Last game of a great campaign. Let’s honour the boys at the home of football.

TotalArsenal

So here we go. The last game of a long and very successful season.

It is of course a dead rubber but it will offer a great opportunity to thank and honour our players at the home of football. It sounds like this will be Granit’s last game in our red and white and I hope the supporters will give a great farewell. One of the most consistent and best midfielders I have seen at Arsenal, and one that will be missed.

We had some great news with Bukayo committing to the club long-term and those Declan Rice rumours are getting stronger and stronger.

Under Arteta we have moved up significantly this season, finishing second so close to a Man Citeh team that is most probably at its strongest ever at the moment. This PL has so many good teams and on the day any can beat any beat, as we have seen on many occasion.

Anyway, enough from me. Let the footie do the talking and then we can collectively analyse the season and look at how Arsenal and Arteta can make even more progress.

GN5, if you are reading – and I so hope you are – get well soon buddy. We miss you.

By TotalArsenal.

51 thoughts on “Last game of a great campaign. Let’s honour the boys at the home of football.”

  • Well that was comfortable although Wolves opened us up a couple of times too easily for my liking.

  • If we get a 4th or we stay in control at 3-0 I hope that Mikel uses his imagination with his substitutions

  • He almost got his hat-trick, had he just been steady on his feet.
    Arsenal just love a final game at home. All good, so far. Fans, players, backroom staff, owners and all……..

  • I think Saka should be taken off. He came on with a grimace amd now, he has gone down looking in serious pain.

  • Well, Saka had gone off for Reiss Nelson. And now, Xhaka is taken off to a loud ovation; Martin Odegaard also off and ESR and Fabio Vieira come on.

    A clean sheet will be nice. Just as a sighting of Ruell Walters will create a buzz.

    Lemina has been on GJ9 like a rash.

  • Jakub Kiwior makes it 5-0. Keeper error. But we would take that.

  • For me, It’s been a great season with a few ‘what ifs’ but overall great progress from a year ago and a crucial summer coming up.

    Mikel only used 23 players in the EPL and one of those was Nwaneri so more strength in depth is the answer with more rotation leading to fresher minds and legs next April and May when the honours are decided.

    Over to you Edu…

  • Yes Eris, disappointed for Walters and you could see itwritten on their faces, but forthem it’s the League Cup in 2023/24 and possibly a productive Patino/Balogun type loan.

  • I feel for Walters Kev, Eris, because I know he’s been caught in that little position of “needs to be kept around for emergencies”… good enough to be near the team, but not used in a title challenge pressure situation.

    I love the experiments the past couple weeks of Partey and Kiwior… the boss is thinking about some tactical options for next season. I think that’s more important to see because it may impact the players we pursue this summer. Walters will really benefit from a loan. The word is that Trusty really increased his value on loan.
    I always complain that Arteta didn’t rotate enough (or subs too late)… but on the rotation, I think he realized we were in a title challenge from the start of the season, and that made him reticent to go away from his core of trusted players. No excuses for keeping on Jesus and Saka too long when they should have been taken off. 20 or 30 minutes here and there really add up.

    Next season he will have to open his mind to rotate in the league more, because these won’t be like Europa group stages with 7 changes…. I also hope he realizes it wasn’t just coincidence that we ran out of gas in the final quarter of the campaign 2 years in a row. The additions from this summer will hopefully give him the confidence to trust a larger group.

  • Yes Johnno, Walters had a face like a smacked bum, less so Bandeira but maybe both need a loan to smooth off those rough edges, as does Cozier-Duberry, with no Europa it’s going to be increasingly difficult to find space for our best youngsters

  • Yeah it’s interesting Johnno to read all the ‘Partey leaving’ comments when it looks to me as if Arteta is working on a new system for Tommy P to fit into when Zinchenko is absent, I mean next season Mikel will be working on new ideas and creating new threats for our opponents to contend with, he won’t let the grass grow under his feet.

    Nevermind what the doomers in the media prattle on about, Arteta is streets ahead of them intellectually and will blow them away next season I’m sure, in fact I know.

