Good morning all,
This afternoon at 5.30 Arsenal take on United in what I see as a pivotal game for both sides.
Arsenal need to win to squash the lingering doubts that our recent run of good form is more down to our good play than it is to how poor our opposition has been. It’s been 16 points from 18 and I know you can only beat what’s in front of you of you, but Newcastle, Crystal Palace, West Brom and Brighton are about as easy a run as it gets. Still, we have taken advantage and since Smith-Row dispelled the ridiculous notion that we didn’t miss a creative player in midfield, we have in spells looked a much better unit and we can push to the back of our mind that we only managed 2 points from 21 previously when without one.
As for United, they were top of the table and cock-a-hoop until the worst team in PL history brought them crashing down at Old Toilet the other day. They will be keen to show that was the blipiest of blips and that they can mount a challenge for the title. Both teams have much to prove, so let’s hope it’s us that do the proving in a positive way.
We have had an extra days rest so that’s a slight advantage, but we need it because it seems some of our key players are carrying lingering knocks and strains, Partey, Smith-Row and Tierney, all may or may not be fit for this encounter. How many of them are fit and ready will have a big effect on how confident I feel when the whistle goes.
Will Martin Odegaard, the young man we have brought in to replace Ozil, the man we apparently didn’t need, be included in the squad or even the team? I can’t imagine it, but one never knows.
Which Brazilian will partner Rob Holding at centerback? The Covid hit young Gabriel or the age hit Luiz? Perhaps the outstanding game Luiz had in the reverse fixture (Have I remembered that correctly?) will tip the balance in his favour. It’s what I would do if Mari isn’t fully ready to start.
It seems our captain is not yet available either, so Pepe on the left seems likely.
Whatever happens we go into the game much more optimistic than we would have done a few short weeks ago and United will be less confident than they would have been a few days ago. I’m sure we are all looking forward to this fixture, which in itself is a bonus. The result and performance of both teams will tell us a lot today, let’s hope it tells us good news.
Enjoy the game and the weekend and stay safe
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
It seems to me that Partey is always as good as the most wishful thinking and optimistic bloggists say he is.
I have said before and no one seems to take notice that it seems strange that of he was that good a player, why were none of the big-spending clubs were in for him at the price we paid. It is not as though our interest in him was a secret.
The half an hour or so that I saw did not improve my thoughts about him.
The same applies to the abilities of Arteta who is talked up by so many, and yet we see little of it on the pitch.
3 shots on target at home is hardly top of the league stuff.
All of sudden, after a first half of the season when we were utterly dreadful, now, with a few wins, we are the bee’s knees and Arteta is the best thing to happen since sliced bread.
What fickle fans we are.
The weaknesses and dull play are still there. Even the ESR bounce seems to have worn off.
Remember that last week we were removed from the FA cup by way of another dreadful performance.
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Top effort yesterday with three first choice out, had chances to win, as did they. Home form all over the place for most clubs this strange season. Wouldn’t be the first time that Arsenal have taken a player not wanted by many others and made a huge success of it. Partey might be great for us, might not be. Think it only fair to give him a non-covid season to find out.
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Madrid Xtra.
@MadridXtra
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| The European Super League project continues. It will be made up of 20 clubs (the 15 founders + 5 invited each year): United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético, Juventus, Inter, Milan, Bayern, Dortmund and PSG.
@jfelixdiaz
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First place medal
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Fenerbahce gone top of the league in Turkey, and will soon have Ozil in their team.
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FT: Brighton 1-0 spurs
back to back defeats for spurs
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Yes we are fickle fans. Arsene and all great profesers say that wins and losses should not be treated as extremes but somewhere near the middle especially as football has such fine margins.
Unfortunately media pundits etc commentate about results and not about performances and so fans take their lead and never really understand a team can play well and Lise for all sorts of reasons some out of their control.
Partey is a solid player strong, a good tackler, and can carry the ball but he is at his best when he wins the ball and plays a simple pass for a playmaker to continue the move.
Again fans were saying he was brilliant after playing one game and getting injured.
The same goes for Martin after nine minutes he’s the best ten we’ve ever had.
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according to the Mirror both Villarreal & Real Betis want to take Reiss Nelson on loan
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Martin plays much more like a floating ten then ESR…
…a bit like…
…you couldn’t make it up. Really you couldn’t.
