Morning all.
I’m not sure whether Ben White would look more at home being frontman for Wet Wet Wet or a stunt double Tommy Shelby but he’s out there on the training pitch and the first to be captured on film ahead of the new season. Our number 4 and possibly our new captain. I personally think it’s between him and Martin Odegaard.
A few other familiar faces were involved in Arsenal’s first pre-season training session. Hector Bellerin, AMN, Reiss Nelson and Pablo Mari but no sign of Kieran Tierney – yet. All on that list barring Tierney, could leave the club this summer, along with Bernd Leno and Nicolas Pepe.
With so many of the first team squad enjoying time off after featuring for their respective countries over the last few weeks, nine academy players joined in with the training session yesterday. Defenders Zak Swanson, Zach Awe, Mazeed Ogungbo and Lino Sousa, midfielders Charlie Patino, Miguel Azeez and Salah-Eddine and wingers Omari Hutchinson and Marcelo Flores were the players involved yesterday, all of whom will be desperate to prove they’re ready for Mikel Arteta’s first team squad. I imagine many, if not all, will be involved in our pre-season fixtures, the first being next week in Germany.
The Arsenal transfer window seems to have taken a bit of a kick. Raphinha seemed as if he was heading our way, Martinez too, but with Chelsea now in talks with one and Man Utd hoping to sign the other according to NN and the back pages, we’re doomed. But we’re not are we? If Raphinha prefers to join Tuchel, good luck with that and the same goes for the Argentinian if he prefers a club who are at the beginning of a new era rather than nearly three seasons into theirs. What Arsenal and Mikel Arteta don’t need is players who have doubts about the club. We’ve seen the disruption that can cause and how results as well as performances can suffer because of it. Arsenal need players who jump at the opportunity of playing for the club and relish the opportunity of playing in a young and potentially exciting team.
I’m sure there’ll be a lot of excitement over the neighbours signing Richarlison from Everton for a reported £60 million in fact only just this morning a Sky Sports presenter suggested Arsenal fans will be worried whilst talking to Alan Smith but Smudger was very quick to point out that the player blows hot and cold, before quickly moving on to what a good signing Gabriel Jesus will be. For any Arsenal fans who are glad Raphinha isn’t coming to Arsenal, there’s little point in believing Richarlison is a player we could have done with in my opinion.
As mentioned above, we have a glut of young players coming through who might be young in years but in pre season, might just prove they’re ready to challenge one or two for a place in the first team. Omari Hutchinson will be 19 years old this year, the same age Bukayo Saka was when Unai Emery gave him his debut. Miguel Azeez is 20 this year so if he’s good enough, he’s old enough too. Zak Swanson is 22 years old in September. Ok, they’re not experienced in the Premier League but that’s why pre-season is so important for them, and for Mikel Arteta as he makes a decision about their future. When/if these young players get their opportunity, they have to take it if they want to be part of what Mikel Arteta is building. Not all nine are likely to make it but surely, not all nine will won’t either….
See you in the comments.
Dear Rico, all;
Your posts often have a poetic feel! Another great post as usual.
I think he could be a decent addition, but sadly, Richardson’s character cannot resonate well with what Arsenal are trying to build.
As for the youngsters, I totally concur with your signoff statement; “Not all nine are likely to make it but surely, not all nine will won’t either….”
Morning Rico
Where’s the Plan B forward? Surely we need a bit of height up front as an alternative?
Richarlison is one of those players that can be great, but generally sulks when he doesn’t get the ball. We’ve had plenty of that type of player in the past. Generally doesn’t end well.
Leeds and Everton losing key players. They could be in trouble again.
@Pete the Thirst, I have always ‘campaigned’ that Arsenal ought to add a height advantage in the middle and upfront. Because on a “bad day” we are always so easily outfought and bullied on the ball-This has been our main undoing since the later part of Wenger years-Using small players throughout the team. Honestly, It sucks!
Morning Kyalo, Pete and all.
