Good Morning Positive Friends,
Quite a night wasn’t it ?Having watched the wheels come off various other clubs allegedly commanding first leg leads this week I think we all knew we were in for a tricky night in Moscow. I did not anticipate quite how tricky it might be. I went through the full range of emotions, all the way from from stupefied, dribbling terror to ecstatic, loud purring over the 94 minutes. I remind myself that whirl of highs and lows is why I watch football, winning raises the spirits on the grimmest day, and even when we lose there is a still a buzz of being involved.
Of the game itself ? Based on the final scoreline 2-2 and 6-3 on aggregate a casual observer might expect it was a dull match with a predictable result. Not a bit of it. Few Arsenal fans doubted CSK had “goals” in them and a fairer result from the first leg might have been 8-3. They had nothing to lose and they set about us as expected from the start. They have in Golovin one of the best young players in Europe. I suspect Arsene will have been making discreet enquiries last night about his plans. Around the young Russian their support players were none too shabby either, and for all the fuss about the combined age of their back three ( 178 birthdays between them or some such nonsense) they kept us at arms’ length for long periods and it was only with Danny’s goal that we really opened them up finally.
Of our lads a super game from Mo, worked his socks off in the first half when we were under pressure, had a useful spell in the centre back line, and still had enough gas in the tanks to play decisive through balls for both goals. Mo’s regular first team involvement in recent weeks has bright him on as players. His confidence is sky high and that contributes to the sureness of his touch and the accuracy of his passing.
Of our other lads Danny’s goal fest proceeds and his finish was top, top class. Rambo was another who worked hard when the home side wee in the ascendant, not to mention coping with a monster gash on the calf. And finally of notable performers who caught my eye step forward Callum Chambers, the right man who entered at the right time to do the job required.
Of things that did not go so well ? As we have seen before the back 3-4-5 do seen to develop the heebie-jeebies when they are attached early on in games. When their composure is rattle it takes them a while to get it back. Nevertheless when the game was in the balance from 50th minute and for the next 20 minutes Kosc, Mustafi, Nacho and Hector did stand up and see off the Muscovite horde. And finally Jack ? Who knows – as I read elsewhere this morning for a 26 year old he seems to have the physique of a much older sportsman. Plenty of games still this season for JW to re-kindle what was a good season until recently but somehow, on and off the pitch, he seems to have lost his way.
That is me done. The draw is at midday UK time fir the semi finals so no doubt we shall meet later to discuss the next opponent. Enjoy Friday.
Positively Arsenal 
HT: 0-0
AFC started brightly, hit the post, created some good chances, but then got bogged down, tempo dropped and have sort of lost their way.
I would like to see DaSilva drive forward a lot more, also need to get Smith-Rowe on the ball more, he looks a class above anytime he has the ball.
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Welbeck inspiring the youth. Bola just did a decent impression of the turn last night!
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Slowing down here. Extra time exertions on Tues starting to take toll most likely.
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Think they’ve done really well so far considering missing players and extra time Tues.
Hope they see it out—-eee decent chance for them—but has feel of second needed to escape late kick in teeth.
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And they say ARSENAL can’t defend, considering the missing players and losing their keeper that was a stoic performance from the youngsters
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FT: Arsenal 1 Swansea 0. Arsenal improved in second half. Gilmour with the goal 2 minutes into second half from an Amaechi low corner, both of them and Smith-Rowe and Dasilva all very good.
AFC top the table but LCFC have a game in hand, think they play on Sunday
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ian – it was the good old 1 nil to the Arsenal
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I thought that when you think about Willock’s promotion to the first team squad, Emile Smith-Rowes injury it’s amazing to bring in a quality player like Robbie Burton. Another technically gifted player who is happy to receive the ball in tight spaces.
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Lovely stuff.
Enjoy watching youth, love a win at any level and ditto a chance of trophy at any level.
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Smith-Rowe looked like he has the skill level to play for the first team now
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football Vines
@FootballVines
2h2 hours ago
Minutes played by Academy Graduates in Premier League this season:
Arsenal: 6,055 ⏱
United: 5,196 ⏱
Tottenham: 4,036 ⏱
Chelsea: 1,890 ⏱
Liverpool: 1,240 ⏱
Man City: 46 ⏱
🗣 ‘Pep is the best coz he gives youth a chance’ 🤔
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Arsenal’s last home BPL game of the season, V Burnley, has changed from 5th Saturday to the Sunday 6th, with a 4.30pm kick off,
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Emile Smith Rowe
@emilesmithrowe_
15m15 minutes ago
Great team performance tonight in a 1-0 win against Swansea😀! Feels so good to be back on the pitch😋 onto Monday night for the second leg of the youth cup😆 #COYG @Arsenal
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The most impressive thing is the Arsenal U23 team was considerably younger average age, perhaps more than 2years.
