Arsenal’s representatives at the Copa America and African Cup of Nations are still going strong.
All four players – Lucas Torreira, David Ospina, Mohamed Elneny and Alex Iwobi – have knockout football on the horizon after strong showings in their respective groups.
The news wasn’t so great for Matteo Guendouzi at the under-21 European Championships. France’s defeat to Spain means he joins Reiss Nelson and Krystian Bielik on the plane home.
Here are the details…
COPA AMERICA
BRAZIL
Friday, 14 June – Sunday, 7 July
Lucas Torreira
Having beaten Ecuador and drawn with Japan, Uruguay rounded off their group fixtures with a 1-0 win over Chile. Edinson Cavani scored the winner eight minutes from time to secure top spot and set up a quarter-final with Peru. For the second time this tournament, Lucas spent the full 90 minutes on the bench. Earlier in the week, he was quizzed about rumours linking him with AC Milan and made clear he’s happy at Arsenal.
David Ospina
Having kept two clean sheets in a row against Argentina and Qatar, Dave missed the 1-0 win over Paraguay so he could fly home to Colombia to be with a sick family member. He’s expected to return between the sticks this evening when Los Cafeteros play Chile in Sao Paolo tonight.
AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS, EGYPT
Friday, 21 June – Friday, 19 July
Mohamed Elneny
Mo picked up a booking as Egypt beat DR Congo 2-0 in Cairo to qualify for the last sixteen. Our man picked up a booking. He still looks weird without any hair.
Alex Iwobi
Nigeria qualified for the last sixteen with a game to spare after a second 1-0 victory, this time over Guinea. Alex played 78 minutes, going off five minutes after Kenneth Omeruo had given the Super Eagles the lead. Nigeria face Madagascar in their final game of Group B.
2019 UEFA EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP
ITALY & SAN MARINO
Sunday, 16 June – Sunday, 30 June
Matteo Guendouzi
Matteo played 90 minutes as France drew 0-0 with Romania to secure top spot in Group C to set up a semi-final with Spain. Les Espoirs made a decent start, taking the lead through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 16th minute penalty, but went on to let in four goals as La Roja secured progression to a fourth final in five editions of the tournament.
News of earlier exits for Reiss Nelson and Krystian Bielik can be found here.
Shaved head Elneny LANS
LANS to warm the bench.
Elneny 2.0 hairless edition
Mohammed’s lack of hair makes me sad
Hope Elneny does decent so he can move on. He needs to find a club to give him regular paying time. He’s doesn’t add enough for us (which is why he rarely features) and is frankly a waste of space (way bigger than Mustafi) But he is a decent and diligent enough player to find employment at many other clubs IMO. Jenkinson OTOH we will struggle to give away for free, maybe have to stuff him in a suitcase and leave him in Finland. The fact that he doesn’t start ahead of the ‘calamitous’ Mustafi at Rback says it all.… Read more »
Ospina another one to watch closely. Does Emery retain him should he not find offers in market or does he let him go and trust Martinez/Macey? I don’t think we should let Torreira go. It will mean further complications in market as we are as is short on one quality CM. As mentioned, we should have back up to selling Ozil (we know it will be an ask with his salary prohibitive to most clubs) and Mustafi (again salary to capability) Mhkitaryan I feel was a useless signing and is on the wane. Pretty much he and Ozil play the… Read more »
Amazing how Elneny was booked twice and still played.