Morning all.
I can understand why Mesut Ozil didn’t feature in Mikel Arteta’s plans last night because an away fixture in itself is tough but against Leicester City, well, as I said yesterday, Arsenal haven’t won at the King Power Stadium for a few years. There wasn’t room for a player who wasn’t ready or able to put pressure on the opposition from start to finish. I read headlines on NewsNow soon after the team was announced which suggested the ex German international deserves better. I beg to differ. Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira missed out too which in my opinion, means their days at the club are all but over because this fixture was the ideal time to bring them back into the mix.
Mikel Arteta picked a mixed team as expected. Young, old and the wise. Leno kept his place with Rúnarsson on the bench.
Arsenal lined up:
Leno; Holding; Luiz; Kolasinac; Maitland-Niles; Elneny; Willock (Ceballos); Saka (Bellerin 87); Pepe; Nelson (Willian 72); Nketiah
Subs not used: Runarsson; Saliba; Xhaka; Lacazette
Scorers: Fuchs (OG 57); Nketiah (90)
Brendan Rogers made big changes to his team too with eight not having featured in the opening fixtures. If my maths is right, Mikel Arteta made the same number of changes from the team that started against West Ham. I mention that just in case anyone in the media tries to play down our victory.
It’s hard to write something about a game when only snippets of highlights are on offer but from what I did see, Leicester hit the post but Saka should have seen the referee point to the spot after a tackle on him in the box. I guess that was evens for the one missed at the weekend. Oh yes I’m a cynic. We had chances, some better than others but when the opener came, it was a Leicester City player who found the net. Pepe’s hard work played its part. Eddie nearly doubled our lead with an almost perfect lob. Had Morgan not been on the line to head clear, it would have been. I’ve read that Mo Elneny was the star in midfield which if right is great. A player Arsene Wenger signed for around £5 million looks like he’s proving to be of far greater value to the club than ever before.
Leicester had their moments, Maddison hit the woodwork as already said and Perez really should have done better with his header from a set piece but if you don’t score, you don’t win. Eddie finally got his goal and again, hard work and determination was behind it. Hector Bellerin was fresh legged having come on from the bench, up for it too as his burst into the box with the ball at his feet. He found Eddie who was bundled over by Leicester City players but as he went over, he made sure he booted the ball into the back of the net. Smiles all round and we’re off to Anfield in the next round. Or Lincoln City, depending on who wins tomorrow night.
I’ll leave you with some of the best bits…
See you in the comments guys.
.
Good morning Rico.
The headline in the Telegraph. “Adventurous Arsenal rewarded with stroke of fortune”.
Is that praise, faint praise or a bit denigrating? 😉
Morning Rico/all
Yes media reaction is predictably negative, I thought it was a great result, and from what I heard on the radio, and having seen the highlights, hardworking and deserved.
From what I saw Elneny was impressive, Nketiah ran his socks off, Luiz calm and solid.
I’m sure we’ll be trying to move a few on in the next couple of weeks but then so will other clubs, we shall see.
Bright sunshine here in Essex, but very cold.
Arsenal will probably be playing Liverpool twice in a few days next week, a Lincoln miracle aside – I’d like to see how the media explain that one.
Come on Lincoln!
Kind of grudgingly given.
This wasn’t however https://wittyfutty.com/2020/09/saka-penalty-claim-leicester-city/
Wow, Potter!!
How was that not given???
Incredible miss lol
Morning all.
Good morning rico and All.
I watched the whole game live last night, and imo Arsenal were worthy winners. Both sides made multiple changes, playing some experienced and some fringe players.
The pick of Arsenals bunch for me was Elneny, he controlled the midfield with ease, albeit against a weaker midfield than Leicester would normally have fielded.
Pepe is not showing enough improvement for my liking. He looks timid at best. At times he had opportunities to have a one on one run against a young rookie left back and mostly kept stopping and passing backward. Oh, but I hear you saying it was him that got us our first goal. It was down to Leicester’s bad fortune more than Pepe’s endeavour and skill. I cannot see him being a regular in this Arsenal team. An expensive flop, imho.
How on earth Saka was not given a penalty for assault from behind, highlights the indifferences with our mostly incompetent referee’s.
AMN continues on an upward trajectory and must be kept.
Luiz showed calmness and assurance, as you would expect from a seasoned professional.
Leno continues to prove to me that we let the wrong keeper go.
Kolasinacs had a fair game, but is not good enough to be Arsenal’s left back if we want to make top four.
Holding was steady, but unfortunately he doesn’t seem to have fully recovered from his injury sustained after Rashford took him out at Old Toilet.
Willock was largely anonymous.
Nelson flattered to deceive.
Nketiah proved he is good enough to play second string to our current strikers.
All in all, I enjoyed a stress free game in which we fully deserved to venture into the next round.
Onwards and upwards.
COYG.
Afternoon campers, afternoon Rico, nice post which pretty much covered everything.
I gave NewsNow a miss yesterday, not sure why but after reading the comments on here and in the post I’m glad I did.
