Morning all.
Arsenal players and staff will be wearing a black armband today, in memory of Head Groundsman, Steve Braddock, who after a long illness, has passed away. An Arsenal fan through and through, joined the club back in 1987 after being in the right place at the right time and during a conversation with George Graham, the Scotsman said he was looking for a new groundsman. The rest as they say, is history. I knew the turf at Highbury was considered to be one of the best back in its day so it was no surprise to read that Steve had won numerous Premier League Pitch of the Season awards, ‘Turf’s Top Influencer’ in 2019, and in 2020 he became only the second person in history to enter the Grounds Management Association’s Hall of Fame. (Arsenal.com) I can only echo the message from Arsenal FC, my thoughts are with Steve’s wife, their daughters, and all family and friends.
I don’t know about you guys but when death hits someone younger than me, it makes me realise how precious life is and that we’re here for a good time rather than a long time.
New summer signing Marquinhos isn’t going out on loan as first thought. He’s staying with the first team which I personally feel quite pleased about. He looks like a strong lad who’ll cope with the physicality of the Premier League and the Europa League. He’s just been called up to the Brazil under 20 squad too. Having him, Fabio Vieira, ESR, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney and Cedric Soares available will be a huge boost for team and Mikel Arteta. We’ve yet to see Mikel Arteta use all five of the substitutions he has available on a match day but now he has more options available, that might change.
On the 8th September, our Europa Cup campaign kicks off and the fixtures are going to come fast and furious, especially as there’s the World Cup as the League Cup to come into play before the festive fixtures. Rest, rotation, squad management is going to be more crucial than ever before, especially if we’re to better last season’s fifth place finish.
It’s only two games but so far so good. Only ourselves and Man City have maximum points which I know means little so early in the season but at least we’ve got a tricky away fixture against Patrick Vieira’s team out the way already, just another 18 away fixtures to go. Lol
Bournemouth will be a tough opponent I’m sure. Man City beat them 4-0 last weekend at The Etihad but on the opening day of the season, Scott Parker’s team beat Aston Villa 2-0 at The Vitality Stadium so they’ve clearly got something about them. Bournemouth’s stadium is a bit like Highbury. Small, fans close to the pitch, albeit not the 60 odd thousand other Premier League clubs can house but even so, it’ll probably sound like there is, after all, this is just their second home fixture since being promoted in May and fans will be full of optimism.
Mikel Arteta:
It will be a really tough match. I’ve been there many, many times, I know how tough it is, and I know to expect the atmosphere to be hectic. It’s a team that is used to winning because last year they had a really successful season, and they’ve started well this season. I know Scott Parker very, very well and I know they’re going to make it a really difficult game for us.
Two-and-a-half years have gone by since Mikel Arteta managed his first game at Arsenal and funny enough, that game was against tonight’s opponents and away from home. The game ended 1-1 but boy have things changed since then as just four players from the starting eleven that day are still at the club. Bukayo Saka, Granit Xhaka, Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Aaron Ramsdale was in goal for Bournemouth.
My money is on the same starting eleven as last week but a different scoreline to the 1-1 back in 2019.
Enjoy the game guys..
From yesterday’s post with a slight leaning to this one .
Probably Cicero and now Rico an unchanged 11 I would think ,
It comes to something when the first comment on the game is regarding the PGMOL’s match fixers.. The more that you look at decisions and not just ours you have to wonder just how even and on the level they are, Can there really be so much diversity in their decision making ? Is it just poor leadership from the top or is there corruption ?
Are they encouraged to provide their sponsors with controversy to keep the media pot boiling and keep the interest going from week to week or is it purely a case of far eastern gambling lords influencing them to enable them to fleece their hapless punters.
It’s either all of the above or ineptness whichever way it goes , something has to change.
In the interests of clarity, I’ve reposted this from yesterdays comments :- ‘morning all. A lovely one here in sunny and warm Norfolk.
