Morning all.
Martin Ødegaard, an attacking midfielder for Real Madrid and Norway. His name is linked to Arsenal in a pretty big way. The Metro go as far to say the deal has been agreed.
Real Sociedad want him back on loan too apparently but perhaps he’s fancies joining up with his Real Madrid teammate Dani Ceballos at Arsenal. I say teammate but they’re more like squad mates as Zidane has never really used either. I know nothing about him, other than his name, which seems to have been around for years, and previous opinions around the blogshere. He’s meant to be pretty good.
Arsenal have nine days to get this deal done if it’s going to happen. Personally, I think a left back and goalkeeper are more important.
I thought the club might opt for someone with more experience, more PL savvy. Perhaps options are limited. Still, Odegaard should be desperate to play football wherever he ends up, I’m sure of that and he’ll want to prove a point to his doubters in the Spanish capital.
Moving Sokratis and Ozil on will have no bearing on squad ‘vacancies’ because neither occupied a place but Kolasinac did so there’s room for one if my maths is right. If we’re to sign a keeper and a left back as Mikel Arteta alluded to in his press conference then it’s fair to say that more exits are to be expected. Runasson is likely to go out loan but who the other one will be is anyone’s guess. Mustafi perhaps although Arteta has said he’s staying. Willian or Pepe? Oh if only.
The keeper rumours have gone quiet, as have the stories surrounding Folarin Balogun but all the time the latter hangs around the club, there’s a chance he might stay. Perhaps that chance might come tomorrow at St Mary’s in the FA Cup. An idea opportunity I’d have thought. A big strong striker with a bit of pace against an organised Southampton team. Why not?
Injury update from afc.com suggests Dani Ceballos might be back tomorrow if he passes a late fitness test. Pablo Mari is hoping to return to training next week so that’s good news on both.
Lastly, Liverpool finally lost a home game last night. Against Burnley! Of all the teams one would expect to win at Anfield, Burnley would not be one of them. But they defended strongly and nicked it late with a penalty. A penalty awarded to an away team at Anfield, they’re nearly as rare as the ones at Old Trafford aren’t they? Anyway, their loss is good for football. I always thought they were one season wonders. LOL
See you in the comments.
Good stuff as usual. Nice to read something that’s not attacking the club.
I do hope a no 2 GK is our next priority I keep reading about Freddie Woodman I think he would be a great No 2 & it seems his Dad id our U 23 GK coach so that makes it look promising
Odegaard signing would be good, but Arsenal needs a very good back up goal keeper cos Runarson is a non starter Any injury to Leno now will be a total disaster.
Happy Friday! Happy place – not Turf Moor, but Anfield 😂😂😂😂 And that smacked arse look on Klopp’s face at full time – loved it!!!
Still having problems logging on to the site , bookmarks not working again had to get it off the e-mail link . Still i am here now . Have sent OLE from Oslo Arsenal supporters club a message regarding Odegaard to get the Norwegian perspective will let you know what he says.
Who would buy Pepe now . Arsenal are stuck with him paid too much for him bin the first place. It’s funny the day they started to investigate that the man who brought him was gone
Just read that Maty Ryan has joined on loan until the end of the season
We have a new GK: Matt Ryan
yes, it’s in Arsenal site.
The reply should be interesting Potter.
That made me laugh Sue, I watched Jordan go through all of that.
Morning all.
Tallman, I was thrilled when we got Pepe but he’s certainly struggled. A bad signing in hindsight but at the time? I don’t recall very many complaints.
Now for a left back…
Go the Aussie!!!
More Aussie class to the club can only help 🙂
He’s a quality keeper!!
Rico, you want a LB?
Let’s see what else we have lying around here hahahahaha
Would love the club to add Bissouma.Now that would be a WALL in front of that defence …….
Don’t push it Scott. 😜
The general concensus from three replies is that it’s throwing good money out of the window , he is no better than what we already have . One said a younger version of Xhaka.
Rico, it’s just fantastic for us Aussies to know we will see one of our own wearing the shirt.
A big day for Aussie Gooners!!!
Scott… how spooky is that? You only mentioned him last night!! I’m happy with that! I’m just wondering if you’re an insider or if you’re the mole 😂😂😂
Not the raving reviews I’d hoped for Potter. As said in the post, I’m surprised the club haven’t gone for someone with PL experience.
Lovely sunny day here but cold.
Good news that we’ve signed a back-up ‘keeper. At six foot and, by the pictures of him, built like brick s**t house. He could be just what we need. I look forward to seeing what he can do, but tomorrow is likely a bit too soon.
If we are to sign Odegaard lets hope he can pass the most rigorous of medicals. We’ve had enough crocks from Real in the past.
