Oh my, it’s close. I have butterflies in my stomach this morning. Apparently, that light adrenaline loosens the bowels, so be careful if you have a long train journey into work… carry a plastic bag just in case.
This is most consequential week in North London history (I mean, I’m trying to hype over here). There is so much riding on it. Arsenal hasn’t won a European trophy since the CWC in 1994. We’ve lost three since. Zaragoza, Gala and Barcelona. It’s Unai Emery’s chance to make history in his first season.
The added complication of the week is that the scum down the road also has a big game against Liverpool. How will our WIN affect them? Will it ramp up the pressure on them to deliver? Could a win actually work in our favour? I mean, don’t be stupid, a win will ALWAYS work in our favour.
The team looks to be practising hard. Shout out to the Arsenal.com for this nerve calming beauty.
The squad looks fit, they look summer tanned, and the manager looks calm. He owns this trophy, Wednesday night HAS to be his.
Chelsea appear to be up to ‘mind games’ because Kante has travelled with the squad. I mean, if this were a Conte 11, I’d be bothered, but a more advanced Kante doesn’t quite add the same punch to a game of football as he used to sitting deeper.
I’m more concerned about Hazardaryan
It would appear my elite organic marketing campaign to raise awareness of his TRUE heritage did impact culture like I’d hoped. I feel like Yaxley Lennon right now. I deserve a milkshake thrown at my advertising credentials. Did the liberal elite of Chelsea shadow ban my social adverts? Or were my adverts just shit? Who knows, but I’m deeply suspicious about how my work could have failed.
… and really, he is the difference maker out there on Wednesday. The one truly world-class player. The big question is whether he’s up for it. Can a Chelsea squad that’s already seen their CL bonus paycheck muster the energy for one last roll of the dice in Baku for a midnight kickoff?
Oh, I also don’t like the idea that Hudson-Odoi could do something. The Englishman has a great story, would hate for him to turn it on.
Who knows. Part of me suspects the ultimate fuck you prize for Sarri would be to win the cup and fuck off the Juventus, so I wouldn’t rule out a big game.
Interesting to note that Chelsea has players in their squad that have won the trophy before, so the Europa magic doesn’t sit solely with our manager. David Luiz, Azpi and John Terry sure to be thrilled to be part of the game again.
The important issue of the day for us is our defence. Which will show up, the shit one, or, the shit one? It’s likely we won’t keep a clean sheet, having only managed that twice away from home all season… the second most important click moment has to be Auba and Lacazette. They are going to have to take their chances when they arrive.
I know that ‘feelings’ don’t matter when it comes to football… but I feel weirdly confident. Everything is rolling out way, I’m not sure Chelsea are a reliable team these days and I think we have ample firepower to cause damage if our big names show up on the day.
We’ll have to see, I’ll be back with a BANGER of a preview tomorrow.
BIG LOVE x
I’m all for Firpo. That’s why I’m not too concerned of reports of Madrid wanting Ferland Mendy (who I like) or Atletico after Grimaldo (who I like) because there’s still players like Firpo out there.
“Mhiki out, Ziyech in would be great for Arsenal this summer.”
Absolutely,really don’t care who goes out for the lad though, we’re in dire need of a genuinely talented winger anyway
Ziyech is cheaper and far better than the other names been touted so far
Mikki will be hard to shift though,Ozil is easily the whipping boy of players on mammoth wages not putting their weight about.. By I don’t see Mikki that far off
Nico Schulz was a miss, has had a belter of a season at Hoffenheim. €25 million and he’s just turned 26 with his best years ahead of him.
Shrewd business from Dortmund.
Where do you picture Welly ending up Charlie?
He’s a bit like Walcott of yesteryear was in that he’d be doing very well to end up at a club even on a lateral level to us and likely drops a tier to an Everton/Watford type.
Aaron Martin is another. Coming off a good season with Mainz
wellbeck with the game winner in ET
Would buy Pepe ahead of Ziyech and change to a Liverpool like 4-3-3
Max Kruse is available on a free.
