Morning all.
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya returned to Arsenal yesterday and back training with the rest of the group. In less than two weeks time, the 2024/25 season kicks off.
In just over three weeks time, the transfer window closes and so far, other than making the David Raya deal permanent, Arsenal have added just one player to the first team squad. Aston Villa have made a staggering eleven signings, Southampton have added fourteen new players to their promotion winning squad and Ipswich have snapped up eight. Liverpool however are yet to sign a single player, Man City have signed just one player whilst Man Utd have added four players to their squad. Totts are on five and Chelsea eight although I’m sure the latter’s numbers will increase before the end of August.
Numbers mean nothing though because it’s who a club signs which matters rather than how many. Quality over quantity and what Arsenal needed this summer was definitely the latter and it still is.
Mikel Arteta said himself that ideally, any new signings would have been through the door as soon as the transfer window opened but that’s not always easy to do. ‘Other clubs have managed it’ – something I’ve read in comments sections of social media but if one was to take a look at the players who’ve moved to or around the Premier League so far this summer, are there any who would make this current Arsenal squad better than it already is? I’ve had a quick look and I’ve no idea who most of them are. Not that that means much I know.
I’m quietly confident that had Arsenal gone for two players I do know in Zirkzee and Onana, they’d have been through the door by now but, clearly, neither were on Arsenal’s radar. Players who you or I might think are perfect for Arsenal aren’t likely to be on the clubs radar either. On numerous occasions I read things like “he’d be perfect for Arsenal” – but then a year later were more likely to be talking about how glad we were that Arsenal never signed him. I’m not trying to suggest Edu, Arteta etc are perfect because they’re not, but they’re getting transfer decisions right more often than wrong. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira might be today’s marmite players but only one of the three has been a disaster signing in my opinion. So far at least but that’s not to say I’d shed a tear if the other two were sold.
Merino is one of a number of players linked to Arsenal this summer and there’s even been speculation that he’s already agreed to join Arsenal if they and Real Sociedad can agree a fee. Like our returning players, he should be back with his club today so if this move really is going to go through, it could be imminent.
Sky Sports have an article about him in which people who know the player well, talk about his qualities. Basically, if he arrives, we’ll be getting a very good player.
Merino’s footballing upbringing took place in a region of Spain, Navarra, which borders Mikel Arteta’s native Basque Country and shares many of the same sporting principles. Miguel Flaño, a former team-mate at his boyhood club Osasuna told Sky Sports:
An Osasuna player is typically a hard-working, competitive profile. We might not necessarily be brilliant players who stand out, but we are humble, reliable and consistent, and that generally ends up paying off in the long run. Mikel has those qualities but, of course, the other important thing is that he is brilliant as well.
I think Arteta transmits the same things in the way he addresses the press and some of the comments he makes. You can feel that he really likes those kind of players, hard-workers who get around the pitch, who have passion, who are not showy or flashy but know how to compete and take care of the details.
I think Flano is right. Showy and flashy isn’t Arsenal these days but hard work, passion and competitiveness is.
Catch up in the comments…
G’day Rico.
Having signed a new striker, Zirkzee, Manchester United are now worse of for goal scorers than they were at the end of last season. Rasmus Hojlund is out of action for a month at least with a hamstring injury and Zirkzee, according to ten Hag, is not ready to play in the Premiership and has trained only once since joining. Ten Hag has said he does not want to play Rashford centrally and is more likely to play a midfielder as a number nine rather than the ex-England striker.
I’m happy that we are more discerning than clubs that are rushing to buy numbers rather than quality. Arteta/Edu will not be rampaging, like kids in a sweet shop, snapping up anything on sale that they can just about afford regardless of how they will fit into their new club’s system.
I’m happy that we have signed Calafiori and if we can get the Merino deal over the line we need only a new striker to make a very satisfactory summer transfer window.
Afternoon Cicero, yep, I’d be happy with that. Very happy.
Morning Rico. Been reading from some time, and it’s my first time in the comments.
Imo, Calafiori is a great signing, we needed to cover the CBs. Mikel has been reluctant in testing either of Ben White or Tomiyasu at CB and if any of our Rolls Royces gets injured, it would be a mess in defence. Also, the no. of games have increased since we play in the Champions League these days.
Merino is a Xhaka’s replacement. Mikel loved Xhaka, he wanted a similar profile player.
If we just add a CF to the list, I would be more than happy.
Hi Ambarish and welcome. I read your articles on LIR too.
I’d be happy with a striker, very happy but I’ve a feeling we’re more likely to go for a player to rotate with Saka, unless that’s going to be Jesus this coming season.
Merino, well I just hope we can get the deal done soon…
Good post Rico, yeah I’d like a striker but I’d rather wait for the right player rather than sign someone who we can’t move on in 18 months time, that’s why I think that Obi Martin will ultimately regret not staying at Arsenal because the opportunity will be there by then.
It wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t go back in again for Sesko?
Merino and Califiori represents a good summer for me, other clubs who are splashing out are doing so because their squads are well below the level of Arsenal and City.
Arsenal don’t need numbers, we just need upgrades in quality and that comes in twos and threes.
Thanks Kev, I thought the opportunity might be there for Mika this season but no. I can understand Obi moving on, but if he thinks he’s going to push into the Utd team any time soon I think he’s kidding himself. He went for the money I’m sure..
West Ham have completed the signing of Borussia Dortmund forward Niclas Fullkrug.
The striker has signed a four-year contract. The fee is understood to be in the region of £27.5m.
£27 million for a 31 year old, are West Ham bonkers?
He’s 32 in February, so one for the future then?
🤣🤣
Afternoon Rico and all.
