Category Archives: Arsenal

England, Granit Xhaka & Liam Gallagher

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England

Well that was not fun was it.

After plenty of excitement in the World Cup recently, England defeat was a boring defeat as both B teams struggled to try and win.

Eventually England lost, which might be good, but might be bad. We will find that one out once we play Columbia.

After the 6-1 win over Panama, England were back to their boring best.

Granit Xhaka

I have blogged a few times about how much I rate Granit Xhaka. That he is a top player. Just played out of position.

Since joining Arsenal two years ago, he has had to deal with a lot of criticism from fans and the media.

Xhaka gets a lot of blame for the team being set up unbalanced. He has never really played as the deepest central midfielder.

He needs to be allowed to press and be aggressive. Sitting deep never suited him. He does not deserve the abuse he gets.

At the World cup for Switzerland, he is playing in his more natural position, with a deeper midfielder behind him.

By having someone behind him will allow him to get further forward, to be more aggressive in the middle of the park, and know he has a safety net behind him.

Against Costa Rica he was terrific once more.

Some might say it was “only Costa Rica” but it was only Panama who Harry kane scored a hat trick against. It was only Costa Rica that England drew 0-0 with at the last World Cup.

Next season, with Lucas Torreira set to be behind him, I expexct a big season from the Swiss man.

Liam Gallagher

Anyone else off to see Liam Gallagher at Finsbury Park today? Should be plenty of Arsenal about taking into account its location.

Pity The George has now shut down as it would have been the ideal back street boozer for a few pre-gig pints that not many would know about. Plenty of Oasis, Stone Roses and Courteneers on the juke box. It would have gone off in there.

Instead it will probably be one of the upmarket bars on Upper Street around Canonbury.

LG is not due on until 9pm, so my bet is an afternoon boozing before heading in for between 6 & 7.

I went to Alexandra Palace when he was performing there, it was a top gig. But the great mans voice is going. I watched his performance at BBC Music’s Biggest Weekend and it was underwhelming as he struggled to project his vocals in a huge, outdoor arena.

Regardless, with Liam, it has never really been about his vocals and more about the performance. He is the greatest front man of my generation and I am buzzing for today.

Keenos

https://twitter.com/TheRetroKits/status/1012062751664082944

Everyone needs to let go of Arsene Wenger

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Arsene Wenger has left us. Gone. It is a new era at Arsenal. The future is bright. It is exciting. We have had record season ticket renewals. But some people just can not get over that he has left.

https://twitter.com/WengerOut_Bot/status/1011302901044645888

Whoever this is pretending to be a bot whilst they continue to slag off Wenger 6 weeks after he left needs to really evaluate their life.

The Tweet is absolute rubbish for two reasons

“It’s the World Cup no one is available”

It is a complete myth that Arsenal did not sign any players during (prior or just after) World Cups as Arsene Wenger was working for TV companies.

At the 2014 World cup, Arsenal signed Alexis Sanchez whilst Wenger was lying on a beach.

In fact, in 2014, Arsenal spent nearly ÂŁ80m on players as in came:

Alexis Sanchez
Mathieu Debuchy
David Ospina
Calum Chambers
Danny Welbeck

4 years prior it was:

Marouane Chamakh
Laurent Koscielny
SĂ©bastien Squillaci

Maybe not the most inspiring list of names in hindsight, but Chamakh was considered an exciting talent, and Squillaci went to the World Cup with France.

In 2006, Arsenal were moving into their new stadium and high loan repayments had begun. This caused the club to tighten its belt during that summer.

Regardless, we still signed Tomas Rosicky before the World cup had even started. He was one of the top players at that tournament. Alex Song was also signed.

2002 saw Arsenal secure the services of Gilberto Silva, an ever present in Brazil’s World Cup winning team. They also added Pascal Cygan to the squad.

So in the 4 World Cups from 2002 – 2014 Arsenal bought 11 players prior to, during or just after the World Cup – I have excluded dead line day signings like Julio Baptista and William Gallas. That works out at 3 players during my loose time period.

“announcing players mid tournament”

So the Tweeter has claimed how much better things are since Arsene Wenger has gone as we are actually announcing players mid tournament.

Have I missed something?

So far Arsenal have announced two signings.

