Morning all.
I saw a clip of this little fella on the news last night. Dubbed ‘the little Messi’ at just the age of six, his football skills are ridiculous. Thankfully though, despite living in Liverpool, he wants to play for Barcelona.
If there are any six year olds dribbling their way around north London, I hope they’re wearing a red and white shirt.
The new season fixtures were announced this morning. No doubt you’ve all picked out key dates like the north London Derby, the trips to Old Trafford, The Etihad, Stamford Bridge and Anfield. The grounds at which we seldom do well. Although in recent years, it’s not just those I’ve listed which have caused Arsenal problems. Aston Villa, Brighton, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Everton, Norwich, Leicester, Sheffield Utd and Watford; all clubs we dropped points against and ultimately, that’s what cost us a top four finish. 27 points dropped on the road against clubs we should be beating. That’s not me being arrogant but squad v squad, Arsenal’s is better. 14 of those 27 points dropped against the clubs above were post Mikel Arteta. Beating Wolves away and Liverpool at home though was an improvement on season’s gone by. Defeating Southampton at St Mary’s was something we didn’t manage under Unai Emery, or Arsene Wenger during his last season or two.
But of course, many of our dropped points under Mikel Arteta came when he first arrived, with a squad devoid of confidence, organisation and discipline. Who honestly believed back then that this team would beat Sheffield Utd in the FA Cup, let alone Man City in the Semi-Final and then Chelsea in what turned out to be our biggest game of the season? To suggest I wasn’t confident would be an understatement. But we did.
Mikel Arteta has been looking back to the day he arrived and how his first eights months in management have gone. He’s been talking to Arsenal Digital:
I could have a sense from the outside what was happening, everything I was reading, the people I had inside the club that could feed me some information. But I think until the day that you walk through that door and start to really feel the energy and what is happening, it’s difficult to predict what the role is that you have to take in terms of the impact you want to make. I was worried, I saw a lot of things that worried me in terms of the unity, the energy that was around the place.
But I must say that straight away in the next few days, I completely felt that something was changing. I must say a big thank you to all the staff for how helpful they’ve been with me since the moment I joined and as well to the players because they really got on board, they changed their attitude straight away.
They started to be together, to train really, really well and paid a lot of attention to what we wanted to do. And obviously to the fans because I was with City [at the Emirates] just a few days before my appointment, and I saw the stadium and what was happening there.
I don’t know about you guys but after Mikel Arteta joined the club, results were a bit of a sideshow. Top four was still possible but in all honesty, not probable. More important than results was improvement. Time for the new manager to form his own opinion on the players he inherited. Who would work with him, who thought they were too good to be taught by a novice. Who would buy into the Arteta game plan, who needed moving on.
And here we are now, FA Cup winners, a place in Europe secured and a transfer window which has already been quite busy. Per Mertesacker has three new players for his academy, Mikel Arteta has added Willian, a player rich in both experience and trophies and if NN etc are to be believed, Gabriel Magalhaes is soon to be a Gooner. Plus, Aubameyang signing a new contract looks likely.
PS. – North London Derby Days.
- Tottenham v Arsenal (December 5)
- Arsenal v Tottenham (March 13)
A trip to Fulham is our first fixture.
See you in the comments guys.
Good morning Rico.
A comment I left just before you put up the new post:- Serge Gnabry had five years under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger at the end of which time he said of the player “He lacks a bit”.
His time at WBA was a disaster and ended with the comment from Pulis “could he do it on a wet Tuesday night at Stoke City”.
I know Scott wont like this but if Wenger couldn’t add that “bit” in five years he must accept some, at least, of the blame for Gnabry’s departure.
The comment by Pulis only goes to show his own limitations, he could see no further than The Potteries whilst the player has moved onto the sunny uplands of European football.
Morning all.
Hi Cicero,
Wenger didn’t coach the youth teams, did he?
