Our two Swiss boys had a good day at the office. Xhaka banged home a screamer from range on 55 minutes to give Switzerland 3 vital points. He celebrated with an eagle sign, a big fuck you to the Serbians, FIFA no doubt going to step in to punish him because they’re super hot on anything unless it’s proper racism. A bit of gentle goading about some genocide back in the day is sure to garner a ten game ban.
Lichtsteiner played his part, barking orders from the sidelines. I found this piece from a Swedish ref Jonas Eriksson on our new signing.
‘I have met several international players and to judge a person you have to meet them several times – and not just once when they have a bad day because everyone can have it. But I have met Lichtsteiner several times, and he is one of the most unpleasant players I met.’
PERFECT. Get me some of that unpleasantness in our side. Not because I like mean players, more because we’re a soft touch with refs in general.
There are some reports that we’re chasing Russian superstar Golovin. The 22-year-old has been impressive this year; we felt his talent first hand in the Europa League. Juve are favourites, but his current employers are pushing for £25m. He looks a player, can’t believe Everton aren’t chasing him down, looks like an Usmanov centrepiece.
In coaching news, Le Grove favourite Julian Nagelsmann shocked the world when he announced he’ll be joining Redbull Leipzig next season. It’s an odd move when you consider Bayern were very interested in his talents, but from a learning perspective, it’s really smart. He’ll get to work with Ralph Rangnick, who is a bit of a management idol from a mentor perspective. He’ll also have money to support him, a smart scouting network, and he’ll be able to raise a family with his lady.
The big transfer chases going off at the moment for Arsenal centre around Soyuncu. The Freiburg centre-back is going to wait until July to decide where he goes next. Then there’s Banega, who met with Gazidis this week. The Argentine, who has been missed this World Cup seems to be playing games. He’s working out his second stint at Sevilla, and he was upset that Sporting Director Oscar Aries left the club. Seems to me like he’s either looking for more money there or more money with us. So we’ll see how this pans out.
There’s a bit of chatter about Petr Cech heading over to Napoli. I wrote yesterday that we’d pushed our wage bill up a lot so far this year. He’d be a good one to ship off the list. Who wouldn’t want to retire to Italy?
Also, I missed off Per Mertesacker and Santi Cazorla off the out list yesterday. I didn’t do it on purpose. I promise.
Finally, there’s a great write up about Raheem Sterling, by Raheem Sterling on the Players Tribune. It’s rightly being received very well because now people are looking at this guy like a human. Every year, fans of football clubs grow a little. This summer, it seems we’re not about the nasty attacks the press perpetrate on our players. They’re our boys; we’re here to the support the, and the fans will control the narrative. It’s a breath of fresh air.
Tapping out early, but tune in at 4ish tomorrow because I’ll be on Love Sport Radio chatting about our amazing summer.
SPEAK THEN. x
WE
Are you saying that based on today’s performance, or in general?
*better than this German team**
Just isn’t as you describe it, the player in question needs to give a nod. You talk some utter fairytale gash about being put in reserves, it’s 2018. We’ve seen players training with under whatever’s and forced to play for the reserves before if they don’t go. I mean you make it sound like we’d be forced to play him if he refused to go. My reason for keeping him is his ability. His ability? What ability? He’s been error prone and inconsistent for two years what ability. Like you who moans about the last regime, then when they leave,… Read more »
Raptora. Best midfield for the last three years must have won their league for the last three years don’t you think. Hard to argue with you on paper. But clearly something went wrong in practice. But certainly the trio that I would choose.
Muller has gotten progressively shit as his career has gone on..
Based on bits of him at Roma and all last season at Chelsea.
His performance vs Roma away in the CL was up there with the worst individual CB displays that I have ever seen.
@Qna –
Totally agree, Kroos is the player Xhaka should be! But for me personally he isn’t up there with the best, still a great player though.
It was headed straight at the goalie. It was a made-for-TV save.
Yeah Muller since early to mid 2016 had just forgotten how to score.