I listened to the game on Talk Sport and they were quite complimentary about the Gunners, they couldn’t believe Saka wasn’t awarded the penalty and pretty much admitted that Arsenal deserved it. Ok I thought.
I then watched the highlights on a channel called Quest and the highlights was all Arsenal with the exception of the Maddison shot onto the post and Perez heading wide. So two media outlets being relatively positive about Arsenal, they said that Leicester made 11 changes from their previous game and that Arsenal had made 8 changes, which seemed fair.
The only people that keep talking about Mesut Ozil are the media, I don’t see his name hardly ever mentioned on the blogs I visit, Arteta clearly doesn’t want to talk about him and it seems doesn’t want to play him either. Just how the player will be viewed when Arsenal name their 25 man squad for the Premier League and he’s not in it is anyone’s guess?
I’ve just watched the brief highlights and can’t quite believe the ref didn’t give the penalty. Maybe he was unsighted, maybe he should have gone to Specsavers, maybe, had it been available, VAR would have awarded the penalty, but then again, maybe it wouldn’t. 😉
Cicero, I’ve seen a view from behind the goal regarding the Saka no penalty decision. The referee had an open view with NO obstructions.
Well that penalty shout, like the Hardy Kruger character in the movie was “The One That Got Away”.
Arsenal was the best team.
There are players who do not work in isolation. It is not a defect, but your performance is much higher when playing with someone.
Shouldn’t the goalkeeper Macey have played or at least go to the bench?
We are fighting for 2 expensive midfield players with unpredictable performance in English football. Has anyone ever thought of this James Maddison? Is he so expensive then the one of the others two?
Hi Rico and all just read that league 1 teams do not have to be tested for virus and can refuse testing even when playing against premier league clubs in The Carabao cup
News 🙂
11:14 – ANALYSIS: WHAT NEXT FOR MESUT?
That could well be that. Mikel Arteta’s latest admittance on his plans for Ozil seems set in stone. The Spaniard has not been afraid to make tough decisions, and as his tries to revolutionise Arsenal, Ozil is very much an expensive, unnecessary luxury.
It is not just his time in north London that appears to coming to an end. With an agent who will insist his client is handsomely paid for his time, Ozil’s options at European elite level will be very limited indeed. Who will want to pay a 31-year-old who is so out of match practice anything like what he is earning at Arsenal?
Arsenal’s issue is how to get him off the books. Ozil will be in no rush to depart given the wage he is on, so Arsenal will have to offer clubs some form of package that means they will keep continuing to pay something towards his wages.
Turkey, Asia or the US look to be the best options for Ozil, but having enjoyed plenty of good times at the Emirates, he could actually leave without playing a game for the Gunners again
I recon it was a penalty and the only reason that I can think of why it was not paid would have to be the referee felt Saka was all ready falling before he was touched, but must admit I glad it happened in that match and not a premier league match
Scott sad news about Dean Jones ( Aussie cricketer ) may he rest in peace
having seen Saha , Sterling and the like going back to Fracis Lee getting penalties , you have to wonder what we have to do to get them .
incidently I have looked back at the official stats of the PGMOL and in the last 5 seasons plus the beginning of this the top 7 teams have the following number of penalties awarded.
Man City 41
Leicester 41
Man utd 36
Liverpool 27
Chelsea 26
Spurs 24
Arsenal 21
Food for thought.
Afternoon to you all. Have we signed anyone yet today as I’m away from home? 😂
No ins, no outs Rico, as they used to chant when spectators were allowed into the stadiums to watch the games, “It’s all gone quiet over there”.
News:
Arsenal are reportedly interested in a shock swoop for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, who could fill gaps potential outgoings may leave.
Despite the fact Jorginho started both of Chelsea’s Premier League games to date this season, he is on a long list of players the Blues could be willing to sell to boost the coffers after a summer of lavish spending.
Mikel Arteta is looking to add bodies to his midfield, especially given he has deemed Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi surplus to requirements at the club.
Thought as much Cicero…
Jm, I bet the link is down to him being Brazilian
Geoff, a massive shock about Deano.
RIP.
Very sad about Dean Jones,a big shock,he was commentating on the IPl.A great cricketer in the 80s & 90s,one of the most successful Australian’s in country cricket too.
Yeah, Dean Jones, only 59, surprised to see that he only played 54 tests for Australia.
Kev, he missed out a lot as really, he was the first true one day cricketer imo.
He set the standard for batting and fielding.
Had a good test career but was in and out if the squad a bit.
News:
a) Atletico Madrid ‘are close to signing Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira on a season-long loan’ – but Thomas Partey isn’t part of the negotiations, according to the Daily Mail.
The Uruguayan’s game time became more limited once Mikel Arteta replaced Unai Emery as Gunners boss last season and he hasn’t featured so far in this campaign.
But Atletico manager Diego Simeone admires the 24-year-old and is working on an arrangement to take him for the season.
b) Mikel Arteta is still hopeful he can bring Barcelona and former Liverpool start Phillipe Coutinho to the Emirates Stadium, report Sport.
Ronald Koeman has told the Brazilian that he is a part of his plans ahead of the new season, but Barcelona are in need of funds and could cash in on the 28-year-old.
