I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but the rampant media bias against OGS simply must stop. This guy is pure, unadulterated, intellectually elite, Norwegian football joy. He proved it today with a beasting of Carlo A’s Everton side. Give OGS more time, give him more money, let’s see where this United experiment goes.
Poch can go to PSG.
In Arsenal news, we can start the day with a sexy transfer rumour. We’re being linked with Le Grove comments section favourite, Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian #8 has been doing exciting things for RB Salzburg.
He’s an all action midfielder. He scores goals, he makes assists, he covers ground like all the best do for RB, and he is a setpiece demon. Apparently, he’d hit 200 freekicks a day… imagine that, having an actual specialist from distance? What a weapon.
He also has an elite mindset, something you need if you’re going to make it in a new country in the most competitive league on the planet. This article from FirstTimeFinish is excellent and had this clipping.
During lockdown with the football on hold, Dominik enlisted the help of Olympic Champion coach, Shane Tusup, to help with his physical and conditioning development.
The results of the pair’s work has been a huge increase in muscle mass. It’s something noticed by Christoph Freund.
‘He’s improved a lot on the physical level,’ Freund says.
Szoboszlai, who appeared timid at times during his first Champions League appearances last season, now looks far more menacing. He was able to dictate the play against the physically commanding Atletico Madrid late last month.
Shane and Dominik remain in close contact and talk everyday.
‘I work on helping athletes get the maximum out of themselves so that they can become true warriors when they enter the battlefield,’
I like Houssem Auoar, he’s undoubtedly a massive talent, but the fuckery of the summer might be a sign of things to come with him. He’d also cost about £20m more. Szoboszlai has a £24m buyout clause, is 3 years younger, and might have more of the all action features we need in an Arsenal team that desperately lacks goals scorers and final pass masters. It might take a year or so for the players to settle, but my word, what a talent he could turn into.
What I love about this sort of rumour is that he’s exactly the sort of player you hope your club is looking at. There’s a clearly defined problem in our midfield and we’ve gone out and looked at young player that could solve it. Is it a risk? No doubt, but a £24m risk for a player trained by RB feels like one worth taking. Arsenal should do this deal. It makes sense at every level and again reinforces the notion that if you have clear vision, it is MUCH easier to buy players against it.
I love clarity.
Before we get into the game. I want to take on a very pressing issue a lot of people have been sidebarring with me about.
Mikel’s jacket.
I’m all for fashion experiments. Like football, sometimes you have to take a chance. But this selection felt like a tactical misstep and the coach has to hold himself accountable for it.
The ‘I’m selling tickets to a Tottenham Court Road night club called FLAME’ euro chic vibes were unexpected and if I’m honest, unwelcome. I think he’s over-coached the choice here. He’s tried to blend fashion with ergonomics and he’s fallen flat. The textures are all wrong and I think we need to see a big response on Sunday with something a little more classic. It’s a young coach thing; we’ve seen it with Julian Nagelsmann a few times, so keep the faith, he’ll get it right.
The line of fire in his press conference largely focused on the underperformance of Willian and Pepe. The manager didn’t shirk. He was asked if he thought their return was good enough and he straight up said no… he wants 10 goals and assists from both players. He was pushed by one journo on Willian because he gets starts over Pepe, but the reality is Willian has shown he can play at the highest level consistently… we’ve never seen that from Pepe.
The Ivorian isn’t shirking reality. He dropped and interview on Sky and basically said he’s adapting to a new coach, a new system, and he needs to give more. I’d agree. The fact he canvassed Gabriel to join Arsenal tells you he’s emotionally invested in Arsenal, so at least his body language isn’t reflective of interest. A few people have floated the idea of him playing through the middle at some point. I like that idea, he could potentially offer quite a lot as a striker, though he does have similar strength physical limitations, he certainly has more speed through the middle, and that unpredictable nature is horrible for defenders in the same way playing against Kanu was back in the day.
I think the Aston Villa game is going to pose a real challenge for Arsenal. Last time we played them, we were taught a lesson in complacency. We’d made the FA Cup final and we switched off against Villa and they beat us. It’s hard to work out what they will do against us because they have players to do more than just deep block. Their attacking players are a joy to watch when they click, Jack Grealish an absolute dream of a player we could do with. There’s a lot we need to be careful of, but we also have to remember we have better players than them and we need to find the keys to our own attacking game.
We also have to be prepared to unpick an Emi Martinez guarded goal and not fall prey to their quick counter. It’s going to be a long afternoon.
