Morning all.
I didn’t watch either of the Champions League fixtures last night but I’ve seen this!
Had Foden not rolled over more times than a roller runs over The Emirates turf during the week, I doubt things would have kicked off the way they did. I’m surprised only Fillipe was sent off though. Terrible behaviour from a number of Atletico Madrid players which I’m sure UEFA will be looking into this morning.
What about Arsenal? Not much is going on really although Granit Xhaka has spoken out about ‘that incident’ back in 2019. His bags were packed and he was ready to leave he said. A contract offer from another club was on the table and all he needed to do was sign it. (Sigh)
Speaking about the Palace incident Sky Sports quote him as saying:
I had barely begun to move when I heard the boos. And it was not just a few guys in the corner – it was a lot of people. I was shocked. I had never experienced anything like this. When I got close to the tunnel, I looked up at the fans sitting there – and this is the part that I will always remember. When I close my eyes now, I can still see their faces. I can see their anger. It’s not that they don’t like me. No, it’s different. This is hate. Pure hate. I am really not exaggerating this.
I must admit, sometimes after Arsenal have played, when I’ve closed my eyes I’ve seen him making late challenges, or yet another referee waving a yellow or red card at him. It’s the stuff of nightmares, honestly.
However, Mikel Arteta, for reasons I can’t understand, persuaded him to stay and he did. Not just stay, but extend his contract too. Now he’s here until Arsenal win something big. The way things are going at Arsenal, he’ll retire before something big comes our way. Assuming he means a European or Premier League trophy of course.
I know I harp on about this but had Unai Emery had the same kind of backing as Mikel Arteta now has, Granit Xhaka would probably have been out the door after the incident against Crystal Palace, as would Mesut Ozil but for different reasons. That was the time to rebuild with players Emery believed in. Players he knew he could work with and trust together with the younger players coming through the academy, but as said yesterday, the past is there to be learned from rather than compared with the here and now. Hard as that is at times.
At least now, Arsenal have younger players who if the next manager wants to sell for any reason, there’ll be a transfer fee hopefully more than what Arsenal spent on them in the first place. When I think of the money Arsenal spent on the players who’re currently on loan, I wonder who on earth is running this club we all love. How can those players not be considered good enough to improve the depth of the squad. Needless to say I have splinters in the tips of my fingers.
Anyway, Mikel Arteta has made those decisions over the last couple of years, just as he decided to leave the few squad players Arsenal have on the bench, whilst fielding virtually the same team since Christmas, so if the club don’t finish in a European place in May, he should have a few tough questions to answer.
See you in the comments.
Hi Rico.. That was mental! Sterling headbutted, Grealish using the C word then having his hair pulled (🤣). City players spat at in the tunnel.. crazy. Glad City went through, but sweating over KDB now – don’t want Pool winning on Saturday!
The year is 2048 and Xhaka is now part of the coaching staff 🤣 He’s been with us 6 years now – it’s time for a change. That’s all he’ll be remembered for – the cards and the lunges.
I was told not being involved in Europe this season would do us good, but we look more knackered now than ever!! We all saw this coming – why didn’t Mikel?
Hi Sue, it certainly was bonkers and not good for the game at all.
Definitely don’t want Liverpool winning anything.
Ah c’mon you two, without Xhaka we would be without a reliable left back, Partey would have spent the whole season on his own in midfield and all the sportswriters would have had nothing to get there teeth (implants?) into. 😉
😂 Cicero.
Simeone’s team is built in his likeness. He was a good player but spiteful and knew every dark art and how to manipulate them.
Remember how he got Beckham sent off in 1998 , he hasn’t changed and sets his team up in his own image.
I said after the first leg that if grealish started he would be lucky to walk out of the Estadio Metropolitano their new stadium .
Many years ago I saw Atletico play in the Calderon and that was one scary experience and I was a neutral they were playing Deportivo , I think. So I am not surprised that it went off last nightand I too hope that it hasn’t upset City too much as I don’t want Liverpool to catch them out.
I’d forgotten it was Simeone who got Beckham sent off. That seems like a lifetime ago now.
When you play a team of cheats, whose dark arts are an art in themselves you then have to turn it around and onto them, focus on winding them up because they’re already on the edge so what Foden did was beautiful and exactly what Savic and Felipe would have done if the roles were reversed.
I just laughed at all their antics at the end of the game, it showed how much it hurt them and Grealish is just perfect for sticking the knife in and twisting it.
I’ve seen so many British teams react and lose to these tactics in the past so it was delicious to see those antics turned onto the perpetrators.
You surprise me Kev. Lol
I’d have been embarrassed to roll around like Foden did. Watching Lacazette go over is bad enough..
Nah Rico, I just laughed, I’ve seen Arsenal get mugged numerous times in Europe at the hands of these tactics, we never learn (well except when George Graham was manager) that’s probably one of the major reasons our record is so bad in those competitions.
And they expect it, they expect British teams to play it straight and ultimately to lose their heads and that’s why Atletico lost it, they couldn’t provoke City and it all ende£ up with them losing their shit, it was hilarious…
Cocu diving over Adams at Wembley . just one example
I get that Kev, but I hate all the cheating, bad tackling etc. Does my head in.
What happens if West Ham win the Europa League, would it mean the 4th place club drop out of the Champions League?
Let’s get into the top six and then worry about it Rico. 😀
What happens if Leicester win the Conference, is that a Europa spot gone?
I checked Kev, 4th would be safe, 5th and 6th wouldn’t be. Not sure about the 7th spot which is where we could easily end up. ☹️
Let’s not worry about which bit of the Europa League we may or not qualify for, concentrate instead on beating Southampton tomorrow otherwise the question of European football next season will be purely academic.
Good morning all.
Whilst we worry about ourselves , one pertinent fact to look at is West ham have 3 games in a week coming up Thursday 28th April Frankfurt at home ,Sunday May 1st Arsenal at home and then Thursday 5th May Frankfurt away.
Although I doubt that Moyes will play a weakened team against us , the players might have their minds elsewhere.
I thought the same re our West Ham fixture and I imagine I’m no different than anyone else in that any help we get will be gratefully accepted. 😂
You think we have a chance of beating them then Cicero? Lol
New post up now