Rumors are that Barcelona want to add to their attacking threat and are keeping a close eye on Auba and supposedly Laca too…

Now, our forward options at the moment are:

FW: Pepe, Saka, Nelsson / Auba, Martinelli, Willian

CF: Laca, Balogun, Nketiah

Ideally and by the end of the transfer window, we would be left with 6 options rather than 9. Players that could be allowed to leave on loan are Nelsson and Nketiah and players that could be sold are Willian, Nketiah (yes him again) and probably one between Laca and Auba…

Auba was named captain and handed a hefty contract about a year ago but has not done so well since…Shall we then allow him to leave and join Barcelona? If so, what would be a good transfer value? Is it too risky to let him go, knowing that prior to the previous season he has been our leading scorer for a few seasons in a row…

Some say that we should let him go, some say that we should keep him…I am on the fence to be honest as he may just rediscover his form and be our leading scorer again…

In all honesty, if we were to let one forward go to raise some capital between Auba and Laca and based on last season only, I d say keep Laca and let Auba go but if you look at their records over the last 3 seasons, Auba is the definite keeper! What to do…

Can someone tell me why we are pursuing Odegaard to rejoin us for about 35-40 Mln EUR and we let Willock go for 25 Mln Pounds please? I am failing to understand…Thank you

And our season starts with a disappointing, but not all that surprising, defeat at Brentford. Our defense unit was tested early on and irremediably, we conceded a goal in the first 25 minutes of the game – courtesy of poor decision-making. We then tried to push harder and create chances especially through Tierney, Pepe, ESR and even Xhaka but to no avail. In the second half, the team continued to struggle with Brentford’s long balls and hussle and finally conceded a second goal – some say that Leno should have been awarded a free-kick and others say that top GKs would not even have been in that situation, it is hard to tell. In any case, with 15 minutes to play, we were 2-0 down and were not really causing Brentford any real trouble…

So we were indeed missing Saka, Auba and Laca at the start so that could explain a bit of our lack of offensive threat but what about our defense? It was bullied from minute one and Ben White was struggling the whole game while Mari was not really better…Ben White did well in a back 3 set-up with 2 big players next to him – yesterday, it seems that he was looking like a lost boy. Leno continues to be his usual self – a decent GK, nothing more. Lockonga looked promising for his first game but he still has a lot to learn and improve on. AS for Xhaka, our captain for the night, he tried as always.

So all and all, we can’t say that the team is looking more drilled or confident or improved as the same defensive frailties could be seen and the same lack of cutting edge in front of goal was also visible but for the latter, I am ready to give some leniency since we were missing 3 key players. For the defensive side, I am a lot more critical.

How shall we sort our defensive weaknesses?

• Finally get a better GK?
• Revert to a back 3 with Holding, White, Gabriel and set up in a 343 or 352?
• Splurdge on a real midfield enforcer?
• Get a new coach?

Anyways – a familiar outing and outcome yesterday against a physical team that had a simple game plan: long balls, go for the second balls and press the central defenders…

There is a bit of time to sort the team out still and apparently, the club is now open to sell Aubameyang to raise cash. Let us see…

At last…the Euro is over, the break is over and football season is back!

Arsenal starts its season with a tricky trip to the newly promoted team of Brentford – shall we consider this fixture as yet another London derby? The last time we played Brentford in the league was in 1947 and we won 1-0. Brentford is not a kind side to visit for Arsenal as we have 1 in 6 games (the first one basically) since 1947 in all competitions…But Arsenal usually does well in its opening game when played away – we haven’t lost such a game since since 2000 at Sunderland

In any case, Brentford is a well drilled side with a brave coach and quality players such as Ivan Toney who bagged 30 goals last year in the Championship. With the excitements of being promoted and having the fans back, Brentford is going to be dangerous. If we look at our pre-season form, our transfer window so far and our missing players, things are not looking too bright for the game today…I would say that the positives are that (i) Laca and Auba are looking rather sharp, (ii) Tierney, Pepe and ESR looking to take the game on; and (iii) White and Lockonga seem to be OK to start today.

