The stage appears set. Olivier Giroud has guided France to a World Cup final, and now it’s up to England to the make the most of the huge opportunity they have today and make it a weekend to remember.
The France vs Belgium game wasn’t much to write home about yesterday, I think Rory Smith wrote that they the French have appeared to be excellent at doing just enough and not a lot else through this World Cup. Strangely pragmatic considering the breadth of talent they have at their disposal. Imagine the ball they’d be playing under Wenger?
I felt they had a fairly comfortable ride against Belgium. There aren’t many things that give me more joy in life than seeing Fellaini beaten in the air at the near post. I also liked seeing the ref wise as you like to the antics of Eden Hazard. Ultimately, no one bar England fans really wanted to see Belgium in the World Cup final. At least it’ll be a spectacle now.
The England game is so exciting. Croatia has undoubtedly been pedestrian in this World Cup so far. Were it not for a few moments of luck and magic, they’d be sitting out this game. Two penalty shootouts against Denmark and Russisa tells you that midfield hasn’t quite hit Barca/Madrid levels.
That said, England has had a fairly easy ride this whole tournament, and I do think there’s been a lot nonsense about identity and likeability. It’s clouded the reality that we really haven’t created a lot of chances. I read that Harry Kane has had to feed off about 9 chances, where strikers of more creative teams are boasting 20+ chances. That’s a really poor showing, but the press is so tuned into the fact Gareth Southgate is easy to deal with in press conferences, we’ve lost a bit of perspective.
I’m not saying I haven’t enjoyed the pragmatism. I’m not denying the fact you have to deal with the teams that are put in front of you, I do like the creative formation and the results it’s landed us. All I’m saying is you have to be prepared that today could be a very different prospect. Croatia on their day can put on a show, that they haven’t so far is a positive, but it shouldn’t lure fans into a false sense of IT’S COMING HOME security.
That said, having had Three Lions brain wormed into my head for the last 3 weeks, I am starting to believe something magic is about to happen. I’m actually booked on a shoot over the World Cup final. I mean, what England fan could realistically tell someone they couldn’t make Sunday because England might be in the final? It’s written in the stars I’ll be stuck in Oregon without a way of watching the game because that’s just the way the stars align for me.
There was a lot of purring about the French backline yesterday and how young they all are. I think I’m more about the England defenders. Pickford, Mcguire, Stones and Trippier are giving me life. All Northerners, possibly coal miners in another life, just making it happen from the back. They’ve been excellent this tournament, they’ve made themselves household names, and I think they alone deserve to see the next round. I really hope Harry Mcguire is the real deal. He’s been so solid at the back, and such a threat going forward. He looks like a classic thug defender from darkest recesses of a Stoke past, but he’s actually very classy on the ball, and probably one of our most creative players. Trippier has been immense as well, his final ball is something else and his composure is very impressive.
Raheem Sterling may have lacked a bit of end product this tournament, but he’s doing a selfless job creating space and opening up the game for everyone else. It’s a shame he hasn’t scored, but that could happen today. I think the press, bar a few gammon like folk, have taken more time to judge the game he’s been offering up. The foreign press has certainly been far more analytical in his offering.
Harry Kane is another player who has taken a hit to his game. He’s not getting the service he needs to be effective in open play, but his hold up play and movement has been exceptional. Not to mention his nerves of steel under pressure. He’ll still always be a mystery to me, but there’s no doubt, he’s one of the top 5 players in the world now.
So, today is the once in a generation chance for England to make a final. Enjoy the moment, this feeling of hope doesn’t come along that often.
See you in the comments.
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England got dominated in midfield by Croatia and Belgium got dominated in midfield by France and Brazil should I say. Lucky own goal and unlucky Brazilian charge + a certain pen in my eyes is what won them the game.
China Arsenal are not irrelevant, but over last 8 years the club became stale under Wenger’s management. Manchester United may be considered the major power in English Football, but they have not won League Title since Ferguson retired and last season did not win a single Trophy. Chelsea are no longer the moneybags of English Football. It is debatable how long Abramovich will continue to invest in them in view of his current status. Spurs and Liverpool may be currently better teams than us, but not financially stronger. Neither has managed to win the EPL and have not won as… Read more »
Very philosophical about the whole thing as England exceeded expectations.
