Morning all.
The primary weekend of the Premier League season is over. I attempted to observe a few of Man Metropolis v West Ham yesterday whereas I used to be performing some prep within the kitchen however my focus was very a lot on onions as Pep’s facet generally is a bit tedious. Erling Haaland with two objectives on his debut is a little bit of a warning signal although, the second was simply such a beautiful move and end.
If we settle for Metropolis are up there with Liverpool because the groups to catch this season, then possibly West Ham shedding isn’t a foul factor in the event that they proceed to be a contender for the European locations. Equally, it’s at all times good to see Man Utd lose, particularly when Scott McTominay is allowed to do what he desires on a soccer pitch with out the correct censure.
His challenge yesterday was a purple card all day lengthy, and it hasn’t taken lengthy for the primary true If That Was Granit Xhaka of the season. It’s really fairly ludicrous to assume that each Xhaka and McTominay obtained the identical punishment – a yellow card – for incidents which couldn’t be additional aside when it comes to seriousness. I’ve no complaints if refs e book gamers who dive, though in slight mitigation I feel Xhaka was anticipating extra contact from the opponent. Nonetheless, how can it’s potential {that a} problem which matches over the ball and sees studs make contact with a participant’s shin is value the identical as that? It’s absurd, particularly within the VAR period. Maybe the way in which the Brighton participant jumped in had some influence on the ultimate determination. I dunno.
Fortunately it wasn’t a leg breaker but it surely might have been. The worst factor Xhaka did was make himself look a bit foolish, he didn’t endanger his opponent in any manner. There’s simply one thing so absurd in regards to the guidelines right here. It’s like two males being sentenced to a yr in jail: one for stealing a automobile and joyriding, and the opposite as a result of his pants fell down in a grocery store.
Nonetheless, all in all an honest weekend for us and we proceed to construct confidence forward of our first house sport of the season.
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We had some questions on the Arsecast Extra about subs, and fascinated by Friday evening extra I actually do assume there’s a spot within the squad for a participant who actually fits circumstances like this. Given he’d left it late to make adjustments, I used to be virtually anticipating the Rob Holding one, the place Rob comes on to swimsuit his title as we’re holding onto a lead. As an alternative, there have been two like for like swaps with Kieran Tierney and Eddie Nketiah on for Olesksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus.
That’s extra constructive than it might need been final season, however there’s room for extra, I feel. 1-0 up away from house is actually the final in-game state of affairs that makes you assume Nicolas Pepe could be a good suggestion, and past that there wasn’t a lot to attempt to change the momentum of a match wherein Palace had been on prime however not threatening a fantastic deal (which is why I feel Arteta was reluctant to vary issues a lot earlier). As I’ve mentioned beforehand, the provision of Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira might be a assist, however Arsenal are nonetheless performing some enterprise.
I saw a clip doing the rounds of David Ornstein saying Arsenal are nonetheless available in the market for a winger, but it surely would possibly rely on Pepe leaving, whereas equally a central midfield arrival may also want a departure in that space first. Simpler mentioned than accomplished on each counts with regards to outward enterprise, however we all know Youri Tielemans is excessive on the midfield record, and you need to think about they know who they need with regards to that attacking participant.
There’s lot of time nonetheless to go this window, and making an attempt to kind this out on the again of an excellent win away from house on the opening day is much better than a state of affairs wherein the shortage of that participant price us factors.
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This weekend appears prefer it’s been a profitable one for a few of our mortgage gamers. Blackpool followers are raving about Charlie Patino after he made his debut for them in a 2-0 win over Stoke. There’s nonetheless an extended option to go, clearly, and a 20 minute cameo isn’t sufficient to make any definitive judgement, however it is a large season for the younger man, and hopefully he can stick with it.
In France, Nuno Tavares scored for Marseille, the form of purpose he threatened to attain for us a number of occasions however his proper foot tended to fireplace the ball increased and wider than he did on this occasion. In the identical sport, Flo Balogun grabbed a consolation for Reims however from a private perspective, it’s a great way for him to begin his mortgage spell in France.
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Proper, that’s it for this morning. James and I recorded the Arsecast Additional yesterday, so when you haven’t had an opportunity to pay attention already, all of the bits and items you have to do which can be under. Take pleasure in, particularly the unbelievable musical finale!
