Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

New signings and contract extensions galore at The Arsenal

1 Reply

How refreshed do Arsenal feel at the moment?

I have said it a few times before, since Arsene Wenger left, the club feels like a breath of fresh air.

The last couple of years under the Frenchman felt stale and predictable. Our transfers resembled someone playing roulette nobody can be successful without a proper strategy.

No matter what happened people would moan. Fans were staying away, many of those that went were struggling to maintain interest. There was a lack of enthusiasm at the club.

Everything feels different this summer.

From the huge turnover of backroom staff at London Colney, to the new ideas and vigour bought by the axis of power now leading the club. It all just feels fresh, feels exciting.

Add in record season ticket renewals and it is only the real bitter people, those with an agenda, an online personality and following based on negativity that continue to moan and complain.

One look at the BBC home page highlights how positive things are…

We have Calum Chambers signing his new contract – a surprise considering many thought he would leave the club.

Then we have the signings, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Bernd Leno both having joined the club in the last 2 weeks.

They create a bit of a shit sandwich with the only disappointing news on the page being about Jack Wilshere leaving the club. Although this is the right decision for both.

We then have even more positive contract news.

Granit Xhaka, who I think will have a massive season next year as he is pushed further forward, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles signing new deals.

There is still plenty of talk about Lucas Torreira, who is expected to join after the World Cup  as well as the news of Arsenal signing Stephan Lichsteiner on a free transfer fro Juventus.

The last bit of news on the site that will hopefully be concluded within the next week is Aaron Ramsey’s new contract.

It is still unsigned, but the feeling is it is only a matter of time.

However you felt about Arsenal in recent years, there has been plenty to be positive about in the last 3 qweeks.

I am buzzing for the new season.

Keenos

9 went, just ONE remains

Leave a reply

EIGHT  Arsenal players were selected to go to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This increased to 9 once Arsenal announced a pre-contract agreement with Stephan Lichtsteiner. Of the 9, just one remains.

First to be knocked out was Mohamed Elneny’s Egypt.

With Mohamed Salah still crying over hurting his shoulder, Egypt finished bottom of their group as one of only 2 sides to fail to get a point – the other being Panama.

Alex Iwobi’s Nigeria still the hearts of millions with their popular kit, and would probably consider themselves unlucky to have been knocked out in the group stages.

In one of the toughest groups alongside Argentina, Croatia and Iceland, they were looking like going through at Argentina’s expense until an 86th minute goal by Marcus Rojo destroyed the hopes of a nation; and at the same time the behaviour of Diego Maradona shaming a nation.

The coked up drug treat showing that he was not becoming classy with age by making offensive hand gestures towards Nigeria fans at the final whistle. And getting paid by FIFA to do so.

Mesut Ozil took the brunt of the blame for Germany’s group stage exit. The strong criticsm feels like it has a nasty undertone as Ozil was certainly not amongst the worst players for his national side.

Ozil is a little bit different. A Muslim of Turkish heritage. Whilst the likes of Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich escaped criticism, Ozil became a figure of hate within Germany. However Germany’s early exit could benefit Arsenal as there is talk that he could now retire from playing for his country.

Joel Campbell’s Costa Rica finished bottom of a tough group that contained Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia. He set up a goal and one a penalty in their final game, but he and his country failed to hit the high notes that they did 4 years ago.

Spain would have been delighted with their last 16 knock out game tie against lowest ranked (and hosts) Russia. They lost on penalties, sending Nacho Monreal home. The Spaniard has basically had a 2 weeks holiday in Russia as he failed to play a game.

Another surprising result, although not as severe, was Switzerland losing 1-0 to Sweden sending home Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner.

In the final game of the last 16, England knocked out Colombia on penalties.

Keeper David Ospina could have been the hero, saving from Jordan Henderson. But two missed penalties from Colombia and then Ospina’s weak wrists saw the South American side get knocked out, upsetting that coke head Maradona.

England and Welbeck were through, Colombia out.

With pre-season training already beginning, Arsenal have a strong 16 players already back at London Colney preparing for the new season.

The early exits by some  means that the likes of Mesut Ozil could well return for the first game of the season against Manchester City.

Is the ideal final England v Uruguay? 0-0 when Lucas Torreira breaks Harry Kanes face, Welbeck comes on, scores, England win 1-0.

It’s coming home guys, it’s coming home.

Keenos

Arsenal target French duo

Leave a reply

Plenty of daily speculation about what Arsenal are doing in the transfer market.

Common consensus seems to be that after Lucas Torreira is secured, Arsenal wil lstil lbe in the market for one more central midfielder.

Uruguayan Torreira will give Arsenal 5 options in the middle of the park:

Xhaka Torreira Ramsey
Elneny AMN

As we are likely to play a compact 3 in the middle, allowing us to get the best out of both xhaka and Ramsey, ideally we would want a 3rd central midfielder.

We look well set on the defensive side of things, but it is cover and competition for Ramsey that we need.

In the last 24 hours we have been linked with two French internationals.

Steven N’Zonzi

Reports are this week that French international Steven N’Zonzi has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Arsenal.

I would be very surprised if Arsenal are interested in a move for the giant Frenchman.

This is not due to his quality. He is certainly a different player from the one that spent 6 years in the Premier League for Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers.

Back in those days, Sam Allardyce and Tony Pulis used him for his height rather than his footballing ability.

Since joining Sevilla back in 2015, he has dramatically improved as a footballer, forcing his way into the France squad at the current World Cup.

Arsenal are set to complete the deal for Lucas Torreira after the World Cup is over. That will mean we have the Uruguayan, Mohamed Elneny, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Granit Xhaka all as defensive options.

With only Aaron Ramsey as an attacking option in the middle of the park, it does not make sense to invest in another defensive option.

Had we not been about to secure Torreira, the N’Zonzi stuff would make sense. But with 4 defensive biased midfielders, it does not.

Adrien Rabiot

Whilst a deal for N’Zonzi is one which I struggle to get behind, one for Adrien Rabiot is a deal that I can.

Arsenal have been linked with the Frenchman since he was a teenager and were reportedly close to sign him before he had made his break through for PSG in 2013.

Rabiot is what I would label an “old school” central midfielder.

In an era when you seem to be either an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder, he is a proper all round central midfielder.

A good reader of the game and fantastic on the ball, he is able to shield the back four but is also a creator – with 7 assists for PSG last season.

He was left out of the French squad for the World Cup, but this is more due to their style of play than Rabiot’s ability.

Didier Deschamps prefers these bustling, compact central midfielders who cover a lot of ground. The likes of N’Gole Kante and Blaise Matuidi. Their work rate frees up the likes of Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe to complete neglect their defensive duties.

The current France midfield is set up to get the best out of Pogba, which means there is no place for a passer like Rabiot in the first XI.

Deschamps went for Bayern Munich central midfielder Corentin Tolisso as his “passing” option in the squad. Rabiot also turned down a chance to be on stand by,

Rabiot might not be a direct replacement for Aaron Ramsey – he does not break into the box as much as the Welshman – but he is more attacking than the likes of Torreira, Elneny or Maitland-Niles.

He adopts a similar position on the pitch as Granit Xhaka; so would provide good competition for the Swiss midfielder as well as be the cover for Ramsey.

Xhaka and Rabiot working in tandem with someone more defensive behind them will have plenty of balance.

Jack Wilshere left Arsenal after failing to make the England squad at the 2018 World Cup, could Rabiot leave PSG for the same reasons?

https://twitter.com/KeenosAFC/status/1014142457922183171

Keenos