We have an excellent manager and a good young squad.
Modric, as we all know, is class and if he had been playing for England last night, we would have won.
If I was GS, I would get a DVD of Modric and hand it out to all aspiring midfielders like Jack Grealish/Harry Winks/The Ox etc and say to them “see this, this is what I want”.
Congrats to Croatia and their fans.
“He(Harry Kane) didn’t even bother to get involved today”
This is giving him credit. Truth is he’s not good enough to influence games on his own. A pure goalscorer like Auba.
That’s why you’ll never see these players work for the best clubs in the World.
ishola casmeiro could have played vs Belgium and Brazil could still have lost. I am not expecting Modric to be defensively great as he is a CM, neither should you. He is a very efficient CM and very complete. Even as a CM his defensive work is better than some good DMs
Michael24 “If I was GS, I would get a DVD of Modric and hand it out to all aspiring midfielders like Jack Grealish/Harry Winks/The Ox etc and say to them “see this, this is what I want”.” You would need to edit out though the part where he got played by Delle Ali for the England freekick goal. But apart from that yes he is one of the best CMs around. And I don’t blame him really if he gets caught out defensively a few times in this Croatia side. Croatia don’t have one what could be termed proper DM… Read more »
Stroller
Spot on
Also saying professional footballers that have been playing for years have no football brain is the most foolish thing to say. If anyone saying that actually played football they would understand how different the TV and the field is…
It’s obvious that some footballers have better footballing brains than other players.
It just so happens that Sterling’s footballing brain is not in the top echelons.
Good dribbler though.
Really Croatia are Wenger’s Arsenal of this World Cup.
All big Wenger fans should be rooting for them that is apart from going for the underdog.
Meanwhile France set-up anti-Wenger. Very defence focused midfield.
Croatia not particularly defensive minded in midfield.
On a positive note, Arsenal will finish top 4 next season.
Ishola70
“Modric orchestrates the side well but let’s not pretend he is rock solid in all areas.”
Please, mention one players who is rock solid in all areas; just one.
“Don’t you think Casemiro is a big help to Modric at Real Madrid defensively?”
Don’t you think Modric is a big help to Casemiro offensively?
Modric is WORLD CLASS.
Chika
We were talking defensively.
Another awful African poster on here? Maybe not.
Where you from? Your anti-english sentiments were very evident this World Cup
I’ve said that the reason for Real Madrid’s sensational and historical UCL run, has been their midfield where each of their players is the best in the world in their respective role. As a whole they also work perfect because what one of them lacks, the other possesses in abundance. Modric is absolutely the cherry on the cake. Sensational player. Has been for years.
modric is as good defensively as Gerrard was. that means they do the dirty work sometime but their primary role is to help the attack.. I’ve seen modric running on empty last night but still tracked back and made a tackle. Rakitic looked leggy too but that didn’t seem to effect his passing.
Ishola70
‘Another awful African poster on here? Maybe not.”
Says the idiot who adopted an African name as his moniker. Typical cheap shot when you got served and got nothing credible to say.
Football is a TEAM sport you absolute dense cunt!
Ah so another awful African poster.
Can’t abide them on here tbh.
Dissenter notwithstanding. May have some disagreements with him about certain players but he can debate in a sensible way and not in a pretence way.
There may be other decent ones as well away from the ones that spout too much on here.
Disgraceful from you Ishola. Between Chika and you we know who the awful African poster is.
Most of the time you don’t know what you are on about
According to Ishola70 the Chief contrarian, Modric should be grateful to a defensive midfielder for “helping” him out defensively.
Anybody with an iota of sense would know Modric never shy away from putting a shift defensively despite his main duty which is offering creativity all round.
Says the clueless yank that was weened on Wengerball and tells us that New York football team are a serious side in world football.
And for the umpteenth time I am not African.
