Bukayo Saka, you absolute beauty, rocking New Balance like peak Aaron Ramsey. The young superstar inked a new deal with New Balance and immediately leveled the brand up about 15 points. Good for him, let’s hope the new boots bring him many goals and many assists FOR ARSENAL SPECIFICALLY.
Let’s continue the news… Dino Mavropanos landed Rookie of the Month in Germany. That’s a nice accolade. No one saw his resurgence coming, bar the might Sven (gone too soon). It’ll be nice to have more centre-back options for next season. It really is imperative we don’t renew contracts of players that’ll stifle minutes of players that have high ceilings.
Talking of summer… there are reports that we’ll enter the battle for Hakimi this summer. One can dream. Think we need to be realistic which market we play in when it comes to right-backs, I have my doubts it’s for someone of his quality and price. Still, nice to be linked.
The focus this week is all about Olympiacos in the away leg. We head to the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium to take on a side that’ll likely contain Sokratis. He’s been giving them all our secrets apparently.
‘let them fuck it up themselves’
… is probably the gist.
The game plan is clear. We’ll need two goals and a clean sheet. That’ll make the return leg comfortable, and honestly, for once this season, it’d be nice to just do things the easy way. Don’t get sent off, don’t play headed through balls to the opposition, don’t pass to their strikers, and take your fucking chances.
Last season, Auba missed an absolute sitter in the last minute of extra time, and we limped out of the competition. He really needs to pull out the big guns and give us some of that Auba magic. He’s finding form of late. I loved his goal at the weekend, but we need more of that.
Each game we progress in is another chunk of change that supports a better summer in a pivotal transfer market. I think the semi-finals is more than realistic, and providing we avoid a British team, there’s a good chance we do something interesting. The worry is Spurs or United over two legs. I tend to fancy us in a final.
We have to beat the Greeks though. They’re smashing it in the league this season, sitting pretty at the top by about 400 points, so this is basically a Champions League Group Stage game. It will be a tough game. I think we’ve lost 5 of our last 10 against them. I remember one of their centre backs (Morrocan?), a bald chap, having a worldie against us when they knocked us out of the Champions League way back when. We don’t need any such reruns on Thursday.
Also key for Arsenal… we need to put on a show against Spurs who have their leg as the home fixture. That game always has a residual impact on the mood of the fans. If we win the two games, everyone is happy, we lose, and everyone goes into pitchfork mode which will make it very tough for Arteta in the ground next season.
My view on the manager is this close of season is about fan capital building. If he puts on a good show, snatches some exciting wins, and progresses in the Europa, the atmosphere next season in the ground will be sexier. If we clunk to the end of the season, it’ll be tough for him.
Let’s see what he had this week. One final trophy to player for, let’s make it simple.
Sid I had no issues with Mislintant and would have liked to have seen him orchestrate a few more TWs. As an interim period Per would be good as manager/coach to settle and integrate youth into the side. Per seems to be a nurturer and is a good choice for the academy. He could link that side nicely to Mislintant’s recruitment. However, I agree with others that I think the pressure in a long term appointment would not suit Per’s fears/depression he’s talked about. Who would be your head coach choice if Per had a more joint management roll with… Read more »
AFC, you’re full of shit. This is exactly what happened with the “Arteta in” crowd when it was Emery in charge
“The problem with the Arteta Out crowd is they are unwilling to look at a result through a fair mind. Instead, everything is the manager’s fault andwhen the side gets a good result it is for some other reason, injuries or the other team being shit, and nothing to do with the Manager.”
Pierre
I agree with the point you make about it being clear and obvious it seems we all, and that includes VAR , just what that means.
In reality supporters have always thought a ref was bias or blind or whatever . If the refs aren’t bias the supporters certainly are and that almost certainly puts a slant on an incident that is a polar opposite view taken by opposition supporters
The irony for me is that tv coverage and their repeated replays from angle after angle did little to help placate supporters all it did was stoke conspiracy theories
Any head coach from the Hennes-Weisweiler-Akademie is welcome
Piers Morgan
“… If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it.”
