Morning all.
What a great weekend of sport we have in store. It’s the Wimbledon Finals over the next two days, the Euros and Copa America Cup Final, a second ODI between England and Pakistan and the Tour de France cycles on. Love it.
I hate it when Wimbledon ends as I feel like someone trying to kick an addiction. One day it’s all, the next it’s nothing. But, at least Arsenal’s pre-season fixtures kick off next week so that’s something to look forward to and of course, the cricket season is in full flow. Then it’s the Olympic Games.
The best part of the Euros coming to end is the transfer window might now gather pace. For Arsenal fans, I think it’s fair to suggest that we’re waiting to see if a deal for Ben White can be done. There’s been a few headlines suggesting Man City and Chelsea hope to beat Arsenal in the race to sign him but if he wants regular first team football as he’s been used to at Brighton, there’s only one club to join in my opinion.
One person who has committed his future to the club is 19 year old Arthur Okonkwo. Arsenal FC announced yesterday that he’d has signed a new long-term contract with the club and will be in the first-team squad. Excellent news I think. Reports in the media suggest an agreement with Kido Taylor-Hart is very close too. Hopefully, the next contract extension signed will be Emile Smith Rowe’s.
In other Arsenal news, despite having ‘cringe’ written all over it, is Amazon and the club linking up for another series of ‘All or Nothing’ – they’ll be far more silverware on show than the previous documentary on the Toots! I guess there’ll be a few pennies heading Arsenal’s way for agreeing this deal. From the official website:
All or Nothing: Arsenal will take our fans behind the curtain during a crucial season as we focus our efforts on challenging for domestic success and returning to elite European competition.
As well as capturing the highs and lows of life at the Emirates Stadium and our training centre, the All or Nothing cameras will follow our squad away from the pitch to examine the daily challenges faced by elite athletes, the work we do in our local and global communities and what connects the Arsenal family and our special club.
Will you watch it? Of course you will. I will.
In the media, reports suggest Arsenal have finally agreed a deal with Anderlect to sign Albert Sambi Lokonga. He’s reportedly had a medical in Belgium and he’ll travel to England when after a period of self isolation, he’ll join up with the rest of the players for pre-season training. Nuno Tavares is already in England according to headlines on NN and going through the self-isolation period.
Another headline which has popped it’s head up again relates to Ruben Neves. A deal for the 24 year old Wolves player is back on. He’s certainly younger than Granit Xhaka, but is he any better? Or simply better suited to the role Mikel Arteta wants him to play?
See you in the comments…
Morning Rico.
Go Ash Barty 🙂
I doubt any tennis fan wouldn’t love Ash.
What a champion lady she is, and obviously a fantastic player.
Neves v Xhaka-well, Xhaka the ant going to get any better, and as much as I’ve liked him, he lacks the yard of pace to be a true star in England so his time is up.
Is Neves better?
I’ve only seen him a couple of times so I’ll leave the comparisons to others.
Morning Scott, Hobart, Cicero, Kev, Adam, all.
I want Pliskova to win Scott. 😂
Very sad about Paul Mariner…
The crucial aspect of the pivot position is the speed of progression. Xhaka tends to dwell on the ball and defer responsibility for the pass to the defenders a little too often for my liking.
As long as Neves does this better and faster he’ll be an upgrade.
Hobart, I think he does from the little I’ve watched him.
Why is arsenal doing a deal for so long, common do a deal
Good morning all.
Sad news about Paul Mariner. Died from brain cancer aged 68. RIP.
Morning All, yeah RIP Paul Mariner, what a great centre forward he was, a major part of a fantastic Ipswich Town team under Bobby Robson, we tried for years to buy so many of their players, Whymark, Beattie, Talbot (who we got for a then club record transfer fee of £450,000) and then Mariner, who in truth was past his best when came to Arsenal. He still played a few times for England whilst an Arsenal player but that was a time when we had a team of big time Charlie players and blew hot n cold – George Graham got shot of them when he took over in 1986….
It’ll all be completed over the next couple of weeks I reckon Rico, both Tavares and Lokonga are self isolating in London somewhere – probably Annabelles 😉
Ha ha Kev. Let’s hope not. Lol
Good point Adam, not only Neves imo. Wolves had a number of players who looked very good for Wolves but last season they dipped in a big way. Maybe they simply got bored of Nuno’s ways.
Morning Rico. It’s easy to forget what a talent Neves appeared to be when he first broke onto the scene. He looks as if his career has waned at Wolves and needs a new challenge with a more ambitious coach perhaps. Xhaka looks much better in a low-pressure Swiss team than he has for Arsenal, although this last season was good for him. For me the issue is a little broader and it just looks like time for him and a rather stale Hector to leave with thanks from the club and the supporters. Whether Mikel can rebuild his midfield around Partey remains to be seen, but I don’t see why not. Faster and more forward progression through the team is certainly appealing and some midfield guile would be welcome.
