₦airaland Forum

yokiti:
My chairman, I'm a Gunner but a passive follower of the thread for now.
During the dark days of Mr Evening, it was embarrassing seeing us crumble against our former regular customers; it got to a time that those regular trolls got tired of trolling because we couldn't shame them with our performance on the pitch and "grinding results" afterwards.
Hopefully, these lots will help us in the rebuilding process and not Silvestre kind of players.
Thanks for the mention.

Ameen ooo.

You are welcome

sod09:
He was saying something about kolasinac which I don't understand

That was referring to the Ozil car jacking incident that Kolasinac had to fought off 2 men while OZIL ran into hiding for safety from those two men.

Imagine that idiot making reference to such as something that affected the team

charlesemeka85:
The deal is done. Ighalo have made history as the first Nigerian to play for Manchester united

Congratulations Nigeria!

All of them promising 100%

Harare ri àrà rè méjì lórí ibùsùn (Harare sees joyous 2 in bed)

See the number of people reading the story as it relates to sex.

Don't tell me Nigerians too hate or dislike sex.


like or share this Post so that I won't be tagged a liar with respect to the number of people reading the thread oooooo because I can see 801 guests apart from the regular retinue of monikers

Note:I don't want to be banned else I would have shown the screenshot of the above number oooooo

Done Deals : New Clubs For Hamburg's David, Ex-Inter Milan Striker Ogunseye & Japanese-Nigerian


Three Nigeria-eligible players in the shape of Roberto Ogunseye, Randy Emeka Obi and Jonas David joined new clubs on Friday, January 31, and this is official.

Former Inter Milan striker Roberto Ogunseye will spend the remainder of the season on loan at Italian Serie C outfit Olbia.

The 24-year-old, whose parent club is Cittadella, counts Montebelluna and Prato among his previous employers.

Japanese-Nigerian striker Randy Obi has joined his first European club after inking a two-and-a-half-year contract with Portuguese Liga Pro side União Desportiva Oliveirense.

For the remainder of the 2019-2020 campaign, the 20-year-old will wear the number 98 jersey.

Obi, who models his game after former Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku, previously turned out for Albirex Niigata and Iwaki FC.

In Germany, Hamburg have loaned out defensive midfielder Jonas David to 3. Liga side Würzburger Kickers until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has been allocated the number 17 jersey at Würzburger Kickers.

'They Have Good Players And Are A Big Team' - Leicester's Ndidi Discusses Chelsea


Leicester City's midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi has admitted that their upcoming Premier League match against Chelsea will be tough because of the caliber of players in the ranks of the opponents.

The Super Eagle is in line to face off against international stars such as Jorginho, Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovačić and Mason Mount in midfield, while France World Cup winner N'Golo Kante could be selected by manager Frank Lampard if he recovers from injury.

Ndidi was once again at his best against West Ham after miraculously recovering from a meniscus operation and he believes that home advantage will be crucial in Saturday's meeting with The Blues.

"We’ve worked really hard to be where we are and the work is paying off,'' said Ndidi to Leicester's official webpage as he discussed the big game vs Chelsea.

"We don’t feel happy to just stay there though; we can’t relax because there are still so many points to get. We’ll keep working hard and taking each game as it comes. "

The Foxes number 25 continued : "It will be a difficult game for us, because they have good players and are a big team. But it’s about us. We’re at home so we have to do our best with the fans behind us."

In the race for the Champions League spots, Brendan Rodgers men are third in the table with 48 points, eight more than their next opponents Chelsea.

Kanu suggests drastic alternative to January AFCON schedule


Nigeria legend Nwankwo Kanu has suggested a drastic solution to the Confederation of African Football's scheduling problem around the Africa Cup of Nations.

CAF acceded to a request by Cameroon's local organising committee last month to stage the 2021 tournament in January. This comes just one edition after it was played in June-July for the first time last year in sweltering Egypt.

CAF's decision was roundly criticized in Europe, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp describing it as "a catastrophe" for the Reds.

"I couldn't respect [the competition] more than I do," Klopp said when the schedule change was announced.

"But it is an obvious problem to play a tournament midway in a season. For us it's a catastrophe.