Does Joe Willock get some minutes? He was the difference-maker against a shite Molde. He has pace, he’s unpredictable, and on his day he can make and deliver. Elneny was the star the previous Thursday and he started on Sunday. It’ll be interesting to see who makes it this time. Will Xhaka in a more advanced midfield position make a Premier League debut? How will Arteta configure his front three?
Lots of questions I simply can’t answer.
I’m looking forward to the game regardless.
Right, see you in the comments. x
1
2
3
Boom
Easy peasy
top 10
Smashed it
Szlob what’s his name looks amazing in that clip.
I’d be happy if we signed him. He’s the right age, and he’s got that RB DNA that Pedro loves. 😏
He was a beast for me and my Cork City side in FIFA 20 as well for what its worth! 😂
Top ten?
I’m going to acknowledge what I’m saying is somewhat ridiculous, however thanks to FIFA I have followed RB Salzburg a little more closely, and the talent they have/are producing is impressive. He’s a talent, and I know that we’re not alone in taking a good look at him. He brings something that we don’t have currently, and he has European experience too.
Smashed what?
The links to Szoboszlai in Jan are definitely welcome and the simple truth is £24 million isn’t much of a risk in today’s football world providing we don’t stick him on wages that are crazy.
If he didn’t work out you’d be able to pick up £15 odd million for him in a sale and just stick a sell on clause in.
How we’ll do in tomorrows match is down to one simple thing. Start with a midfield of Partey plus anyone other than Xhaka and it’s a win, Xhaka starts and we’ll be lucky to get a draw.
Palace 4 Leeds 1.
When Palace rip you to shreds, you know you’ve got problems.
Bielsa’s roller coaster effect strikes again, all his teams are impressive and one day, out of the blue, they don’t give anything anymore.
Classic story.
Doubt we’ll get Aouar with all the dicking around we did. He probably will end up in PSG or Barca.
Leeds wer good for the first half but that third goal was the real sucker punch. Never looked like getting back after that. Disastrous game for their keeper.
Asfor tomorrow’s line up, I’m all for the no Xhaka in the line up please. He will be one rush tackle on Grealish from conceding a stupid peno/free kick and getting sent off. We need pace, power and intelligence in that park so I’d definitely partner Partey with either Elneny or Ceballos. PLayers who will keep the ball moving. Also Auba through the centre with Pepe and Saka on each flank. Laca to come on in the last 15.
That was a pen in Bamford.
Bamford’s first goal shouldn’t have been ruled out.
Poor use of VAR this match.
*on Bamford
Leeds’ just been walloped 4-1 by Palace. Is this the type of ‘glorious failure’ style of football some on here are calling for? I would rather have me some pragmatism than a naively open and exciting style of play that leaves you losing games. If they continue like this, they will be in a relegation scrap by the end of the season
Trump has lost!
He can no longer go the White House.
He is For Biden.
Goodnight Trump
Biden wins
Thank god for that
It’s not about republican or Democrat, it’s just about having a human fucking being in the White House.
Deary me this has been a long 4 years
Trump finally got fired and Pedro smashed it!
“Smashed what?”
The election.
China
We might be looking at a situation where Trump throw’s a huge tantrum refusing to admit the loss etc. Make’s you wonder how long before his staff start jumping ship.
“Make’s you wonder how long before his staff start jumping ship.”
His cunt press secretary has already been caught mass deleting her tweets.
https://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/1325068772877557761
Marc he’s already trying but I think the fact it’s decisive via popular vote and electoral college, that there’s no evidence of cheating, and that the entire media including fox are calling this a Biden win means outside his inbred kids and morons on his payroll like Rudi, the other rats will all jump ship and disassociate within a week or less One can only assume the newly unemployed lackies who sold their sold for a few years in the limelight (kellyanne conway, kayley Rudy etc) will all just be asking for jobs at Fox News as I’m not sure… Read more »
Think there will be a long drawn legal battle before Biden is sworn in as President.
Trump reign over. It was awful to watch. Truly awful. So much damage done.
“We might be looking at a situation where Trump throw’s a huge tantrum refusing to admit the loss etc”
More likely he pardons his scumbag buddies, resigns, and has Pence pardon him for the avalanche of federal charges. Won’t protect him against local state charges though.
“Smashed what?“
Are you Richard Keys in disguise?
Kayley will be a Fox News contributor on TV within 3 months. Nailed on. She’s already demonstrated that she will say absolutely anything for money. She has no soul and she’s young and relatively hot. Ticks every box. Fox have properly started to reach out
“Think there will be a long drawn legal battle before Biden is sworn in as President.”
Why stop being wrong now?
There hasn’t been any widespread fraud – there won’t be any drawn-out legal challenges. Trump will throw tantrums, but it’s over. Even Fox News knows it. Republican senators/governors don’t need him anymore. They all won.
