Morning all.
How unlucky were the Arsenal Women’s team last night, two cleared off the line, one hit the post, plenty of other opportunities and two penalty shouts turned down. Jonas Eidevall said after their 1-0 defeat:
Part of me is angry, because obviously VAR was not working in the Allianz Arena tonight. Goal-line technology is something that you can use at any stage, but it is not compulsory. Today it was not in use because Bayern chose not to pay for it.
Arsenal however have paid for it so there’ll be no questioning whether or not the ball crosses the goal line when the two sides meet again at The Emirates.
The news coming out of the mens camp is that Takehiro Tomiyasu is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his knee. Rotten news all round really but especially for him. Hopefully, Ben White has ten Premier League games in his body because options at right-back are limited although we know William Saliba can play there. Trouble is, he too is currently injured.
According to reports on NewsNow, including the Metro, Thomas Partey has headed off on international duty with one of Arsenal’s physio’s as a chaperone. If true, I can understand why because his fitness is crucial to our run in. One of many I hasten to add, but we as a team are certainly much stronger with him in it. With both of Ghana’s fixtures being ACON qualifiers, no doubt Chris Hughton will play him twice during this international break.
I think all Arsenal fans will have everything crossed in hope that all of our players to return to the club unscathed.
Pre-season plans are already in action and surprise surprise, we’re heading off to the USA where we’ll play against an MLS All-Stars team led by D.C. United Head Coach Wayne Rooney on the 19th July.
Sporting Director Edu, said:
Our match against MLS All-Stars in July is a great opportunity for Mikel and the squad to prepare ahead of the new season, facing a strong opposition. We’re currently working on our pre-season plans and we look forward to announcing further details soon.
Mikel Arteta added:
It’s great that we’re playing against the MLS All-Stars in Washington D.C. in July. Our US tour last summer was very good preparation for the season, and we’re looking forward to once again visiting our amazing supporters in the US. The match against the MLS All-Stars will be a good test ahead of the 2023/24 season.
I’d imagine the club are already thinking about transfer targets for the summer as well pre-season fixtures. Who will stay, who goes and who Mikel Arteta wants to make his squad stronger, deeper and better equipped for a long and hard 2023/24 season. With Champions League football looking likely, although not yet 100% secured, Arsenal will be a club many players will look at and think ‘I want to be part of that’ – they probably are already. There’s always been a belief amongst football reporters and pundits, at least that’s what has been said/written in recent years, that to attract the best players, a club needs to be playing Champions League football. Well, I think Arsenal’s recruitment over the last couple of years has blown such a view out of the water. It’s who the club signs which matters and not how much the club pays to get them. At least that’s what I think…
Catch up in the comments.
I take the hint, no more posts until PL football is back. 😂 😂
Sorry Rico, Wednesday morning is swimming for me so I’m only just back and tucking into a bacon sandwich and mug of black coffee. Poor excuse I know. 😕
The Tomiyasu news is good as well as bad, the bad is he will be missed but the good news is the operation is done and dusted so he has plenty of time for recovery and rehab before the new season kicks off. I’m hopeful Tierney can fill in at right back if needed.
Just in from the quacks and have just read the post and comments so far.
Yes it’s the best of a bad job for Tommy both he and the club ,we must look on the bright side , I have long thought that he has been carrying an injury because he has not been the breath of fresh air that he was first arrived.
As far as recruiting is concerned we do need to boost the squad and we are becoming an attractive proposition for players joining especially with Champions league being a step up from this seasons Europa . The question is whether we buy to booster the bench or the pitch.
Trossard has been a successful buy and Jorginho is seemingly happy to share with Partey. So far so good.
The new season should see the return of injured players and give a recovery to the ones like Smith-Rowe and Jesus . For once we are in the position where it’s tweaking rather than wholesale changes that are needed.
Mesut Ozil has retired at the age of 34, personally I thought he all but retired eighteen months before he left Arsenal.
It looks like you were right Rico, everybody has drifted away.
Balogun has nailed his colours to the American mast it would seem having travelled to Orlando to meet up with their squad.
No we haven’t. I’m still here. Just haven’t got much to add at present. Going through a period of excited anticipation!
Don’t forget al the loaners will be back too, some of whom will almost certainly add their bottoms to the bench, at least initially.
Good Luck to Ozil, enjoy retirement.
Balogun is having a very good season in the French league. He’s scoring goals and doesn’t seem to be picking up injuries. He would give us a genuine presence in the penalty area, but would Arteta be prepared to accommodate a change of style, such as Pep has done since signing Harlaand. There has been talk of him being worth around £50 million in the transfer market. To sell or not to sell, that is the question.
Cicero, you raise a good question about Balogun.
Considering Balogun has not played regularly in the premier league, I don’t feel it would be worth changing our game style now that the team are starting to really bond just to suite one player, as for Pep can afford to change his style to suite Haaland as he has more older players that have been playing together as a team for several years, were our players are mostly young, Therefor if Balogun can’t or won’t change his style, I would put a high price tag on and listen to offer’s.
Personally, I would be really disappointed if we sold Balogun. At least give him a season playing PL football before casting him aside. There’s absolutely no reason, other than his own level of playing, why he can’t fit into this team.
I really don’t see any comparison with Haaland at City and Balogun at Arsenal.
https://youtu.be/kE3RmyBaqOY
If anyone goes this summer, imo, it’ll be Nketiah.
Wavy, good point. A lot of them won’t come back though, Cedric, Mari, Tavares, Pepe, AMN off the top of my head. Certainly from the senior group.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11893871/Premier-League-footballer-arrested-two-rapes-quizzed-police-new-allegation.html
Rules out the Thomas Partey theory as he’s on international duty.
Is this guy even an arsenal player?
It was an assumption but there’s no evidence to suggest it is. Until someone is charged, this kind of information shouldn’t be leaked to the press imo.
Rico I agree, These stories, until they name the player looks bad for all the innocent players who were in the area at the same time.
I wonder how Lokonga will go under crystal palace new coach
Balogun is more of a Nketiah type forward , If we need a replacement or a 20 minute sub he may well be suited to our club. . With Nketiah presently injured we must consider ourselves lucky that Jesus has just got back but if they were both out a the same time . What then ?
Evening Rico . Does it mention when this latest arrest took place?
Both Saka and Jorginho come through unscathed. Rice with the first and Kane with his obligatory penalty see us take a 2 – 1 win, but a nervy second half sees Shaw cop a red card for two unnecessary cautions, one for blatant time wasting.
Bellingham did well but was shattered by the time he was subbed, he needs to play regularly in the Premiership if he’s to reach his potential.
Reported on the steam radio that he was interviewed three weeks ago. It may be our star man then again it may not be him but another!who can say??
Apparently an International aged 29 with a home in North London . There are none at West ham , 1 at Arsenal ( Partey ) and 3 at Spurs ( Kane , Dier , and Ben Davies ).
Just saying.
Harry Kane it is then…
New post up now