But Arsenal are more keen on a loan deal.
same old Arsenal so slow in buying, selling and loaning plays That I don’t think we will buy any more players
It’s a slow news days, therefore…..
This is a good day for linking Arsenal with Karim Benzema and Solomon Kalou.
Willian
Winger — from Chelsea
free
Tim Akinola
Midfielder — from Huddersfield
free
Salah-Eddine
Midfielder — from Feyenoord
free
George Lewis
Winger — from Fram Larvik
free
Pablo Marí
Defender — from Flamengo
£14m
Cédric Soares
Defender — from Southampton
free
Gabriel Magalhães
Defender — from Lille
£27m
Jonathan Dinzeyi
Defender — from Tottenham Hotspur
undisclosed
Dani Ceballos
Midfielder — from Real Madrid
loan extended
Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson
Goalkeeper — from Dijon
£1.8m
This is the incoming business Arsenal have done so far this summer according to the Guardian.
3.44 Kev, you make it look like we’ve had a good transfer window.. 😝
Afternoon guys, have we signed anyone?
And the outgoing business:
Dinos Mavropanos
Defender — to Stuttgart
loan
Zech Medley
Defender — to Gillingham
loan
Trae Coyle
Forward — to Gillingham
loan
Matt Smith
Midfielder — to Swindon
loan
Jordi Osei-Tutu
Winger — to Cardiff
loan
Sam Greenwood
Forward — to Leeds United
undisclosed
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Midfielder — to Roma
free
Ben Sheaf
Midfielder — to Coventry
loan
Tyreece John-Jules
Forward — to Doncaster
loan
Ismaila Diallo
Midfielder — to Burnley
free
Emiliano Martínez
Goalkeeper — to Aston Villa
£20m
Mark McGuinness
Defender — to Ipswich Town
Fred, I’ve never heard of Ismaila Diallo, any ideas?
From arsenal.com:- This is what our manager told the press about the latest speculation regarding incomings and outgoings:
on the latest on Lucas Torreira…
No, we don’t have any updates on Lucas or any other player at the moment.
on being linked with Jorginho at Chelsea…
We are still open to improve our team, we are looking for different options depending on what happens with some of our players here so we are getting prepared just in case we need to do something.
on what potential qualities he sees in Jorginho…
Sorry, but I cannot talk about players that play for a different team. [Discussing] their qualities is not appropriate from my side.
on whether he tried to sign Thiago…
We don’t discuss the things that we try to do in the market.
on whether he’s a player he admires…
Yeah, I really like him from my time that I was in Barcelona as well. A player with incredible personality, great talent, very special qualities to play in midfield. I think he’s a great signing for Liverpool.
Wasn’t that so enlightening?
It’s been a horrible day. Non-stop heavy rain blowing in on winds gusting up to 55mph.
My grandson, on his way to work, was knocked of his motor bike by a car which pulled out in front of him. Luckily he wasn’t hurt but the bike which he’s had from new for only three weeks is a write off. At least the woman driver admitted to the police that it was entirely her fault.
Now the doors and windows are shut tight, the central heating is on and there’s a bottle of warming red wine open and ready to pour.
C’est la vie, as they say on the other side of The Channel 😉
That’s rotten Cicero, at least he’s ok..
Well we have a power cut until midnight apparently and to compound things a flood warning and 8%charge on the phone so goodnight all.
You and Cicero aren’t selling Norfolk well Potter. Lol
Lots of rumours about Arsenal agreeing a deal for Aouar.
Just cooking bacon on the log burner so we won’t starve
rico…..BT Sport have announced we are near a deal for Aouar
Vcc, near is not near enough. 😆
They don’t put windmills where the wind don’t blow Rico . Power back on so not bad 3 1/2 hours. First of the year more to come no doubt.
Ha ha Potter, so very true. Is in windy in Holland? Lol
We’ve been having power cuts all day, it goes of for 3 or 4 minutes, comes back on for about an hour and keeps on repeating, just like a dodgy kebab.
😉
We decided when we bought the house to have gas installed so we always have a way to prepare hot meals. We also have an open fire and keep an emergency supply of wood. It’s actually quite cosy sitting in the dark by the fire sipping wine and talking to each other.
Kev The problem with that list is 95% of players mentioned are to do with the under 23 or 18 not the senior team We still need to improve our midfield players who can run box to box
Arteta is starting to remind me of Schultz from Hogan’s heroes every time he asked about players from other clubs he gives the same answer I don’t talk about other players or in Schultz words I know nothing HA HA HA
It’d be wrong for Mikel Arteta to talk about player targets publicly. Keep asking him the same old questions and he’ll give the same old answers. So would anyone with an ounce of sense.
New post up now
Apparently we have made a £32 million bid for Auaor but Lyon want £54 million. The player has agreed to join Arsenal after neither Man City nor Juventus made an offer for him. Good to know we were his third choice. At least we will be spared the usual guff about Arsenal always being his dream team.
If Chelsea buy Declan Rice from The Hammers, we may be allowed to buy Jorginho.
I find these rumours and the players mentioned somewhat underwhelming.
Just get Partey!