"If we say [a player] can't go, he's suspended. How can the club who pay his salary not decide? If he's injured and we say he cannot play for us, we have to send him to Africa, so they can have a look."

Kanu, who represented Nigeria at four Afcon tournaments, agrees with Klopp, saying he would have preferred the competition to stay in June-July, in order to protect players from prospective club-versus-country disputes.

"If you ask any player, playing the Nations Cup in January leads to problems with the clubs," the former Arsenal striker told ESPN.

"Whenever the league is on, it is always difficult for clubs to release all these good players to come back to play for their country. Then you have these issues between the club and the country.

"Taking it back means the same thing is going to start again. They should have just left it the way it was so that clubs who want our best players will still go for them."

The former Super Eagles captain nevertheless acknowledged the unique weather conditions that necessitated the change.

-Colin Udoh: Afcon date change is best for African fans

"From a weather angle, it makes sense to play the Nations Cup in January so I think it is OK for them to move it."

No matter how understandable the rationale for the change, Kanu argues that the changed schedule is still bad for the players "because if a club is going to invest a lot of money on a player [who] will not be there for a whole month during the season, then they may want to look elsewhere to find a player who will be available".

"That makes it difficult for players who are looking for good moves."

Kanu suggested the timing of the tournament could be varied depending on the host country - providing at least a level of compromise that takes into account both the players' needs and the weather considerations.

"Maybe what they can do is play the Nations Cup at different times in the year," he suggested.

"So when it is hosted by countries in the north or south that don't have rainy season, they can play in the summer.

"And when it is hosted by countries where it rains, they can play it in January."

kokanepyramid:
Tell Emery I said he’s mad

Lol

Okay

Boost for Arsenal as injured player is ahead of schedule-Cedric soares trains with the rest of the squad!

sod09:
he must be high on ebening.
Whatever he faced was his fault from forcing play from back when he knows the defence was a big suspect to allowing opponents taking multiple shots at us by absorbing pressure. He also shut out the only DM we have to play one weak lanky boy that can't do anything or completely useless in anything called defence.
Abeg make I no swear for this guy o as I they remember all he did .
He's blaming the fans chai solo and khalifa Dan suffer, ebening is blaming them

Lol

Good ebening

Unai Emery: 'Arsenal fans threw me out of club'


Unai Emery has outlined "several problems" which cost him his Arsenal job after only 18 months.
Emery was sacked as Arsenal manager at the end of November after the Gunners had gone seven games without a win.

The 48-year-old Spaniard steered Arsenal to the final of the Europa League in his first season in charge.

Arsenal also finished fifth in the Premier League, missing out on a top-four place by just one point.

But he says he was undermined by off-field issues such as the Mesut Ozil-Sead Kolasinac car-jacking incident on a London street and Nicolas Pepe's struggle to adapt to English football following his club-record £72million transfer from Lille.

"I am clear about my diagnosis and we did good things there," Emery said in an interview with Spanish publication Marca.

"I think we had a good first year, leading two competitions well as Europa League and Premier League.

"The process was good. When we played possession, we did it; when we had to press, we did it. And we were competitive, playing as the game required.

"This second year, we have not played well, we have not defended well, we have not been competitive. I told the players myself.

"There were several problems: four captains, the Ozil-Kolasinac case, Pepe's signing, who needs time since he came from France.

"We didn't play well, that's for sure. We had bad results, there was no improvement, the fans focused on me and they threw me out.

"With my departure, the hostile atmosphere was relaxed."

Emery feels Arsenal have found the "perfect" manager in his successor Mikel Arteta, a former player who was Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City.

But he warned that getting the best out of German playmaker Ozil – reportedly the club's highest wage earner who he had omitted regularly this season – remains an issue at the Emirates Stadium.

"Mikel has a lot of experience as a footballer and has worked alongside Pep," who is top," Emery said.

"It fits perfectly in the figure of Arsenal coach. He is playing a 4-2-3-1, like ours.

"Ozil is still '10', and is slowly looking for his identity. He is a very good player, that is clear.

"But physical conditions are high in the Premier League.

"At times, Arsenal with him plays better. But other times it doesn't make so many differences."

Emery has not ruled out returning to England in the future, saying: "Football is unpredictable.

"A team may love you today, three months go by ... and it doesn't love you anymore.