Stephan Lichtsteiner
Bernd Leno

We do have deals for Sokratis and Lucas Torreira in place, but these have not yet been announced.

Of the two players we signed, one was a free transfer – Stephan Lichsteiner. The Second – Bernd Leno – has not gone to the World Cup.

Sokratis is expected to join in a matter of days, like Leno he has not gone to the World Cup. As for the Torreira, reports are he is not actually available and therefore will not be announced until after the World Cup.

Arsenal are doing some brilliant business this summer, if it all comes off. But lets not pretend that Arsenal did not sign the likes of Rosicky, Sanchez & Koscielny in World cup years.

The problem with some people is that they defined their support of Arsenal by the manager. Being “Wenger In” or “Wenger Out” literally became more important than supporting Arsenal.

Since Wenger has gone, people on both sides of the extreme have found themselves homeless, without an opinion. They are struggling.

Many built a huge social media following based on their blind faith following or continual criticism of Wenger. Since he left they have been shown up for having little knowledge of football, adding nothing to the debate.

Instead of moving forward, they are stuck in the past. Constantly bringing Wenger up in every conversation.

Move on lads, move on.

Keenoshttps://twitter.com/TheRetroKits/status/1002294513518424069

Mesut Ozil and Arsenal to profit from German failure

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I want Arsenal players to perform well for their countries.

It is always England first, but once my nationalism is gone when they are knocked out, I go to supporting the Arsenal players.

Winning a World Cup or continental championship can make a player return different. More confident. A feeling of superiority. Knowing they are a winner.

Mesut Ozil’s Germany have been knocked out of the group stages of the World Cup. And how I have laughed.

Alongside Scotland, Ireland and Argentina, they will always be the enemy – we English have a lot of enemies don’t we? I also forgot about Australia; but they are more like an annoying little brother.

I expect Ozil to get the brunt of criticism for Germany’s early exit.

In Germany, he is treated the same way Raheem Sterling is in England. Criticised for everything. No matter if it is justifiable.

We saw the with Lothar Matthaus’ comments after the first game what some people think of him in the media in Germany. His comments most certainly had a nasty undertone. A hidden agenda.

Despite being one of the better players on the field in their first game – the 2-0 defeat to Mexico; Ozil found himself scapegoat. Dropped.

Whilst Germany won the second game against Sweden, they missed Ozil’s creativity. It was only through a stoppage time free kick that they avoided being knocked out in the second game.

Ozil returned for the third game against South Korea and was again Germany’s talisman.

And yet he will be criticised.

Criticised for a languid style, criticised for not being super passionate, and ultimately, criticised for being different.

Meanwhile the likes of Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer continually escape criticism.

It is not Ozil’s fault that the likes of Muller, Timo Werner and and Mario Gomez have had awful World Cup’s. Unable to hit a barn door.

Ozil can only do so much. Like with Mats Hummels headed chance, he can create a clear goal scoring opportunity but it is not his fault of it is a donkey in the end of it.

It was similar at Arsenal.

How often would Ozil float a brilliant ball over the top, or play a perfect through ball, only for Danny Welbeck or Olivier Giroud to mess up the finish?

Germany actually reminded me a lot of Arsenal in this tournament.

Full backs that bomb forward and do not care about defending. A midfield which offers no protection. And strikers who do not look like scoring.

I wonder what we would now be thinking if Joachim Lowe was set to replace Arsene Wenger at the club.

Ozil needs striker to finish off his good work. Dennis Bergkamp would have struggled behind these German strikers.

The different this coming season for Arsenal is we have invested in the strikers.

Alexandre Lacazette looked a much better player in the second half of last season, and as for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it starts to get exciting.

The amount of chances Ozil creates is incredible. Continually in the top 2 or 3 in the Premier League. Next season we will have a truly World Class striker finishing off those chances.

Ozil and Aubameyang are going to be a lethal pairing. Two incredible talents and masters at what they do. They will feed off each other. Make each other even better.

Disappointment for Ozil and Germany is good news for Arsenal.

It means Ozil will be back to pre-season training earlier, and will be fit and firing to start the first game of the season.

Mesut Ozil and Henrik Mkhitaryan sitting behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette.

This season we have the men to create the chances and to finish them off.

Keenos