Morning all.
The good news kept on coming yesterday from Arsenal Football Club. First up, Renee Slegers signed up to a deal which will keep her at the club until 2029. Then came the news that Jodie Taylor, once an Arsenal player herself, had been promoted from Technical Services Manager to Technical Director.
Having led her players to Champions League victory in her first season at Arsenal, it was inevitable Renée Slegers would be offered a new contract at some stage. Like Mikel Arteta though, she’s probably desperate to add the WSL trophy to her name although this season, sitting eight points behind leaders Man City with just 11 games to go, it’s unlikely to happen. The women play Man Utd at The Emirates today with kickoff at 12.30. Sky Sports are broadcasting this one.
Good news then turned to the men’s game when late afternoon, David Ornstein announced that Bukayo Saka has agreed a new five year contract with his boyhood club.
I’m sure many of us were 99% sure Bukayo would extend his deal with Arsenal but until it’s done, there’s always a few nerves jangling around. Arsenal haven’t yet made an official announcement but Ornstein’s word is good enough for me.
Bukayo is yet to hit his peak years, those years will come in an Arsenal shirt. I think it’s inevitable that one day he’ll be wearing the captain’s armband and go down in history just like a number of Arsenal players who during their time were the heart and soul of our club. Those who we remember like they were playing yesterday. Perhaps right now the likes of Bergkamp, Vieira, Henry etc are going through your mind but I was thinking more about our ex academy players, those who loved the club before playing for it. Players like Charlie George, Pat Rice, Ray Parlour, David “Rocky” Rocastle, Michael “1989” Thomas, Tony Adams, the list is endless. I’m hopeful that both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri will become two more names on a forever growing long list of Arsenal academy players who make it big in the game for the club we love. Marli Salmon and Andre Harriman-Annous appear to be the next in line but as we know, a few brief appearances at 15/16 years old doesn’t necessarily mean a career at Arsenal is guaranteed but it’s a great place for these young men to be.
This weekend is all about the FA Cup. Last night, high flying League One side Wrexham knocked out Nottingham Forest. Wrexham took a 2-0 lead into halftime before Forest one back in the second half. Wrexham then regained their two goal cushion, however, a double from Hudson-Odoi made it 3-3. Straight to penalties and Forest were out with ex Arsenal man Okonkwo the hero after saving two spot kicks. Ironically, one was from old north London academy buddy Omari Hutchinson.
I love the FA Cup, always have. Arsene Wenger had a knack of doing well in it and it would be great to see Arsenal win another this time around. It doesn’t matter who plays who really because league form goes out the window. The lower league clubs love playing a Premier League side because they know an upset is possible as other club managers rotate their players heavily. It’s also a big pay day for those lower clubs too when they face a top club. Most of this rounds fixtures take place today, two big ones are Totts v Villa and Newcastle v Bournemouth.
Arsenal take on Portsmouth tomorrow and if the weather is anything like it is today down this way, conditions will be perfect.
Catch up in the comments.