Thursday, March 28, 2024

World Cup round-up: Saka takes Qatar by storm, Tomi stuns Germany

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you might have noticed the World Cup is taking place. In Qatar. In Winter. Madness.

Here’s a suitably in-depth round-up of Arsenal-related matters so far…

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bukayo Saka

Scored a brace and was voted player of the match as England beat Iran 6-2. Both goals were lovely; the first hammered in off the bar from a Harry Maguire head down and the second, a teasing dribble off the right wing ending with a deft left-foot curler that took a slight deflection. If the world wasn’t already aware of his talent, heads should be turning.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ben White

As he reiterated this week, he hates watching football, so the 28 minutes of stoppage time added to England’s win felt particularly cruel. Hopefully, he’ll get off the bench at some point because you fear for the next person who sticks a microphone in his face.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Aaron Ramsdale

Spent the Iran match on the bench, presumably figuring out how best to wind up Hollywood actor Will Ferrell ahead of Friday’s clash with the USA.

🇺🇸 Matt Turner

Played the full 90 minutes as the USA drew 1-1 with Wales. Our backup keeper was pretty much a spectator in the first half but busier after the break when he was forced to tip over a Ben Davies header. Couldn’t do anything to prevent Gareth Bale’s penalty from finding the back of the net despite going the right way.

🇫🇷 William Saliba

Had a watching brief as France came from behind to hammer Australia 4-1. Ex-Gunner Olivier Giroud stole the headlines with a brace that sees him go level with Thierry Henry as the highest scorer in Les Bleus’ history. At 36 years and 53 days, he also became his country’s oldest player and scorer at the World Cup (Opta). Not just handsome, seemingly indestructible.

🇯🇵 Takehiro Tomiyasu

Struggling for fitness in the build-up to the tournament, Tomi started Japan’s match with Germany on the bench. He came on at half time with his country losing 1-0 and left the pitch with three points in the same pocket he keeps Mo Salah. Japan’s winner came seven minutes from the end of regulation time, courtesy of former Gunner Takuma Asano. The striker, another substitute, fired home at the near post after one of the best first touches we’ve ever seen. A fine, and very unexpected, win puts Japan in a prime position to qualify for the knockout rounds given they next play abject Costa Rica.

We’ll be back with another roundup once Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and our Brazilian Gabis have been in action.

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Comedian

Bayern might have beaten Arsene’s Arsenal, so he decided to humiliate the whole country instead.
” Arsene Wenger he has done it again”

Tone boy

5 current & ex Arsenal keepers; must be a 1st.

John

Japan fought like lions!! 3 points is nothing less than they deserved from the game. And Rudigar will think twice before showboating again! That was cheap and disrespectful when the Chelski nonsense bubbled up!! Well done, Tomi & Japan!!

Jimboslice

Crazy to see Giroud go level with Titi, big congrats to him. He’s pretty much won everything you can dream of in your career apart from a prem league title. No bitterness or resentment to the handsome French fella.

Savage

Probably an under-appreciated player at Arsenal. Much of our overall failure was dumped unfairly at his doorstep.

Gooner7190

Olivier has always got unnecessary flak. His in our Top 10 goal scorers all time & just about to become France’s greatest ever goal scorer, taking the record off their greatest ever player. Yeah he might need 3/4 chances but nobody can deny he doesn’t know where the goal is when he gets the service

PeteyB

I do believe, with some hindsight, that Giroud and Auba would have been a more effective duo than Laca & Auba.
I wonder if Arsene has any regrets over buying Laca. Seems to me he was never 100% into him or we’d’ve made more effort to get him earlier

Cliff Bastin

Every international tournament I put $10 on a long shot to win the whole thing and this year I have Japan at 1/100.

Goonerrific

Given previous winners, that’s just feel like a waste of a tenner?

Santi’s Thigh Grab

Gotta be in to win.

PeteyB

Go on Edu, put Takuma Asano and Olivier Giroud on the January shopping list!

Teryima Adi

😜

Gabi^3

Wouldn’t that be too much quality in a single team?

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