On the day we learn that Gunner Jack is to leave home, we enter Round 2 of the World Cup group stages, where two time winning teams can book their passage to the knock out stages, while others can think about booking their passages home.
Today we have
1pm Portugal Morocco
4pm Uruguay Saudi
7pm Iran Spain
Tomorrow’s fixtures look altogether more tasty, which is good news for me, as I’m going to be busy.
Oh, and we’ve signed a Goal Keeper called Leno.
written by Micky Didit
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Thank Micky. Could be a dull day in the WC with only the early game being really competitive
Morning All,
Huge day yesterday at the Emirates.
Jack had to go, he had the chance over the last year to sign his contract and wouldn’t commit. He can hardly complain if the club took a strong stance.
If you are a new manager at a club which has been under the control of the same man for over 20 years there is a need to sweep clean. Lehmann with his big personality and his 2004 history is the Old Arsenal. Emery, for good or bad, is the new.
Leno: Excited. We need a new GK and if Cech stays he can be a very good sub and mentor. Ospina is sure to be sold.
– Very sad to see Jack leave and I wish him the best and encourage him to go abroad. I think Monaco would suit him best but Milan or Juve or Inter would also be ok. With Jack leaving, do you think El Neny will stay?
– Leno coming, Cech staying and Ospina leaving (Marseile is keen but as a back up so I can see him go to a mid-level team in Spain or a top 5 team in Portugal).
– World Cup:
-> Russia qualifying is not a surprise. The surprise would be if they finish 1st ahead of Uruguay.
-> Glad to see an African team win a game, at last.
-> Portugal will struggle ; Uruguay and Spain shall sail through
– Martial is available but too expensive, shame he is quality.
RC. Agree, would love to see Martial sign for us but way beyond our budget.
Lucas Torreira to be announced shortly. He is a CM, not a DM by the way but you can compare him to players like Kante or Naingollan or Verratti.
I think that there is one more player coming in the midfield but a true DM/HM: Nzonzi may be targeted but I would be well happy with Gueye from Everton.
I wonder how we will set up now…Imagine we move to a 3-4-3
Mustafi – Sokratis – Monreal
Bellerin, Xhaka, Torreira, Koli
Ramsey, Auba, Ozil
some gunners are already furious about Jack’s departure. According to them the midfielder that we singed is not half as good as Wilshere. Not sure whom they mean but I think they say Lichsteiner or something, RC will know
Eddie – it is Lucas Torreira. He is a big prospect, a player like Kante or Verratti or Naingollan. Gets the ball back and has a good first pass. He is different than Wilshere as he will not run with the ball as much BUT he is much better at getting the ball back and his first pass is key. He will fit in the high press game better than Jack but I am sad to see Jack leave as I believe he is now almost back to the player he was before injuries…
almost
merci RC
Emery keen on Banega or Nzonzi
Emery keen on adding 1 winger – Minslat looking at Forsberg especially but price tag may be too much so G. Martins would be the back-up option. 2 players that Arsenal could snatch from PSG are Guedes and Draxler. Both around 40 Mln EUR.
Oh dear it makes me sad to hear that Jack is moving on, I just hope that he can secure a good contract and play injury free for a few years. Based on his ability he should be in our WC squad but I guess Southgate must have been nervous about his injury record.
It’s like losing one of the family, but we move on ………..and hopefully it’s upwards.
Nice to see we have signed a new goalkeeper. Brend Leno is 6′.2236″ tall – so not a bad height, let’s hope he has the right skill level, and at 26 years old he has many seasons ahead of him.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11410658/sampdoria-torreira-has-left
We may get a chance to observe Torreira later today when Uruguay play Saudi Arabia.
is Torreira an Arab?
Uruguayan
Clearly the team is going to be more aggressive under Emery. Minslat is finding good value for money players – so far so good.
Bould stays as Assistant Coach by the way
Gelson Martins coming on
Martins did nothing. Carvalho simply not AFC standard – too slow and cumbersome.
Looking forward to watching Terreira.
Bould will last a season unless our defence improves radically.
I agree on Martins and Carvalho, hence my preferred options of Forsberg, Guedes, Draxler for the wings and
Gueye/Nzonzi/Banega as DM
Torreira is on – enjoy 🙂
Raddy according to reports (or even Jacks isn’t comment I can’t remember where I saw it) Jack had already agreed terms on a reduced pay contract, but was waiting til seasons end to sign and understanding of future plans. Think he knew something was coming before Wengers announcement.
Like RC I would like to see him move overseas where he would get more protection and potentially less games, as GN5 says he should be in the WC squad, on Friday we were devoid of anyone he could play a short pass in and around the 18 yard box to open a hole. Alli, Lingaard are built for PL where less focus on close control more speed and bluster.