  • The transfer window in the U.K. opens on June 14th.
    And in europe on July 1st.

  • Hello, people.

    It was a nice journey even if the final prize wasn’t as we – at some point – expected to be. Coming first among all clubs that haven’t been charged for financial wrongdoings shouldn’t be taken for granted though.

    1.We won 26 games – as many as Arsenal 2001-02 and 2003-04 title-winning sides did. We were three points shy of the former and six points shy of the latter. That’s a huge improvement to where we want to be. Mikel has been teaching his side to win 2 out of 3 games but the title-winning standard was moved to roughly 3 out of 4. We turned over a half of our defeats to draws and a win and our draws to wins which translates as +15.

    2.We scored 88 goals – more than any Arsenal side in the Premier League era. 87 goals scored by 2004-05 team was the record until our game v Wolves but let’s not forget that in 2004-05, we had Henry, Bergkamp and Pires- three of our best ever players including our top scorer ever – with Ljungberg, Vieira and young guns Reyes, Fabregas and Van Persie firing their way to the elite. Our front line in 2022-23 was consisted of players that had never played a Champions League game as Arsenal players with two of them being eligible to play for U21. 88 goals and Emile Smith Rowe, a key player in two previous campaigns, scored none of them.

    3.We broke our Big Six record – we picked 19 points out of 30 available. We won six games including doubles over Spurs and Chelsea. We finally beat Liverpool and left Anfield undefeated.

    4.We were close to winning the league – mathematics say that if we beat Man C at Emirates instead of losing, we’d have won the league (87-86). We did drop way too many points against teams such as Southampton (4), Everton (3), West Ham (2) and Nottingham Forest (3). If we had picked just half of points dropped in those games, we’d reach 90-point mark.

    5.We have a football-free summer to improve the team – it’s more difficult to improve from 2nd to 1st than from 5th to 2nd. We need to improve our squad in order to make it good enough for both Premier League (38) and Champions League (at least 6 games). As some of you pointed out, Champions League won’t allow a heavy rotation so players have to be ready to respond to a maniacal mid-week – weekend rhytm. Now, oddly enough, Europa League seems to be worse distraction than Champions League despite the huge gap in quality between competitions. I reckon playing Thursday-Sunday disrupts more than playing mid-week-Saturday.

    6.Saliba’s new contract is my biggest worry – in 2007-08, we didn’t just lose the title race because of a vital injury coming in 27th league game or because of our French centre-back William going through a meltdown. We also lost the vital cog in our midfield on a free transfer (Flamini). Now, Saliba has somehow managed to role all three things into one. He got injured in 27th league game, he is a French CB named William and we have issues with his contract that runs out in summer 2024. To replace a CB of his quality you need 80-100 million pounds. That’s why I prefer to keep what we have over throwing gazillions on new players. Speaking of keeping what we have…

    7.If someone offered me another 2nd place next season, I’d embrace it with both hands. Chelsea will be way more competent once Pochettino makes a proper selection of their playing assets (not that I rate Pochettino as one of the best in business because I think he is far from that). They will be without European football which should help them. Liverpool know where they fell short this term and with new midfielders – Mac Allister being all but signed by them – they will be much stronger than they were. Europa League will be their biggest problem, as I stated above. Man United won’t have the least funny Dutch joke ever spoken out loud – Wout Weghorst as No. 9 or No. 10 – but probably a proper striker, maybe even Harry Kane. Newcastle will have European football distraction which is a new thing for them but their resources are virtually unlimited. Spurs are Spurs – right now, no manager wants to touch them with a barge pool which is completely understandable given that their defence is awful while too many players need to be replaced.

    Given all that, I’d be happy if we finish second.

    8.Even if that contradicts a bit my point 6, we should use the tide and get new players aboard as quickly as possible. Free agents like Zaha and Tielemans can give us width in the midfield and attack.

    9.We need to make big calls about certain players – Rob, Sambi, Tavares, Cedric, probably even Balogun… We need to offload them to get money for players that would make our squad better.