I mean, what was he meant to add an injury troubled kid who had massive potential, but was never even close to a regular first team player?
He’s now a man who has experience and maturity and his performances show he’s fulfilled the potential nearly everyone thought he had.
Comparing Gnabry now to Gnabry of 3-4 years ago is hardly relevant, but then, if it supports another stab at Arsene, fill your boots mate.
Hi Rico and all has anyone thought that maybe Serge Gnabry is one of those players who are very late to mature and that’s part of the reason why we sold him in a sense a bit like Guendouzi they have a lot of potential but how long do you wait
Geoff, surely you realise that any player who’s gone on to great things after leaving us was held back by Wenger, and any player who left us and did nothing was ruined by Wenger.
Morning all and thanks Rico, tough start, but every team has to play every team at some point!…………….I`m excited and can`t wait!
As for the Gnasher thing, you can look on newsnow today and read Wenger`s account of the Gnasher episode, it was not Wenger`s fault!…………………he was injured a lot and Arsene wanted him to stay, but he wanted out……………
That was an interesting read, LC.
Morning Cicero, Campbell was another imo. Great talent but never really given an opportunity in the side. He needed playing to improve, as did Gnabry. With Arsenal not someone like Pulis.
Hey Sue, if you want to watch something out of the ordinary watch Blud Brothers League on youtube……………………it`s AFTV, DT and a few more blog teams playing a competion, I got hookede, it brought back memories of playing Sunday League football!……………………..you haven`t got to like Robbie, DT and crew to to watch!………………..I watched the pre-season not so friendly games and now on episode 3 of about seven I think……..of the league!…………..some good players with some good tekkers aswell!…………………Troy Deeney turns up as a mate of DT`s in one pre-season episode, he`s quite down to earth!.
Hi Geoff, I just think he got fed up with waiting. Had he gone on loan to a different club than one managed by Pulis, perhaps he wouldn’t have been as disheartened.
Still, all water under the bridge now, just like all those other players who we ‘could have signed’.
Scott, the reason the Wenger comments will always come up is because he was like family. If you have ever fallen out with a family member, it hurts much more than anyone else. We lived through the years of success, we belonged, and everything was great. Then later, year after year, things changed, he couldn’t take criticism, became distant from many fans and couldn’t see the obvious when his time was up, nor could his bosses. With Emery, few criticise, or feel much at all, we just accept he was not up to the job. I personally am hurt that the memory of Wenger is clouded, but it was his own doing, and that’s the tragic thing.
I don’t want to labour the Gnaby thing , it’s water under the bridge now…………. but . :- …he was injured a lot and Arsene wanted him to stay, but he wanted out…………… end of!…
He would say that wouldn’t he . It was never in his nature to say “” I cocked it up “”
It is churlish to labour the point and point fingers at a man who did so much for us , but on this occasion I think he got it 100% wrong.
Andrew,
There were several factors at play imo yet he’s blamed for anything and everything.
He played a part, but I can’t agree it was his own doing.
Great way of putting it Andrew.
Nice one, Rico!
Haha, Cicero, I’ll try harder next time 😉🤣
Thank, Le Coq, will have a butchers 😉
Fulham v Arsenal.. the ‘London Calling’ derby.. I can’t wait!!
Very classy!…………………..obviously imo!…………………..especially KT with the Tescos bag!
😆
https://twitter.com/adidasfootball/status/1296356473388376064
Now who do I believe ?…………………………Potter with his Arsenal connections or Arsene Wenger just telling the truth! hahaha
Nice of you could show my …….”end of” bit though Potter as it must have been edited for some reason I cant think why!
Not that keen on the new away kit… looks like something from the Walking Dead… 🤣
Trust me, LC 🙂 🙂
It’s bloody awful Sue-pardon the pun lol
Seems like someone’s 5 year old designed it lol
Let’s not forget that when David Devin left, Arsene Wenger made all the big decisions. He said that himself I’m sure.