Here is my predicted line-up:

Leno – Bellerin, White, Mari, Tierney – Lockonga, El Neny – Pepe, ESR, Auba – Laca

Here would have been my preferred line-up:

Leno – Chambers, White, Mari, Tierney – Willock, El Neny, ESR – Pepe, Laca, Auba

Our main issues remain the same as last year so far with defensive laps on Bellerin side and also a lack of penetration from midfield into the opposition box.

My prediction: 1-1. Toney and Auba to score.

COYG!

So in the past weeks, we have:

• Extended Tierney and Smith-Rowe
• Gotten Tavares and Lonkonga

and Arteta has indicated for each of them that they are young, energetic, committed and have desire (are hungry) and have quality (talent). He also mentioned that these are the ingredients he wants in his Arsenal team. He also talked highly of Martinelli who he said has, like Tierney and Smith-Rowe, the ability to also inspire others to raise their levels…

So at this stage, we have the following squad for next year (for sure):

GK: Leno (boo 😦 )

RB: Chambers,

CB: Holding, White, Gabriel, Mari

LB: Tierney, Tavares

DM: El Neny, Lonkonga

CM: Partey, AMN

RW: Saka,

CAM: ESR, Willock

LW: Pepe, Martinelli

CF: Auba, Balogun

I think that the players above would meet Arteta’s requirements and there are some interrogations about how WIllock will fit back in the team and then how Lonkonga and Tavares will adjust to the EPL…

Question marks over some players future: Bellerin, Cedric, Xhaka, Nelson, Willian, Nketiah, Lacazette

If Lacazette leaves, we would need adequate replacement for sure and I d also be more than happy if we invested in a solid RB and a better GK

Likely line-up:

Leno – Chambs, White, Gabriel, Tierney – Partey, El Neny – Saka, ESR, Pepe – Auba

Ramsdale – ?, Holding, Mari, Tavares – AMN, Lonkonga, Willock – Willian, Balogun, Martinelli

Good enough squad to challenge for titles? Not sure but it is Arteta’s squad and he is moulding it

Here is Dexter’s latest post – slightly edited:

“William Saliba….What the hell is going on here?

Either he’s not it and we should have sold him, or he is not quite good enough, yet, so would benefit from a loan to a PL club.

Neither has happened. I am baffled and the decision making of Arteta, Edu and others at the club. They are all rightly under massive scrutiny after last season.

For a club like Arsenal to fork out 27 MILLION QUID on an 18 year old defender smacks of either…

Gross negligence/incompetence or some kind of money laundering/tax evasion scheme.

Maybe that’s why Arteta doesn’t want Saliba anywhere near the club??? 

Blimey, when is this club going to get MOST (not all, I’m not greedy or deluded!) decisions right? When are we going to have a well balanced squad that features (at the same time) a good keeper, decent defenders, an actual proper defensive minded midfielder, an attacking/creative number 10 and strikers who can score goals??? 

Oh boy….

COYG!!! “

So are you feeling like Dexter? Is the club not getting enough decisions right? Is the duo Edu-Arteta actually not delivering? Are the people above them not doing their job?

So the Euro was quite fun this year with:

• The fans back in the stadium
• Some good games
• Overall good refereeing
• Overall good camaraderie between players
• The advent of a solid England team full of talent, experience and tactical nous (except in the second half of the final)
• A final between the best two teamsi n the tournament
• And the victory of a team that was brave on the ball

Now, we are back to Club football and I am looking forward to it to be honest but also I am expecting a lot from Edu-Arteta in the transfer market and would echo Emmanuel Petit’s sentiment that Arsenal has to purchase not only players with proven quality but also players with character. He said it was not only important to improve the team but also to keep our young talents, especially Tierney, Saka and ESR.

So far, we have gotten Nuno Tavares…and we have off-loaded a few players Luiz, Mavropanos and Guendouzi…

A lot of work to do still for our Sporting Director and Manager

COYG!

