Arsenal got a mention when Vermaelen came in. Is Welbeck on the subs bench?

Vermaelen was one of our better Captains

Seems like if you want to get away with a foul at this World Cup rather than attempt to play the ball or swing a leg, step on someone’s foot. Seen so many that have just been ignored by referees.

The new Arsenal team is winning 8-0 again at Boreham Wood. From the comments, the team moves from defence to attack at a rapid pace. And movement off the ball is good.

Kane
Dembele
Trippier
Alli
Rose
Dier

Have I missed anyone? Spurs third place playoff.

Loftus-Cheek off. All the creativity in midfield, what little there was, now gone. Unless England can address that this is the furthest they’ll get in for the forseeable. Apart from that not a terrible side. Could we nationalise some Croatians do you think?

Alderwield and Vertongen

TH14 assistant coach for Belgium. A stepping stone to either France or Arsenal manager?

Oh yeah! My gosh 7 players. England could have done with Ericsson and Belgium could do with Kane up front, Lukaku had one of his sledgehammer feet games.

Edit:Or even when eight. I should give up shouldn’t I. My point being, if I have one, a lot of Spurs players, which you already said.

I think their entire first team squad is/was at the World Cup.

https://youtu.be/PCkzlEBA5TE

Nice to see so many young players linking up nicely and scoring.

Sokratis never stopped organising but made a couple of mistakes that could easily have led to goals. They didn't trouble the defence apart from a few breaks when they could have and should have scored.

Reis Nelson had a very good game and other than Aubameyang was the standout layer in the first half. Perez number 28, at least I think it was him, had a busy second half doing a Sterling most of the time. Eddie scored one and made a couple but didn't seem very happy with the Jeff who also scored one.

Enertaining but proved nothing imo.

Fair assessment. Why do you say Eddie didn’t seem happy with the Jeff? With his play? Nelson seemed very assured and took his goal very well. Intersting that he is seemingly on the brink of the first team squad and we didn’t sign any wingers. Big chance for him but he still hasn’t signed has he?

Eddies was a great goal a real poacher's goal. Check out the highlights just after Jeff scored he tried another shot when Eddie was better placed and blew it. Eddie's reaction was possibly ott but imo Jeff shouldn't have tried the shot. Jenkinson tried one first half and never tried again. unfortunately nothing stood out about his play to say he'd make it this season either.

Didn't see the game but Jeorge Bird's report gave a lot of praise to Emile Smith-Rowe. How did he look?

We played little more than a pub team so I'd agree it proves little. But our possession game seemed to have a bit more pace to it. I hope I wasn't imagining it.

Everton beat some Austrian team 22-0 today
I bet that was worthwhile.

Assuming Emery works out, and Arsenal's reputation for giving manager's time, I can't see the Arsenal job opening up for some time. I don't think Henry will go from assistant of the Belgian squad to head of France without some years managing a club successfully. French manager is one of the top 3-5 jobs in the world. I can see him managing a smaller country or a club.

I will say this though, he will get part of the credit for the Belgian success, so his CV is looking good. Like all gooners, wishing him the very best. I'm also curious to see how Vieira does at Nice. I'll be cheering for them....and him.

A Vieira/Henry, manager, assistant manager role for Arsenal in the future? Hmmm...

If Croatia starts out like they did against England, it could be a long day for them and a lopsided score. What's the biggest result in a world cup final anyway?

Worst thing was the lack of a programme so couldn't identify players I didn't know. What number was Smith-Rowe? Viewing Arsenal.com was also pointless as they didn't give the players numbers either. If he was a fair haired kid he was getting involved in a lot of play and yes had a good game.

Yes, blonde hair. Thanks. He's supposed to be quite a prospect.

There was a programme although i didn't buy it. I think the fair haired kid wore the number 35 shirt.

Idi u picku materinu!!!

AUX ARMES CITOYENS, FORMEZ VOS BATAILLONS.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSI0DPagnEQ[/youtube]

actually I couldn't really give a *%^@ either way.

not at all excited at this final

Croatia has more outright dislikable players - Lovren, Mandzukic, Vida etc and they are generally uglier and there's the whiff of fascism still around their football establishment so going with France although I hate Griezmann's fortnite dance and think most of the French team are planks so it's hard really.

Me neither. Hard to drum up any enthusiasm whatsoever tbh. Hoping for lots of shots of attractive women from the crowd - hopefully the Russian broadcaster can give us one last hurrah before that gets banned too.

Nah it’s France for me. I can’t abide fascism

Also I’m desperate to get photo of Olivier Giroud with the World Cup trophy so i can frame it and have it next to pictures of loved ones.

.
Giroud an excellent Wenger product ... just heard the commentator say he's played 400 minutes in the finals so far and hasn't had a shot on target . Pretty good going for a striker

Griezmann dives to win a free kick and the French go 1 up. Cheating bastards. Come on Croatia.

Nah Griezmann got tapped.

And Mandzukic scores!!!!

LOL

France has too many players on the pitch ;-)

and Croatia scores ...

Good player Perisic

Tapped as he was flying towards the ground already.
And that’s more like it 1-1 come on Croatia!!

Croatia playing well

Correct decision this time that looked like a penalty.

Football hopefully evolves and speeds up the video review process. It slowed down the game initially in the NFL. Then they had referees who did nothing but immediately review questionable plays which rendered a decision in seconds. Not always but usually it kept the game moving.
This decision took too long but its early days getting used to the technology and incorparating it.

.

What a load of bollocks ... the ref running over to the "phone booth" ... what the f**& are those five dicks watching monitors employed to do ... I'm going back to bed .

Yeah - Handball all day long that.

Croatia isnt afraid of them thats for sure. You gotta think France thought it was already a foregone conclusion and have to realize they have a fight on their hands.

Another 2 or 3 goals and a red card wouldnt surprise me.