A glorious summer day provided the background to our final pre-season friendly. The Emirates was packed with young families mostly, it seemed to me, taking advantage of the fact that tickets were both easily available and relatively affordable. My tickets were about £30 for sitting more or less at the front of the West Upper bang on half way.
The team which started was pretty much the strongest available, given the unavailability of Tomiyasu and Timber. And we started at a high pace, pressing very aggressively. It was noticeable that much more came down our right with the reintroduction of Saka who was very lively from the off. Partey was patrolling the midfield with Rice pushed forward as he was against Leverkusen. Lyon struggled to get out as we pushed them back and they looked a bit stunned by the pace. Martinelli looked good as he forced the pace down the left, nicely balancing the threat of Saka on the other side. A succession of corners in the first 5 minutes or so asked questions of the Lyon defence and it looked as though the set piece coach had a busy summer designing new set plays. In the 9th minute all that hard work paid off. A fantastic corner from Rice was hit to the middle of the Lyon goal, Saliba had run around the back of the keeper and got into a position 5 yards from goal to head in pretty much unchallenged. And, as against Leverkusen, we cut through the defence pretty much straight from the kick off and only a better though ball to Martinelli prevented us from having a very good chance for a second.
Zinchenko and Ødegaard were both in good form, playing some delightful passes but a mixture of slightly overhitting and Martinelli being a little rusty kept Lyon in it. With a week to go to the big kick off, we were beginning to look good.
The good corners kept coming with another Rice delivery from the left on 15 minutes curled in to the near post, causing no little chaos in the Lyon defence. Partey was owning the midfield, his press-resistance enabling him to make correct decisions under pressure, destroying the press and freeing up both Ødegaard and Zinchenko to make more of those smart forward passes. And it was one of those smart through balls to Martinelli resulting ultimately in a corner which led to our second. Another excellent Rice corner delivery from the left, this time to the back post found Gabriel who nodded in from 3 feet. In fairness, the goalkeeper flapped like a seal at feeding time at the aquarium which definitely helped, but again Jover has to be praised for doing his homework.
A minute or so later it was Havertz who provided a fantastic through ball to Martinelli who ran from the half way line but couldn’t quire get away from his defender.
That was pretty much that for the first half. Except for a piece of magic from Ødegaard on the half way line who employed a touch I can only describe as being reminiscent of Bergkamp on Dabizas at Newcastle to take the ball past his midfield marker. Nothing came of it, but it was absolutely inspired. Its at about 32 minutes on the game replay on the dotcom.
In the interests of brevity, I will largely skate over the second half, in which Arsenal noticeably reduced the pace, eventually making a raft of substitutions, including Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, both of whom continued to impress. The only other thing of note was the introduction of Calafiori. He looked awesome. Big, strong, fast, skilful. He started playing at left back and then moved to left sided centre half when Gabriel was taken off. He looked as though he could probably play anywhere from keeper to centre forward. I am really looking forward to watching him this season.
All in all, a very pleasant day spent watching The Arsenal under the sun. What’s not to like. I only wish I could go to the game next week. What kind of people have christenings during the football season? When I come to power, I will outlaw them. The christenings, not the relatives.
A word from our Holics Ropey League supremo, Osaka Matt, as time is running out to partake in one of next season’s premier competitions:
HolicsRopeyLeague – Last Call for Premier League Managers!
A final call for the HolicsRopeyLeague annual fantasy management challenge!
It’s completely free for a whole season’s fun and everyone is welcome as always
Just two simple rules as below………….
1) At least one Arsenal player in your squad every week
2) No Spu*s players allowed at any time.
Also, a reminder from Ned that your Predictathon entry must be received by Friday evening UK time to enter the other premier competition.
Monday today, Tuesday tomorrow, then Wednesday, then Thursday, then GHF Predictathon 2024-25 deadline day.
Sharpen your wits and your pencils, fellas and get your form in on time. A donation of at least £25 to Willow is mandatory. As TTG observed in the last Drinks, the folks at Willow are delighted to be supported by GHF, so be as generous as your situation permits.
Entry form here.
Nice one CER.
