Morning all.
Mikel Arteta and his squad should have been jetting off to America today, however, due to Covid, the mini tour has been cancelled. In an official announcement made by the club, they said:
Following a small number of positive COVID tests among the planned party to travel to America tomorrow, we have sadly been forced to withdraw from the Florida Cup. This difficult decision is based on ensuring the health and wellbeing of our players and staff.
We are glad to say the members of staff are not currently displaying any COVID symptoms. They are now in self-isolation at home. We are now making alternative arrangements in line with the Premier League protocols to continue our preparations for the new season.
Disappointing for all involved I’m sure but this cancellation is hardly surprising with the way Covid cases are rising in this country. Financially, it’s not great for the club I suppose but health is more important.
This cancelled tour leaves the club with just two pre season fixtures, Chelsea and Toots which is far from ideal preparation for the new campaign but as said in the statement from the club, other friendly fixtures will hopefully be arranged. Maybe Arsenal can still play both Everton and Inter Milan just at a different location. We’ll see.
The transfer stuff rumbles on with all kinds or speculation about what Arsenal will do before the 2nd September arrives.
Sky Sports Paper Talk:
- Chelsea are prepared to let Tammy Abraham join Arsenal on loan to speed through a deal. (The Sun)
- Arsenal could offer fringe players Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Leicester City as part of an offer for James Maddison. (The Mail)
- Arsenal have emerged as favourites to sign Jordan Henderson, should stalled contract talks with Liverpool end in him leaving the club as early as this summer. (The Star)
- Lyon have increased their asking price for Houssem Aouar, who is a possible target for multiple Premier League clubs including Liverpool, to in excess of £25m. (Express)
The Abraham to Arsenal on loan suggestion is a good one for both clubs. Just because Tuchel might not think he’s right for his team, it doesn’t mean he couldn’t succeed under a different manager. Mikel Arteta might be that man. The Jordan Henderson rumour is a non starter in my opinion. He’s 31.
AMN and Reiss Nelson to Leicester in exchange for James Maddison?
Great Britain have just gone 1-0 up against Chile in Tokyo thanks to Ellen White.
See you in the comments…
Morning Gooners, morning Rico, Tokyo? Is that the Olympics? It had passed me by.
But then a lot of things seem to pass me by these days.
I really like Reiss Nelson and think that he should have been used more, he’s got a lot of talent but for some reason we’ve not seen the best of him enough.
The clubs fault? The managers fault? The players fault?
A combination of all three I reckon.
Good morning Rico, Kev.
Madison is a no no for me. He’s nothing special and would just be another barrier to the progress of our younger players. I’d certainly rather keep Reiss Nelson than bring in Madison. Selling AMN would generate a few quid and free up a squad number.
I’ve been sitting in the garden since eight this morning but have come inside for breakfast and will be keeping to the shade for the rest of the day, it’s already in the mid twenties. I’ll be going for a swim in an hour. Enjoy the day if you’re working Kev. 😉
Morning Cicero, enjoy your breakfast, not working today mate, the heat knocks you out so a day to recover, off out to do some shopping and then visit a good friend and try to cheer him up as he gets very grumpy these days.
But then so do I…
Mixed feelings about Maddison but if the price is right then do it.
I must confess that I’d prefer Locatelli.
Morning Kev, Cicero, all.
Yep, it’s the Olympics, Martinelli will be in action at some stage.
Say hello to Adam Kev. 😂
I would add the fans fault as well , .
If you read around fan’s forums you get any number of comments about buying for the future and wanting ready made players to step straight in . Unfortunately players like Nelson fall into the same trap . Without doubt he is a talent that needs developing and as today’s post is all about questions ,lets ask another
Nelson has played in part in 36 first team games and so far he has scored twice .
Pepe in his first season played 37 games scoring seven , in the subsequent period he has further played another 45 matches and scored 8 more .
Who can say that given the same playing time Nelson would not have developed at a similar rate ?.
Nelson has cost us what we have paid him from an early age , whereas Pepe cost us 72 million plus wages around 7 million a year.
Morning all, been a while.
