Morning all.
Its World Cup semi-final day. Excited? Me neither but just for the heck of it, I hope Morocco beat France. A Croatia v Morocco final would be good in my opinion because the French cheated their way through the quarter final and I’m sick and tired of hearing and reading about Messi. There’s more to the competition than just him and Ronaldo!
England might need to search for a new manager as reports in the media suggest Gareth Southgate is considering calling it a day. As good as Southgate has been for the country, I think he’s been a bit too conservative and some of his substitutions have been weird. Taking Bukayo Saka off against France, unless he was knackered etc, was bonkers. I’m not complaining as an Arsenal fan but as an England fan, he looked the most likely to help us win the game. Still, it’s history now and he’ll soon be back with his Arsenal family.
The question the media are asking is should Southgate step down, does his successor need to be English. I think so but unless Eddie Howe can be prised away from Newcastle Utd or Graham Potter from Chelsea, who is there capable of taking England to another level? Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard?
I had to chuckle when I saw that Liverpool played Lyon the other day and got thrashed yet we thumped them with a second string of players and a number of under 23 players. Not only did Liverpool lose but during training for the game, Luis Diaz suffered another injury. Jurgen Klopp described it as a “proper smash in the face”. I feel sorry for the player as I wouldn’t wish injury on any footballer but no-one ever feels sorry for Arsenal when our players suffer injuries so I don’t feel sorry for Klopp or Liverpool.
Arsenal take on AC Milan later today in the second of three friendly fixtures in Dubai. Bacary Sagna paid his old teammate a visit yesterday and after exchanging pleasantries with Mikel Arteta, Edu and a number of players, training got underway. Matt Turner, Thomas Partey and Ben White were involved.
There’s a great piece about Oleksandr Zinchenko on Sky Sports, it goes like this:
Somewhere in the Shakhtar Donetsk media archives, there’s a video of a 14-year-old academy player showing off his skills, when someone asks him to reveal his career dream. The young boy was Oleksandr ‘Alex’ Zinchenko and he said the ultimate objective was to play for Arsenal. The next day, a Shakhtar club official approached him.
“We need to film it again because the club is going to sack you!'” recalls Zinchenko in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports a decade later. “They told me: ‘just say you want to play for Shakhtar, not Arsenal!’ It was so funny, I need to find that video!”
Further into the interview, Zinchenko talked about Gabriel Jesus and the impact his absence might have on the team. Of course the team are going to miss him but our left back was quick to point out that Mikel Arteta has Eddie Nketiah in reserve.
We are all behind him and supporting him, of course it’s a big miss for our team. The impact of what he’s doing for the club is amazing. I’ve known him for a while and he’s a big warrior and I’m 100 per cent sure he will be much, much stronger. Since I came here, [Nketiah] has been amazing. Honestly, even watching him last season, I was surprised a lot because the ability and quality he has is incredible. He has an amazing potential and future for sure. The way he works so hard, I have no doubts about him. For sure, he’s going to help the team as much as he can and he understands the pressure now a little bit. He should realise how important he will be for the rest of the season.
I’m pretty sure the rest of the Arsenal squad will feel the same about Nketiah because last season, when he was needed, he stepped up and scored goals. I certainly don’t doubt him, but Arsenal’s problem in my opinion is going to be in the FA Cup, Europa Cup and the number of Premier League fixtures which have to be squeezed into five months. What happens if Nketiah picks up an injury?
On that happy note…..
Good lad Oleg.
England out at the QF stage and all I’m reading is how they have progressed. Finalists at Euro ’20 & SF at WC ’18. Doesn’t sound like progress to me.
Southgate is an average manager. He follows the Hodgson doctrine of caution in the face of a threat. Playing Rice and Henderson in midfield is a perfect example. He is more concerned about losing the game than winning it. I expect he’ll be there in 4 years time then get a job in the Championship.
Anyway, who cares? All the football amateurs can pack away their too tight, bad smelling England tops and tin foil world cups for the next 4 years. Roll on the real footy starting again in 2 weeks…
Good morning Rico,
Nice to read about Zinchenko’s boyhood ambitions, let’s hope they take him, and Arsenal, further in the future.
