ARTETA ‘TWO GAME BREATHER’ PROMISE? READS LIKE NONSENSE

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What are you watching today? PSG? Mbappe, Neymar, and Messi? Ok, me too.

There’s only one club in the world that does things the way fans think they should… and that’s PSG. What they did this summer was grotesque. It shouldn’t happen. It’s basically Harlem Globetrotters. But here we are, in the Champions League, watching a fat rich person spewing gold onto a pitch.

It’ll be very interesting to see how that all works over the course of a year. My suspicion is it might not win them the Champions League, but we’ll see.

The hot story doing the rounds is that Arteta, according to Bild, has promised Leno his shirt back after two games.

Errrrr?

Seems a bit odd and quite un-Arteta like. It also seems weird that Leno would agree to be dropped for two games. What sort of elite athlete asks for a breather 3 games into a season? Especially if the person taking your place is someone other than Runarsson.

My suspicion. This story is nonsense. Ramsdale has the shirt until he fucks up. That’s how it should go. We’ve watched 2 years of meh keeping, now is the chance for someone else to give it a go. Leno is also down to two years on his deal. The club was always going to make this season rough for him so he’d leave to chase the Germany #1 spot.

Did I tell you Tomiyasu said he was buzzing? I love that. Do Japanese people call each other ‘slags’ when they greet each other?

Back to it…

There are HAAAAWT rumours that Charlie Patino, god of Hale-End Twitter, is going to make an appearance next week in the league cup. The story goes that he’s impressing the Arsenal first-team players. That video of him dropping Phil Jones, then chipping Dean Henderson was very reminiscent of Jack Wilshere having that moment against West Ham reserves when he curled a pearler into the top corner. Some kids have a swagger that just screams ‘I WILL GET A GO’… that’s what I’m seeing here.

Arteta really does have a fine balancing act in the League Cup. He needs build familiarity with this new squad of players, but at the same time, make sure the talent coming through doesn’t suffer. Balancing longterm goals while catering to gangrenous short term needs is a might fine line to tread. I fully expect the backline to mostly remain in tact. I think the major change out will likely be Tavares in for Tierney. Midfield, let’s be real, no one needs to see Big Mo clumping around, let’s get Patino in there. Up top, you don’t want to risk your stars, so there could be some flex there. Folarin Balogun will surely start, then maybe Reiss (who is on loan, so no) or one of the other U23 kids.

I’m pumped for that game. Maybe the team will depend on whether we do some damage against Burnley at the weekend.

Finally, seems there’s a lot of debate about fandom on the internet that has been set off by that video of the fan arranging his friend to shoot him going to the Emirates for the first time while he himself also videos the moment.

That video was weird. Let’s be honest. Organising a production like that is not ‘in the moment’ and it’s not a young people thing. It’s a people thing. Everyone wants to film everything and it’s a scourge on modern entertainment. No one ever goes back and watches the videos either.

Fandom is a weird thing and there are levels for it. Even in England, when you are sussing out someone in a bar that tells you they like football, the hierarchy sussing goes like this.

Who do you support?

Do you go and see them?

Season ticket holder?

Do you go to away games?

Do you go to Europe?

Fans that do it all are peak Arsenal fans, you can’t deny it, the commitment is outrageous and you have to accept it.

I’m an overseas fan. I write a blog. Podcast. Tweet like a madman. I’m obsessed. I’m still a fan, just a different type. That doesn’t mean I’m lesser, but I can’t claim to be the same level of hardcore as an away day season ticket holder (RIP).

Arsenal is global. Global fans make the community special. They are valuable and should never be demeaned. Jockeying for position is boring, but it mostly only happens when someone tells another fan they aren’t worthy. All fans are worthy and no one should diminish a person’s fandom unless they wear half and half shirts.

Still, there is a hierarchy of fandom, you might not like that people do it on the internet, but it might make you feel better that local fans do it in bars when assessing someone.

Short one today. See you ALL in the comments. x

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WengerEagle

Now that’s a film that I want to check out, somehow missed that one even though I liked Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Breakfast Club, Dazed and Confused and the American Pies.