I see there’s still plenty of good vibes on Le Grove, even since the departure of kim jong weng lol
Make no mistake Ishola is African. Typical of some Yoruba men to think themselves better than the others
“Most of the time you don’t know what you are on about.”
Very true. I think it stems from the sheer desperation to sound like a sage.
His responses are always off point.
Chika
The silly yank told us that Modric is rock solid all round. Go read his post.
He is obviously not rock solid all round.
This doesn’t mean that he is not the best CM around though.
“Says the clueless yank that was weened on Wengerball and tells us that New York football team are a serious side in world football.”
I am Nigerian. Just not as clueless as you. You are a numpty to think I said that. You are numptier to think you can’t get coaching experience coaching in the states. Viera just got the Nice gig because of the appreciation of his work in NYCFC
Disappointing night but HEY it was a good tournament
to unite the fan base.
Croatia technically far better than us.
Got fed up watching that retaining the ball at the back
and the big hoof from Pickford.
Our midfield was dire Ali -Dier-Henderson are not the answer.
Vardy to light and Kane looked cooked.
Suprised he did not bring on LOFTUS -CHEEK played really
earlier and would not have been intimidated by the Croation
lads.
Come on the Arsenal lets get this rolling.
Only a sage and know it all wannabe will say a bad word about Modric as a CM. Hes arguable the Most complete CM in world football. And most efficient.
Modric could probably defend his team more than you can defend th gibberish you daily churn out on le grove.
Ishola70
“the silly yank”
“the awful African”
It’s a great shame that many posters continue to use the c word on here.
English is a very diverse language but based on my own personal code of ethics, this is one word that should never be used.
Speaking and understanding a language does not necessarily mean you have a feel for it’s correct usage.
Children are taught never to use this word.
“Children” being the operative word.
Whatever happened to Champagne Charlie?
lol
Should have known.
How many Nigerians on here? Tonnes by the looks on it.
And argumentative fuckers as well. Sure living up to the more negative stereotype some of them.
I don’t see any real insight in your posts Mystic. Sorry. Just laden fantasty football posts heavily influenced by a certain Mr Wenger and his way of football thinking. And another poster always itching to fight and argue on my posts. All Africans as well. Funny that.
Ishola
Is a Nigerian, he was arguing with me about Nigeria the other day, mentioning places only a Nigerian would know.
Relax Chika, he’s just a true grovian with a full anti-wenger blood, and a leftist crying philosophy that thinks Trump is the world’s problem
Jeez
This all started just because I pointed out that Modric got caught out defensively for the England freekick goal.
And this doesn’t even say that he is not one if not the best CM around.
What is does say though is that Modric is not rock solid in all aspects as Mystic stated.
But enough to stir the multitude of Nigerians on here of course. Easily stirred these Nigerians.
Ishola, you are African. You are Nigerian, you are Yoruba. You are a fool. You could have been born anywhere, what it just gives you is that nationality of said country.
I think this space knows who is awful, arrogant and full of bile, condemnation and name calling between me, you and Chika.
You are really a disgrace and actually we are happy you don’t think you are Nigerian
Ishola
You are getting the best down bcos of the statement @chika, which has nothing to do with sport. And the fact that you are pretending not to be a Nigerian.
LoL who bloody cares about the negative stereotype held by relatives of gun trigger happy kids?
You never want to be mistaken as being African but you felt the wisest thing to do was to adopt an African name as your moniker. The level of your stupidity is immeasurable.
To me we played about 30 mins of good football in the tournament – in the first half against Tunisia. That was because the team pressed as a unit, they had good movement, they pulled the opposition and made them lose shape, and they created chances. After that there was no attempt made to press properly. We gave opponents an easy ride when had we stuck to that game plan we could have scored from open play and been far more of a threat. What is really getting me excited is that Emery seems to get the pressing game and… Read more »
So funny.
This moniker Ishola is enough to convince these folks that I’m Nigerian. Just a moniker.
Chuckling to myself because yet again they are wrong and off the mark.
“Modric got played by Delle Ali last night for England’s freekick goal.
Modric orchestrates the side well but let’s not pretend he is rock solid in all areas.
