Hello and how are you? So, for the second time in our history as a football club, I’m happy to say, the Mighty Cannon will play in the Champions League Final, as we take on the French champions, PSG. KO 6.00pm local ( 5pm UK) in the Puskas arena in Budapest. Expected weather in the Hungarian capital is 24° (feels like 28°) with humidity at 45%, dew point at 12°. There are some thunder storm warnings (yellow).
In many respects, such was the intense slog and grind of our last matches and then the eruption of utter euphoric celebration in reaction to winning the Premier League, that the CL and our run in it, seem to have been put on a back burner?
Perhaps(?) for many of our fans, this is just something of a novelty as the PL reigns supreme. For me it isn’t so.
Our last outing to me, was beyond my expectations as an Arsenal fan, not since I started watching in 77/78 had we reached such a personally exciting moment. It really seemed audacious and ambitious.
At that point we had become such a force, that winning domestic titles and cups was almost normal? But the Champions League was something else, a chance to take our place amongst the elite of the game, in a golden age of football and footballers.
To me Arsène brought a different perspective to Euro competitions, in the same way, from my perspective, he changed Arsenal into a cosmopolitan club. To see his face at the end of the loss to Barcelona, trying to hide such bitter pain, knowing we could have won the game, was almost too much to take. I’ve only watched the highlights once since that night. It was one of two games I couldn’t(can’t) watch, the other being game fifty, a match that leaves me still unable to look at again.
For two seasons we have a good run in the CL, played some good football, and have beaten some great sides. Sometimes we seemed able to breathe more easily as a unit than in the PL? In many ways the CL has been a lot of fun, to play in and for me to write about, more than the PL. Looking back at all the games I feel a bit melancholic, it’s a tough metaphorical mountain to climb, and we’ve quietly and efficiently gone about our business, all those games and here we are at the final of it all.
Saturday’s opponents, narrowly ejected us last season at the semi-final stage, but anything can happen this 30th of May, anything. And that’s why I’m not going to even attempt at predicting at any aspect of this match.
I’m grateful to be back and I hope we can take this one in our stride, and lay aside the ghosts of twenty years ago.
For the last time this season I called up Statto HQ, and they stopped looking on Instagram and blurted out that Arsenal (Champions of England) have a 30.2% chance of winning. PSG ( champions of France) have a 40.7%. Next up, the world cup and the excitement of transfer (mostly fake) news! Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
So COYG!
Mills.
Thanks Mills. a fine season you have had.
It’s fair tom say that this game is the biggest for 20 years, and maybe ever? I say “ever” because we are a target of mockery from other fans because we are the only , what people might call, super club, that hasn’t won it. 20 years ago City and Chelsea hadn’t won it either, but now they have and it’s now go to banter for others to claim we can’t be a super club.
Wining it will make this squad and their manager immortals.
For once I don’t really care how we go about wining as long as we don’t simply try to stop them playing and hope for smash and grab.
Good luck lads, may the force be with you.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
There are reports this morning that ARSENAL have reached a 77 million deal +add ons with Newcastle.
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Norgaard to Everton for £7M has been agreed, deal set to be completed in coming days
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team selection for our game v Girona this evening
Arsenal: Arrizabalaga, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Havertz, Dowman, Tzolis, Gyokeres.
Subs: Meslier, Ranson, Clarke, Ogunnaike, Salmon, Copley, Julienne, Vieira, Nelson, Agustien, Ibrahim, Kabia, O’Neill, Harriman-Annous, Jesus
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a lot of guys there who are unlikely to see any meaningful first team action this coming season, and a few who surely will not be here by end of transfer window
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This is a terrible line up for our first real pre-season game. I think we are very unprepared and several weeks behind where we should be. I know that’s not our fault and circumstances have dictated our position but it is worrying none the less.
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The Norgaard signing turned out to be a real mess. I’m happy he has his move to Everton and I’m sure he will do well there and they will love him. I suppose he can always say he is a champion.
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not sure why, but several of my posts have disappeared.
Arsenal 1-0 up, Havertz. Seems their is a major problem with the stream on Arsenal.com
the times are reporting that Bruno will have his medical on Monday, and complete an £80M transfer on a five year deal
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Tzoliz makes it 2-0
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Dowman and Jesus also scored in a 4-1 win for Arsenal.
Newcastle journos now reporting that no Arsenal bid has gone in for Bruno, and that Newcastle are hoping their new manager will convince him to want to stay anyway.
