Qatar World Cup a success – in sports washing

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Morning all and happy Sunday.

I hope you have all done your Christmas shopping by now. If you still have stuff to get, I would suggest heading out to your local High Street.

Most major postal companies (Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, etc), have huge back logs and “next day delivery” will mean 2-3 days across most of the country. I have hardly seen Amazon fans on the streets in the last week, and normally at this time of the year you can’t cross the road without one nearly hitting you!

So the World Cup finishes today, and I am fairy non-plussed.

I do not really care who wins between France or Argentina. We don’t have a horse in the race (or player on the pitch), so I do not really care who wins – yes, William Saliba is in the French squad, but he won’t play and my connection with him is certainly not that of Henry, Vieira, Cazorla, Ozil and others.

I also have no interest in the Lionel Messi debate.

There are two types of football fans. Those that support a single club, and those that support a player.

I support Arsenal. Have only ever supported Arsenal, and will only ever support Arsenal.

The likes of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and more have fans that support them rather than a club. They change the club who they support depending on what club their favourite player is performing for.

And with many of these sort of fans coming from lesser nations, they end up supporting the country that their favourite player starts for, rather than the country they are from.

Win or lose I am English. I find it a fairly odd concept that people will be fanatical about Argentina even though they are from Nigeria, from Dubai or Singapore. They almost treat international football like they treat club football. Where they “pick” the country they support and continually change it.

Where will Qatar sit in the list of great World Cups? Again, I do not care.

The PR merchants will be out in force making Qatar seem like the greatest World Cup ever. But in reality the quality of football, shocks and competition is no different to any other World Cup of the last 30 years.

Every World Cup has shock early exits, some great football and goals, some horrendous games and a country that reaches the latter stages on passion rather than talent.

FIFA and Qatar will go into overdrive, trying to show the winter experiment in a non-football country as a success. But this is just diversion to take your thoughts away from the thousands that died building the stadiums. The states human rights record, treatment of women and more. Qatar is a perfect example of sportswashing.

On a side note, I did find the virtue signalling of the likes of Alex Scott hilarious.

Happy to holiday in Dubai, happy to go to Qatar to earn some money, but will wear an armband and talk out against the regime.

If Scott (and others) really cared, they would not holiday in these sort of countries. But I guess getting some winter sun is more important than slavery, human rights and journalists being murdered.

The next World Cup is in Mexico, America and Canada. Another sham hosting it over 3 countries that span such a huge land mass.

As for FIFA’s proposal for a new “Club World Cup”, it just shows all these international tournaments are just about generating money to fill the pockets of those that “run the game”.

Corruption in FIFA (and UEFA) is still high. It is all about how many millions those in blazers can take out of the game.

The best 32 teams in the world are European. There is no need for a competition to find out who is better between Real Madrid and some Chinese, Australian, African or Emirati club. Even the best of South American clubs are no better than your average Portuguese side. Brazil and Argentina are just Europe’s academy.

If you’re watching today, enjoy it. Celebrate however you want. I’m heading to Oxford Street for some Christmas shopping.

Keenos

Matt Turner is “Arsenal’s biggest winner from the World Cup”

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Matt Turner’s story is an extraordinary one.

Turner didn’t play football until he was 14 years old. He only took up the game to stay in shape for his primary sports – basketball and baseball.

He only started playing in goal during his freshman year when the team keeper was injured. Turner would go viral whilst at college, knocking the ball into his own net whilst attempting to catch it.

At 21 years old, he was still only playing at a college level, still not a professional.

Despite 21 clean sheets in 39 appearances for his University, Turner was not selected in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

He would eventually join MLS side New England Revolution following a successful pre-season trial.

Then 22, he was loaned out for 2 seasons to Richmond Kickers – the American equivalent of the Championship (but closer to the level of the Vanarama National League).

He would eventually make his MLS debut a few months shy of his 24th birthday in a 2-0 defeat to Philadelphia Union. He remained New England number one for the 2018 season.

In 2019, he would find himself demoted to 3rd choice for spell, before regaining his starting spot as his side reached the play-offs for the first time in 4 years. He would finish the season being named the 5th best keeper in the MLS.

2020 would be his breakthrough season as he was named the second best keeper in the MLS behind Jamaican number one Andre Blake. Fans and teammates would both vote him as Revolutions Player of the Year.

Turner would make his US debut in 2021, aged 26. He would keep a clean sheet on a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

2021 would also see him named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as start all 6 games for the US as they won the 2021 CONCAF Gold Cup. Turner would keep a clean sheet on the final and be named the “Best Goalkeeper” of the tournament.

Those performances led Arsenal to agree a deal to sign Turner in February 2022 in a deal that would see him join us that summer.

In June 2022, aged 28, Arsenal announced their new keeper in a deal that could rise to $10million.

His acquisition led to many questions from fans; not a surprise considering his age and background.

On paper, it looked like he could be another Runar Alex Runarsson – the Icelandic keeper came out of nowhere to become Arsenal’s number two in 2020 and couldn’t catch a cold. Possibly the worst keeper to every play for us.

Turner was replacing Bernd Leno.

The German international had close to 500 starts, with over 400 being for Leverkusen and Arsenal. It felt like a big step down from an experienced number one to an unknown from America.

Despite being US number one, Arsenal fans would still have been questioning his future prior to the World Cup kicking off. His performances out in Qatar have silenced his critics.

Turner has shown himself to be a very decent keeper at the World Cup.

He would keep two clean sheets in the group stages and would not be beaten from open play – the only goal conceded would be the Gareth Bale penalty.

Despite losing 3-1 to the Dutch in the Round of 16, Turner would pull off a string of fantastic saves and look like a keeper that was not out of place on the world stage.

