Podcast: The start of a new season is when fans of Arsenal Football Club are most optimistic with visions of grandeur and infinite possibilities. But after coming a disappointing 8th place last year, will Arsenal finish Top-4 or Top-6 this upcoming Premier League season? If not, why not? Shotta and Blackburn George aka @Arseblagger share their usual outspoken, no-nonsense opinion.
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Positively Arsenal 
Ed. Extra galling thing with that hack in front of refs nose is that he didn’t deem it worthy of even calling player over for a talking to. Minutes later our right back made a non-dangerous but also prob yellow foul out wide and he talked to him for fair bit, including that arm signal they give for ‘no more’ (or booking).
Nothing expresses wrong-headedness more of our refs than their not seeing difference between brutal/dangerous fouls and safe -trips, pulls, etc- ones. Unless they mean it of course.
Late on there was a really nasty dangerous scissor one on Lewis. Could see ref knew it should be red but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Something in his head/the culture said don’t produce red unless really, really have to, and even then. Yet our youngsters got 2-3 reds in this comp last year??? At least one in 1st half of a game.
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George, Clarkie is only speculating here.
I’m happy to lap that speculation up. Such musings on Gunedouzi is my heroin. Fingers crossed! (I felt bad for Elneny having to start behind the rookie, let alone any others!).
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‘Ornstein reveals whose intervention was ‘pivotal’ to Aubameyang penning new deal’
‘Kia Joorabchian says Mesut Ozil’s situation at Arsenal ‘should have been resolved two years ago’ by German’s agent’
When did Kia and David become official members of Arsenals media team, briefing the press on daily goings on?
wonder if the away fans will start singing we got our Arsenal back anytime soon!
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the Independent are reporting that Arsenal have decided to sell Martinez, and talks with Aston Villa at an advanced stage, AFC looking for £20M for him, Martinez said to have already agreed terms on a four year contract. He wanted out as Leno was to remain first choice keeper
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David Raya’s agent has confirmed to Catalan Sport that Arsenal have made an offer to Brentford for the goalie
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I wonder what the odds are on Arsenal selling Emi for 20m and then 2 years down the line his new club sells him on for +50m.
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Daniel Ballard likely joining League One side Blackpool on a season’s loan
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Labo I would say very unlikely
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Emi news sucks. Don’t know how justified it is from me but, while I know Leno’s a good keeper, he just doesn’t give me the same confidence Emi does. Again, fuck knows If I have this right, but my impression is that while close on many things, Emi significantly better with crosses.
Anyway, I knew we couldn’t have two top keepers for all that long but my preference pretty strong for Emi, and it seemed thoroughly reasonable to me to convince him to sign on with promise of starting season as number 1, and take it from there. form goes south, Leno comes in. Form stays great, Leno would be man to leave.
The big unknowns are whether Martinez would be amenable to that (hard to think he wouldn’t), and what our financial situation is. Certainly feels like we’ve decided it’s a necessary sacrifice in order to strengthen elsewhere in team.
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Labo
I think there’s a very decent chance he’ll maintain form he showed with us over a season; if so, definitely think value would double. But Villa would have no reason to let him go in that scenario. Great keepers are hard to find.
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just a little thing on the form of Martinez in those 9 league games and the 3 cup games, in several of them, like the cup final he did not have more than a shot or two to deal with, think in the cup final he didn’t have a save to make after 15 minutes. People have quickly forgotten how good Leno has been for us. Also some totally overlooked any mistake Martinez made in those games, and blamed others for any goals let in, take the Brighton winner, he really messed that us, but fans blamed Mustafi for it. Emi charged out needlessly as Mustafi was still there to make a challenge, if he had stayed on his line its very likely there was no way the goal would have gone in
If Leno had not got injured we would’ve been very lucky to get £2M for Martinez this summer, so we really have to think £20M for a player who wants out, will not sign a new contract, and has less than 2 years left on his contract is good business.
Martinez is 28, and has played a total of 102 career games, 20 of those are top flight league games, 15 EPL and 5 La Liga.
Yes he has all the ingredients to be a top goalie, and if he keeps his late season form up he could fulfill his potential.