If anyone knows about coming out with “a diatribe of bilge” , it would be Morgan with his constant personal attacks on Wenger and Ozil..
“If anyone knows about coming out with “a diatribe of bilge” , it would be Morgan with his constant personal attacks on Wenger and Ozil.”
Would seem history has proved Morgan correct.
Morgan plays the contrarian exceptionally well with great success, judging by your personal attacks on those wanting people holding the club back out, you’re a Morgan wannabe without the talent.
Tony
I may be a contrarian on Le Grove, but in the real world my views on the Arsenal are in line with the majority…
Piers Morgan and Le grove would be a match made in heaven with his anti Arsenal views..
He spent years slagging off Wenger on a daily basis on TV .
One would think that he would now apologise for getting it so wrong..
This will probably be our last hurrah in Europe for a while. Enjoy it lads. We’ve been conned. Again
Pierre, there is nothing wrong with saying Wenger was declining.
It looks as if the club declined with him though as we haven’t got much right since before he left
I think Pierre and Piers Morgan have more in common if you dig deeper,
I am not a great fan of Piers Morgan, but on this occasion my instincts about what he said on GMB are that he got it right. Megan made three damaging assertions: 1. The first was about her son not being conferred with HRH and Prince Titles. This has proved incorrect. Both Princess Royal and Prince Edward’s Children did not receive titles. 2. The fallout between Prince William and Harry occurred following advice that Harry should not jump into marriage too hastily. It would not surprise me that the skin colour issue was discussed then. William or for that matter… Read more »
Incidentally there is a huge difference between “prejudice” and “racism”. Most of us are Biased or Prejudiced in one form or another. Racism is an entirely different matter altogether
ES 100% with you on this one. None of MM incendiary comments were explored nor come to that simple ones such as her claim that she was married 3 days before the Windsor do. It wasn’t legal to get we’d in the England in such a way unless the venue had been licensed, which it hadn’t, there wer3 two witnesses, which there weren’t. Similarly it can’t be coincidental that the only member of her family in attendance was here mother. MM seems to fall out with those that should be close to her. But the thing that really got me… Read more »
I find that the Rogal family should keep their image. Megan is so American that she doesn’t belong at all.
Silly distractions to paper over the cruel inequities in British society
Phil the Greek has a lifelong record of making racist comments, but no one ever mentions it
My twelve year old son summarised the Oprah Winfrey Meghan Markle circus perfectly…
“Two millionaires complaining to a media billionaire in the California sunshine… in their massive villa about how they were hard done by… and how they deserve sympathy.”
Let’s not forget Piers Morgan shouldn’t even be on tv after what he has done or overseen in the past. He’s the one complaining Meghan Markle couldn’t stand the pressure and bailed out, which is exactly what he did on tv the other day, when someone FINALLY stood up to him and challenged him on his views with a compassionate and reasoned argument. It’s honestly car crash tv with him having people on for a discussion and him not even allowing them to express their views constantly cutting them off. The man is an absolute oaf as well as a… Read more »
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/ajax-marc-overmars-arsenal-appointment-20068684
Marc Overmars as director of football? At Arsenal? Yes please!
Leeds your kid is very astute On the one hand of what she said is true that really is shit, but on the other hand I firstly cannot begin to fathom that she didn’t know what she was getting herself into with the royal family – and a bit of casual racism comes with the furniture in that family so her being shocked by it is very hard to believe. Secondly they’ve been very quick to cash in on their royal name and brand. This interview is another case of a family matter being aired in public for attention. That… Read more »
Pretty cynical for a 12 year old, Leeds!
He’s right in the sense that who gives an actual fuck about two elites who have had a £100m year while the world is on fire and looking for sympathy.
Good luck to them, hope I don’t have to see many more headlines about how they’re big victims.
Big yes to Overmars!
Piers Morgan was WRONG in what he said about Meghan Markle…. he doesn’t live in her head.