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Man Utd being linked with a move for Myles Lewis-Skelly
Dortmund being linked along with a host of other clubs with a move for Ethan Nwaneri
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reports that Arsenal are in talks to sell Vieira, Nelson, Jesus and of course Norgaard. Nearly half a million of weekly wages in that lot
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Arsenal being linked with18 years old Blackburn’s striker Igor Tyjon, we’ve been linked with him for over a year now, it was said we bid for him last summer and again in January, he signed a new one year contract with Blackburn this summer, which is odd if we were in for him. The fee is now said to be £2M, I really think we would be far better off spending that money on Shamrock Rovers 18 year old striker Michael Noonan.
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First bid for Bruno rejected, clubs in direct talks now though.
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Ornstein says Bruno to Arsenal is in final stages and should be completed soon
Norgaard has completed his medical for his transfer to Everton
RB Leipzig in talks to sign Ethan Nwaneri, its thought Arsenal willing to sanction the move with a buy back option
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Martinelli being linked with a move to the Saudi league, also Juventus and Roma being talked about as clubs that are in for him. The fee is said to be only around the £35M mark, which seems low, much like the low fee being mentioned for Nwaneri too
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Deal agreed for Bruno, 75 million. Now where’s the defensive reinforcements?
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Selling Ethan, even with a buy back clause, seems crazy. With Ethan’s age and potential surely another seasons loan (at least) would be more sensible.
If your anywhere in the youth set up, and think even someone as massively talented as Ethan can’t get in the squad, then it can’t be good for morale.
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Vinni JR is a massive talent, but our success has been built on the unity and personalities within the squad.
In some ways Martinelli is a better fit. Obviously not as a technical player but just in fitting in with the nuances of the club.
Remember when Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle were flying and he brought in Asperilla. A fantastic player but he didn’t fit and the team fell apart. That was the difference between them winning the league and failing.
It has happened lots of other times as well. At the moment it doesn’t look like we will get Vinni JR and I hope it doesn’t have an adverse effect on other negotiations.
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Bruno, now given permission to leave Newcastle training camp in Málaga and travel for a Medical.
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I agree about Vini jr Ian, a lot of money too, Id rather have a coupe of decent players who enhance it enough but keep the balance. Click bait sure had a massive effect on summertime transfers. COYG!
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Yeah Mills,
I think we need a really versatile defender who can play all along the back line.
Another out and out striker wouldn’t hurt either.
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with you again mate. Even before Vini jr came into the zone, I was thinking about writing about this kind of situation for the first game.
trouble is Vini and Alvarez can really go missing in a lot of games. And the post November games get dark and difficult how would they adapt? But we shall see, could work out and they both find a home at the club and in the team. Question is could a Vinie jr raise the apirits of the rest of the team even higher? Another is we can play some dire handbrake football when commanded, how would he/they fit into that? But was last season this season? (LOL).
Anyway, glad its all just round the corner. Hope its going well at ACE, still gives me a smile. COYG!
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HT: ARSENAL 1-3 Betus. Two Kepa errors and one from Kai. Given the more experienced players have played the first half this doesn’t look good.
We scored from a set piece, Tzolis with a whipped inswinger.
Gabriel on the bench and will surely come on as will Mesli
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Iliman Ndiaye of Everton the latest wide left player we have been linked with, he should be easier to sign than Vini
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young Copley seems to have suffered a bad injury in the Real Betis defeat tonight.
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Norgaard has joined Everton
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The Emperor is back, unfortunately with Palace, but great to see him none the less.
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Cristian Romero being linked with Arsenal, but it seems although spurs are willing to sell him this summer, they are not willing to sell him to Arsenal.
konsa linked again too.
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Alvarez once again being touted as our main left wing target now that vini jr is off the table.
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Las Palmas working on a loan deal for Arsenal goalie Tommy Setford
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seems that if we want Romero we would have to meet his release clause of £55M,
I can’t help but think our link to him is to try and push Aston Villa to accept less than the £60M they are demanding for Konsa.
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confirmed that Alex Copley ruptured his ACL in the game v Real Betis. An awful blow for the young lad
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Ferran Torres now being linked.
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Arsenal linked with a move for Kenan Yildiz of Juventus, the 21 year old Turkey winger is the latest in a very long line of names being mentioned for a move to AFC
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Jesus’s agent has been photographed at Napoli, they are said be very keen on him.
Obviously we would have a place for an out and out striker to come in, if we are not going to rely on Harriman-Annous to fit in when needed.
I think Konsa looks a good deal but a two footed full back is also needed.
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despite his recent injury that will see him miss the start of the season I think Arsenal should be going all out to sign Eli Junior Kroupi
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Pio Esposito, is another name linked. Apparently the price will be around 73 million for the striker.
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