It’s a new week, and another set of World Cup games to be peppered with, and the first of the knockout matches has already been decided. I didn’t watch Canada beat South Africa last night, mainly because I wasn’t sure what time it was on. I’ve gotten so used to the games being on at 10pm, 11pm, 12am or 1am, that I just assumed it would be too late, and I didn’t bother.

This morning, I had a look, and it seems Brazil versus Japan is the first game on, which actually kicks off at a very reasonable 6pm. That’s being played in Houston, Texas, which means it’s five hours behind and a 1pm kick off, so I will definitely whack that on tonight as I’m prepping dinner. Feels like it could be a fun one. Big Gabi, future Arsenal star Bruno Guimaraes ( 😉 ) and maybe even a sprinkling of Gabriel Martinelli too, perhaps? Of course, we’d have to deal with Cunha, Alisson and Casemiro, but at least there’s no Richarlison at this competition. That frigging chicken dance is too much for one man to take.

Japan impressed a lot of people when they came to England and tidied up a bit after themselves, but their football is pretty good too. I suspect they’re probably going home tonight, but you never know. An upset could be on the cards.

Actually, how often are there ‘upsets’ these days, when it comes to the finals? I just had a look at the 2022 finals to see, and low and behold, the Japanese dumped out the Germans in the group stages of the last competition. Belgium were also yanked from the competition at the expense of Croatia and Morocco, whilst in the knockouts, Croatia did over Brazil and Morocco overcame Portugal. So I guess there are upsets to be had. I just assumed that in the World Cup, a bit like the Champions League, the bookies are usually spot on.

At the moment, the bookies are saying France, Argentina, Spain, England, Brazil and Germany (in that order) are expected to go the distance, and when you look at the French side, you can see why. Big Bill Saliba at the back, Mbappe, Olise and Dembele up top…sheesh, that’s a good side. I don’t like Haaland one bit – I think he’s an incredibly arrogant twat – but his candour when he said “they’re probably gonna win the whole thing” was appreciated. Most of the players at this tournament know that they’re probably not making it to the latter stages.

As for England, I’d be surprised if they get to a semi-final again. I just don’t see it. They should have enough for Congo, and to be fair, also Mexico, despite the home advantage they will have. I don’t see them getting beyond what will probably be Brazil in the quarter finals, though.

All of this World Cup waffle, and I’m nearly 500-words in without a drop of Arsenal goodness. That’s probably because I’ve not seen much going on, to be honest with you. The Bruno G stuff has a slight angle to it, which is that his agent has been using Arsenal’s interest to secure a new £200k-per-week, which I think is fair enough. A few peeps are speculating that the Diomande stuff to PSG will set the chain-reaction for a Barcola exit, but I think it’s probably a little too soon to be going into the weeds of that one. Both players are still at the World Cup, although the Ivory Coast play Norway tomorrow, so if Odegaard et al progress, perhaps Diomande’s future gets sorted and he does head towards PSG. I remember Liverpool’s pursuit of Zubimendi, though, which ended up with him joining us a year later, so despite what’s being read right now, it does feel like that deal could have a few swings to it.

If it does swing that way, I expect Barcola to probably have a look at his situation, but what’s interesting is that Diomande spent most of his time last season as a right-winger fro Leipzig. He played 25 times on the right and 10 on the left. PSG have Doue on the right, who played 24 times on the right last season – so would those two be sharing positions? Both players can play on both sides, but you tend to find players have a side that they are preferred in, or that they perform better in. Just look at Martinelli. He’s better on the left, but he has had some games for us on the right wing. If a side wanted to buy Martinelli, but they already had the left-hand side sewn up, so they wanted him on the right, do you think that would be a good move for the player and the buying club? I don’t. So I wonder if the same needs to be said about the Diomande/Barcola potential exit. Just because Diomande could arrive, I don’t think it necessarily drives an exit for the Frenchman.

If it does mean Brcola wants to move on, the good news about Arsenal is that we have shown that we are willing to move if the player is right. Just look at the Eze situation; that shifted almost overnight from him joining the Scum to joining us, as a result of the Havertz injury. Five uears ago I’d have been concerned that if somebody like Barcola came on the market, a club like Liverpool could steal a march by just acting quickly. Now, I’d back our boys at Highbury House and London Colney to act if they needed to act. So let’s see how this one shakes out.

Right – that’ll do me for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with some more musings – be interesting to see if any Japanese players stand out tonight.

Catch you all tomorrow.