    10.Players that would make our squad better are 1) those who know how to win things and can pull things physically (i.e. Gündogan) and 2) those who are starving to know how to win things and can pull things physically (i.e. Rice, Caicedo, Pinnock).

  • Great news about GN5, guys:. This is from his daughter:

    “Just wanted to let you know Dad, (Cyril), is home now and definitely on the mend. Getting stronger every day and more like his old self. With the progress he has made so far, his determination and the effort he is putting in, I am expecting him to be back on his computer by next week. Perhaps not every day like previously but as the days go by I am certain he will have made a full recovery in 2 weeks time tops.”🌅 🏜️ 🌄

  • Wonderful news from GN5’s daughter. You have a bit of reading to do, Cyril, once you get back to the site. As well as awarding Kevstradamus prognosticator of the season.

    Excellent comments, Admir. What an interesting correlation with the present season and that of ’08. If Saliba’s back injury is not career threatening, I’d throw the big contract at him. PSG are giving him the come on, but who would give up the love, stability and exciting project he has at The Arsenal for the toxicity of that Parisian outfit. What’s the talk in France, LG?
    Zaha & Tielemans? I love Wilfried but can’t see him doing the work of Bukuyu, Martinelli or Trossard. Mikel would have to change our system to fit him in. Tielemans may have had his best years, even on a free, I don’t think he’d offer us much.

    How about an end of season BK awards post, Total? Player of the season, most improved, best goal, best performance…

  • Yes Stu, that’s a great idea and maybe a BK predictions in August?

    Great news on GN5, I knew he’d be back…

    Total, as the saying goes: George Knows, then Arsene Knows which became Mikel Knows and finally Kev Knows (a bit perhaps 😉)

  • Fantastic news from Canada … Kev’s coronation post will be such a nice way get in touch again with GN.
    There’s not been much talk about BigBill and PSG so far, Stu. Our boy’s season has been praised (how could it not have been?) by “L’Equipe” guys, by Vincent Duluc in particular, who is a clever (yes, yes) journalist, who knows the PL inside out, and has a soft spot for The Arsenal (he once wrote a magnificent piece about Charlie George). But even to him, our lad’s injury remains a mystery, and in a way that might be what’ll save us this summer, because I don’t think any big club will make a risky bet on our (fragile) Rock at the moment.
    Should his back heal (pun intended) though, it’d be another story. Deschamps could easily pick a whole France squad made up from lads born within bus-underground distance from the Parc des Princes, so if PSG really wanted to reign o’er Europe, they’d just have to sign these players up (and hold on to them after signing them up). And if, at long last, PSG decided to do so, I’m afraid (really afraid) Bill would be one of their very first signings. Our boy is from Bondy, just like Kylian, both have Cameroon origins, and Kylian’s dad was Bill’s first coach in AS Bondy. The day Mbappé wants his buddy by his side, he’ll have him, straight away. I’ve lived with that certainty for quite a while, in order not to be too disheartened the day it happens.
    Most PSG fans put pressure on the club for it to become the “Gavroche” or “Titi parisien” club it should have been for a long, long time. But the other thing that might save us are the fortunes that are being made out of Qatar dough, by all kinds of vultures revolving around PSG. If you haven’t read anything about Belgium and Dejan Veljković yet, just do it, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what kind of guys will do anything that’s in their nefarious power in order for PSG’s insane transfer policy to go on forever and ever, and for a homegrown-lad process never to take place.
    Thanks a lot for your comment, Admir. I think our best signing would be Granit’s extension. Call me macho, but I have difficulty believing that a millionaire’s wife’s life in London, an-hour-flight (or so) away from Germany, can be such an ordeal. Just bow down to Granit’s agent’s demands, Edu, our Swiss Army knife deserves it, big time. As a matter of fact, I’ve read interesting things yesterday, about MA’s priority being to improve what he has. We’ll see; Kev alluded to the STW’s starting date, I’d rather focus on September 2nd, when this buying-selling madness is left behind for a little while, so we might discuss facts, not rumors any longer.
    And as you may have guessed, I have September 8th on my mind too, Stu …

  • Thanks, LG for the fulsome response to my question.
    I was vaguely aware of the events in Belgium, vaguely because I tend to treat football as my cave to retreat to from the sad and slippery soap opera of our fallen world. I probably feel a tad guilty about this as I am likely falling into the trap Plato describes in his “Republic”.
    But, then again it was from a cave entrance that Elijah heard the “still, small voice” of Reason.

