Morning guys.
That’s how I feel about life in general, Arsenal FC and lastly this bloody international break. News might be slow but I’m determined to get a post out there every day. Internationals will not beat me. Well, not during this break but who knows when November arrives and we have to go through it all again.
What’s good though, for me at least is I actually don’t welcome these breaks now whereas for the last few seasons I have. A break from the tedium we had to endure. A rest from writing, reading, and in a way, reliving all the morass Arsene Wenger had created. Not just him I know but it was as far as the football was going and it really was an awful period of time.
But slowly, the dark cloud over London Colney and The Emirates is lifting. The fans are singing again, the stadium is fuller than it was and in general, Arsenal blogs, forums or whatever it is you know them as, appear to be more optimistic about the future of our club. There’s probably a number of fans who are still mourning the loss of their loved one in Arsene Wenger, but in the main, it’s Arsene Who? For the second time.
Granit Xhaka spoke out just a day or two ago, telling us that Emery is improving him. Improving his tactical awareness on the pitch and his positioning during a game. Such an obvious part of the game I’d have thought yet the Swiss midfielder wasn’t too shy to admit he’d needed to improve. Only bodes well for him and his teammates. Us too of course as I’m sure we’d all like to see him become an important player for the team.
Lucas Torreira already is just that. With him in the team, not only do we concede less, but we look better. Far from perfect I know but better. Which brings me to the two traits in the photo above. Positivity without doubt, optimism without fear. The days of believing we’d continue on a downward spiral are fading fast. Winning without being strong in defence, scoring goals with the same players we couldn’t before, smiles from all and positive body language. The photographs on the official Arsenal website of the boys training show the boys are having fun as well as training bloody hard. Put it all together and it’s clear Unai Emery and his team have pretty much worked miracles in a very short space of time.
I know I’ve mentioned the summer signings before but seeing how they’ve not only integrated into the squad but how they’re playing, should give us great hope that more of the same will arrive in the future. Not all, if any will be star names or cost hideous amounts of money but does that really matter? Not in my opinion and it never has been so as much as Stan Kroenke might be considered to be tight having not invested any of his own money in players, I for one couldn’t care less.
The likes of City, Utd and Chelsea will always pay more for a player than clubs like Arsenal. Logic alone suggests that. They are super rich, or in Utd case, don’t seem to care about running the club in the red, and every other club in the world knows it. So when one of those three clubs knock on a door enquiring about one of their players, that potential selling club is rubbing its hands together. True valuation goes out the window. I think so anyway. Whereas Arsenal are known for their frugality and other clubs know there’s probably little point in trying to rip us off.
I think there are few better stories in sport, certainly in football when someone comes out of nowhere. Like Anelka, probably the best example in the game, certainly for Arsenal. I think Mattéo Guendouzi will be another. Ditched by PSG and then nabbed by us from Ligue 2 Lorient and look at him now. Raw yes but he looks like he’ll be the real deal. £7 million. Lucas Torreira, a relatively unknown before the World Cup, £26 million. Bernd Leno, cast aside by his country yet now recalled. £22 million which compared to the money Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City have spent whilst trying to find a decent keeper is peanuts. Obviously Stephan Lichtsteiner has been value for money too. Sokratis Papastathopoulos was signed for just over £17 million, half the amount of Mustafi, yet just starting to prove what a solid defender he is.
Emery, Milisinat, whoever it is now spotting these players and bringing them to Arsenal are doing a good job so far.
Big money signings might look nice on paper, they might show a sign of ambition to those who believe that’s the way to go and they might satisfy the media who believe spending vast amounts of money is the only solution.
Me, well I’d rather a Torreira or Guendouzi any day of the week…
It’s being reported that Unai Emery pulled the plug on Aaron Ramsey’s Arsenal career as he wants to bring players of his own choice. Understandable.
Finally, Laurent Koscielny has called time on his international career which can only be good for his domestic career. Again, understandable as he’s not getting any younger.
Have a good Monday guys, it’ll soon be Friday again..
Why do I keep reading on various news feeds that Ramsey is going to leave in the summer for free? ? ? Surely we could get around 20m plus for him in January. Letting him leave for free is crazy. If true again the club is letting and player mug us off. With an parasite like Kroenke in charge we need every penny for investment plus no way is Ramsey going to give 100% especially nearing the end of the season. Is he really going to risk getting injured and put a lucrative move in jeopardy in the summer.
