With the unconfirmed news that Ozil is leaving us, @shotta_gooner and I voice our appreciation for the talent that is Mesut Ozil.
We are available on Apple Podcast, Spreaker, Soundcloud, Google podcasts and many other platforms. Just search for UncensoredArsenal podcast.
Positively Arsenal 
Who let him back in?
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Welcome Maty Ryan.
Glad to have you at the Arse.
I’d suggested this at the start of the year.
It was a no-brainer move once the reasons behind his demotion by Potter were clarified.
An athletic, passionate, PL-experienced, international keeper, with good feet, still 28 and with just 1 year left on his contract.
Perfect. Well done Edu & MA.
The hope is that he excels and gets signed up in the summer.
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Aman: what were those reasons?
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seems Mat Ryan might be in line to make his debut for us tomorrow v Southampton, and on the subject of Southampton, the local paper there suggests Arsenal are in for their 31 year old left back Ryan Bertrand as cover for Tierney. Bertrand is out of contract in the summer.
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Arsenal U23’s v Brighton U23’s: Okonkwo, Alebiosu, Dinzeyi, Olowu, Lopez, Akinola, Cirjan, Azeez, Cottrell, Moller, Balogun.
Subs: Hillson, Kirk, Ogungbo, Lewis, Taylor-Hart.
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loads of reports in Spain that Martin Odegaard will join AFC on loan from Real Madrid, if he joins I think he would be on the u21 list as he only turned 22 after the season started, so would not take up a squad place.
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Arsenal looking into a potential Championship loan move for Reiss Nelson this month
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reports suggest that if arsenal can not get the Bertrand deal done they will go for 21 year old Crystal Palace left back Tyrick Mitchell, who like Bertrand is out of contract in the summer.
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As long as he doesn’t let in a hatful tomorrow lunchtime that seems a very sensible goalkeeping move. Good luck to him and all who play in front of him.
I remember a few years ago (probably longer than a few given the way time rushes by) that Odegaard was talk of the town, the new best thing and clearly someone that Arsene would sign up and develop into a world superstar. I suspect that that was even whispered at the time. Well that didn’t quite happen, and for whatever reason he hasn’t been able to find his way into the Real reckoning. But then again, very few footballers are able to become automatic first choicers much before they are 21. It is a most demanding game, the way it insists on skill, speed and physical strength – and Messi like transformations are probably harder to finesse these days.
But of all the January loans likely to happen, Odegaard to Arsenal seems one of the most intriguing. Should he impress then we have creativity beyond just Smith Rowe and will reap that benefit. If he impresses and enjoys doing so then he just might want to make North London his home for a few years. If he doesn’t cut the mustard then no real harm done.
But as with the emergence of Sakha and ESR, there is just a chance that the club is looking to a positive future under Arteta.
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Harry Clarke has extended his loan deal with Oldham to the end of the season. He has done very well for them so far this season
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
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1m
Goal for #AFCU23!
Clapping hands sign
Azeez finds the top corner from the edge of the box – and the celebrations are socially distanced too!
Smiling face with sunglasses
Red circle
1-0
Blue circle
(7) | #PL2
Trophy
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
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3m
It’s two for #AFCU23!
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@FBalogun67
dribbles through Brighton’s defence and slots into the bottom corner
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🔴2-0 🔵
(10) | #PL2
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If it is true that Odegaard only wanted to join a club where he is guaranteed first team football all the time then this a very bad move for the long term future of the squad especially if there is no chance of a permanent deal.
ESR will need resting but he really doesn’t need someone coming in a just taking his place.
Surely Mitchell makes more sense as a signing that would grow with the squad and would not be a massive burden on wages.
As for the Reiss loan move I think it would be better to move Pepe down to the Championship where he can get his confidence back if indeed that is the problem.
Reiss would be better at this stage of his career in the PL and because we’re not going for top six this year he could get game time without pressure.
I do think the club and probably most of the fans need a dose of reality. We will do really well to get inside the top eight this year so making decisions as if we are a top four side is ridiculous. We really need to build this season to set us up for next season. If we make more bad decisions again especially with the youngsters and it could waste next season as well.
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Foreverheady,
Guess whatever the “reason(s)” , it/they were not enough to prevent our signing him.
I am quite stoked and happy for Matt Ryan because I always liked him.
Odegaard next.
Do we really need another LB?
I don’t think so.