As to the England job, in my view its anybody but the two big name ex players who have signally failed to shine in their attempts at management. Gerrard’s only claim to managerial success was in the two horse race laughingly called The Scottish Premiership. Whilst Lampard, having served only half of his apprenticeship at Derby County before jumping ship to take over at Chelsea where he was promptly sacked only to be given a chance at Everton where he is working hard at getting the club relegated.
If those two serial losers are the best the FA can come up with, the whole bunch should seriously consider committing hara kiri.
Bright and sunny here in Norfolk but bloody cold.
Hey Kev it looks like you could be busy soon, the government are considering using taxis to take people needing an ambulance to hospital. Better look out you Boy Scout first-aid badge. 😉
Morning Pete, Cicero.
Re England, getting it right is more important than nationality imo. I’d love to have seen this England squad under peak Arsene Wenger. So much talent..
I hope Zinchenko finds the video..
João Félix Seems to be the latest transfer rumour… 🥱
I’ve not heard anything on that score Cicero, but I did actually my first aid test when I was in the 14th Tottenham Scouts. Somehow I doubt if I’ll get the call though…
Day off today Rico so I’ll be looking for a stream to watch the Milan game, I’ve been very impressed with our U21’s/U18’s/U17’s,the way they knock the ball around, pass and move, it mirrors the senior squad and means that they could seamlessly fit in if needed.
Still no news regarding Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly signing new deals but this integration processs must help in tying them to the club so I’m hopeful that it’ll be sorted soon.
I saw brief highlights of Omari Hutchinson playing for Chelsea, he did a couple of fancy things but Chelsea ultimately lost 1-0, which was nice…
Great to see Bacary Sagna hooking up with his old pals, he gave his best years to Arsenal and saw them wasted by a once-great manager who had lost his magic.
Felix seems an agent inspired link but it’ll serve as a distraction from ourtrue targets and that’ll be fine.
How’s it going out West Rico, it’s a bit warmer in the exotic East, I can see my grass again and the roads are clear outside. No more snow hopefully…
Annoyingly Kev, I’ve a 2pm appointment so will miss the game, not that I’d pay to watch anyway.
We’ve missed the heavy snow, it’s just below freezing all day. But, it’s winter and I much prefer the cold days than mild, wet and windy.
Joao Felix was one of those mystery signings.
Athletico Madrid paid something like £110m for a 19 year old. It appears they could not afford to pay that and are desperately trying to move him and many others on.
He has another 3 years on his contract, so won’t be cheap. A good player, but £110m?
Athletico along with a number of Spanish and Italian teams will go bust in the next few years. The sums just don’t add up. They never have in Spain.
Rico, rejoice, Arsenal are the Dubai Super Cup winners with maximum points, even won the penalty shoot-out again.
I saw the game on a rough stream on YouTube, not very clear but Hein had another good game, he’s really very competent with the ball at his feet.
Odegaard scored with a peach of a free kick and Nelson got the winner, it ended 2-1 with Milan scoring from a corner!
Vieira had a good game I thought and Lokonga was steady. Partey and White were superb, both came off at half-time. By the end of the game most of our youngsters were on and didn’t look out of place, the Italian were tough, physical and pressed like a Premier club so it was a good preparation for the real thing, Juventus will be a step up I’d imagine.
That’s good to hear Kev.
What a goal that was on 38 minutes. Argentina 2 – 0 up.
The goal was by Alvarez.
Magical football skill by Messi to hand a tap in for the third goal by Alvarez again.
The official’s will help Argentina win the world cup so Messi can add it to his collection.
The best thing about the world cup, We only picked up 1 major injury.
Talking about Taxis in Victoria for the last 12 months if it’s not life or death our emergency number are telling people to call a Taxi as they are full up with people waiting.
N’Dicka from Frankfurt on a Bosman sounds a stand up deal, he sounds just the type of big, upstanding, physically imposing left-footed cover that we need for Gab…
I can see the many headlines that his arrival in N.5 would garner. 🤔
Negative ones Kev? Nothing like a free signing to bring the claws out..
Our soul representative still at the WC is William Saliba, he has not yet got onto the pitch in any of France’s games. Hopefully he will come back fully fit on Monday.
He has had minutes Cicero, in one of the group games. Their last I think when France were already through as group winners.
New post up now