However he has every right to speak his mind as do every other citizen in a democracy. That’s what freedom of speech means.
Piers Morgan has outrageous views but these views should be challenged openly and debated.
I strongly disagree with Piers Morgan’s view about Markle but his comments have opened another public discussion about mental health which is positive.
Ideas should be defeated through open debate and not through driving them underground.
The whole credibility of the interview was lost from the very start when Oprah and MM both stated that the questions were not vetted or pre scripted and nothing was off limits – yeah right!
Stated off with a mistruth and followed the same vain throughout!
The really important question is can Morgan play through the middle or is he better as an impact player from the bench coming on in the 89th minute to argue with the referee about VAR. He could be a lethal timewaster when we’re trying to run down the clock.
“The whole credibility of the interview was lost from the very start when Oprah and MM both stated that the questions were not vetted or pre scripted and nothing was off limits – yeah right!”
Don’t know about whether you’re right.
Rather, I suspect this was a thinly veiled opening salvo against the Royal household PR machine and how they do things. The funny thing is, any public facing organization of importance would have similar protocols…
I suspect the questions were vetted because the parties concerned already knew they were going to get a sympathetic ride.
*were not
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12242199/mikel-arteta-expecting-arsenal-to-explode-into-life-despite-difficult-season
“Arteta: My Arsenal project will explode”
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Leeds
There is no chance in hell that she would agreed to have been questioned about her family and any unbiased interviewer would have undoubtedly covered that topic so I am sure that would have been agreed up front as being off-limits.
Matt
Like I said, all the parties most likely knew beforehand how it was going to play out… so there was no need to “vet” the questions…. that’s my conjecture anyways.
Sid Making things equal, doesn’t make things fair, all it does is ensure that misery is shared equally No society can thrive, or even survive, whilst those that produce, pay for those that don’t, because that leaves no incentive for people to try harder, at both ends of the spectrum Try harder = fund those that don’t Don’t try = get funded by those that do And society collapses, because you’ve removed the need for anyone to try harder Meritocracies are the only fair systems, we need to reward socially rewarding behaviour, and punish unsocially rewarding behaviour, because doing it… Read more »
We’ve released more kits (12) than Premier League wins (11) we have this season.
Goodness me
“However he has every right to speak his mind as do every other citizen in a democracy. That’s what freedom of speech means.“
Leeds, was he retaliated against by the government for expressing his views?
Racism belongs to all skin colours not just black people.
Strange how we supposed to ignore it when a black person is racist towards white people.
Just saying
Well done Rich nicely put
ES, I strongly disagree with your opinion. The strongest point against the monarchy were not made by Meghan Markle but by Harry. 1) the casual racism of asking the colour of the baby was done to Harry. The fact that Harry stated it means that it cannot be brushed aside as a Meghan invention. I suspect that Harry was shocked to be asked such question but that Meghan Markle must have been on the receiving end of such casual racism mixed with stupidity beforehand. 2) the fact that Prince Charles refuses to take his own son phone call says all… Read more »
Tom
Where are you going with that? Can you clarify? It’s a genuine question and not designed to get a rise.
It was more of a post from me saying I believe in the freedom of speech no matter who exercises it.
“Pierre, there is nothing wrong with saying Wenger was declining.“
Wenger’s decline pales in comparison with Morgan’s decline
Well it certainly makes a change to hear evidence-free conjecture on here about a subject other than the Arsenal! Leeds put it well when he said we don’t live in these people’s heads. The same goes for Tets as it does for Megan Markle in that respect. Piers Morgan is not a champion of free speech any more than we are champions of the PL. He suppresses debate as his hateful TV oeuvre shows. That Royal shit will prove to be a zero sum game, except for all the filthy lucre of course. Morgan is already being lined up by… Read more »
Leeds
Freedom of speech doesn’t equate to freedom of consequences from t]the expression of that speech
Nothing wrong with Piers Morgan’s employers deciding that he had gone too far. There was no reason for Piers not to validate the alleged suicidal anguish of MM. That was where he erred.
