Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

The Return of Arsenal Act II: 2 right backs & 2 free transfers

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Morning all.

The Return of Arsenal enters its second act today with a trip down to sunny Brighton.

Originally scheduled for the 13th March, it was a fixture that many were looking forward to.

It was set to be a rare Saturday 3pm kick off for Arsenal. And for travelling fans it would have been trip down to the coast on a fresh spring day. Beers would have been drunk in the sunshine, some would have stayed overnight, and it would have been a top trip.

Instead we will all be at home this Saturday, watching the first ever 3pm Premier League game on the TV.

It might be time to set the TV up outside for these summer fixtures.

The hope is we can bounce back from the predictable defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday against a Brighton side without a win since Boxing Day 2019.

Yesterday Arsenal were linked with West Ham right back Jeremy Ngakia.

The 19-year-old is available on a free transfer following turning down a contract extension.

The move would make a lot of sense.

Arsenal need a back-up for Hector Bellerin.

Buying someone like Max Aarons for £30million makes no sense. The Norwich player is too good (and too expensive) to be Bellerin’s back-up. That deal only makes sense if we sell the Spaniard (unlikely).

A few will be screaming out Jordi Osei-Tutu, who has been in fine form since German football returned.

The on-loan academy product has 2 goals and an assist his 7 games since the return. However he has not been playing at right back.

Osei-Tutu’s improvement at Bochum coincide with him being played further forward on the wing. That decision was made after he was exposed too often at right back.

If he is not good enough defensively to be trusted to play right back in the German second division, as return to Arsenal to be back-up to Bellerin in the Premier League does not make sense.

He also turns 22 in October.

Arsenal should cash in this summer, and use those funds to reinvest. Stick in a sell on clause and a buy back clause so that if he does continue his progression, Arsenal have an option to buy him back or make some cash on a future transfer. His level is probably a promotion chasing Championship team.

Time is also running out for Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

There have always been rumblings that he is unhappy playing at right back. That he wants to be in the middle of the park. There have also been rumours in recent months of him showing a bit of an attitude problem on the training ground.

If he got his nut down, and accepted his position, he has a place at Arsenal as a utility man – covering Bellerin as well as a few other positions.

If he desires to play regularly in the middle of the park, he is best of seeking a new club.

Maitland-Niles is a sellable asset.

In the current market Arsenal could expect to receive up to £10million for him. Key funds that could then be reinvested.

If Arsenal then moved for Ngakia (or Cedric Soares on a free transfer) then any funds bought in from the sale of Maitland-Niles would be available to be invested elsewhere.

A case could also be made for Arsenal to buy both Soares and Ngakia.

Arsenal lack good right back options in the U23s; so the move for Ngakia could see him play U23 football next season, whilst pushing Soares for cup opportunities.

When it comes to finding a back-up for Bellerin, CHEAP is the most important requirement.

With finances tight, we do not want to be spending millions on back-up player.

Ngakia on a free transfer makes a lot of sense.

Keenos

Supporting Hector Bellerin plant 30,000 trees

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This morning Hector Bellerin tweeted that for every game Arsenal win between now and the end of the season, he will pay for 3,000 trees to be planted to help combat carbon emissions.

Bellerin has been very optimistic, setting the target at 30,000. Or 10 wins out of 10. We take our hat off to you sir.

To show our support of Bellerin and to help raise money for a good cause, we will donate £10 for every clean sheet Arsenal get.

£10 plants 10 trees. 10 clean sheets will be 100 trees.

It might not be much, but every little counts.

If everyone that follows us on Twitter donates, the target would be smashe before we have even played a game. Donate today.

She Wore

In form Arsenal set to face a demotivated Man City as football finally returns

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Is it too early to grab a beer yet?

It has been 102 days since Arsenal played and tonight football is finally back, and we all need it.

The original fixture against Manchester City was scheduled for Wednesday March 11 but was postponed following a number of the Arsenal squad making “close contact” with Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis two previous.

The Greek owner tested positive for Covid19 13 days after his side put Arsenal out of the Europa League.

This led to numerous Arsenal players having to self-isolate, and a decision was made to postpone the fixture.

A few days later, Mikel Arteta tested positive for the virus which prompted English football’s shutdown.

Prior to the lockdown, Arsenal were one of the form teams in the Premier League – only Liverpool had gained more points in the previous 6 games.

Arsenal’s last league defeat was Arteta’s first home game as manager, which came way back on the 29th December against Chelsea. Arsenal are unbeaten in the league this decade.

The only defeat during that run was the disappointing result at home to Olympiakos, which saw Arsenal knocked out of the Europa League.

Tonight against Man City is a tough start. Arsenal have not beaten Man City in the league since 2015, but these are going to be some strange old times.

A look at the Bundesliga suggests home advantage a thing of the past in empty stadiums.

Home teams won 43% of the 223 games played before the Bundesliga closed down. But in 56 games in empty stadiums, home wins have plummeted to 21%, with away sides winning 50% of games.

There will also be a question mark above Man City players motivation.

25 points behind league leaders Liverpool, 12 points ahead of 5th placed Manchester United, they have very little to play for.

They are pretty much guaranteed a top 4 finish, and will not win the title. Will their players be physically and mentally sharp following the break in comparison to sides that have something to play for.

In the last week, lawyers have also been arguing in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, trying to overturn the sanctions given to them by UEFA for ‘serious breaches’ of the Financial Fair Play regulations.

If the appeal fails, they will be banned from the Champions League for two seasons.

With everything going on, Arsenal have a real chance tonight.

A win could move Arsenal up to 6th. Back in the Europa League places and 5 points off Chelsea in 4th. Just 2 points behind Man U in what could become the “new 4th” if Man City fail in their appeal.

So plenty happening. With a couple of almost every day for the next month, football will provide a distraction to everything going on in the world. Something else to watch, to talk about to moan about.

I look forward to tomorrow when everyone is discussing our win rather than politics.

Keenos