One of the most enjoyable times in my career ended today. It has been an honour to wear the Arsenal shirt and I want to thank all the coaches, team-mates, staff and fans around the world for the love and respect they have given me. pic.twitter.com/F5p3VEXX2i
— Sokratis Papastathopoulos (@SokratisPapa5) January 20, 2021
Morning all.
When Arsenal signed Sokratis Papastathopoulos, the team lacked grit, attitude and a bit of naughtiness. He had it all in abundance. He alone couldn’t stop us conceding as many goals as we did but that’d been the case long before he arrived. A likeable guy who hasn’t muttered a word after being left out of this season’s squad and now he leaves having come to agreement with the club to terminate his contract. Some other club will soon snap him up I’m sure and I wish him all the very best wherever he ends up.
It’s frightening though to think about how much money Arsenal have spent on players and their salaries only to see them walk away for free. The worst in recent years has to be Ramsey and Sanchez. I know we got Mikki in return for Sanchez but in many ways that makes it worse. Still, I suppose we as a club sign cheap or free deals too. Mari, Cedric and Willian arrived cheaply or free and two out of three isn’t bad I guess. Martinelli and Guendouzi were cheap too and if the latter could get over himself, he might yet have a future at Arsenal. Even if he doesn’t, I’m sure we’ll make a profit should he be sold. So I guess what goes around comes around in some ways.
What’s important I think is it seems the Arsenal board are backing Mikel Arteta. Kolasinac, Sokratis and Ozil weren’t in his plans and now all three are gone. He’s not been expected to make them fit. Same goes for Torriera and the already mentioned Guendouzi. Gone. Emi Martinez is the odd one but that’s been done to death by now. Slowly, but surely, he’s sorting the squad out and in time, he’ll only have the players he wants. The players who he believes are able to play the game he wants it to be played. That’s what Pep has done at Man City and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. They don’t just sign who is available, they sign specific players for a specific role.
Of course they’ll be occasions when a void has to be filled by a ‘best alternative option’ and I’m sure all football fans understand that but at the start of each season, having two options for each position is a basic requirement in my opinion. Personally, I think we need a midfielder, but Arteta has Willian and Ceballos to call upon if ESR needs a breather, Nelson and Pepe for Saka.
As far as our squad goes, where I think we’re seriously lacking is at left back now Kolasinac has moved on and between the sticks. Mikel Arteta has said the club will probably sign a keeper this month but I hope a left back comes in too.
See you in the comments.
Hi Rico and all, well put Rico,
I have just been watching some of the older retied player at their peak from all clubs and noticed how many could only play in one position then looking at some of the younger kids coming through nothing has changed much. which gets me thinking about the future kids coming through and hoping that our academy are teaching the young kids to play in 2 different positions and practice kicking with both feet instead of being some one who can only play in one position on one side of the field.
Hi Geoff, all.
Quiet day here. The lull before the later storm. 😂
Good post Rico, I reckon your getting the hang of it now….
One player we’ve all forgotten about is Matt Smith, he plays in that pocket between midfield and attack, he’s also a very progressive, intelligent and perceptive passer of the ball who can put his foot in when need be.
He’s spent all season at Swindon Town in League One and plays every week, when I catch some highlights of the Football League and Swindon come on he’s almost always heavily involved in the build up and is often the guy who provides the assist.
Ok it’s only Swindon, but then a year ago it was only Huddersfield for a certain Mr Smith Rowe and he’s done quite well.
Even if Smith isn’t at the elite level of his namesake yet he can, with some encouragement, become a foil for ESR or at worst be cover for him and possibly save us spending a fortune on a new toy. Miguel Azeez is another who’ll be very close to the 1st team squad next season although he’s probably a long term box 2 box replacement for Ceballos and Catalin Cirjan is another who plays the half space who will almost certainly make the League Cup squad next season.
We have so much nascent talent on the verge of the 1st team and it’s why I’m not as enthusiastic as others in bringing in a new attacking midfielder because I think we have the solutions at the club already, they just need a bit of patience and trust from the manager.
Odergaard would be welcome. Lots of untapped quality there.
Ha ha, thanks Kev.
As always, you make a good point about those coming through and I guess patience is required as they do. What concerns me is how much of an impact ESR has made and how average we are without him, Saka and Tierney in the team. What the answer is for when they don’t play is a big problem for Arteta I think. Unless Willian suddenly wakes from his slumber and finds form.
The Arsenal Academy, particularly when Wenger was at Arsenal, couldn’t find and develop any proper centre half’s, it was a mirror of the first team in a way. Now we can’t move for big, robust but talented centre backs at Arsenal, I guess it runs in cycles.
We also have a lot of talented young attacking midfielders, youngsters who could probably see us through the next 8 to 10 years if they are nurtured properly and given the opportunity to develop in and around the 1st team squad.
What we don’t have or have had for awhile now are any defensive midfielders, Akinola is the only one and he was brought in from MK Dons and not from within the Academy. That’s why if Arsenal are going to spend next summer then I’d prefer to see the dwindling funds KSE provide invested in another dynamic defensive midfielder who can complement Partey, you can see the difference already that he can make, imagine if we had a pair of them?
I think our priorities for this window are back-ups for Leno and Tierney. I’ve heard of no suggestions for either position, from the academy or players out on loan.
Over to you Kev.
Yeah, I understand those concerns Rico, I really do, the lack of Tierney on our left flank recently was proof of how thin the talent we have that can make a difference is at Arsenal. So a back up left back for Tierney would make a lot of sense as we don’t have any young quality left backs who will be up to speed for a couple of years, so yeah, where we are weak in numbers it’s makes sense to strengthen.