So impressive,Amechi is starting to come back to form , another exciting crop.
I thought the malcontents said there is nothing but decay and crumbling mediocrity.
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yeah WwwB the club is in a mess
First Team – League Cup runners up, EL semi final so far
U23’s – top of BPL2, and in BPL European Cup final
U18’s – second in league and in semi final of FAYC
Womens – Continential Cup winners, WFAC semi final so far, in hunt for league title too
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Cameron Toshack conceded that Swansea City’s Under-23s came off second best against title-chasing Arsenal in their 1-0 Premier League 2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
Charlie Gilmour’s second half strike secured three points for the Gunners to move them top of Division 1 with the young Swans unable to find a reply.
The defeat is only the development sides second loss in 12 league outings with the under-23s now targeting a top four finish in their first season in the top-flight.
“We were not at our best against a very good team,” Toshack said.
“When you play at stadium’s like the Emirates you really have to be at your best and unfortunately we were not tonight.
“Arsenal deserve a lot of credit having played twice in four days following their win over Villarreal in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday.
“We wanted to show our ability but did not pass the ball as well as we know we can. We went into our shells a little and to concede from a set-piece is disappointing for us.
“We had five or six good chances to score which we have not taken. Sometimes we have to hold our hands up and accept we were second best.”
Adnan Maric Swansea City under-23s Arsenal
Swansea now face their Premier League 2 season finale against Sunderland a week Monday at the Liberty Stadium before a semi-final clash against Sheffield United in the Premier League Cup.
And despite the defeat Toshack believes the young Swans deserve credit for what they have achieved so far this campaign.
“They have worked hard and applied themselves this campaign,” he added.
“Tonight is a missed opportunity by they should not get their heads down because they have done well this season.
“This is only our second defeat in 12 league games and that is something to focus on. We have been clinical in front of goal in the past few months.
“We are still in the semi-final to retain the Premier League Cup and we have our final league game against Sunderland at the Liberty Stadium. We will reboot and go again.”
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Josh Kroenke promoted to Vice Chairman of KSE and KSE UK
Posted by Inside Hoops
Apr
13
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment today announced the promotion of Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets President Josh Kroenke to Vice Chairman of KSE and KSE UK.
“This appointment is a well-deserved and long overdue recognition of Josh’s many contributions to not only the Avalanche and Nuggets organizations but also his role in the overall global growth of KSE and our sister companies,” said Jim Martin, KSE CEO and President. “Josh has evolved into a respected leader and innovator in sports business, and is already leading many of our organization’s investments in forward-thinking multimedia platforms and emerging technologies.”
Kroenke, 37, serves on the Board of Governors of the NHL and NBA. He is also a member of the NBA’s influential Planning Committee. In addition to his NBA and NHL responsibilities, he is an Alternate Governor for the Colorado Rapids (MLS), and sits on the board of Arsenal Football Club of the English Premier League.
“While the business of sport has transformed in recent years, we are still just getting started,” Kroenke said. “Our current management structure won’t change, and Joe Sakic of the Avalanche and Tim Connelly of the Nuggets will continue reporting directly to me. This new position allows me the opportunity and flexibility to work closer with employees, fans, sponsors and community leaders to strategize and celebrate the power of sports and entertainment.”
Kroenke’s first role at KSE was with the Nuggets in 2007, where he began learning the organization from the ground up working with departments ranging from scouting to marketing and sales. He was promoted to President of the Nuggets and Governor of the Avalanche in 2010, before assuming the additional title of President with the Avalanche in 2013.
Kroenke has held numerous leadership positions for the Nuggets and Avalanche, playing a pivotal role in hiring Coach of the Year recipients in the NBA and NHL as well as multiple NBA Executive of the Year honorees. As Alternate Governor of the Colorado Rapids, Kroenke helped bring the MLS All-Star Game to Denver in 2015 and helped the Rapids acquire U.S. World Cup goalie Tim Howard in 2016
Read more at http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=21450#Yg1yPqmcrHf3YATj.99
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Clean sheet and, as mentioned, ‘stoic’ defending very impressive considering main 3 centre backs first half of season went on loan in Jan and mainstay since, Mavropanos, out injured tonight.
Ballard who had worked way into u23’s still out, I suspect with what looked really bad concussion late on in recent American tournament.
Mentioned at time I like his commitment, but think he took a few hard bangs to head that game and after last one looked distressed and seemed to be motioning about trouble seeing. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s out longer than (football) normal but hope not, especially if no contract yet.
