Morning all.
Pre-season fixtures seem to be all sorted now. They go like this:
July:
13th – FC Nurnberg (Emirates)
20th – MLS All-Stars. (USA)
22nd – Man Utd (USA)
26th – Barcelona (TBC)
August:
2nd – Monaco (Emirates Cup)
6th – Man City (Charity Shield)
The new season’s fixtures will be announced on Thursday so we’ll soon know who we play and when.
Manchester City will be aiming to become the first English football club to win four titles in a row, meanwhile, every other club will no doubt want to stop that from happening.
There’ll be a winter break between the 12th and 20th January, the usual transfer window which opens 1st January and closes on the 1st February but long before any of that, this summer’s transfer window opens in four days time. Officially anyway.
In September, October and November 2023, there’s a two week break for international football as countries try and qualify for Euros 2024, just as they will next week.
I’m starting to feel sorry for these footballers…… Ok, I’m not really..
Within the last hour, David Ornstein has updated his Twitter account with the news many Arsenal fans will have enjoyed reading I’m sure.
🚨 EXCL: Arsenal have reached agreement with William Saliba over new 4yr contract. 22yo had 12mnths on existing deal but fresh terms will tie him down until at least 2027, amid strong interest from PL + abroad. Now on to paperwork stage @TheAthleticFC #AFC https://t.co/BeUCKqH8zL
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 10, 2023
I know that until Arsenal FC announce a new deal for Saliba, Nelson too, anything can change but I’d much rather be reading a positive update than a negative one. Personally, I think keeping hold of the Frenchman is just as, if not more important than any summer signing we might make. Same with Martinelli and Saka who’ve committed to the club recently.
As for other stories, apparently West Ham are interested in Emile Smith Rowe as part of a Declan Rice deal and we’re interested in Chelsea attacking midfielder/forward Kai Havertz. Havertz wants out of Chelsea so say The Sun etc. Who could blame him eh. 23 years old and 6’ 4” tall is a good start, and who knows what the Arsenal coaching staff could do with him? He might even turn our to be our much needed tall striker.
The joys of a transfer window eh…
Morning Rico and all.
As much as I like ESR and want him to stay, it could be a good deal for everyone, as we get Rice hopefully for a good deal and ESR gets to show everyone how good he is.
Hi Geoff, it’s a big fat no from me re ESR. West Ham can have Vieira though. Lol
Afternoon rico, Geoff. I’d pay 100m for Rice then INSIST they take Viera for free 🙂
Afternoon Andrew, now that’s more like it.
Just get Declan Rice done. As much as I like ESR and think he is a real talent, what position does he actually play?
Keep Balogun and give them Nketiah. Lend Viera to a Championship side so he can work on the more physical side of his game because the talent is already there. Simples😀
I think ESR is a proper number 10.
Tielemans to Villa then..
I thought that I read this a few days ago ,
We’re pleased to confirm that our men’s first team will take on 1. FC Nürnberg as part of a pre-season training camp at adidas HQ in Germany.
As we did last summer, we’ll be facing the 2. Bundesliga side at the Max-Morlock-Stadion on Thursday, July 13, kicking off at 7pm local time.
As for West Ham wanting ESR , who wouldn’t.
I could have got the venue wrong..
Jammy City..
No the website shows us at home but has no ticket details .
Allyou can say about City is that they rode their luck but Inter showed how to play them . Even the best struggle when they are under constant pressure.
As much as I’d like Declan Rice I’d rather hang onto Emile Smith Rowe, but if West Ham fancy Tavares and/or Lokonga in part-ex then that sounds do’able.
I had to laugh at the commentator on BT Sport who was gushing over the Ederson ‘save’ from Lukaku, because it looked as if it was more ball hitting Emerson’s LeG that a save.
And anyway, should a £90m centre-forward miss from a yard out? It was a terrible header from a striker whose been vastly overrated and overpriced for far too long, he’s actually quite average in the striking dept.
Tielemans is a good deal for Villa but I’m glad we didn’t spend mega dough to get him.
I thought Tielemans was out of contract, and there for free.
What about cash and Tierney for Rice
Jamie Carragher claims Arsenal fans should except that this man city side is better than Arsenal’s invincible team. but does mention how many times they breached / broke the FFP rules and got away with slap on the wrist, to win the title.
Tierney wants to go up north to be closer to Scotland, I think he’s been homesick ever since he left Glasgow
Carragher is just being controversial, pundits do this all the time in order to make them relevant.
The Treble has been done twice in the Premier League era, going unbeaten in the league only once, so go figure. Liverpool won a Treble of cups, what does that mean?
It’s a non conversation that goes back would the Romans have beaten the Vikings , nobody knows but it creates a conversation . Two different armies in two different times .
There is no doubt that they are a great team on the pitch and have extra strength on the bench but Inter last night stifled them for most of the match using the tactic that many teams have used against us . They tackled quick and high up the pitch and disrupted City’s passing game .
We can expect to see more of that next season and the Saka , Martinelli tactic of cutting in will be negated by different marking which is why we need more power through the middle.
Ditto Kev re ESR. I can’t see Arteta letting him go unless he pushes to leave. I still think he wasn’t played because the club want him to be fully fit for this coming season. Before his injury, he was in great form.
If other clubs approach City as they often do us, perhaps we’d see City beaten a few more times.
Maybe we should play them that way too , as our present method isn’t working.
Exactly. Nullify them them rather than try and play,
our play more direct and cut down on the backward passes.
What do you think of a Swedish centre-forward from Coventry?
Viktor Gyökeres ? Apparently wanted by Everton , 1metre 86 tall ( 6 foot 1)Swedish international value 15 million euros.21 goals in 49 games in the championship.
Or Balogun 22 goals from 39 games in Ligue 1 in France. Free , no transfer fee but only 1 metre 78 .
Just saying
New post up
Spooky, I’ve just written about another striker linked to us. Didn’t see the Swedish link.