At the same age as these two fine young players he who cannot be named was exposing in World Cup knock out game with great hilarity how much protection the spent Terry and the likes of the bungling Maguire et al receive from the hopeless pgmob game managers, in front of a laughing world.
Ah well. Maybe this season they’ll recover from this horrific call which ruined the league season and possibly make up lost ground on Everton, West Ham, and Villa. Ground that wasn’t lost when the Kronke’s took over. How long will the upstanding expert “Ramsey and ozil can’t play together” even though we all saw them win three cups in four season, how long will the Billy big blaggers continue to sniff Josh’s Arsenal before they need to use a black hankie to wipe their faces? The shit stained grimace is not a good look!
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I understand people will be singing praises for the defence.
Whilst ignoring the parallels of what happened to the Arsenal after GG cut of his Arsenal, dropped Davies flogged Rocastle and Limpar to make a quick two Bob…I guess GG is looking at Raul, Edu and Kia and Joshy Bwoy and he is: well jealous.
‘Arry & GG must be watching this carry on whilst spitting bricks.
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Dear oh Dear. Utd allegedly had two decisions go against them in Sheff Utd game (not seen them) and within a week their manager is going to press telling them he has delegates report admitting decisions were incorrect.
Did Riley hand deliver it himself, on bended knee, promises to seek vengeance and ensure doesn’t happen again?
Ludicrous how on rare occasions something against them or even perceived to be they get the sort of attention etc so many incidents involving us or other victims of shite Utd decisions are more deserving of, ie halfway normal press would’ve demanded reports of game 50 to seek explanation of what they saw. What the fuck did delegate report say about that Fernandes pen at Villa last year?
Oh well. On it goes
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Ferguson’s influence very much still in evidence.
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Matt Smith returned from loan with Swindon and has been loaned to Charlton for the rest of the season
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Here’s our team news update ahead of Tuesday’s Premier League match at Wolves:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Auba has returned to full training. Our thoughts and support continue to be with him and his family.
Dani Ceballos
Left calf. Dani has returned to full training and his availability will be assessed ahead of Tuesday’s match.
Pablo Mari
Right calf. Pablo has returned to full training and his availability will be assessed ahead of Tuesday’s match.
Mat Ryan
Right hip. Mat is unavailable for Tuesday’s match. Hopeful to be back in full training in the coming days.
Bukayo Saka
Right hip. Missed Saturday’s match with a sore hip. Bukayo has now returned to full training and his availability will be assessed ahead of Tuesday’s match.
Kieran Tierney
Kieran is continuing to be assessed for discomfort in the right lower leg. Kieran is unavailable for Tuesday’s match.
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 2021 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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Joseph Olowu has joined Wealstone on loan till end of the season, his contract is up in the summer, so that looks like his time at AFC is over
Zech Medley going on loan to Kilmarnock till end of the season, his contract is up in the summer, but AFC have an option to extend if they so wish, its expected they will take up this option
BBC reporting that Ainsley Maitland-Niles is joining WBA till end of the season, AFC were reluctant to let him join Leicester City on loan, and Southampton pulled out of talks with the player and his reps as they felt there was little commitment or desire from AMN to join them
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Seems Mustafi is joining Schalke 04 on a free
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David Ornstein
@David_Ornstein
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7m
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Maitland-Niles has completed West Brom medical in London & will return to Arsenal to sign paperwork on loan until summer — no option to buy. Too late for Sheff Utd trip so debut should come on Sunday… at Tottenham @TheAthleticUK
#WBA #AFC #DeadlineDay
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Joe Willock set to join Newcastle on loan till end of the season.
no word yet of any deal for Reiss Nelson
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I wish Mustafi all the best: at times it looked as if he would be a quality player for us, but a series of unfortunate and much publicised errors reduced him to public enemy number one status. Social media has been predictably cruel today. I need Eduardo to do his thing and tell me which defenders we now have left, who is likely to play (and where and when). Funny old game, life and football. Few would have predicted back in August how magnificent Holding has become.
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Tierney’s absence worries me: just as he was starting to look game-changingly brilliant he is suddenly nowhere to be seen with one of those mystery niggles that always seem to pressage lengthy absence and eventual surgery. Kind of always felt his Mum should have been making him wrap up warmer in winter.
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BBC reporting Willock to Newcastle deal is done
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I hoped we’d rest Tierney for Newc cup game (felt like if not then, when? and surely would break down if playing every game at intensity he was)
Latter stages seemed to pull up sharply at one point. Camera tracked away but went down on haunches.
