Author Archives: keenosafc

The Wonder of You – It’s a NO from me

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When we moved to the Emirates Stadium back in 2006, everything felt a little bit manufactured, and a little bit too corporate for many fans.

Highbury was home. It was the house we had all grown up in. Then it was as if we had won the lottery and moved to this shiny new mansion down the road. It was bigger and better than the old creaky place, but it was not quite home.

The move to the new ground (13 years later, it is not so new anymore) was the correct decision. It meant 20,000 more Arsenal fans could go each week (how many reading this had spent 10 years on the waiting list for Highbury to the get their 1st season ticket at the new ground?). But it also felt like Arsenal had changed with the move; chasing the commercial revenue.

From the selling of the naming rights, the ring of boxes and the invention of club level allowing people to buy their way into a season ticket ahead of fans who had been waiting for years, it all felt like it was only about the money.

Add in the badge being changed and at the time it felt like our club had completely changed.

Synonymous with these changes was a new song. The Wonder of You.

For years Liverpool had sung “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, Manchester City had “Blue Moon”. West Ham “Bubbles”. The Arsenal board had taken it upon themselves to try and manufacture an anthem for Arsenal fans to sing. And it was horrible.

The Wonder of You was a song made famous by Elvis Presley in the 1970s. It had zero connection to Arsenal, and Arsenal fans failed to connect with it.

It was so bad that the club had to put the words up on the big screen. It simply was not Arsenal.

After a few years the club realised that The Wonder of You was not working and returned to classics such as “Good Ol’ Arsenal” and “Right Here Right Now”.

There is plenty the club can do to improve the atmosphere at the ground – from campaigning for safe standing to telling it’s stewards to be less aggressive with those trying to start a song. I even support the drum that is planned against Burnley.

What the club should not be doing, however, is taking a step backwards. They should not return to The Wonder of You.

Keenos

Arsenal clear out set to begin

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Following a very good transfer window in terms of who came in to Arsenal, the bit Arsenal clear out has still not really taken place.

Before the English transfer window shut, Arsenal moved on the likes of Krystian Bielik, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Iwobi. They also sold David Ospina and Laurent Koscielny to clubs abroad.

Whilst the English transfer window might have closed, the windows in France, German and Spain do not slam shut until 2nd September, whilst the Serie A window shuts on the 23rd August. This means there is still plenty of time for Arsenal to move a few more players on.

Unai Emery dropped a huge hint that Shkodran Mustafi is off by not even selecting him to sit on the bench in the clubs opening game against Newcastle.

The Spaniard picked Calum Chambers and Sokratis to start the match. Mustafi did not even make the bench even though Arsenal only had one other fit defender (David Luiz).

Mohamed Elneny will surely not be too far behind Mustafi out of the door.

The Egyptian midfielder barely played last season and now finds himself behind Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, ,Matteo Guendouzi, Ainsley Maitland Niles and Joe Willock. Chambers would likely also get in ahead of him.

With the arrival of Kieran Tierney, Arsenal currently have 3 left backs – the Manxman joining Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac.

The feeling is if a big enough offer comes in for Kolasinac, Arsenal will consider it.

Monreal recently signed a new 1 year deal and would be unlikely to raise much in transfer funds. The experienced Spaniard was named as part of Emery’s leadership team and will surely stay about for another year.

If Arsenal do cash in on all 3 players, they can expect to recoup around £50million. This would take it to over £100m received from sold players, topping the bank account back up to go again next summer.

All is bright, all is beautiful, all is red and white.

Keenos

Arsenal’s missing XI highlights squad depth

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Arsenal’s victory over Newcastle was a well ground out victory in a game of few chances.

1-nil to The Arsenal the crowd sang in in a defensively display that would have made George Graham proud.

Winning away from home on the opening day of the season is not an easy task. The 3 points are even more impressive when you consider just who Arsenal were missing.

The XI that you could make from players that did not start would probably be a better side than the one which came back from St James’ Park for 3 points.

Emiliano Martinez will play 2nd fiddle to Bernd Leno this season. Whilst he is not close to the German’s high standard, he has performed admirably in pre season.

Arsenal were pretty much missing their 1st choice back for against Newcastle, with Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney all out. Add in David Luiz who was only on the bench and you have a decent defence. And that is without even considering Sead Kolasinac.

Prior to the 1st game of the season, many fans were putting their ideal Arsenal XI in paper. The majority that I saw had Dani Ceballos and Lucas Torreira in them. Against Newcastle Ceballos came off the bench and Torreira remained on it.

Arsenal’s record signing Nicolas Pepe was another player who unsurprisingly did not start. The £72m man has barely been with the club a week and only recently returned from Miami following the African Cup of Nations.

Mesut Ozil did not travel due to the well publicised security concerns. Arsenal missed his creative spark in a game of little chances.

On the left wing, Gabriele Martinelli got some surprising minutes against Newcastle, showing just how highly he is rated by the Arsenal management. You also have the more experience Kolasinac who could provide us with some brute force in certain games.

Finally last years player of the season Alexandre Lacazette was on the bench but not risked following a minor injury picked up in pre season.

I wonder just who would win between the two teams.

https://twitter.com/keenosafc/status/1160962955841822720?s=21

And we even have enough left to field a 5-a-side team over at Goals in Chingford: Macey Mustsfi Elneny SmithRowe Martinelli

Keenos