The set-up of Croatia’s midfield and personnel in there sees that it is not really defensively solid. Modric fares better in this area at Real Madrid with the players in midfield there.”
What the fucking moron said. So swap Madrid Jersey with Croatia Jersey and the goal wouldn’t have happened. What a wonderful insight.
You insinuated Henderson, Alli and Lingard are on the same level as Kante, Matuidi and Pogba. You’re just another no-nothing armed with a runny mouth.
Wow..someone questions your post and straight off the bat you question his nationality and hence his intelligence. Just wow. So a football team should line up with six defensively minded players, two defensive midfielders and four defenders fullbacks included. I wonder if the opposition does the same would football be such a fun game to watch. Barcelona played some of the best football we have ever seen without giving too much thought to defending. You talk like Casmiero has never given a foul away. You pick one incident and you just lash onto it and get abusive just to prove… Read more »
Ishola
Remembered when we had arguments about urban lagos? When you mentioned lekki and yaba? No way you will know that if you aren’t a nigerian.
And the moniker ishola, isn’t a random common name that you’d pick on the street if you aren’t a yoruba person. No internationally popular Nigerian bears that name.
Any other denials?
“Whatever happened to Champagne Charlie?”
I think he’ll be back M24 he just had fuck all interest in an England team littered with with spuds etc.
“Chuckling to myself because yet again they are wrong and off the mark.”
Am laughing at your cowardice
May not have happened yes Mystic.
Casemiro may well have been the one picking up that play in a Real Madrid team and could have done a little better than Modric in that instance.
He is after all a DM rather than CM.
All these long winded posts and insults is just borne out of the frustration of not being able to talk about Xhaka or is it Xjaka.
Just itching to talk about the irrelevance of the regista.
Well Emery believes in Regista’s and he is going to play one. Take it or leave it.
Chika
“You insinuated Henderson, Alli and Lingard are on the same level as Kante, Matuidi and Pogba. You’re just another no-nothing armed with a runny mouth.”
No that wasn’t said by me. Like Mr Hairline you have hallucinations.
Sanmi
“Remembered when we had arguments about urban lagos? When you mentioned lekki and yaba? No way you will know that if you aren’t a nigerian.”
lol this didn’t happen either.
These guys are strange.
He said Casmeiro a defensive midfielder helps out Modric defensively. So asked the Wise One if Modric doesn’t help out Casemiro offensively, then he freaked out.
Ishola is an idiot I bet everybody knows by now. Even Americans that have ancestral claims to Africa happily associates themslves with Africa but this moron who probably has full blooded Nigerian parents and am sure have spent years in Nigeria is denying it. lol. coward
So is the gentleman suggesting Real Madrid line up for games with three midfielders similar to Casmiero ?? I wonder where the creativity comes from. He talks like being a technically gifted CM is something to be ashamed of. You might be better off learning how to present your arguments in a manner that makes sense rather than itching to insult posters based on their nationality. Between i do not even care if you are Nigerian or not, i have no interest in the nationality of any poster here. I am more interested in discussing Arsenal football club with Arsenal… Read more »
Thought ishola was Asian
France still more and more lucky…
Can only imagine the physical state of the Croatian team for the final lol
2xET + penalties in a row, + 1 ET vs England… I don’t think we’ve ever seen this before.
I think that it was graphically clear in recent seasons that Arsenal under Wenger’s so-called stewardship failed to address the weaknesses in its squad/ team. Moreover many of the so-called major signings were the wrong choices for the club. Mustafi and Xhaka were certainly not worth £30 million + in transfer market nor were we well advised to recruit either Sanchez or Ozil considering our requirements at the time. What has been achieved in the last two transfer windows is the rebalancing of our squad with two “competent” players in most positions on the field. There are still some gaps,… Read more »
“No that wasn’t said by me”
You’re just a shameless liar Ishola70.
A poster questioned the lack of creativity in the England midfield, you promptly made reference to the French midfield.
A runny mouth and bad memory don’t go well just so you know.
