Morning all.
An interesting round of fixtures take place this weekend with a few of the top half of the table clubs playing each other.
The Manchester derby tomorrow lunchtime is the big one of the day which I hope ends with a draw and then on Sunday it’s West Ham v Liverpool. Arsenal v Watford too of course and I’m hoping for another strong showing at The Emirates along with three big points.
Whatever the result turns out to be at The London Stadium later in the day, it’s a win win for Arsenal. If West Ham win, great, Liverpool won’t be going the season unbeaten. If Liverpool win, it closes the gap between ourselves and West Ham, as long as Arsenal win their match of course, and a draw helps Arsenal too. Oh, and for just one day, I hope both Leeds and Everton win their matches.
It seems the rumour about Kieran Tierney being involved this weekend has some truth to it as Arsenal have confirmed that if he passes a late assessment, he’ll be fit for selection. Tierney suffered bruising to his left ankle during the Palace game so there’s been no bones or muscles to heal which is positive for him and the club.
The update on Granit Xhaka is that’s he’s not expected to be back in full training until early in the New Year. Even if he makes a full recovery and an earlier than expected one, there’s always a chance he could suffer setbacks when he returns. We’ve seen it so many times before haven’t we? Medial knee ligament damage can have a big impact on a players game. I would say a player can lose a bit of pace but I won’t go there, after all, one can’t lose what one doesn’t have in the first place. LOL Seriously though, I hope his recovery and return go smoothly because even though he’s not perfect, we’ll need him in the New Year.
The October Premier League Player of The Month nominees are out and to no surprise, Aaron Ramsdale is on the list.
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)
Maxwel Cornet (Burnley)
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Tino Livramento (Southampton)
Declan Rice (West Ham)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)
Unless there’s a ruling which states only one player from each club can be nominated then I’m very surprised Emile Smith Rowe is absent from the above list as he’s been outstanding for his club. Not only has he missed out on the POTM award, Gareth Southgate has ignored him too. Still, England’s loss is Arsenal’s gain because as said yesterday, the Under 21’s have only one competitive game during the international break and hopefully, he’ll get a bit of a breather when the friendly fixture takes place.
Sky Sports have a piece on our midfielder today which includes Jamie Carragher having described him as “the best player I’ve seen running with the ball in the Premier League” during Arsenal’s recent 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
I didn’t know this little factoid:
As an academy player during the off-season, he attended training sessions with Team GB sprint coaches Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo and Marvin Rowe, picking up knowledge and techniques that would later prove invaluable. Smith Rowe was even told he had the athletic ability to be a runner if football didn’t work out for him. Fortunately, there was never much doubt that he would find his way in football. The England squad remains out of reach for now but if his progress at Arsenal continues at the same pace, it will not be long until Emile Smith Rowe becomes impossible to ignore.
Thank goodness he didn’t take up running eh…
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico and all
Out of that list Ramsdale biggest challenger is Salah as for ESR his day will come until then as you said Rico it’s England’s loss.
Good morning Rico, Geoff.
The report that if Tierney “passes a late assessment, he’ll be fit for selection”, suggests to me that he cannot be match fit and that he is being rushed back when there is really no need to do so as Tavares is playing well and proving to be an able deputy.
I would be happier if Tierney was rested on Sunday and withdrawn from the Scotland squad to give him more time to complete his recovery.
Morning Cicero, Geoff and all.
Me too re Tierney, keep him away from Scotland.
RIP Lionel Blair. What a life he’s had…
I wonder if Arsenal will have another behind closed doors match during this break.
Morning Rico and the Gang.
I think that Tavares will start this Sunday, maybe Tierney will be on the bench and will get a few minutes late in the game? I’m relaxed about Tierney playing for Scotland, we have Liverpool to deal with after the Interlull so a couple of games for the Jocks will have him match fit for that one.
Only three games this month so our players can catch their collective breath before we go for it in January and February minus our African players for a lot of it.
8 games in December and 6 in January with a depleted squad will certainly stretch our resources, a kind home draw in the Fa Cup 3rd and 4th rounds would really help.
The scheduling really does need looking at . The international brigade versus the domestic game is always going to be a clash .Somehow the money men have to sit together and sort it out for all parties and to try and avoid unneccessary injuries to players.
The phrase ships that pass in the night sums it up . Perhaps with his seemingly strange two yearly world cup Wenger is trying to bring it to a head.
Morning Kev, 3 domestic games this month but add two more and a lot of travel for most of our recent starting eleven.
If there’s a World Cup every two years, does that mean the Euros will no long exist? If not, then there’ll be an international competition every summer which would be ridiculous I think.
I think Wenger’s idea was kicked into the long grass a few weeks ago Rico. No doubt some other money grabbing stunt will be dreamt up soon though.
Thank goodness Cicero.
Dusan Vlahovic .
Apparently we have got a head of Spuds for this italian hotshot . But now Conte is on the case it may swing back the other way.
Got to love Football. London 2 days 2 stories generating another tomorrow and then queing up the Arsenal miss out story for a few weeks time.
That’s what they do..
Sky Sports:
Make sure you don’t miss our exclusive interview with Arsenal director Josh Kroenke on Sky Sports and across our website and app this weekend.