We’d be stupid not to even consider it. 11 goals and 9 assists in the Bundesliga, versatile squad option that can play across the front 3.
Ziyech can play in a 4-3-3
Pepe has unbelievable numbers this past season but I’m still not convinced with his all round play and work rate also see the amount Lille are asking for him? think they’re looking to mug off some club there
Yeah like Ziyech but he’s a central player. Does all of his best work off of the striker.
With Aubameyang and Lacazette, how do you fit in Ziyech without either shunting him or Auba wide?
Need true wingers in our team please
wellbeck with the game winner in ET
Wouldn’t that be a perfect sending off except i would prefer we put them away on normal time
ET will be unbeliveably too tensed for the health.lol
Real shame that Douglas Costa doesn’t have a decent end product.
Imo the best 1 vs 1 wideman on the planet outside of the elite duo of Neymar and Messi.
Shame he’s a filthy bastard too WE
Could do a lot worse than Max Kruse so versatile, always reminded a bit of Rosicky barring the left foot when played further back.
Ziyech was primarily ACM in the past but he has done well from the flank season just gone playing RW .
He has all the attributes to continue to do well from the flank areas.
I like what I’ve seen of Ziyech too. There’s a lot that can be done this summer in terms of team building. There’s quality everywhere. It needs people who know what they are doing behind the scenes to get it right.
If we don’t win the Europa, we will probably do nothing of note in transfer window. I think most posters here are overestimating our pull /finances if they are serious about the names being discussed.
He lacks pace Ishola, was clear in the WC last year as well as at times in the CL.
The way the modern game goes you just don’t get elite widemen without running power anymore.
Ziyech prefers to cut in alot though,does’nt hug the touch like an out and out winger, he loves getting involved with the play and dragging defense all about
He would get the fans buzzing again
I am really excited about tomorrow. Like some of you already felt the butterflies this morning!
Will be wearing my lucky Arsenal shirt on tomorrow! You get my kudos if you can guess the player’s name on the back of it! The answer is not that difficult… 😁
Ability to score/create 15-20 goals as a squad option Sal, and would cost us next to nothing considering he’s on peanuts at Bremen.
And if we are talking three upfront Ziyech fits in very nicely on the right of the three.
Not really mad about three up top with Auba and Laca at Arsenal but if that’s what folks want Ziyech fits nicely into it.
DB10
Ozil
Depends on the names that you’re talking about TR7.
Umtiti and Rabiot are not happening but the other names are well within reason considering they are all at smaller clubs than us.
Don’t fret Eagle, Klopp will scoop him up.
Regarding Umitit
It’s not like Barca haven’t dropped the ball majorly on some of the world’s best talent. As in misused talent or underestimating it.
Eto’o
Ibrahimovic
Sanchez
Yaya Toure
Icardi
Cesc
WE
“The way the modern game goes you just don’t get elite widemen without running power anymore.”
Well he’s done alright for himself playing RW for Ajax this season not just in Dutch League but the Champions League matches.
And this attention on him recently is all about him playing this position.
That means Auba plays out on the left wing.
He’s a 30-40 goal a season CF, would be retarded having him act as a makeshift wideman.
Ishola
Not really mad about three up top with Auba and Laca at Arsenal but if that’s what folks want Ziyech fits nicely into it.”
My sentiments exactly,i think he would fit in our RW like a sleeve
You know it makes so much sense and that is exactly why we wont get him
Marko “Individual mistakes and errors can be addressed by replacing the individuals who are mainly responsible for said errors and mistakes. That alone will be a significant help” I presume you are talking about Xhaka and Mustafi.. So what happens , wenger leaves and Emery arrives and we award the 2 players who are mainly responsible for the individual errors nice shiny new contracts. And then to compound the error, we refuse to award Ramsey a new contract…you couldn’t make it up . Better not mention the Saurez debacle as that will just run salt into the wounds won’t it… Read more »
What’s Icardi doing in there?
Bringing in Ziyech means we have to sell Laca
Laca isn’t getting enough minutes as it stands
That’s one of my peeves about this name dropping , when people don’t mention that we have to move people out to make it work.
