April Fools, Crystal Palace and Arteta

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Morning.

Did you spot our little bit of fun yesterday?

Of course, the story was an April Fools. Most seemed to spot it but it was picked up by a few bloggers and YouTubers who ran with it thinking it was a real article.

Onto today and we face Southampton. We have no game today, with the TV companies deciding to have us on Monday night against Crystal Palace.

Hi he knowledge that we do not play today has suddenly thrown my weekend into chaos.

I have some work to do on the old laptop and was planning to coincide that with the game. No I will have to get it done whilst watching something else. Anything decent on Netflix lately?

The match versus the Saints Crystal Palace is one of a few tricky away games mid-table teams.

We still have to visit the likes of Southampton, West Ham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace. These games will not be easy and is why I am a little uncomfortable with the “favourites” tag we have for top 4.

What could be in our favour is as these teams begin to have very little to play for, their minds could wander to the beach.

And with West Ham, their progress in the Europa League could be hugely beneficial to our hopes – they are potentially due to play a semi final either side of our game.

If they progress to the next round, they are surely putting the kids out against us.

Top 4 is in our hands. We just need to keep ticking off those wins.

Mikel Arteta won Manager of the Month for the second time this season.

I do not really care for personal awards in a team game. Give me a Yaya Sanogo’s FA Cup winners medal over Harry Kane’s 7 Player of the Month trophies any day.

But it does show that we were right to stick with Arteta during a sticky period. We will only continue to grow with him at the helm. He just seems to get it.

Enjoy your Saturday. And if you are travelling down to the south-cost, you are leaving a few weeks early.

Keenos

KSE set to sell Arsenal stadium

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Today we can exclusively reveal that the Kroenke’s plan to sell the Emirates Stadium…to themselves

The stadium is currently wholly owned by The Arsenal Football Club Public Limited Company (AFC), who are part of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) – the American sports and entertainment company that Stan Kroenke uses as the parent company for all his sports holdings.

In details revealed to us, KSE will buy the stadium from AFC for £120million before leasing it back to the club.

AFC will sign a 99 year lease with KSE, reportedly worth £10million per annum.

In 2020, KSE loaned AFC around £184million which allowed the club to pay off the stadium debt owned to Barclays Bank.

That debt was basically transferred to KSE who were able to take advantage of lower interest rates to reduce AFC’s repayments.

Whilst AFC will no longer own their stadium, they will still be required to pay back the loan KSE at the existing terms.

With ownership of the stadium, KSE will also be able to take financial advantage of events outside of football.

It is expected that KSE will begin pushing to host at least one L.A. Rams regular season game at the Emirate Stadium, as well as boxing and music events.

It is unclear at the time of writing whether income from naming rights of the stadium will be paid to KSE or AFC.

Ruith na’Cuthaige

Arsenal to be Rashford’s Savior

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Marcus Rashford has had a tough 12 months.

Whilst Bukayo Saka took his England penalty miss in his stride and has become one of the best players in England, Rashford’s career has gone in the opposite trajectory since that night in Wembley.

There is a lot to admire about Rashford as a human being.

He has spoken up numerous times in the last 12 months about injustices in the UK and abroad. Always speaking with much intelligence and maturity beyond his 24 years.

But putting your head above the parapet and daring share an opinion also leads to much criticism.

We saw it with Hector Bellerin when he opened up on numerous topics including climate change and race. Many demanded he “concentrate on his football” and stop trying to lecture others.

But he was not lecturing others. He was merely sharing his opinion.

And Rashford is in the same boat.

Whilst it is undeniable that his form has dropped since he spoke out on matters such as school meals and racism, it is unfair to say this is cause and reaction.

Footballers, just like anyone else in society, are allowed to share their view on matters. Sharing his views does not directly affect performance.

So why has he dropped off?

Rashford is clearly suffering mentally.

He took horrendous abuse after missing that penalty. That was coupled with the abuse he was already taking after daring to share his views. Add in playing in a disjointed Manchester United, he looks completely shot of any sort of confident or belief in himself.

Rashford’s drop in form is not an ability problem. It is a mental one.

He needs to be loved again. To have a coach believe in him. To put his arm around him. And Mikel Arteta could be that man.

Arteta has shown he likes players who are intelligent. Who he can mould.

We saw the impact Arteta had on Raheem Sterling at Manchester City when he was facing similar struggles and criticism.

I am confident that if Rashford joined Arteta’s revolution, he will flourish.

But is Rashford what Arsenal need? I would say yes.

Playing out wide on the left, cutting inside onto his right, he is dangerous. He would provide Arsenal with an excellent option on the left hand side competing with Gabriel.

But he would also not be the answer to our centre forward issues.

Rashford, as much as I like him, is not an out and out forward for 38 league games. He is a cover player. But he has shown he is capable of contributing from all side across the front 3.

If we got in another top striker and had them backed up by Rashford we would have excellent squad depth – Rashford would also allow us to take a bit of a risk on someone like Darwin Nunez.

Rashford is also comfortable on the left wing. He would provide fantastic competition for Gabriel Martinelli.

He is also an adequate option on the right, providing cover for Saka.

Despite being in poor form this season, his output in the Premier League is not to dissimilar to Saka’s.

I would be delighted with the squad depth were we to go into 2022/23 with Saka, Rashford, Gabriel and Smith Rowe alongside a new striker.

The only stumbling block will be his wages…

Keenos