I was thinking the exact same thing Rich, really good crop, hadn’t noticed the defensive dearth. Rice made some noise at DM and can play at CB, And Alexander-Arnold as you mentioned, but yeah all up front apart from that
Is it only Saka from that list who hasn’t had a full call up? Theoretically he has the choice to represent Nigeria I think, he’s had an u-19 cap and that’s all so far. I don’t care loads about that, he’s signed for us and that’s the main thing.

Declan Rice and Jack Grealish both played all of their under-age football for Ireland. Those two would make an enormous difference to us now.

Yeah, grealish and Maddison represent strength in depth for England right now, they could be lynchpins for Ireland. What do you feel about their decisions and the system? Seems to end up by nature favouring the bigger teams. Like Pacific Islanders and New Zealand, the kiwis get all the best players as a matter of course and they don’t really need the help.

Edit: don’t know why I said Maddison meant Rice. Although Maddison does represent strength in depth an no.10 position which is rare for England.

The system is flawed. I don't blame either of the two lads for their decisions because the financial benefits of playing for England are far greater. There is something wrong with a system that allows a kid who has represented a country for 4 or 5 years at under-age level simply switch when it comes to senior level.

As an aside, I think Grealish should be a regular starter for the England team these days as opposed to a squaddie. He's a cracking player.

So much for the Liverpool title being something special. Two Arsenal teams had better seasons winning the title than them.

Interesting article. Gets my vote:

Rio Ferdinand has praised Bukayo Saka’s passion for Arsenal and believes Mikel Arteta needs to build his team around the teenager and two other young, hungry Gunners players. The 18-year-old put any doubts over his future to bed by signing a new long-term contract on Wednesday, having cemented his status as an integral part of the first-team squad after an excellent breakout campaign. Saka spoke of his love for the club upon penning his extension and Ferdinand believes that attitude needs to be the basis around which Arsenal mould the rest of their squad.

Asked how important that attitude is, Manchester United legend Ferdinand said on BT Sport: ‘Yeah I think attitude but the right characters and people that want to be at the club.

‘And I think the great thing about Saka, and seeing his tweet there and his statement when he was talking there, is that he loves the club and he believes in the philosophy and he wants to move forward with the club and improve here. ‘They’ve got to get more players to build around that. And I’d build this club around him, around [Gabriel] Martinelli, and around [Joe] Willock.

‘These young players that have come through and the badge means something to these young boys. ‘And they need players around that to build within that as well, to understand that, to come in and accept that this is the place they want to be and they believe in the management and they want to go forward together.’

Fellow pundit and Arsenal legend Martin Keown agreed, adding: ‘When I was coming through the ranks and was part of an outstanding youth team, you look back at [David] Rocastle, [Michael] Thomas and Tony Adams, it was very important when you look back that we really loved the club. ‘Saka mentions that, he loves the club, and you need that type of player, the fans need to identify with that. He is the fan on the pitch. So build it around those players.

And then there's this

If we get Partey along with Saliba, it will have immediate effect on team defense.

Martinelli has signed a new long term contract.

Rumours on the internet saying Aubameyang wants a minimum of a 3 year deal on £250k per week.
If that is true then I’d pay it to him in a heartbeat.

By the way, when Martinelli announces his delight at signing the contract on his social media he signed off with
“Play for the name on the front of the shirt and they’ll remember the name on the back” @tonyadams

The lad has quoted Tony Adams in his message!

Give Aubameyang what he's asking.
It was done for Özil so it can be done for Aubameyang.

Yep. No question. He will slow down over the next few years but we will get at least 2 years of top level striker out of him.

It is a £40m commitment to a top level striker, with an impeccable injury record and probably guarantees at least 60 goals over those 3 years.

You’d have to find a £20m striker, pay him £125k a year and expect the same output. £20m last season bought Sheff Utd Ollie McBurnie

It’s a problem that any small-ish nation with a large diaspora, as Ireland has, will have. I’m not sure how you get round it. I do feel for ireland though.

I'm guessing the mood in England of Liverpool winning the title is far more subdued had there not been a Covid -19 pandemic.

There is a sort of 'meh' about it. Maybe because it was a foregone conclusion but I have to think it would have been a much, much bigger event nationally otherwise.

I'm reading whisperings of Tottenham not happy with Mourinho. I can't believe I'm feeling sorry for him. Doesn't change the fact I get a thrill seeing Tottenham lose.

Yes Covid-19 has affected the response but another thing making it less than spectacular news is that Liverpool have won trophies since their last league title. Two European Cups, a UEFA Cup, four League Cups and three FA Cups. Although the league eluded them they never went away as a big club. Arsenal's complete lack of silverware from 1953 until 1970 was a far bigger story at the time. Such a massive club going all those years without any success was a real cross to bear for the fans. In comparison the Scousers have carried a light load.