AMN for Maddison I wouldn’t mind, but i’d like to keep hold of Nelson, I think he’s got great potential.
I cant say I am excited in any way about Locatelli.
Hopefully we can schedule some last minute pre season games after the US tour got cancelled.
Kev , I am afraid that Locatelli wants to go to Juventus . For years Juve has been the pinnacle of Italian ambition . if we are to get |Locatelli it will be a stepping stone to his desire to go back eventually.
Morning Rico and all
If Arteta really wants to do the swap then why not, it just means Arteta doesn’t see them in his game plan so why keep them.
I’d have much rather seen Nelson given the same chance Pepe has been given. The latter has been quite poor imo yet still played. Odd decision making I think.
Bumba, Thankfully, he wants to move to Juve.
Talking of which, I read a Juve post on Twitter which says they are letting Ramsey leave on loan.
Morning Geoff. I guess much depends on what happens with the right back situation. If AMN had an ounce of common sense, he’d make that position his.
Rico, he could make it his own and have a fantastic career.
Sometimes it’s best to put ego aside and run with it.
Perhaps not having the best of times at West Brom Scott, AMN might have a change of view. Especially are what big Sam said. For him I think it should be about one thing, is playing in midfield more important than playing for Arsenal.
Morming rico, House, probably worth swooping for whoever Arteta wishes, as they not seemingly in his plans. What went wrong for Nelson I don’t not know. Still remember that pre season tournament about 4 years ago where he looked so promising. Can’t blame Locatelli wanting Juventus or Champ league football, that’s a good trait, ambitious. If we were in Champions League and a player chose a club who weren’t, we would say fool, he’s only going for the money.
Exactly, and he has the capacity to make a good career at RB imo
Morning Andrew, being Italian, one would expect him to want Juve. Can’t say I’m bothered really. I hope Nelson succeeds wherever he ends up.
rico, I want defenders who throw their body on the line, grew up with the Butchers and Adams’s. Not someone who ducks on the goal line😃, then gives a shrug. Hopefully, White is the answer to our right sided CB or fullback.
You’re asking for a lot Andrew. 😂
I know what you mean but with a kick up the jacksie, he can put that right. Saying that, I think he’ll be gone this summer.
He seemed to show he had the ability, then got the England call. Again, he hasn’t impressed the right people, so you do wonder. A waste if he doesn’t step up, I agree.
Good Afternoooooooonnnn Rico and all
AMN + NELSON for Maddisson??? an absolute no imo, I want to keep them both. As both are technically good and given the chance they can cement their place and stay in the team.
Abraham??? yes but I prefer DCL
Jordan Henderson?? no thanks
I do like Maddison actually. But not at the expense of two of our products who can have a good impact, especially Nelson, if given a good chance. AMN is a different proposition….I feel if he wants he can make the RB spot his own. He should not be so stubborn.
Doesn’t help being in and out of the team I guess Andrew.
Afternoon Devil.
Chile’s women’s team looks like Arsenal.
How many Arsenal players are in the national team?
Hi Rico.. Miedema scored 4 in a 10-3 win over Zambia!
Afternoon Rico and the House.
It is a massive NO from me .
I had the privilege of watching Reiss play for England Schoolboys many years(?)
ago and have been one of his biggest fans eversince.
He was head and shoulders above every one else in that match and in a lot of matches i have seen him play since then.
So what has gone wrong for him.
The very first match in the 2017-2018 season was the season started his decline
Up till then Reiss had played in the No 10 roll similar to what Willian is playing now.
But in that match the un 23 coach played him at R/B and later on in the season
he would play him one game R/Wing the next game L/Wing
The boys won the league that season mainly through the goals the Reiss and Eddy scored
I seem to remember exchanging comments with Ginge(where is he) about Reiss and I
beleive that if Fred was still on the house he would back me up.
JM
There 4 Arsenal players in G/B team
3in Assies team 2 in Dutch and I playing for ths hosts (Japan)
Hi Sue, how many? Lol
Evening Rick, who was that coach?
