Morning all.
Eleven minutes of most enjoyable viewing thanks to GoonerHQ on YouTube.
Bukayo Saka is an incredible footballer for his young years. Yes he has games in which things don’t always go right but what footballer doesn’t? Even the great Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright had off days.
Is Bukayo Saka world class? Probably not but he’s fantastic for Arsenal FC and I’m sure I’m just one of tens of thousands who absolutely love him. His left foot is a thing of beauty, his right isn’t bad either as shown in the about clip. He’s just notched up his 50th and 51st goals for his boyhood club against West Ham which for a 22 year old winger is pretty special. I read that he’s scored more goals than Ronaldo did at the same age.
After the West Ham game he said:
I’m not sure I can be happy today, I missed some chances I could have scored.
He’s right of course as I think he had two golden opportunities to score before he finally got off the mark. What’s admirable though is he knew it and clearly wants to start taking more of the chances presented to him. Once he starts doing that, which I’m sure he will, the world class debate will begin again. Personally, I think he’s one of the best, if not the best, in his position in the Premier League.
His 13 goals and 12 assists in 31 games across all competitions is bettered by just a few.
Bar Jude Bellingham, the rest are way ahead of Saka in terms years and experience. I read something about Rio Ferdinand suggesting Phil Foden is better than Bukayo but why does there even have to be a better, why not just accept that both are doing a really good job for the club they play for and England? In any case, Foden is a midfielder and Saka is a winger. Foden is 23, 24 in May, Saka is 22, 23 in September. For what it’s worth, Foden’s name isn’t on the above list…
Youngest players to score 50 competitive Arsenal goals:
- Cliff Bastin (19y 280d)
- Ray Kennedy (21y 22d)
- John Radford (21y 272d)
- Frank Stapleton (22y 110d)
- Bukayo Saka (22y 159d)
The Arsenal boy, now turned man, scored his first goal in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League in September 2019, and he’s not looked back since and it looks like he might end the season with his highest goal tally yet if he carries on doing what he is. Could he beat Theo Walcott’s 21 goal 2012/13 season? We’ll see..
Kylian Mbappe has finally made a decision on his future and it won’t be with PSG as he’s leaving in the summer when his contract expires. It’s staggering to think that his departure will save the French giants €200m a year in salary. The terms of his exit are yet to be confirmed according to reports as apparently, the player once promised he would never leave the club for free. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid have all be linked with him but so far, neither of the Manchester clubs have. This story is going to rumble on and on until his next club is confirmed. It’d be quite something if he ended up at Arsenal but the chances of that happening are slim to none in my opinion. Mind you, never in a million years did I think Sol Campbell would move to Arsenal but he did.
Arsenal have confirmed an exit many of us expected as Marquinhos has joined Brazilian top-flight side Fluminense on loan until January 2025. A good move for all involved I’m sure and hopefully the player will get plenty of playing time. He’s under contract with Arsenal until 2027.
Lastly, for the first time in Arsenal’s history, The Emirates Stadium is ‘sold out’ for a WSL fixture. The club has confirmed that over 60,000 tickets and all hospitality packages for this Saturday’s clash against Manchester United have now been sold. The Emirates has been sold out for a women’s fixture before but that was for a Champions League semi-final. Brilliant for the women’s game. Just brilliant.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and all.
It could be hard to turn down 2 hundred million for Saka.
Best wishes for Roy Hodgson, it’s time to retire.
Hi Geoff, it would but right now we need him rather than the money. Give it 8/9 years… 😂
With the Premier League clubs forced to balance their books, realistically, on the back of the Everton 10 point saga and the quietest English January window since black n white television, it’s not surprising that those internet outlets that base their financial model around transfers (advertising) are struggling and dreaming up more and more fabricated rumours.
Zubimendi is a rumour that has legs even if it’s not a certainty and likely not to happen. But you can believe them up to a point, but Mbappe, do me a favour!
Martinelli to Barcelona? Now that’s a bit of a laugh especially as the Catalans are on the precipice of bankruptcy, and that’s even with the imaginative accounting that goes on in Spain. Of course Arsenal players being linked is a symptom of the talent we have and that Arteta has developed at Arsenal. As for Saka, well he’s simply priceless but his agent will love the narrative.
I’d imagine that a lot of European clubs have had a disappointing January with the Covid lockdown fresh in the memory. The hoped for Premier League January bonanza wasn’t forthcoming so I’d expect that if English clubs play hardball that they can pick up players at a more affordable level next summer?
Maybe that’ll include young Mbappe?
Afternoon Rico and Co, it feels a lot warmer today and for that I am grateful.
Yes it’s warm today but there’s virtually no wind so after last night’s rain the grass isn’t drying quickly enough to allow me to start cutting it. and it will soon be too dark. Oh well I’ll just have to have another cup of tea and watch it grow. 😉
Afternoon Kev, Mbappe will be cheap this summer surely as he’ll be out of contract. Rumour in the main are a load of old tosh. I don’t believe any of them 7ntil Ornstein is on the case. 😂
It’s be mild here in west Berkshire too. Might have to leave my scarf off if this carries on…
Rico isn’t it amazing that we have a few players that we could imagine going for world class level prices.
Saka is one, but also Ødegaard is another that we tale for granted, but other clubs managers and scouts are well aware of, and would kill to have him.
After that, Saliba will be one we have to manage with his 4 year deal .. will need to extend him at some point to retain his value.
I think big Gabriel is another player gaining a high monetary value, especially with so many goals to his name.
We will have to do a lot of extensions and raises to keep our squad intact, and to make sure we only sell for their actual value. Ignore low-ball offers.
That means no Italy and only a few clubs in Europe outside of English clubs.
Kev great point about the clickbait transfer rumour sites getting desperate for income.
I think they’re shameless and silly even in busy windows.
On Zubimendi.. where there’s smoke there is sometimes interest and it seems Arteta rates him, which is good enough for me. There is probably a lot of attraction in the big Spanish clubs for the player himself… but at least Arteta has culture and language in his favour if he’s trying to convince him to join. Apparently Mikel is hard to resist.
Nigel, I think it’s easier to name players who wouldn’t be wanted by other clubs. So many now are performing well, it’s inevitable they’re going to be linked with a move away. Thankfully, we as a club are so much better at managing contracts, if anyone pushes for a move, it’s going to cost another club big big money to get them.
I noticed Lokonga’s coach has shown interest in keeping him, maybe a deal could be made at the end of season as long as Luton stay up.
Morning Geoff, all.
New post up.