My Arsenal Blog

Les Bleus, aka the French national team, were considered by many to be the clear favourites heading into UEFA Euro 2020 – but for whatever reason, they hadn’t quite been able to get themselves going during the group stage. The hope from their fans was that their fortunes would change in the Round of 16 but last night, they were humbled in a big way when neighbours Switzerland knocked them out of the tournament on penalties.

At the forefront of it all, leading from the word go, was Granit Xhaka.  .......Read more here.....

Nothing succeeds like success, goes the well-known proverb, but a bit of faith and encouragement from one’s manager can’t harm one either. Guendouzi says that talking to Emery about his role within the club was vital, as the coach told him he would have a key role this season. Thus far Arsenal’s midfielder has played in all four Premier League matches from start to end, with the exception of the one against Liverpool, when he was substituted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 86^th minute of the match.  .......Read more here.....

Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny has called time on his international career with France after Les Bleus World Cup triumph ‘did the defender a lot of psychological damage’. The defender also criticised French boss Didier Deschamps.

Confirmation of retirement on French TV

Talking to French TV station Canal+ Koscielny said:  “I think that I have given everything I can for France, I am 33, I have done two Euros, one World Cup,”

“France has a great generation of great players now. My injury does not change my decision. For Les Bleus, it is finished.  .......Read more here.....

Matteo Guendouzi, who joined Arsenal this summer from French second-tier side Lorient, has been a significant revelation so far for the Gunners under Unai Emery, earning his chance with quality displays in pre-season and helped by the departure of Jack Wilshere and Lucas Torreira taking a bit longer to adapt to football life in North London.

He took that chance in a brilliant manner with audaciously inspiring performances at the start of the Premier League season, and according to the Mirror, his form has already sparked interest for two national teams, both of which he is eligible to play for.  .......Read more here.....

Prediction: France win

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: bet365

After one of the most entertaining international tournaments in recent memory, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will finally come to an end tomorrow night at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. France and Croatia are the two teams who have made their way through six gruelling games in order to get to the final, and now, they’re just 90 minutes away from becoming the world champions. Both have what it takes to cross the finish line, but in the end, there can only be one.  .......Read more here.....

Verdict: Belgium win

Best Odds: 21/10

Bookmakers: Bet365

On Tuesday night, France and Belgium go head-to-head in the first semi-finals of World Cup 2018. Both teams have impressed in Russia so far, but only one can make it through to Sunday’s final.

France

France have not hit their top form of yet in Russia. However, Les Bleus have won four of their five matches at World Cup 2018 and shown flashes of quality in the process. After a reasonably comfortable passage from their group, Didier Deschamps side has beaten Argentina and last time defeated Uruguay 2-0 thanks to goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann.  .......Read more here.....

Verdict: France victory

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmakers: Ladbrokes

On Friday afternoon, the first quarter-final of World Cup 2018 takes place, as Uruguay face France in Nizhniy Novgorod. Both teams have been in good form in Russia, so this could be a tight encounter.

Uruguay

Uruguay are on a run of seven straight wins, including winning all four games at the World Cup so far. La Celeste recorded victories in all their group games before beating Portugal 2-1 in the last-16.  .......Read more here.....

Verdict: France win

Best odds:29/20

Bookmakers: Bet365

On Saturday afternoon, France and Argentina clash in the first knockout game of World Cup 2018. The two teams produced highly contrasting displays in the group stages, but will both see the quarter-finals as a realistic aim.

France

France made it through to the knockout stages with very little fuss, beating Australia and Peru, while drawing with Denmark in their final group game. However, there is a sense that Didier Deschamps team are still performing within themselves in Russia.  .......Read more here.....

Prediction: France win

Best Odds: 5/4

Bookmaker: bet365

Group C was viewed as a formality and nothing more at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with France expected to run through the other three teams on their way to the knockout stages. While it’s pretty much worked out that way thus far, there are still a handful of potential twists and turns to come as we approach the final set of fixtures for the group stages. In this game, France will be taking on a Denmark side who are still in with a fantastic chance of qualifying for the Round of 16.  .......Read more here.....

Prediction: Draw

Best Odds: 16/5

Bookmaker: bet365

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is in full swing and while it may not have initially seemed like it at the start of the tournament, Group C is already looking like one of the most entertaining groups of them all – and we’ve only played one set of fixtures thus far. All four teams feel like they’re in with a realistic chance of securing qualification through to the knockout stages in Russia, and while their skill levels certainly vary, the two matches we’ve already seen indicate that France vs Peru could be one of the games of the summer.  .......Read more here.....