Adam was fine Rico, we had a splendid lunch in some very posh tea rooms, you would have felt very much at home. 😀
The heat is really draining, working tomorrow but thinking seriously about going out later and do the late shift when it cools down.
Well that’s the narrative Potter and yes playing for Juve for an Italian is like any Spaniard outside of Catalonia wanting to play for Madrid or any German wanting to play for Bayern.
But money talks and foreign players have often moved to Arsenal and found that the club gets into their blood, so until he signs for the Old Lady I’ll hold out some hope.
Oh, and money talks!
It looks as though Villa have given up the chase for ESR and have turned to Todd Cantwell from Norwich City instead.
Hi Cicero, they were dreaming.
If they were serious, or living in the real world, their first bid would’ve been 50 plus million.
Good morning everyone
Kev…..if the heat up there is draining you (and its not more than 31 degrees max) then what if you come here?? With temperatures around 39-42 you will find yourself taking part in the next zombie blockbuster. We are frying here. lol
The fact that its being reported that Arsenal want Maddison, Ramsdale, Aarons, and one of Abrahm/DCL does it mean that Arteta has realized that to get refs onside is to fill the side with Englishmen and also the fact that communication goes better??? We already have a good number of English players in the side…..Holding, Saka, ESR, etc. What are your opinions on this matter?
Devil, I think he knows what we’ve all known for years-you must spend to win.
It’s unfortunate, but true.
Shame it’s taken so long but lets enjoy it now.
Me and tea rooms go hand in hand Kev. 😂
Morning all.
Not sure I wholeheartedly agree with that theory Devil, it’s not being English, it’s playing for Arsenal imo. Saka gets kicked to pieces in some fixtures yet the officials let a lot go.
I also don’t think the game is about spending lots of money. What’s crucial imo is how that money is spent and on who. Look at the Pepe deal, Arsenal could have bought two players for that money, two players who’d have made the team/squad more competitive and instead, given Nelson more game time.
Morning Rico. The Reiss Nelson thing is interesting and I think we should listen to Rick here as he knows the extent and more importantly, the depth of the boy’s talent. I’ve only really seen him flitting in and out making cameo appearances so, although he’s obviously talented, I have no real idea of his potential based on what I have seen..
One would hope that Mikel and Edu understand him better than I do.
Morning Adam, I’m of the same opinion re Nelson. Until he’s given a run in the team, how does anyone really know what he can bring to our game.
if Nelson can bring in an ounce more than Willian he surely merits a good run. Just an ounce.
That wouldn’t be hard to accomplish! Even Gunnersaurus could bring an ounce more 😂
Hasn’t even been with us a year and already wants to leave. Been an absolute disaster/waste of money! Move him on (if possible!) and don’t ever go pensioner shopping in West London ever again!
I’m a Nelson fan, have been since seeing him here in Oz, but we don’t know what happens away from what we see on the pitch.
Is there any word of off field issues?
100% agree Sue.
None that I have heard Scott, He had some twitter problems some time ago , but that all seems to have settled and he stasyed with Arsenal against Arteta’s wishes to get him a loan last season.
Other than that Nothing obvious.
Fair enough, Potter.
I’m with most-I’d like to see him get his chance.
Morning Gooners, it’s too hot out and I’m not killing myself so I’m staying home, always plenty to do at home. DG I can’t even begin to imagine the temps you have, it’s probably why I don’t holiday abroad and never have.
Rico, you would’ve loved it, very genteel with a great selection of pastries and cakes.
Cicero, Todd Cantwell is a smart move, he could quite easily be another Maddison, in fact unless there’s some off-field or injury issues I’m a bit surprised he wasn’t snapped up when Norwich went down last time?
Cookies Kev, I’m a cookie fan. In fact I’ve just baked some. 😂
Nice to see France getting a pasting in the football… Mexico have a few good youngsters..
Aaron Ramsdale seems to be dividing opinion with most opining that they don’t want him – although an increasing number of Arsenal fans are never satisfied with anything these days – yet I’ve listened to a couple of sensible podcasts featuring him and they’ve both been very positive in their praise of the young Englishman.