I’ve never liked Piers and always felt he relentlessly viscously bullied MM.
He may have been right about everything else but has no standing to dismiss her alleged emotional anguish.
Your system worked , concerned viewers complained and he’s gone.
Free speech should not be consequence free.
Leeds
Unless I missed the point of conversation completely it seemed like you were reacting to the backlash Morgan has received for expressing his views with your freedom of speech comment.
Plenty of people quit or lost their jobs for expressing their views without having their civil liberties violated.
Dissenter
I DIDN’T say ITV/GMB didn’t have a right to dismiss him, (as it happens PM walked before he was pushed.)
I’m sure there would have been something in his employment contract about not bringing into disrepute the reputation of his employer (which he did). He has lost his job for that. I have no problem with that.
What I do have a problem with is, people saying he shouldn’t be on air at all just for mere act of expressing his views.
Tom
See my reply to Dissenter, I believe I address your point there.
“What I do have a problem with is, people saying he shouldn’t be on air at all just for mere act of expressing his views.”
You have a problem with those people exercising their right to free speech when they say they don’t want Morgan on the air?
Its Olympiacos vs Arsenal and people are defending Piers Morgan in this blog , guess shit has really hit the fan.
Leedsgunner
Piers Morgan was in a priveleged position to speak and be listened to by a million viewers. That no matter how you say it , is a position of influence . Freedom of speech doesnt mean you get to say things that are factually wrong , it doesnt mean you can get away with calling someone a liar just because you dont agree with them. Piers Morgan is a shithead and was rightly sacked before he couldve done some more damage to the channel.
Wenger’s decline looks good in comparison with Arteta or Emery’s tenure
At least Pepe had the balls to say what all of us are thinking, that VAR is a crooked system, even though the press tried to gloss over it we knew what he was driving at, maybe alll the aggrieved managers should start calling them out in the open, on camera. Eventually it will get to a point they will not be able to ignore it, my guess is they are hoping VAR will be discarded and then they can go back to there old ways, but I don’t see that happening, VAR is here to stay and they will… Read more »
Jamie
Let me clarify, I believe everyone has the right to freedom of speech. In this they should have the right express their opinions freely without fear or favour.
Those people who say they don’t want Piers Morgan on air, also have the power to switch the channel and the freedom to turn it off don’t they?
Why does he have to be silenced? Just because he is unsavoury or objectionable?
Are we just going to extend the freedom to those who agree with?
Again we here that Arteta has included Willian in his line up.
No doubt Xhaka as well so it’s the usual suspects, with probably the same result.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see some changes.
Rich,
Superb.
*Are we just going to extend the freedom only to those we agree with?
Leeds –
Morgan hasn’t been ‘silenced’. He’s been sacked. There’s a difference.
Folk who think Piers is a cunt have the right to say he should be cancelled whether you agree with it or not, because it’s protected speech under the same Freedom of Speech laws that prop up Morgan’s right to call folk liars in his spare time from his doorstep.
Leeds
He wasn’t “silenced”, his employers let him go because he probably violated his employment contract.
He’s still got his social media platform, his publicists, his daily mail writing position and lots of other avenues to express the same nonsense he spouts everyday.
He’s not like he’s been locked away in re-education camp like it’s done in Saudi Arabia or China. It’s not like he’s under house arrest or something.
‘Power corrupts, and the only people who benefit from big centralised bureaucracies, are the bureaucrats themselves, and the corporations who buy them off’
This is what the firm (aristocrascy) is about
Im telling you for free!
Diss and the King of Snide singing from the same hymn sheet. Doesn’t happen every day.
Tedious rubbish about an opinionated blowhard. He’s a fraud. It’s all premeditated for headlines. Can we move on to talk about football ?
Allowing black blood into the British aristocracy potentially breaks the racial pact of white supremacy which sustained slavery and empire, thereby releasing the white working class to find multi-racial class solidarity.
Leeds
You’re confusing freedom of choice with freedom of speech.
Everyone in this pathetic episode has exercised their freedom of choice.