Turner is probably the level below what Arsenal would need as a number one. But he would start for half of the sides in the Premier League. And that is what a top side needs as a number two.

If Arsenal fans were unsure of him before the World Cup, those fears must now be set aside.

Turner playing should not fill fans with the dread of Runarsson MK II. He is a decent keeper who has shown he will be able to do a job when called upon.

The American is arguably Arsenal’s biggest winner from the World Cup.

Keenos

Time up for two former Arsenal captains?

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Arsenal are clearly on an upwards curve. The biggest we have seen since Arsene Wenger joined in the mid-late 90s.

But with all evolution, there will be sacrifices. And like with that early Wenger team, some players will be left behind and sacrificed, even if they are fans favourites.

For Wenger, ian Wright and Paul Merson were the two most high profile players that moved in during his early days – with Merson replaced by Marc Oversmars and Nicolas Anelka taking Ian Wright’s place in the first team.

As Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal continue to grow, 2 fans favourites could find themselves surplus to requirements this summer.

Kieran Tierney

Manxman Kieran Tierney was a breath a fresh air when he joined us.

In 2019 we were at our lowest. The egos had taken over and the fans and players were more disconnected than either.

Then Tierney turned up and instantly connected with the match going faithful.

He was a normal bloke who just happened to be good at football. He turned up in short sleeves and shorts, listened to Gerry Cinnamon and gave 100% every game for the team.

Tierney was also a fantastic footballer. Arguably the best left back in the league for a time. And was also a fans favourite to take over the captains armband following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s demise a year ago.

But we knew we were signing a player with a questionable injury record.

Injury saw him miss huge chunks of the 2018/19 season with Celtic. He played just 9 games in the second half of the Scottish season prior to joining us.

It took until the end of September 2019 before Arsenal fans would see him on the pitch. And by December he had picked up an unfortunate shoulder injury that would rule him out for nearly 3 months.

He has since missed close to 50 games injured in the 4 seasons as an Arsenal player. In the last 18 months he has suffered 3 seperate knee injuries.

Tierney has also found himself fall down the pecking order.

Oleksandr Zinchenko was signed in the summer and is now clearly Arteta’s first choice left back.

When Zinchenko has been out injured, it has been Takehiro Tomiyasu rather than Tierney that has started.

Tierney is a a traditional full back. He wants to stay wide, get round the outside of his winger and whip balls in. And he is great at it.

But Arteta wants his full backs to play “inverted”. The slot inside to join Thomas Partey in midfield when we are attacking. Tierney has struggled with this role.

Ben White is firmly first choice right back, and Zinchenko at left back. Tomiyasu (who has also had his injury problems) is Arteta’s preferred option to cover both. That leaves Tierney surplus to requirements.

He would need two full backs – Zinchenko and either White or Tomiyasu – to be out injured before he sees any game time. It is not a good place mentally for a player who has previously spoken a lot about his mental health.

Whilst 3 full backs does leave us short, we have some exciting young talent coming through in Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Lino Sousa.

Right back Norton-Cuffy has taken a step up from last year’s successful loan spell at League On Lincoln City. He is now a first team regular in the Championship for Rotherham. There is no reason he can not step up to our Premier League squad next year to be 3rd choice right back.

At left back, Lino Sousa in January this year. The 17-year-old is already playing U21 football.

I would not be surprised to see Sousa follow the same route as Norton-Cuffy – a 2nd half of the season loan spell in League One before a full season of Championship football next season.

With 3 ahead of him, and 2 talented youngsters knocking at the door, it might be a good time to cash in on Tierney.

Rob Holding

I love Rob Holding. He is living every fans dream.

Signed from Bolton in 2016, he probably never dreamed that he woukld play 150 times for The Arsenal, and play such a key role in the heart of the defence as we won two FA Cups.

Every top side needs a Holding.

4th choice centre back, he is solid, dependable and – most importantly – a top professional.

He realised he is “onto a good thing” at Arsenal and is clearly not pushing to leave.

Like Tierney, he was part of the “leadership group” prior to this season, and would often wear the captains armband in the Europa League.

But against Zurich in the final Europa League game, it was new signing Gabriel Jesus that captained the team rather than either Holding or Tierney.

That raises the question as to whether Holding or Tierney are even part of the leadership group anymore?

Based on who has warn the armband this season, it is Martin Odegaard, Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Jesus. You would imagien Ghana captain is also part of the leadership team, and potentially Gabriel Magalhaes on behalf of the defence.

Rob Holding would still have a future at the club as 4th choice central defender, but that is a role he might end up losing in the near future.

As mentioned, Ben White is now first choice right back. His performances there got him into the England World Cup squad.

That leaves Arsenal with just 3 “specialist” centre backs – William Saliba, Gabriel and Holding.

So it is likely that we will look to sign a new 3rd choice defender this summer. Potentially someone who plays on the left hand side of 2.

That individual would be closer to the quality of Gabriel and Saliba than Holding is. They would give Arteta quality cover for his favoured pair without having to move White inside.

White would then perform the dual role of 1st choice right back, 4th choice central defender. The result is Holding would be pushed down to 5th choice centre back and probably never see a minutes football.

Plenty will probably disagree that this could be the last season we see Holding and Tierney in an Arsenal shirt. But you can not stand in the way of progression.

This season both have fallen out of Arteta’s leadership group and are very much fringe players.

As we continue to strive to improve the team, the squad, both could be left further behind.

There would be plenty of Premier League interest in the pair, and this summer could be the last we can sell either before their value declines due to lack of game time.

In Rob Holding’s case, he only has 18 months left on his contract (although Arsenal do have an option of an additional year).

One thing we can all agree on is Arsenal need to do a better job selling players. And key in that is selling at the right time.

This summer could be the right time for Holding and Tierney.

Keenos