What’s going on with Icarus
Surely he has to leave Inter but does anyone want his drama queen wife/manager?
It was dream penned by his agent wife then tattoo’d on Mauro’s body with Neymar scratched out and Icardi inserted.
Ishola
From watching Ajax against Real, Juventus and Spurs he played in a free-roaming position. Spearheaded the attack more often than not and mainly operated centrally with Neres and Tadic playing more wide. He was popping up everywhere and rarely inhabited the wings.
Similar story for Morocco where he’s the primary creator and lynchpin.
And should I add: I see us winning tomorrow!! Come on The Arsenal!!!
WE, Celso, Pepe, Zaha and perhaps Ziyech too will cost north of £50M, most probably out of our range. I think we will wait for Europa final result and subsequent sale of players before we zero in on our potential targets.
I do like him as a player but anyone watching welbeck over the years should know that he looks like he has 2 left feet when he comes back from injury and ends up tripping over his own feet , it normally takes him at least 4/5 games to get up to speed
Dissenter
“Bringing in Ziyech means we have to sell Laca”
Not necessarily.
Obviously the focus on him recently with Ajax has been on him playing RW and he would fit easily into a front three.
But he is an industrious player and can play RM as well. He contributes both offensively and offensively.
I personally don’t think it is worth going front three when the club has Laca and Auba at the club but those that do well Ziyech fits in there as well.
Victorious:
You wrote the answer but not the right one! The shirt is from our Victory in Cardiff in 2004 vs Manure in the Community Shield.
Icardi is bound to leave Inter, not sure where he goes as there is no obvious destination as of now.
Smells of a Chelsea signing tbh. He’s not quite at the level for Barcelona or Real Madrid as his all-round game lacks and he’s a mainly penalty box finisher, he’s too expensive for a German or a French club with Bayern and PSG already covered in the CF department.
Atletico Madrid an outside possibility if Simeone gets to reinvest the Griezmann money. Fits their MO of CF acquisitions.
*Offensively and defensively* re Ziyech
Tr7
ziyech has a release clause of £25M
Absolutely gettable if we really want him,he’s a boyhood fan also
TR7 Ziyech has a release clause of 25m. Ajax have already announced that he will leave. I would sincerely hope that we wouldn’t be lazy enough to not extend our search beyond Palace with Zaha. Very good player but not going to blow up into more than that and will fetch a superstar’s fee. Yeah Pepe and Lo Celso will be out of our price range although i think that Lille are posturing a bit with the 70-80m prices being quoted. They are a club that can’t afford to turn down a 50m offer and play hardball, just like Frankfurt… Read more »
WE
A question for you.
Is Bernardo Silva for Man City really rapid? I think not. His starting position for Man City is RW many times but as you say like Ziyech he can roam from there.
I get that pace is seen as a requirement but there is space for players like Ziyech and Bernardo Silva in a team starting from flank areas. As long as there is real pace coming from the other flank.
Good one DB10,Not sure how you’re getting so excited for tomorrow though,I’m literally shitting my pants and my nerves are cracking, probably because I’m not that confident in our team and hoping they don’t let us down
We absolutely have to win and i dont care how
Ishola No but City are so well balanced and have so many top class options in midfield/wide that Sane doesn’t even make the side most weeks. We on the other hand haven’t a single decent wide option/creative midfielder to call upon. I agree with that but that’s making another wide player a requirement then which doesn’t leave us with much of a budget to bring in those CB, LB, CM needed. Would also mean that Laca or Auba would have to drop to the bench unless we played a 4-2-4 which would be possible if you had two brilliant CM… Read more »
Sarr and Ziyech
Left and Right wing respectively
Save some $$ too
Tielmans in the middle
save some $$
Midfield is upgraded already now
Sane was absolutely top class last season. I don’t know why he fell out of favor with Pep.
We have to move Mykhi out at all cost
I cannot stand him, especially the fact that he wasn’t willing to burst a gut for the team by going to Baku.
His desire to pull off a political boycott overcame any responsibility to Arsenal.