I will be sad to see him go but I totally understand the decision if it is made
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ha ha ha, Mikel Arteta is no longer Head Coach, he is now First Team Manager, we made so many changes since Wenger left that we are now right back to where we started,
We’ve got our Arsenal back
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Mikel Arteta’s job title has changed from head coach to first-team manager.
So why has this change taken place – and what does it mean?
“Mikel’s been here since the end of December and the last nine months have probably been the most challenging nine months in Arsenal’s history – and we’ve been around for 134 years. Despite all of those challenges, Mikel has been driving this football club forward,” Vinai Venkatesham told Arsenal Digital.
“He has lifted the spirits and lifted the energy here at London Colney and with Arsenal fans all across the world. He is doing an absolutely phenomenal job.
“The other thing that’s clear is that right from the day he walked through the door, he was doing much more than being our head coach. So we’re going to be changing his job title going forward. He’ll move from head coach to be the first-team manager. That’s recognition of what he’s been doing from the day he walked in the door, but also where we see his capabilities.
“He is doing a great job of coaching the first team and that’s his primary responsibility, but there is so much more that he can bring and that’s why we’re making this change, in recognition of his capabilities and also the job that he’s doing already.
08:50
Mikel Arteta reveals how he’s changed our culture
“So in terms of how that will work, going forward Mikel will join a really strong team with Edu and they’ll be working really, really closely together to manage all the other elements of our football operations that are so important, whether that is analysis, recruitment, high performance or medical, they’ll be looking after those areas together.
“And they’ll also together be responsible for our technical recommendations, whether that’s players that we’re going to buy, whether that’s players that we’re going to sell, whether that’s players that we’re going to loan.
“Of course, working closely with me and the board and working closely with the owners on the financial elements to make final decisions. But those are going to be their responsibilities and I think we’re going to have a really dynamic team to drive this club forward.”
Copyright 2020 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
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Ed, I think on shot stopping both keepers are very good. In the final etc it wasn’t the shot stopping that mattered it was plucking the ball out of the air and catching it.
Leno is not good in the air he mostly punches putting the defence under pressure from the second ball, a problem we have struggled with for a long time.
I think this is a major mistake and could come back to haunt us.
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if Martinez is sold, until we sign another keeper it would leave Matt Macey in basically the exact same position that Emi was in last season, a few years years, with about 20 games less played than Emi had a year ago. So could he do an Emi this season if given the chance
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well Ian we have brought in 3 tall CB’s in recent months, Saliba, Gabriel and Mari, maybe there could be less need for Leno to come for the high ball.
Martinez’s ability on the high ball is something I really like about him, and I would not have been opposed to Leno going and him staying, but it seems our First Team Manager Mikel Arteta and his goalie coach Inaki Cana Pavon don’t see it this way, also if reports are to be believed it would back this up as we are said to be in for David Raya of Brentford as emi’s replacement and he is just six foot tall and is from what I seen of him last season very much a shot stopper but a sweeper keeper, much like the way the Man City keeper plays, he is often outside his area playing passes. but sadly for Raya if he does sign, he has already been judged and found not good enough cos he fucked up in a big way in the Championship play off final, at fault for both Fulham goals
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https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-news-edu-signings-18913220
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Edu: “For me what is important internally is we have a clear plan on the players we want to keep, players we want to loan & players we want to sell. After that we have to be patient, to understand how the markets are reacting & wait a little bit more to make the right decision”
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Think Emi’s form actually extends to the season before. Apparently was excellent in that Reading loan.
Admittedly, can’t account for why others didn’t work. Think Rotherham one way back was decent, with Wolves I think it was going well at first, but then had a wobble and lost place. Spanish one surprised and disappointed me.
Think loans are quite difficult in general, with a manager normally having to believe you are clear of any rival for place, not that it’s close or you’ll become better than their own player. For a keeper probably harder again.
Main belief though is that it has just really clicked for him in last couple of years.
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We are delighted to announce that Lioness Lotte Wubben-Moy has joined us from the University of North Carolina.
