Thanks TG. I screwed up ordering my tickets for the Porto Match so I will try not to make that same mistake again. Unfortunately I've promised my kids the tickets so I'll be back in the pub again for that match. Someone offered me a ticket for Bayern away but with flights/hotel etc it was going to be over £700 for a 24hr jaunt which seems a bit mad.

Football in America. The fans of the sport has grown immensely. The young people got into it in one of two ways. Playing it in suburban communities as a kid as it was an easy sport for parents. And secondly, from video games.
The parents, older brothers of those kids got into the sport as a result. That said, the video doesn't talk about one glaring (at least to me) thing.

The athletes that feeds our professional American football, baseball and basketball teams are not playing football. Our potential Drogbas, Haalands, Odegaards, Van Dijks are either pursuing other sports or are not taking up the sport due to a variety of factors.

We've been watching the EPL in unprecedented numbers. It's readily available on tv and regular Americans, not expats and tourists from elsewhere are flocking to pubs for the 'atmosphere'.

As we all know you can be 5'8", slightly built and be a fantastic footballer. That potential Fabregas aren't taking up sport. They will try the other traditional American sports until their size removes them from progressing or they don't play at all.

It's a varied and complex issue. This also includes the money in playing professional football in America is no where close to even the 4th tier sport like ice hockey. That wage is being paid to players from the European league in their 30s and no longer able to play at the highest level week in, week out.

Also, the road map to professional football in America is not connected. The AYSO, the national youth organization for the kids, have no connection to the High Schools. There are no youth academies as we know it in Europe and South America. There is a connection from the High School players to the university only because its how American football, basketball, baseball get their players. Baseball is the only sport that has a somewhat similar set up to football clubs. They routinely offer contracts to high school players who play in the 'Minor leagues' which is kinda, sorta a lower division set up but the teams are owned and run by the team in the MLB (Major League Baseball). It's akin to Arsenal and the EPL sides having a team in the championship an division one. And at anytime called up to play in the EPL.

My personal opinion is that all the football institutions, AYSO, high school, uni, MLS get together to work out a road map that everyone can agree to. Secondly, spend the money to set up youth leagues in the areas where the best athletes are. It's still largely a middle class suburban sport. We are about a quarter latino, but have not produced great footballers. The ones that play are in middle class suburban areas where my brother coaches in northern California. My guess is you will find hungrier, more comitted players in inner city Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego who see no other option just like many who play basketball.

Even though he missed a chance when we played Barca, had we not had a man sent off there would have been more.

He was used in a position in Barcelona that had others as the primary goal scorer. But Real Madrid might disagree with that when he scored there in our run to the final. But to be fair, Droba was a beast. But I wouldn't say Henry is a not a big game player because Drogba was.

There is talk of Kimmich being available in the summer, wants a new challenge. Fantastic player but for me, despite now positioning ourselves to be taken seriously by such players, I don’t think he’s what we should go for. He’s 29, lacks a bit of physicality and pace which are both crucial to the prem. he feels like a Pep signing for City

Arsenal should be building for the future. With the current squad, there is no need to pay "over the value" for a player who is on his last legs. We were once desperate for any player willing to come over. And we paid the price for their inept performances. The Arsenal of today should be attracting top talent. That said, forget Ivan Toney too.

personally I'd like to see them using our youth more. Nwaneri we are told is a strong forward give him game time. also there are others, I recall a midfielder and defender, Biereth is it, who should also be going through the motions of moving up before they decide to move on.

Coincidentally saw this today:

https://www.arsenal.com/news/loan-watch ... l-11-games

Enjoy......

I have tried to get a list of the charges against city and what is alleged. Not much success but a few summaries. Best I can do is in relation the FA charges: 4 years where there was a secret contract paying out Mancini which had not been declared. But a lot of other charges appear to be a rehash of UEFA breaches which they were punished for or were time barred. No such time bars exist for the FA apparently. The problem with a lot of the UEFA charges is that the evidence was illegally obtained. I expect the hearing to start with an application to exclude the charges which rely on any offences which are proved by that evidence. I think it should be excluded otherwise it does not appear to be a fair hearing. Any action and result have some appeals process. If anyone knows where I can see the actual charges and allegations I would be interested in a link.

Maybe they can sign Lukaku as well. Has there ever been a player so consistently overrated, overpriced and then dumped in history?

There are 3 fairly big youtube fan channels, 2 are Man Utd, maybe the 3rd, can't recall. But they are all saying how Arsenal are being dismissed generally as contenders, etc. A lot of respect actually. I like it better when we are doubted. I don't want added pressure.

Do you ever read what you write? Can you not see the inherent contradiction?

I'd love to find clips of Ødegaard when he was here on loan. He played decently but his heart wasn't in it. His head was still in Madrid. He still felt he could make it there. Now, you can see he is fully committed. It's his team. He has fully bought in. I loved seeing the transition. And he's in a team that is challenging. If we get past BM and happen to face RM, he will be at his best. He will want to show them what's what. He will be very, very motivated.

His loan season. I forgot we had Pépé starting many games. Wow. Seemed like a life ago. What is he up to these days?