I don’t have any strong feelings either way. I like Leno but have always thought of him more in the John Lukic class in ability rather than David Seaman, that is he’s good but not top drawer.
As far as Ramsdale is concerned I kinda see him as good but I’m not sure how good – or how good he could be in a good side. I remember watching Seaman in goal for QPR before we got him and he was outstanding, I’ve not seen that in Ramsdale.
Yet Ramsdale was the Sheffield United fans’ player of the year for last season when the Blades went down so he made a good impression with that miserable lot. The fee being suggested for him is quite high but if Arsenal can get around £20m for Leno then we’ve got a younger, English goalkeeper to replace the German for about £10m net?
I’m on my way Rico, put the kettle on… 😉
Norwich have a good academy and their youth teams are bought up to play stylish football. I know a few boys that have been there and they all seems to come out after their time with a good attitude to life and football in general.
Before I stopped coaching my village team we had a keeper and a full back that went there , the keeper was offered terms at Spurs but wouldn’t go because it was London and he didn’t want to leave home . Shame he had the ability.
Cold drinks only Kev. 😆
Ditto re Ramsdale, but he’s still young and with a good defence in front of him, his confidence and performances could soon improve. He must be signing as our number one if he arrives surely because imo, clubs don’t pay that much for a second keeper. Villa didn’t pay that for Martinez, a deal which looks more stupid by the day.
Morning Rico and All
VAR strikes again Boca juniors team reported apparently the VAR turned down one of the goals sending the match to penalties, Boca lost on penalties and were out of the Copa Libertadores cup ( sounds like the last round of the 16 teams left ) so they tried to brake into the ref change rooms throwing metal rails and fire extinguisher and then punched on with police.
Warm drinks are better in heat which is why most Arab And Asian people drink herbal teas . As they are non alcoholic and the body doesn’t compensate for the coldness by retaining heat..
Science class over .
A cold beer or two in the evening is nice though.
I’m not particularly overwhelmed by either Ramsdale or Johnstone that we appear to be getting links for , Neither to me are ready made and I have no faith in our goalkeeping coaches to make them better.
Every keeper that has left since Seaman has said that our coaching is poor .
I would have given Ryan a go
I’m amazed Ryan wasn’t kept.
G’day all. Hey Kev too hot to work? What sort of cab do you operate, a cycle rickshaw? Don’t you have air-con in your taxi? Time to man up and support the British economy, get back to work and help pay my pension. 😉
Support my pension Cicero, I’m like all the wokeists, it’s all about me, me and me.
The air-con isn’t working mate and it was like being in a slow cooker the other day. Cooler tomorrow and the weekend so I’ll do a bit then and if I’ve got any left over I’ll pop it into your pot Cicero. 😄
As for cycle rickshaws blasting out mind numbing pop music or e-scooters who make cyclist seem almost responsible, almost and of course pedestrians with ear pods or on social media who just love to gaily stroll into the road and into the path of a Boris bus, well I don’t miss any other those numbskulls so I’m off down the High St to get some Nippon to attack the ants in my garden. 😎
Afternoon Geoff. That all sounds a bit extreme.
I suspect Ryan wanted to be somebody’s number one..
Australia 2, Argentina 0.
Argentina played as Argentina do-fall over at the drop of a hat, cynically and systematically foul, and its funny how commentators say he’s letting ole ty go when all he’s actually doing is ignore if the diving pricks.
Loved it.
Australia have a behemoth of a centre back back called Harry Souttar who’s at Stoke.
Apparently they’ve knocked back 20 million for him and honestly, I can see why.
6 foot 8, good physique and gets around the pitch well.
Very impressive, but he wasn’t the only one to do well.
Let’s hope these kids go in with it.
Sorry, 6 foot 6, the midget lol
Dani Ceballes injuried at Olympic games photo of his Ankle looking like a balloon hope none of our players get injured
You men and your measurements Scott. 😂
Harsh, Rico.
Fair, but harsh hahahaha
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1418209251223248898?s=20
The news we’ve all been waiting for 🥳
ESR signed number 10.
Up yours Villa 😀😀
Excellent news re ESR…
Haha Rico 😜
The Emirates is 15 years old today… doesn’t time fly?