Rico, there was nobody else remotely capable.
Scott some people just can’t play under certain coaches I know when I played Aussie rules I never played my best under a soft coach but if they were tough and strict it always brought the best out of me
I quite like the raspberry ripple shirt!………………….they dont show the shorts or sock though………..or do they ?
Geoff, Yep, that’s true.
Gnabry just had so many little injury issues with us-I reckon that’s what held him back more than anything else.
He always looked like a kid with us, even carrying some puppy fat but look at him now-he’s a specimen and a half.
Houssem Aouar Rumours hotting up. As are the Lacazette departing ones.
Of course Scott!………………….you are in my net/web/virtual inner circle!…………………The Magic Mikel Inner Circle!……………………..you can join, Sue! hahaha
Sue, has went to my in-house expert (Sean) and agrees with you, Partey is a beast!!!
How are we looking on that front???
Raspberry Ripple LC?
What have we become hahahah
Rico, apparently we’ve offered cash plus Guendouzi.
Seems a good player and the right age, but already with good experience.
I read that too Scott. Lyon aren’t easy to deal with from what I’ve read.
Have you seen him, Rico?
I thought it was Hugo Loris lol
Arseblog give the Aouar rumour a 💩💩💩💩💩 on the Poo-O-Meter, I thinks that out of ten as they said it was a sitting on the fence mark!
I will give it a 👅👅👅👅👅 out of 10 on my original Transfer Window Licking Scale…………………more classy than a Poo-O-Meter!……………………..my scale works in reverse as the more “licks” the more ridiculous the rumour!………………………one “lick” and we`ve got it Licked!………………..it`s a dead cert! hahaha
I would have liked Aouar more if he hadn’t lost the ball so many times about 3 yards outside his own box while trying to dribble out through a pack of attacking players. That stuff will kill you in the PL.
Who Scott? Houssem Aouar? If so, nope, hadn’t heard of him before reading NN. Lol
All my opinion though as I`m not Ornstein! as Auba signing a new contract gets a 👅 and the Magalhaes rumour a 👅
What position does he play Adam?
Yep Rico.
I had to look three times-could be his twin!!!
I’d not heard of him until you posted so I’m further behind again hahahaha
Adam, it’s a different level of pressure in the PL-catches players out all the time and plenty never adapt.
Edu is reported to have made a cash plus Guendouzi offer for Houssem Aouar but it was immediately rejected by Lyon.
He’s a midfielder Rico. Plenty of ball skills, likes a dribble, leaves his foot in. Looks decent if not overwhelming at the moment. But I guess more experienced eyes have marked his potential.
I looked out for him, especially over the last 2 games.
I can see the similarity Scott.
Why are we getting involved in deals for attacking midfielders when our greatest need is for a defensive, box-to-box midfielder?
Thanks Adam. If we get him, I can’t see Ceballos returning.
Cicero,
I reckon DM is the priority so I’m with you there, but we do need some creativity in the middle, as well imo
Will Ceballos be back?
I have no idea at all lol
We might not be Cicero, it’s pure newspaper talk at the moment and we know how reliable they are. Not. I agree re the Holding/defensive midfielder.
‘WE’VE TOLD HIM WHERE WE THINK HE SHOULD GO’
Lille president Gerard Lopez has revealed that the club have reached the same agreement with Arsenal and Napoli over the future of Gabriel Magalhaes, leaving it up to the player to decide.
Lopez told talkSPORT: “I think he has narrowed it down. I think it is fair to say that Arsenal are high interest to him. Napoli is high interest to him. I don’t think I am giving up too much if I tell you that choice is going to be made probably between today or tomorrow.
“We’ve told him where we think he should go.”
If it is true that we are chasing the Lyon midfielder it can only mean Ceballos is not returning and that would be a really big loss.
Afternoon Rico, check out Omari Hutchinson when he was a young teenager, he’s just moved up from the U16’s into the U18’s this summer.