Good morning Rico, and thank you for making the effort. I’m afraid as far as Arsenal are concerned the International break drags on for another week, not until Monday next do we get to see the boys in action.
In the meantime, however, the girls deserve a big hand for thrashing Chelsea 5 – 0 away from home, very well done ladies.
Cold, wet and overcast here in Norfolk, Autumn has arrived at last.
Stevey, Ramsey said just last week that he will not be leaving in January, if he doesn’t want to be sold the club can’t force him. He will run his contract down and hope for a big signing on fee when he finds a new club.
As that seems to be his plan, in my opinion who should be a permanent, unused, substitute for every match. Half a season of humiliation may dissuade others from doing the same.
He not who!
I looked back to the team that Emery had at Sevilla in the middle of his Europa league hattrick . According to Tranfermarket only 2 players were valued in excess of 10 million . They were Banega and Delofeu both valued at 10.8 million.
This tells us why he was picked by Kroenke . He has a record of success at very little outgoing. His policy which is repeating here is one of building a unit that plays together rather than picking stars from a hat and letting them do their own thing.
He plans for all outcomes and makes changes when it’s required , he doesn’t believe that it will all come out in the wash eventually.
Morning Cicero, all.
Did kroenke really decide who would replace Wenger? Surely that decision was made by someone who knows something about the game? Ivan probably..
Gazidis was the Chief Executive at the time, although the three wise men had already been appointed, so I guess that while Gazidis made the final decision the other three had their say too. No doubt Silent Stan had the key to the piggy bank in his pocket, so his must have had some input.
Afternoon all and thank you Rico.
Sorry, but I have nothing pessimistic to say today . 😆
Well, unless we want to diss Kroenke ! hahaha
Good news today !……………………… a new royal Gooner is to be brought into the world courtesy of Prince Gooner Harry !…………………………….I love the thought of a little Gooner running around Buckingham Palace in his Royal Arsenal kit singing………………….” One hates Totnumb and one hates Tottnumb, one hates Tottnumb and one hates Tottnumb, one hates Tottnumb and one hates Tottnumb, one is a Tottnumb hater !”………………………………”Fcuk off you Spurs!”…………………One loves Royal Arsenal one does…………..one loves Royal Arsenal one does……………………one loves Royal Arsenal one does ………………..oh Royal Arsenal one loves you !
I’m sure he would have rubber stamped the deal for Emery, but I suspect that was his only involvement..
I’ve changed my mind, I’m having a day off tomorrow. This international break has killed all conversations.. 😜
Morning all.
Seems that Sokratis has picked up a sprained ankle in Greece’s 2 -0 defeat in Finland , he was subbed at half time. No prediction on how long he will be out .
Koscielny has retired from international football feeling neglected as Deschamps has not been on the phone twice a week throughout his injury . No doubt he is also missing the soft French tones of his previous manager and is watching his position at Arsenal drift away as Sokratis is becoming the dominant force. Hope his mental strength is not be affected.
Uruguay play Japan today lets hope that Torriera is either not involved or comes through unscathed .
Furthermore today Gabon , Egypt , Armenia and Germany are in action . That puts Aubameyang , Elneny , Mkhitaryan , and Leno in danger . Fingers crossed.
Morning Scott.
Morning Scott, Potter and all.
Thank goodness for Holding then..
Ha ha re Koscielny.
New post up now..
Morning Potter Scott Rico et al.
Watching Ingerland last night, silently on my iPad whilst ‘black earth rising’, (compulsive tv, all about the trials of one of our sponsors, Rwanda.) I digress. I thought the football reminiscent of our recent Fulham game and also Watford! First half brilliant finishing and really rapid movement of the ball brought results, similar to goal. 3 v Fulham, well none were as good as that! But the second half, as with long periods against Watford it was backs to the wall stuff. On the whole goodish defending, well enough at least, to earn the win. New Ingerland = new Arsenal?
Perhaps I’m getting a bit ahead of my self but open expansive, rapid ball movement is definitely the way to go imo.
Koz doing a Toure? Where’s the love? Des champs will give him a kiss when next they meet, the French always do, although more often than not it doesn’t mean much, in relationship terms!
Overcast but dry here, for now.
Morning Wavy. I’d be embarrassed if I was Koscielny…