You’re smart to put your wallet away on the gambling Middy, getting close to there myself as it’s just a game that you will never simply win and walk away from.

MidwestGun

Sorry Sal… My Youtube… game is slower these days.. I went full Willian on it.

That movie has an epic soundtrack as well.. keep it on file in my stash.

Mr Serge

Weagke we are Damien Mia to reliant on one system. With pillow fists and no stand up

salparadisenyc

Middy

Stormy airplane scene all time, agree soundtrack total quality for that era.
We think Tony would approve or not enough gusto for a man as seasoned as he?

WengerEagle

Mr Serge

We’re Damian Maia if he was KO’d so stiff that he had all of his BJJ memory completely wiped clean.

WengerEagle

You not based in the Big Apple no more Pedro? Where you these days?

MidwestGun

Sal-
Tony should approve. I think. He will get it sorted out.. sounds like he is having some Covid lockdown depression. Went Full Rhys Jagger the past couple days.

Mr Serge

Remember when he tried to flying knee Nate marquart and got knocked out with one punch lol

Guns of SF

Khabib is the GOAT

Mr Serge

Guns no he is not he beat 3 good fighters
John bones Jones is the goat Anderson Silva close second

WengerEagle

I like Tony as a poster and think he is a good dude and normally enjoy most of his posts but yeah, think he needs to cool off for a little bit and to stop divulging every piece of his personal life on here.

Think he may come to regret it in time if he doesn’t rein it in a bit. Gone off the deep end of late.

WengerEagle

GSP up there too.

Guns of SF

Serge,
He dominated everyone. no one can stop him. Ferguson would have been beat up…
Who do you think can beat him?

Guns of SF

My buddy trains here at ATT in San Jose, when Khabib is in town training or cornering a fighter on his team. He tells me the he still beats all the BJJ guys. no one in the gym has even come close to matching him… That Dagestani style is better than BJJ when it comes to a comparisson. BJJ is a great art, but its a high risk high reward style… I personally love it… BUT the Dagestani’s are just completely dominating… and do not take a lot of punishment like the BJJ fighters. Its like its own fighting style…… Read more »

Mr Serge

Guns khabib cut 20 pounds to fight at lightweight he never once stepped up to fight guys his size he just beat up little fellas when he could no longer cut the weight he retired. It’s easy beating up blown up 135 pounders.
Jones beat Tons of top fighters and cornier twice no one got near him and apart from the dq is unbeaten.he beat hall of famers not little guys

WengerEagle

For me it’s Khabib and Jones. 1A/1B scenario.

Jones has the more impressive resume but Khabib wins in much more impressive fashion imo, destroys all of his opponents whereas Jones plays up and down to his competition too much for me.

But neither have ever looked close to losing barring that armbar that Jonea fought off from Vitor Belfort as a youngster.

Guns of SF

Ok Serge ill go with that… but truly who could beat him at 20lbs heavier??

Mr Serge

Guns they are bear huggers i am not sure they are going to dominate like people think unless they all fight below their natural weight someone is going to clip them and put them out like I said khabib cut a lot of weight and he was a supreme wrestler as well and there are not as many power punchers down there.
Any Dagestan fighter above 170 is gonna get clipped by a proper striker and will go to sleep

WengerEagle

Serge

You could argue that Jones ducked the HW division and utitlised having a massive reach, height and natural weight advantage over everyone at LHW if you are being consistent though.

He is 6’4, walks around at around 225-230lbs and has the longest reach in the UFC. Was it fair him fighting 5’9 Cormier?

If you are going that route with the Khabib criticism.

salparadisenyc

Tony definitely out there on the perimeter at moment, envision him as one of the Spinal Tap dudes cranking Smoke on the Water thru the Bangkok night.

Hope i’m right.

Chin up Tony!

And Never go full Rhys Jagger.

Guns of SF

Thoughts on Islam Makachev?
Got better punching than KN……

Guns of SF

Dagestani style is not the most exciting but hell, its pretty much undefeatable.

you can throw as many bombs as you want, its when they take your legs that its over. totally curtains

Mr Serge

Guns Usman spanks him
Whitaker makes 170 he can put him to sleep
My point is he is at risk if he steps up
Look at adesanya went up 20 pounds got stopped

WengerEagle

I would have loved to see Jones test himself against prime Stipe and Ngannou but I doubt either fight sees the light of day and Stipe is nearly 40 anyway.

