Tag Archives: She Wore

9 went, just ONE remains

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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

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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

Calum Chambers new contract ends search for new defender

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Late on Friday Arsenal fans were hit by a bit of a surprise with the news that Calum Chambers was  set to sign a new four-year deal with the club.

It came as a surprise to many for two reasons:

  • Many fans expected him to leave the club, with newly promoted Fulham “extremely interested”.
  • He only actually signed a new 2-year extension in October 2017.

That new 2-year deal was more seen at the time as Arsenal protecting their investment, rather than because they wanted to keep the player until 2021.

At the time he had just 18 months left on his contract, meaning Arsenal would have had to sell him on the cheap this summer. The new deal meant that come this summer, he would still have 3 years remaining and Arsenal could turn a profit on the player.

In the back end of last season, Chambers showed good form as he was bought into the Arsenal first team as players were rested for the Europa League.

It seems this form impressed incoming manager Unai Emery, who sanctioned the new deal taking him through to 2022.

Emery reportedly has high hopes for the Englishman, who is still just 23, and hopes that he will be competing alongside Shkdoran Mustafi and incoming new boy Sokratis next season.

What the new deal does mean, however, is it is unlikely that Arsenal will pursue either Caglar Soyuncu or Benjamin Pavard.

Both of these will be put on the back burner for 12 months as Emery gives Mustafi the chance to imrpvoe under his defensive coaching, and sees the progression of Chambers and Rob Holding – who signed a new deal last summer.

Keenos