Our first recruit is Nuno Tavares – a 21 yo Portuguese who plays at LB mostly but can also play at LM and eventually RB…He is young, quite quick and athletic, a Under-21 Portugal player and he is the…back-up of A.Grimaldo at LB at Benfica…So we are now buying the back-up of Benfica to add some depth to our squad…I would have rather gone for Grimaldo to be honest but of well, let us hope that Tavares adapts well to English football and our squad. He is a very energetic full-back apparently and he may come in handy to support Tierney at LB over the season…

I think we definitely missed a chance to sign Emerson Royal as I am sure he will do well…

Tavares coming in may mean the end for Cedric and maybe AMN and definitely for Kolasinac…

Here is our probable defensive line-up for next year as it seems that we are building our squad form the back:

Chambers, Bellerin, Holding, RECRUIT (White), Gabriel, Mari, Tierney, N. Tavares

To all the English fans today: Good luck tonight! I am rooting for you but I believe it will be:

• A tough win if you win, beating Italy is never easy
• A tough loss if you lose, losing a final is never easy especially at home

If I were Southgate, I would play a 433 tonight:

• Pickford – Walker, Stones, Maguire, TRIPPIER – HENDERSON, Rice, K.Philipps – MOUNT, Kane, Sterling

I think Philipps has to press the likes of Verratti and Jorginho and he will need Henderson’s and Mount’s help. Trippier would start ahead of Shaw for this game for me as England needs to be more tight at the back…Depending on how the game evoles, Shaw, Saka, Grealish, Sancho, Rashford, Bellingham could all come in…To beat Italy, you need to

• constantly run between their CBs and FBs and Sterling and Mount could do that ;

• press Jorginho and Verratti and Philipp, Henderson and Mount could do that;
• Keep the ball as much as possible, this is where Henderson comes in;
• Not make any mistakes and take your chances and this is were Trippier and Kane come in.

My biggest worry for you is Pickford and also sometimes Stones-Maguire can be caught off-guard by pace and trickery and Walker can make a loose pass as well. Don’t make silly mistakes tonight. Keep tight, keep the ball and score.

CO England 🙂

Arteta was a youth player at Barcelona when PSG took him on loan and then offered him quite a good contract at the time. He refused to sign it and then went to Scotland before joining Everton and then Arsenal…His French stay gave him a good platform for a decent career afterwards…

Now – he has been at the club for 18 months and here is his performance with French players:

• Saliba, out of the squad from the on-set and we re not sure he is ever gonna play for us;
• Guendouzi, out of the squad quickly and then permanently;
• Lacazette, initially out of the squad and then back in it regularly…

Is Arteta anti-French players? Or is it just that they are not good enough according to him…When I see that he sticks with Bellerin or Willian, I ask myself the question…

COYG!

PS: Well done England to reach the final – well deserved. The perfect final with the two best teams of the tournament in it. It is going to be hard but England can do it. Saka with another good performance.

It is very interesting to see International Cups, European Cups and domestic leagues…and for me, it seems that:

1. The teams that can find the right balance between attack and defense do well
2. The teams that attack and defend together do well, sometimes beyond expectations
3. If you want to win a League, you have to produce goals first and defend well second
4. If you want to win a Cup, you have to defend well first and produce goals then…

Man City, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan are fine examples of this at national level and even Atletico and Lille who really outperformed themselves offensively without losing their defensive solidity…

At European Cup level, Chelsea was hard to beat because they were so solid defensively and clinical going forward. Villareal – same story. Solid defensively in the end and then clinical forward. But both teams were very much about asking teams to try to break them down…

Now at the EURO 2020, it is hard to bet against England and Italy at this stage. England is for me the favourite now. England is not conceding goals and better than that, they do not concede many chances. Out of the 4 semi-finalists, England seems to be the most solid defensively and I see them lift the trophy next week unless they really mess up mentally and unfortunately, Pickford, Maguire, Walker have a mistake in them and could be England’s downfall…but that said, I think that overall the team is super well balanced and cohesive with a lot of options at the back and going forward…

I think it is amazing for Saka to be part of this squad because he is getting so much experience and also so much exposure and will learn greatly from this Euro.

Sancho for 85 Mln EUR is a steal for Man Utd…I think that City will be pouncing on Kane. So both Manchester teams will be going in the next season as favourites with Chelsea as apparently Chelsea is pushing hard to get…Haaland

Anyways, another post on a very dull Sunday: no EURO 2020 and no Wimbledon…

So what do you think? England to win the Euro? Defensively strong teams win Cups?