    I only got to two games this season, the home game v Fulham and down at Bournemouth the week before. It was at the Vitality that I realised just who Big Bill is and who he could become, potentially our best Centre Back since Big Sol. (A lot of similarities to their game). It was the match that his song was introduced and where he scored his first goal for the club, a cracker from outside the box.
    There is talk that his injury cost us the title. I’d agree that it was one of the reasons, but, most certainly his form this season contributed greatly to our achievements.
    Resigning him, and signing Rice and Calceido will fill my cup and cave with joie de vivre.
    Xhaka? Our most improved player this season imho. The positional change, the attitude tweak, the goals, assists, touches in the oppo box, his relationship with team mates, fans and management. I think Mikel deserves some credit for Granit’s renaissance, but the man himself has been immense, deserving of all Total’s faith in him over the past years.

  • You must be into the Easybeats, LG? September 8th is a Friday.

  • Opening match / France V New Zealand – September 8 th 2023

    This opening match of Rugby World Cup 2023 at Stade de France between New Zealand and France is the match that all rugby fans, and sports fans in general, have been awaiting since the draw for the pool stages. What better way to get this competition started than a face-off between the French, at home, and the New Zealand team that has already taken home the Webb Ellis Trophy 3 times? Since the first World Cup held in 1987, these two leading nations of world rugby have kept up a healthy rivalry that has always delivered on its promises.

    French fans will forever remember Rugby World Cup 1999 and the semi-final in Twickenham. Regarded as one of France’s greatest victories, the match saw “French flair” overcome the New Zealanders, arch favourites before the match, coming away with a 43-31 win.

    The opening match set to take place on Friday, September 08, 2023 promises an incredible celebration of rugby in an extraordinary atmosphere between two teams with fantastic attacking potential. The winner will take serious dibs on finishing 1st in Pool A and qualify for a quarter-final, also at Stade de France, against the second-placing team in Pool B.

  • Thanks for the reminder, LG. Dominici (may he rest in peace) and Lamaison made me ill for weeks…

    France’s record is like Hollands in the Football World Cup. Touché mon ami.

  • “most improved player”, that makes two of us already
    Too bad his miscue against the Wolves kept him from reaching the 10-goal-mark
    The evolution of his game has made me think of 29-y-o former Spur Chris Waddle’s when Marseilles signed him up. Shifting from attacking midfielder to left-footed RW, Waddle made the Vélodrome forget 1970’s Roger Magnusson, which everyone thought was impossible.
    Only very intelligent players can achieve that, but yes MA certainly deserves a lot of credit for taking Granit that far.
    Arsène loved talking players into changing position too, and often to dramatic success, as with RVP from LW to CF, or Santi from advanced playmaker to a deep-lying one. It takes the eagle eye of someone with a profound knowledge of the game to be able to spot such abilities …

  • It’s a team game, Stu, so I don’t really like doing best individual posts…. But I am happy to post them if anybody wants to write something.

    Xhaka thrived in the new role which is great for him and Mikel. But he always was a key player, part of the fabric of the team ever since he joined us. He evolved well but I don’t think calling him most improved player is appropriate.

    One of the very few Mancs I admire. Love his take on ‘doubt’. When I think of Legall I imagine he looks like Cantona somehow. 🙂

    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/02/i-can-do-everything-but-be-humble-eric-cantona-on-his-surprise-new-music-career

  • I think you had me once in Springsteen old-school rock-band style, another time in 1980’s mod-revival look … I like this latest impersonation, though; the wise old man Canto has been turning himself into, in his own personal eccentric sort of way, has become a much-loved person around here.
    Feel free to judge, BKers (if that gravatar thing I’ve just done works out)
    I’ll stay quiet for a while, not because of these transfer window discussions which I don’t enjoy much, as you may have guessed, and which ends up setting my teeth on edge, but because I’ve accepted a translation job, which I won’t tell you much about, mainly because I have serious … doubts (!!) about my being up to the task. If I’m wrong about this, and I finally complete the thing, I’ll let you know.
    Have a wonderful summer, guys, I’ll miss you.