Personally if i were in charge of transfers at Arsenal i would move Elneny and Ospina on as soon as i can and use the proceeds to bring in Nzonzi. I do not worry over all this we need a winger talk, i do not put much stock in out and out wingers, football is a dynamic game and someone who specializes in hugging the touchline isn’t my cup of tea. Nzonzi and Torriera patrolling our midfield is a though i very much like. Gives those in front of them and even the full backs great freedom to express themselves… Read more »
Ishola, just ignore the morons.
Marko Ishola is a Nigerian from the yoruba Tribe in the south western part of nigeria. He probably has tribal marks. And the 70 at the end of it, is a reference by the yoruba Tribe to elders. Made popular by the great yoruba singer Fela, when he referred to his band as Egypt70, to mark the decade they started and also a play on words depicting their wisdom. No way this particular ishola isn’t a Nigerian, that lived or lives in nigeria. Too much indigenous meanings in his moniker. Except ofcos there’s a study in usa or uk, called… Read more »
“I would prefer to spend our annual budget on world class players”
You mean like Ozil ?? lol
All joke aside, I’m guessing that you’re unhappy with the current business of this summer… There’s a lot to rebuild, and if you really want “world class players” right now, maybe you should ask yourself:
1) do we play Champions League ?
2) do AFC still have the same potential of attraction than it has 10 years ago ?
I’m so sure Ishola70 ‘s favourite midfield three must be Huddlestone-Dier-Henderson
Rambo Ramsey
“just ignore the morons.”
Yes I think that is the best option.
Ishola is probably one of the 419s, yahoo boiz, or Oloshos from nigeria
Marko Ishola is African. Not like it matters but he shouldn’t be ashamed of his heritage. And he always slags off fellow African posters
Nah I don’t think he’s smart enough to be a Yahoo boy, his runny mouth would eventually give him away.
Thank god that’s over. England were gash. Start to finish they were average, played woeful football and the two decent teams they did play, they lost to.
This was not anything special. Did they United the country? No. Will there still be stabbings? Yes.
Fuck me. The level we have sunk to is astonishing.
“Ishola is probably one of the 419s, yahoo boiz, or Oloshos from nigeria”
Gambon beware lol.
Rambo Ramsey
A moron is somebody that calls another post awful African poster and clueless yank without provaction. Oh and the that support or stand up for him
“I’m so sure Ishola70 ‘s favourite midfield three must be Huddlestone-Dier-Henderson”
Lots of defensive work in the guys. Rock solid all round
Awful African posters.
allow it ramsey, what did nationality have to do with anything?
It’s fashionable to go for certain posters and some of you are petrified by others, thats what I call strange. If your gonna go at someone based off nationality which is personal, the responses your getting should be expected.
Guns
I think there’s already been some violence after last night.
Can you imagine what would have happened if we lost/won the final even? Got to be a certain type of person to get physical over football.
Ishola is such a liar.
I remember scrolling through the comments some weeks back. He and another poster were commenting on Nigeria in general.
The conversation was funny to me.
He has the traits of one guy from Nigeria who tried scamming my sister some years back.
One of such traits is demeaning others so you could look great.
It’s an arsenal blog. It’s not restricted to only select nationalities so let’s do well to quit the name calling. Drags this blog down.
By the way, any one from Canada on here?
“If your gonna go at someone based off nationality which is personal, the responses your getting should be expected.”
A couple of these guys have been bullying Ishola for days now. At some point, I suppose it gets too much and you lash out.
419s?
Yahoo Boiz?
Oloshos?
Is there anybody here from the Red Hand Gang.
Left side
For me, football has had the shine taken off it for a very long time. No other sport invites this kind of utter contempt for everyone involved. Win, they rampage. Lose, they rampage. What the fuck.
Another thing, the cheating. Oh my god, the cheating. Now don’t get me wrong, other sports have issues with drugs etc but can anyone think of another game where the opponent is constantly and deliberately trying to cheat fellow competitors.
Every tournament that England aren’t in, is a better one.
“One of such traits is demeaning others so you could look great.”
Classic Ishola and Marko traits on here. You have this down to a tee. They make disparaging comments hoping others join in so they end up looking clever when in truth they really aren’t that clever.