Lotte joined our Centre of Excellence in 2013 before making her senior debut two years later, as a substitute during a 2-1 win over Notts County. The centre back, who can also play in holding midfield, went on to make 13 first-team appearances for us before moving to the University of North Carolina in 2017 to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
During her time with UNC, Lotte won the ACC regular season twice, the ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament twice and was part of a team that were two-time runners up in the NCAA Division College Cup.
This month, Lotte also received her first senior Lionesses call-up for England’s September training squad.
“I’m delighted to say that I’m officially a Gooner,” the 21-year-old said. “To see that this club can play at the highest levels, achieving the things that they do while also playing such exquisite football, that is definitely something that’s drawn me to the club. I just can’t wait to be a part of it.”
“I’m very happy we’ve got this one over the line,” said head coach Joe Montemurro. “Lotte is obviously a player that when I first came in was about to leave for the US. All credit to the club for keeping tabs on her development whilst she was away, and then obviously securing a player that is in and around the England camp. She will be a top player.”
The deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Copyright 2020 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
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our First Team Manager is due to do his pre game presser later today, will be interesting to see what he has to say on things such as Martinez, Holding, Ozil, Aubameyang, transfers both in and out.
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What is the latest news on Gabriel Martinelli and Pablo Mari’s respective rehabs?
This is what our medical team has had to say about them:
Pablo Mari
Left ankle. Sustained significant sprain to ankle ligaments during Manchester City (a) on June 17.
Latest update on Pablo:
• Now running outside and continues strengthening programme.
• Aiming to return to full training by the end of September.
Gabriel Martinelli
Left knee. Sustained injury during training on June 21.
Latest update on Gabi:
• Successful arthroscopic procedure undertaken to repair a lesion in the cartilage of the left knee.
• Has now returned from visiting family in Brazil, where he followed a tailored daily rehab and fitness programme.
• Will now commence daily strengthening and recovery programme with our rehab and medical teams.
• Aiming to return to full training by the end of the calendar year.
Copyright 2020 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
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Here is the latest team news update from our medical team ahead of Saturday’s match at Fulham.
There were no issues from players returning from international matches.
David Luiz
Neck spasm. Currently being assessed and undergoing treatment with good response. Will miss Saturday’s match at Fulham.
Emile Smith Rowe
Sustained an injury to his right shoulder in training. Protective sling will be removed by the end of next week and aiming to integrate back into training soon afterwards.
Sokratis
Right calf. Sustained mild strain to right calf in training. Will miss Saturday’s match at Fulham. Aiming to integrate back into full training within the next week.
Calum Chambers
Left knee. Ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during Chelsea (h) on December 29.
Pablo Mari
Left ankle. Sustained significant sprain to ankle ligaments during Manchester City (a) on June 17.
Gabriel Martinelli
Left knee. Sustained injury during training on June 21.
Shkodran Mustafi
Right hamstring sustained during FA Cup semi-final on July 18.
As part of Premier League protocol, all members of our first team squad and support staff continue to be regularly tested for COVID-19.
Copyright 2020 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
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So all those saying we should sell 4 CBs we have 5 injured for the game against Fulham.
Ed,
Emi is better!
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well Ian it seems Arteta and his coaching staff think otherwise, but we may hear more from Mikel later today in his presser
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as for the CB’s, all four injured are expected to be fit before close of transfer window, although there might be a question mark over Mustafi being fit by then. I think Sokratis will be gone, and I will not be surprised if Holding is let out on loan
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Mikel Arteta was back in front of the media on Friday as he looked ahead to our opening Premier League match of the season at Fulham.
Our manager discussed his squad, Alex Lacazette, Matteo Guendouzi and more.
Read on for a full transcript:
on first press conference as first-team manager…
My title has changed a little bit but I’m just here to try and do my job as well as possible. It is always nice to be recognised from the club for the job that I try to do but I just want to help the club to do the right things. When I have to be involved, great. When I work in any area, great. I just want to make this club more successful in this country as quickly as possible and in a sustainable way. That’s my ambition. It’s our ambition and we have to do it together.
on our summer transfer window and team development…
Well, it’s been a very strange mini-pre-season with a lot of external factors that are difficult to control. I think today is the first day that we have the full squad training together for pre-season. Just a day before we play the first game, but we have tried to put in the work that we needed, obviously without some key players for different reasons. Towards the market and our squad, obviously, we bought Willian and Gabriel. They’re two really good recruitments in my opinion and two players that are going to improve our squad, but it’s been a very complicated market so far.