A late addendum from the last Drinks and a link to another good read:
Marseille have pulled out of a deal for Nketiah as they’re not prepared to raise their last bid. They’re signing someone else. Bournemouth (flush with the cash from selling Soulanke to the neighbours) and Everton are already sniffing around. I’ve seen people losing their shit because “Edu should have accepted the Marseille offe just to get him off the books – probably the same people who complain Edu can’t sell well.
Anyway Pedro has written a nice piece to assuage those troubled neurotics:
https://www.le-grove.co.uk/p/desperation-in-the-air-soon
Cheers, CER. It sounds like a good time was had by all.
A match review to match the mood of the day, CER, bright, sunny and upbeat. Calafiori seemed to become an instant crowd favourite, with cheering every time he touched the ball. I am wondering how often we shall see the corner that yielded Saliba’s goal being used during the season (and copied by other teams). It uses such a simple trick to clear out space in front of the goal to create space for the header that it is amazing that no one has thought of it before.
Also from the last drinks, an urgent call to bt8: you might need to reset your timer. Unless you are in Bhutan or some point east, 11.45 pm Friday is way past the Predictathon deadline, which is 7 pm London time, so 1 pm Central.
Thanks for the report CER .
I made my way to the Oval surrounded by Gooners many of whom were not regulars . It’s so hard to get tickets nowadays it is good that there are opportunities for non-regulars to attend . It was incredibly hot at the Oval and a bit of a mismatch which appears to be the case at the Home of Football.
I have seen the highlights and admired Declan’s corner kicks . Travelling back there was much praise for Partey . I wonder if we intend to keep him this season?
The countdown has begun to the season but I suspect team- formation will take place right up to the deadline .
C137y’s hearing is to begin two months early in September . That might have a serious effect on the Predictathon!
TTG@5: That is where the skill and judgment come in. 🙂
TTG @5, I have a nauseating suspicion that it’s going to end in a slap on the risk and a large parking ticket rather than the squalid public execution they deserve.
Thanks CER, sounds like a good day out was had by all.
I have only seen the highlights on the dot.com but I did
confirm Sir Declan’s ability to whip in a corner at pace and
do for thé keeper is undiminished after his short hols.
Apart from. Tomi and Timber, I wondered about Vieira.
He’s been used as a RW back-up pre season but had disappeared
even from the bench.
Agree with TTG, it seems TP5 will at least start the season.
Haven’t heard anything about Merino, who I had thought
imminent though I am more than happy with a fit and
inform Thomas.
That’s a pity for Eddie, it seemed a good opportunity but
Bournemouth might be too.
Thanks for the reminder on the HolicsRopeyLeague!
If anyone needs the league code just let me know by
leaving a request in the drinks right here and i will send
it over quicker than a Declan Rice corner.
Thanks Ned @3. 😅
Well that must be a record.
Preston manager given the flick after just one league match. ??
Re lineup for Wolves.
I agree with Matt from previous drinks,
The 11 that started against Lyon, and played together for 65 minutes before any subs, will, in my opinion, barring any injuries, be the 11 that starts on Saturday.
No need to stress on transfers, in or out, window doesn’t close till end of month.
Re: the Ropey League. Solanke is now a Tottenham player so a word to the wise: Take him out of your team if he was in there when he was still at Bournemouth.
Sound advice bt8.
Talking of Spuds, Garth Crooks will no longer be picking his PL team of the week for the BBC. In his place the Beeb have selected Troy Deeney. I’d love to know what the hiring criteria are for that job.
Matt @14 – the criteria for that job are coming in thick and fast …. Oh, hang on ….. 😉
Nice one, CER – a walk in the park indeed.
Sounds like you were sitting about a dozen rows bang in front of my old seat before I had to really give it up last season.
And so it’s back to the old match preview – review writing routine. Wolves preview at the weekend for me – hard to know what you can say for definite in the middle of a transfer window though 😳. Might have to be jokes and nonsense – as usual ! 😉
I am sure you will pack in a few jokes to make us howl Trev
The CEO of Willow , Jonathan Aves , contacted me to thank GHF for our regular support for Willow through the Predictathon .
We are meeting shortly to discuss how to build a legacy award for Megs Wilson . A number of charities are really struggling at the moment so our support is particularly appreciated . Thank you all for your contributions
Wojciech Szczesny has had his contract terminated by Juventus by mutual consent . I think he counts as homegrown !
https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2024/aug/13/david-squires-on-mikel-arteta-maverick-arsenal-team-building-efforts
I would be amazed if Woj came back as he seems a very unMikel like player.