Even DC-Jones at HW would have been interesting, Cormier carries much more power with the extra pounds without sacrificing the conditioning too much.

Mr Serge

Guns of SFSeptember 15, 2021 23:23:33
Thoughts on Islam Makachev?
Got better punching than KNโ€ฆโ€ฆ

Another fighter that cuts a lot of weight he has been stopped by a punch so does not have a granit chin like khabib
He also has not fought any top fighter yet

Chandler
Olivera
Gstje take him out
Ferguson is shot now

WengerEagle

Adesanya wasn’t stopped? Lost a Decision to Jan IIRC.

Not saying that opinion is wrong by the way but you have to go the whole hog and include Jones going up to HW for it to hold credence.

Would Jones have beaten prime Cain Velasquez/Overeem/Stipe/Ngannou? I highly doubt he beats 3, never mind all 4.

Mr Serge

We cornier at LH did not have the speed or reach to best Jones
He only went down because his bestie was champ at HW
Agree cornier is a natural heavy weight
Love him as a fighter and as character so knowledgeable

Mr Serge

We my mistake he got battered against blaskowich but he never got stopped
I don’t think Jones beats those HW either he is a natural LH
If he cut 20pound to fight at MW I would give him less props

Not rubbishing Khabib just saying no way he is the goat not even close

Mr Serge

Jones beats 2 of those HW don’t want him to fight Nganou though or Gane

WengerEagle

Serge

Cut to MW?! Lol the guy is 6’4 and 230lbs walking around ffs. How is he cutting to 185 without removing a limb/his cock? (that one is for you Sid and it is for free!)

Jones is a HW who has fought at LHW to avoid the really heavy hitters if you are a sceptic. He even managed to avoid the lone freak heavy hitter in LHW in Rumble Johnson.

Mr Serge

We that’s my point khabib cut to below his natural weight by at least 20 pounds Jones does not he is not that big as you think he is the same height as Adesanya just a slightly bigger frame
Rumble cut to welter weight for instance.
Cutting 20 pound from 225 to 205 is not that much
Cutting to 155 means you fight blown up 135 era like Connor

Mr Serge

We do you think Khabib is better pound for pound than
Jones
Anderson
Fedor
Gsp
Usman ?

Mr Serge

All 205 ers are around 225 230 naturally cutting 20 pound is easy as a big fighter

Cut 20 pounds ds as a welterweight very hard

Guns of SF

I still think KN takes whomever he fights…
Usman would be great but I think KN gets him on the ground.
Usman not all that with wrestiling despite the fan boys

WengerEagle

Serge Khabib and Jones are 1A and 1B for me. Just after that I have GSP then Anderson. Usman hasn’t done enough for me yet to be held in with that company and I have only really seen highlight reels of Fedor who also fought pretty meh competition for the most part it has to be said. Legend no question but how would he fare against the HW’s of today? Not too well imo. In terms of peak though Anderson Silva is there at the apex for me. One of the most exhilarating fighters I have ever seen when he… Read more »

Mr Serge

Weagle agree Anderson my all time fave fighter seen him fight live 4 times his speed and reflexes second to none and he went up a weight and won there as well.
Amazing talent looked like he was in the matrix half the time
Gutted he took Weidman lightly

Mr Serge

Guns of SFSeptember 16, 2021 00:09:41
I still think KN takes whomever he fightsโ€ฆ
Usman would be great but I think KN gets him on the ground.
Usman not all that with wrestiling despite the fan boys

This is the fight I would pay to see over all the others right now on the roster hope KN comes out of retirement and does this fight

WengerEagle

Mr Serge Everyone cuts weight, Dustin Poirier told Rogan he walks around at 180 lbs before fight camp. Gaethje and McGregor both walk around at about 175 lbs so yes Khabib is heavier [walks around at about 185 lbs] but it’s not by much at all. It’s par for the course that the majority of fighters cut at least 15-20 lbs to make fight weight. Rare exceptions like Colby Covington and Robert Whittaker but there aren’t many of those that become Champions or get close. Usman walks around at about 195 lbs so is cutting close to as much weight… Read more »

WengerEagle

You’re lucky Serge on account of that and getting to watch the Invincibles live.