"To France, with the French I learned, I can return. To England, too. To Spain.

"Germany is the only place where I find it difficult to work. In Italy, years ago, teams have loved me.

"You never know, but this break is good for me."

Spy360:
And he is responsible for all.

Of course but I don't think he is admitting it though because he seems to be blaming the fans for his ouster.

Let me see if I can get the full story

Unai Emery says ‘several problems’ led to Arsenal sacking including Pepe's signing, OZIL not a top quality, Arsenal not playing well and the 4 captains issue

Jodera:
according to reports, Soares will be available after the winter break. So technically, if he's signed, he'll just miss only Burnley game. Not bad if you ask me.

He has been signed and is out for 3 weeks.

So he misses out of Newcastle game too. Besides, except he plays on the Left full back position should Kolasinac not available, he can't just come and bench BELLERIN though

zolajpower:
Ilu le ko sowo lode , okunrin kigbe ! Obirin kigbe !!dakun dakun !dakun !! oo ko sowo lode

Ìlú lè kó ṣòwò lóde, ọkùnrin kígbe! Obìrin kígbe!! Dákun dákun! Dákun!! Óò kò ṣòwò lóde

andrewbaba44:
Because this is a super eagles thread and I don’t like overhyping

Norway is not on super eagles level

Simple and clear

Naso

Same thing we said of their neighbors-Denmark not until they knack our Dear Super Eagles 4:1 at France 98 world cup even with the best of the best back then ooo

Ọgá yokiti, it's pleasing to know that you are a GUNNER too though.

Any 1or 2 words to describe our January transfer activities?

It's official

Pablo Mari is on Jersey number 22

Cedric soares is to be on 17

Jodera:
Saka, for his consistent performance since 1st of this month. Closely followed by Xhaka also.

I actually voted him too followed by Martinelli, Xhaka and Torreira in that order

sod09:
Will auba miss Burnley or not?
I think we appealed his red card and it was denied that's extra one match.

No AUBA is available for selection ooo except Kolasinac that is doubtful leaving SAKA with another shot at LFB position yet again.

Pablo Mari should fit in straight for Luiz though but who knows, Rob could be used instead along side Papa

Comments from new arsenal star Pablo Mari:



He said: “I’m happy to be here today and to have signed for a big club. I’m going to do my best to help my team-mates and the club.

“When I spoke to my agent, it was a big thing that Arsenal were interested in me. This is one of the best clubs in the world, so I’m absolutely delighted to be joining. I’m really looking forward to playing in this jersey and helping my team.

“The conversations started a couple of weeks ago. Arsenal told us that they were interested.

“We’d just won everything with Flamengo – I won the league and the Copa Libertadores and was also named best centre-back in America, so that will have helped Arsenal notice me. As I’ve said, I’m really happy. It’s a great achievement for me to come to Arsenal and it all happened in basically two weeks.

“It’s a massive opportunity for me to come to England, which is the best league in the world right now.

“Being able to play in this league and having the opportunity to play for Arsenal is incredible, so I’m really looking forward to wearing the shirt as soon as possible. I want to help my team to win matches and give my fans something to celebrate.”

He added: “I’m a very professional player. I like working hard every day to achieve objectives.

“One thing I can control is working hard on a daily basis to help my team-mates to win football matches and repay the faith that Mikel and Arsenal have shown me by signing me to play here, so that’s my main objective. I want to take it one day at a time and achieve big things at Arsenal.

“Right now I want to focus on the day-to-day side of things.

“I think we need to put the plans to one side for now because the most important thing is to take things one day at a time and focus on achieving short-term goals. We need to change the dynamic around the team, so the short-term objectives are the most important thing.

“As I’ve said, we have Mikel’s ideas, aligned with the club, and we need to perform very well to change things



Arsenal statement in full:


“Spanish defender Pablo Mari is set to join us on loan until the end of the season.

“The 26 year-old joins us from Brazilian side Flamengo, where he helped the Rio de Janeiro based team win the Brazilian Serie A title and the Copa Libertadores last year.

