Morning all.
The news of William Saliba signing a new long term contract at Arsenal could have only been bettered had the club announced Bukayo Saka had done the same but I’m pretty sure that piece of news is just around the corner. So much for all the links to Real Madrid eh and that Saliba could be tempted to move as Arsenal are going nowhere under Mikel Arteta.
Well, Big Willy is staying put for the foreseeable and I’m pretty sure every single Arsenal fan is thrilled to bits. I know I am. The partnership he has with Gabriel is one of the best in the league, if not the best. I happen to think that duo behind them are darned good too.
I feel proud of myself because I first signed in 2019, and now in 2025, I’m still here to extend my contract. I’m so happy. I feel at home. We have a good team, we have a good squad, we have good staff. The coach is perfect for me, so it’s the best place to be. I enjoy every day when I have the chance to wear this shirt. I try to give everything, and now I’ll give even more to this club and to the fans.
Many of us said at the beginning of the summer that whilst new signings were an absolute necessity for squad depth, extending the contracts of players like Saliba, Gabriel and Saka etc was crucial and Saka aside, the club has done both. Done it well too in my opinion.
Mikel Arteta’s players are back in action tonight in the Champions League. It’s our first home fixture of this season’s campaign and it’s against Olympiacos. Arsenal and the current Greek League champions have met a dozen times in European football, each club winning six times. Under Mikel Arteta, the Greek club knocked us out of Europa Cup in what was Mikel’s first venture into European football as a manager. Away goals and a shocking Aubameyang miss from five yards sent us packing right before Covid hit the world for six. The following season, Arteta and Arsenal gained revenge in the same competition.
Now though, both clubs go head to head in the bigger of the three European cups.
I’m sure if the squads of then and now were compared, very few players from the two Europa fixtures remain. Certainly in Arsenal’s case, but that’s football. It’s why previous results between both clubs mean nothing either. Football lives in the here and now and what happens in this game tonight is the only result which matters in this season’s campaign.
I get so bored during a game when the lazy pundits focus on years gone by, rambling on about Arsenal’s history instead of the game they’re watching. Or going on about the last time player x, y or z last scored a goal. Or when Arsenal last won at St James’ Park. Well at least that can be parked now eh…
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
The Greek champions usually line up in a traditional 4-2-3-1, while out of possession they will slip back into a compact 4-5-1 that’s hard to break down. Their full-backs are instructed to advance on the overlap and when Olympiacos do fly forward, they use the full width to create 2v1 overloads on the flanks before whipping crosses into the box, with Francisco Ortega [above] and ex-Wolves man Daniel Podence usually combining well together on the left.
This squad is packed with experienced players – five of their starting XI against Pafos were over 30, in a squad containing 10 players who are at least that age. Despite this, Olympiacos are exceptionally strong late on in matches – all 10 of their league goals this term have come in the second half, and seven in the final 15 minutes. They did labour a little against Pafos, registering just three shots on target despite playing against 10 men for over 65 minutes. They are a strong outfit but sometimes lack guile and creativity.
I’ve no idea who Mikel Arteta will select for his starting lineup tonight but that’s the beauty of having a strong a deep squad. Yes, we are missing 2/3 players, when aren’t we, but we should be too good for Olympiacos. They might be strong towards the end of a game but then so are we. We can be strong from the start too, very strong but the early goals haven’t been coming. They will I’m sure..
Catch up in the comments.
Welcome back Rico, I’m not sure that Arteta will make many changes from Sunday, he’ll want to ensure we win, but plenty of subs.
Morning Kev, all.
Thanks Kev, it’s good to be back.
I think we will start strong and depending on the way things go will bring others in later to rest legs and save any possible discipline problems . The next match is against Atletico Madrid and we will need a full squad for that one and then Bayern Munich and dear Harry.
Following our experience of last year , winning this league is not all important but doing enough to qualify is , so we need to get the points tonight to create a base for later on.
Getting the squad to sign up and supplement it is the way to go , It was always the way of the successful teams of the past perhaps that’s the one thing that has not changed.
BTW :- Welcome back Rico , just take things easy because Covid albeit not as strong as it was originally , has a habit of subsiding and then hanging around in it’s side effects .
Agree Potter, hopefully we’ll get the goals tonight as well as a positive start.
Atletico and Bayern are going to best huge tests I think.
Thanks Potter, this strain is horrid. I know a few people who have had it and it’s knocked them sideways. Put me in bed for 3 days. I will take your advice, not that I have much choice as Covid has stolen my energy.
Good morning all and welcome back Rico.
Covid seems to lurk around the corner waiting to catch the unwary. My winter flu jab and Covid booster are booked for mid October. I’m happy say neither my wife or I have ever caught the evil bug whether that’s through luck or never missing a vaccination when offered I don’t know, but not taking precautions would be an unnecessary risk.
Strong team tonight, get an early goal and run Galatasaray ragged…..I hope😉
Morning Cicero, thanks.
Until now, I’d not had it either.
Ha ha re tonight and Galatasaray..
You can bet the farm on the away section being full and very noisy tonight and most will be locals.
Can’t see that many being at an away game midweek.
All the bubbles living in the city , the kebab shops will short handed tonight.