Morning all.
Let’s begin with the Arsenal curiosity in yesterday’s video games, and Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal noticed Martin Odegaard begin, and supplied an help for Erling Haaland with an inch excellent cross after driving ahead with the ball from properly inside his personal half. For me, the dialogue of late in regards to the captain ought to by no means have been about his high quality. If folks need to overlook all of the sensible issues he’s finished in an Arsenal shirt, that’s their lookout, however in my view it’s rather more honest to say we haven’t seen the very best of him due to harm.
That’s a extra trustworthy place to have that debate, if you wish to have it. To only dismiss a participant with out offering any context is pointless. That doesn’t imply the accidents aren’t a fear, after all they’re, and after that massive ankle downside he picked up taking part in for Norway 2024, he doesn’t ever appear to have discovered full health since. I feel a part of it was the truth that on his return within the 2024-25 season, he was about the one inventive midfielder at our disposal. Ethan Nwaneri was wanted to deputise for Bukayo Saka, and never not like different gamers the burden on Odegaard was fairly heavy.
Final season was punctuated by harm. The 2 shoulder issues, a knee challenge when he clashed knees with one other participant, one other knee downside when he over-extended it, and at no level did you ever have a look at him and suppose he’s 100% match and in his finest kind. I suppose it offers Arsenal some considering to do that summer time, as a result of when a participant has these durations of harm which so affect their output, it’s regular to evaluate that.
For me although, we’re a aspect that wants extra creativity and craft, not much less, and whereas his position would possibly change (in ways in which may also permit him to search out the type of rhythm we all know he’s able to), I nonetheless suppose he’s received a giant position to play. Time will inform although, and for now he can benefit from the reality Norway have certified for the knock-out levels, and he’s having enjoyable with a giant drum.
Elsewhere, William Saliba performed the complete recreation as France beat Iraq 3-0, with two objectives from Kylian Mbappe, the primary one other belter from distance, the second after a large howler on the again, earlier than one from Ousmane Dembele. That ahead line doesn’t want any further assist and it’s fairly attention-grabbing to see the large weapons firing at this event. Mbappe has 4, Haaland has 4, and a sure Lionel Messi is on 5 after scoring twice towards Austria yesterday, making him the main scorer in World Cup historical past with 18 objectives general.
The very fact he nonetheless received a pair after lacking a penalty tells you about his sheer relentlessness. I cherished the primary purpose, sweeping the ball house after a pleasant step-over from a teammate, and the contact within the field which led to his second is definitely ridiculous. Maybe he received a bit lucky with the ball rebounding to him, however there’s that relentlessness once more. Finally, he’s by a long way the very best participant I’ve ever seen, and I additionally utterly agree with Tim Stillman right here:
Ngl, 90% of my happiness for Messi breaking the file is understanding how a lot it’ll annoy Ronaldo.
— Tim Stillman ⭐️⭐️ (@tim-stillman.bsky.social) 2026-06-22T17:48:58.818Z
Are we small, petty males? You higher imagine it.
The opposite recreation final evening noticed Algeria beat Jordan 2-1. At the moment, the Arsenal focus is on England who tackle Ghana this night, and we’ll see how a lot Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka can contribute. I anticipate the previous to start out, due to course he at all times does, whereas it wouldn’t be a shock to see Noni Madueke proceed on the fitting forward of his membership colleague whose coaching this week was curtailed due to that ongoing Achilles harm. The opposite video games see Uzbekistan play Portugal, Panama tackle Croatia, and Colombia face DR Congo.
In the meantime, there’s some switch tittle-tattle with the Guardian reporting that Arsenal are set to ‘make an strategy’ for Morgan Rogers, with some chat that Aston Villa are on the lookout for one thing within the area of £100m for the 23 12 months outdated. If it sounds rather a lot, it’s as a result of it’s, however when Elliot Anderson can’t be prised out of Nottingham Forest for lower than £120m, and there’s a £100m price-tag on Newcastle’s first rate however removed from distinctive Sandro Tonali, then you possibly can perceive why they’d need any dialog to be in that ball-park.
Rogers is younger, an England worldwide, and has a contract with Villa till 2031, in order that clearly performs a giant half in how costly any potential deal could be. None of which shall be information to Arsenal, so if he’s a participant they actually need to pursue, they go into this with their eyes open and totally conscious of how a lot it may cost a little. The identical piece says we’re additionally going to go for Ayyoub Bouaddi, the extremely rated Moroccan midfielder who at present performs for Lille, and whose World Cup up to now will solely have added to his price ticket. Josh Kroenke is gonna need to shift a ton of these Saliba/Gabriel meme t-shirts to pay for it.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. There’s an Arsecast Further under when you haven’t had an opportunity to pay attention but, extra from me right here tomorrow.