Peaked in his last season with Pep scoring 32 goals in all comps.
With VAR pen denied, Sweden don’t deserve to lose this.
Marko, thank f**k you’re not owner of Arsenal. You’d be like that owner of Leeds who by the end was pretty much picking the team having changed managers like he was changing shirts. Wenger without doubt was overly loyal but your black and white approach would go down like a lead balloon with the players. Emery may not be uncertain of some players, particularly after their level of performance last season but this’you can’t polish a turd’ argument is laughable. I have lost faith in Mustafi but he could flourish under the right environment and I’m prepared to wait and… Read more »
Werner easily Germany’s MOTM.
“Rudiger is fucking awful.No idea what Chelsea saw in him.”
Being a German international CB has certainly fooled a few people in London 🙂
Germany will probably go through at 1:1.
Mexico will give their lungs not to lose vs Sweden because whoever wins this group goes to play probably vs Brazil. Both teams will be desperate to win and try to evade Brazil. If they end in a draw Sweden will go vs Brazil and Germany will be out.
a draw here and u can bet ur house on a draw between Swe-Mex and Ger dumped out 🙂
Out of Germans hands now.
Bamford pick to win the World Cup.
If I remember correctly then that was an embarrassing performance.
But yeah, I think he looks better in a 4 as oppsed to a 3
wow
Ha!! Kroos only goes and scores the winner!! haha!
Lol Kroos still not top level? 😉
Lol at the losers saying Kroos is is overrated.
Swedish defender literally let his whole team down there, stupid tackle
Kroos is overrated they say…..
Lol
That close to going out
Germany are going through.
kroos the useless
Sweden-Mexico just became massive.
Someone on this blog needs to have his fingers dipped in hot tar.
Who said Kroos was “overrated”
I’m going to leave this here:
TONI MOTHERFUCKING KROOS.
Muller was shit in the first game and again today, and he was not substituted.
@Jay –
“Kroos is overrated they say…..”
Still is ha!
Mexico will give their lungs not to lose vs Sweden because whoever FINISHES SECOND******* in this group will probably get Brazil at the KO stage.
“Someone on this blog needs to have his fingers dipped in hot tar.
Who said Kroos was “overrated”
He scored against Sweden… calm down..
Sweden should of scored the second goal in the first half. Got no sympathy.
You’ve got to feel for the swedes. Gutted for ’em
At least that makes the Sweden Vs Mexico game interesting!
Obvious now that ozil isn’t the problem.
“Sweden-Mexico just became massive.”
Mexico will pummel them. It’ll be easy!
Jim. Just when I over-rated that part of his game he goes and does that. Lol. But like I said, he always has that in him. And when he doesn’t he is still bossing the quarterback role better than anybody else.
Unnecessary foul from Sweden there.
Glad, you want the stronger teams on the comp to make the last 16 as interesting as possible.
Brazil-Germany would be a belter of a last 16 tie.
Thank fuck Boateng midses the next game, now Rudiger can fuck off too.
Marko, thank f**k you’re not owner of Arsenal
I’d be a great owner I’d demand ambition and competitiveness. Thank God people like you and Charlie aren’t otherwise we’d still have Cazorla here probably still have Wilshere and Giroud and we’d be rewarding or turning the blind eye to poor players putting in poor performances
Jim
‘The midfielder who was the sate of a world cup winning team and a Madrid team that won three consecutive CLs is overrated?
C’mon, you have egg all over your beard right now.
@Qna –
Ha! Thats always the case!
“Thank fuck Boateng midses the next game, now Rudiger can fuck off too.”
Do you feel the same way about Hummels?
Kroos is like a quarter back in real football.
Low needs to get his line up right. No playing weiner on the wings. And no draxler.
Play ozil and Brandt
Guidetti goes for glory fcks the swedes…that and the silly foul by the other sub
Obvious now that ozil isn’t the problem.
What are you talking about they put in a better performance with Özil and Khedira out of the team
Wow I have to say this WC is short on quality free flowing football but the drama and excitement is as good as I can remember. We’re not even at the knockout stage yet.