  • I just sent a comment explaining the “gravatar” and the reason why I’ll not be blogging for a while. Your spams, maybe?
    Take care, guys

  • Considering the chaos all around him my vote for Arsenal player of the season goes to the one and only Big Gabby Gabriel…

  • Encouraging rumours linking Arsenal to Xavi Simons of PSV, he was the stand out performer for Eindhoven when we played them, I’d certainly be in favour of a deal like that.

  • Great news coming out of Kitchener, Ontario. Thank goodness, GN5 is on the mend and hopefully, he should soon give us a crisp shout out.

    Lol. Kev does know, TA. 👍🏽

    I have always spoken out for Xhaka, since he joined us. Somehow, I was able to see what he brings and how the rest of the team responded to him, despite his “can’t tackle, not pacy/athletic” tags. For me, he caused the pundits to quit referring to us as too soft and showed he didn’t mind getting in the book for standing up for himself, on occasion. Then, his football sense and his sublime left foot; he has been a good addition, though not so consequential on the results & trophy fronts, at first, but later going on to be a part of our FA cup and Charity shield winning teams.

  • Brilliant picture, Legall, and yes there is a bit of OOh Ah in you!! 😍

    Good luck with the translation job. You always write so well on the blog and I have no doubt you will thrive in this one. We will miss you tremendously. Have a good summer and be kind to yourself. 🙂 🔆

  • LeGall, your picture, I can imagine you in a black & white picture opposite Bridget Bardot, smoking a disc blue and being very earnest and er, French, probably wearing a beret and an accordion. It’s an image that I simply cannot shake…. 😄

    Bon chance with the new job Ami…

  • Hi Guy’s, thank you for all of your kind thoughts and messages. My daughter is a lot more optimistic than I am but I am making steady progress. The hospital visit was a lot tougher than I expected, I went into emergency with a very sore stomach which turned out to be a bleed in the liver. While I was in emergency they gave me several blood transfusions then (unbeknown to me) I was transferred to a surgery unit where they blocked off the leaking blood.

    Later that night I was transferred to a hospital room and during constant monitoring my blood pressure must have been getting lower an lower – and then I heard those surreal words “stay with me” so they saved my life twice.

    Now that I’m home I’m recuperating from bed sores and extreme swelling in both legs. I’m extremely fatigued and nod off a lot. I have a roller walker to help to recondition my legs but I find it exhausting however I give it my best shot as I know how important it is to me.

    I don’t have the energy to look up and report the final details of our completion but suffice to say that Kev is the more than worthy winner.

  • Hello Cyril. That reads like a major, mate. So very glad you are back home and recuperating in familiar surroundings. We share your daughters enthusiasm and hope for your recovery.
    “Stay with us”, Cyril. And, stay with Him. The Good Book tells us that all our days are numbered, and we pray not one of yours will be lost. But when it comes, you will be found in Him.
    Not even Seaman, Adams, Bould, Dixon and Winterburn are as secure as those “everlasting arms”.
    Love ya, mate.

  • Congrats Kev. If we ever meet in person, I’ll shout you a cold one.

  • Great to hear from you GN5. Just take it easy. It’s the off-season now anyway. We’ll all be bored together without Arsenal for a month or two.

  • Great to hear from you, Cyril (GN5); it sure sounds like you have been through a bit. It is well. You are in my prayers so, I believe you’ll be feeling healthy and strong again, soon! Please, keep fighting for your health, rest up and keep positive so you can live your best life. Stay blessed, good man.

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  • So good to hear from you, Invincible one. Thank you for fighting to stay with us and good luck with the recuperation. You are surrounded by love everywhere and your daughter is a rock to believe in.

    Maybe it’s time for a bit of Saint Hildegard’s ever soothing tunes:

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