Category Archives: Arsenal

Support England; Regardless of Spurs

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“I can not bring myself too support a team with Spurs players in it.”

I have that heard muttered a few times by English Arsenal fans who are refusing to back England in the World Cup due to Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Danny Rose being in the squad.

It’s childish and stupid. Grow up.

So what if England have a few players from Spurs, or Liverpool, or Chelsea, or whoever?

Does it matter that Harry Kane is scoring the goals? Cheer for the 3 lions, the England shirt, the England goal, regardless who is weak for or who scores it.

When we played Colombia, there were English Arsenal fans who wanted Harry Kane to miss his penalty. For David Ospina to save it. They wanted Colombia to go through.

Yet at the heart of Colombia’s defence is Davison Sanchez. A Spurs player.

So you want England to lose due to them having a few Spurs players, and then Colombia to win, even though they have Spurs players? You are happy Spurs players being successful, just not for England, it seems.

If it isn’t England you are backing (and this blog is aimed at English Arsenal fans; not those from other nations), who do you want to win?

Many of you will probably say “Belgium”. They seem to have become the neutrals favourite alongside Croatia.

Belgium have 3 Spurs players in their squad.

They have an additional 8 players from Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool. That is 11 players from Premier League rivals…

How about France? Their captain is also the captain of Spurs (Hugo Lloris) and they contain 5 players from that lot, Chelsea, Man City & Man U.

We are at war with Russia. It might not be a war that we see, but it is a war, in cyber space, in Syria, in Salisbury, but it is still war.

That leaves Sweden and Croatia.

The point is, by saying you don’t want England to win due to having too many Spurs players, it means someone else will win. Probably another team with a big load of Spurs players. Or Liverpool. Or Chelsea, Man U or Manchester City.

If we win it, Spurs fans might gloat that they won the World Cup. They did not. England won it. It just shows that Spurs are like West Ham – who claim 1966 as on of their honours. Both clubs have such little domestic success that they have to claim success with England, or former players winning trophies once they have left.

For me, I want it to come home. I want to be cheering the 3 lions on to victory today. I want to be cheering us on next Sunday to victory.

It’s coming home

Keenos

New signings and contract extensions galore at The Arsenal

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How refreshed do Arsenal feel at the moment?

I have said it a few times before, since Arsene Wenger left, the club feels like a breath of fresh air.

The last couple of years under the Frenchman felt stale and predictable. Our transfers resembled someone playing roulette nobody can be successful without a proper strategy.

No matter what happened people would moan. Fans were staying away, many of those that went were struggling to maintain interest. There was a lack of enthusiasm at the club.

Everything feels different this summer.

From the huge turnover of backroom staff at London Colney, to the new ideas and vigour bought by the axis of power now leading the club. It all just feels fresh, feels exciting.

Add in record season ticket renewals and it is only the real bitter people, those with an agenda, an online personality and following based on negativity that continue to moan and complain.

One look at the BBC home page highlights how positive things are…

We have Calum Chambers signing his new contract – a surprise considering many thought he would leave the club.

Then we have the signings, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Bernd Leno both having joined the club in the last 2 weeks.

They create a bit of a shit sandwich with the only disappointing news on the page being about Jack Wilshere leaving the club. Although this is the right decision for both.

We then have even more positive contract news.

Granit Xhaka, who I think will have a massive season next year as he is pushed further forward, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles signing new deals.

There is still plenty of talk about Lucas Torreira, who is expected to join after the World Cup  as well as the news of Arsenal signing Stephan Lichsteiner on a free transfer fro Juventus.

The last bit of news on the site that will hopefully be concluded within the next week is Aaron Ramsey’s new contract.

It is still unsigned, but the feeling is it is only a matter of time.

However you felt about Arsenal in recent years, there has been plenty to be positive about in the last 3 qweeks.

I am buzzing for the new season.

Keenos

9 went, just ONE remains

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EIGHT  Arsenal players were selected to go to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This increased to 9 once Arsenal announced a pre-contract agreement with Stephan Lichtsteiner. Of the 9, just one remains.

First to be knocked out was Mohamed Elneny’s Egypt.

With Mohamed Salah still crying over hurting his shoulder, Egypt finished bottom of their group as one of only 2 sides to fail to get a point – the other being Panama.

Alex Iwobi’s Nigeria still the hearts of millions with their popular kit, and would probably consider themselves unlucky to have been knocked out in the group stages.

In one of the toughest groups alongside Argentina, Croatia and Iceland, they were looking like going through at Argentina’s expense until an 86th minute goal by Marcus Rojo destroyed the hopes of a nation; and at the same time the behaviour of Diego Maradona shaming a nation.

The coked up drug treat showing that he was not becoming classy with age by making offensive hand gestures towards Nigeria fans at the final whistle. And getting paid by FIFA to do so.

Mesut Ozil took the brunt of the blame for Germany’s group stage exit. The strong criticsm feels like it has a nasty undertone as Ozil was certainly not amongst the worst players for his national side.

Ozil is a little bit different. A Muslim of Turkish heritage. Whilst the likes of Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich escaped criticism, Ozil became a figure of hate within Germany. However Germany’s early exit could benefit Arsenal as there is talk that he could now retire from playing for his country.

Joel Campbell’s Costa Rica finished bottom of a tough group that contained Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia. He set up a goal and one a penalty in their final game, but he and his country failed to hit the high notes that they did 4 years ago.

Spain would have been delighted with their last 16 knock out game tie against lowest ranked (and hosts) Russia. They lost on penalties, sending Nacho Monreal home. The Spaniard has basically had a 2 weeks holiday in Russia as he failed to play a game.

Another surprising result, although not as severe, was Switzerland losing 1-0 to Sweden sending home Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner.

In the final game of the last 16, England knocked out Colombia on penalties.

Keeper David Ospina could have been the hero, saving from Jordan Henderson. But two missed penalties from Colombia and then Ospina’s weak wrists saw the South American side get knocked out, upsetting that coke head Maradona.

England and Welbeck were through, Colombia out.

With pre-season training already beginning, Arsenal have a strong 16 players already back at London Colney preparing for the new season.

The early exits by some  means that the likes of Mesut Ozil could well return for the first game of the season against Manchester City.

Is the ideal final England v Uruguay? 0-0 when Lucas Torreira breaks Harry Kanes face, Welbeck comes on, scores, England win 1-0.

It’s coming home guys, it’s coming home.

Keenos