ESR10.
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
now we need to give the number 11 to someone.
Who do you want it to b
I will dare say Pepe or Martinelli
Really? It seems like only yesterday we moved to The Emirates. It’s not been very kind to us..
Willian 😅
Great news about ESR 👍 , long term contract and the number ten shirt. Should be regular starter. I can’t wait to see him play.
Did anyone watch The Hundred last night, I saw the build up and the first ten balls. Attracting a new younger audience, introducing new fans to the game, getting the game over earlier than the Crash, Bang, Wallop of T 20 so the kiddies can get to bed earlier. Those are the stated aims behind the format. All a load of old B******s. A way to milk the public and line the pockets of the cricketing establishment.
The daftest thing last night was the pre-match firework display. six o’clock on a sunny July evening, hardly the best time to watch fireworks. Whoever thought up that idea must have a minus sign in front of his IQ number.
Give the No.11 to Taylor Hart
Kev/Rick, do you know if any of the under 23 players are being promoted this summer, other than Balogun?
a report in Italy claims Willian risks becoming a ‘prisoner’ at Arsenal, which is a bit far fetched as I’m fairly sure he doesn’t have to p*ss in a bucket. He’d probably miss if he did.
Made me chuckle.
From the snippets that I’ve seen Rico, only Balogun like you say and Okonkwo have been brought into the senior squad, Ballard and Matt Smith have gone on loan already with the likes of Moller, John Jules, Olayinka, Swanson and Cottrell set to join them – also a few others who on the face of it aren’t gonna make it anyway like Lewis.
Rekik, Harry Clarke and Azeez will probably stay up until January and if by then their chances have fallen away then they’ll probably go on loan as well.
There’s a whole crop of 17/18 year olds stepping up to the U23’s this season, kids like Patino, Flores, Bandeira, Salah Eddine, Hutchison, Ideho, Kirk, Foran, Henry Francis and Monlouis who’ll all be pushing slightly older youngsters like Cirjan, Taylor Hart, Norton Cuffy, Awe etc for game time in the U23’s and who aren’t probably quite ready for a loan.
I’m sure I’ve missed a few but I’ve named most of the best ones and with only the League Cup for them to get exposure it’s going to be a difficult balancing act keeping them all happy and trying to give them game time – I’m glad it’s not my job to decide who gets a chance and who doesn’t…
Willian is showing all the signs of becoming the next Mesut Ozil, that is hanging around like a bad smell – his agent isn’t Dr Sogut by any chance is it?
Evening Rico and the HouseJust a short visit to catch up.
We have just returned from a great day out with our daughter and son- in-law
Spent the day at The Pig hotel at Bridge Place nr Canterbury
It was very busy with everyone keeping to the rules Masks ect.
This was our first time together (outside) since Feb last year so you can understand
we we really enjured it.
Day got even better on hearing the ESR news just hope it shuts the Villa fans up.
Rico at the moment I do not know if any more u23 players will be promoted this year.
But saying that I would be over the moon to hear that Taylor Hart had signed his contract
and that have given him the 11 shirt just as Kev has told them to.
The Coach was the one who was sacked at the end of that season. Rico (Gatting)
Should have happened before that
C U latter
Saka, Balogun and ESR.
All part of our future, and all buying into what Arteta is creating.
Thinks look great.
Xhaka could be gone in next 24 hours.
Let’s hope so mate/
It’s time..
Hi Rick, sounds like you both enjoyed your first day of freedom. Must have felt good to be out and about.
Thanks re the update on the U23’s, I had a feeling you’d say it was Gatting.
Kev, do think Okonkwo will remain with the squad or go out on loan? This is when not being in the Europa League hurts us I think. It’s great we have so many younger players coming through, even if only one in three prove to be good enough, going forward, Arsenal are in a good place.
It did me too Potter. Lol
Kane heading to City for £160m. Doesn’t this prove that the transfer market has gone mad?
Plus 400k a week wages, Rico. And there’s still talk of Grealish joining… woah! Crazy!
New post up now
It’s ridiculous Sue.