He would be a decent back up but a touch pricey salary wise for a second
choice I imagine.
But in some actual Arsenal goalkeeper news we turned down a loan request
for Aaron from Ajax, and agreed one for Karl from Vallalodid. Best of luck to him
this season in La Liga, looks like a good opportunity.
For me, the biggest question mark against Szczesny is his ability on the ball. I don’t remember him as being a traditional keeper rather than the new style 5th defender. It all rather smacks of lazy media making 2 plus 2 equal 5.
I suspect that his somewhat spiky temperament and competitive nature (not to mention his history of having fags in the shower) makes Szczesny a less attractive candidate to MA8 than any sentiment about past affiliation or even goalkeeping skills might make him a candidate for the role of back-up keeper at the Arsenal.
Re: Trev @16, If I had any wolfish jokes with any real bite to them I’d pass them along but I wouldn’t want to steal your thunder. Looking forward to your preview. 😎
The club accepting a loan for Hein but wanting a permanent move for Ramadale tells you all you need to know about both players’ futures.
I cannot see a return for Woj either, although I do see the need for an experienced keeper to cover for Raya.
A slow news day quite apparently.
Among less notable things Blogs posted these two updates about the Nketiah saga. Blogs’ imagery not mine of course.
“06.45am: Arsenal’s (media day) took place yesterday, with the head-shots and action shots of players in the new kit ahead of the new season, and one particular absence has caused some speculation. While there are pictures of Kieran Tierney and Reiss Nelson, for example, there don’t appear to be any of Eddie Nketiah.
What does it all mean? What is the subtle or not so subtle conclusion we can draw from his absence? I don’t know. Maybe we’re not posting any Eddie snaps because we think he’ll leave or he’s on the verge of leaving. Maybe Eddie had a cheeky Nandos and it was a dodgy Nandos and he’s ended up with a dose of the splats and couldn’t make it in for the photo-shoot. Or perhaps Stuart and Pricey were called away on an emergency to take pictures of Edu’s BBQ after he reverse-seared a tomahawk steak to perfection and needed professional pics to capture the moment for all eternity. Your guess is as good as mine.
07.30am Update: I’ve just seen pictures of Eddie. Drama over. I’m glad he didn’t have a dodgy cheeky Nandos, nobody needs that.”
Phew! That was a happy ending, thanks bt8!
Tommy Setford will be the first team No 3 keeper, according to Jorge Bird, who also reports that one of the new keepers signed this summer for the U21s, Lucas Nygaard, has broken his thumb. I guess Ramsdale has to be sold, not loaned out, in order to fund the purchase of a replacement No 2.
Online abuse against Arsenal players and coaches was up 24% last season, according to the club in announcing club bans for 24 so-called supporters for abusive behaviour on and offline. There should be no place for any of that.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/24-supporters-banned-abusive-behaviour
Tomorrow is the day, ‘Holics: deadline day for the GHF Predictathon. The clock is ticking…
I’m unimpressed with the quality of a lot of the reporting on Arsenal’s transfer activity- specifically that we have sell before we can buy . As we came through unscathed on PSR last year and we can factor in participation in an expanded Champions League this season plus a number of new sponsorships and the continuation of the deals with Adidas, Rwanda and Emirates Airlines , we have no PSR worries unless we spend hugely . At the moment that seems unlikely , we have sold ESR , Biereth , BNC and have loan to buy deals for Tavares and Lokonga bringing in ( for fees ) Raya, Setford and Calafiori . We have several waiting on the tarmac to leave – Nelson , Nketiah and Tierney among others and we hope Edu can achieve decent fees for them and Ramsdale may be sold too .
So a narrative that claims we have particular PSR problems is inaccurate .
Stefan Borson who appears to be the PSR guru concurs with the view that we’ve managed PSR well.
Good to know, TTG. Maybe the relative slowness might be down to Stan requiring a bit more fo us on geting som money in as we look to return to a more steady state self financing model after the last few years spending and restructuring.
