Morning all.
We all wanted some Arsenal news, well now we have some.
Arsenal coach Carlos Cuesta is set to leave the club to become Parma’s new head coach.
The 29-year-old is expected to depart after five years at the north London club under Mikel Arteta. Cuesta had been in talks with the Serie A side for several weeks and is expected to travel to Italy on today.
If this move goes ahead then well done to Carlos. 29 is young for a manager/head coach these days.
Whilst we might not see much of what he does on the training pitch, he’s been part of Mikel Arteta’s team for five years and I’m sure he’ll be sorely missed.
I wish him well. Maybe one day we’ll see him back at Arsenal.
The new seasons fixture list has been released this morning. AFTV Media have shared the full list on Twitter.
That’s a big opening day fixture isn’t it? A good one though but it does mean Mikel Arteta’s players will have to be at it from day one. Just 13 days later, we go to Anfield. Two massive away fixtures out of the way early. I like it.
The North London derbies take place in November and February.
It doesn’t make a difference who were drawn against for the first game because we need to be ready and able for a quick start regardless.
The importance of having any potential new signings in before pre season kicks off is paramount in my opinion.
Catch up in the comments.
Guys, please bear with me re the adverts, I’m trying to sort them out as they’re rather large for some reason.
Good Morning Rico and all
Fixture list is always a bit of fresh air imo. An I agree with you Rico….get those tough fixtures over and done with as early as possible. AS you said, that implies that everyone is on their toes from day one and its imperative that we get deals done asap before pre season begins.
Am I worried? No. We have to face them anyway during the season. And its better early so we wont have to face them during CL fixures. Maybe Arteta will rotate a bit. Not holding my breath though.
The only snag is that I always want to face the spuds away around end April early May. No prizes for guessing why. Its one of the first things I look for when the fixture list is published.
Morning Devil, good point re the Champions League fixtures. As Potter pointed out earlier, we also have Man City and Newcastle to play in September. Four big fixtures out of the way early.
However, it was our form against the so called lower league clubs which hurt us the most last season.
Yep I agree with that Rico. But that happened because of 1) attitude and mentality on the players’ part and 2) Arteta did not rotate.
When players are rotated it does not only keep players fresh it also gives the opposition something to think about. A rotated player brings on a different mindset and a different array of tactical awareness.
Perhaps Devil, although sometimes we have to accept the opposition wanted the result more. Injuries too played their part.
I’m surprised Arsenal aren’t being a bit more proactive as far as transfers go..
Just read that Chloe Kelly is close to making her move to Arsenal ladies permanent
Good, if there is an example of an excellent loan deal, she is it imo.
And it seems that agreement has been reached for Sesko
I will wait for .com before getting excited.
Football London is not a source to believe, in fact they are imo, one of the worst. They site Bild for the Sesko story and I don’t think they are much better.
not getting excited Potter mate. Just reporting what I come across on FB.
Not even on the .com can confirm it. Look at Manure’s news on having signed AR08 only for him to end up at Arsenal
I will begin getting excited when I see him wearing an Arsenal shirt and even that nowadays have to be careful….it might be AI lol
News now and facebook are full of sites using AI , I have blocked most of them , just can’t be bothered.
Same here..
The Sesko story is spreading fast, The Mirror, The Sun The Standard, The Metro, The Mail and The Express are all jumping on the story.
.com !
Whenever I read or hear the name Parma it always generates in me a warm, comforting feeling and sweet memories of 1994.
I’m very fond of their cheese as well.
I’m a bit worried we haven’t heard any snippets regarding the contract situations of Saliba and Saka?
Maybe things will speed up after June 30th when contracts start to expire.
I suppose you don’t really want to pay a guy around £1million in wages for him to relax on a beach.
All in good time Kev. 😜
Wolves are close to deals so it’ll just be us, Fulham, Forest and Palace yet to making a signing. ☹️
Only three not yet made a deal? The rest are in full-on panic mode. 😉
As will we be soon Cicero.. 😜
Don’t signings get confirmed now but contracts begin 1st July?
Signings at Arsenal will always get confirmed on a tomorrow.
Except tomorrow never comes
Fridays usually suit Arsenal..
Ahhh. Fridays. The day after tomorrow. Will it ever come? 😅😅
Friday will, not convinced a player will though. Lol
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is close to signing a new long-term contract with the club.
David Ornstein. The Athletic.
The 18-year-old’s new deal will see a substantial increase to his current salary and make him one of the best-paid young players in the world, following his rise to prominence in 2024-25.