Now we need a left back, c’mon Edu and Arteta get the job done,
Sorry to read about your dog Scott, tough luck there but hopefully she’ll breed some useful pups.
Great read btw, Rico, particularly the last paragraph 😉 Good old Jordan, hey?!
That’s great news about Ryan! Things are happening then and we’re not even in the final hour yet 😄
I’m sure Scott. I get the excitement, honest. I hope he really pushes Leno. My concern is his height.
Good news about Matt Ryan, I’ve always liked him, it’s just a loan to the end of the season but Premier league experience is vital.
I’m not sure about Odegaard, everyone says he’s super talented, everyone except Zidane that is. I’ve just read on another Arsenal blog, he’s got everything but is lazy – sounds like someone else, the name escapes me!
Sue, it really was throw at the stumps lol
No inside info, just eerie 🙂
Cicero, thanks mate.
Better news on the injury today, but she won’t race again.
She will live the life of a queen 🙂
Rico, the net is buzzing down under atm!!
Thanks Sue, I really don’t like that lot…
I wanted Jordan to win. 🙁
One lazy MO for another lazy MO Limey.
I’m going off the idea of him.
Blooming Aussies are everywhere! 😉
You must be chuffed Scott?
Who scouted the current number two keeper, Roy Orbison?
Things are certainly a lot brighter now at Arsenal…
Hello Lee,
I’m pretty happy mate.
He’s also a bloody good keeper and that’s what’s important.
Fantastic back up for Leno imo.
Good to hear from you mate!!
Understandably Scott.
They sure are Lee. I’m glad the club didn’t panic and sack Arteta. Instead it seems they’re backing him.
Better news on the injury today, but she won’t race again.
She will live the life of a queen .
Got her basket in the sun ready with a few doggy cigars , cocktails and just waiting for her suitors to turn up.
Good afternoon folks
I guess we got one or two happy Aussies here today. They must be chuffed to bits.
I guess Woodman was a bit of a long shot at the moment since he is on loan to Swansea. Fingers crossed he will come next season since Ryan is on loan. But who knows what will happen. At least we have got a good backup for Leno.
Am I excited?? Not that much to be honest. I dont like this loaning players from other clubs lark. No not even Odegaard and Ceballos.
But I guess that is the way it has to go at the moment.
Anyway. In my opinion the Odegaard loan stinks for me. I hope that at least he puts in a shift. Every time I saw him play he just expects the ball to arrive at his feet. No getting stuck in.
https://twitter.com/MatyRyan/status/1352572529194496001?s=20
I’d rather a loan Devil, especially in January as if the player is a flop, we’re not stuck with him.
Funny how footballers suddenly become a fan of the team they’ve just signed for Sue.
City have KDB out for 4-6 weeks
Leicester have Vardy out for a few weeks too.
What an impact those injuries will have. I don’t know about you, Rico, but I’ll miss Kev!
Huge Sue. City will certainly miss KdB, hope it doesn’t have a huge impact on their results. If we can’t win the league, I’d rather City did than the others.
•Real Madrid boss Zidane tests positive for Covid-19.
That should put the kibosh on the Odegaad Loan.
Ryan Bertrand is linked to us now.
Me too, Rico.. spot on! Another thing we have in common 😉👍
Ha ha, indeed Sue.
Why Cicero? As long as Ødegaard tests negative he can move surely.
But if he tests positive?
Yes you are right Rico. But I hate loans. Especially from clubs like RM and Barca. None of them worked out on a good level
Isolation period I guess Cicero, then travel after negative test.
Ceballos hasn’t been that bad Devil.
Ten day isolation period takes us beyond the transfer window, no time for a medical. We don’t need another Real Madrid crock.
Ryan Bertrand, thirty-one year’s old five foot ten and weighs 85 kilos. Might have to run off a kilo or three but a six month loan with an option could be a plan.
Oh wait a minute, ex Chelsea! Not another of their pensioners.
I wonder if Ryan is eligible for tomorrow’s game, if Arteta even wants to play him.
Yes, apparently we signed him in time, so he can play. He’s been training today….
Tonights Game
7mins 1-0 Azeez
10 mins 2-0 Balogun
Disappointed both Azeez and Balogun are playing tonight Rick, had hoped they’d be involved tomorrow.
With Balogun its been made clear that if he does not sign he will not play with the first team Rico. With Azeez I do not think he is yet ready to face an EPL club. Maybe next year he will get more minutes. But not yet
Morning all,
Rico,
Ryan is most definitely a lifelong Arsenal fan.
A school teacher mate who’s also a mad Arsenal fan taught Matt, and vouches for it, but you are right in what you said 🙂
Thanks Potter.
Quite incredible-we announced the girls retirement from racing yesterday, and already have people lining up for pups!!!