Seems we are getting fined by FIFA for getting paid on sell on clauses.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... ZuizLGLqo4

omoh,
I wasn't following football when we won in '89, not having won it since '71, winning cups inbetween that time, Man Utd as well, not having won since '67 was it? Won 4 FA cups inbetween their title in '92.

I have to think both of us winning it after such a long time, even though both won trophies since then had to be a huge national event being among the 3 biggest clubs in the country.

Granted, Liverpool has won more trophies within that time than either us or Man Utd but still, without Covid 19, I'd imagine it to be national news that even non football fans would be hearing about in the media.

But maybe its as you say, they were winning things anyway, even though a league title was elusive for 30 years.

.....pushed to explain what his ”on the boat” comment meant, Arsenal head coach Arteta replied: “Players that respect the values we want to implement, that they are 100 per cent committed to our culture, and players that are accountable every day for what we demand from them.

“Players that are ready to help each other, fight for each other and enjoy playing together.

“That is what I mean by being on the boat. If you behave like this every day, you are very very welcome here and we want to get the best out of you and help you to enjoy your profession with us.”

I’m 100% on board with those standards for being in the arsenal squad

Hi AG - yes it is normal over here for any trophy gained by Liverpool or United to be highly lauded, much more so than the success of other clubs. It would be an interesting debate why that is so. It may have its roots in the way things northern became very vogueish in England back in the 60s which coincided with much greater exposure of the game on TV. United also had a reservoir of national sympathy over the Munich air crash, which was sort of replicated years later for Liverpool with the Hillsborough disaster. There is a romance surrounding both clubs which other English clubs can't match. Chelsea have probably been the most successful club over the last couple of decades but for all their success and great players they have never captured the national imagination.

I can't see Chelsea or Tottenham attaining that status. No matter how badly we are doing, we will be seen as one of the storied sides. And I imagine, guessing on my point, the one club from the south that Londoners, the home counties and the south in general can take pride in terms of history over the northerners.

Martinez, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac, Soares, Ceballos, Xhaka, Tierney, Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang.

No Özil or Guendouzi in the squad.

As time passes former reputations fade without success on the field. In my lifetime Everton and Wolves were considered very big clubs. Newcastle, Tottenham and Leeds perhaps a little less, but still significant. All of them are searching for the big time again, and personally I am chuffed to see Wolves doing so well. So well in fact they can afford to help us later today. From earlier days of the game Preston, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Huddersfield were all big noises, but not now.

I like your description of Arsenal as a storied club, and agree we may always be so both for our fascinating history and every now and then, wonderful teams.

Pépé not in the squad as his wife’s having a baby. Great for him, not for us as he’s an important player on the counter.
Looking forward to seeing Cédric properly.
Seems like it might be 3-5-2, or perhaps Saka or Aubameyang playing wide right, hopefully the former to match up with wolves as they have a very strong middle 5

Man U are flying going forward. Greenwood looks as good as any 18 year old in world football at the moment. Rashford and Martial adding bags of pace. Bruno Fernandes has totally transformed an awful midfield. Looks like a central mid who is good for 15 goals and 15 assists a season.

Sakaaaaaaaaaa

Wow what a strike from Saka 1-0!

Decent first half. Very few times we looked under pressure. Controlled a lot of the ball but mainly with safe possession.
Nketiah hit a snap shot on the post, hardly any other chances other than a fantastic finish from Saka. Aubameyang with the hold up to bring Tierney in to play and Arsenal had 3 players in the box.
Saka has played left back, left mid, left wing and now right wing. He’s a special player

Pleasing because up till then I didn’t think he’d had one of his better games.

Not sure he and Cédric are on the same wavelength yet

Wolves putting the pressure on. Getting all the 50/50ms from the ref as well. Never helps

Xhaka toed the ball first on that foul, and then clear holding on Saka. Booo, need to get out and relieve this pressure and if decisions start going against us we're going to find that increasingly difficult. we need to stamp some authority back on the game. They're bypassing the midfield and finding Jota et al pretty well.

What he said

Brilliant hold up play from Aubameyang to relieve the pressure, draw the foul and the yellow card

Amn was clearly fouled, not given he then wins the ball and is booked. It was an aggressive tackle but Michael Oliver is turning the tide here

Great energy and pressing to force that mistake. Exactly the attitude we need

Yeah I agree you can be strong but Traore just barged into him with no attempt to play the ball. Annoying.

YESSS!! That is so satisfying!!! Get in!!

Lacazette! 2-0 excellent goal