“Lots of defensive work in the guys. Rock solid all round”
He likes them full of power and grit, rock solid haha
“Ishola is such a liar”
A shameless one at that.
“A couple of these guys have been bullying Ishola for days now. At some point, I suppose it gets too much and you lash out.”
Disagreeing with someones views on a particular subject is not bullying.
Bullying is insulting posters based on their nationality and hoping other join in to demean them and make you look clever.
The original comment from Ishola that started all this was quite distasteful to be honest…..
I’m sorry, what does anyone have to gain by denying their ancestry? And even if they want to do that, who in the fvck are you bunch of strangers to judge them for it?
Some of this ganging up is plain bizarre.
The Havant Massive?
Portsmouth Posse?
The Emsworth Extremists?
The Chichester Cathedral Choir?
I’ll get me coat.
Some of the conversations are bizarre. Just because a poster has a Nigerian-sounding moniker doesn’t mean he’s Nigerian. It doesn’t mean he has “tribal marks”. If a Peruvian who studied African Studies read a lot of Chinu Achebe and decided to use a moniker of “Okonkwo”, would that make him Ibo? If a a Jamaican who is smitten by Wole Soyinka decides to use his name as a moniker, does that give him automatic Nigerian citizenship? Ishola is the only one that knows his story. Let it be. Racial identity isn’t that straight-forward thes days. The US census beureau has… Read more »
It’s not ganging up though Ramsey, there was a discussion about football and then Ishola brought up nationalities which has nothing to do with anything. What do you expect the reaction was going to be? Especially from African posters.
Hairline, lets not go there again. You and I have very different understanding of what it means to be bullied. You think its just slurs and cheapshots, which is true if you are thinskinned.
For me bullying is creating a suffocating atmosphere.
Alexander Henry was rarely insulted on here, but he was bullied nonetheless.
“Is there anybody here from the Red Hand Gang.”
I did burn my hand ironing the other day if that counts 😉
“The original comment from Ishola that started all this was quite distasteful to be honest”
At least here’s someone who has the decency to be honest and not sugar coat things.
“Just because a poster has a Nigerian-sounding moniker doesn’t mean he’s Nigerian. ”
Nah mate, Pedro is clearly a Spaniard that wears prosthetics and has pulled the wool over our eyes all these years.
Like a hot bed of scamming in here today.
Lot of talk of England “Heros” – I couldnt agree less.
We got to a CL semi, not beating any particularly strong teams, and I think Southgate made numerous errors in the team set up.
He would get eaten alive in a 38 game PL season.
Guns Absolutely right, I’m not sure why football fans get so passionate to the point they want to fight over football results. Kane doesn’t even look like he can spell passionate on camera without practice beforehand. Why fight cos he and his team couldn’t get to a final. That being said, I remember last year after the Mayweather/McGregor boxing match, seeing an Irish man (at least in his 30s) berating a bunch of teenage Eritrean girls over the result. Guy looked like an idiot conversing with those girls who prob had no idea what had happened and Mayweather isn’t even… Read more »
Welcome to the gang Barking. We meet every last Thursday of the month. Bring nibbles.
Dissenter
If you’d do well to read through the chats, you’d discover that Ishola started this.
Why would you go on to attack the nationality of posters just because they disagree with you? And this is not the first time. It’s fvcking pathetic.
If you can give it, then surely you should be able to take it?
Harry cane/…where was he hiding last night?…dropping back in that comfy number 10 pocket. He had the presence of a midget. great striker on his day, but a sorry performance.
Sterling?…never got the thinking behind playing him…just a turbo Walcott.
Gambon, gimme your 16 digit card number – for research purposes
Pierre with all these anti-Arsenal conspiracy theories:
https://goo.gl/odb9rB
Fulham just signed Seri… as we’ve got Torreira I dont really mind.
Also, Sporting CF just filed for Wolves to pay them £48M for Patricio. I think thats why Arsenal is not gettign themselves involved with Gelson Martins cos there are legal ramifications that comes if you sign a player that cancels his contract without proper clearance from respective governing bodies