Sane is a beast…. that is the future right there for Germany and club.
Pep has had many clashes with players… if he doesnt like you… you kinda screwed
I’d bring Ziyech in just for RM really and have the two uptop Laca and Auba.
As said before he is an industrious player and contributes defensively as well as offensively.
He’s got to be seen as an upgrade on someone like Mhiki.
Guns
Pep has had many clashes with players… if he doesnt like you… you kinda screwed”
…not when you’re young and as good as Sane
He will simply move to another top club.
Dissenter
UEFA said he was fine to go, as did Azerbaijan government.
What do you think is the reason he did not go then?
You say political but he claims safety.
Part of me feels like he should have gone… another part says he and Arsenal were making a statement about the treatment of Armenians and traveling Armenian fans…
I think I would have respected him if he went, but then again, nothing is more important than life itself- football is second
“Luiz and Higuain came together as the Blues were put through their paces at the Olympic Stadium in Baku. Higuain appeared to challenge the Brazilian from behind, angering Luiz and causing the defender to lash out with his arm. The pair exchanged words as Cesar Azpilicueta came over to intervene while manager Maurizio Sarri appeared to be infuriated by their actions. The Chelsea manager stormed off the pitch towards the dressing room, throwing his cap on the floor and kicking it on more than one occasions while angrily gesturing towards his players.” Sarri really seems to have a tight grip… Read more »
‘throwing his cap on the floor and kicking it on more than one occasions while angrily gesturing towards his players.”
Can this man be any more Italian?
Meanwhile in the Chelsea camp:
https://twitter.com/FlicksLikeEden/status/1133434751623335936
He’s got to be seen as an upgrade on someone like Mhiki
He’d be miles better than any option we currently on the flanks,really a sublime player
Not sure we can shift Mikki though,i mean who is taking him on 300k?
Unless he was dressed in a tracksuit entirely made of linguini, then no, I don’t think so.
Guns
I suspect Arsenal aren’t pleased with Mykhi in private.
The Azeri government publicly guaranteed his safety. They put their reputation on the line, nothing would have happened to him.
Can you imagine if Jesse Owens didn’t go to that 1936 Olympics?
Mykhi is a coward. I can’t be convinced otherwise but will respect dissenting opinions.
Maybe Arsenal didn’t want the media headache with Mikki going?
Endless questions etc
Anyhow, he should be sold…. he sucks
Sarri and Conte tick off all the negative stereotypes about Italians.
Chelsea are notoriously silly. Why get a manager with similar temperamental traits as the one you’ve just fired?
Arsenal fans wearing Mini T-shirts are being stopped in Baku. Is this really true? Not funny at all
Mhiki comes across as a bit of a lightweight doesn’t he.
And this Baku stuff sort of ties in with this general image of him.
He was a shit purchase really.
The only time I was quite impressed with his overall play was against Spurs at Wembley but these sort of performances are a rarity with him.
Need to get rid.
Little Mozart
“Arsenal fans wearing Mini T-shirts are being stopped in Baku. Is this really true? Not funny at all”
They are fucking idiots if they do that and deserve being thrown in an Azeri jail overnight.
The two countries are at war.
You don’t go around one of those countries with inflammatory t-shirts.
Boneheads.
Dissenter
Get a grip
You wouldn’t send a team with isreal’s greatest ever player into Palestine would you? It would be a massive security risk. UEFA were posturing of course but he made the right decision. Some things are bigger than football and the safety of his friends and team mates clearly matters to the guy.
Don’t put this on him. It’s uefa’s call and they should be fucking destroyed for this.
Eu, un, fifa, uefa. Same dicks, different badges.
Victorious Thanks! It’s a mixture if excitement and nerves. It will only get worse tomorrow! We absolutely have to win and i dont care how And I can only agree with. Our ability to progress as a club is so dependent in this, it is unreal. There are two things we can’t allow to happen: 1) is in our hands: we can’t let Chelski win. No way around this one. 2) the other one is out of our hands: seeing the Spuds win. We must pressure them so that they can do what they do best: bottle it. As much… Read more »
It’ll be interesting to see what happens tomorrow when Sarri tries to make a substitution.