According to the manager all but one of the squad are available for selection this evening, the exception being Nelson who has a muscle problem.
Craig Lawson is the ref, I don’t like him..but then I don’t like any of the PGMOL muppets, the VAR is Tierney, so I’m not expecting any favours from tonight’s officials.
An unchanged starting eleven tonight?
We should have a three way WhatsApp group Cicero & Potter, it’d be easier. 😂
The mistakes made by the officials are so obvious, something other than just having a bad day must be going on.
Morning Rico and all
Considering what happened last weekend in-regards to the referees all refs should raise there game this weekend knowing that the media and coaches will be watching
You can have my number if you want it ( OOH Matron )
We have a grandchild’s birthday party this afternoon/ evening so my son and I may have to kind of disappear for a couple of hours . Don’t think it will be too popular .
But if it has to be done , so be it..
Lets hope it’s a day to remember.
WhatsApp? Wosthat? 😉
Morning Geoff, hasn’t made a difference in the past though.
Ha ha Potter.
You’ll be popular, not. Lol
Don’t know Cicero, I read about it during WagathaChristie.. 😅
That too is a mystery to me. 😉
Most are… lol
Afternoon rico, all. Neighbours BBQ at 3.30, put match on record, but hope to nip back unnoticed for a few hours😀.
Spurs looking ineffective at moment, Nunes just missed by inches!
Wow AON, Arteta at half time in W Ham game, screaming in Tavares face, bending up and down like John Cleese, pacing up and down, hilarious!
Afternoon Andrew, hope you escape. Lol
Not watched that episode yet, I’m up to the defeat at Emirates v Liverpool. Must say, I’m enjoying the series.
The same team of last week should start, may be we change after control of the game in second half other wise we are not ready for disappointment. I’m giving 3-0 win to Arsenal.
Same starting eleven..
Bournemouth: Travers, A. Smith, Mepham, Lerma, Kelly, Zemura, Billing, Senisi, Pearson, Tavernier, Moore. Subs: Neto, Stacey, Hill, Cook, Marcondes, Christie, Anthony, Lowe, Dembele
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus. Subs: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Elneny, Sambi, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nketiah.
As I expected, an unchanged starting eleven.
It would be nice to get an unchanged result.
Time is going slow I’m struggling to stay awake, some good results in other matches and I don’t mean the cricket
Great start let’s keep going
We’re definitely morphing into Man City. 😆
You couldn’t hope for a more comfortable first half, an early goal backed up by a second, and almost total control. My one fear is will Ramsdale get bored and lose concentration?
So far we’ve seen no glaringly wrong decisions from Mr. Pawson, we must wait and see if he has been got at by his bosses at half-time.
I’m particularly pleased with Odegaard’s performance, after his first two games I was wondering if perhaps The Curse of the Arsenal Captaincy may have struck again. Two goals, some very tidy possession and some lovely passing is doing much to dispel my worries.
Now we need a quick start to the second half and regain control of the game.
One day we will learn to put games to bed . One goal from them and we are on the back foot again
Nice goal by Saliba but Ramsdale another stupid mistake nearly cost us a goal
Xhaka subbed, yet another game without a booking. 😉
Clean sheet, three goals, three points, top of the league.
Great win great start to the season better steel we are starting to win away from home.
Have a great night all, It’s 4:30am I’m off to bed
Night Geoff.
That was all a bit easy wasn’t it… 😂
Sneaked off , crept back at the finish. Atmosphere a bit iffy but a few mojitos later and the world is improving.
Pretty good all round performance, Ramsdale had a “moment” but got away with it as did Partey. I think with both of them it’s a concentration thing.
When Tierney is fully fit I would like to see him back in the team with Zinchenko playing midfield in place of Partey. I think he would fit in pretty well.
Good night Gooners…everywhere. 😴
Arteta needs to speak to Ramsdale, his silly mistakes will cost us a match or worse still a trophy one day. We look much better now we are not always playing out from goal.
Morning all.
New post up now