Penny for Pence’s thoughts..
Happy to see Eze have a great game for Palace. That’s the type of creative player we need to buy. One with combination play to help us break teams down, dribble and comfortable in space. Not sure Szoboszlai is that type of player.
Good riddance to the orange wanker.
I expect that all this conspiracy nonsense is designed to keep his idiot supporters on board for a ‘revenge’ campaign in 2024…..
Thank you to the majority of Americans who have chosen the next leader of the free world to be something other than an absolute scumbag
Who knew the bar could really be set that low, but hey you don’t know how much you appreciate such basics until you’re deprived for so long
Unfortunately because of the state of things, this is the equivalence of holding your hand on a sliced jugular vein to stem the bleeding.
This toilet country has already shown its true colors.
My chickenshit, racist neighbors couldn’t take their trump signs down fast enough Wednesday morning.
“Smashed what?”
Rudy Giuliani’s balls most likely lol!
Is it over yet ffs?
Poor old Bielsa has taken a beatdown this week. Magic wearing off Leeds, Everton and Villa starts, was always bound to happen.
Southampton on the other hand, give Hassenhuttel POTUS already!
And the Christian far right don’t need him either since he gave them everything already even before the first votes were cast.
The best part about Trump supporters was how they were elevating his political instincts suggesting he was playing some kind of three dimensional chess while everyone was playing checkers, when in fact he just kept doing the one and only thing he knew.
He could’ve won in a landslide so easily if only his Covid response had been different, and if he had shown just a bit( not a lot) more sensitivity during the BLM movement.
Szslob us the new DB10
You heard it here 1st!
Alex Cutter
Hope cheeto and the rest of machine behind him suffer.
People like Stephen Miller and DeVos. Dangerous people who are fcuking garbage.
Well, halle fucking lujah! Orange buffoon lost. Perhaps now he can finally get investigated for some of the shady and likely illegal stuff that he’s done and hopefully spend time in jail.
Get in Sheffield Utd
“He could’ve won in a landslide so easily if only his Covid response had been different, and if he had shown just a bit( not a lot) more sensitivity during the BLM movement.”
Not to mention telling his followers to not vote by mail.
It’s pathetic how close this turned out to be.
Trump should hop on the next Tupolev to Moscow and get that tower finally built so he has somewhere to live outside of US jurisdiction but where he can still eat cheeseburgers for breakfast.
Chelsea 1 down. Lovely.
I will say if someone had said Trump would get the second highest number of votes seen in a US election a week ago they’d had been locked up in a padded cell.
“Trump should hop on the next Tupolev to Moscow and get that tower finally built so he has somewhere to live outside of US jurisdiction but where he can still eat cheeseburgers for breakfast.”
Putin has no need for him any more. Might finally see the dirt he’s been holding over trump’s head.
More likely destination for the family would be the middle east where they don’t have to worry about extradition laws.
alex
“More likely destination for the family would be the middle east where they don’t have to worry about extradition laws.”
Yeah he’ll be dead popular there after banning Muslim’s from traveling to the US.
Cunts
Pepe is wasted being played in the overly disciplined RW role he has to play for us. He looks slightly better over on the left, and I think he’d shine if he could float across the top 3rd at will.
“Yeah he’ll be dead popular there after banning Muslim’s from traveling to the US.”
Are you serious?
Chelsea’s 3 shirt logo has to be the ugliest in all of sport
Yes to Szoboszlai. Yes to a reimagined Elneny. And yes to common decency and Joe Biden.
Messi’s dummy for Barca’s 2nd goal against Betis was absolutely amazing. If you have not watched it yet, please do.
Ziyech was available for half the fee we paid for Pepe.
Ziyech is a superb footballer, and was sub-35 mil.
Baffling how we never went near.
Arteta not wearing that jacket should be non-negotiable.
Halaand is a freak of nature, tall, strong, pacy and good on the ball. But Reus scroes for Dortmund.
Need to start worrying when you think exactly the same thing as dissenter at exactly the same time!
Is Neres still at Ajax?
Yes Rolls Reus on the mark for Dortmund
I’ll start with the point that I love arsenal and I am a regular reader of this blog but many of you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about when it comes to celebrating a Biden victory in United States. Having lived in America my entire life I can assure you a Biden win is terrible for the US and the world. I’m so sorry Trump hurt your delicate sensibilities but what has he truly done that makes you think he’s such a terrible man? I find it so strange everybody thinks he’s horrible yet all everyone does is… Read more »
Prediction:
Biden won’t live to see out his four years.
