Apologies for writing so late, I didn’t have such a bad flu in my life (or blame it on me turning 30).
We are getting closer to the grand opening of this season. It’s still a couple of weeks but then we have today’s Emirates cup and next week’s Community Shield to look forward to.
We are playing Monaco today in the Emirates cup. It’s a pre-season friendly cup we invented ourselves where we invite teams from Europe for a game at our home ground. As we are getting closer to the season’s opener, each game improves players’ match fitness, allows Arteta to decide best playing XI and refine his in-game strategies. Both the games are crucial in that aspect.
We have the line up out already and game starts in another 30min. Ramsdale starts which is a given (Raya doubts it for the future), lots of changes in back 4 with Timber, Kiwior and Tomiyasu starting ahead of White, Gabriel and Zinny/Tierney. We are also going to see the partnership of Rice and Partey today, for which I’m pretty excited. Both Smith Rowe and Vieira start, so I’m not sure who takes Saka’s position and who starts in the midfield. We will get to know very soon.
Martinelli gets back into the playing XI and Nketiah replaces Gabriel Jesus, who has an ankle injury to be assessed later.
I’m seeing lots of confidence from Mikel in Kiwior and Timber. That’s good when you consider the fact that he was very stubborn in rotation last season. Keep em sharp when the need be. Since Partey is staying, which I always wanted, the dependency on Havertz to play the Xhaka’s role is not a must now. Rice can do that, or can’t – we will find that out too.
We have some fierce competition up top, when you will see one of the Trossard and Martinelli sitting on bench. Hopefully Jesus injury is not bad, and Nketiah proves why letting him go shouldn’t be an option.
Right, short one today, I’ll be watching the game and can’t miss to read your opinion about today’s game.
Cheers.
Smith Rowe tracking back and saving one as a CB. Lol.
Partry is a delight to watch, both defensively and while in transition. It was nuts to even think of letting him go, before we are sure Rice is at least at par with him.
That was a brilliant ball from Rice. Should have been a goal.
Another Rice ball, Nketiah should have done better.
It’s going to get very difficult to decide who is better – Trossard or Martinelli.
relatively pedestrian affair…of much greater import, Jesus has been shelved again for a “minor” knee procedure…on the same knee he injured last season, I might add…could be nothing, as MA seemed to suggest in the post-game presser, but can we really afford to roll that dice after what transpired last year…just imagine if we sold Balo and likewise paid 40+ for another Keeper, then had to rely heavily on the mad poacher and a shoehorned Havertz up top, as that could be quite a shit show
I was feeling very little enthusiasm for the coming season but when you hear we’re looking at a replacement keeper (so that’s 2 new members of the back 5 to gel – the area of the pitch where relationships are the most critical) and our main striker is having surgery on the same knee he had problems with last season it really doesn’t help.
I think Rice and Timber have the potential to be very good signings, Havertz I have bad vibes about I’m just not sure he’s cut out for the PL.
My overriding feeling is we’re being sold “it’s a rebuild job” when we never saw the completed item in the first place. I can’t get past the take that Arteta’s a con man who will convince the owners and many fans that success is a season away whilst constantly replacing players he’s brought in.
Love these European nights, the romance of these early rounds is the closest thing to the European nights of my youth. Am following the scoreline of Haverfordwest KP,they’re still battling. Crusaders of NI took Rosenborg to et in Norway only to lose 4-3. Derry City look like being the league of Ireland’s last man standing. What a story behind that club. Only alive because for once Uefa’s bureaucrats saw sense and agreed to allow them play in the Republic’s league(LOI) back in the 80″s.
As for Arsenal I’m disappointed we didn’t try to sign Olise if it’s true he’s really going fo 35mil. I think he’s class. Not Saka levels but who is? Good enough to be a game changer in the right hands.
I was never a fan of Ramsdale,for me he is a 6 out of 10 keeper. But shelling out 40 mill for Raya who is prob a 6 1/2 out of 10 makes no sense to me. Ditch them both,buy Maignan and an experienced back up and we’re immediately better for the same money. It seems that Arteta is determined to improve painstakingly slowly at great expense. Maybe I’m impatient but just go buy the best and be done with it( where possible obviously).
I’m still of the opinion that city are going to buy one more star offensive player,especially if Silva goes to Barca. Don’t be surprised to see that Napoli wondered turning up there now that they have sealed Gvardiol.
We have as easy a start to the prem as you can get really given how competitive it’s going to be so hopefully we’ll have bedded down our starting 11 before the big games come round. I still feel despite all the money our entire season hinges on Saka’s form and health. Given the time and money Arteta has had I think that’s an unnecessary gamble. We’ll see.
They scored!! Go on Haverfordwest!! Extra time. KP I hope you’re watching and enjoying!
Feck it anyway KP,all good things….
Still,some achievement for the Faroes team to get to the next round I’d imagine that doesn’t happen too often.
Hard to believe the championship is kicking off tomorrow night,Sheffield wed v saints,two big clubs. Becoming increasingly difficult to call that league,wouldn’t touch it in terms of betting. But brilliant fun to watch. Very strange that Wednesday and their boss parted ways after promotion,there’s a story there yet to be told.
I have so many teams I look out for on any given weekend,surely one of them will get a good start! Arsenal, obviously, Charlton in lge one and Wealdstone in the conference. Celtic in Scotland and I’m on the Wrexham bandwagon aswell. Then for the purposes of schadenfreude I eagerly await the results of man utd,Liverpool,Chelsea,City,spurs and rangers. I also have a strong dislike of Birmingham and Crystal Palace. God I love football.
New post.