Daily Bits and Bobs

Who’d have thought it? Arsenal hope to secure free signing, but face a battle.

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Tonight we take on Quarabag at 5:55pm. There’s no Aubameyang, Ramsey or Mkhitaryan in the travelling squad. Ramsey’s wife is due to give birth at anytime apparently so he asked to remain in London, Aubameyang hasn’t felt very well and Mkhitaryan, well we all know why he hasn’t travelled. Apart from the walking wounded which consists of just Cech, Koscielny and Maitland-Niles now, the rest have travelled to Azerbaijan as far as I can make out and Smith-Rowe and Eddie have joined them.

You’d like to think Quarabag won’t cause us too many problems but you just never know in this game, nor with this Arsenal. I think we’d agree that this team won’t roll over though, not anymore. They’ll fight from start to finish in order to get a result. The football might not be spectacular at times but I’m convinced it’ll come, once Emery has had a couple more transfer windows in which to build his own team.

Alex Iwobi is in contention for the Arsenal player of the month award which is something I thought I’d never be writing. Keeping Danny Welbeck is a must I’d have thought and again, that wasn’t my opinion last year. Both have surprised me and it’s great. Great for them and the club and to lose Welbeck in the summer would be a huge disappointment. Sokratis is another, although he wasn’t with us last season obviously but after looking like a really average kind of player signed by Emery, he’s slowly but surely become better and better. In fact I’d say he’s our best central defender by far. Rob Holding. He’s improving, he’s looking more confident and although he’s not played much, so far so good I’d say. Bellerin is the one I’m hoping to see improve, he has as far as his attacking play goes but his defending doesn’t always appear to be his priority. Not a problem when another player is on his wavelength and covers him when he bombs up the wing and sends in a good cross, yes, I mean that, but when there’s no one doing that, we’re vulnerable to the counterattack. It’s similar on the left side. A transfer window or two might be the only way to address both issues, either that or a rod of iron. Lol

As already said, I can’t see Quarabag causing our defence or keeper too many problems. They’ll get chances I’m sure just as they did during both matches against Chelsea last season but my money is on a win for the away team and plenty of goals.

At least it should be. On paper anyway..

More gossip from the backpages..

We are eyeing up a move for Juventus’ Giuseppe Marotta as their new CEO, and according to reports in Italy. Inter Milan and Roma are interested in nabbing him for free too.

Enjoy the game guys…

rico

33 thoughts on “Who’d have thought it? Arsenal hope to secure free signing, but face a battle.”

  1. VCC says:

    Morning All, and thank you rico for yet another fine post.

    I’m adicted to my daily HH, don’t know how you always come up with thought provoking posts. I take my hat off to you.

    Sokratis and Holding looks like our back two central defenders for tonights game. I have my condiments to the ready and hope they will season my hat, as I’m hoping to eat it, AND humble pie. I would love nothing more than to stand up and admit I was wrong with the young man, Holding. Looks like Emery has taken him to Harley street and got the Dr’s to implant a backbone.

    Iwobi lives five miles from me, so I’m chuffed he too is growing a pair and seems to be a new player under Emery.

    Not counting chickens but Mr. Emery has started rekindling my love and enthusiasm for my beloved Arsenal once more. I now get excited on match days once again. Thank you Unai.

    It’s early days but Rome werent built in a day as they say, and The Arsenal are showing signs of having cohones and not rolling over as they did on a regular basis under Wenger in his latter tenure.

    I cant remember too many free transfers that Arsenal have picked up during my 63 years of supporting this wonderful football club, so lets hope the tide is turning and players want to come to The Arsenal once more.

    Emery still has some serious work to do during the next two or three transfer windows. Lets hope he can pick up a bargain here and there because I fear he will have less funds than Arsene Wenger was given.

    There are still bargains to be had, it just takes a keen eye and perseverance.

    I’m away this week, chilling in a cabin in West Sussex. I have a mission this afternoon to try and find a public house with BT Sport. Fingers crossed I find one.

    COYG

  3. Cicero says:

    You’ve done it again Rico another fine post.

    I don’t know much about Quarabag but I’m willing to bet that Emery has done his homework and will have the team well briefed.

    I guess if we do appoint Giuseppe Marotta it means the boy Josh won’t be taking over any time soon. Whoever is CEO must have, as a prerequisite, a wide knowledge of world footballers and football in general, not the job for a Missouri rich boy.

  5. rico says:

    Thanks Cicero. Yes, Emery will know what Quarabag are all about. League winners often I think but then it is a pub league… 😉😉

  7. potter says:

    Team news soon, will have to listen to the first half and watch the second .Working is a bar steward but the money is handy.

  13. rico says:

    Arsenal XI: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Sokratis, Monreal. Guendouzi, Elneny, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Kolasinac, Welbeck.

    Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Lacazette, Ozil, Torreira, Mustafi, Xhaka.

  21. Le Coq Monster says:

    Haven`t seen the game, but let me guess, for the 8th game on the trot we won when we were shit !………….I`ll take the Quintuple by being shit !……. 😆

  23. VCC says:

    I must have watched a different game to you guys. I thought we played decent. Our youngsters were confident and we thoroughly deserved our win. Our defence is still a “Work in progress”

    Made up with my visit to the pub tonight. Bumped into one of my all time favourite players Terry Neil. What a gentleman. Had my photo taken with him, absolutely thrilled.

    Played over 20 games for The Arsenal, managed the club and also Captained his Country. True Legend.

    Wish I could upload the photos.

  26. VCC says:

    200 games of course. Silly me.

    Exactly rico. Whats the chances of that happening. A true Gentleman. Topped up my weeks break with a bang.

  27. potter says:

    I was going to say Neill 20 games ? However he probably only had 20 good ones ,so in a way you were right.Then again having Fumbling Jim Furnell behind him probably affected his play as a centre back . But then Jim was a legend in his own lunchtime.

  28. Cicero says:

    Good morning all,

    I great night for the new boys, debut goals for Sokratis, Guendouzi and Smith-Rowe.

    I can’t go along with the criticism of the defence, a change of personnel added to a change of formation was always going to cause a few problems. Leno showed his mettle and did what good ‘keepers do, made crucial saves.

    Sell Ramsey now, Emil Smith-Rowe is more than ready to take his place.

  29. VCC says:

    Cicero…..my sentiments entirely regarding Ramsey. Sell him and use our youngsters. We still have AMN to come back from injury as well.

    Good night for Gooners.

    Can’t agree with the tag “Only played ” 20 good games. You dont play over 200 games for the mighty Arsenal AND Captain your country and not have something in your locker. I thought he was decent.

  30. rico says:

    Morning Vcc, Cicero and all.

    Agree re Ramsey and I just wish there was a way we could sell Ozil too. He just doesn’t fit into the style of football Emery is trying to get us playing. Great player and all that but…..

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