Southern side tackle
😂 that’s all I have fir that little rant.
Living legend that is Alaba
Radio Raheem
Apparently he’s available for free in the summer. He’ll be 29 and looking for one last pay day.
Dream10
He could take on Ozil’s paycheck.
Left testicle
That’s why a Vice President is elected along with him.
All life is ephemeral, no one lives forever.
Radio Raheem
I think he will join PSG or Barcelona.
I think Biden will see out the 4 they’ll wrap him in cotton wool. Depending on how good his presidency is I expect Harris to have a run following him
Trump is currently on a golf course 🏌️♀️ Golf seems to be his version of an ostrich sticking its head in the sand.
“just shows you’re a moron,”
comma?! Don’t leave us hanging, bro!
attacks of him being a racist. That is such a obvious communist line
I liked this particular comment from petri dish neanderthal number 105. It just screamed dumbass on so many levels
Dream10
Barca have Depay lines up,. They are broke and have had to shelve the expansion of the Bernabau
PSG most likely have Aouar lined up.
Dominik Szoboszlai Is Arsenal’s,
SST – Americans, and in particular Trump supporters throw around the word ‘communist’ when it’s clear they don’t have a fucking clue what the word means. The democrats would be considered right of centre over here in Europe. Bottom line is (with apologies to my American friends) that far too many Americans love money first, before equality, health, the environment, or plain common decency. Trump represents greed, dishonesty, self-interest, division, nepotism, ignorance and vindictiveness to name just a few of his repulsive traits. But yeah, ‘evil forces’ are out to get him and his supporters. Funny thing is for all… Read more »
Anyway as important as all that stuff is just as important is a win tomorrow and Szoboszlai in January. Lad is very very good and going to get better and better. I would also keep an eye on what’s going on at Dortmund. Currently trying hard to convince Gio Reyna to sign a new deal that’s running down which is leaving Brandt short changed. Either or I think both would be great signings for us imo
SuperRob
“Need to start worrying when you think exactly the same thing as dissenter at exactly the same time!’
Crazy bastardo
That comment actually made me laugh.
Dissenter
You’re right that Barcelona seem broke. But somehow, they find a way to make a big purchase.
Barca have Depay lines up,. They are broke and have had to shelve the expansion of the Bernabau
Oh dissenter
“Barca have Depay lines up,. They are broke and have had to shelve the expansion of the Bernabau”
Shame for Mardid. Hopefully Barca will start construction soon.
Violent protests? Seriously once the narrative changes as Trump is shown the door, there’s not going to be a single suburban rifle toting redneck who will have the balls to pop off. The police will not be on your side. The military will not be on your side.
Right wingers in America act like they’re the only ones with guns sometimes.
Good thing is we can just return to talking Arsenal.
It’s sad that 70 million American were happy with the incessant lying, and immorality of Trump.
They are still here spewing conspiracy theories about the voting.
Jamie
‘ Shame for Mardid. Hopefully Barca will start construction soon
Thanks for the snarky correction, I meant to write Camp Nou
No one delivers snark like you, I’ll, grant you that much,
Have Barca and Real swapped stadiums?
If Xhaka starts tomorrow that’s a real conspiracy right there. Something doesn’t add up.
Leno v Emi tomorrow. Big big matchup.
Ffs, we have the late game tomorrow again?
Finishes at 4 o’clock in the morning here, at least I don’t have to stay up until 5 like when we play in the EL, Xhaka better not be playing when I sacrifice my beauty sleep!
Edu better camp out in Austria to make sure he signs Szoboszlai the minute the transfer window opens, no way we can’t stump up the 8m needed for the first installment of his release clause, we’re letting something like 40m off our wage bill next summer just in expiring contracts, make it happen.
No one delivers snark like you, I’ll, grant you that much,
Hey what about me? I got there first
“Funny thing is for all their cult-like devotion I doubt that he gives a crap about them beyond their usefulness at election time.“
Pence’s top Covid task force adviser said that in one of the meetings Trump mused that the pandemic might’ve been good for him because he wouldn’t have to shake hands with “ disgusting people”
The only people Trump shook hands with were his supporters of course.
Don’t even try it, Marko. Dissenter has chosen wisely.
I expect we’ll hear a few stories now that the rats are deserting his sinking ship.
Jamie’s snark is crispy, Marko’s are like soggy chips,
Jamie is the king of snark, no one comes near,
Anyways Dominick Sz is coming to Arsenal.
Better buy him in January than to lurch around in the summer.
Andy, full credit to Olivia Troye, she quit the task force and became a whistleblower.
She’s also a counterterrorism adviser, a very impressive person.