Morning all.
Bukayo Saka is back home in London. With Covid! Emile Smith Rowe is unwell too and is likely to miss at least one of the two international friendlies. Well, it’s better they’re ill on England’s time and not Arsenal’s, I just hope they both recover in time for the trip to Crystal Palace. Yep, I’m all heart.
Mikel Arteta has again been nominated for the Premier League manager of the month award, Bukayo Saka, player of the month and Gabriel Martinelli, goal of the month. The Brazilian’s goal was pretty special. The build up too which Mikel Arteta started with by showing off his ballboy skills.
Before anyone thinks I’ve gone mad, I really do think keeping both Lacazette and Xhaka wouldn’t be a disaster, IF Arsenal secure a place in European football. We’ll need a bigger squad than we have now, experience to support the youth. Imagine a scenario of playing Man City on a Sunday afternoon, a dead rubber European group fixture during the week and then Liverpool or Chelsea the next weekend. There’d be little point in flogging Partey and/or another midfielder we might sign in the summer, in a meaningless fixture surely? Or in a domestic cup fixture at The Emirates against Solihull Moors.
I think football is still feeling the effects of Covid, how can it not after such a long period of time of games being played in an empty stadium. I know the club spent a bit of money last summer but that’s not to say they’ll do the same this time. They need to, but even the £150 million ish the club spent, isn’t “that much” in footballing terms but I think we certainly got value for money. Ben White might have cost a third of the transfer spending, roughly, but if he went up for sale today, I think he’d be worth more. Same applies to Martin Odegaard in my opinion.
I think we’d all agree that the priority this summer for Arsenal is a striker or two and a midfielder to partner Thomas Partey. Partey himself is no spring chicken.
- Cedric – Brooke Norton-Cuffy
- Xhaka – Sambi Lokonga, Charlie Patino & AN Other if Arsenal continue with young players.
- Alex Lacazette – AN Other & Flo Balogun
Judge Lacazette on his goals scored alone and he’s poor but looking at what is does other than that and I think he’s priceless. I’m not suggesting a three year deal and a massive pay hike, just a one year extension. If he’d accept it. He’s proved to be an excellent captain and it seems his teammates love him. Do we not need him as well as another striker?
How much would it cost to replace Cedric Soares who’s barely put a foot wrong since stepping in for the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu? Keeping him would allow Norton-Cuffy,18 years old in January and excelling at Lincoln City by all accounts, to have another year on loan. William Saliba is another option of course and last night he made his senior debut for France at right back but his Premier League experience is non existent. Is he even coming back to Arsenal?
Midfield is key to any team, defensively and in the way a team attacks. Speed, power and discipline is crucial. I know, Xhaka has none of those qualities, but for whatever reason it might be, Mikel Arteta prefers him to Sambi Lokonga right now. Nothing a full pre season can’t and won’t change in my opinion. But even if we sign a midfielder this summer, won’t we still need backup players?
We’re not going to go an entire season, one which is interrupted in November/December for the World Cup, without suffering injuries. Or suspensions for that matter so if Arsenal lose/sell Xhaka, Lacazette, Nketiah and Elneny this summer, who replaces them in the squad?
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico and All
In regards to Xhaka and Cedric I would not be worried if we sell them how ever with Laca
it would depend on how many strikers we bring in, if 2 let him go, how ever if we only bring in one then then I would try to keep him for one more year ( only if he really wants to stay for one year on the same pay ) just incase the new striker struggles to settle in.
Morning Geoff.
I suppose a lot depends on how much the club has to spend in the summer and who Mikel Arteta wants. We won’t raise much by selling either of Xhaka and Cedric and both have a year or two on their contract.
Good Morning!
In my opinion, the main factor is whether or not we go to the Champions League. Going in 4th, we will have to play, I suppose 2 games to reach the Group Stage. Arrived there or not, we go to the Europa League. With the November/December break, where most players don’t stop, 2023 will be a long one and probably, a second part of the season of hard, exhausting and decisive. In any scenario, the squad is short.
Good morning Rico, another fine, warm and sunny one in Norfolk.
Both Pepe and Balogun scored in their international games yesterday and this evening we can watch Xhaka take on England.
I would not be averse to keeping Xhaka, we need some maturity in the side, particularly in midfield. Lacazette is another matter, he is no longer functioning as a main striker and while he sets a good example to the younger members of the squad, we need someone better to assume the principle goal scorer role.