“Mari made 22 appearances for Flamengo after joining them last July from Manchester City, where he had been since 2016. The left-footed central defender had three three different season-long loan spells during his time at City – in Spain with Girona for the 2016/17 season, then to the Netherlands with NAC Breda in 2017/18, before returning to Spain for the 2018/19 campaign with Deportivo La Coruna.

“Mari developed his youth career in Spain with RCD Mallorca, where he made his La Liga debut at the age of just 17. Three years later in 2013 Mari joined Spanish side Gimnastic, where he made nearly 100 appearances in his three seasons with the Catalonian club.

“We have an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.”

Go vote your Arsenal player of the month now

Arsenal aim to complete Cedric Soares transfer on Thursday


Arsenal hope to complete the transfer of Cedric Soares on Thursday, according to reports.

The full-back is set to join Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s second signing and has been given permission by Southampton to agree personal terms and undergo a medical with the Gunners.

Soares, 28, is in the final six months of his contract at Southampton and the Saints have decided to cash in on the defender.

The Evening Standard claim that after a fee was agreed on Wednesday night, Soares is expected in London to have his medical.

Soares will join Arsenal on a loan deal and Southampton will receive around £1million from the Gunners.

The deal could rise to £3m with add-ons and Arsenal will cover the entirety of Soares’ £65,000-a-week wages.


Arsenal looked at Kurzawa before deciding on Soares

Arsenal decided to sign Soares over Paris Saint-Germain’s Layvin Kurzawa due to his experience in the Premier League and his lower wage demands.

Arteta was not keen on Kurzawa and reportedly vetoed Arsenal’s transfer move for the Frenchman.

There is an expectation Soares will join Arsenal on a permanent deal in the summer and will offer competition to Hector Bellerin.

If Arsenal can register Soares by noon on Friday, transfer deadline day, he will be eligible to make his debut against Burnley on Sunday.

After Arteta demanded reinforcements this month, Arsenal have had a busy end to the January window.

Pablo Mari became Arteta’s first signing as manager on Wednesday after completing his loan switch from Flamengo.

Icon4s:
I tell you bro. They must not erase our record o.

They could ooo because they have relatively easy pairing before their 49th match versus Manchester City ooo and easier ones yet again after that

Danielnino00:
E go shock them
We endured many years of being called loserfools fans and being told that YNWA means You'll never win anything..

It's our time to shine !!

Give thanks to VAR this season just like Manchester United used to give thanks to the referees back in the days of Sir Alex Ferguson

TheSuperNerd:
Klopp:

Klopp will disagree to agree that they would surely lose before season ends especially now that Pablo Mari that knows them well has joined Arsenal

Roland17:
I can predict how this is going to go if it not tamed early. When Kolasinac comes back and has a bad game, you guys will start clamoring for Saka to return to the LB position in place of Kola or Tierney (whenever he returns). Gradually, it would become normal to associate him with the LB position rather than playing higher up.

Arteta definitely sees what I am seeing and I am happy he is choosing not to be comfortable with it like some of you are becoming and is taking a shot at Soares on a short term basis. I have seen this too many times at Arsenal to know it is a dangerous adventure that would end in misery for the team and the player especially.

You seem to be getting me wrong though. Or maybe you have not read my last post quoting you above.

Besides, it's not in the defensive driving course that I am even praising Saka for but his Link up play with Martinelli and the forward line that is and that is the area Kolasinac has failed woefully in.

Or when Last did Kolasinac scored a goal nor got an assist?

Equally, Xhaka always cover up for SAKA whenever he pushes forward isn't it?

Besides, SAKA's LFB position actually gives him More room and space to operate moving forward as if he is actually playing the LW forward position accordingly.

In addition, SAKA offers the team the opportunity of switching to 3 defensive formation while pushing forward to assume his natural forward role while starting as a LFB player

That is just my honest opinion and not about converting SAKA into a LFB player like you want to believe though

Roland17:
You may want to do yourself a good favor by scrolling through the years to read up my thoughts about Saka on this thread since he joined us, that may help you understand better. It has absolutely nothing, not even remotely close, to do with his heritage but everything to do with his talent.

You guys keep pushing this narrative of Saka continuing at LB/LWB and it bothers me, even Arteta knows it is dangerous situation for Saka’s development irrespective of his current form in that position hence the desire to get Soares on loan for the rest of the season.