Morgan said what he wanted to say.
Viewers didn’t like it and made their feelings known to the broadcaster.
Morgan quit and his employer accepted his resignation.
Freedom of speech never entered this equation.
The section of society most discriminated against, in both the UK and US, is middle aged white males. Every employment law desiged to diversify the work place is aimed exactly against that sector. Affirmative action, for fucks sake. What happened to rewarding the best candidate with the job rather than a clinically obese, black, disabled, fucking lesbian?
I never employed anyone clinically obese on the grounds that if they have zero self respect, they won’t respect others.
Pedro
Where is the Mike McDonald tactical post ? Can we get an Olympiakos match preview instead ?
Ihgb
The section of society most discriminated against, in both the UK and US, is middle aged white males
Evidence please for that sad old trope trotted out by white middle aged male crybabies.
For fuck’s sake mate, do you think that passes for valid comment? Do you really think you’re a victim in the imaginary culture war going on inside your napper? I’d like to think that was a joke but Ive had the misfortune of reading other similar nuggets you’ve posted.
I hate Green Bay Except that’s patently nonsense tho isn’t it. Affirmative action and other policies exist which discriminate against the white male demographic quite evidently however that pales in scale compared with what it’s like to be a black or Arab person in the UK or America. Tell the family of Floyd how hard life is as a white middle aged man because of affirmative action and be prepared to be laughed out of the building That doesn’t make affirmative action right btw and racism against that demographic does exist and is patently wrong. But only someone who doesn’t… Read more »
‘Tell the family of Floyd how hard life is as a white middle aged man because of affirmative action and be prepared to be laughed out of the building’
Floyd who?
Valentin I suggest that you watch the film I referred to, because the discussion about colour was portrayed by BOTH groups of parents. Sidney Poitier’s film father was as opposed to marriage as Spencer Tracey. Both families concern was not their own prejudices but how others would treat Sidney Poitier [who was a qualified doctor] and his fiancee. There is zero evidence that either Prince Charles or William are racists. Quite the contrary both have enjoyed very good relationships with all communities in both this country and the Commonwealth. For the record Prince William has just commented this morning that… Read more »
Matt George Floyd
The guy whose death via racist murder kicked off the BLM movement going nuclear last year
China
I just wanted to check that I was thinking about the same person. I generally like and agree with most of your Arsenal related posts so I will leave that topic there.
Claiming white middle aged men face some of the worst racism is like saying the UK is one of the worst countries in the world because there are many issues with it that could be improved
It just shows a complete lack of awareness of what it’s like for those less fortunate which is almost everyone else in reality
Matt cheers we’ll each to their own
But to put it into perspective I’m increasingly concerned about bringing my wife back to the UK because of the recent rise in hate crimes against Asians since covid. Yet I’m less worried about my son because he looks pretty much white
Even having to type out that sentence saddens me greatly
Hi China
I genuinely feel ignorant to have to ask this, but rise in hate crimes against Asians since covid?
Is there a suggestion that Asian communities are somehow to blame?
Matt –
Because Trump called it the “China Virus.”
Jamie
I get that, but I had no idea that it has led to a rise in hate crimes against Asian people in the UK.
Matt why would Asian people who live in the UK (or are visiting the UK) be to blame for them getting racially abused or attacked when out in public minding their own business? A virus appeared in China and fucked the world, the woman who runs your local Chinese restaurant is no more to blame for that than you or I (or my wife for that matter). Yet you will walk around town not looking over your shoulder simply because you are white, whereas she will simply because she is Asian There were more racist attacks against Asian people (this… Read more »
Matt –
The right-wing media in the UK is owned by the same guy who owns the right-wing media in the States. Their readers/viewers are fed the same shit both sides of the pond.