In a way we did need to sell of course, for the more obvious reason that we had too many players. I expect the players TTG named minus KT to move on in this window but I am more interested in this weekend now. A fast start would be nice….
Ned, I’ve downloaded the Predictathon form into my documents folder but, just by tapping on it, can’t enter anything into it.
For the super thick – me – what do I have to do, please. I’m on an iPad ?
Ned, think I’ve done it now. I moved the form into Numbers and edited it there. Have emailed it to you – hope it’s all attached ok ?
Sorry to be useless but I just don’t normally do this stuff 😡
Trev,
If all else fails, print your firm, fill in the entry and scan it to Ned by email . It’s a lot of work for him but he’s been very patient with I pad users !
Form not firm
I’ve sent the form as requested.
Now can’t remember my “Enthuse” password – it hasn’t sent the reset instructions to my email – I have a load of doctors, hospital, vet for the dog appointments to get to, a tooth extraction yesterday – and I can’t donate because I can’t remember a password, don’t do Twitter, how do you log- in with Facebook ??
I’m very happy to donate – if someone can email me Willow’s account details I’ll do it direct.
Trev@38: All safely received.
Glad that’s taken care of. 😅
Guess I’ll start doing it myself pretty soon …
(Notes Ned’s GMT deadline.)
Scruzgooner’s in the Gooner!
https://www.onlinegooner.com/articles/view/fun-and-friendship-reflections-on-arsenal-memorable-pre-season-trip-to-los-angeles
And here’s the Gooner describing our little blog as brilliant!
https://x.com/goonerfanzine/status/1824155001012490558?s=61&t=cVFjCyGkt4y-Ne45LtfqkQ
If I were a cynic (not saying I’m not), I might say there’s only one direction this guy’s career will be heading from here on. “
Pochettino has agreed to become the next head coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team, as per sources with knowledge of the situation.“
The Gooner is of course absolutely right !
Scruz’s lovely blog deserves a wider audience and will entertain many Gooners .
Layth is also going to serialise my pieces on Arsenal/ Tottenham rivalry over the season but I can’t compete with the flowing Californian locks of the Scruzmeister !
That’s great scruz !!! ‘‘Twas a finely wrought piece, as was The Trilogy By TTG this summer and all for the very reasonable price of free for us happy Holics 😃
Congrats, Scruz. Good to see an excellent piece get due recognition and a wider audience.
And to any new arrivals drawn to this fine establishment by it, do check the GHF Contest tab. Still a few hours to join our Predictathon competition — predict next season’s final Premier League table 1-20.
In other links: Four Four Two analysis of Merino. It is worth the price of admission for the description of the perfect three-man midfield: one athlete, one genius, one bastard. Rice, Ødegaard and the spirit of Peter Storey.
My predictathon entry form has been submitted late with the following letter attached:
Dear Predictathon Rules Committee:
I know I’m late so I plead with you to dock me points rather than ban me for an entire season. I was watching the Great British Bake Off with my daughter who is about to return to college, not watching the season opener of the Premier League…
As a matter of fact, as I write this on Friday evening 9:20pm local time I do not even know who is playing in the season opening game.
My completed entry form is attached.
Your humble servant who kisses the ground at your feet,
bt8
Sorry for the confusion gents, I got the day wrong as I see that today was Thursday not Friday. How embarrassing.
scruz, my congratulations on the republication of your piece in the Gooner. A highly entertaining journal of an epic trip giving the Silicon Valley Gooners quite the high international profile. 👍🏼
I was just passing by
Nice to see your report getting the exposure it deserves, Scruz, and nice to see Layton and the gang bigging us up.
Predictathon entry in. I predict the same lowly performance I put in last year to be repeated. Still, it’s in a good cause. Donation will be winging its way to Willow.
Layth, not Layton. Darn spillchucker.
Am I too late to predict?
Ned @46, thanks for the link. An interesting analysis. I wonder whether the delay in completing Merino’s signing is that Edu is still trying to winkle Guimaraes out of Newcastle.
SP@53. No, you’re not. You have until 7pm tonight to e-mail your predictions to Ned at ghfpredict@yahoo.com. Get on it, SP. There’s also time to get your team into the Europyleague too at the FA Fantasy Football site. OM will send you the link once you’ve entered your team.
>>>>>>>