I’ve been to 3 UFC’s [last one was Werdum vs Volkov in London 3 years ago] and a tonne of Bellators/Bammas but never a massive card unfortunately as of yet. Might try sort it for one of my mate’s stag that will happen next year as we all are huge MMA fans, would love to do the whole Vegas weekend on a big card.

salparadisenyc

Eagle on the late shift in Dublin town, love it.

Off topic for moment, where we thinking Bellinham goes?
Kids looking rather elite for an 18 yr old.

Guns of SF

when is my boy max Holloway fighting next? I do hope Ortega beats that little bulldog Volkanovski

Holloway near killed Ortega few years back

Guns of SF

nothing can beat the pettis kick off the fence.. tho…. that has to be the number 1 knock out in MMA history

Guns of SF

Kinda miss the WEC…. had some really good fighters in there back in the day….

salparadisenyc

Holloway surely a Gooner?

Guns of SF

I hope he is Sal…. lol
But ive been to Makaha, Waianae enough to know that football is the game they play out there… with all those quite large native hawaiians

Guns of SF

Football not Futbol

Tony

K’phobe, China, Almunia, Guns, MD-Gunner and those who have interacted with me positively, I really appreciate the time we have chatted together and the humanizing of sharing stories. Pedro, I respect the last part of your post and finally am on common ground with you on that point, but miles away with your Arteta beliefs for whatever agenda and poster imposter you employ. ES apologies if my nationality association was wrong and unlike you I apologies when wrong and give up the shovel. You just keep digging with as if digging further will secure the point that you were right.… Read more »

MD-Gunner

Since the International break I noticed something that will make it easier for being a Gooner fan. Because for the majority of time Arsenal will play on the weekend there is not enough to talk about regarding AFC, Friday or Saturday for the upcoming game, then Sunday or Monday for the post game banter. I noticed here on the blog starting with Tuesday the topics were all over the scenery when normally it would focus on the midweek European matches. The longer the time period between Arsenal events the less discussion will take place until the next TW when dreams… Read more »

Luteo Guenreira

โ€œnothing can beat the pettis kick off the fence.. thoโ€ฆ. that has to be the number 1 knock out in MMA historyโ€

That kick didnโ€™t result in a KO, Henderson got up immediately after being hit. Pettit won by decision that night. Great move but canโ€™t be ranked on any list of knockouts unfortunately.

Moray

Good post MD!

Moray

So Arteta is now in the habit of issuing guarantees and promises to keepers. Itโ€™s a real shame he wasnโ€™t prepared to do that before Martinez left.

Luteo Guenreira

Weight cuts are a horrible thing to put your body through, if a fighter is willing to subject himself to that level of self abuse to gain an advantage, and is able to do it consistently without missing weight, thatโ€™s something to be commended, not penalized. Khabib had lots of problems making weight early in his career until he got it straightened out too. Anderson walked around at 225 and cut to 185 regularly, Usman likely cuts close to 30lbs also. The notion that cutting lots of weight dampens your legacy as a fighter is ridiculous. Khabib is the GOAT… Read more »

Guns of SF

Luteo
Bendo was hurt bad – I will re state it as being a knock down kick for the ages…
Straight up street fighter mortal kombat bruce lee shit that kick was….

Guns of SF

Bro he was hurt bad….. im sure he seeing stars for a long ass time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhgOtbbU1UM

Guns of SF

DC was just too short to be a real threat to the HW division.
Yea he got some good wins and got Miocic but overall, his height was a hinderance. Add a few inches and he would be much better.

Luteo Guenreira

Guns

Yeah Iโ€™m sure it hurt him, being jump-kicked in the face usually will do that. Thanks for the link though, for some reason I remembered Henderson getting up sooner than that. Itโ€™s pretty surprising it didnโ€™t end up a KO tbh.

