Morning all.
I love the above photo, probably because it’s two of many of my favourite players over the years. Even Jack Wilshere looks young in the photo let alone the much younger boy with him. Who’d have thought back then that he’d now be keeping a Spanish International footballer out of the team? Of course, it’s Myles Lewis-Skelly. Any thought Arsenal might have had about selling him, if they did of course, should have been binned by now. Question marks over Ethan Nwaneri might still exist but personally, I’d prefer to see him playing a lot more for Arsenal before any decision is made about him. His loan was a disaster not necessarily of his own making.
I know it’s only been a few days since being confirmed as Premier League Champions but there’s still a very important fixture left to play. No, I don’t mean against Crystal Palace on Sunday but the Champions League Final against PSG a week on Saturday at 5pm. With that in mind, what might Mikel Arteta do on Sunday I wonder? Rest a lot of players or approach it in the same way he would any other fixture during a season? The former of the two I hope.
The only thing I care about Sunday is not picking up injuries. Crystal Palace are in the same boat so we might just see a game which resembles a pre season friendly with neither side going at it all guns blazing. It’s going to be hot too, high 20’s apparently.
Of all the Arsenal goals Kai Havertz has scored since moving from Chelsea, the one on Monday night is his most important as without it, we’d be going into Sundays game in a very different situation. Now though, we can sit back, relax and watch the game knowing this group of players are Premier League Champions.
Mikel Arteta spoke to the media yesterday with a big fat grin on his face. Rightly so. What he’s now achieved is amazing but he never fails to acknowledge it’s not just about him. Football is a team game, from the once much maligned owners, right through to the tea lady. Everyone plays his or her part. Without the Kroenke family sanctioning all the signings we as club have made, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Look around at other clubs, the way they’ve invested compared to results on the pitch. Yes we might have a moan every now and again but that’s healthy. Where Arsenal are as a club right now and the journey to get here, it’s healthy. Better than healthy. Also, had the Kroenke family not supported the Mikel Arteta appointed in 2019, we might still be drifting along. They deserve every ounce of credit from every single fan in my opinion.
As for our Mikel Arteta, he took a club which was in a mess, with an utterly cheesed off fan base and did one simple thing. Talk to them/us. He told us to be patient, he told us to believe and despite my own belief sometimes wavering, not only did he talk the talk but he’s walked the walk. If any manager deserves this Premier League title, it’s him because despite having the verbal kitchen sink thrown his way in the back pages and media sites, he’s stood tall through it all.
So thank you Mikel, thank you everyone at Arsenal Football Club, you’ve done all of us proud.
Now go and win the Champions League.
Catch up in the comments.
PS. Pep is definitely going.. Good!
G’day Rico, great post thank you.
Crystal Palace, quite reasonably in my view, applied to have the Sunday game brought forward a day in order to give them a little extra recovery time before their Conference League final on Wednesday. The request was turned down out of hand. Their opponents were more successful. All the Spanish games are being played on Sunday except that of Palace’s opponents Villareal.
Morning Rico/all..
What a great picture of Jack Wilshere and Young Myles – an important player for years to come hopefully.
I think we will go full strength to start against Palace,then make full use of the subs. Maybe just half the game for Rice and Saka,then bring on the likes of Dowman,Merino hopefully. Someone mentioned Marli Salmon earlier,which is a great call.
Four of our lads in the World Cup squad,probably only Rice and Saka will play every game. I hope they don’t suffer from burnout next season,Chelsea fans already saying its good for them Palmer is left out.
I saw a report where Jesus said he wants to play for Palmerias one day.
Afternoon Gooners, afternoon Rico, excellent post…
I spent yesterday avoiding pedestrians looking at their phones as they crossed the road, swerving out of the way of suicidal cyclists, avoiding white vans and buses pulling out on ya, idiots blocking bus lanes, deserted road works, temporary traffic lights phased by morons and the emergency services doing the impossible with a big cheesy grin on my boat race. Because regardless of the mayhem around me I was in podcast heaven listening to Arseblog, two episodes of Handbrake and Vision.
Someone mentioned we have a dept at Arsenal called ‘Football Intelligence’ these were the guys who devised the plan with Arteta that we’re now seeing come to fruition. I’d love to know what they’ve been working on since? Stadium expansion? World domination?
Afternoon Cicero, Limey, Kev.
The PL really don’t help clubs in Europe do they..
Thanks guys by the way. I loved the photo of a very young Myles, he’s been great in midfield and long may that continue.
Kev, how to win the CL I hope. Lol
M L S can become the ball winning midfielder we have been missing for ages. For a while now we have had no-one who is prepared to actually make a tackle to win the ball.
Definitely, save us a whole lot of money too. Same with Nwaneri imo.
https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15840473/arsenal-mikel-merino-injury-recovery.html
Merino fit then..
Yes Rico, I’d bring Nwaneri back and move Madueke on. He’s been underwhelming to say the least.
Good evening Rico and all winners who are coming down gently to earth after scaling the heights of heavenly euphoria.
Excellent Rico. Loved reading it especially the part about Mikel. May he last long enough to beat SAF’s trophy haul, lead Arsenal for more than AW’s years in charge, surpass the unbeaten run of the Invincibles (we’ll call them The Immortals) and send the doom mongers down the pits of hellish silence for two or three generations.
