Arsenal boy returns, Calafiori moves closer.

Morning all.

Arsenal played Leyton Orient yesterday at London Colney behind closed doors. Mikel Arteta’s side won the game but scoreline are irrelevant at this stage of the summer. Now is about minutes for players as they strive to get match fit for the start of the 2024/25 season.

Here’s how Arsenal lined up and what changes were made.

Arsenal XI: Hein (Nygaard 70), White (Rosiak 60), Timber (Rekik 46), Heaven (Monlouis 60), Lewis-Skelly (Nichols 60), Partey (Patino 46), Odegaard (Gower 60), Nelson (Nwaneri 60), Vieira (Smith-Rowe 46), Jesus (Salah Oulad-M’hand 60), Nketiah (Sagoe Jr 60).

Nice to see a number of academy players involved but that was always going to be likely with a number of players yet to return to training. Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe scored Arsenal’s goals.

The squad and staff head off to the USA today for three friendly fixtures and I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering who will make the trip. Heaven, Nwaneri, Hein and Nygaard are likely in my opinion, possibly Patino too. Hopefully a few more will join them and take full advantage of any playing opportunities they might get.

David Ornstein has written in The Athletic that Arsenal are accelerating their efforts to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori. Arsenal are now progressing the situation and looking to complete a deal for the 22-year-old as soon as possible, with other clubs looking for a similar profile this summer.

Still, until it’s official, it’s unofficial despite the headlines on NewsNow suggesting otherwise.

What is official, at least from the man involved in the move is that Colin Kazim-Richards, ex Arsenal academy player, has returned to the club where he’ll join the academy coaching team.

I am delighted to announce that I have officially joined the Arsenal Academy coaching staff  he tweeted. It is an honour to join a club so renowned for its dedication to excellence and development.

I think it’s fair to say that the academy hasn’t really worked in recent years but when you think of some of the players who’ve left since Mikel Arteta arrived, many were at the club long before he or Per Mertesacker were part of the club in their now roles in 2019 and 2018 respectively.

In some ways it’s no different to the first team squad in as far as it’s being shaped for the future. We can’t blame either Mertesacker or Arteta for letting players go who either or both truly believe won’t make the grade for Arsenal. Yes, it’s a shame so many leave for free or even turn the club down in search of what they perceive to be a better opportunity but it’s not just Arsenal FC who this happens to. I suspect if we trawled through our academy players past and present, a lot would have started out somewhere other than Arsenal. Even Tyreece John-Jules started out at Charlton. (That one’s for you Kev) Eddie Nketiah started at Chelsea yet if he’s sold, it’s Arsenal who’ll make a profit.

Anyway, let’s hope the younger players coming through now show a bit more ability and personality and maybe, just maybe, one or two might soon be doing something for the first team other than occupying a place on the bench.

Catch up in the comments.