Morning all.
As expected, Man City beat Burnley last night but not as easily as the footballing world anticipated. With defeat came confirmed relegation for Burnley, with victory came a place at the top of the table for City because of goal difference. Now it’s over to Arsenal who play Newcastle Utd on Saturday evening at The Emirates.
The mission is clear for Arsenal, win all five remaining fixtures and do so by scoring a lot of goals.
Arsenal title run-in:
Saturday April 25th – Newcastle (H)
Saturday May 2nd – Fulham (H)
Sunday May 10th – West Ham (A)
Sunday May 17th – Burnley (H)
Sunday May 24th – Crystal Palace (A)
Champions League:
Wednesday 29th – Atletico Madrid (A)
Tuesday 5th May – Atletico Madrid (H)
Should we get the better of Atletico, the Champions League Final takes place after the domestic season has concluded.
Man City title run-in:
Monday May 4th – Everton (A)
Saturday May 9th – Brentford (H)
Sunday May 17th – Bournemouth (A)
Sunday May 24th – Aston Villa (H)
*Game vs Crystal Palace (H) was originally scheduled for Friday May 22nd but has been postponed. A new date is yet to be announced.
FA Cup:
Saturday 25th – Southampton. A potential final for City would be on Saturday 16th May.
I’m sure everyone who loves football outside The Arsenal and Man City, hopes the league title chase will go down to the final day. A pundit somewhere will be desperate for his “Aguero” moment, or better still “It’s up for grabs now” moment. Me however, I’d rather it was over and done with by then, in Arsenal’s favour of course.
Early injury news from the Premier League suggests that Eddie Howe will be missing a few players on Saturday. Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Anthony Gordon and Valentino Livramento are all injured while Joelinton is suspended.
For Arsenal, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafoiri and Bukayo Saka are very close to returning, perhaps even this weekend. Not that I would expect any of them to start having been out for a while. Saying that, Martin Odegaard played 90 minutes against City.
Despite going into the season with a strong and deep squad, at least that’s what I thought at the time, a few players just haven’t really settled. For all his pace and fancy touches, Noni Madueke has been disappointing and Christian Norgaard has hardly played which has really surprised me. Piero Hincapie has been excellent in the main, as has Cristhian Mosquera and whilst I know Ebe Eze can drift in games, when he’s good, he’s very good. Viktor Gyokeres is the current Mr Marmite as is Kepa I’m sure. Martin Zubimendi has taken a bit of stick this year but are you really surprised his level of performance has dropped slightly bearing in mind how many minutes he’s played? He came from a league which had a winter break whereas at Arsenal, he’s barely had break at all.
I read somewhere the other day that Arsenal should move Gyokeres, Madueke, Norgaard and Kepa this summer. I totally understand why that would be suggested although I don’t think it’ll happen but I do think it’s time to say goodbye to a few favourites. Ben White and Leandro Trossard for starters. I have no idea where Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri sit in Mikel Arteta’s plans but I fear they could be sold to raise funds for transfers. My worry with that is who comes in because if the standard of player is as it was last summer, then what would be the point? If Arteta is not going to dig deep into his squad for rotation, what’s the point? If we are going to play the same style of football, what’s the point?
Throwing good money after bad is pointless, especially if it means two very good young Arsenal academy players are cast aside in the process. After all, their best playing days are yet to come and I truly hope those days are with Arsenal. A Myles and Ethan midfield could work you know…..
Catch up in the comments.
I’ve lost a post
Great post Rico, for me it’ll be the development of Dowman, Salmon and Mosquera after a good summers rest that I’m looking forward to see next season and also the arrival of the exciting Ecuadorean twins who I’m hopeful will arrive in January, join in training with the senior squad and quickly become just the boost we need at that time of the campaign.
I understand why some are keen to see some churn in the senior squad in the summer, which I agree with, but only if we get acceptable offers for them, no more giving our players away on the cheap, already Porto are reportedly trying to get Arsenal to reduce the fee both clubs agreed to last summer for Kiwior. I’m sure if Porto procrastinate that we kind find someone else to take him off of our hands and then sue them for breaking a contract.
We are already likely to lose a very large chunk of value on Vieira and Nelson, in line with the fee we actually got for Leno, so I don’t want to see Trossard leaving for next to nothing or Norgaard. As for Ben White, we probably overpaid for him so if he leaves it’ll be for a much reduced fee, but I’d be happy to see him stay! Martinelli is where there is value, not least given that it is PSG who are sniffing around and they’re loaded.
Delete it if it pops up again Rico. 🙂
Thanks Kev..
I’m arguing with myself right now. Does the club give Arteta more money to carry on, or not? I’d hate for us to sell the likes of Nwaneri and mls when a different manager might have a different approach.
I’ve lost a marble Kev. 😝
I used to love playing marbles as a kid Rico, back in the days of 405 lines on your TV
Me too Kev, kids these days don’t know what they are missing.. lol
Re Martinelli, I’d rather see Madueke and Trossard be sold before him although I know the two together wouldn’t raise as much cash as Martinelli.
That is the conundrum Rico, Berta needs to maximise as much as he can in order to reinvest although we will have done very well financially through the Champions League and that is going to help a lot
You’re not alone Rico, A good post for sure.
Those to go? Working from the back, Kepa, he’s proved to be an accident waiting to happen, high wages.
Ben White, injury prone, lost a yard of pace.
Calafiori, Injury prone, high wages but a utility player who could be useful but easier to replace.
Norgaard, if we are not to play him why pay him?
Madueke, biggest disappointment of last summer’s business, high wages.
Trossard, not a regular starter, blows hot or cold, rarely finishes a game when he does start.
Eze, a luxury player who drifts in and out of games, if we can find a top class attacking midfielder/ number ten.
Finally, Jesus he’s just a highly paid embarrassment.