Today’s scheduled Women’s NLD has been postponed, no bad thing as our girls (am I aloud to call them that? 😉) played mid-week so break will be welcome.
Good point Jm and the season kicks off on the 6th August so we could be playing competitive football in mid July.
Morning Cicero, I reckon those ladies have been too close to Saka. 😜
Slight correction, Saliba did not come on as a right back last night. France play with three center backs and he came on for Varane in the center of the defense. He has played as a right center back in a three for Marseillle as well as a right center back and a left center back in a four. I believe he had one game for Marseille as a right back, which apparently didn’t go well.
Nwm, thanks. I read he was at right back but that was my mistake. It was early. Lol
I read that too , but then you don’t expect Journo hacks to know what they are talking about.
Cue a story in a couple of weeks that Arsenal are looking for a right back to challenge Tomi and inform us that Saliba is not good enough . Fortunately the Ivory coast goal came down the left.
I’m not going mad then…
Whatever suits their agendas really. If Saliba doesn’t come back, I’m sure he’ll soon be classed as a world class defender who Arsenal lost.
Hi Rico.. Out of the 3 mentioned, I’d only keep Cedric, as back-up. Although we all know Xhaka will still be here next season and if Mikel has his way Laca will be too.
Ødegaard scored a beauty for Norway last night. Let’s hope he’ll be our agent with Haaland on our radar!
Saw some of the France game – Pepe then Giroud and Guendouzi setting up the winner with a lovely corner..
Balogun scored for England U21s.. so not a bad night, hey?!
Koscielny has announced his retirement at 36 – Good luck to him..
And sad to hear of the passing of Foo Fighter’s drummer Taylor Hawkins RIP..
It is an interesting topic, Rico and all.
I’m a pragmatic guy, so I would take into consideration selling price and salary, too.
I am definitely in favor to keep Cedric and Xhaka. The arguments for the latter are simple, he is a lot better player than most of the fans think. The commentators and the pundits can influence the public opinion, and they repeatedly do that. Some of them with an agenda, some of them are merely incompetent. But there is an easy self-assessment to check if you under-appreciate Xhaka.
Do you think he is a poor or below average player? Then you’re wrong. This cannot get simpler than that. Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery, Mikel Arteta and José Mourinho believes Xhaka being a good player, Kevin Campbell and Piers Morgan don’t. I think it’s not that hard assessing who are the eejits and who are the highest authority on the topic. Besides he is the captain of the Swiss team which is quite some accomplishment as they are consistently at the A division of the UEFA Nations League. That’s not to belittle Odegaard, but his undisputed place (and captaincy) of the Norwegian national team could be easier contributed to the lack of alternatives than in the case of Xhaka. So we have Ottmar Hitzfield, Vladimir Petković and Murat Yakin to vouch for Xhaka as well. That wouldn’t contradict selling Xhaka for 40M, but for 13-15M it would be a joke. And not a good one. Granit make ‘only’ 100k per week – 40% of Partey’s salary, who is not clearly his superior (but I might be alone with this opinion) – so it’s not an issue to get rid of him from the wage bill point of view.
Soares (30) is a slightly different story. He makes 75k per week, which is not a big deal, yet comparing it to Gabriel’s 50k and Tierney’s 70k it is a bit much. Nevertheless his salary reflects his former free agent status, so let’s not make a big deal out of it. I would prefer him to stay for these 4 reasons
– Tomiyasu seems to be more fragile than expected, and we need an experienced player for deputy
– He doesn’t mind being a deputy (that is a rare trait), and delivers a reliable performance when called upon
– He has two years on his contract, but has no substantial market value at 30, even though he was recalled to the Portuguese team
– He could be a mentor to a young RB, and this 2 years would be enough for Norton-Cuffy or Reuell Walters to develop into a backup RB
Purchasing full backs are not among our current priorities, so with Soares in the squad and, BNC at loan and Walters playing with the U23 we are well covered.