Odergaard would be great on loan, it would take him a month to settle and then he could be a real benefit to us as we approach the sharp end of the season, but I think Adam that he wants Real Betis and if Zidane gets the sack I doubt that Madrid will sell him.
Ceballos could surely do a job Rico as cover for Smith Rowe, he can flit about doing the old give and goes in the half space and as we don’t (hopefully) need him anymore in defensive mid he’s free to play further up field where he has the technique to play.
I agree with you Cicero, left back and goalkeeper, absolutely mate, focus on where we’re really weak in the squad
Cicero, we have a young Spanish left back by the name of Lopez in the Academy, he’s still a good 18 months away but he’s highly thought of in the Academy, I’m sure that Rick would confer. Other than him we’re thin on the ground in that position.
We’ve got quite a few goalkeepers Cicero, you’ll know the names, but nobody seems to be banging on the door, Okonkwo probably.
I’m for loans this month Kev, even the keeper, especially if an option to buy is included.
There’s Bola Cicero, he’s a left back but what Arteta thinks of him I pave no idea.
Agree on Ceballos Kev. Partey too.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1387166/Arsenal-transfer-news-Martin-Odegaard-Real-Madrid-loan
Arteta’s comments on signings:
“We’ve done the first part [shedding players] more or less and now we are focusing on the second phase. Obviously, this market and the context make it really difficult but we are looking at options and we will see what we can do.”We are looking at various positions because the movements we’ve made in this transfer window, with some players leaving the club, leave us a little bit short in certain areas,” he said. He confirmed he is looking for cover for Kieran Tierney
It’s funny that regardless of the result tonight, Liverpool will remain 4th.
Nice one, Rico! I agree with you – LB and GK desperately – 11 days to go. Things seem to be heating up with regards to that Òdegaard fella..
Come on Burnley! It’s tight at the top and I’m sooooo glad the scousers aren’t running away with it this time!
The U23s are back in action tomorrow night. Norton-Cuffy tweeted saying Sokratis helped him a lot this season.. good old Papa 🙂👍
Grab Matt Ryan!
Terrific keeper and won’t cost the earth.
Thanks Sue, there’s still a chance for us yet. 😆
But he’s an Aussie Scott. 😜
Rico, the women’s side are going Aussie, the men should learn hahahahaha
Haha Scott. Seriously though, is Ryan good? He’s at Burnley isn’t he?
Not a bad shout, Scott… at 28 at least he isn’t an oap 😂
5/6 years in him yet. 28 is mere baby in keeping years. Lol
Whichever keep we get, I hope he’s ready to challenge Leno.
Very true, Rico! Reports are saying Brighton will allow him to leave and want 10m… can we afford that? Installments? 😄
Leno is apparently in talks over a new deal – spot on!
Ah, he’s at Brighton, not Burnley. Silly me Sue.
I like the sound of the Newcastle guy.
Yes defo potential there hey? Be interesting to see how it pans out. One thing’s for sure though I do really feel for Runarsson, poor sod! Hope he gets a loan, his confidence must be rock bottom atm.. I actually thought he had some decent moments in the EL..
Saw this on Twitter:
Watching #LFC at the moment is like watching the Walking Dead. You keep watching to see if it gets any better
😂😂
Ryan has PL experience and wouldn’t place demands on the club imo
He’d do a fantastic job for us.
Thank you Burnley 😂😂😂😂😂😂 I still feel pig sick after we lost to them, but tonight has made me feel so much better!!!
4 year unbeaten home run ended…. to Burnley!! You couldn’t make it up! Love it
Scott their was a story only a couple of weeks ago were Matt Ryan name was mentioned and the reporter said he would be at arsenal and he would give Leno a run for his money.
So how’s that dog of your going
Geoff, she broke down last night when about to win.
Tore ligaments from the hock.
Retired now from racing but I’m already getting message after message from potential pup buyers!
Good Morning Everyone.
Sorry to spoil your wish Scott, but honestly I prefer Freddie Woodman to Ryan. Simply because he is English, homegrown, does not qualify as an English Citizen, is younger, is taller and has a better command of the box than Ryan.
Due to Brexit, the terms and conditions of transfer has changed a lot in the UK. So one has to put in a lot of reasoning behind any player bought. That is why atm I do not want any of AMN, Willock, Nelson and Nketiah to be sold. Because of the criteria that will soon hit UK football teams.
I will make a prediction here. A few years down the line the EPL will lose the majority of football stars that ply their trade in it. And with that the TV exposure will get less and maybe also billionaires like Kroenke, Abramovich etc will soon have to sell their clubs simply because they are not getting enough exposure like before and that means loss of revenue for them. For now things will remain the same, but since the UK is no longer in the EU that means that the FA cannot be taken to European court by any player since now they no one can challenge them if they impose a limit on players who are not UK residents, holders of passports etc.
So Woodman for me all the way.
Atm the English FA have to respect the contracts signed by the clubs with their players. But soon enough those who left or are leaving….Ozil, Sokratis, Mustafi, Kolasinac etc might not be replaced with a player who does not hold a British passport, is not homegrown etc. This season will remain as it is….hence Odegaard might replace one of them. However there is nothing to stop the FA from imposing certain rules from next season.
Morning Devil,
Ryan isn’t my wish mate, just a good and feasible option imo
He’d do a great job for us.
I know very little of Woodman so can’t compare notes.
I know nothing about Woodman either. He certainly has things going for him re his age, height, nationality etc etc, but is he good enough to challenge Leno? No idea.
New post up now.
Morning all.
Post is not showing Rico. And neither on Newsnow