on if formation plans will change against Fulham with David Luiz and Sokratis out…
We have a few issues around the squad. That’s something normal that we have to try to adapt to. We’ve been trying with the players that we have fit at the moment. It’s not an ideal to start the season with some key players out but again, we have enough really good players and tomorrow we will have the best possible plan to try and win our first game.
on if Gabriel and Willian will start v Fulham…
They have been training really well. They have adapted quickly. They are really excited to be here with us, really good energy from both of them. Big talent, both in very different phases of their career. One is already very established in the Premier League with incredible quality. And another one that has to adapt to this league but has huge potential to become a key player for us in the future.
on what Mikel is expecting from Fulham…
I think the team is a good reflection of the coach. He’s a very thorough person with a very committed team with a very clear way of playing. He’s done a fantastic job at Fulham, the way they managed to get promoted last season was really good. We have been watching them, we know it’s a very typical stadium, really tight. It will be tough tomorrow, for sure.
on Aubameyang signing a new contract…
I can say that I am even more confident than I was at the end of last season when you asked me the same question 10 times.
on if it will be done soon…
I am very optimistic, yes.
on what Mikel has seen from the players since the end of last season…
What I’ve seen from them is that they want more. They are not satisfied. This is what we want to show tomorrow, that we want to go another step forward. What we’ve done doesn’t count for anything. Obviously it gives us confidence and belief in what we can do and the way we can compete against any team. This is a completely different competition, it’s a long race and we have to be consistent. It is a big gap from what’s happened in the last few seasons and the reason why we were out of the Champions League spots. This is our challenge for the season.
on the future of Mesut Ozil and Emi Martinez…
We have some really good players in many different positions. Some of them are complicated and obviously, clubs come to us and they are interested in our players. It is very difficult to promise players game time or to be the first choice. It is part of this period in the market. We try to manage the situation as well as we can, all the time counting on what the players’ expectations are, what we can achieve with them as a club and we are making decisions towards that.
on his thoughts on the dropping of the Black Lives Matter logo from Premier League signage…
Well, I think it’s a cause that’s had a massive impact and we will be very supportive with it. We have to continue to do that as much as possible every time something happens in a social environment that we can change.
on whether any Arsenal staff and players will continue to take the knee…
I think it’s an individual decision and how you feel about it, but I think the way we have conducted ourselves is not an individual thing. I like more the collective things.
on whether there is an update on Ozil…
There aren’t any updates. All of the players that we have here are available here and they have a contract with Arsenal. They have all been training and putting in maximum effort in every training session and this is what I expect from all of them.
on how he reflects on his nine months with the club so far…
Well, I look 10 years older I think because it’s been really challenging! Obviously it was my first job as a head coach and a lot of things happened with a lot of interruptions and a lot of unexpected things, but we all together have been very consistent in what we’re trying to achieve and we all feel really supported by each other. There have been a lot of changes in our club and a lot of changes in our environment, but our idea and direction isn’t going to change and we’re aiming to achieve that. I think we have created some belief and that’s really important for the players, the staff and as well our fans. Now our aim is to continue to do that and to keep building and to keep getting engaged to this process to make it better and better.
on whether Arsenal had a weak mentality and if that’s gone now…
I don’t know. We have to show it and in football in the last few months it doesn’t really count, we have to show what we’re about tomorrow and how we start, how we look and how committed we are. It’s about how much we can maintain our consistency to be one of the best teams in the country.
on whether Arsenal fans should be worried about Aubameyang signing or not…
I think they can be pretty relaxed.
on whether Martinez could leave the club…
Again, I cannot stop all the speculation that we have about all our players coming in and out. I don’t want to comment on any individuals at the moment without having the right answers to give.
on why Ljungberg left the club and whether he will be making any more changes…
Well, the situation with Freddie was very clear about his ambitions and his next step in his career. He’s been really supportive for us and he was a person that was helpful in the first few months trying to find out about the squad and what happened in the past. Obviously that left a gap that we had to fill and I had some people in mind before I joined that I couldn’t bring in. We can now start to become a little more detailed and improve in some key areas in my opinion. That’s why we brought them in.