Ishola
Ok. What about people waving isis banners in U.K. or hezbollah flags?
Arresting people for expressing their views is archaic and has no place in 21st century. Wether you agree with it or not. If it’s not a call to violence then what harm can it do?
Anyone who reacts aggressively is in control of their own actions. Nobody forces any single individual to hurt another. It’s done through choice.
You’re making excuses for people to make violent choices beacuse of a football shirt.
It’s like saying a sexual assault victim deserves it because they dress provocatively.
Miki’s decision to not go has no bearing on whether we’ll try to move him on.
He’s already on a list that includes Mustafi, Xhaka, Ozil, Mikki, Elneny etc etc
Dissenter
“The Azeri government publicly guaranteed his safety. They put their reputation on the line, nothing would have happened to him.”
Maybe nothing would have happened to him but what about his family , who knows it there have been some kind of death threats towards his kids or whatever.
Not everything is black and white….it feels like it’s just another stick to beat one of our own players with by our so called fans.
Un na
You need to get google
It’s impossible for Isreal and Palestine to play because they are drawn into different federations.
Are you aware that several Armenian athletes have performed in Azerbaijan without incident?
The EL final is the highest profile sporting even hosted in Azerbaijan. It is in their interest for things to be flawless.
Mykhi pulled a political stunt, maybe he intends to run for political office someday in Armenia, who knows/.
Pierre
Bollocks…his family doesn’t have to be at the finals.
What a lame excuse.
The sales of Mustafi, Chambers, Ospina and Jenkinson(ha) can cover 1 CB like Saliba and a Tierney Sales of Xhaka and Elneny can get us Rabiot (10m sign on fee) and Ziyech (25m release clause) and we would still have our entire budget left. Add any money for Mikhi and/or Ozil to that. I don’t buy the 40m bullshit so if it’s between 70-100m depending on CL I would rather we’d go for the best winger we could get for our money, like Pepe for about 60m and then Claude Maurice on the left for 9m. If we have any… Read more »
Peopekl sayiong we don’t need Mykhi to win are glossing over reality
What if Ozil pulls up in pre-game warm-up?
Then what…all the while we are paying a bloke big money to sit back and watch the game on TV.
I would shift Mykhi for 10 million provided the buying club takes over the entire salary.
Freddie
Jenkinson’s contract is up this summer – he’s out on a free.
The match starts at 11.00pm local time
UEFA are really a dim organization
How do they expect professional athletes to perform optimally that late at night?
The team that is better prepared will win…which is why I expect us to comfortably beat Chelsea.
If only Hazard can just take the foot off the gas pedal, after ll he’s a Madridista already.
What’s this fuss about Mhiki anyway. He’s been a let down for Arsenal as a player. I can respect his decision not to go to Baku as a man but as a player he’s a lightweight. Don Football fans will always act stupidly whether they are Arsenal or otherwise. These fans don’t even fully know the real situation regarding Mhiki. They have themselves decided that Mhiki is the victim in all this. And they have come to this decision purely because he is an Arsenal player. Wearing t-shirts bearing the name of a player in a country that is at… Read more »
Marc.
read conflicting stories on that, some say this summer some say 2020, some say he will haunt the dressing rooms of the Emirates for all eternity.
Either way I wasn’t expecting much for him.
Dissenter
Aren’t we allowed something crazy like a 12 man bench? Fact is I’d rather have a player available from the bench than not. UEFA should never have given the final to Baku without making sure there were no issues.
Jenkinson contract is to 2020.
I personally think that Mhki has a genuine reason not to be going to Azerbaijan. Who knows he may have had friends/ knows people who got caught up in the conflict, hence his strong decision not to go there.
I mean why would one forfeit coming to such a big game for no reason whatsoever?
He still might haunt the dressing rooms forever though, in his Arsenal pajamas. Stalking the hallways with that confused look on his face and the wooden walk. Scary stuff
Dissenter
Oh yeah. Then why did they and Dortmund both choose to leave Mkhitaryan out of their trips to Azerbaijan? And why did the Quarabag coach say arsenal has “saved him”?