@Dissenter –
Yeah its my opinion ha, he was poor all game, can’t remember but did he lose the ball for Sweden’s opener?
Didn’t say he was a bad player, just not one of the best.
Sweden really shot themselves in the foot..
Marko
This was the exact same performance against mexico.
That free kick was brilliantly.
Interestingly enough, even though they were a man down, they did not look like they would lose this game.
“Obvious now that ozil isn’t the problem.”
Interesting logic.
Ozil plays, Germany plays poorly and loses. He sits, they play better, and win.
Sweden could have won this or atleast drawn. They were naive
Also I am guessing that is Ozil out of the team for the remainder of the tournament?
Jimbo
How many CM’s do you honestly rate over Kroos?
‘real football’
You mean handegg?
Germany are better off keeping Ozil out of the team, the workrate in football now is so high that he really has no place in the modern game.
ye Özil got a tummy ache
1st of all, they did not play any better today. They were still vulnerable to counters, opposition had chances to win the game.
They won obviously it doesn’t mean they played better.
None of the strikers had clear chances. They were all half chances and long range shots.
Kroos is sbit and it probably was a cross.
Get rid of the foreigners and Germany will march to the Final.
“1st of all, they did not play any better today. ”
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
So what we can say for certain is this:
No Boateng, (is Hummel injured or was he dropped?)
Dropped: Mueller, Draxler (maybe Ozil again)
Cesc
This German team has zero workrate. Isn’t that the reason they are susceptible to counters? Kroos or any of the wingers don’t track anyone
What. A. Goal.
Fantastic free kick, I like it even more than the CR7 special against Spain.
It’s obvious draxler is a problem. Only anti-ozil doesn’t wanna say that.
I bet ozil starts next match
Ozil’s new deal is the only mistake the new lot at Arsenal have made.
It’s a pretty massive one though.
They were still vulnerable to counters, opposition had chances to win the game
Playing Ozil wouldn’t have addressed that
I wonder if Özil will be tempted to retire from International football after the criticism he’s taken. Wouldn’t count it out.
Gundogan, Draxler and Rudiger can’t start the next game.
What ever happened to Howedes?
Marko
Yes it won’t, but it would have address chances in the final 3rd. The strikers don’t see the ball in the 18
@WE –
There are a few I would choose over Kroos, Modric would be one, Rakitić, Verratti, Kanté, Busquets, De Bruyne. Thats my owner personal opinion!
Marko Let’s not indulge your self adulation about being a football manager, there’s no blueprint in world football that works on a hire and fire basis with any consistency. Especially running Arsenal’s budget. I love how you selectively omit contextual details when discussing other peoples pov. Its precisely why I provided even more layers to an answer about Mustafi, because you’re a dishonest cunt essentially. I wouldn’t;t have kept Cazorla, point blank. I said if he proves himself fit to play for Arsenal then I’d give him a one-year extension. Why? pretty obvious, he’s a magical footballer, and the reason… Read more »
Kante and Rakitic over kroos? Yea ryt.
Jim
Wow you rate Kante over Kroos?
Only player I agree with is Modric who for me is the best CM in Europe at present.
Have Kroos at no.2 though.
KDB plays further forward wouldn’t consider him a CM.
I bet ozil starts next matc
Probably. And Korea are so bad he’ll probably have a half decent performance and then his fanboys will be proclaiming he’s back. I’d honestly be more concerned about getting Brandt more game time than indulging Özil
@WE –
“KDB plays further forward wouldn’t consider him a CM.”
Then I would choose Silva, just prefer the way he plays.
“Wow you rate Kante over Kroos?”
Yeah I really like Kante, but once again that is personal preference!
Germans look disinterested really. Nevertheless beat South Korea and they are in.
Boateng has lost a step and they are all over the place.
Kante that only marks? Zero pass, zero goals, zero vision, zero game control.
Anyone else find Evra a complete knob?