on whether we’re close to getting the ‘old Arsenal’ back…
I think it’s premature as well, depending on how ‘old’ the Arsenal is that we’re talking about, for example the Invincibles. It’s great that we were able to win trophies and we’ve changed quite a lot of things at the club, certainly things look brighter, but there is still a long way to go and the gap that I talked about is still there. We have to make sure we reduce that this season as much as possible.
on whether his new role brings about more expectation for success…
I think responsibility and pressure is always linked. I’m really grateful for the faith and commitment that the club is showing towards me and I’m just trying to do my job as good as possible to bring this club as quick as possible and efficiently back to the top in a sustainable way. This is my aim and the players and the people working in this organisation enjoy and feel really connected to this football club, the same as our fans. Whatever I have to do in order to achieve that, I will put all the hours, plus my commitment and passion to achieve that.
on whether people will be expecting more from Arsenal…
Every new season brings new expectations and I think the way we ended last season and started this one with a title, obviously people want to see more and more and this is a really positive sign. We want this type of energy to drive our team forward and tomorrow we have a great test at Fulham in a very English stadium against a promoted team who will be very ready and focused to try and beat us.
on whether the player who starts in goal at Fulham will be our No 1…
No, I don’t treat the goalkeeping position any differently to the others. I think the one that in my opinion is training better with the goalkeeping coach has the better chance to start tomorrow and my decision will be consistent like that throughout this season.
on whether whoever starts it will be their position to lose…
Exactly, and then its for the other one to push and make him better and when his chance comes, be ready and help the team as they both did last season. Both were fantastic in my opinion.
on whether he’s spoken to Alex Lacazette about his future…
H is really happy here, he wants to keep improving and contributing to the team. I know how good he is, the impact he is having. He knows about the competition he has with the front players, and again he needs to demand of himself to be the best striker at this football club, the same as the rest. He was very happy to hear that and the way he has been training and conducting himself has been excellent.
on whether Laca has said that he wants to stay…
Yes, I think he is very happy here. That is my feeling and what I got from that message.
on if the situation has changed with Guendouzi…
Matteo has been training like any other player in the squad. It is a new season and we had some really positive conversations between both parties, now he’s back with the group, he is training really well, he went to France to play with the under-21s last week and played really well again, and he is here.
on speculation about Geundouzi being offered in part exchange…
I don’t know, I am not going to discuss here what the things that happened internally. But a lot of the things they have been writing, I can tell you they are not true.
on links with Aouar at Lyon…
I don’t want to talk about players at other clubs that are not our players.
on whether he wants one or two more signings…
We are still active in the market, we are looking at different options. I would say we are active in the market for players in and out, at the moment the squad balance is not the ideal we want to achieve so there is still some work to do. We have to bear in mind the complication with this transfer market and the complexity and the timing, because you can see that clubs are behaving in many different ways and it is a little bit uncertain how this will work in the next few weeks.
on how the squad is imbalanced…
Firstly number-wise. Some positions are overbooked, I said some others, in terms of specific qualities that we need, they are still not there. It is going to be very difficult to achieve what we want in one window or two windows. It is a process, it has to evolve and most importantly it has to be a sustainable model that we can consistently feed in using our academy players.
on whether it will be a while until it is ‘his’ squad…
I think so, but that is always the case. Then there are some other times with positive surprises where people give you a more positive impression than you thought as well as some more negative ones. It is a constant evolution and it has to be assessed all the time and you have to have a very clear direction of what you want to achieve and what is your ideal. Even when you have that, you have to stop and feed it all the time.
