Morning all.
Whilst we often talk about the improvement of certain outfield players, it’s fair to say Bernd Leno really has been playing well. The defending in general has much improved since the turn of the year but even so, every now and again most teams need their keeper to pull a old save out of the bag. I think it all started for Leno when he saved that penalty against Chelsea on Boxing Day. The win itself boosted the team/squad in general but for a keeper, it must feel good to stop a spot kick. Had that gone in, the final minutes of the game would have been nervy and Chelsea might very well have nicked an equaliser.
— Bernd Leno (@Bernd_Leno) January 31, 2021
Bernd Leno kept five clean sheets for Arsenal last month, something one has to go back to November 2013 to match when Wojciech Szczesny was between the sticks
His save, as shown in the clip above was very good and it’s not the first time he’s been at full stretch to save us. I’ll always be critical of Arsenal for selling Emi Martinez because no player of his quality should have gone so cheaply but at least now, Leno is proving why he was considered to be Arsenal’s number 1.
It’s deadline day today and from what Mikel Arteta has said recently, I think we can expect to see more exits than arrivals.
Well the last day of the transfer window is always unpredictable, so things can happen. They might happen, they might not happen. We are on it. We have decided [who is leaving] and we are working on it.
I don’t know [about Maitland-Niles], I cannot speak about any individual players. We know what we want to do, the conversations we’ve had, which are for various reasons. Let’s see if we can get something done tonight. We are discussing things with some players and some clubs. If we make anything before the deadline, it’s because we believe it is the right thing for the development.
Leicester City, West Brom and Southampton are all interested in signing AMN on loan for the rest of the season although Sky suggest Arsenal aren’t keen on him going to a club which is a direct rival to our challenge for Europe.
Personally, I don’t see the logic in loaning out AMN at all, not if we’re finished with adding players. Cedric can cover for Tierney and AMN for Bellerin. Still, perhaps AMN is fed up with waiting for his opportunity and like Emi Martinez, just wants to be playing football each week. I know I would.
See you in the comments.
I know he wants to play but there is NO guarantee that any club will play a loan player. I think we should keep him as with Covid about we may NEED him as he can play in several positions. But Arteta needs to play him. He could play instead of Bellerin for some games especially the EL ones
AMN is young, he links up & plays well with Saka & ESR , is one of our OWN, English international HG, I feel sure that Arteta can coach him into a top player . I hope if he goes it is only a loan, but we may be exposed if illness strikes the camp
Morning rico, you know my thoughts on AMN. I think it may do him good for a loan. He annoyed Arteta turning up late for training and he annoyed me with his reaction after ducking at a free kick and the ball going in off him. His face should have been furious but instead he just seemed to shrug, contrast that with the much-maligned Luiz when he made that clearance. We want guts and character.
I think he is one of those players who had it all from an early age and doesn’t quite take the next step. He undoubtedly has the ability as he has shown in those cup matches, let’s hope he gets the kick up the backside he needs and enhances his ability on a consistent level. We then get a better player back, or a useful transfer fee.
Apparently Willock’s on the brink of joining Newcastle on loan.
Ainsley obviously isn’t doing enough in training… I hope we don’t sell him, as on his day he’s brilliant – as cool as you like!!
Pool are after another defender – from Schalke – Schalke want Mustafi to replace him apparently…watch this space!
As for Leno, Rico, he’s been superb. I never doubted him..🙂
Sheila, I’m not sure Arteta can get him to be the player we want. After a few very good performances, and an England cap to boot, I thought he would be a regular for Arsenal. But since then, Arteta has given him very few chances and often out of position. Somewhere Arteta doesn’t trust him, I guess we don’t know what’s gone on behind the scenes.
Good luck to Matt Smith – recalled from Swindon, now loaned to Charlton Athletic 👍
Schalke 04 with Kolasinac AND Mustafi in their defence, are they crazy?
It could be 0-4 every week.
Good Morning everyone.
I would love to see AMN, Nelson and Willock to go on loan especially if they will be guaranteed playing time. However I feel that with the Europa league we may need them for rotation. As Rico pointed out there must be something behind the scenes and what we cant see/know in order for Arteta not to play him regularly. It might be a trust issue……Arteta trusts Saka, ESR and Martinelli. So its not a question of not trusting them because they are homegrown. AMN is older than Saka and Martinelli yet he is still blowing hot and cold. At 23 years of age he should be stamping his authority on the game from his position not still flitting in and out.