AMN has to prove his worth otherwise…
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
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36m
BALOGUN – AGAIN!
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3-0
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(45) | #PL2
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Fenerbahçe boss Erol Bulut: “He [Mesut Özil] will start training [soon]. We know that he was training in England. He only lacks match fitness. I hope we will see him among us as soon as possible.”
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
·
4m
And it’s four for #AFCU23!
😍
Akinola dribbles into the area and squares for @nikolajdmoller
, who makes no mistake in firing into an empty net
👌
🔴
4-0
🔵
(86) | #PL2
🏆
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Arsenal Academy
@ArsenalAcademy
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4m
BALOGUN! HAT-TRICK HERO!
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⚽️
⚽️
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5-0
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(90+4) | #PL2
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Hunter
I’ve taken a vow of silence on The Inquisitor after my long and for many understandably tedious commentary since the Pepe signing when I noted that his record signing was not as good a footballer as the then rookie Saka who has since confirmed that early promise, almost Phenom levels of consistency.
But i can reply on Ivan! it’s possible to see the Gazidis departure as the first of the many destructive calls since, well, since the owners took over (since AW left?). Surely Sven was toast as soon as Gazidis was gone? Then the rest? A pattern. Was he the first scalp for the revolutionary inquisition? He does know how to kick a football. could we imagine the Pepe signing with him at the club?
Hopefully the rumoured signing breaks the pattern with the previous attempts to replace Ozil in the squad: Suarez! Was he a dream? Ceballos? Willian…but it sounds like this Real player won’t be properly match fit for a month.
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< – Most people I know think Gazidis was awful. I don’t know anything about that. All I know is he never stank out the yard like the two K’s and Kia have. Is it Shaktar Highbury for now? I hope not! Will they finish above Sporting Wolverhampton heh?
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I met Ivan several times and he was very articulate and seemed as honest as a businessman can be and I geniuenly think he had a thing for ARSENAL.Really interesting how he and his family had to flea S.A. because his Dad was due to be arrested as a political dissident by the appartied S.A. government.
It is difficult to gage exactly how far board members etc are are prepared to put ARSENAL first after all everyones darling David Dein was just a sell out and is responsable for the mess we are in today.
We are now in a situation that the AST and various supporters groups were formed to avoid..
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Bould took so much shit for poor u23 results earlier in year, wonder if same people now praising him for the good results?
Speaks of plenty of health in academy with all the players who’ve been on loan.
Annoying news this week with Olayinka out for a while by sounds of it with ankle and John-Jules the same, joining Swanson, Osei-Tutu and a few others on sidelines.
Feels like well over half of our young players either suffer a big injury or dogged by small/medium ones between about 16-21. Don’t know if that’s changed over years, and would bet we are worse than rest on account of opposition challenges on us, but it’s so much bigger a factor than I realised up until fairly recently in player development.
Mega frustrating when it occurs in the 1-2 year window when it feels like now or never for a player with us.
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Interesting line up. Doesn’t look good for AMN,
It seems these two games, because we will play most of the squad, will let us know more about how far we have improved and the amount of improvement we still need to come COYG.
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Southampton: Forster, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Walcott, Ings, Adams
Subs: Lewis, Ramsay, Valery, Vokins, Chauke, Jankewitz, Watts, Long, Nlundulu
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Team to play Southampton: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric, Elneny, Xhaka, Pepe, Willian, Martinelli, Nketiah
Subs: Saka, Lacazette, Runarsson, Maitland-Niles, Thomas, Chambers, Luiz, Willock, Ryan
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own goal by Gabriel sees Southampton take the lead
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Arsenal U18 v Tottenham: Ejeheri; Norton-Cuffy, Kirk, Monlouis, Ogungbo; Patino, Bandeira; Hutchinson, Sweet, Taylor-Hart; Butler-Oyedeji.
Subs: Graczyk, Sraha, Henry-Francis, Ideho, Plange.
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Tough opening spell for Gabriel he looks sluggish due to fitness, but even if fit Mari is the starting LCB for me (when he is fit!).
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Martinelli unlucky with that huge chance from a good free kick. Had time to control the ball, tie his shoelaces and head the ball in over the goal line.
Will the Gunners make enough chances from open play to get back in to and win the tie? Coyg.