Isn’t this the guy who came on as a sub in the Uruguay game
Watching Iran is like watching Stoke at the Emirates
VAR is complete bolleaux
Not disrespectful at all, Mickster, the lad got a mention – what else could he have wanted?
The Polish girl in Bargain Booze wasn’t happy about the Senegal result.
Carp was definitely off the menu.
I’m really pleased that the proposed ‘Upskirting’ legislation will also protect men in kilts.
ffs, blokes that wear f all underneath their kilts are desperate to get the whole lot out and have pictures taken. 🙂
Senegal game was terrible, crap not carp.
What is Bargain Booze, buy a home made bottle of whiskey for a pound? or vodka for 50p
Kilts and no knickers are the weirdest thing on this planet. They were elaborate outfit with socks, laced up boots, straps, buttons, hell knows what else and bare arse. Why? I think you are right they are desperate to get the whole lot out
Iran v Spain made my blood boil. I have to admit that Persians are the only nation I genuinely hate. I met many of them and have good reasons to feel that way.
And last night game made me hate them even more – fucking cheats, divers should be kicked out from the stadium. Their goalkeeper trying to get Costa sent off was beyond criticism – clown. I don’t like Costa, but he should have punched that twat to the ground, that would be worth sending off.
Otherwise rubbish game, glad spain won,
Crikey Eddie, so it’s Iran that tops your hate list. They must have done some seriously bad shit to top that comprehensive list 🙂 🙂
they did, truly horrible people with a huge chip on the shoulder, inflated egos, all of them were allegedly millionaires back in their country, sexist men and women dripping with paint. Liars and racists, to be avoided, trust me
they go nuts if you call them Arabs, I always do 🙂
Becks predicted Argentina v England final. The audience laughed laudly
Missed all games yesterday and by the sound of things I had a healthy wc day off
Much better looking fixtures today, with Denmark Aus, France Peru and Argentina Croatia
Happily we’re only on 32 comments so no clean sheets required
Eddie
I take it you’re referring to the losers of the Iranian Revolution, and I guess they would be a little upset. Bit like the aristos post 1789 French Revolution blubbing about not being able to have peasant slaves and enormous lunches anymore 🙂
Blimey, if Croatia win, Argentina are in deep trouble, if France and Denmark also win
Make that, if Croatia win and either Denmark or France win, Argentina will definitely be going home
BLOODY IDIOT DIDIT, I’ve confused Groups C and D. Sorry.
don’t worry micky, nobody read it 🙂
only I and i wouldn’t know group c from d
– Argentina – Croatia = best game and I can see a draw or a Croatia win
– France – Peru = France may just edge it out but I can also see a stupid 1-1 draw
– Denmark – Australia = Denmark will beat Australia
Do you think Ramadan impeded on Arab countries’ preparation?
ha ha I’m so so happy no-one reads my comments 🙂 🙂
Torreira played OK last night by the way.
30 mins outing – 3 interception, 1 block, 1 clearance, 1 shot, 1 key pass
Showed some drive to get the ball back and some decent positional awareness moving forward but needs to show more himself through better passing and cleaner ball recovery
RC
Are you saying Jack is better than Torreira? 🙂
micky – Jack has a better quality of pass but Torreira is better at pressing and getting the ball back.
Ok, so midfielders get the ball back and give it to the good footballers like Mhiki, Mesut and Auba to do the serious business 🙂
Micky – L. Torreira is exactly that type of player. Gets the ball back and harrasses to get it back. We need that type of player – you know the pitbull/barker. If Banega joins too, we are in for a treat in midfield…
What L. Torreira needs is to improve his long range shooting and he needs to improve his Key Passes (basically, improving breaking lines through passes)
Blimey, best go and google Benega
Holy smokes
Wiki: Éver Maximiliano David Banega (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈeβeɾ βaˈneɣa];[a] born 29 June 1988) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Sevilla FC and the Argentina national team as a central midfielder.
After joining Sevilla in 2014, he conquered consecutive Europa League trophies.
With a name like that and the fact that he conquers trophies, we MUST sign him up forthwith
I like Banega – he is an improved version of Xhaka and he can play DM and CM and even AM but all in the center. He is a bit slow though and has a tendency for fouling opponents
Fouling..excellent
slow…bad
being of croatian heritage and born in Australia, Micky, I read your comment then your follow up comment and then thought, best I stick to reading RC78 comments from now on
Eddie, priceless
Love the NZ politics, they’ve got it together…
The New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden thanks well-wishers and the “wonderful team at Auckland City Hospital” after giving birth to a baby girl.
VAR was correct in giving a penalty for Australia. I’m happy that football has finally arrived in the modern era and started to use technology to good effect.
