Morning all.
If what’s been written in nearly every newspaper over the last few weeks is true, Arsenal have dealt a double blow to the noisy neighbours. Toots were after both William Saliba and Dani Ceballos, yet both are now Arsenal players. One won’t arrive until next summer which is no good to us this season and the other, well he’s just with us for a season. Unless there’s an option to buy at the end of his loan deal. Smart move if there is because if Cabellos turns out to be a top player, it’d be great to think we could snap him up before anyone else.
Take that Toots!
William, welcome to Arsenal. How does it feel to have signed for us?
Well, first of all, it’s a massive pleasure to sign for a really, really big English club. This is the biggest club in England for me, so it was an easy decision. I didn’t think twice about signing here, so I’m really happy.
We know that you had a choice between us and our rivals, Tottenham. What was it about Arsenal that made you want to come here?
Well, the history, the badge… since I was little, I’ve been watching Arsenal play in the Champions League and so on, and there are a lot of French players who have come through here. So that really helped me to make my mind up.
Dani, welcome to Arsenal. How does it feel to have joined us?
First of all, thanks very much. I’m really proud to be able to wear this shirt. I’m joining an historic Premier League side and it’s a step forward in my career.
There was some interest from other Premier League clubs in you. What was it about Arsenal that made you want to come here?
I knew I had the confidence of the coach, which was very important for me from the start. I was aware of the responsibility that wearing this shirt entails and it was a tremendously proud moment when I decided to join Arsenal.
So, two signings done and dusted within hours of each other which sounds remarkable considering it’s Arsenal we’re talking about but these two stories have been rumbling for weeks now so perhaps we shouldn’t be too shocked to see them finally get over the line. Kieren Tierney to Arsenal is another potential transfer which is proving tough to complete but if we do get it done, it’d be a positive.
But there’s still that £55m burning a hole in the clubs pocket, the amount Arsenal are supposed to have offered for Zaha. I just pray that’ll now be spent on a central defender and a defence minded midfielder too if there’s any change. Add player swaps into the deals if possible and well, Bob’s your uncle as they say.
No doubt you’ve all seen the news about Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac. A dreadful incident for both footballers to endure and I don’t want to dampen the seriousness of what they went through. I bet those blokes didn’t bargain for our left back jumping out the car and fighting back. Good for him. But you know what, this kind of incident happens, far too often that’s for sure. Ordinary people going about their lives when suddenly they’re jumped on, or worse still, murdered in cold blood. We all probably have our own theories as to why but I don’t want to get into that.
Because it’s two high profile footballers, it doesn’t make this incident more serious than others. Both Sead and Mesut have the money to replace whatever might have been stolen, (I don’t mean things of sentimental value) they have the money to spend on aftercare and of course, the support of the club. Many victims of serious crime have very little in terms of support.
The newspapers have made it a front page, headline story. In my opinion, they’ve sensationalised what is a vicious and serious crime. But I wonder what or how they’d have reported a similar incident had you or I been the victim.
Anyway, both players were unscathed, certainly physically, so thank goodness for that. Good job Ozil had Kolasinac on board eh.
See you in the comments…
Well that’s 1 1/2 over the line , but where do we go from here ?
What formation has he settled on ?
3 at the back with two wing backs , 2 defensive midfield , 1 schemer and 2 up front which means no wide players apart from the wing backs.
That didn’t really work last year .
So is he thinking 4 -4-2 ? that gives you 2 wingers but little in the middle to create or defend the creaking back line .
Or 4 – 3 – 2 -1 . which hat i would do with the players available.
My son likened Lacazette to Mark Hughes the other day and I can see the similarity . Hughes was strong played with his back to goal and contributed goals as well..
But if we go down this route , with Nelson , Saka , Iwobi , Willock and a few others . Do we really need Zaha ?
I don’t think we need Zaha. We need defensive players imo.
Good morning Rico and thank you for the post.
I’m pleased about the signing of Saliba, although it does nothing to address our need to replace Koscielny and upgrade Mustafi. If Chambers is not the answer then finding an alternative is going to cost an arm and both legs. Good centre backs are rarer than rocking horse droppings.
I’m not excited by the Ceballos signing, our track record in this category is not inspiring, I’ll just hope to be proved wrong. We’ll have to wait and see.
A simple precaution to take, when driving, keep the doors locked and the windows closed. If you are threatened sit tight and sound the horn continuously.