Think before next game was talk of him missing out. Played but was far more subdued than normal.
Out since then. We/he must have been hoping would overcome it as has been training at least a few times but obviously issue hasn’t gone.
Fingers crossed but signs aren’t great. Guess plan is that Saka can fill-in as 3rd choice after Cedric at left back
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well foreverheady our squad looks like it will be, baring any new signing today, and if the mooted outgoings are all confirmed, including Reiss Nelson, who Arteta said we are willing to loan out, but as of yet no word of a deal being close
GK: Leno, Ryan, Runarsson
FB: Bellerin, Cedric, Tierney
CB: Holding, Chambers, David luiz, Gabriel, Mari
CM: Xhaka, Partey, Elneny, Ceballos
F:Saka, Pepe, Ødegaard, Martinelli, Aubameyang, Smith-Rowe, Willian
S:Lacazette, Nketiah, Balogun
with Runarsson, Chambers and Balogun unlikely to get game time unless we get injuries
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on that squad above, I would not be surprised if in the summer window we sell Bellerin, Xhaka, Elneny, Pepe and Lacazette.
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Chambers too.
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still being hinted at that another club is still trying to get AMN, despite WBA agreeing a deal with AFC and the lad having done a medical, he is currently on his way to the midlands to complete the deal, but another club is said to be trying to hijack the deal
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Looks like the youth experiment is over.
How long before ESR starts warming the bench on a regular basis.
I think new need to be clear, Arteta does not want young players on the way up, but would rather have established players. This we will see Willian play more and more, and achieve less and less.
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seems no deal could be agreed with Reiss Nelson and he will stay at the club this season,
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Well I would have thougth that Saka, Smith-Rowe, Martinelli (and, should he impress and bed in, Odergaard) would be the exact opposite of the youth project being over. Up to Nketiah, Balogun and now if Eduardo is correct, Nelson, to prove that they should be considered starters.
Seems to me that Arteta has been very anxious to promote those players, and more importantly, take care that the older players in the squad are those who support and encourage the youngsters.
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can’t see Nelson getting any game time for rest of the season, 0+2 EPL games so far this season, and is up against Ødegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Pepe, Aubameyang, ESR and Willian for game time. Not sure why he has not been loaned out
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just a thought on AFC doing contract cancels for ozil and now mustafi, it now means that if club want them out this summer Lacazette, Elneny, Chambers & Nketiah whose contracts expire in 2022, know they can sit for first six months of next season and get free transfers in January 2022
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Medley’s loan to Kilmarnock confirmed
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Hi George, I’ve sent you an email but it’s to your 2015 one not sure if it’s still the same
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Mikel was never anxious to promote young players, injuries suspensions and club politics forced his hand.
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Mustafi to Schalke confirmed
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Shkodran Mustafi has joined Bundesliga side Schalke in a permanent transfer.
The 28-year-old World Cup winner joined us from Valencia in August 2016 and has since been a prominent part of our backline, making 151 appearances during his time at the club.
Technical director Edu said: “We thank Musti for his contribution at Arsenal which has spanned four-and-a-half years, more than 150 appearances and a prominent role in two FA Cup wins. Everyone associated with the club wishes Musti and his family the very best wishes for the next chapter in his career.”
Mikel Arteta said: “Musti has been a key player for us for a long period of time. He played a very important part in my first season as manager and I’d like to thank him for his professionalism and for always being ready when called upon. Everybody at Arsenal wishes Musti well at Schalke.”
Shkodran won two Emirates FA Cups, one in his first season in 2016/17 and the other in 2019/20. Although he unfortunately missed out on both finals due to injury, he played an important part in each of the cup runs which took us to Wembley. The German centre-back also played six times and scored one goal in our run to the Europa League final in the 2018/19 season. Prior to joining Valencia, he spent two years at Sampdoria after coming through the youth ranks at Hamburg and Everton.
We are also thankful to Shkodran for the part he played off the pitch. His donation of more than 16,000 meals helped vulnerable residents in our local borough of Islington during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, providing them with an essential food service they otherwise wouldn’t have received.
Everyone at Arsenal thanks Musti for his contribution to the club. We wish him and his family all the best for the future.
The transfer is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.
Copyright 2021 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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Ian, I’ve messaged you on twitter.