I still have this nagging feeling about our strikers though. Something not right there.
As far as Neves is concerned that transfer has never got my juices flowing, so I’m not too bothered about signing him or not.
Now Bissouma! That’s different gravy as Lee would say.
I’m actually really looking forward to see Lokonga play for us if he arrives. He’s the exact kind of deal we’ve be3n crying out for I reckon.
I have only watched Wolves on MOTD and when they have played us and despite hearing things about Neves I have never really thought that he stood out. Traore and Neto were more prominent but they are more classed as forwards more than midfield.
Still like Tavares he is Portugese not African so we won’t lose them at the same time as Elneny , Partey and Pepe for the African nations but if we are seriously trying for Lokatelli ? do we really need him ?
Is it one or the other ?
Neto looks quite good Rico and I do like his chain of supermarkets…
I’ll get me coat.
I’ll fetch it for you Kev. Lol
Tavares is official, Apparently.
Yep.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/welcome-nuno-tavares-joins-us-benfica
Technical director Edu said: “Nuno is a talented young player who was wanted by a number of clubs across Europe. He will provide strong back-up in the left-back position. We look forward to him growing and developing with us and becoming an important member of the first-team squad.”
Manager Mikel Arteta said: “We welcome Nuno to the club. He is a young player with great promise who has developed very well with Benfica in recent seasons and has also shown his quality by being part of Portugal Under-21s. Nuno’s arrival will give the squad extra strength and options in defence, particularly with this energy on the left side of the pitch. We look forward to Nuno’s arrival soon, his integration into the Arsenal family and playing in front of our fantastic supporters.”
The young defender will join up with his new team-mates in the coming days after he has travelled from Portugal and completed the current isolation regulations for international arrivals into the UK. Nuno will wear the number 20 shirt.
Hi Rico… could’ve done with the darts to make the perfect weekend haha!
Nuno is official now… welcome to the Arsenal!
Hi Sue, is darts a sport? 😜
One Birmingham paper is reporting that Villa have abandoned their chase of ESR as they believe he is about to sign a new contract at Arsenal.
About time…
Rico, darts gives us all hope of a late sports career bahahaha
Or something to look back on Scott… lol
Excellent suggestion Potter..
It depends on whether or not you play the game, Rico.
I played for the team from my locally pub and for an ex-serviceman’s team, we treated it as a game and enjoyed the rivalry with other pubs and clubs. It certainly wasn’t a “sporting” event at a couple of very competitive locations.
Eventually a combination of tarted up pubs and the breathalizer largely put an end to the leagues.
I did too Cicero, darts and pool. Loved it.
Maybe now that Villa have given up on ESR perhaps we should put in a £25 million bid for Grealish. and then feed the papers that we might come back with a higher bid just before the window closes.
Cicero , Our village pool and darts team went the same way as the leagues disbanded . You could always spot the designated drivers though as they were the only ones to play the last darts legs because they could still see the board and the pool players were mostly which of these two balls do I hit with these three cues.
Rico I agree with you about Lokonga as I said a while ago he looks very good but may need a season to settle in but the good thing is he has been coached by Vincent Kompany
You did Geoff..
Rico,
I went okayed competition darts in my early 20’s and loved it.
I was only half decent, but on my 21st, guy absolutely blind and had to play a guy unbeaten in 3 years of that comp.
Needless to say I destroyed him and can’t remember one but if it to this day lol
I saw him a few weeks later and said I just couldn’t miss.
Funny, I said, I couldn’t remember lol
We played a team of ex-Pat Englishmen who were simply nature’s gentleman.
All in their 50’s, 60’s.
Lovely, lovely men.
Hahaha Rico! I don’t think so… still love watching/playing it though.
When I first started there were so many teams in various leagues, played 3 nights a week… and that feeling when you beat a man – priceless 😆 Now just down to 1 league with 6 teams! Am partial to a game of pool also.. and a pint of the good old amber nectar 😉
Anyway, good post, btw. I’m beginning to wonder if Xhaka will ever depart!! As for Neves, don’t know a great deal about him.. have read mixed reviews, but as you say, he’s 24 (& not 34!!) so that’s one good thing
Thanks Sue. I know the feeling when beating men at darts, I’m lucky enough to have experienced it many times and loved it…
Any pub game for me, bar crib. Lol
Nuno Tavares confirmed by Arsenal and Benfica.