Regarding Lacazette I think the situation is different. He has no sales value as he will be out of contract by the end of the season. And while I think Alex is similar to Xhaka and Soares (as well as Pepe and Leno) for being hugely underappreciated, unlike them he is quite overpaid. He makes almost 200k a week, which is a bit much if we plan to use him as a backup player for the next season. And the argument that he should accept a (50%) pay cut won’t stand, as for a free agent with his skills and age I don’t think he would be struggling finding a team that would offer him 150k-180k on a 2 year contract this summer. If Arsenal seriously consider to buy a top striker this transfer window, then Lacazette should make way to free up the wage bill as well as to provide playing minutes to Nketiah or Balogun – whoever stays with the club in the next campaign.
Hi Sue, maybe that’s it. I believe they’ll all still be here so I’m spinning a positive.
Terribly sad re Taylor Hawkins. 50 is far too young..
Thanks Pbarany. I don’t think we should play accountant as a player is only worth what he brings to the team, whether he costs £2m, £20m or £70m. Same with wages imo. I just think it’s a case of having a deeper squad and the three I mention already know the League, the manager and his plans for the team.
With the proviso that we get European football next season, I would advocate keeping Cedric Soares for another season. He has filled in very well in the prolonged absence of Tomiyasu and has proved his worth.
Having watched the England game I was impressed by the Swiss striker Breel Embolo, he looks as though he can handle himself and has quite a turn of pace. He’s 25 and plays for Borussia Moenchengladbach. He has a market value of around £12/13 million.
Can use his head too…
I respectfully disagree, Rico.
I think financials are important in two aspects (at least):
– If we want to be able to buy (some) A-class players we cannot really afford to lose heavy on transfer fees and wages. Arteta is really bloody terrible in the first, but doing surprisingly right in the second manner (Ozil, Willian, Kolasinac, Auba). Anyway if we even want to consider Abraham (120M), or Haaland (100M + 400k per week) we must pay attention to profits as well as financial fair play
– Balanced salaries are extremely important from the dressing room morale point of view. Alexis Sanchez was probably better than any player of Manchester United when he joined, but the rest of the team immediately hated him for making more than the 2 highest earner combined. I think Lacazette on a 200k salary playing 2 games per months would disrupt the dressing room unity. So the wages should more or less reflect the relative importance and value of the player.
I mean we as fans The club nee£ to worry about the money.
Apart from Auba and Xhaka, Arteta had nothing to do with the salary players were earning and its that imo, what prevented the club from being able to sell players. Personally, I’m just glad most of them are now gone.
I was one of a few who supported Xhaka when he lost the captains position and although I still like Xhaka you can’t disregard they amount of yellow and red cards he has gained. and that’s his problem when he receives his first yellow instead of relaxing he keeps going and then picks up his second yellow which doesn’t help him or the team.
Not sure if this is old or not but an Australian paper the mail ( maybe be part of the English mail )
are claiming that Arteta is having a very good look at Man u player Rashford as he young and out of favour with man u coach
The mirror are reporting that too Geoff. I hope its not true, we’ve bought too many MU cast offs in the past and none of them were any good.
On the books today we have 10 players on loan and 4 whose contract situation means that they can go and that doesn’t include two of the three that you have highlighted.
The squad is still in a state of flux and the need to build a poterntial European competition squad is still there. Of the ten on loan probably 2 , 3 or 4 might return Saliba , Mari , AMN and Balogun. The others we have been touting around for a long time and will have to take losses to get them away. Some we have a kind of deal set in place that if their loan club wants them they will buy but not at their true price.
Then we have the 4 that come to the end of their tenure . Leno , Elneny, Lacazette and Nketiah.
Leno wants to play and will go , the others though will depend on the offers that they receive not only from us but possible suitors.
Our negotiators are set for a busy time . We have a first 14 when fit that stands up against most other clubs , it’s the level below them that needs strength and we have to ask whether Hale end can bridge some gaps or whether we can buy in players that are better than some that we might be disposing of .
Hasn’t the Rashford rumour been around a while? I think it’s garbage. Utd get a new manager in the summer, so a new start for him up there I suspect.
Morning all.
Abs agree Potter which is why I’m inclined to believe that some of the players we’d like to see gone, might not go. Especially if we’re bringing through more younger players next season. Young players need experience and experience costs money. Much depends on the clubs budget but a striker or two is surely where the bulk of the money will go, a midfielder too.
New post up now
Rashford is a good player but not a true centre forward like say Odegaard’s mate Haaland and I give you ESR or Pepe , Saka , Martinelli and ask is that where we need another player. If Pepe went maybe but we need a true centre forward first.
Pepe is a conundrum isn’t he..