No,that would be unfair. It is clearly Arsene's fault.

Arteta out is now trending on twitter. Because we went 2 nil down in a friendly for half an hour

Maybe, but the point is he grew a party which having been long derided, actually gained major traction through the EU elections, which led directly to Cameron's decision to hold a referendum. I have no time for Farage as an individual, or his rightist politics in general, but it is as clear as day that there is no equivalent pro-European leader or party on the scene. If being inthe EU is so vital why are the pro-EU lot so weak? With 48% of the referendum voters previously on their side you'd think they might make more of an impact?

Its that loaves and fishes diet.

He had to head off for extra training with the Scotland squad.

These friendlies don't count for anything, aside from being a big warm-up for any obscure players to show what they've got. Also preps regular seasoned players, new or otherwise, ample opportunity to flex their wares going into the new season.

Nope. Cricket not my cuppa either.

Irregardless. A no count friendly with a win isn't all that bad. A win is a win.

Because it’s done, no guarantees they will let us back in anyway.

I see your point. There should be more vocal opposition and it was pretty surprising to see Tobias Elwood voice the need to be in the single market. Fair play to him.

However campaigning to get us back in is a less attractive proposition to the average British voter than the idea of booting out immigrants. Description of the average British voter can be found here ..

https://youtu.be/KHJbSvidohg


We have to fall further before we can pick ourselves up. That’s the truth

I posted a while ago I think Nketiah will surprise people this season, I don’t think his form at the end of the season was a spike. He used to be a poacher but adding little else. Now he seems to have more athleticism, more pace, better hold up play, better dribbling - just an all round better player. Considering the level he was at, or we thought he was at at the start of last year his improvement in a year is huge.

I’ve seen a few people online praising Patino’s performance today when he came on. I saw that he’d bulked up a lot over the summer, definitely needed.

Best wishes to DHD, Gunfire and bored.

I think I posted about it during our final few games, but it looks like something has just clicked for Nketiah. Like he's realized he belongs at this level and knows how to use his skillset to affect games and cause trouble for the opponents.

As for judging the team based on early pre-season fixtures, I think you only have to look at our starting eleven to realize how pointless that is. Tierney was the only player starting who you'd see in our best starting eleven, and he's just come back after three months off. The back four was Bellerin, Tierney, Mari and 17-year old Reuell Walters. It's just a run out.

The last two pre-season games against Chelsea and Sevilla will tell us more, that's when you want to see us closer to our best eleven and see the team starting to click.

Thanks Rich. Lots of reports saying the same.

You’re quite right about Tomiyasu. I’d forgotten about his progress.

Hi Rich,

He looks physically stronger, more powerful as well as the attributes you mention.

A couple of dribbles he did today were very impressive, albeit against mediocre opponents.

Confirmed player shirt numbers for next season here. As to Miguel Azeez, he could possibly go out on loan to Spanish club Girona after his loan spell at Pompey is up.

https://www.90min.com/posts/arsenal-squ ... source=RSS

It’s not a logical or accurate article.

Where’s saliba ? Charlie Patino has been wearing 35 in pre season training. With bellerin about to leave you would assume saliba gets 2 and Ramsdale could get 1

Also why would shirt numbers be confirmed yesterday when the season doesn’t start until 5th August? That’s almost a month later, during which there’s a transfer window open when players can both arrive and depart.

I guess there must be a deadline set by the Premier League when clubs have to submit their official shirt numbers. I would imagine that’s nearer the start of the season than now. Players signed after that presumably get numbers not being used.

Furthermore they’ve put (GK) next to goalkeeper’s names. There isn’t a (GK) next to Ramsdale. Is he going to be used as an outfield player? Sorry, I know that’s an obscure and minor point. But it’s not a mistake I’d expect if the numbers were from official sources, like the club.

Mediocre opponents who start their season in 5 days apparently. Their last pre season game and our first. Just for context because of course we’re a better side but preseason can be misleading by sometimes depending where clubs are in their programme

Thanks Bernard.