I am still walking in the air it seems. lol
I sincerily hope that against Palace both teams will come out with the second string. Both clubs have a final the coming week. Palace in midweek and we on Saturday.
If I were Arteta I would be a bit confused whom to play etc. First of all I always love a clean sheet. Second I also love an unbeaten run. Match fitness also comes into consideration. So that would mean that the best 11 play. However, that would also imply a risk of injuries. Tiredness etc. So the 2nd best 11 play. Choices, choices.
White is out. Timber is out. Mosquera is the obvious choice. So does he play him for match fitness and risk or he plays Marli Salmon?? I would go for Marli Salmon. Dowman, Martinelli, Madueke, Jesus, Norgaard, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Kepa for sure.
Whoever he throws in and Palace as well I hope they play with the shackles off to give us a goal feast of a draw. 3-3 would be nice.
Me too Cicero, in a heartbeat. Cannot believe he’s in the England squad,
Evening Devil, I think we’ll see Merino and maybe even Timber at some stage of the match.
It’s a shame both managers aren’t permitted to use more subs..
Thanks Rico, a fine post. Love the photo’s, especially the one of Kai’s majestic leap. Good to acknowledge the owners commitment and vision, too.
“World domination”, Kev. It’s the American way. Look at the huge success of the Kronke’s other sporting franchises. There were two moments in Arsenals history where W. D. was tantalisingly possible, the 30’s which was kiboshed by WW1, and Arsene’s early reign which was derailed by the stadium debt and Abramovich’s ill gotten gains. We are potentially back on the cusp with a whole lot of factors in place to see the club realise the long sung refrain, “the greatest football team the world has ever seen”.
Crucial will be the CL final. We’ve got one monkey off our shoulder winning the EPL, now let’s shake off that other hairy beast.
A little disappointed that MLS didn’t force his way into Tuchel’s plans. I think he offers more than Livramento. Big surprise to see Ivan T in the squad, but will be handy of games go to shoot outs.
Thanks Stuart, I’m glad Myles misses out, plenty of time for him.
The Kroenke family were ripped to shreds for a while, but they cannot be faulted for their support of Arteta. Imo anyway.
On an point of history Stuart WW1 ended in 1918. WW2 started in 1939.
Thanks Cicero. A typo, history is a passion of mine. We lost so many players in that conflict.
I can see the argument, Rico, but he hasn’t had a lot of football this year and the experience would be fabulous.
Would you pick him as a starter against PSG?
Good morning Rico and all
We’re going through the Time of our lives. Long may they last.
I would begin with MLS if it were me. Hincapie as well. Calafiori would come in later against tired legs since he loves bombing forward.
I have a feeling VK14 will have the game of his life. PSG will never sit back and defend in the box like teams do in EPL. So he will have space. We just need to get the crosses in.
Good morning all.
Straight from the horse’s mouth, Mikel Merino will be in the squad for the Palace game and says “whenever the gaffer needs me, I’ll be ready to do what ever he wants”.
I would pick him for PSG Stuart but I’d rather his teenage body had a proper rest this summer.
Morning all
Morning Cicero, Devil, I read that yesterday, brilliant news if he can get 30 mins ish and be available for the CL final. I’m still hoping Timber will be in the squad tomorrow too.
I do think we have a chance against psg because as you say Devil, they are an attacking team. Should be an open game, one which the best defence should in theory come out on top..
Hilarious
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1238416875097057
Hull City back in the PL then and Barcelona have won the Women’s Champions League, scoring a few cracking goals in their 4-0 thrashing of Lyon..
Evening guys, what a beautiful day it’s been.. Tomorrow is meant to be even hotter in London.
Rico………”what a beautiful day it’s been.. Tomorrow is meant to be even hotter in London”
So you have shit weather all year round. Arsenal win the league. And suddenly you have beautiful weather.
Its official. God is a GUNNER
You are finally catching on, Dev. 🙂
Well its not the first time something like that occurred to me.
A few years ago I was with the missus in a pub and there was an argument about who was better between an English guy and a South Argentinian. And the latter teased him by saying that the Pope is Argentinian. The Englishman hit back with the following, “Well the Pope may be Argentinian but Jesus Christ is English’
Good thing I wasn’t holding the glass of wine against my lips. I couldn’t stop laughing.
For those who love a good read….
https://www.givemesport.com/premier-league-wage-bill/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a0dfdae9fb6a800019b7374&fbclid=IwY2xjawR-8INleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIemtlRVZSc0hYVmlyeWU5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuPsHLc-9EJclt5CHAwTxn8OiUr1rY-rFdR9DqU4Ip2c26-P2Z-1tiiSSUIh_aem_YWdncwChwNOWq9r4TBXk7OouSO1A
For some reason, Dev, I couldn’t access the second half of that article? Interesting reading.
Diabolical that Declan missed out on the big individual awards. If we go on to win the CL and he has a good World Cup, the stink will reach the heavens.
Nwaneri called up by Tuchel to go to America as a back up player , Report in Football London . Apparently he is one of 4 that is there as back up but an injury during training and who knows after all there is some merit to being Johnny on the spot . .
Morning all.
New post up..
Pleased for Nwaneri but I’d rather he was having a break during the closed season. Saka will need a proper rest after the WC.