After thrashing Rangers 6-0, Arsenal’s women needed another victory yesterday to have any chance of making the Champions League proper. The performance was convincing although like the men, converting chances into goals was missing but the one they did score was enough to beat Rosenborg BK. They still have two more qualifying fixtures, a home and away match against one of Juventus, Sporting CP, BK Hacken, Fiorentina or Paris FC. Who they play will be decided tomorrow when the draw takes place at midday.
Back with the men, it’s pretty much one down and one to go as far as the international fixtures go. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were part of an England team which defeated The Republic Of Ireland 2-0 with Rice getting on the scoresheet.
Speaking to Sky Sports News after the game Rice said:
Coming back to Arsenal late I’ve not been feeling 100-per-cent fit so far. I’ve had my pre-season in the Premier League. But today I felt like I took a real step. I could feel it in myself, I was feeling springy, I felt like I could run around the pitch and I was feeling more powerful. I got sent off in my last game and felt a bit rusty in my first two games, I know when I’m playing well and I felt I did really well today. Hopefully now I can keep on pushing.
Germany defeated Hungary 5-0, Kai Havertz with one of the goals from the penalty spot and Netherlands won their match against Bosnia-Herzegovina 5-2 with Jurrien Timber playing 66 minutes. Oleksandr Zinchenko came off the bench during the second half as Ukraine were beaten at home by Albania.
Only David Raya and Jakub Kiwior are likely to be in action today for Spain and Poland respectively then both should be making their way back to Arsenal, hopefully unscathed.
I’m sure that like me, you’ve read a lot of positive things about Raheem Sterling and his time at Man City whilst working with Mikel Arteta. The players stats suggest that period in his career was probably his best. Even Arsenal.com has a table of stats showing how well he did during that time.
What stands out in my opinion is his goal and assists which were clearly at its best during his and Mikel Arteta’s time at Man City and whilst it might be easy to suggest he had great players around him, he has great players around him now. Equally as important for him will be that he’ll now feel appreciated and know what his role is as well as what is expected of him under a coach he knows so well.
Of course Sterling was a lot younger when he teamed up with Arteta the first time but having watched the training videos, his burst of pace doesn’t appear to have left him. Sportsmen and women who keep themselves in top physical condition can go on well into their 30’s. Ronaldo, Giggs, Messi, Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Young, Cole, there are so many I could mention.
Whether or not Sterling can emulate his stats from his time at City remains to be seen but I’d love to see him do so. If he has one great season with Arsenal, this deal will be worth every penny spent.