GN5- Where on earth is the intention?
GN5. Correct????
How on earth was Poulsen meant to evade the ball? It was a dreadful decision, simply dreadful. As was the decision not to award a pen when Cornelius was hauled to the ground in the second half.
VAR is a joke and thank goodness it will not be used in the PL for the time being.
Now to see France draw (cross fingers)
BR – I think you may be right but I am hoping you are wrong
I was wrong based on FIFA’s definition is was not a penalty. I assumed that if the ball struck the arm when it was in an unnatural position (which it did) then it was a penalty.
Here is FIFA’s definition.
Definition
A handball occurs if any player, other than the team’s goalkeeper within his own penalty area, deliberately handles the ball when in play. A ball can be handled with any part of the arm, from the tips of a player’s fingers right up to the shoulder.
Cautionable
A handball should result in a yellow card caution if a player handles the ball for the purpose of deliberately preventing an opponent from getting possession of the ball. The resulting restart to play should be a direct free kick from the spot at which the infringement was committed for the non-offending side. If this occurs inside the penalty area, a penalty should be awarded.
Sending Off Offense
A handball becomes a sending off offense when a player is judged to have handled the ball to prevent a direct scoring opportunity such as a shot on an empty goal, or to have prevented a move that might have resulted in a direct scoring opportunity such as a breakaway. The infringing player should be given a straight red card and a direct free kick taken from the spot of the infringement. If this occurs inside the penalty area, a penalty should be awarded.
Not Awardable
A handball should not be awarded if a player is ruled to have handled the ball accidentally. This refers to a player either attempting to protect himself from injury, for example by placing the hands in front of the face and then being hit by the ball, or a player being hit on the arm by the ball without moving towards the ball and without being able to move out of the way. An example might be a snap shot hitting the arm of a defender at point-blank range. However, if a player’s arm is in an unnatural position, for example outstretched or above their head, then a foul should be awarded whether accidental or not.
Superb French defence, which is not what I expected!
ha ha ha, it’s not often my feelings sit comfortably with English fans, but they got that spot on 🙂
Some superb diving in the late game.
two of my most favourite nations, not sure whom I am supporting.. Great game
croatia it is. Argies are cheating
Argies cheat? Surely not?
GN5-
How is it possible to jump athletically to head/challenge for a ball that is in the air, without using your arms to get height and without them ending above your head and usually spread apart ( for balance as in action and reaction)?
Use springs, LBG…durrr 🙂
Right, how’s the game? Is the Arsenal target playing?
who, Messi? Of course he is playing
wow!!!
Massive clanger, superb finish
A goalkeeper’s graveyard in the last two months – Liverpool, Spain, Poland, Argentina….who’d be a GK …….eh Exile?
LBG, Why are you flogging a dead horse, I’ve already said I got it wrong!!
Like a game with a bit of needle.
Come on Croatia (that’ll be the kiss of death)
RC told us …
if modric was a couple of inches taller he’d be a giant
Wow. Reckon the Argie goalie will pay the ultimate price…. the vegetarian option for supper tonight 🙂
goalie? and what about the pathetic coach?
apparently it was 3rd goalie, top two were injured. But it was the whole team that failed
As much as you can say Willy screwed up, Rebic goal was superb.
Modric goal was brilliant and Rakitic goal so sweet.
3:0 against Argentina, it was not Tunisia but I’ll take the win anyway.
Morning.
Chas, Can we stick an up to date wall chart up instead of a post, as it’s getting pretty tense in some groups and people like me can’t remember who’s where
Also, unless it’s a smart interactive chart, we simply copy it each day so it’s up to date.
If you game on I’ll go look for a colourful one
VP
Willy screwed it up 🙂
(but..I can see Croatia as finalists)
next 10 minutes and I’ll do it
Revise that. If Croatia and Spain win their groups and round16 games, they meet in quarters. Yikes
.
can’t find an interactive one, or even one that’s filled in to date
are we allowed to print one with Daily Mail plastered all over it. At least it has all dates and fixtures with trackable paths to knockout stages
https://www.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12660701.ece/BINARY/Russia%20World%20Cup%20wallchart%202018%20PDF
An Avenger. Why not?
becks predicted argentina v england finals.
VP – have you ever been to Croatia?
bad news for the Travelling Vines:
supplies of Heineken’s John Smith’s Extra Smooth and Amstel kegs have been hit by an industry-wide shortage of carbon dioxide.
The CO₂ shortfall is leaving beer and soft drinks makers high and dry just as the World Cup and barbecue season get under way.
Seasonal manufacturing shutdowns have left the UK with only one big plant producing CO₂.
NEW POST 🙂