Copyright 2020 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
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7 players out injured for Fulham game tomorrow, so that leaves the following 25 players available for selection, so 7 of them to miss out on being in the squad
GK Leno, Martinez, Macey
D. Bellerin, Cedric, Tierney, Kolasinac, Saliba, Holding, Gabriel, AMN
M. Xhaka, Ceballos, Elneny, Torreira, Willock, Guendouzi
F. Pepe, Willian, Nelson, Aubameyang, Saka, Ozil
S. Lacazette, Nketiah
most likely seven to miss out – Macey if as seems Martinez will still be here, and migth even start. Kolasinac seems good odds to be left out, as for me does Guendouzi. Saka missed the latest England U21 game so maybe he has a knock. Torreira has not been a starter for Arteta, so I expect he will miss out, I also think Ozil will not be involved, Arteta’s presser did not give me any extra hope he will be included. I think the last pick to miss out comes down between Elneny and Nelson, and I think it will be Nelson who misses out.
So for me the 7 who will miss out are
Macey
Kolasinac
Saka
Torreira
Guendouzi
Ozil
Nelson
if Saka is fit then maybe Willock will drop out
Squad could very well be
Leno, Martinez
Bellerin, Cedric, Tierney, AMN, Saliba, Gabriel, Holding
Xhaka, Ceballos, Elneny, Willock or Saka,
Pepe, Aubameyang, Willian,
Lacazette, Nketiah
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhotgE1XgAADAGx?format=jpg&name=medium
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so with Macey playing for the U23’s this afternoon, it suggest Martinez will be in the first team squad for the Fulham game tomorrow
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Arsenal U23 v Southampton: Macey; Alebiosu, Oyegoke, McGuinness, Bola; Azeez, Olayinka; Cirjan, Cottrell, Lewis; Balogun.
Subs: Hillson, Ogungbo, Akinola, Salah, McEneff
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just noticed that there are 3 Republic of Ireland Youth Internationals in our U23 squad today, McGuinness, Ogungbo and McEneff
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Cottrell gave us lead early. Good start to season for him. Thought his first touch and pass fro assist other night was superb. Didn’t look that high a difficulty level but most don’t/can’t do it. Definitely one of best technicians we have and uses tenacity, ingenuity and intelligence well to compensate for being about as slight a player as you’ll see.
Bola’s bit of an oddity. 22 in Jan, never had a loan. Pretty sure injuries and their timing main reason for that. Started rocky other night but then had solid game. Think you always need a few older ones, preferably strong physically, at that level to allow team to compete in physical games and give younger ones a platform to do their thing.
Delicate balance this year. Not sure can afford any more to go other than Ballard, who needs men’s football at this point.
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Dan Critchlow
@afcDW
·
9m
HT: Arsenal u23s 1-0 Southampton
Arsenal have the lead, though Southampton have seen more of the ball so far. Ben Cottrell scored his first goal of the campaign after his assist in midweek.
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Regarding Ozil it looks like a PR battle is on its way between Ozil and those upstairs.
Ozil stated his love for the club recently and saying no regrets while also making himself available and training to be ready for the new season.
Arsenal the club through Edu are insisting that ozil is not being picked due to performances (training?games? or just as a general employeee?)
Arteta the manager s beating around the bush.
Roll on Saturday I personally don’t think we will play our best team cause of politics.
Whats worrying is we will prob have a entire new defensive setup that has not played together before in competitive matches.
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Add to that Kia recent thoughts on the situation, not sure if the david the ‘Ornacle’ ornstien has chipped in his 2 pence!
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Southampton equalise against the Arsenal u23s in the early stages of the second half. 1-1. bur are now down to ten men due to a second yellow for Kayne Ramsay.
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Dan Critchlow
@afcDW
·
14m
Arsenal u23s lose 2-1 to Southampton u23s in the PL2 opener.
Particularly disappointing given they had the lead and a man advantage for much of the second half. Arsenal are still gelling with all the recent additions to the u23s but Bould is on a run of bad league results.
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So that I understand it clearly, Ozil doesn’t play because he refused to take a cut in salary.
Fine, so they don’t play him and he still gets his salary.
Now, who loses?
Am I wrong, but this looks nutty to me.
It is cutting off your nose and both ears to spite your face.
Can anyone really say that we have a better creative player, for a team that completely lacks creativity?
Surely, they have made their point already and have been found wanting in their tactics, let us now get down to trying to win games,
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If Mezut is not getting appearance money, win,goal and trophy bonuses he could indeed be having a pay cut. So if he’s losing money and not doing the thing he loves he’s losing out as well.
It seems a crazy situation but there you go.
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