Devil, I’m damn excited we have an Aussie lad at the club, but I do believe he’ll do a fantastic job for us, which is most important.
I really rate him 🙂
Half time 3 – 0 Balogun ( 2 )
45 mins 3-0 Balogun with 2nd goal.
Has it Devil? I’ve never heard/read Arteta say that.
One had to be one day Scott. Lol
86 mins 4-0 Moller
Finished 5-0 Balogun Hattrck.
Brilliant result 🔥
Good win for the boys tonight.
Thats 5 wins on the trott. It takes them up to 5th and within reach of top spot.
The next game is away against the leaders the Spuds.
Kev Good to see Lopez and Okwonko play for 90 mins
Lopez looks very fragile to me and could do with a long time with out injury.
Okwonko looks massive and made some very good saves..
The highlights will be up over the w/end (so they say) so you be able to see.
Scott bad news about your dog hope she heals soon. I know what it’s like one of my older show dogs jumped and landed wrong braking his leg in 2 places vet bills are a killer
Go Aussie’s
Good morning everyone
Rico….One might say that Ceballos has done ok. But although he is technically gifted I dont feel comfortable with him in the side and tbh dont trust him much. I prefer Willock or AMN in his position. If he is being kept until they make the step up or else one from the academy makes the step up than its ok for me. But I sort of feel uneasy with him in the first eleven. Same goes for Willian plus Pepe. And from what I saw (only three games mind you) of Odegaard I feel its more of the same as well.
I might be mistaken about Odegaard. He might turn out a good one for us.
However, what does that mean for ESR??? will he get shifted to the flanks??? Why should ESR play wide if necessary, in a different part of the pitch, simply to be there while Odegaard gets adapted to the rhythm and tactics?? Will it mean that Odegaard is there to rest ESR so as not to burn him out or take his place??
And would we have option to buy if successful?? I hate giving RM money because it means we are strengthening them….and they are already strengthened by the banks of Spain. If he was that good they would keep him no???
Personally I would rather try and search for another type of player like Holding from the lower divisions, get him for around 5-10 million and put money down there where they need it.
Getting players from RM is like getting the Chelsea pensioners rejects etc. Yes even though he is only 22.
Cheers for the info Rick, delighted to see Moller score again, as for Balogun as long as he’s not signed for another club there is hope that a deal can be done. I suspect that if he had agreed to stay that Eddie would have gone on loan and there’s still time for that to happen.
Rick, I hearing Reiss Nelson to Preston North End on loan, maybe he’ll come back and play like Tom Finley? 😉
Morning Rico, DG and everyone, DG let’s see if the deal goes through first and if it does how Odegaard shapes up, I know of him but I’ve never seen him play although I’m told he’s left footed and plays in a similar style to Mesut Ozil, which I hope doesn’t mean he has a constant issue with back pain and he disappears in matches, anyway I’ll reserve my opinion until I’ve seen him play.
DG I actually think that Ceballos has been decent for us especially during the cup run last season where I think that he and Xhaka were a big part of us winning the FACup.
That’s not to say that I’d like us to sign him because I don’t think he’s worth the kind of fee Real Madrid would want, he’s been useful for us during this transitional period and he’ll return to Spain next summer and good luck to him, but I think we should be looking for players to improve us and who areof the Partey level, Ceballos’s level is just treading water and we need to move on from that imo.
Morning Kev, all.
I’m not fussed about Ødegaard coming in if he does, it’s a loan, it’s help through to the end of the season and we know ESR can’t play every match. It’s no different to having Willian and Pepe to rotate with Saka, although it’s painful when they do.
New post up now
As for Smith Rowe, it’s in his hands DG, if he remains fit and he keeps performing then I’m sure that he’ll play I reckon, much the same as Saka. I’m less concerned because Odegaard ( if we sign him?) is a loan, you could actually say that he’s cover for Smith Rowe. It’s going to take Odegaard (if we sign him?) a few weeks to adapt so maybe a month before he can show us anything and by then Smith Rowe will be well established – I think he’s established now but that’s me…
I just see Odegaard as insurance, 6 months and ta ta, he’s not leaving Real Madrid and Madrid aren’t selling so I’m cool on the deal.
Devil, I’d rather Dani than Willock at the moment but I still hope Willock will get better the more he plays..
How about loaning out Miguel Azeez, let him have 6 months of 1st team football in the Championship or League One?
Toughen him up and see where we are in the summer, he could save us £40 or £50m?
Once again no ,It’s not up
Pepe,Elheny, Martinelli and William in the line up today.
Not for me either..
https://highbury-house.com/2021/01/23/starting-eleven-confirmed-short-term-deals-are-best-for-now/
Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric, Elneny, Xhaka, Pepe, Willian, Martinelli, Nketiah