Category Archives: Arsenal

Saka Superior to Bang Average Bowen

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I am not really sure where the debate between Bukayo Saka and Jarrod Bowen has snuck up from, but it all feels very futile.

It is being driven by West Ham fans who did not realise “WE ARE MASSIVE” was irony.

My feeling is these fans became too big for their boots because they were top 4 for a bit before falling away to 7th have now developed this argument in an attempt to stay relevant with the Big 6 of the Premier League.

The reality is, when it comes to Saka v Bowen, there is only one winner.

Bowen is 25-years-old and, grant, he had a good season last year. He is a decent player but certainly not top class.

The fact West Ham fans compare their man to someone 5 years younger is frankly embarrassing.

Saka is just 20. Comparing Bowen to him from a West Ham point of view is just a little creepy. Can they not compare him to someone his own age?

Bowen is entering his peak years. He will not improve much more than where he is now.

All the debate does is further highlight how good Saka is. The fact that people are comparing him to someone 5-years his senior shows how advanced he is in his career.

Whilst Arsenal fans talk about Saka progressing to be on the level of your Mo Salah’s, your Sadio Mane’s; West Ham fans talk about Bowen playing to the level of Saka. The two are just not comparable.

Lets role the clock back a few years.

At 20-years-old, Bowen was playing just 7 games for Hull city in the Premier League. Saka is closing in on 100.

What Saka is doing now, and achieved as a teenager, it took Bowen until his mid-20s to do:

By the time Saka reaches 25 – another 5 seasons time – I would expect him to be closing in on 100 top flight goals. Bowen has just 21.

This morning Saka has been linked with both Liverpool and Manchester City. That is testament to his ability that the two top teams in the league want him.

Meanwhile Bowen is probably going to end up at Newcastle.

So lets stop the debate now. Lets not even bother having it.

Bowen has had a good season and deserve his place in the England squad. He is good cover for Saka.

If you are looking for a bit of an indepth read this morning, I would suggest having a gander over this from the brilliant Swiss Ramble:

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Keenos

Saliba “descision” was never his to make – Now he needs to integrate himself into Arteta’s squad

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So by now we all would have absorbed the William Saliba interview. Despite him staying he wishes to remain at Arsenal, I am still conflicted.

For a start, I have always wanted Saliba to make it at Arsenal.

He is clearly a talented central defender and has a bright future in the game.

At just 21-years-old, Arsenal have taken his development slow; deciding to loan him to to get consistent game time.

Due to personal issues and Covid19, the season just finished was his first full season of senior football.

Playing 52 games as Marseille finished runners-up has done his football education the world of good. Saliba won the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and was named in the Team of the Year. He has also been capped for France.

He now returns to Arsenal as one of the biggest prospects in football. It is easy to forget that he has only recently turned 21.

With European football back in Islington next year, we need 3 top central defenders.

Ben White and Gabriel will start the season as first choice. Saliba will be cover on both sides. All 3 will probably start at least 30 games across all competitions.

The catch-22 is I am unsure about Saliba’s attitude.

Why did he need an interview to let the world know of “his decision”?

With 2-years left on his Arsenal contract, where he ended up next season was not down to him. It was down to Arsenal.

By deciding to let the world know of his decision stinks of a player with a huge ego.

Everyone remembers LeBron James and The Decision back in 2010.

As a free agent, LeBron was the decided to announce who he would be joining in a drawn out television special.

In a 75 minute show, he eventually announced he would be joining Miami Heat, rather than returning to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

the programme got a lot of criticism for being self-indulgent. But LeBron was a global superstar so it drew in the television figures.

Antoine Griezmann, who is a huge basketball fan, followed in LeBron’s footsteps by making a 30-minute documentary which culminated in him announcing he would stay at Atletico Madrid following huge speculation that he would be off to Barcelona. A year later he joined the Catalan club.

For Saliba to release an interview announcing his future is very worrying. It shows an arrogance of a man who has not yet really achieved anything in football.

Considering Mikel Arteta has worked hard to remove all the ego’s from the squad – the players who thought they were bigger than the club – Saliba’s behaviour could make him an outlier.

The squad Arteta is building is filled with young, hungry, humble players all pulling together as one. No one is putting themselves above anyone else. Playing the big “I am”. Saliba has done just that.

Ultimately, it will be down to Arteta where Saliba ends up.

We have seen with Matteo Guendouzi that Arteta puts personality and attitude on a high pedestal

If Saliba decides not to curb himself. Decides to not do what Arteta demands. And continues to display his ego, then he has no future at the club.

If the boss can whip him into shape and integrate him into the squad then we have a very fine player on out hands.

Remember, no player is bigger or more important than Arsenal Football Club.

Final thought: The “I belong to Arsenal” quote is worrying. Does he want to play for Arsenal? Or have we just told him he can not leave. And with Marseille on a transfer ban, that door is slammed shut. Maybe all this is rubbish and Edu has basically told him (and his representatives) that he is not going to leave the club?

Keenos

Killers at Emirates – Why Arsenal’s ground is still a venue of choice for huge events

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Morning all and I hope you are enjoy your bank holiday weekend.

After a few days of beer and sunshiiiiine todays overcast weather feels much needed. Will help me recover from sunburn and over indulgence. Sit and watch the cricket rather than be out in the garden on the rum today.

Last night the Killers played at Arsenal.

It is incredible that 15 years after opening, the Emirates is still seen as a prime venue for world class bands to perform as.

When you look at the 5 major stadiums in London – Wembley, Twickenham, Emirates, Tottenham and London Stadium – ours has a lot going for it to keep it relevant.

Whilst the London Stadium has huge infrastructure around it due to the Olympics (train links and hotels), it doesn’t really have the pubs to pop into to have a pint. You have to go to the other side of Stratford which just is not as attractive.

Spurs hoped their stadium would raise millions in NFL and music events. Their fans boasted that this would put them at an advantage financially. But they ignored that Arsenal would still raise money from these events too.

And as organisers learn how run down the area around the Spurs stadium is, the less interested they will be in hosting events there.

Tottenham High Road and the Seven Sisters Road are not exactly nice areas to be waking at day. Let alone at night with kids after a gig.

Wembley and Twickenham are iconic stadiums but both are a long way out of London with Horrendous transport links.

Meanwhile Arsenal has 5 train stations surrounding the stadium (6 if Drayton Park is open). It has links to lines North and South, East and West.

It is also surrounded by some very good pubs around Finsbury Park station, up the Blackstock Road and on Holloway Road. About 20 good pubs within walking distance.

The gig would have provided around £500k-£1m to Arsenal’s coffers.

For someone looking for a stadium to host a major event, the Emirates will always be a top choice.

Cricket will be interesting today.

60 needed, cloudy sky, England have a long tail. You feel Foakes and Root have to get us close otherwise New Zealand could rattle though us.

After 17 wickets on the first day, I am surprised it has got through to Day 4.

Not much else happening today. Jubilee celebrations aside.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Keenos