I quite fancy a couple of weeks of sunshine, golden sands and beautiful blue seas in Dubai but sadly the above kind of beach is what awaits our squad and not you or I. Well, not me anyway. Before they all hop on an aeroplane though there’s one more challenge. Burnley on Sunday afternoon.
For the club itself, it’s deadline day, the last chance before the end of the season to add someone new to the squad. I doubt they will, other than perhaps Cedric Soares, who might not be the kind of player ‘some’ Arsenal fans want to see but if injuries keep knocking us for six, it’s better to have a right back playing at right back than flogging one of Hector Bellerin or AMN into the ground and having to move yet another player out of position. At least he’s PL ready, mature and wise.
I’ve seen a few headlines on NN suggesting that AMN career at Arsenal could be at risk should Soares arrive but in my opinion, I reckon this could be more about Bellerin and concerns about his body strength. If of course there is a reason behind Soares being targeted by Arsenal, other than Mikel Arteta tightening up the defence. A defence which is looking much stronger now than it’s been for a long long time.
After the break, the number of fixtures increase again. Not quite as hectic as a festive period but we’ll have the League, FA Cup and the return of Europa so it’s a good job we have a deep squad. It might not be perfect, but it’s certainly deep.
When you build a good group and have a coaching philosophy like Mikel’s, I think he can completely change Arsenal and the current dynamic around the team.
I think as a coach he has everything it takes to achieve that, plus he has a very good side with top players. I think as time goes by and with the day-to-day work from Mikel, we can achieve that.
Mikel transmitted a lot of confidence to me. He’s a great coach and he’s changing things at a big club. It’s really important to have that personality to be able take decisions at a big club during such a tricky time and I think that speaks volumes about Mikel.
In terms of the system he uses on the pitch, I think he has very clear ideas which reflect my own vision of football. I want to work hard every day and every weekend to repay Mikel’s confidence in me.
Of course our new signing Pablo Marí is hardly likely to say anything negative about his new head coach or teammates but regardless, he sounds full of optimism. I’m really looking forward to seeing him play and the way our fixtures will be coming fast and furious, that day might not be too far away.
On the Sunday after we return from Dubai which is the 16th February, we play the first of of four matches in just eleven days. Newcastle at The Emirates, Olympiacos away, Everton at The Emirates and then the return leg against the Greek side. Should we win the two legged Europa tie, March isn’t much better but we can’t complain because the more games we’re playing, it means we’re still in the Cups.
Finally, there are a few headlines on NN which suggest Emre Can could be a deadline day mover. The Metro, bless them, report that Arsenal have made a ‘lucrative’ off to bring him to north London. It’d be funny if it’s true and he signed for us. After all, we already have the Xhaka…. Bad?
How about this one then from VCC:
“Very disappointed by the film 1917. Turns out it was about the war and not the last time Spurs won a trophy”
On that note….
Hi All arsenal officially announce cedric soares sign on loan
Good Geoff.
Hi Rico and All Good to see us hopefully getting stronger in the back line and mid field and the best part so far is that we lost none of our top players for free or sold cheap
Well he’s done what he can on what is obviously a restricted budget , lets hope for all our sakes that it’s sufficient.
Er,the Burnley game is this Sunday feb 2nd at 2.00pm
Yes they fly out immediately after the game providing that Corona virus doesn’t shut down the country.
Hi Geoff, the very thing many of us here have been asking for for years.
I’m human Uwot.
Good point Potter. Would make sense not to travel right now as who knows what’s in the air conditioning.
looks like a bottle of whisky and a bus trip to Devon then.
Apparently we are paying Southampton £1 million as a transfer fee and covering Soaries’ £65,000 per week wages.
For an experienced, Premiership ready fullback that’s peanuts. Could prove to be a very good signing.
The Dubai trip is under threat from the Coronavirus outbreak as is my upcoming holiday to Sri Lanka as victims have been identified there. Hey ho, at least we have holiday insurance.
I reckon everyone must be out street partying in celebration of Brexit….
Not a transfer fee, a loan fee.
Another hour and it’s all over. No, not the transfer window….BREXIT!!!!
Very sad that arsenal did not sale m oz
Should have bought Mykola Matviyenko from Shakhtar he’s a younger prospect and a much better player than both Mari and Soaries. Bad choices. If Man City gets rid they’re not good enough.
For how much though Ross? From what Mikel Arteta said, loans were pretty much the only option.
New post up now