For those missing their football fix, the Club World Cup starts this weekend.
For those in the UK, you can watch 23 of the 63 matches live on Channel 5.
The remaining 40 games can be viewed free on DAZN.
A few things for Gooners to watch…
If / How Much / Where Does Rodrygo Play?
It’s believed that Rodrygo is high on Arsenal’s shortlist.
The 24-year-old wouldn’t be cheap, and the Gunners would need some sort of sign that Real Madrid are willing to negotiate.
The Brazilian’s preference is to stay at the Bernabéu, and it would take his new manager to tell him directly that he isn’t in his future plans.
Talks won’t happen until after the tournament, but actions speak louder than words.
We could find out as soon as Wednesday if Xabi Alonso sees Rodrygo as being part of his first-team plans, and if it’s on the left-hand side, which the player desires.
A Gunner at the Club World Cup
Playing at the Club World Cup was always part of Porto’s loan deal for Fábio Vieira.
After 5 goals and 5 assists since his return to Portugal, it’s a deal both parties would like to make permanent, but the Dragons have made it clear they don’t have the finances to let Arsenal recoup the £34 million they originally invested.
With the world watching, the midfielder of course has a chance to put himself in the shop window and increase his value.
This is where Mikel Arteta’s strategy could come back and bite him.
Our manager has a track record of loaning out, or even ripping up the contracts of any talent who no longer suits his ethos.
So even if Vieira shines at this tournament (Porto’s first game is Sunday), who’s going to pay a transfer fee for the 25-year-old when they know the Gunners will eventually agree to a loan or a cut-price fee?
All Gooners Support Los Angeles FC
Olivier Giroud has made a career out of proving people wrong and, at 38, is looking to add the Club World Cup to his impressive CV.
I know Gooners who used to mock the striker, yet would then praise the likes of Eddie Nketiah.
Given the names the Frenchman was called, he got the last laugh, adding the World Cup, Champions League, Europa League, Serie A, and another FA Cup to the three FA Cups he lifted as a Gunner.
It’s unclear how seriously the European participants are taking this competition, but it’s a big deal to the clubs in the MLS, especially with America hosting the tournament.
Giroud starts his campaign, ironically, against his former club Chelsea on Monday.
Messi Factor
Neutrals might just want to sit back and see if a 37-year-old Lionel Messi can carry his team over the line.
That was what caught the imagination at the last international World Cup, and FIFA are hoping for the same here.
Gianni Infantino will never admit it publicly, but that’s why Inter Miami have been invited to participate, and why they kick off the event on Sunday.
David Beckham’s franchise did not qualify under the criteria their peers had to.
Apparently, the FIFA president was so impressed with how Inter Miami won the Eastern Conference, he felt their season had to be recognised due to them winning the Supporters’ Shield (the most points across the Eastern and Western Conferences).
That makes a mockery of the MLS play-offs, which ultimately decide who wins the MLS Cup.
Meaning, if any club from America should have been included, it’s LA Galaxy.
If they had Messi, they would have been.
While the Messi brand has thankfully not been enough to get fans to pay over the odds for tickets, he will attract the casual audience.
A Familiar Face
As expected, Jorginho left Arsenal as a free agent to return to Brazil and could make his debut on Tuesday.
It will be emotional for the 33-year-old, who moved to Italy when he was 15, meaning this will be the first time he professionally plays for a Brazilian club, how he always wanted to end his career.
The irony is that his second game will be against Chelsea, the club he won the Champions League with.
As a resident of the UK, opinions vary on the importance of the Club World Cup, but trust me, in South America, it’s massive.
They are proud of their history in that part of the world, so while they don’t have the financial pockets of their European counterparts, they will want to put up a fight.
In the UK you can watch the Club World Cup between Channel 5 and DAZN.
Dan Smith
A cup or pre season tournament where european clubs are fine tuning for the real battles to come and bet the trophy is still europe bound. Shame on FIFA!
Is it though ?
Because something tells me if there wasn’t a tournament in America clubs would just go on tour to …..America lol
Still, massive difference between playing pre-season games friendlies and playing in a 32 team tournament pmsl.
I see zero difference mate
Arsenal are playing Spurs in Singapore for the same reason FIFA are doing this Club World Cup …… 💰
So just as well go for the 100 million
Say you don’t know the difference between a pre-season friendly game and a competitive tournament without actually saying it 😂 pmsl.