Excellent news to have Smith-rowe back for run in though
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remaining epl2 fixtures for title contenders
Sunderland v LCFC on sunday 15th
Everton v Liverpool on Monday 16th
West Ham v Arsenal on Friday 20th
Liverpool v Chelsea on Sunday 22nd
Leicester v Derby on Monday 23rd
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Still on youth team theme- u18’s are showing as having a game away to Spurs today, with their youth cup semi on Monday!
May have to play 5-6 schoolboys for it if game goes ahead.
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Stuart MacFarlane
@Stuart_PhotoAFC
16h16 hours ago
Well done to all the Arsenal players and staff for winning the Academy Under 14’s tournament at Hale End today. #Arsenal #afc #ArsenalAcademy
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I can’t understand why some of our fans are complaining about Arsenal potentially fielding a bunch of academy players in the remaining PL games, these lads have a winning mentality, innit?!?
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@ DC,,, Mostly cos they love to hear the sound of their voices. Or is it reading their write ups? LOL
I imagine these are the same set that would say we are not giving enough of the youth a chance and allowing them to leave…
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Terrible defending from the boring boring champions?
#createyourownmemes@hashtag.com
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< probably jinxed it now.
I thought the AFC but reserves did ok against the Saints last week, not much different to swashbuckling Liverpool and Uber exciting City (of Abu Dhabi) in their own respective league games just before a big midweek battle.
Not sure the current Champions had the same mitigating circumstances of heavy legs, distractions etc. as all these other amazingly exciting teams and their mind blasting football.
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The Champions 0 The Saints 2
Blimey.
Has Conte stopped coaching his defence?
Or is replacing top level CBs at the top of this league hard work, even for a petroclub/laundrette that has five hundred million players on the books?
Shambles™?
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Fuck it. Our boy Larry pulls one back for Chelsea. Perfect header between two defenders downwards into the near post.
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Chelsea have equalized.
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FFS Giroud. Stop it now. 2 goals are enough.
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Giroud showing his quality in the air yet again, a very late sub.
Chelsea fans appreciating Giroud’s efforts and touch so far? Yuck.
Giroud turns the game. More distractions in the opposition box, space for Hazard: 2-
Time for a winner yet for the champions.
Giroud and Welbeck both offering their respective teams alternative routes to goal (great headers from both) against this fighting Saints team. We can understand why with Welbeck in the squad Giroud could be let go,
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Yep Giroud with the obvious winner it had to be! Haha.
But the Experts told us he was rubbish!
Erm…
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Don’t know why but it’s hard to feel any sympathy for a team managed by the Ooooze.
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Giroud’s goal scoring record off the bench is phenomenal.
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Looks like Conte is just papering over the cracks innit.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
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Its simple Fins. Giroud is elite. Always my boy. As far as I am concerned he is a “gooner in chav clothing.”
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Fins: Did you see the header? Confirming our boy is the master of the near post.
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I wish OG had stayed but the world cup was in ivew and he is not getting any younger… sad but reality.
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Deschamps has a hard selection ahead of him. Spoilt for choice.
Meanwhile we can only hope that the England manager does not select a nine and ten at the World Cup who between them failed to score in 270 minutes (each) at the last tournament.
As in: a fit & sharp Welbeck always starts for England, most likely at LW. From where he has a better goal scoring record for England then the aforementioned heroes of the press pack.
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Shotts
As soon as one of the new forwards or Welbeck can work out with their teammates and practice and add that near post run and or finish to their armoury, well, let’s just say that it’ll be great fun.
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Welbeck has a few cracking finishes mainly headers in the scrapbook for AFC coming in at the back post from crosses etc.
Want to see him get a few more from the near post area going forwards.
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Olivier Giroud
Always was,always will be…
Master of the One Touch Finish
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Miss Giroud in such crunch situations
Remember his important headers for us
Man city Etihad
Bayern Emirates
United, O/T.
Southmamton King Marrys
All match winners
And many many more…..
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Loved big Oli but to see Reiss and Eddie getting into the 17 is important and may be even more important by the end of the season. It’s ARSENAL national progression!
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What right does that management failure dirty cheating Manchester motormouth prick Neville have to comment on anything. It really boils my piss that I have to listen to the cunt. Hate him.
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Jeorge Bird @jeorgebird
7h7 hours ago
Xhaka, Ospina and Maitland-Niles back in full training. Nelson, Nketiah and Willock trained with first team
Looks like Ramsey and Wilshere weren’t involved in today’s session. Lehmann trained as outfield player. Mavropanos injured.
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Kane gets a goal back for lucky s”£ur5 .they’ve been moaning like a drain that “The Big clubs get all the decisions.
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seemingly Harry Kane who will be 25 in July is up for BPL young player of the year, can these things be any more fixed. The PFA are a joke.
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Ffs, why do the media give Spurs such a free pass
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man city to win d league at spurs….
oh. they cant till tomorrows match is not won by man u
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