Tag Archives: Arsenal FC

New stadium, same brainless fans

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Morning all. Hacve we all recovered from Sunday now?

What a day. What a result. One of them that will have us on cloud 9 for some time to come!

I was apprehensive before the game. We had not beaten Spurs away in the league since 2014. That apprehension diminished as I had a few beers and saw the line-ups.

Lots of people do “Combined XI’s” before big games. For me, they are up there with half and half scarves and holding cardboard signs begging for players shirts. Just no.

On seeing the line-ups, it was a struggle to see who from Spurs would get into the Arsenal team. Harry Kane is probably the only one. And even that is debatable as he does not have the legs to press the way Gabriel Jesus or Eddie Nketiah do.

It was the first time at their new ground, and what a fun experience!

Anyone who went to their old ground will know their wierd fans would stand on a street corner to hurl abuse as we did a right onto Park Lane towards the away end. I never really got it. None of them would do anything, and they would just stand behind the line of police giving it large.

I always wondered whether if the police disappeared, they would as well. Not as easy getting brave when no one is there to protect you.

In their new ground, the away end has moved. And it now makes sense to come up via Northumberland Park, walk west down Park Lane and do a right onto Worcester Avenue.

And low and behold, on the junction of Park Lane and Worcester Avenue were their fans, stood again behind police, singing “where the f**k are Arse-en-al?”

It was all very odd, because anyone doing a right onto Worcester Avenue were clearly Arsenal fans. And we certainly did not walk past trying to hide who we supported!

So their “hard men” have moved from the corner of Park Lane and the High Road to another street corner to welcome Arsenal fans whilst being kettled by police. All very strange.

The ground really was not that impressive when inside. Just the 3 levels of corporate seating! It really is designed to maximise that corporate revenue at the sacrifice of common fans. Much worse than the Emirates.

What I would say is the ground does clear quickly. As the final whistle went, their “big stand” was probably 70% empty. Good effort allowing fans to exit so quickly.

We dominated them. We turned up to their house, shagged their wife whilst they watched on in a corner, and then left without cleaning up after ourselves.

The fact their fans were reduced to attempting to assault Aaron Ramsdale, and throwing obsenities behind the police lines does show how backwards they are. Must be something in the water in Middlesex.

After Manchester City’s defeat, we are now favourites to win the league. I am not comfortable with that.

Up next is the inform Manchester United. City play twice before that game, so the 8 point gap may be just 2 before we play next.

We just need to keep taking it one game at a time.

I will not allow myself to dream. Yet. But for now all my dreams are about Sunday!

UTA

Keenos

The apprehension and excitment of Tottenham away

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Morning all and Happy North London Derby Day.

Tottenham away, a game I look forward too and at the same time dread. Today is my first visit to their new ground.

Not much will beat the nervous energy, the antacipation walking down the High Road. With your mates. Us against them, ready for whatever happens.

But White Hart Lane has not been a happy hunting ground for us in recent years. The North London Derby has massively favoured the home teams over the last decade or so.

We have not beaten Tottenham away since the 2015 League Cup, Mathieu Flamini with those two goals. I was there that night, and what a night it was.

Our last league win was 2014, Tomas Rosicky with the only goal.

Before you think “Keenos is a luck omen, glad he is going today”, they are the only two occassions I have seen us win at their place. Three if you include a FA Youth Cup game when Jack Wilshere pulled the strings!

Since Tottenham ended out 21-game unbeaten run against them in 2008, we have won just 2 of 16 away games at White Hart Lane (or Wembley). Both mentioned above.

And in recent years, the away game against that lot have been where our hopes and dreams have crashed and burned.

Last season, a victory against Tottenham with 3 games to go would have guaranteed us a top 4 place, and finishing above them for the first time since 2016. We were turned over 3-0 with Harry Kane opening the scoring with his customary North London Derby penalty.

2019 is also a North London Derby day that bitterly sticks in the memory.

1-1 and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang is bought down for an 89th minute penalty. Our talisman gets up, dusts himself down, and takes tne penalty. SAVED.

And then to add insult to injury, just as Aubameyang looked set to tap into the empty net, Jan Vertonghen makes a last-ditch slide challenge.

Vertonghen had encroached deeply into the area on the penalty but he got away with it. Without that, he would not have been able to make the tackle. And there was no VAR in those days.

Two points dropped, and they ended up being crucial as we finished a single point behind Tottenham, and failed to make the top 4.

So I make no apologies for feeling apprehensive ahead of the game today. Although after a few beers in Islington and that journey to the stadium I will be bang up for it.

It does feel like we are in the middle of our most crucial period of the season.

We have already faced Brighton (A) & Newcastle (H). Both sides in the top 8.

Today it is a trip to Tottenham (5th), followed by a resurgent Manchester United (4th). We then have a tricky away trip to Everton – Goodison Park is never an easy win despite how poor they are.

That is followed by games against Brentford (9th) and Manchester City (2nd).

I have refused to get to embroiled in the title talk. Yes, we are in the race but we are certainly not favourites. The bookied have had Man City odds-on since before the season began. It should not be seen as a failure if Man City overhaul us and we end up 2nd.

If we are still above City after we have hosted them, I might allow a bit of belief to slip in. But even then we have a double header away in the Midlands against Aston Villa and Leicester City.

It is only really in March that it eases up a bit – we have a run of 3 out of 4 games at home , facing Bournemouth, Fulham (A), Crystal Palace and Leeds United.

And then we have the 6 games that will ultimately decide our future – Liverpool (A), West Ham (A), Manchester City (A), Chelsea (H) and Newcastle (A). The only bit of restbite is Southampton at home.

Today is all about getting the 3 points against Tottenham. And I think we will do that if Harry Kane does not get his usual penalty.