The place is clearly a threat or uefa wouldn’t feel the need to step up security to protect our team would they?
Marc
100% agree. They should be sued.
Marc
UEFA decided to admit lots of the former soviet states to boost their numbers at FIFA. Baku is east of the Caucasus and is not technically European. At the time it was controversial but it helped UEFA match the likes of CAF and AFC who have huge voting numbers at FIFA.
If they are in UEFA then surely they too can apply to host anything. Besides Gazidis was part of the UEFA executive committee that ratified the Baku venue [while he was CEO of Arsenal]
DB10
“I mean why would one forfeit coming to such a big game for no reason whatsoever?”
Well there is a reason.
The two countries have deep animosity towards each other and are at war over a certain region.
Also people don’t realise how big a figure Mhiki is in Armenia. Him going to Baku would seriously piss off plenty of Armenians. The suit types in office there.
Dissenter
The match starts at 11.00pm local time
Well it, unfortunately suits the European TV channels as the kick off is at 8 pm in the UK. Ah, the power of greed!
It’s just like when an EPL game is changed date/ time. It’s done only to suit TV stations.
Ishola
Bla bla bla bla. It’s bone headed to attack another individual over an item of clothing. It’s also bone headed to arrest someone over an item of clothing.
The bigotry of low expectations rears it’s head once more too. So the locals in Baku should not be held accountable or what? People should be free to wear whatever they want to wear or express themselves freely without fear of attack. It’s called freedom. It’s in short supply these days.
DB10
How do you keep a professional athlete’s body at 100% at 11.00pm when it’s already tuned for sleep. The circadian rhythms are very difficult to just turn off.
I think Arsenal are better prepared, perhaps because we HAVE to win so that gives us an advantage.
Un na
Do you think people will get arrested if they walked around London with T-shirts sporting huge swastikas?
It’s no different from deliberately inflaming locals. I’m pretty sure British expats wouldn’t do that in Saudi Arabia or Qatar. I’m pretty sure the home office would have cautioned against such behaviors,
Support your team, win the damn trophy and get out safely.
Yeah Don.
Freedom to act like boneheads.
That’s where it all falls down.
If they are desperate to make a protest and make a so-called name for themselves then wear an anti UEFA t-shirt. That’s where the main problem lies in all this.
The decision not to play in Baku was Mhiki’s decision. These fans are acting as if there was a total ban on Mhiki playing in Baku. There wasn’t.
As Dissenter pointed out lower profile Armenian sportsmen have participated in events in Azerbaijan in the past.
not sure why everyone is panicking so much about our transfer business, I’m sure it will be spot on ….listening to Raul in his interview makes one believe that here is a man who knows what he’s doing. We all know that our previous mistakes regarding contracts and signings were down to Wenger and wenger alone and we are never going to make the same mistake in running down the contracts of players like Ozil and Sanchez now that we have such a well oiled machine in place………..yes ,I know it seems like the Ramsey fiasco is similar but ……… Read more »
Ishola70
It was a rhetorical question. He most certainly would have had a genuine reason to turn this down. A matter of personal pride and a sense of responsibility towards his fellow Armenian friends and his family.
Dissenter
I wouldn’t do it. And I’m not saying I agree with it. What I’m saying is that it shouldn’t be illegal. Any form of expression should be legal so long as it’s not a call to violence. If you don’t agree with it then use words and logic to examine and discredit it. Not force.
*Two Thai fans in Mkhitaryan shirts, walking with a Chelsea fan, were briefly stopped by Azerbaijan police near the seafront. It wasn’t clear whether the shirts were the reason for the stop, and they were soon allowed to leave.*
https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/article230890844.html
TheLegendaryDB10
“It was a rhetorical question. He most certainly would have had a genuine reason to turn this down. A matter of personal pride and a sense of responsibility towards his fellow Armenian friends and his family.”
Yes of course.
But unfortunately some want to paint a different picture.