I think Leeds have already brought in replacements and Everton need to balance their books apparently.
There must be a plan b both in transfers and on the pitch as at the moment, it looks like we’re going to have two tiddlers up front which is fine if the ball stays on the ground but not so ideal if the crosses keep going high in the box.
Thanks for the post Rico, I’ll read it in a mo, but I had to comment on the picture above, great to see Ben White of course but my eyes went to the bulked up figure of Charlie Patino just behind him!
Young Charlie suddenly looks like a man and not the fallow youth of last season, so let’s again bear in mind how much a young player can develop over 12 months at this phase of their career, we have quite a few in and around the same developmental stage, on the edge of the senior squad pushing-for inclusion.
Regardless of any signings we make it’s possible that our own young talents will push them to perform consistently and thus improve the overall quality standard of the squads depth. With the Europa and League Cups they have the perfect stage to perform and where they show what they can do, as long as Arteta shows the imagination to use them.
Morning all
Interesting times. We’ll spotted Kev! He’s all grown up, well nearly, his shoulders still have way to! However, if he’s good enough, he’s old enough. Cesc was a regular at 18 or so… I rest my case.
Good piece Rico you’ve posed some very interesting questions. Do we have the solutions, or rather Arteta has the problems will he find some of the answers in the junior teams? We’ll see.
Big up front? Plan B? We have Balogan, big, tall, rangy and strong. He’s perhaps not quite ready for a starting berth yet but, he does offer a great deal of promise and a viable alternative, imo.
All will be revealed, perhaps as early as next week in Germany?
Well spotted indeed Kev, Charlie boy certainly seems to have grown a bit.
Thanks Kyalo, Wavy.
I think Balogun is only 5’ 9” but he certainly looks a strong guy. It’s a tough one isn’t it, does he give the guys who perhaps might make a year on loan or like Saka, throw him in and watch them flourish. Perhaps a bit of both and think about January for loans if resources allow.
Balogun is the tallest of our available 3 but is apparently 1 metre 79. which is 5 foot 10 on a good day .Martinelli is 1m 78 the other two are 3 cms smaller .
So height is going to be a problem .If we are looking at a plan b then a Giroud type height is required not only for scoring but defending corners at the near post.
Agreed Rico,
@Wavy, please note than Balogun does not fit the description of “a physically imposing centre forward”. Strong-Yes, but not tall, he way too short and can’t effectively deal with tall defenders as well. And i am afraid this is where Arsenal keep falling short every so often. Wish we can have a Giroud-kind of centre foward.
It looks very likely that Everton’s money worries will soon be over. A consortium fronted by ex Man. U Chief Executive Peter Kenyon and bank rolled by Polish/American Billionaire Maciek Kaminski have been granted a period of exclusivity to complete a £500 million takeover. They will take on all of Everton’s existing debt and provide another £500 million to build a new stadium.
Obviously Everton have no need to sell their best players and will be in the market for some good ones too.
@Potter, then If he’s the tallest of the Frontline guys, then we are completely hopeless! Never quite understood why Arsenal has such a high affinity to small kind of player all over the pitch-This is the EPL. Mind you even Man-city who are well stocked with small, technical players have signed Halaand. Liverpool, for all their prowess upfront, have realised they need a certain Darwin Nunez to complement Salah’s aerial shortcomings! Those involved with transfers at Arsenal need to style up and catch up with reality!
Totts about to sign Spence..
Chelsea tried to highjack their move for Richarlison according to Sky, I wonder if that means Raphinha has turned them down..
£15m for Spence 😳
Afternoon Rico and all
I hope we don’t get Richarlinson, he could be more problems than good
Hi Geoff, we’re not, he’s going down the road..
Nice way of saying :- Going down the toilet
I resisted Potter.
Harsh but true Rico
Good evening Rico and all
According to NN Richarlison’s medical has been delayed because he fell off the medical table when he was getting on it for his medical and he has been rolling on the floor for the past hour holding his knee.
😂😂😂😂
Morning all
New post up now