Morning all.
I was just a kid when Ray Kennedy arrived at Arsenal in 1968 but by the time he left us for Liverpool, he was certainly a name the world of football would never forget. A footballer both Arsenal and Liverpool fans would never forget. With Arsenal, he won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970, and the First Division and FA Cup Double in 1970–71. With Liverpool, the First Division five times (1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, and 1981–82), the FA Charity Shield four times (1976, 1977, 1979 and 1980), the European Cup three times, (1977, 1978, and 1981), and the UEFA Cup (1976), UEFA Super Cup (1977), and League Cup (1981). He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1984 and yesterday, he passed away at just 70 years old. A true footballing legend.
Gabriel is the latest footballer to be on the end of a visit from thugs, violent ghastly thugs who think it’s their right to steal something which belongs to someone else. The incident at his home address took place back in August when Gabriel was targeted by two men trying to steal his car, one of whom is reported to have been armed with a baseball bat. DNA from his hat, which came off his head during the incident, led the police to the offender who is now behind bars for the next five years. Thankfully, Gabriel was, and is ok. He’s certainly playing like he’s been unaffected by the incident. Scary though.
It’s not a nice thing to go through when you have family involved. Gabi showed a lot of character. Credit to the boy. After that he was fine, obviously he was shocked. The club have given him the support to try and move on from the situation. Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta has held a press conference this morning ahead of our trip to Old Trafford tomorrow. As far as injuries go, just Bukayo Saka is a doubt although the Spaniard remains hopeful that he’ll be able to play. Bearing in mind it was just a few days ago when he suffered injury, I don’t think he’ll be risked. It’s not worth it long term.
Picking Tavares over Tierney last weekend?
It was a tricky one after what happened in Anfield and some individual errors that we had we have to be careful with the messages that we send. I encourage my players to take risks and if they make mistakes you have to show confidence.
The form of Aubameyang was again on the agenda and it will be for a long time unless he starts scoring goals. Mikel Arteta said that he’s doing a lot for the team but needs more from him other than just chasing down defenders. Something like that anyway. Personally, I think Arteta needs to accept that goals aren’t going to come, certainly not in the kind of numbers the team needs from its main striker/forward.
Another topic were all interested in I’m sure, is the January transfer window:
We are in discussions. We have talks every week about it. What happens in the January window can effect our squad. As you know we have certain players with uncertainty in the summer so we have to plan now and the summer. We don’t expect big things happening but we have to be very alert and prepared in the market.
Well, even if the club were intending to be active in January, Arteta is hardly likely to tell the world is he?
The focus for him now, and the players of course is how to beat Man Utd tomorrow night.
See you in the comments.
There’s a video of the security camera footage on Sky and all over the internet now . Lucky that the muggers seemed surprised to be confronted and that they knocked his hat off. However to match his DNA , he must have had previous for it to be on record.
Tomorrow Arteta has a few decisions to make but unusually they are not enforced unless Saka cannot start and then he has to choose between Martiinelli or Pepe I suppose. The Auba decision , depends I think , on the Lacazette going or not question . If he has made it plain that he is off and if Auba has said that he is staying then Arteta can’t afford to upset him and create another Ozil spat.
Then we have Tierney and Tavares ( sounds like a 60’s tribute band or a firm of solicitors ). Both are capable but I think he will go with Tierney for his experience and his more stable influence especially as United are likely to have Maguire back from suspension and he can get turned quite easily .
For once this should not be a lost cause trip , United are beatable . We just have to show the right attitude and belief that we can do it.
I doubt criminals do something like that for the first time. He’s clearly a nasty b*****d to get five years. The judicial system is usually soft with first time offenders.
We can win at OT if the team turn up for 90 mins and not 45.
Nice tribute to Ray Kennedy, well done Rico…
I think that Arteta will go with the same team and rotate at Everton if need be, but we better get used to playing two games a week because if we finish in the top four then that’s gonna be on the agenda for 22/23.
Aubameyang, Pepe, Elneny and Partey will be off in about 3.5 weeks so we’ll see plenty of rotation then. Let’s play our best team and get the points in the bank.
Arteta could of course play Tierney and Tavares if he can’t pick Saka. It may be an option, although I think he’ll stick with Nuno and play Pepe. Still we’ll see. United are very brittle presently, it would be a good time to register a win at old toilet, it’s long overdue.
I think I’ve made a similar comment of manure being crap and we should win only to fail, again and again. Time to turn the tables, in every sense!
Thanks Kev.
I hope Lokonga doesn’t get booked before the year is out or he’ll be banned for a game. Although it’ll open the door for AMN.
Morning Rico and All
You can understand why people have armed body guards these days, To many soft Judges that let fugs like these guy’s get away with it. 5 years not long enough.
Saka needs a rest so why not take the opportunity of his injury no matter how small to rest him against Man u. Why risk any further injury
Arteta could also play AMN, lokonga and Partey in midfield, anything to stop that lot from scoring.
Hi Geoff. I don’t Arteta will risk Saka.
I wonder if Arteta will start both Auba and Laca
G’day all, yes a nice tribute to Ray Kennedy Rico. I can’t believe we sold him to Liverpuddle for just £200,000, that’s a week’s wages for a run-of-the mill Premiership player these days.
There may be a decent bit of business to do in January, Pablo Mari wants to move back to Flamengo and their striker Gabriel Barbosa, known as Gabigol, fancies a spell in the Premiership. Wakey wakey Edu!
Sad about Ray Kennedy I liked him, I thought he was a really underrated footballer, at The Arsenal. The north bank weren’t so forgiving, if I remember rightly. He came in for more than his share of stick. But he scored some very good and important goals. The winner at the scum in 71😀
Shankly made him though when he turned him into an exemplary midfielder. What a player he became. He certainly was a snip at £200k. C’est la vie.
I never did understand why we let him go in ’74.
RIP R K.
I commented on Ray last night on the previous thread and highlighted the winner at Tottenham but we should not forget his goal in Belgium that enabled us to win the fairs cup at Highbury a week later.
Again R.I.P Ray , one of our greats .
Around that time the North Bank had it’s favourites and Jon Sammells took a fair bit of abuse as well. A bit like Wenger breaking up the invincibles I don’t know why Bertie Mee broke up that side either.
Afternoon rico, house, nice report. Kennedy, Radford and Armstrong were my first Arsenal footballing heroes. Very sad, too early to go. And Peter Simpson, and Storey. Sammels, there’s a reminder of one I’d forgotten!
Thanks Cicero, back in the day of him moving to Liverpool, £200,000 was probably considered to be expensive. I read that the season before he left us, he wasn’t in good form and was overweight. Frank Mc went running to the manager and as a result, he moved. True or not I don’t know but I bet Arsenal regretted selling him…
Afternoon Andrew, Arsenal certainly had some quality players back in Kennedy’s day, we underachieved during that time perhaps.
Was it the Fairs Cup, 3-0 down before Ray Kennedy scored? Then we won well at Highbury?
Interesting, Arsenal are linked with Gabriel Barbosa and Pablo Mari is linked with a return to Flamenco….
Exactly Rico .Highbury was rocking that night. Possibly the best atmosphere I can remember at the old place.
Trouble is Rico neither of them are much good with the castanets. 😉
I bet the atmosphere was fantastic Potter. Probably not to be repeated ever.
Ha ha Cicero.
Eddie Nketiah has turned down a new contract offer, so it looks like he will leave in the summer if not in January.
Cold -5c and wet here in Norfolk.
Can’t blame him really, shame though.
Sure is a cold morning Cicero.
New post up now