Arsenal Excels as an Outstanding Team
Hello, fellow football enthusiasts! What an exhilarating weekend of action we’ve just witnessed! I enjoy a bit of betting occasionally, but these days it’s tough to make accurate predictions.
For instance, take Nottingham Forest. They faced a crushing 5-0 defeat against Bournemouth last week, leaving everyone questioning whether their winning run was over.
Yet, just days later, they astonished everyone by smashing Brighton with a stunning seven goals! And it’s not like the Seagulls are an easy team to beat!
On the flip side, Bournemouth, coming off such an impressive win, allowed Liverpool to claim a comfortable victory at the Vitality Stadium.
I was thrilled to see Everton clinch three consecutive wins under their new management, showcasing fantastic football under David Moyes, who has truly made a positive impact.
This must be a huge relief for the club’s supporters, and I’m sure that with their shiny new stadium on the horizon, Moyes will be given the green light to invest in some player acquisitions.
Turning our attention to Sunday, expectations were low for the January transfer window. However, upon reviewing the activity across clubs, there’s been plenty of movement—with numerous transfers and loan agreements.
Most of these involve reserve-team players, of course. But the headline-grabber has been Marcus Rashford transferring to Aston Villa! His loan deal suggests we may see him return to form in no time.
I thought this might indicate Ollie Watkins’ departure. It will be intriguing to see how Rashford integrates into the team. Another notable move was Jhon Duran heading to Al-Nassr, which sparked quite a bit of debate.
The 21-year-old striker has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club, which boasts stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Aymeric Laporte, and Sadio Mane.
The financial aspects are what everyone is buzzing about. Firstly, Villa received nearly £70 million (R1.5 billion) for a player who is not exactly seasoned.
And then there’s his salary! Reports indicate he’ll make £16.7 million (R380 million) annually… which amounts to around £46,000 a day. Essentially, that’s about R1 million daily!
This figure is roughly twice what South Africa’s top bank executives earn. He previously earned a “mere” £75,000 (R1.7 million) a week at Villa Park.
Some are saying: “He lacks ambition playing in the Saudi Pro League, where he won’t claim any significant trophy.”
On the other hand… “He emerged from dire poverty in Colombia. He broke into professional football and provides for an extended family. What does ambition mean to him?”
Perhaps his goal is to earn enough to fund his family’s education, ensure comfortable living conditions, and secure their future? Why should he be criticized for not aiming for an FA Cup or Premier League medal?
He’ll enjoy a luxurious lifestyle while caring for what truly matters to him! I completely understand his stance.
Moving on, Arsenal didn’t manage to secure a striker, despite fans clamoring for one. But honestly, who needs a dedicated No. 9 when you can score five against Manchester City from various positions on the field?
You know what… Kai Havertz may not be the most efficient scorer, but when Arsenal thrives under Mikel Arteta’s leadership, that’s their potential.
In truth, I felt the Gunners were rather lackluster in the first half, creating genuine scoring chances only due to City’s blunders. However, after Erling Haaland equalized and they shifted gears, they appeared exceptional.
It’s odd because, aside from being without Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard was surprisingly off his game. While he scored and showed energy in pressing, he struggled with passing accuracy.
Typically, as a brilliant link player orchestrating from midfield, he’s been essential to the team’s rhythm, but since returning from injury, he doesn’t seem the same.
This illustrates the strides Arteta has made—it’s a solid team. I still doubt they’ll clinch the Premier League title, which may satisfy certain fans who engage in those absurd #ArtetaOut
campaigns. For crying out loud, the “Gooners” have been undefeated in the league since early December.
I personally hold no affection for Arsenal and want no success for them,
London isn’t red, and they haven’t even secured a Champions League title, yet I still find myself irritated by the likes of @AFTV & Lee Gunner (@leegx82) on X.
As they perpetuate this pointless narrative, I can only hope they push for Arteta’s exit.
He’s been crucial in putting them back on the competitive map and in the hunt for significant trophies.
Meanwhile, I must say I predicted it (though it didn’t require a football expert), Manchester United were dreadful again.
You have to empathize a bit with coach Ruben Amorim (or do you?). His whole demeanor is quickly shifting from genius to fool; he seems to have shrunk physically, appearing like a bullied kid in a playground, awkwardly walking between the locker room and the dugout.
What was he thinking when he stated, “this is possibly the worst United team ever”?
While it’s brutally honest, can you imagine how the players perceive him?
Why would they go all out for a leader who publicly berates them? The treatment of Marcus Rashford has been particularly harsh.
Of course, like Sir Alex Ferguson, he’s embarked on a journey at Old Trafford insisting no player surpasses the coach in stature. Wow, it’s a colossal task—far too big for this shrimp in a puffy jacket. Poor guy…
Returning to the action, we gear up for the Premier League next Wednesday night with the Merseyside derby! Prior to that, we have two League Cup semi-finals, with Liverpool and Arsenal looking to overturn first-leg losses (on Wednesday and Thursday), followed by another FA Cup weekend, including the much-anticipated clash at Elland Road as Millwall faces Leeds!