Pep doesn’t prioritise pace and power like Arteta has. I think for most teams pace and power are required for the prem but Pep has built teams with players that don’t have these qualities because he compensates for it elsewhere. David Silva, Bernardo Silva both crucial to Pep and neither could be described as pacey or powerful. Was Gundogan pacey or powerful? Even Foden could be classed in the same category. But what Pep does is have bundles of it in defence and a monster up top to make up for it. You need to have a super ‘rest of your team’ to be able to accommodate these smaller technical players. Let’s see where Kimmich ends up

I know we are going to sign a new striker in the summer but i'd love Biereth to be brought into the squad maybe to replace the outgoing Eddie as a support striker.
Something about him......

Tomiyasu signed a new deal until 2026 with the option of another year. His previous contract was due to expire in 2025, so effectively a 2 year extension.
Contract expiry dates of players in the squad (I’ve added any option years on)
2024: Jorginho, Elneny, Cédric
2025: Partey
2026: Zinchenko, Trossard, Emile Smith Rowe, ramsdale
2027: Tomiyasu, Saka, Saliba, Jesus, Gabriel, Nketiah, Vieira
2028: Martinelli, Nelson, White, Kiwior, Rice, Havertz, Ødegaard, Timber

That’s very, very good work from the club to get us in such a healthy player contract situation

Thanks for the heads-up TG. I spoke to Fan Services before the Porto game. I sorted those tickets and asked to be put on the automatic purchase scheme. I was assured that was all sorted but it doesn’t seem to have happened. Shouldn’t be a problem now that I know.

Top tip - don’t assume!

Club is obviously twitchy because the Germans and Dutch - particularly - have a history of circumventing restrictions. Be interesting to see how many BM supporters get in. I bet there’ll be a few. Always loud and often pissed but rarely threatening - in my experience.

You don't need to accommodate a player like Bernardo Silva. If a manager needs to compensate for having a player that good in his team, then he is doing something wrong. The day the small but skilful playmaker is seen as surplus to requirements is the day football has died.

One guy had Sperz winning away and Chelsea getting points at Ashburton Grove.

So a friendly has been scheduled for this afternoon. Partey and Tomiyasu San playing

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/footbal ... r-BB1kibEa

Rightly first teamers weren't risked.

and our u21's managed to lose 4-0 even with the big boys

I'm going with either the CIA or the Russians.

Saka injured and withdrawn from England squad. Hopefully, nothing serious.

Hopefully he’s told Steve Holland to *%^@ off too and won’t be back

Just deccers and ramsdale to go !

Not too bothered about Ramsdale

Gabriel also out of Brazil squad friendly due to injury, as well as Spain one.
Actually not so bad considering White, Saka, now Gabriel just may be available for City match.

Smithers may go to Magpies.

Thanks for the info. Not as many first teamers as I predicted but a friendly nonetheless and extra minutes in the legs of Partey and Tomiyasu. Arteta had done it before in these extended breaks.

Pretty scathing …

Southgate making matters worse by insisting White’s self-imposed exile was not because of any “issues” with Holland only underlined how this England management team is no longer fit for purpose

The stuff about Jordan Henderson. Absolutely crazy he’s involved. Southgates favourites will probably hurt England this summer

This can't be true, can it?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/816518127155267

Maybe. Maybe not. Feel free to tell us the subject of your clickbait link.

I am very, very nervous like most Gooners of this run in. The logical, reason laden part of my brain says we aren't going to be able do it given the schedule we have. Getting wins at Brighton, Man Utd and Tottenham along with CL games is a bit beyond us at this stage of our development I think.

Last season was the first team we've had that could challenge for maybe a dozen years. It takes time. Man City and Liverpool are used to challenge runs. Our team is young. We're playing the best football of the 3 which is a huge advantage. The players don't seem too nervous which is good. Having Jesus back is big. Timber could be pivotal as well but it may be too early to expect much out of him. Certainly not 90 minutes. But an option off the bench of his caliber is going to come in handy.

Next season, assuming we buy what is needed in the summer, will be the season I expect us to win it possibly or at least be the favorites. People calling us bottlers last season I think is massively unfair. First time challenging in a long time, young team, injuries to key players (Jesus, Saliba) at a pivotal part of the season. It was asking too much for a side that hasn't been in this position in recent memory.

If we do win it will because City and Liverpool blinked. We are capable of a draw at City. If Brighton can do us a favor and take points in their league game at Liverpool and leave us all square. A big ask of Brighton, although they are capable. I just don't see us being able to navigate very difficult sides every 3 days according to the schedule, Luton excepted.

That's a tough schedule for us comparably for the remainder. Fingers crossed.

None were involved bar two guys on the comeback from injury.

I'm really cheering for Leverkusen. The Bundesliga is largely a one club league. Whenever I watch BM in league play I'm always hoping they lose or at least drop points. I have to assume Germans as whole would like for their league to be more competitive.

I fear the same fate that beseeched other German clubs that tried to challenge on a regular basis will happen to Leverkusen. Bayern Munich will come in with big money and take away their best players. Like Klopp, foreign clubs will come after their manager and the better players that BM don't take.

At least for this season they should upset the apple cart. Lastly, wouldn't it great if they were to meet and beat Liverpool in the final of the Europa cup?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cnAhk07STs4

Had to be a Chelsea fan that put this list together.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/4199145543694852

April fixture changes.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/wolves-tot ... rearranged

Hectic. 9 really tough games from 31 March to 28 April. Similar for City and Liverpool but one feels this is where City's squad will give them the advantage.

If Pele played today, he'd have half the team sent off.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/736245371966593

I thought I heard the comms say that Kane went off injured almost from the very start of the game.

Looked on BBC and it's not saying he started? Was it a warm up situation?

Anyone know..............