Morning all.
A year ago, Reiss Nelson was involved in Arsenal’s pre-season but by the end of the summer, he was out on loan. Yesterday, he started our first friendly match, a behind closed doors 3-0 defeat of MK Dons. Poor old Reiss seems to have been hanging around at Arsenal for years with no club prepared to take a chance on him permanently. His contract expires next summer so I’d imagine Arsenal will try and sell him again this summer. Assuming of course that Mikel Arteta doesn’t fancy giving the now 26 year old one final opportunity. If squad numbers permit of course. Nelson, Ethan Nwaneri and 18 year old Ceadach O’Neill scored our goals yesterday whilst new signing Christos Tzolis grabbed his first assist in Arsenal colours. As expected this summer, Arteta used a lot of academy players during the game because he has no choice. Just nine senior players were involved in yesterday’s game and I include Nwaneri and Nelson in those numbers.
Arsenal first half XI: Kepa, Copley, Mosquera, Salmon, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Nelson, Dowman, Tzolis, Jesus
Arsenal second half XI: Kepa, (Meslier 59), Ogunnaike, Salmon (Julienne 59), Clarke, Copley (Washington 59), Ibrahim, Agustien, O’Neill, Harriman-Annous, Kabia, Mooney
What’s interesting in my opinion is the second half eleven who not only stood up to League One side MK Dons but scored against them too so despite it being pre-season, any younger players going out on loan, should in theory be going to clubs at that level. At least that’s how my head is working. I don’t think Arsenal’s loan deals have always been very good, admittedly much is down to the player to prove himself to whichever manager takes him on loan but there’s no point whatsoever going to a club which really has little intention of giving him a chance.
Pre-season fixtures are irrelevant of course as far as the result goes as yesterday’s match and the next few friendlies are about shaking off any rustiness and getting match fit for the new season and new signings getting used to their new teammates and Arteta’s style of football. Err, that’ll be Tzolis and Meslier then!
Our next pre-season fixture is on Saturday evening against Girona at their Estadi Montilivi Stadium in Catalonia and it kicks off at 7pm Uk time. Arsenal.com are showing all our pre-season fixtures for £9.99 if you get in early.
I wonder if Arsenal will have signed Vinicius Jnr by then? Yes, of course I jest because despite David Ornstein running the story about how Arsenal are looking to see if his signing is a possibility, it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever, other than the fact he might want to get away from Mourinho. His wages at Real Madrid are reported to be a staggering £350-400k a week and in any case, he’d come with a big ego as well as a lot of baggage which has widely been reported in the media..
Catch up later…
That’s the one I saw, clearly I was looking on the wrong social media website. Thanks. Hope it’s true.
Found this on Facebook , CLARITY ON RUMOURS AND SPECULATIONS – IAN WRIGHT SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT
lan Wright: “Viktor Gyokeres isn’t going anywhere, Arsenal can’t do that business of swapping players. Today Arsenal launched their new kits, l managed to talk to Mikel Arteta about the speculation of swapping Viktor with Julian Alvarez .
He bought the energy and power to make sure Arsenal kept on going. He was our best signing of the season last year.
Viktor Gyokeres sacrifice lot for this beautiful Club, the relationship ended because he wanted to come to Arsenal, he gave his entire life to be Arsenal player.
Nobody will swap Viktor for sure, we still need him comes next season , we want more from him, this is just the beginning of Viktor l know.
He is a goal machine and l think come next season he will be the top scorer. He is here to stay and be one of the greatest club legends in this club history.”
Ha ha Kev, no wonder I was struggling. I think it was a comment left on a parody account as I can’t find it..
Rico, if you can’t find it on Twitter have a look on X…
I’ll take a look on Teletext…
Potter, it was on Twitter, I’ll try and find it.
I hope so Limey, whoever put the story out must be sat having a right old laugh. I haven’t gotten over us signing Ozil yet, don’t need another like him regardless of how good he might be.
Afternoon Cicero, all.
I don’t want us to sign Vinicius or Alvarez either. Nor Williams for that matter.
Like everyone else on here I can’t see any logic in the Vini jr story and I am pretty confident that along with Alvarez I don’t want him.Today the Nico Williams alternative has reared it’s head again but seriously do we want a Madueke play a like on the left too. ?
Afternoon all,
The chances of us signing Vinicius Jnr must be close to zero,that’s why I’m a little surprised David Ornstein has reported the story. So many reasons – the money he would want,lots of other players would be expecting a payrise – it would end up costing the club a fortune.
Also he’s not an Arteta sort of player,the definition of a big time Charlie.
Hopefully the club have put this story out (with help from his agent probably) and they are working on realistic targets right now.
Signing Vinicius is a load of old cobblers. £100+million, £400k a week? where would that leave players like Rice and Timber who are due new upgraded contracts our wage bill would sky-rocket. Sustainable? I don’t think so!
Another test
G’day Rico, just testing.
Where did you see the Wrighty / Gyokeres comment ?