Kroenke has sat down with Sky Sports’ Geoff Shreeves to discuss everything Arsenal, from key recent off-the-pitch decisions to the performances and next steps of Mikel Arteta’s players.
The interview includes Kroenke’s views on the failed European Super League, Daniel Ek’s proposed takeover of the club, and his ambition to see Arsenal challenging for the title again.
The interview comes ahead of Arsenal’s Super Sunday clash with Watford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm on Sunday; kick-off 2pm.
Villa losing. Again.
Rico I will have to keep an eye out for it, at least he seems to be doing something more than can be said about his father. As I said before I recon Stan has told Josh to run arsenal and only involve him as a last result,
According to the Express officials from Arsenal and Fiorentina met in London this week to discus the transfer of Vlahovic.
Any good Cicero?
No idea Scott.
That’s the guy Potter mentioned earlier. One minute he’s heading to Arsenal, the next, Toots.
Morning all.
Geoff, perhaps it was always going to be Josh who’d eventually take more interest in Arsenal. I’m convinced he was the orchestrator of moving Arsene Wenger on.
Vlahovic is 21 years old , Serbian , has been at Fiorentina since 2018 and has played 88 games scoring 35 goals .
He certainly fits the ” process ” requirements but any truth in it , Who knows ? not us or football London for that matter.
Going by roomers Vlahovic is 21 yrs old and had scored 25 goals in 35 serie A games.
The player has refused to sign a new contract after taking advice from his manager to hold out to what other offers come.
So far it’s claiming that Arsenal have offered his club £68 million but no mention of the players wages.
The fact that Josh is in London could be significant as far as Vlahovic is concerned.
The Vlahovic rumours seem to be gaining some traction, so much for Arsenal being able to keep their business in house which makes me think that someone is trying to create an auction.
I wonder who his agent is?
Vlahovic’s agent Darko Ristic says Manchester City have ‘verbal agreement’ with player and agent over personal terms. That was August 2021. Now Spurs and Arsenal being linked.
Kev’s auction is off and running.
Darko Ristic Kev.
Latest info is that his agent is International Sports Office and his market value, last month was, £45 million.
Gotta go. Booster jab at noon.
So, this ‘meeting’ between Arsenal and Fiorentina, what are the sources of this meeting as Fiorentina aren’t in european competition so they wouldn’t have been in the U.K. unless off course they’d been invited?
Utd reverting to type then… lol
There probably hasn’t been one Kev. Lol
Rico, we’ll probably sign Jovic on loan from our feeder club Real Madrid.
If Norwich hold onto their lead they’ll only be 4 points behind Brentford and only 2 points behind Aston Villa…
I’ve no idea what we’ll do Kev but I like the ‘feeder club’ idea. Lol
So disappointed for Jason Roy and gutted Buttler is out…
They’ve just conceded..
But hung on
Win tomorrow and it’s nosebleeds
Pleased for Norwich. Plus I don’t like Brentford
Chelsea drop points too.
Our goal difference is our problem.
Au contraire Rico it’s our lack of goals that’s the problem.
A hat full tomorrow would help but 3 points more important.
If it was offered now I’d happily take a one nil win.
Vlavovic live now on BT Sport 2
So is Vlahvovic. 😉
And conceding so many against City Cicero
Me too, any win together with another strong performance
What’s happened to Buttler and Roy then Rico?
The Brighton vs Newcastle game is like having toothache 😬
Ah yeah, Roy ain’t coming back from that I’m afraid.
South Africa going home, so only two more good performances from the England team led by an Irishman and it’s happy days. 😀
Great game for Aaron Ramsey for juventus tonight. Never lost the ball once, never misplaced a pass, never gave away a foul. Oh and never left the bench. 😉
Buttler went cheaply Kev and Roy’s WC is over sadly
Windies gone too which is good.
😂 Cicero
Very clever Callum Wilson…
Cicero, you are a card… 😆
We have all to gain after so many upsets last night, I with you can not stand Brentford
Cicero So Aaron Ramsey had a good match, but did he win man of the bench award for his performance.
Josh Kroenke speaks and after he’s stopped speaking you kinda wish he hadn’t bothered.
I know all the pros and the cons about our ownership and they are what they are, whether you are in favour or not in favour, but whenever Kroenke Senior or Junior open their mouths about and try to discuss Arsenal they just sound like jerks…
I guess it’s as simple as their credibility among the majority of the fans, they can’t for example unsay the shallow things they’ve said in the past, I mean Josh saying that they’ve only really owned the club since 2018, all that despite having control since Lady Nina sold out to them.
Then we had the Daily Telegraph interviews a few years ago when they talked about wanting to win the Premier League and Champions League. It was never going to happen with the investment they put in and the people they put in charge. Their choices, no one else to blame!
One faux pas after another, a string of clumsy gaffes by a pair of dorks, we’ve seen it for years, it’s been embarrassing if I’m honest, bumbling along and looking truly confused as to why nobody has any regard or respect for them.
I’m afraid it’s too late now, the dye is cast, Stan is a cowboy and Josh is his dopey sidekick.
Yea Ha…
You mean you don’t believe him Kev? 😆
Morning all.
New post up now