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West Brom have signed Ainsley Maitland-Niles for the rest of the season
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our 17 non homegrown players for the rest of the season
GK: Leno, Ryan, Runarsson
FB: Cedric, Tierney
CB: David luiz, Gabriel, Mari
CM: Xhaka, Partey, Elneny, Ceballos
F: Pepe, Ødegaard, Aubameyang, Willian
S:Lacazette,
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I think we have only 3 homegrown players over the age of 21
Bellerin, Holding, Chambers
so 5 players less than we are allowed under the EPl 25 man squad rules
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Newcastle confirm the loan signing of Joe Willock
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Arsenal’s January Transfer Window
In
Matt Ryan – loan
Martin Ødegaard – loan
Out
Mesut Ozil
Shkodran Mustafi
Sokratis
Matt Macey
Saed Kolasinac – loan
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – loan
Joe Willock – loan
William Saliba – loan
couple of other young players have gone out on loan too, Zech Medley, Matt Smith and Olowu
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What does it mean for us to have 5 less homegrown than allowed Ed? I can’t follow that one.
Think prob for the best for Joe and Ainsley to go on loan now, for them, but no way is it guaranteed for either they’ll get all the game time they want, or in Ains case play in position he wants.
Ainsley’s higher status (and wages and, prob, loan fee) should ensure at least a fair bit of action, but in both cases seems imperative to make a good start. If Sam even does give him that midfield start, and doesn’t go well for player or team, be lucky to get 2nd start there, let alone 3rd, 4th,etc.
On optimism side, just maybe, if either goes extremely well, will, as well as being good for them, offer slight increase on chances of them making it with us, and should definitely increase value
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rich all it means is that we have 5 less players over the age of 21 than we are allowed, in effect our 25 man squad will be 20,
I think it also means we could sign and include any free agent home grown player between now and the end of the season, but the player would have had to have been released by his club before the end of the transfer window.
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James Olayinka who is injured at the moment has extended his loan deal till end of the season with Southend
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this was our squad for our game v Man Utd
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Soares, Partey, Xhaka, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Lacazette.
Subs: Runarsson, Magalhaes, Odegaard, Willian, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Elneny, Willock, Nketiah
Maitland-Niles and Willock both now gone on loan
Ceballos claimed today, despite AFC saying he will have to be assessed, that he is fully fit and ready to play
Mari and Saka also back in full training and will be assessed too
Aubameyang was also back in full training today, but AFC did not say if he is available just that “Our thoughts and support continue to be with him and his family.”
Matt Ryan and Kieran Tierney both ruled out
so up to 4 players could be back – Aubameyang, Saka, Mari, Ceballos, and as I said two now gone, so for our match v Wolves tomorrow we are likely to be selecting our 20 man squad from
Leno, Runarsson, Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Soares, Mari, Chambers, Gabriel, Partey, Xhaka, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka, Ceballos, Odegaard, Willian, Elneny, Martinelli, Lacazette, Nketiah, Aubameyang, and maybe Nelson
so at least 3 of those to miss out, would expect its one of Chambers or Mari, then its likely Nelson, and either Aubameyang if he is not focused, or Nketiah if he is.
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we will have to leave one player out of our Europa League squad, think Runarsson the likely one.
Ryan, Ødegaard and Martinelli the most likely 3 players max that are allowed to be added.
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report that AFC Wimbledon are considering Chelsea Women’s manger Emma Hayes to become their boss and become the first female manger of a professional men’s team in English football
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Gutted to lose Joe and Ainsley and I think the club have delusions of grandeur if they think Leicester are our competitors this season. I think he would of been better with the Foxes.
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I’m not so sure Ian: there are loans and loans and I feel these two will be great for both players, as it looked as if they weren’t really in the starting plans. Let’s hope that having gone to PL clubs involved in variations on a theme of a relegation scrap they will learn a different set of skills and situations.
And I while I obviously have delusions of grandeur (at least as far as Arsenal and my weekly lottery ticket are concerned) I think we have every chance of finishing among the top 4 this season.
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well as for AFC getting top 4 this season, we have 17 games to go, and we have to play 8 of the 9 teams above us in the table, and we are currently 8pts off Leicester City in 4th
2 of the teams above us, Aston Villa and Everton, will after tonight have 3 games in hand on us, anything other than a win for us tonight will see us stay below them.
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