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HT: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
Arteta will have to give a great half time team talk if we are to turn this around, not playing well, creating little, and few staking a claim for a starting spot
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< – is it fair to say that the Gunners would be better off playing ten men instead of continuing with Willian? Painful viewing. Surely any youth team player would be a better punt if playing an under strength team against a strong Southampton selection above you in the league? Balo?
it is an education comparing Willian and Pepe with Walcott so far.
Cedric isn’t playing poorly but his being on his wrong foot is unbalancing the team imo.
Shotta, looks like there’s no rest for Saka today!
coyg
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U18s winning 2-1 v Tottenham at half time. Monlouis and Hutchinson scored.
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Martinelli needs a goal to settle him down. Willian has been trying to get more involved but struggling to make a difference. We look very off the pace.
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no subs on for start of second half, teams allowed 5 subs in FA Cup games
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3-1 Arsenal u18’s Kido Taylor-Hart scores, assisted by Hutchinson. 49 minutes gone.
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Pepe released by wonderful pass from Bellerin.
He falls over.
Followed up by Willian’s first significant contribution to the match, a foul on Walcott to stop him breaking.
Ings hits the post from a long ball over the top but there was a clear offside. Arsenal trying to push up, exposing themselves to some counter attacks now.
Odds on Saka on before sixty minutes?
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we are playing very poorly
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First half Soton played like the had a visit from Barcelona’s Doctor
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Partey and Saka on for Elneny and Martinelli, about ten minutes into second half
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57th minute! Squids in!!
A crying shame Willian stays on but Martinelli needs to be protected on his return from injury. Looking at the bench Lacazette for Willian would be a welcome call from gooners everywhere.
And immediately an attack from the Gunners and a half chance for Holding from the following corner.
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much better since we brought on the two subs
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Is it safe to say that having already won the cup arteta has prioritised the league and euro?
But I’d like to see him chuck on another striker for Willian. Soon!
A match of two deflections?
Willian & Pepe combine perhaps for the first time in this match to release Nketiah and his toe poke takes a slight deflection into the keeper’s hands.
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lacazette on for Bellerin, sees Cedric go right back, and Saka to left back
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3 minutes to stay in the cup
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FT: Southamtpon 1-0 Arsenal
on own goal by Gabriel sees us out of the cup. An awful performance, two shots on target the entire game, one in each half. We improved when we brought on Partey and Saka, but it was a very poor game from us.
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I’m strangely not too disappointed by that. Won’t do us any harm to have one less front to fight on. Eddie N had his chance for glory right at the end but it was not too be.
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What an absolutely limp surrender of our trophy. Don’t know what was going on out there.
Did I read somewhere we actually employed the services of a set piece coach? If so, he either isn’t very good, or he is not getting his ideas across.
And the sort of referee that reminds us why we never see English refs in the latter stages of international tournaments anymore.
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When are Pepe and Willian going to be excluded from the squad?
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Not cool.
We lacked cohesion understandably.
The effort was there but without a #10 we lacked seamlessness.
Pepe is going to test MA’s capacity as a coach.
Its looking like we are going to need options B & C in attack with Nico & Willian who we know are good footballers.
I imagine either Willock or Nketiah will be going out on loan with Reiss Nelson.
I feel they need regular football asap for their own good.
Oh well…so its down to the PL and Europa.
Might be for the best.
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There are players we need to sell.. … quickly and I’m certainly not talking about players who have come through the academy.
This game showed previous mistakes and it is important this window and in the summer we rely on players that have potential and will not cost massive wages because we cannot afford it.
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can’t see AMN staying much longer at AFC, he has now even dropped back in the pecking order for both right back and left back, not really surprising as he has mainly shone as a wing back not a fullback, he is a central midfielder by trade but is not getting a look in there, not sure how he must feel seeing Elneny get in CM before him, and we know AMN can play as a wide midfielder, but again it seems Arteta does not see him as anything other than a wing back.
AMN has 5 caps for England, as things stand he won’t be in the next England squad.
We it seems are about to sign Odegaard, so that will be another guy who will get midfield game time ahead of him. And it is reported we are keen on getting in a left back too, with Bertrand of Southampton, and Crystal Palace pair, Van Aanholt and Mitchell, all being mentioned, the 3 of them are out of contract in 6 months too, if any of them or any other left back comes in then AMN will be a step further away from the team.
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Arsenal U18’s beat Spurs U18’s 4-1 today, Monlouis, Hutchinson, Taylor-Hart and Ogungbo with our goals
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