Wolwes may want to sell Bruno Neves to buy Palhinha (Sporting)
Paul Mariner – a caption with the number 9.
And what about Cavendish, rico?
Rico: Have you signed the petition for next Monday?
What petition Jm?
Plus… 10m for the All or Nothing documentary.. we couldn’t say no, could we? And yes, I will be engrossed in it!!
One Hundred and Eight-tee…
The Crafty Cockney, The Power, you can’t beat a bit of the old darts…
And the dodgy Jocky Wilson twitch Kev… lol
I love it Kev!!!!
I thought Darts competition were big in England, I remember as a kid a TV show called wide world of sports used to show it from England
Geoff, it’s growing steadily in popularity around the world.
The past 18 months has seen it slow down of course, but it’s booming overall.
Go Ash Barty.
Great start but it’s early doors.
Darts is huge here, Geoff..
Girl power hey, Rico! Love it 🙂
2.42 Sue. 👍🏻👍🏻
Old Stone Face (John Lowe),, Bobby George. Both still alive.
I wouldn’t say it’s huge Sue certainly since matchroom dropped out . There are the two competitions at the Ally Pally but that’s it really.
As we were saying earlier , dartboards and pool tables are disappearing from pubs , Landlords are using the space for more tables to serve food.
There are so many tournaments on throughout the year, Potter. Whether they’re on Sky, ITV4 or even the PDC channel. All sell outs! Totally different to when I first took an interest in it – Waiting for January to watch the Lakeside on BBC!! 😄
Up next the the world matchplay in Blackpool..
Definitely passed me by , Although I believe it was heavily promoted to take over from snooker when that bubble burst.
Absolutely, Potter. You can even buy replica shirts (£50!!) Don’t think I’d look good in a Gerwyn Price one with a six-pack on it though haha!!
Exhibitions (which I love).. the ‘sport’ has certainly come a long way!!
One hell of a tennis match.
So much pressure forces simple shots to become errors.
Go Ash!!!
Well played Ash Barty.
Rico, I think they both felt the pressure, and Ash probably just handled it a tiny bit better but it was great to watch!!
Could’ve gone either way.
I think you’re right Scott. I’m glad it wasn’t just a one way final.
Scott I got a bit worried near the end of the second set but Barty managed to do it . I don’t normally like watching tennis but enjoyed this match and to think she is only going to get better.
Rico, early on it seems as though Pliskova was a nervous wreck, and it could’ve been a demolition but she did really well to get herself into the game.
Lots of momentum shifts.
Geoff, it was a nervous watch lol
Such a quality lady, and Pliskova spoke beautifully as well.
Yes Scott, which was a shame. Not the best women’s final I’ve ever watched though.
Scott. Credit to both players but Barty is a good roll model for young kids
Geoff, she is one quality human being.
It’s been a good Wimbledon for the Aussie with Barty winning the ladies singles and Dylan Alcott winning the men’s quad wheelchair final
Rico, not even close, quality wise-it was quite average, but the spectacle was fantastic as the pressure showed.
It wasn’t anywhere near as bad, but at times it reminded me of Ivanisevic v Rafter.
Geoff the Wimbledon’s trophies are COMING HOME 🙂
rico, to be a holiday on Monday, if England wins the Euro.
I didn’t Jm, it’s a day off for me anyway. Lol
Win or lose a holiday is pointless. We have at least half the population on full time holiday. Either working from home of on furlough. With pubs and restaurants still restricted by Covid regulations, social distancing and mask wearing what sort of holiday atmosphere will be possible.
Patrick Vieira is looking to his old club to bring in Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace.
Not sure that Palace will want to pay the kind of fee that Arsenal will want so unless we can loan him to Palace with an obligation to buy him next summer then a deal seems unlikely.
Messi’s International hoodoo has finally ended!! 1-0 to Argentina…
Sue, he deserved that.
I laugh at people who downplay his reputation because he had not won a big trophy.
The guy is a freak.
Morning all.
Quiet day today????
Good Morning everyone
Martinez has helped Messi and co lift the copa america.
And for the first time ever, incredible as it may seem, Brazil have lost a game in which Casemiro played.
Martinez played well. And has played all the Argie games. Unlike Leno who did not play for Germany but warmed the bench.
Totally agree, Scott. The guy is phenomenal..
Hahaha the whole country is buzzing!!
Morning Devil.
Sue, I can imagine.
I hope the result goes your way!!!
Lokonga is a done deal £14.9 million plus add ons. Announcement will be made after the player completes quarantine.
Cicero, good news!!!
The reports are pretty bloody good on the lad!!!
Morning all.
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/07/11/more-than-a-left-back-lokonga-deal-done-too/