We will never hear the end of it if Kane equals, and breaks, Jimmy Greaves goal scoring record against us. But that will never make up for signing their captain for free, 1971 and 2004.

UTA

Keenos

The Superstar, The Arteta Old Boy, The Other Eastern European Wonderkid & The Cheap Choice – Mykhailo Mudryk Alternatives

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Shakhtar Donetsk are reportedly still holding out for €100million for Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Their sky high asking price is driven by Manchester United overpaying for Antony.

Liverpool signed Cody Gakpo for half that price. And whilst I think Mudryk has the higher ceiling, Gakpo is currently the better player and more established in Europe and on an international level.

Mudryk, remember, has just 30 Ukrainian top flight appearances to his name.

If Donetsk refuse to lower their demands, Arsenal will walk away. Paying €100m for Mudryk is too much and will have a huge impact on future transfer windows.

So if we walk away, what are our options?

Joao Felix – The Superstar

Mikel Arteta and Edu have long standing admiration for Felix.

The Portuguese forwards career has not quite ignited since his €126million move to Atletico Madrid.

This shouldn’t be surprised considering the free flowing attacker joined the most defensive team the world has ever seen.

Persistent injuries and the return of Antoine Griezmann – who he was signed to replace.

Still just 23-years-old, he has the technical ability and work rate to play in Arteta’s Arsenal. And you would like to think that Arteta and his coaching team’s renowned one-to-one training will help him reach his potential.

The issue with Felix has always been Atletico’s huge asking price. But if we are considering spending the €100m on Mudryk, then we should consider spending that money on an upgrade.

There is also an option of an (expensive) loan deal.

Atletico are asking for a €15million loan fee and for the team to cover his wages taking a total deal to €21million. that feels very expensive for 5 months work. And we have been stun by loan deals before. Players do not have the time to aclimatise to a new country, a new way of playing.

It is crazy to think people are writing off Felix whilst hyping up Rafael Leao as a great young talent. Felix is younger than his Portuguese team mate.

David Ornstein recently came out and spoke about how Felix is on our radar. I think we are using him to drive down Mudryk’s price.

The point is being made, through the press, that we have other options.

(Note: Looks like Felix is now off to Chelsea. Looking at the deal they have agreed, with no option to buy, I am glad we have skipped it).

Leroy Sane – The Arteta Old Boy

It feels like ever since Leroy Sane moved to Bayern Munich, he has been linked with a move back to England.

He has not quite hit the same form for the Bundesliga champions as he did for Manchester City, and has also dropped off in form for Germany (although every German has dropped off after their World Cup performance).

He has spent much of Christmas back in Manchester and seems to be pining for a return to England.

Arteta took Sane under his wing whilst the pair were at Man City.

In an interview about Arteta in 2020, Sane said ‘he was the one who pulled me aside and gave me the tactical tweaks to better my game

‘On a psychological and personal level, he really helped, he was so invested in Sane becoming a better player, growing as a person.’

Sane is tried and tested in the Premier League. He knows Arteta and Arteta knows him.

The likelihood is he will not move in January. But like with Jesus, he might be worthwhile keeping our powder dry for in the summer. If we can’t get Mudryk now or then.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – The Other Eastern European Wonderkid

Georgian Kvaratskhelia made the move to Italy last summer, joining Napoli.

He has quickly established himself as their new talisman. His goals and assists driving Napoli to top of the league.

He and Mudryk have been known as the two big young talents from that part of the world for some time.

Kvaratskhelia made the big move last summer that Mudryk is looking to make this January. As he is now performing in a top 5 European league, you would have to argue that he is now a couple of runs on the ladder above Mudryk.

The feeling was that as Mudryk was less established, he would be available cheaper than Kvaratskhelia.

Mudryk around the €50m mark, Kvaratskhelia €80m.

If Shakhtar continue to demand huge money for Mudryk, Arsenal could switch their sights to Kvaratskhelia.

Similar profile, similar age, similar position and playing style. Kvaratskhelia just a bit more proven at a higher level.

If we are spending €80-100m on one of them, Kvaratskhelia has to be who we go for.

Probably not an option till the summer though

Facundo Torres – The Cheap Choice

If we decide that none of our primary targets are available in January, we have two main options.

The first is to sign no-one. Keep the money in the bank, and revisit the situation on the summer. Similar to how the Dusan Vlahovic / Gabriel Jesus situation played out.

This would be a risky strategy as we are thin up top.

Last year we collapsed in the closing stages of the season as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli ran out of steam. As we have not added to the pool of widemen available (although Fabio Vieira can play there), the chances are we will be in a similar situation this year.

Martinelli and Saka are a year older, but this season the pair have also had a World Cup and European football to contend with.

Long-term readers of the blog will know I am against “short-term options”. They often end up being transfer flops, quickly surplus to requirements and sold on (or released) at a big loss.

Whilst Torres would be a short term option, the €8million transfer fee would not have much impact on our future budget.

He would likely come in on very low wages and, at just 22-years-old, you would expect us to be able recoup a lot of his transfer fee even if he struggles. We could also make a million here, million there by loaning him out across Europe.

But Torres is not a bad player.

We have been watching him for some time and he was part of Uruguay’s World Cup squad – although he was an unused substitute throughout.

He may well prove good enough to be “4th choice” in the future, and in the short term do a job coming in for either Saka or Martinelli for “lesser” games.

Personally, I have always felt it is his agent linking him to us to garner interest elsewhere in Europe – similar to what happened with Miguel Almiron.

With Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe both still struggling, he becomes a viable option if we struggle to get in a “big name” in January.

A move for Torres, before returning for any of the above or Mudryk in the summer could be a possible scenario.

Keenos