Guns of SF

Bendo was a bust, for a while I was liking him, but he just really faded away to Bellator and now I dont even know if he still fights…
The life of an MMA fighter is rough ….

Sid

Barbaric sports, i have noticed their longstuff are rather tiny.

Receding Hairline

Don’t quite know how anyone enjoys the MMA, too violent, just can’t stand it.

Globalgunner

MMA proves that humans have not evolved one little bit since the bloodthirsty days of Roman gladiators. Its gruesome to watch. Ironic that some people want to ban heading from football and ignore a sport that allows man…and women to knock each others brains into mush.

Luteo Guenreira

I like MMA because itโ€™s like dog fighting, but with humans.

kjelli

What if the Wimbledon team is made of hard-men like in the old days ? Patino needs to beef up
10-15kg. before thrown against a thug team. Lets remember little Jack Wilshire.. ?

Mr Serge

Guns
DC was just too short to be a real threat to the HW division.
Yea he got some good wins and got Miocic but overall, his height was a hinderance. Add a few inches and he would be much better.

Cornier the Ben White of the heavy weight division lol

Ishola70

No surprise at all at the news Arteta reinstating Leno over Ramsdale.

Just like he will reinstate Xhaka over Lokonga.

Mr Serge

Luteo can’t agree with KN being the goat how many 55 ers can put your lights out with one punch ? Most lhw can do that khabib could go for the takedown knowing he can take one if he has to on the way in you can’t do that at the heavier weights. Plus I don’t really think he fought top fighters until his last few fights They goat of MMA has to be one that has the skill as well as longevity Look how long Anderson and Jones reigned and took on all comers KN is a hall of… Read more »

Mr Serge

Back to football taking 6 of my friends and family to the cup game that don’t usually go and I got tickets two rows behind tets do I dare tell him about himself lol

Up 4 grabs now

Hey Pedro, Loving the podcasts, not usually my thing but actually really enjoying them. I think with little or no midweek games your going to have to keep us all engaged arsenal wise with some blinding content. Looking at the comments last night about kick boxing, I might have to dust off my Jean Claude van Damme video collection to get in on the the conversation! ๐Ÿ˜‰ On a more arsenal note, I think it’s rubbish leno being promised he’ll be back for the spuds game, and just the usual crap journalism to piss off arsenal fans. Probably started by… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

Mr serge its your duty to tell arteta the legeove opinion.
If not just throw mini marshmallows at his head throughout the game and see if they stick in that Lego hair of his.
(Violence is not condoned so nothing heavier) ๐Ÿ˜‰

TitsMcgee

The ultimate irony is the NFL gets a lot of shiiite for endangering their athletes’s lives post-career due to head injuries etc.

MMA: punch and kick a guy in the head, even after he is down on the mat, no problem.

The hypocrisy lol

Mr Serge

Up 4 grabs nowSeptember 16, 2021 08:37:12
Mr serge its your duty to tell arteta the legeove opinion.
If not just throw mini marshmallows at his head throughout the game and see if they stick in that Lego hair of his.
(Violence is not condoned so nothing heavier

That made me spit my coffee out on my laptop lol

Up 4 grabs now

Mr serge

My work here is done.๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚
Hope it didn’t bugger up your laptop mate!

Sid

“”””””Luteo GuenreiraSeptember 16, 2021 07:59:37
I like MMA because itโ€™s like dog fighting, but with humans.””””

Are you Michael Vick?

Valentin

I don’t want to take the contrarian view just to upset people or defend Arteta, but I don’t see the problem with Arteta promising Leno that he will be back in 3 games. At Everton Ancelotti did the same thing with Pickford when he thought that his head was not in the right place. Years ago, Red Nose Ferguson did the same thing with Peter Schmeichel. If Arteta genuinely think that Leno was not in the right frame of mind and that he needs a couple of games to refresh, I don’t view that as controversial. The issue is whether… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

New post

Mee

Just watched highlights from the nine goal thriller between City and RB Leipzig. They make it look so easy to score against a top City side. To think we went there and played to lose. I hate you so much Arteta. The day he is fired I’ll buy one of them fancy whisky’s China1 is always talking about to celebrate.