More storms here overnight and it’s hotting up this morning. Still, mustn’t grumble…eh? 😉
Morning Cicero, I’m pleased with both.
Power went off again last evening , We watched the storm approaching over the fields it was like a light show and we could hear the rain long before it got to us. Woke up again this morning re programmed all the appliances . Discovered that Grandaughter has outgrown her bike so I have a recbuilding job on another in the garage , but she wants it sprayed Ford Escort Mexico purple velvet metallic.
Still it will keep my mind away from football for a bit.
Morning all,
I’m pretty chuffed about both signings.
The loan deal isn’t a last minute dash, a desperate move but I’d say a well thought out move on our behalf, unlike most recent loans we’ve taken.
On Saliba, well it’s far, far better to lock him down now than to miss out on him next year so while he doesn’t address our immediate defensive issues, long term, he well and truly could do.
Scott, I think your comparison to Hazard yesterday made sense. Add Martial, vid and many others to the list.
He might be great in the future. My gripe is not signing a defender etc for now, if it stays that way.
Absolutely, Rico, we do need to do something for the here and now, no question.
Think we all agree on that Scott.
As long as those that count do, Rico 🙂 🙂
Cicero :-https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/dramatic-lightning-and-thunder-storm-hits-norfolk-1-6181890
Did you see these from your stately home in Blickling ?
rico, we need defensive players and something (much) more
Potter driving home from Aylsham last night we went through a torrential downpour, about a mile and a half of near flooded road and continual lightning, almost apocalyptic conditions.
Good luck with the bike rebuild. Granddaughters, don’t you just love ’em? 😉
Tour de France race stopped due to snow and ice on the descent towards the stage finishing line. Amazing. Can that be blamed on global warming? Everything else seems to be.
Two defensive players would do for me Jm, as well as Tierney of course.
Morning all.
Pepe is the latest we are “rumoured” to be close to signing.
Any good?
‘morning all.
Breaking news! Arsenal have reached an agreement with French club Lille to sign Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe in a deal worth 80m euros (£72m).
The Gunners will pay for the 24-year-old via a series of instalments that suit their restricted budget for this summer.
An agreement between Arsenal and Pepe’s representatives still needs to be finalised.
But the transfer is expected to be completed in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Definitely a better option than Zaha, Scott.
Hold the ‘phone!!!! That’s Ornstein talking. 😕
I am, Cicero hahahahaha
Morning mate.
I couldn’t handle Zaha wearing our shirt, I really would hate it.
Looking forward to Thursday Scott? 🏏
Sure am 🙂
Lots of unknowns for both sides so it could be a ripper of a series.
Afternoon all.
Welcome to a day of drizzle…..summer’s over then?
Pepe! £72m A very lot of money. I just hope he’s a bit better than the last African winger we bought from Lille😊
But, I guess that brings the curtain down on the Tierney deal. Not sure we’ve got our priorities right here. What do I know though??
Afternoon all.
Would that be Gervinho by any chance Wavy. 😜
Pépé and Tierney it seems then, well, if Sky in Italy are right…. lol
Yes, yes Rico. An absolutely unforgettable player! Especially when we could have chosen Hazard instead. We had some special talent spotters, didn’t we…….?
Didn’t we just Wavy, didn’t we just…. lol
Pepe £72 million….but on the never never. 😉
Aren’t many paid by instalments though? Pretty sure they are.
Amaechi has gone. Hamburg.
Send us some rain……..my land is cracking up !
Amaechi £ 2.5 million apparently with a sell on clause . Could be worse. We can’t keep them all .
Better than nothing that’s for sure and if he makes it, win win when/if a big move comes.
An eighteen year old winger signed by Hamburg. According to the Hamburg D o F. The plan is that Amaechi will be a regular starter in the first team. If they’re good enough they’re old enough, apparently.
Shawcross Redemption.
How sad bahahahahahahaha
Well there must be a God… What goes around etc…
Let’s hope he’s out of action as long as Ramsey was…
I wouldn’t normally crow about such an accident, but I’ll make an exception in his case…
Same here Kev.
I hate seeing anyone cop such a terrible injury, but this guy deserves it, as do those scumbags who relentlessly abused and laughed at Rambo.
Rashford will get Karma as well for his actions on Holding.
New post up now.
Karma indeed.