Hallelujah…the final Interlull of 2018 is nearly over!
Before full focus returns to domestic matters, here’s how the lads have been getting on over the last week or so.
There are still a few outstanding fixtures, when those are done and dusted, we’ll update this post.
Aaron Ramsey
Wales 1-2 Denmark
UEFA Nations League
Friday, 16 November
Rambo played the full 90 minutes as Wales missed out on qualification at the hands of the Danes. Nicolai Jorgensen and Martin Braithwaite scored for the visitors before Gareth Bale grabbed a late consolation.
Albania 1-0 Wales
UEFA Nations League
Tuesday, 20 November
Ramsey was on the pitch for two minutes when Albania won the penalty that ultimately led to a humbling defeat for Ryan Giggs’ side. Bekim Balaj scored from the spot after Harry Wilson brought down Taulant Xhaka, brother of Granit.
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Bernd Leno
Germany 3-0 Russia
Friendly
Thursday, 15 November
Bernd spent 90 minutes on the bench. Ex-Gunner Serge Gnabry scored for Germany who raced to a three-goal advantage before the break.
5 – Das DFB-Team wartet nun seit 5 Pflichtspielen auf einen Sieg (2 Remis, 3 Niederlagen) – das ist die längste Durststrecke für die Deutschen seit knapp 40 Jahren, als es zwischen Juni 1978 und April 1979 sogar 6 Partien waren. Horror. #GERNED
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) November 19, 2018
Germany 2-2 Holland
UEFA Nations League
Monday, 19 November
Bernd was on the bench again as Germany drew a line under their horrific 2018 with a disastrous last 5 minutes against a rejuvenated Holland. Timo Werner and Leroy Sane gave the home side a 2-0 advantage before Ronald Koeman’s men secured their place in the Nations League semi-finals – at the expense of France – through late strikes from Quincy Promes and Virgil van Dyck.
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Sokratis
Greece 1-0 Finland
UEFA Nations League
Thursday, 15 November 15
Sokratis played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet as the Greeks secured victory courtesy of an own goal by Mikael Granlund.
Greece 0-1 Estonia
UEFA Nations League
Sunday, 18 November
Sokratis was one of only two players to retain their place as an experimental Greek side lost their third of six Nations League games. An own goal by Fotios Lampropoulos separated the two teams.
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Granit Xhaka
Switzerland 0-1 Qatar
Friendly
Wednesday, 14 November
Akram Afif scored a late winner as Qatar surprised Switzerland 1-0 in their international friendly. Granit played 45 minutes.
Switzerland 5-2 Belgium
UEFA Nations League
Sunday, 18 November
Granit anchored the midfield as the Swiss produced a stunning turnaround against Roberto Martinez’s World Cup semi-finalists to secure a place in next summer’s Nations League finals. Needing to win by two clear goals, the home side found themselves 2-0 down inside 17 minutes but fought back via a Ricardo Rodriguez penalty and a hat-trick by Haris Seferovic. Nico Elvedi, who’d earlier been at fought for Belgium’s opener, also got on the scoresheet.
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Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Gibraltar 2-6 Armenia
UEFA Nations League fixtures
Friday, 16 November 16
Henrikh’s boys took revenge for their shock defeat in the reverse fixture by smashing Gibraltar 6-2. Armenia must beat Liechtenstein and hope Gibraltar win against Macedonia if they are to top the group.
Big win for #armenia last night ??We’re now heading to the final game vs Liechtenstein! Huge thanks to our 12th man – our supporters❤️?? #UEFANationsLeague pic.twitter.com/GDkaRqN7tX
— Henrikh Mkhitaryan (@HenrikhMkh) November 17, 2018
Lichtenstein 2-2 Armenia
UEFA Nations League fixtures
Tuesday, 20 November
Henrikh played the full 90 minutes as Armenia grabbed a late equaliser against Lichtenstein. With Macedonia beating Gibraltar to qualify top of the group, the result didn’t really matter.
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Matteo Guendouzi
France u-21s 2-2 Croatia u-21s
Friendly
Thursday, 15 November
L’Equipe labelled Matteo ‘the boss’ after an impressive debut for Les Espoirs as they drew 2-2 at home to Croatia.
France under-21s vs Spain
Friendly
Monday, 19 November
Matteo came on as a substitute as his country secured a 1-1 draw. After the game, he committed his international future to France. The teenager has been heavily courted by Morocco.