Manager Mikel Arteta, who has a strong relationship with Lewis-Skelly, was crucial in the talks. The Englishman is represented by his mother Marcia Lewis, who negotiated the deal with Arsenal.
Lewis-Skelly signed his first professional terms when he turned 17 in October 2023. Football Association rules dictate that players under the age of 18 cannot sign contracts longer than three years.
I sincerely hope M L S signs his new contract, I think he is probably the best young player to emerge from our academy ever. That is not to in any way denigrate Nwaneri who has the ability to out shine even Saka in the next few years.
Wow, that’s a bold statement Cicero.
Probably worth a post Rico?
Are you going to write it then Kev. 😜
I can see why you have suggested that Cicero. He has both the talent and the attitude.
Rico and Cicero you are both right about MLS. However there is one thing missing and what makes the defference between one player and another, in this case MLS and others…..and that is his physical conditioning and strength. That cannot be fully determined by any player although they can improve it.
MLS might be, as Cicero pointed out, the best ever player to emerge from the academy till now. I agree with that. And tbh I want him to play in midfield not as LB. Not only he has the skill and attitude but also the physical attributes which are important in such a physical league.
M L S is following in the footsteps of Zinchenko, nominally a left back but with freedom to move into midfield, a tactic that Arteta has developed but, seemingly, only on our left side. On the right side our full backs stick closer to the touchline while playing the the overlap.
I think the position that M L S eventually settles in will be determined by the quality and age of the central midfielders the club bring in.
If we do eventually sign Zubimendi, we will be well stocked in midfield with Odegaard, Rice, Merino, Calafiori and Havertz. I think the next summer’s window will see the arrival of an established left back.
Kev, you it is a bold statement, but can you name a better one?
You have thrown down the gauntlet Sir Cicero of Athena and I shall respond because I’m gobby…
Myles Lewis Skelly is an amazing talent and a big favourite of mine but I shall raise you a David O’Leary, a player who also began his senior career as a teenager (17) who held together the defence in some of the worst Arsenal teams in my lifetime for some bang average managers.
Liam Brady wasn’t bad and neither was Frank Stapleton or George Armstrong or Rocky Rocastle.
Rico I will write you a couple of posts, but atm after driving my taxi in this heat when I get home it’s a shower and bed mate…
Some gooduns there Kev without a doubt, but in today’s internet inspired feverish media exposure, they seem almost stone age by comparison.
Good news about MLS .
MLS and Nwaneri have been shortlisted for young player of the year. Six players in total
Buongiorno Rico and all
Morning Cicero, Devil, Geoff, all.
Nico Williams is on the verge of joining Barcelona. We can tick him off the list then.
Just pulling your leg Kev..
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
·
13h
🚨 Carlos Cuesta confirms Arsenal exit as he’s joining Parma: “After five beautiful years it’s hard to put this into words, but I can only express how grateful I am for having lived my day-to-day with such special people and feel what it means to represent this football club, with its incredible history and values.
The only thing I’ve ever tried to do was give everything I had inside of me every single day. I was inspired by the culture that was created, by the hunger of every person of the organisation and by the unity that we had in any situation that we had to face. It has been a privilege to have had the chance to work with the players, staff, directors and all the employees of the club and at the same time, to receive an extra push from our amazing fans in every match.
Because of the quality of its people, I’m convinced that the best moments for this football club are still yet to come. Enjoy the journey, because it is a very exciting one.
Thank you”.
The new fixture list does not include any Premiership games on Boxing Day. A senseless break with tradition. No reason has been given! No fans were consulted! All the fixtures are due to be played on 27th.
WHY!!!!
I see today that Gyokeres has refused to talk to Sporting and said he is willing to go on strike to force a way out of the club.
I don’t think we need that sort of attitude at Arsenal. If Man U want him, let them have him.
Apparently that could change Cicero. I’m sure the television broadcasters will oblige.
But for injuries Jack Wilshere was potentially a generational talent, but I guess if I was just considering youngsters from the last 25 years then Myles has the look of the best of the bunch.
Max Dowman looks interesting though…
Rico, I’m hoping to go and see a couple of the U21 pre-season games, if I do I’ll do you a post on them, just something different from the norm…
Dowman unfortunately will probably be with the seniors…
Good point Rico, I don’t even write the fixtures on my calendar anymore as almost all of them are moved.
Ditto Kev. The only ones to pencil in are the ones we’re “likely” to win as they seldom get moved. Lol
Thanks in advance re the posts Kev. I’d love to be able to go and watch under 21 games live.
New post up..