I hope I am wrong, but I am going to stick by what I said the other day, still not sure about Merino.
Nice to see ESR score in the friendly, on his debut for Fulham.
Thanks for the post, I think we don’t need to sign number of players, we need quality players that can do us what we need, thought 1or2. We are okay 👍
SHOCK HORROR!!! Twickenham, affectionately known as “Twickers” for 150 years, to be renamed The Aviva Stadium. The R F U have sold the soul of English rugby for the paltry sum of £100 million. OUTRAGEOUS!!
Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells.
With thanks to Cicero. 😉
Good Morning Rico and all
I have just read on a post on facebook that Nwaneri is going to get Jack Wilshere’s number. Whether its 32, 19 or 10 remains to be seen.
Although I prefer the number 10 be given to Odegaard and number 8 be given to Rice I think that the players themselves decide whether they want it or not.
And I would love to see Magalhaes get the number 5 and Merino (when he signs) gets the number 6 while Ben White and Saliba exchange numbers
Morning Devil, Cicero and all..
Slow old news day today.
I’d be surprised if Nwaneri takes the number 10, far too early in his career to have such pressure on his back.
I think that Twickers will be the Allianz stadium , still it’s an insurance company so if the roof flies off like Old Traffords they should be all right . See our old boy scored in his first game for Fulham . A diving header no less . Amazing what happens if you actually move in the penalty area .
It sounds like Hein is just about ready to sign a loan deal.
Yes, it was a nice goal from ESR. A reminder of what we’ve lost regardless of what the fixture meant etc. can’t remember the last time Arsenal scored a diving headed goal..
I guess we can soon expect to see another goalkeeper signing then if Ramsdale goes too.
I know there’s 3 weeks to go in this transfer window but we’ve not strengthened our attacking unit at all.
That old fool from Tunbridge Wells got his insurance companies wrong. That’s the last time I help him out. 😉
About the transfers and ESR:
Obviously fans want the filet mignon. Keep the stars and dismiss the average ones.
Curious: the market works in reverse
I see that Arsenal have partnered with an American non-alcoholic beer company and so you now have a choice of a non-alcoholic beer or a pint of Camden dishwater, failing that there’s always a low grade cider option or a bottle of water that you need to take a loan out to afford…
Ah well, back to one of the amazing pubs surrounding the Emirates and missing the kick off in the queue to get in…
Ain’t the Emirates also going vegan as well this season
Oleksandr Zinchenko is sure to stay and he will wear the number 17 shirt from now. He said that the number 17 is a very special number to him. It was the number he wore as a young player, and he’s always requested to wear 17 when playing for my country. he continued to say “With 17 being free since Cedric left, I asked if I could change, and thanks to everyone at the club for supporting me”
Some zero beers are nice but I can’t imagine one from the USA will be…
Peroni, Heineken and Estrella are pretty good….
beers??? bleeeeehhhh. Vino is waaaaayyyyy muucccchhhhh tastier.
Each to their own. 😜
some wines are , some are not . Some beers are better than others .Personally the Camden beer at the Emirates has to be drunk once to appreciate how good other beers are . In Norfolk we have many small independant brewers . Wolf , Tipples , Winters , Humpty Dumpty and larger ones Woodfordes and Lacons to name a few . All worth a try if you get the chance . What say you Cicero ? probably a few more your way .
Devil , in your neck of the woods most beers are basically lagers (Pilsner) which are chemical based and all really similar in taste . Easy to stick because they last much longer in the barrel than real ale which has a lot smaller shelf life and needs to be drunk quicker . Cheers folks !
easy to stock !
A nice cold beer on a hot summer night and during winter a glass of red wine will do me
What kinda drinker are you Geoff?
Are you a Castlemain 4 X man or a Fosters man?
The first Aussie I ever tasted back in the 1970’s had a swan on it. Vgd.
Aussie ‘beer’ that should read before anyone casts assertions…
My favourite subject, beer! I could write a book about it, but will restrict myself to a few comments only.
Lager is served ice cold for one reason only, the first mouthful freezes your taste buds so the true awfulness of the “flavour” is hidden from you. If you don’t believe me, try drinking one at room temperature. Ugh.
I have joint favourites when it comes to proper beer, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord Bitter and Fullers London Pride. Locally brewed Woodfordes is a consistent and reliable bitter but has to be “kept” by a good cellerman. Adnams Southwold Bitter is very good, on a par with Greene Kings IPA, but that is brewed is in Suffolk. The Germans brew some good dunkel (dark) beers but most continental beers are bland and inoffensive. I had a very tasty, malty beer in Hong Kong once but can’t remember the name but I think it must have been imported.
Beer is best drunk in good company but in moderation.
Good morning everyone
I have never liked or enjoyed a single drop of beer. I am not partial to it’s taste. Pa used to love it. My son does as well.
I was a lover of wine since babyhood. Grandpa used to dip my dummy in wine and within a few seconds I would be sleeping peacefully.
My uncle and grandpa used to give me sips even when I was a child. Both of them used to make wine and unfortunately both of them died young (55-59) due to alcoholism. Seeing the effects of alcoholism in two of people I really loved deeply and having had them taken away too soon has made me very wary of alcohol. So I rarely take alcohol. Occasionally I take wine but never more than 1 normal glass with a meal.
However the wine they used to make tasted out of this world. It was simply the best I ever drank.
Well we are not going to sign Alvarez, Atletico have snaffled him for £81.5 million. Not that I thought for one minute we were in the race.
£81.5 million will make a very tasty profit of £64.3 million on the £14 million City paid River Plate for him in 2022.
Morning guys.
Alvarez was a nice idea imo but crazy money..
New post up now.