Huge rise in hate crimes against asians where i live in oakland. So much so that two asian actors put rolling 500k rewards on reports leading to arrests.
china
sad that so many people lack common sense. People have always been racist to asians, the covid debacle has thrown that into the light. Any race or colour apart from white people are subjected to racism around the world (not just in America and Europe)
It always amuses me when people who have : 1)a megaphone, 2) name recognition, articles and editorials written or shouted by them on mass mainstream media (TV radio and newspapers) 3) name recognition etc etc and massive followings on social media To Complain about having their free speech rights taken away from them when they are sacked from one channel/medium because people complain about their objectionable views is peak Mesut Ozil. Or to put it another way, it is peak whiny white male snowflakery. If Piers Morgan really wants to understand how the rift to free speech is truly curbed… Read more »
Even the moniker “I hate Green Bay” sounds like a more modern, stateside version of “Angry of Tonbridge Wells”.
You guys obviously read a lot but anyone who was unaware of a sharp rise in hate crime towards people of Asian descent must be looking at the wrong stuff. It’s become a massive issue since covid.
*rift to free speech – right to free speech
Jamie/Dissenter Fair dues, Piers Morgan wasn’t silenced… he chose to walk away. To make sure I’m not misunderstood, my position is as follows: Piers Morgan was completely wrong to say what he said about Meghan Markle’s mental state. He had no basis to say that. I also agree with you that his employer had every right to fire him according to the terms of his employment contract, which he agreed and signed. However, if our exchange proves anything, it proves that freedom of speech is a good thing. It allows ideas to be exchanged and points of views to be… Read more »
No worries, Leeds! Fair and frank discussions is how issues are resolved, typically. Don’t think you wrote anything remotely offensive.
are* how
My educated mind thinks a 1-1 draw.
Also
Dino
William
Gabetial
Holding
Pablo
Chambers
6 CB for next season … Is that enough ?
Rich for Prime Minister!
Leeds
You are one of the most decent people that post here. You caused no offence.
Le Grove gone Royals, shoot me.
Was under impression there was match tonight.
We’re taking our minds off the football with a hot debate!
Gonsterous yeah but I do understand that there’s a section of white male society that feels hard done by and they feel that way for a reason. I don’t expect for example a white perfectly capable middle aged guy who misses out on a promotion due to his company wanting to meet a diversity quota to feel pleased and happy about it. I get that frustration is very real and I don’t want to belittle it I just want white men to understand that for every case of unfairness against us in the UK or America, the same shit and… Read more »
Sal
I’d rather read the debate about the royals than contemplate watching another 70/80 mins of Willian
Leeds
I can’t remember any time when you’ve said anything that is objectionable or offensive even if I sometimes disagree with what you say (football or non football matters)
ES,
Did I said that Prince Charles or William were racist?
You inferred from what Harry said that it must be one of them and therefore jump to their defense.
That say a lot about your own prejudice, priorities and values.
Bald, royal, white male are potentially attacked, I must defend them.
I said that Prince Charles lack of empathy toward his OWN son does not show him in a good light. But then again he has history on that front.
Bati
Fair considering.
In that case hoping for this up front, clearly need to hold shape and keep eye on the prize with youth locked down.
__________Andrew_________
Markle_________________Morgan
___________Oprah____________
Focus on Football guys ! Season 10 of Crown can wait a bit. Where is Pedro when you need him.
Oprah is definitely the deep-lying playmaker. Pulling all the strings.
Words/Jamie/Dissenter
Thank you for your kind words.
I would like to think strong opinions can reside quite happily with tact and civility. Thank you for hearing me out.
Øprah
Leeds, Piers Morgan was asked by his boss to apologise for his hurtful comment about Meghan Markle mental anguish and he refused. He would rather resign than admit than he went too far. This is how far up his own ass, this man is. The reason of his Meghan Markle hate is that she cut him off when he tried to worm his way into her inner circle of friends. He is no great freedom of speech defender. He is a petty, bitter man who can not handle when a woman celebrity tell him no. The same he bullied Jameela… Read more »
“Øprah”
Take a bow.
China
TO piggy back, the term white priviledge is hard from some to wrap their head around. Its not an easy word to hear, but very simply put, it is what exactly it says.
In historical terms, economic, political and social, it has a very true meaning….