THE SUN IS SHINING
Thursday afternoon never felt so good.
Arsenal players are rolling back to training.
After a cursory look at the form guides, it would appear Bournemouth are less of threat than they were last season.
Our injury issues are not as bad as once feared.
Saka is ok.
It’s not a serious injury. He’s evolving really well. He’s done a few things in the last two days. He wasn’t fit enough to play with the national team the second game but we are hopeful. We have a training session this afternoon, he did some bits yesterday, so let’s see if he can make it on time.
Martinelli is ok.
Well with Gabby he landed yesterday afternoon here so we have very short time to be with him. Yesterday he went outside to do a little bit and see how he’s feeling. Again today will be another step to understand whether we want to take the risk if he’s fit because I know what the player is going to say - ‘I’m going to be fit for sure’.
Martin Odegaard is ahead of schedule and Mikel is threatening he could be ready for Liverpool
I think he’s not going to be fit for this game. Next week will be a different story, but again, in that later stage of rehab where he is at the moment, because he’s doing already a lot of the stuff, he needs to clear some markers, he needs to clear certain things, he needs to be comfortable doing especially with the ball. I think next week will be crucial to understand how close he is.
I’m sure that’s a head fake to give headaches to Arne Slots backroom team.
We’re about to start phase three of the season, and if we smash it, then I’m going to dream of a proper title push.
It’s also worth rehashing my Distraction FC predictions of earlier in the season.
Spurs are facing down the end of Big Ange - his players are not in good shape, his body language has been appalling, the media are going to start digging their claws into him.
Liverpool are having a blessed start to the season. Everything has gone right for them, including the favorable fixtures. But things are about to get very tough… in the media. VVD hasn’t signed a new deal, Salah is twerking for Saudi, and the big story is Trent has been chatting to agent Jude and he won’t sign a new deal. That is cataclysmic news for a club already in a rebuild. Do you think any of those guys are putting a shift in next February when they can taste the Bosman money? No chance.
… and please, don’t hit me with ‘last dance’ nonsense because if it didn’t work for Klopp, it won’t work for Slot.
City has never been more distracted. They’re upsetting season ticketholders, the lawfare is now mainstream, and the slow trickle of negative stories flow with a little more pressure each day. Pep to England? USMNT? Another sabattical? Haaland clearing the decks to go to Madrid? KDB to Saudi with Ederson? The blueprint architects retiring?
United will sack another manager.
Newcastle will sack Howe.
Chelsea has had a solid start, but it’s a Tinder box there.
Arsenal? Biggest drama we’ve had over the last few weeks is the general concern that Calafiori has been learning his English from trap music. I checked out the scene briefly and found some of the things he’s learning.
Somebody tell Doja Cat that I'm tryna indulge in that
In my grey tracksuit, see the bulge in that
See the motion clap when you're throwin' it back (When you're throwin' it back)
These females plannin' on doin' me wrong
So I'm grabbin' a 'dom out the Trojan pack
Post the location after we're gone
My word, Riccardo. Be careful what you say in your work meetings my friend.
Arsenal don’t have problems like everyone else - our biggest issue this season is our squad isn’t big enough.
Tomi will never be reliable.
Partey will break your heart.
Jesus and Zinchenko cannot be relied on over the course of the season.
We have a very good squad of 18 players, but once you start highlighting the players that are injury-prone, things look very, very slim.
That’s why I think we’ll have another season where we don’t take the FA Cup and the League Cup seriously.
We are good enough to win the Premier League and maybe the Champions League if we get very lucky (there’s always luck involved in winning the Champions League).
I expect to see Arteta continue to rotate players. I suspect Merino will start at Shaktar because Arteta probably knows that relying on Partey, even if he’s playing outrageously, is a dangerous game. He needs minutes in the legs of Merino and he needs to give time to Declan as a 6… because that’s where he’ll be very soon when Thomas breaks down.
This Bournemouth game might also give some chances to players on the edge of starts.
Raheem or Jesus *could* step in for Martinelli who has fluid on his knee.
Ben White *might* step in for Timber who had a minor problem last week.
Saka could possibly be a risk for the weekend, which could change the dynamic in that 9 position.
This next phase of the season could be brutal if we don’t win against Bournemouth. It’s an away day down by the coast, the weather is going to be fine, but it might be gusty. It’s not the game you want right after the break. Player will be tired, the Vitality Stadium isn’t that inspiring, and Bournemouth are a mean team.
Fuck this game up… the rest of the phase is going to be very, very hard.
Ok, that’s me done.
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