‘Probably. And Korea are so bad he’ll probably have a half decent performance and then his fanboys will be proclaiming he’s back.’
Gets us ready for the season whenever we play some dogshit side in Europa at home or some relegation fodder club at home.
£350 000 a week, honestly, it’s alright for some, what a life.
I love how you selectively omit contextual details when discussing other peoples pov. Its precisely why I provided even more layers to an answer about Mustafi, because you’re a dishonest cunt essentially. I wouldn’t;t have kept Cazorla, point blank. I said if he proves himself fit to play for Arsenal then I’d give him a one-year extension I never said point blank did you not see where I wrote if he got fit by the end of the season. Dishonest cunt… you’re the idiot who wanted to give a 32/33 year old a new contract after being injured the best… Read more »
I do think Ozil gets a bad rap but let’s be honest 350k a week for him(or whatever it is) was a desperation move by the club since we had already sold Sanchez and we mired in our worst season (table wise) in over a decade.
Sweden did an Arsenal today, shooting themselves in the foot. World cup is getting exciting and we are not even in the knock out stage yet.
Of all four Manc Cunts Evra was the biggest Gash
Ozil haters, you’re getting a little rabid.
Marko
If he proved his fitness he proved his fitness, a period of time without matches isn’t definitive at all unless you’re going to enlighten me with some medical expertise? Where did you get your medical degree?
Interested to see the England line up tomorrow, we need to put in a good performance against Panama. Not enough just to win as we should be doing that, need to have a great performance to carry into the game against Belgium.
I think Alli will be rested as he is carrying a knock, Loftus Cheek will likely get a run out, Rose will start at LWB and I would imagine Rashford will start as well in the 3-5-2.
If he proved his fitness he proved his fitness, a period of time without matches isn’t definitive at all unless you’re going to enlighten me with some medical expertise? Where did you get your medical degree I mean players get worse as they get older and again maybe idiots too strong q word but let’s say feckless fool if you don’t think two seasons away from football would affect a player especially one in his 30’s. A fool i say. Besides not really that controversial I think but prior to his injury we should have been thinking about getting rid.… Read more »
‘Besides not really that controversial I think but prior to his injury we should have been thinking about getting rid. He wasn’t that great towards the end and he was never that convincing as a CM.’
What are you on about? How many midfielders have we signed better than Cazorla since he stopped being ‘ that great towards the end ‘.
Marko
Again, what’s your medical opinion as I’m assuming you have a background there to be making those kind of statements?
Footballers play at 33, curious why you think NO football for 18 months would harm his ability to do so at that age. Especially a guy that doesn’t play anything close to a physically dependant game.
The rest is subjective nonsense you’re parading as fact. Many will disagree about how good Cazorla was/is.
Evra leaned back in his chair like he’s about to get a bj lol
Textbook twattage
Ozil’s new deal is the only mistake the new lot at Arsenal have made
To be fair it was the old regime that got us into that mess in the first place. It was either that or let him leave for free.
That being said the latter option is starting to look better and better at this point.
Can do something that I am going to catch a lot of shit for??!! Player One: Total mins: 3941 Goals: 5 Assists: 7 Shots Per Game: 1.6 Average Passes Per Game: 81.4 Key Passes Per Game: 1 Pass Success %: 87.5 Long Balls: 5.3 Through Balls: 0.1 Dispossessed Per Game: 0.5 Dribbles Per Game: 0.4 Tackles Per Game: 1.9 Interceptions Per Game: 1 Fouls Per Game: 1.5 Clearances Per Game: 1.8 Dribbled Passed Per Game: 1.2 Blocks Per Game: 0.3 Player Two: Total mins: 3401 Goals: 6 Assists: 8 Shots Per Game: 1.4 Average Passes Per Game: 76.6 Key Passes… Read more »
Jim you little devil 😉
kross is overrated. He is tidy but that’s about it.
Who can argue against Khedira, Ozil, Gundogen, Rudiger, Boateng and Gomez all being gash.