Its different than Holding. Because he was always held up by injuries. AMN rarely gets injured. So it may be his attitude imo.
I dont know why Van Aanholt is being mentioned when clearly Tyrick Mitchell is a vastly superior player imo. I would gladly offer CP a straight swap of AMN for Tyrick. The latter is in his last 5 months of his contract now. But I would do anything to have him. He is well built, English and has that attitude that he never accepts being beaten.
With him in the team together with Tierney that would make the left and right flank very solid imo.
Obviously listening to their captain who is getting his mates in , probably have a cardboard cut out of Ozil on the bench to boot.
Watford have signed Mitchel Bergkamp….
According to The Mirror….Boss Mikel Arteta is looking to bring in a new left-back to provide cover and competition for Kieran Tierney before the transfer window closes on Monday night.
And the Dutchman has emerged as a surprise target following the emergence of Tyrick Mitchell at Selhurst Park.
Mitchell has also been linked with a move to Arsenal in the last week but Palace see him as a long-term option.
On the other hand, Van Aanholt, 30, is out of contract in the summer and Palace could be tempted to let him leave now to avoid losing him for nothing in six months’ time.
Andrew that’s a really good point, Maitland Niles has never lacked in the ability dept but I sometimes wonder if he lacks a bit between his ears?
I don’t want him to join Leicester or Southampton as we are competing with them but West Brom would be a wake up call for for dozy Ainsley.
Don’t Arsenal scout the lower divisions in England anymore ? It’s good enough for Liverpool,according to reports .Even with a transfer fee,the contract would probably be a fraction of a senior player. Low risk.
Didn’t we recently sack all our scouts Limey, we now rely on statistics supplied by our own researchers rather than actually going and watching potential new recruits playing football.
It seems that Maitland Niles to West Brom is back on as Arsenal are blocking him going to Leicester and apparently he doesn’t fancy Southampton…
No news on Reiss Nelson yet, I thought he’d be the first to go on loan, very odd…
Kroenke used Arsenal money to buy Stats DNA in 2012 . Now of course he owns it as he does Arsenal.
Did he sack the scouting system to benefit his other company ?
Wouldn’t put it past him.
afternoon all
a) Having 3 more players on load, even if they are regular substitutes and who come in sometimes, isn’t that too much?
b) If there is no one come in, having 22 players (3 Gk), with injuries, punishments, covid-19, overloaded season, isn’t it short?
c) Regarding the last game: shouldn’t B. Fernandes have been sent off?
d) Martinelli is playing for fear of having another serious injury.
JM,
a) Good point
b) Good point
c) Very good point
d) Very, very good point.
this has taken a different twist ………….
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2021/02/01/player-on-the-verge-of-joining-nufc-could-sign-surprise-deal-until-2022-the-telegraph/
Afternoon all, I read both Willock and AMN can’t go out on loan at the same time, is that right I wonder.
Out of the two, Willock is less likely to get playing time for Arsenal imo.
Dozy me read it wrong, two players from the same club can’t be on loan at the same club…
Where’s Ornstein when you need him??
Probably at Anfield Wavy. Lol
AMN to West Brom would be like sending Gnabry to play under Pulis. Much rather he went to Burnley, Brighton or Newcastle. Or Reading. 😝
Mustafi, Willock and AMN all expected to go through. What an incredible window this has been! Look at our wage bill plummet 😂
Saka and Auba trained today – there’s a little glimmer!!
That means I’ll have to watch West Brom now, just to see how AMN fares 😫
Sky Sports. West Brom have agreed a loan deal for AMN. Medical shortly.
Me too Sue. 😳
WBA TAKING NO RISKS ON MAITLAND-NILES’
Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett:
“It looks like the soap opera concerning Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ future is finally over. I can exclusively reveal that West Brom have agreed a loan deal with Arsenal for Maitland-Niles, he will undergo a medical in London in the next few hours. Albion did not want to risk him making the several hour journey to the Black Country to start a medical, they want to start the process as soon as possible to make sure the deal is completed before the 11pm deadline.”
That’s a novel way of agreeing a loan deal Cicero, if true, it’s allows Newcastle some certainty, it give Willock somewhere he can settle down and it protects the players value to Arsenal while he develops either for Arsenal or as a saleable asset.