Afternoon Kev, just have on YouTube. What a talent he looks.
I don’t think we will sell Guendouzi it seems no one wants to do a swap with him and the only side that want him claim he is worth 10 million less than we are asking
Have we found a new serge Gnarbry, according to the story Per Mertesacker got arsenal to sign 19 year old Tim Akinola for free from Huddersfield town with out even having a trial it appears Per has seen some thing that no one else did as his old coach said I was surprised that Arsenal wanted him
It’s early days in the transfer window, we’ve got until October 5th (?) to move players on, move on Elneny and Mkhitaryan and that’s a start, then Sokratis and once Aubameyang has signed we could move on Lacazette. Get Ceballos on loan again with an agreement to sign him next summer for an agreed price. Everything else will gradually fall into place.
Is Aouar really what we need?
I don’t think he is Kev, seems an odd one if we get him. £44m is his value according to transfer market.
It’s seems that the media is coming up with all kinds of swap deals involving Guendouzi just to wind us up and to generate clicks Rico, it’s what they do.
The news about AMN is just what I wanted to hear Rico, funny that it’s surfaced since Raul left?
Geoff, I don’t think that Akinola is a winger, I think you’ll find that he’s more of a def/mid, just check out the video that Rico posted.
I try and steer clear Kev. What will be will be. Really hope the AMN stuff is true though.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XM2Mqc2K_NI
Thanks for the video Rico he looks pretty quick, Kev yep more a central midfielder I must of mist read what position he plays but he seems worth the punt
I think that Raul used to call it outsmarting the market…
https://www.arsenal.com/fixtures
Omari……………………..
Some more Omari……………….
Yes LC, I saw the first one a few years ago, he certainly has all the tricks but the 2nd one is notable because he’s cut out some of the tricks and is developing very nicely, let’s hope that he doesn’t have Wilshere ankles…
just have to hope they don’t get targetted then .
Yes Kev`………………..he has the skills if needed, just seen a 24 minute video of him being interviewed in lockdown, well grounded boy and last question said he wanted to be playing for Arsenal and England in 10 years time!
All three of our young signings are worth taking the chance on imo, even if just one makes it, it’ll be money well spent. Or were they free? 😆
Cracked me up how the chavs ripped it out of us for signing Willian – he’s past it at 32, he’s seen better days they said…. it now turns out they’re after Thiago Silva on a one year deal with an option of a second… and he’s 35… I guess he’ll be far from past it 🙄 haha!
I still like it!
https://twitter.com/442oons/status/1296387981750738949
Must admit, I like the away kit too.
Sue, even funnier is they tried to sign Willian for another 2 years 🙂
Just saw Gnabry in a press conference, where he was asked why he thinks he’s improved so much in recent years.
He has put in the hard work, and has had time to develop-his words.
As I said earlier, the boy has become a man.
Damn shame he left us, though, no question.
NN headlines suggest Man Utd are trying to hijack the Gabriel deal.
If Gabriel wants to come Arsenal then that’s great, if he doesn’t then w3 jus5 move on.
Frankly the whole saga is getting boring now.
Fat fingers
Scott.. it is hilarious!!
I’ve just had my MAFS fix 😉
Glad Sean (your son?) agrees about Partey being a beast, let’s hope we get him!
https://mobile.twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1296552642269806592
Well, blow me down, is that a smile???!!! Haha!!
Sue, I ask Sean because he follows football around the world, where I watch Arsenal games and that’s pretty much it lol
Rico/Kev, we see this every bloody year, don’t we lol
Will he, won’t he, has he, hasn’t he?
Best reality tv show on earth is the TW hahaha
I suppose it’s naive of us to think any player with ability only has us chasing him but it’s easy to get caught up when all the reports are it’s almost a done deal.
not sure what is worse Arsenal being very slow to sill deal’s or the transfer market open far to long
Auba announcement today???
Gabriel too hopefully Sue.
New post up now