There both happening for the same reason mate …… 💰
I can’t say shame on FIFA when clubs are just as bad
No, a pre-season friendly, although brings in a bit of money, is totally different to a competitive tournament. A pre-season friendly is about integrating any new players and getting players match fit.
Your naive mate
Only reason Arsenal are playing in Singapore is 💰
If it were for player welfare they could play the fixture in London and let players sleep at home with families
Look at Man United…..day season was over they go abroad for two friendlies
Last season days after season was over Spurs were playing Newcastle in Australia
It’s all about money
I’m hardly being naive, as I’ve already said that the pre-season friendly will bring in a bit of money 🙄.
Would the fans of the clubs in Singapore come over to England to watch the friendly ? Some may well do, but the vast majority won’t. This is their chance to see the club they are fans of play live.
Your naive if you think that’s why Arsenal are doing that
They are not doing it for the fans
They are not doing it for team bonding
They are not doing it for fitness
They are doing it for commercial reasons
Please tell me what pmsl means HD!!
I’m just pleased that The Arsenal aren’t competing in a competition that might see further injuries to our players and saw clubs rushing to sign players.
Imagine if one of these players got a long term injury!!!
I think that’s a bigger risk than a friendly game.
I think if the priority is to make money in pre season which it is
It’s just as well go for the tournament that gets you 100 million
If City or Chelsea win Club World Cup that only helps them further
Ken, it means piss my self laughing.
I’m also glad that The Arsenal aren’t in it. As well as the fact players could get a serious injury, there is also the case of burn out for the players. This tournament finishes in the middle of July, the players will then have a break and then come back straight into the start of the PL.
Not sure if the FIFA rules will apply for this tournament like they do for a World Cup, as in the World Cup, when a country is knocked out, the players have to have 21 days leave.
Dan,
I agree that clubs would go on tours of America for pre-season. But had this unnecessary money making scam hadn’t been dreamed up, I think the teams would have rested their squad.
I mean apart from Manchester United who did go on a season end tour, I haven’t seen any other team doing it to be fair.
No I kind of agree mate
This was more in response to shame on FIFA
My point is clubs are the same , the priority is money
Didn’t our owners want us to play in the Super League?
I totally agree with you regards the money Dan.
That’s why I always laugh out loud when I hear the club saying how much they love the fans.
Get real, its the colour of your money they love. And there is no merchandise they won’t sell to get their hands on it. Sad but true. 🤷♂️
Exactly
Remember the original plan for the Super League was the ‘ big 6’ to play in that during midweek and still play all other competitions
So was our owners caring about player welfare and burnout then ?
Put it this way
If football said from May – August no football because players need rest but on one condition friendlies can start in middle of July but can’t be outside your country
How many owners would agree to that ?
Derek, but it’s my money to do with as I want.
The club might want to tempt me with all sorts of Arsenal links, but they can’t make me spend my money.
Every business wants one to buy their products and our club is no different.
Step into the Armoury shop and your inundated with all sorts of different merchandise… it’s up to the individual if they buy anything.
Why Dan thinks that our club should be ashamed for doing this, is puzzling.
When did I say I was ashmed?
I just can’t blame FIFA for being motivated by money when the whole sport thinks the same
We can’t blame FIFA for not caring about players welfare and schedules then in the next breath everyone is going outside of Europe for a commercial tour
Ken1945,
I’m not arguing the point that you can’t spend your money in any way that you want to, and yes the club is going to try and sell you whatever they can.
All I’m saying is, don’t believe all this rubbish about them loving the fans. Its their cash they love, and nothing more.
Ask yourself this question, how many times do you hear that the fans are the most important people, their the life blood of the club. And yet who is it that’s treated the worst when it comes to ticket prices, merchandise prices, and the like.
Now while as I said earlier any fan who wishes to spend their money on whatever, its entirely up to them.
But don’t give me that the club always have the fans best interests at heart, because the way the fans are treated fly’s in the face of that statement. 🤷♂️
I’m enjoying it, although it’s poorly attended by US public. A good chance to see some teams that I’ve never before heard of, and likely never will again. TBH, a bit of a failure, but I’m sure that Infantino will keep it going in an expanded format.