugely contributed to Arsenal being, probably the worlds greatest club side in the 1930’s. But for the second World War where nine First Team Squad members were killed in action and several others badly wounded, Arsenal would very likely have gone onto dominate the ’40’s.
Alex James was the Dennis Bergkamp of his day, he won four league titles and two FA Cups in his six seasons with Arsenal, playing alongside legends like Ted Drake and Cliff Bastin. He played for Scotland scoring twice in their 5-1 defeat of England at Wembley in 1928, earning the everlasting epitaph “Wembley Wizards”.
His biography which I mentioned earlier is titled, “Alex James. Life of a Football Legend” written by John Harding published in 1988 by Robson Books. It is a fabulous read, with some photos every Gooner should see, including the one Rico used to head this post and, as Kev rightly pointed out shows Matt Busby being left in James wake. To top up his wage at Arsenal he worked as a “Sports Demonstrator” for Selfridges, and opened a sweet and tobacco shop near Highbury Stadium. Like most players of this era he smoked like a chimney. He smoked more than a few defenders in his time, too.
Thanks Kev, I guess the squad should always have a revolving door because standing still is a fools game. I’ve a feeling Odegaard’s name is already on the exit list because he’s far from the player he once was plus his body keeps breaking down.
Stuart, I think that’s a tough one as for me it’s about who was the best for their era and the impact they had at the time. Take Arshavin, he’ll never be considered one our greatest signings of all time imo, but his impact from Jan – May that year when he signed was clear to see. Alexis Sanchez was another who had a big impact on the team at the time because of his work ethic, his goals too of course and I think he brought the best out of Ozil.
Wrighty was brilliant during his era, Henry too but there are so many names to list but it’s era dependent imo as football changed.
Hope that makes sense.
Good morning all.
Tuchel has come clean on the reasons why Rice and Saka left the England training camp. He did not believe that either of them was fit enough to play against Japan. He stated that Rice has been playing in pain for some time and Saka has similar issues. Both players were thoroughly checked by the England medical team and recommended they both be allowed to return to their club.
So, as was reported, their was no “walkout”.
Always liked Tuchel. 😜
Alex James was being reintegrated into the club as a coach a few years after he retired and many of the younger players who he trained commented on his ability saying he was simply amazing. I think he died of cancer in, off the top of my head in 1956. It was a sad loss because he was showing signs of becoming a top coach.
I remember talking to two old timers in the West Lower during the early Wenger years who had seen the 1930’s team, they said that Alex James was the best they’d ever seen, one said that Bergkamp reminded him of the great David Jack.
To me Charlie George is still the King of Highbury.
I quietly confident that in Tuchel, England finally have someone who can get us over the line. 🙏
Charlie, from fan in the stands to player. Fairytale story and he’s the reason I support Arsenal..
25 years ago today, David “Rocky” Rocastle lost his one and only fight. Sleep tight Rocky, you’re much missed….
That was tragic Rico, truly tragic. It’s heartening in these times of sports washing and greed, that those fans who saw him play still hold a place in our hearts for a guy who loved the club as much as we did and most certainly wasn’t money motivated.
1962 he joined for a club record £ 70,000 , went on to score 100 goals in 150 games also played 14 internationals and got 7 goals for England .
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Joe Baker.
De Zerbi has signed a five year contract at Totteringham
I guess all of you have seen it – more than once, probably, even.
But well … this is just the day to watch it again. On top of everything else, how elegant Rocky was, wasn’t he? If there ever was a Gatsby of professional football, David was the one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2byZj3oz3U
Well said Kev.
De Zerbi must be mad.. 😜
He sure was Lg.
The Martin Keown story about Rocky and his eyesight was a funny one…
Where’s Harry? Kane not in tonight’s squad.
Rocky, Paul Davis, Michael Thomas, that was a slinky midfield trio indeed, all Arsenal raised and key to our resurgence in the ’80’s.
Charlie G. Derby took the boy out of Arsenal but no one could take the Arsenal out of the boy. As a Legends tour guide around the Em’s he was second to none, so full of life and so funny.
Yeh, Potter, Joe Baker… Did you ever see him play? Played with Denis Law at Torino didn’t he?
Cole Palmer loses possession on the half way line and that’s it, England 0 – 1 Japan
Gyo wins it for Sweden…
Yep , I saw him quite often , I saw his famous fight with Ron Yeats at Highbury ,
Yeats had kicked Arsenal’s biggest threat from the kickoff, can’t remember what minute it was but finally Baker reacted, jumping up and confronting Yeats who also reacted and towered over Baker, suddenly Yeats made a move and in John Radford words “Joe hit him about 6 times in two seconds”, the crowd went silent, in shock, Yeats had first of all stood there and then with delayed action he began to tumble like a giant oak tree, hit the ground. Spark out. After that Yeats never messed with Joe again.
Those were the days.
Viktor the hero … again.
If what he did with Sweden during this break isn’t enough for him to get back to us absolutely brimming with confidence, I don’t know what is.
Well done, kiddo.
Well if that was the final audition for the England World Cup squad, Palmer, Gordon and Foden can all book themselves a couple of weeks in Ibiza.
Japan are, supposedly, outsiders to make the quarter finals at best. If that is the case I can’t see England doing any better.
Sead Kolosinac on his way to the USA….
Those were the days, Potter. What a memory. Is there any film of the incident? Did Joe get sent off?
England looked turgid tactically, but with a fit Declan, Bukuyu and Harry, they’ll surely get through their group.
They both went off , Shankly was livid as he had spent the build up to the match saying just how big Yeats was and named him his colossus.
On the subject of Baker :-
I watched him score a great hat trick against Wolves at Highbury which we won 5-4! One with his right foot, one with his left and one with his head.
I remember my older cousin talking to me about Joe Baker, at the time Arsenal had some great forwards but not very good defenders or goalkeeper therefore you had that 6-6 draw with Leicester for example. My Dad took me to see the first team the season after Baker and Eastham left so I missed them both. Baker went to Nottingham Forest and scored a load of goals there.
Riccardo Califiori will be a bit fragile mentally when he returns to Arsenal so maybe leaving him out of the squad for Southampton is the prudent decision. I guess we’ll find out the level of our ‘injury crisis’ when the team is announced this Saturday?
I’d imagine that Southampton will be quite confident of causing an upset…
Btw, thanks Rico.
They are in a good run of form, Kev. Sixth in the Championship with a reasonable sniff at making the play offs. The two Adams are prob’s their best players, Lallana with his experience and Armstrong with his goal threat.
I found this, Potter. Was that you with the Bobbies?
https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=Joe+Baker+knocks+over+Ron+Yeats&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:69878bd6,vid:1Zk7yFdOQmc,st:0
Good morning all. Mikel Arteta and Renee Slegers will swap places for one forthcoming match, each will coach the team for a few days before the game and be on the touchline during play.
Sounds interesting.
Morning all.
Is that for a league match Cicero?
New post up.
April Fool 😂
Ha ha ha