He said the guy killed 16 Czechoslovakians, and he was an interior decorator.

His house looked like *%^@

Bye Paulie. Unforgettable character

Well here we go .... you got one right Big Boy ... well done one of the biggest Bullsh*t channels on the planet neck and neck with the BBC and CNN .

To Dec , Niall Johnny Boy and any of those gay boy effeminate Irish cheering on their brave warriors v the All Blacks . You deserved the win [ sort of ] the All Blacks were sheight . We played 14 v 15 most of the game 13 v 15 at one stage .
I've never seen a man sent off for a head clash ... the All Black is lying on the deck blood pouring from his skull in a collision and he gets SENT OFF .
Lesson learnt never have a South African referee involved with the All Blacks . historical reasons they hate us .

Yes thanks Bern.

How are you Gunfire?

And you Bored? Are you flying home today?

What a life. Enjoying the view from my hotel balcony in Lanzarote and watching the highlights and interviews from yesterday.

Happy days.

Here's to a quick recovery to DHD and Bored.

Had no idea where Lanzarote was. Had to look it up. Seems nice though. Barcelona was fantasic when I visited.

Barcelona was very special last time that we were there. City/beach/Nou Camp etc.

I’d started to forget what a foreign holiday was thanks to covid. This break has been postponed twice before. Gives me a chance to hack around with my Pidgin Spanish.

I think i've been lucky as my Covid symptoms are negligible. Had I not tested I would have thought I'd got a gentle summer cold.

Jonathan Pie's take on Boris.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKrLBPmRsrM

Not sure where you are going with that one. Don’t like Murdoch but if you point a camera at a tosser and the person behaves like a tosser I’m not sure how it’s the news teams fault.

Btw your mate Putin seems to be ignoring your predictions and maiming, killing and raping across the Ukraine as well as flattening entire cities. Obviously I’m assuming this is the west miss reporting obviously as you said he has a special bond with the ukranians !

Now your talking. Need some of that in my life.

Haven’t been to the canaries in a while. I used to love it great place

Last time I was there I bought a copy of the sun took a walk down the beach and flipped to the back page to find all of it dedicated to Wenger selling Petit and overmars to Barcelona completely out of the blue. The mrs had to really work to get me out of my hump for the rest of the day. Enter messers Pires, Lauren and Henry and the rest is history

Looks great ltg.

We go to Lanza about twice a year, for the last 12 years (barring Covid of course). Love it.

Looks like you’re in PdC there, am I right? We always go to Playa Blanca in the south; tbh we’ve been put off PdC by people who’ve said it’s like Blackpool, only worse! (As if)

What do you think of the place?

Good spot indeed.

We are away from the ‘strip’ in the old port area. https://www.laislayelmar.com/ Very nice indeed.

Actually the main resort is looking much better than our previous trip. They have spent a lot of money on the whole promenade area and it is surprisingly pleasant.

Playa Blanca is being over developed out towards the marina. Starting to decline I feel.

The island is still quite stunning. I loved cycling out to Los Hervideros last time here.

Thanks for that. Yes, bit concerned about the massive new hotel in PB. It’ll be the biggest in the Canaries apparently. That and the new harbor bringing in big cruise ships will alter the character of the place.

We’re over in December; will take another trip to old town PdC to have a look.

Enjoy the rest of your hols.

That's brilliant. Poor old Tim has to endure quite a monologue there.

Maiming killing raping ...... wonderful so you dismiss Sky News yet believe all the crap they put out .
One of these fine sunny days you might stumble on an alternative News Source .

So it’s all lies.

It just isnt happening then? The news sources are misrepresenting all the carnage.

With that remark I'd like to say you've woken up ... but you haven't . Top Gun you seem like a reasonable guy , I like your style at times you tell it how it is
..... but as far as world politics / affairs go ... you haven't got a f***^^$ clue simple as that .
Who is your idol Liz Truss ?