Willock has a contract that runs until 2023 so I wonder if Arsenal will try to extend it another year as security?
I wonder if Newcastle’s new manager, when he is appointed, will give Willock the playing time he needs.
Allardyce isn’t a dinosaur like Pulis is he Rico, he played a certain way agains5 Wenger because was too dumb or too stubborn to adapt.
I think that West Brom will be an education for dozy Ainsley, he’ll be surrounded by guys fighting for their careers so he won’t be allowed to coast, it’ll take him away from his Arsenal comfort blanket…
And if he’s serious about playing for England he’ll have to shape up…
I doubt that Ashley will sack Bruce, he’s never listened to the Geordie fans before so I can’t see him listening now. But I guess there’s will be clauses whereby Arsenal can recall him.
I hope you’re right Kev.
Trust me Rico, I’m In The Know… 😆
😂 Kev
Didn’t realise Mustafi has terminated his contract and agreed to move to Schalke.
I hope that we didn’t fully pay up his contract, although to be rid of him is a great day for the club and the rest of us.
I hope not too, but I bet we did. Arsenal are such a soft touch.
At least we’re shot of him, it’s actually been a good window Rico in that regard, Ozil, Kolasinac, Sokratis all out door, we can’t complain. A few more gone in the summer. The Big Reset?
Agree Kev, it’s been long overdue, Edu isn’t so bad after all eh. Lol
Zachary Medley has returned from Gillingham. Full back cover??
He’s gone to Kilmarnock I think.
Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
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9m
Arsenal loan Zech Medley to Kilmarnock as defender looks to build on Gillingham spell
One Willock in London still,Joe’s big brother Chris has come on for QPR.I just hope these loan players get playing time,big sam already talking about playing AMN in midfield.Hopefully these loans work out like the Smith-Rowe one,or at least increase the players values.
Ah, right. Sorry about that.
I just hope AMN plays, midfield would be great, especially if he has a good few months. I feel this is last chance for him really.
No rumours on Nelson though, wonder if he’s staying.
The word is that Mustafi terminated his contract in order to sign for schalke. Does that mean he leaves for nothing and we don’t get a transfer fee?
West Brom have signed a midfielder in addition to AMN, that may mean competition for playing time between the two.
If that’s true Cicero then maybe Arsenal agreed to waive a transfer fee for Mustafi and save on the last 5 months wages in exchange. I’m just glad he’s gone…
…….me to Kev.
Me too.. 😆
AMN to the Baggies official…
Willock to Newcastle confirmed too.
A good transfer window. Well done Arsenal.
Night guys.
West Brom have probably had the best transfer window but I’d say that Arsenal come a very close second.
A shed load of wages off of our books and two of our young players guaranteed to get plenty of game time.
Night Rico
Morning all.
Nike Tempo for my playing days. Doubled up as hockey boots too. 😂
New post up now.
LTArsenal™
@ltarsenal
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1h
Arsenal thank Mustafi for off the pitch work: “His donation of more than 16000 meals helped vulnerable residents in our local borough of Islington during the height of the coronavirus pandemic providing them with an essential food service they otherwise wouldn’t have received.”
Fair do’s,
still glad he’s gone…
Morning all.
Imo, Arteta has once again showed us why he is the way forward for the club.
On and off the pitch, he’s getting much more right than wrong, and with further experience, he can only get better.
Gee, I have officially retired from playing aged 50, and handed my boots to Sean!!
I thought he’d laugh but he has told me he’s give the boots the odd run out this season 🙂
I’ve still get mine in the back of the wardrobe. God knows why
Hahaha Potter, mine are 3 years old and barely used lol
Bloody nice boots and it seems even with kids, black is coming back.
For years they’ve all wanted those fluoro coloured things!!
My son used to swear by Diadora boots, screw in studs, we used to love watching the Seria A football together on Sunday on Channel 4 and they were all the rage in Italia.
Scott, If you have handed them to Sean that means you did not play much as they were not worn out 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Good morning everyone
Am I happy with the transfer window??? how it panned out with regards those going out yes I am happy. Very happy. Especially if AMN and Willock get much needed playing time.
However I really wanted Tyrick Mitchell to join. For various reasons.
And was a bit disappointed that we did not get news that we looked in the lower divisions for players. I am sure that there are good players waiting to make the step up.
Blackburn Rovers have a lot of young players coming through. And they are good quality.
Not yet it isn’t. 😒