?️ Mattéo Guendouzi : "Mon objectif ça a toujours été l'@equipedefrance"#FRAESP #FRAURU #LateFC pic.twitter.com/WxVot4Fk00
— Late Football Club (@LateFootClub) November 19, 2018
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Lucas Torreira
Brazil 1-0 Uruguay
Friendly
Friday, 16 November
Torreira was one of six Uruguay players to pick up a booking in a feisty encounter played at the Emirates. A controversial 76th-minute penalty by Neymar, the subject of Lucas’ cautionable offence, separated the two teams. The PSG striker netted after Diego Laxalt was adjudged to have fouled Manchester City’s Danilo.
Some pictures from tonight's friendly between Uruguay and Brazil at Emirates Stadium. pic.twitter.com/fu7XB8z5zg
— Stuart MacFarlane (@Stuart_PhotoAFC) November 16, 2018
France 1-0 Uruguay
Friendly
Tuesday, 20 November
Olivier Giroud scored his 33rd goal for France, a penalty, as the World Champions secured a slim victory for the World Champions against Lucas Torreira. The Arsenal man played 74 minutes.
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Mohamed Elneny
Egypt 3-2 Tunisia
Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
Friday, 16 November
Elneny played the full 90 minutes and picked up a late booking before Mohamed Salah scored the 89th-minute winner for Egypt as they beat Tunisia 3-2 in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Both teams had already qualified for next summer’s finals in Cameroon.
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Alex Iwobi
Nigeria vs South Africa
Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
Saturday 17 November
Alex played the full 90 minutes as Nigeria secured a 1-1 draw away from home that sees them qualify for the African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria 0-0 Uganda
Friendly
Tuesday, 20 November
Nigeria ends 2018 on a six-game unbeaten run but there was little to shout about in this 0-0 draw. Alex featured, although we’re not sure for how long.
Love a good German national team disappointment these days. Low’s lukewarm football getting blown out of the water this year.
Gotta love Xhaka’s instagram post. Wonder if he tagged hazard xD
Like Andrew, I’ve tried many times to fully understand just how this Nations League works. Still don’t get it.
What final? A final at the expense of France? Does that mean France aren’t in the next Euros? Relegation? To what? The Asian Cup?
It seems to be a separate tournament with teams in groups going from strong teams to very weak teams. You can get relegated from your group and play weaker teams in a lower group next time.
But it is separate to the big tournaments I believe.
There are four “leagues” so that teams play those of roughly equal strength. San Marino plays teams like Gibraltar, not Germany (though, right now, that might be competitive). Each league has groups (which I think are random draws, but not sure) and all your games are within your own group, not just your own league. The winning team in each group gets promoted to the next higher league. The lowest team in each group is relegated to the next lower league (but, of course, no relegation from the bottom league–you stay in Europe, unlike Brexit). The four group winners from… Read more »
Sounds like Granit remembered to bring his brain to the Belgium dismantling
This UEFA Nations League thing is a convoluted mess designed by someone who enjoys a bit too much cocaine and NHL. HEY LETS ALL DO LEAGUES, AND RELEGATIONS AND THEN A PLAYOFF AND THEN FINALS AND THEN.. TIE IT IN TO EURO QUALIFICATIONS F YEAH! AND THEN AND OH MORE COKE YEA. BRING THE BOWL OVER
Although it was an own goal by Greeks that separated Estonia and Greece, it was actually a worrying mistake by Sokratis (he got turned inside out by the Estonian forward and was too slow to prevent a cross) that led to the strong low cross that ended with the own goal. He was not very convincing and let his frustration show later on to earn a yellow for very animated discontent with the referee’s decision.
So, as long as that Estonian forward doesn’t play in the Prem, we are okay?
So.. Elneny is healthy again to play 90 minutes for Egypt. I wonder how he will participate for Arsenal during the coming tight schedule.
Nothing noteworthy from Ramsey over 90 minutes. What a surprise.
Two FA Cup winning goals and this one too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NhBBNHNDXI
Noteworthy?
The comment was referring to him not making the most of his auditions for Europe’s top clubs, who are all allegedly queuing up for him, but thanks for referring to performances from several seasons ago, and drawing our attention to a ten-second passage of play against a team shipping goals for fun at the bottom of the table. What an achievement. Why not link to the Galatasaray goal while you’re at it? You should also remind everyone that he never hides, he has a tremendous engine, and he suffered a horror injury in 2010. Those are all perfectly sensible justifications… Read more »
Explain how anyone can infer what you have just said above from ‘Nothing noteworthy from Ramsey over 90 minutes. What a surprise.’
Big up arseblogs for putting this together, looks like quite a lot of our squad have had a bit of a rest over the past 2 weeks which should be a good thing!
Apart from the fact is was actually put together by someone else.
Once again, it looks like Ozil disappeared.
Don’t understand this Nation’s cup.
Added wear on players for the season.
That said, smashing match with the Swiss beating Belgium.