I'm not particularly saying that SAKA should be converted to a LFB position player ooo.

Not at all and very far from that but based on the constraint forcing us to use him there and creditably well too is that which I am saying.

We are only commending him for putting up a superlative performance always so far he has been playing as a LFB.

Thank goodness ARTETA is goning for Cedric who can also play at LFB position and that is to tell us that the coach is not trying to convert SAKA into a defender just like we are not advocating for that defensive conversion too

Mustafi has ankle sprain so won't be long out there



Thank God we are not like some Manchester United fans that went attacking their executive vice chairman

Arsenal agree deal to sign Portuguese star as Arteta closes in on second signing


According to the Telegraph, Arsenal are set to sign Cedric Soares on loan from Southampton with a view to signing the full-back on a permanent four-year deal in the summer.

Mikel Arteta has been on the look-out for defensive reinforcements this month as we’ve continued to be woeful at the back this season and a new centre-back was a priority after Calum Chambers was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The club announced a deal to sign Pablo Mari from Flamengo earlier today with the Spanish centre-back arriving on an initial six-month loan with Arsenal having an option to make it permanent in the summer.

It looks like we’ve now turned our attention to bringing in another full-back before the transfer window closes on Friday night as reports emerged on Wednesday afternoon that we are in for Southampton’s Cedric Soares.

The Telegraph claims a deal is now in place for Arsenal to sign the Portuguese international on loan for the rest of the season with the club holding an option to sign Soares on a four-year deal in the summer.

Sky Sports News reporter Jim White claims Arsenal will pay a £5m loan fee for Soares but the Telegraph suggest the fee is actually below £1m, which makes more sense considering the player has just six months left on his contract.

Having the option to sign Soares for free in the summer makes sense as we can take a closer look at him over the next six months then sign him for nothing at the end of the season if things work out well for all parties.

The 28-year-old has been a solid player for Southampton since joining them from Sporting Lisbon in 2015 while he has 33 caps for Portugal and was part of the squad that won Euro 2016.

I didn’t really see another right-back as a priority given how well Ainsley Maitland-Niles has played during Hector Bellerin’s absence but Soares can also play at left-back so he’ll give Arteta a versatile option at the back.

Let’s see if this deal gets over the line but it looks increasingly likely that Arsenal will end the window with two news defenders on short terms deals.

Mari and Soares will be decent additions and given Arsenal have limited money to spent in January, I guess it’s been a reasonably successful month.

Roland17:
Saka!!!!! All day, All night!!!!!

Martinelli should be displacing Lacazette now and that is the bold truth. Both (Saka/Martinelli) players can battle for that position, it is part of growing up and I have no problems with that, but we should be looking to transition Martinelli to that CF position as soon as possible because the kid is just too good. His transition to the CF position should be faster than Nketiah's.
Both players should be allowed to continue to develop in their respective positions and at worst, if you are going to change roles, it should not be 2 extremes (attack/ defense). You can toggle Martinelli/ Saka across the offense. Young players are very fragile, you have also remember they have had 3 coaches in such a short span and that is a very important variable in the development of young players. Infact, it is one of the reasons Willock has stagnated and regressed badly this season,

I want to believe that your choice of SAKA is born out of patriotism though. (With respect to his Naija root)

About Martinelli displacing LACAZETTE ATM, you know that won't happen to say the least but I honestly would have loved to see him start in that role ahead of LACAZETTE too.

Like Sod09 did said, I also prefer SAKA at LFB position to Kolasinac until when Tieney returns.

But our propositions won't See the light of the day as AUBA is back from suspension for the Left wing role with LACAZETTE as CF.

Except if PEPE would be coming from the bench for Martinelli to start from the right while Kolasinac resumes the LFB position since SAKA is not a naturally groomed LFB and that would see him return to the bench yet again.

WILLOCK only chooses to be a bad player that he is though given the retinue of opportunities he got earlier on when EMERY does froze out OZIL for him initially,

Else, OZIL will not even be a cardinal figure in this ARTETA coming honestly if WILLOCK had impressed beyond reasonable doubt.

Finally, I absolutely agree with you on Martinelli transitioning as CF ahead of NKETIAH because I see him as another Yaya SANOGO to be frank with you