Morning all.
It seems David Ornstein and his chums at The Athletic are the most reliable of sports outlets. The newspaper is not for its glorious or misleading headlines, unlike a few I could mention. This morning, that very newspaper has some interesting information which is best shared.
| Arsenal centre-back Rob Holding has committed his future to the club by signing a new long-term contract, The Athletic can reveal.
The 25-year-old was close to joining Newcastle on loan last summer but is enjoying regular game time this season and has now extended a deal that was scheduled to expire in 2023. Although his recovery from a serious knee injury suffered in December 2018 was not easy, Holding has made 17 appearances in 2020-21 and started each of Arsenal’s past 12 Premier League games. The permanent signing of two central defenders in the last transfer window — Pablo Mari and Gabriel — looked ominous for Holding and The Athletic reported in August that a temporary move to St James’s Park was near to being finalised. Some at Arsenal were open to the Englishman’s departure as it would guarantee him minutes on the pitch and reduce the size of a bloated squad, however manager Mikel Arteta intervened and never had any desire to sanction the transfer. Holding is viewed by Arteta and Arsenal’s technical director Edu as one of their emerging leaders and an important part of the club’s future as they seek to build a squad blending senior professionals with top-class emerging talent. One player who could leave the Emirates Stadium is goalkeeper Alex Runarsson, with Arsenal open to letting the 25-year-old move on loan if they can secure a replacement as back-up to Bernd Leno. Runarsson arrived from French side Dijon in September after Emi Martinez was sold to Aston Villa and the Gunners could not secure their first-choice successor, David Raya of Brentford. The Iceland international was always viewed as more of number three stopper and he endured a disappointing performance in the 4-1 League Cup defeat at home to Manchester City last month. Arsenal decision is not a reaction to that display but they recognise the need for Runarsson to gain experience, which should be possible with a host of teams in the Championship and Europe interest in taking him for the second half of the campaign. While they will again explore signing a permanent number two, if that is not possible in January then an seasoned player may be loaned before the matter is readdressed in the summer. It is unclear if Raya, whose club are pushing for promotion to the Premier League, remains the first-choice target. Arsenal also have a highly-rated Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein and the 18-year-old qualifies as homegrown in the summer. That helps mitigate for the exit of Matt Macey to Hibernian. |
If true, and logic alone would suggest it probably is, what a turnaround for Rob Holding. He looked to be on his way out but together with Pablo Mari, our defence has looked pretty secure. Even Leno seems calmer with the pair of them in front of him. Holding is a good old fashioned English defender I think. Defending comes first and certainly before trying to be Messi with the ball at his feet.
I’m not at all surprised to read were after a new number two keeper. Runasson is too lightweight, inexperienced and looks scared stiff each time the ball comes his way. He’s not a keeper Arsenal should be depending on if Leno were to suffer an injury. Clearly Mikel Arteta feels the same otherwise Runasson would have started against Newcastle.
In my opinion, the club should look to the Championship or League One for a new keeper. Find someone who is busy week in week out and is performing. Find someone strong and with a presence. Experienced but not past it. Someone who isn’t afraid of big players up against him. You know, like the guy we had this time last season who stepped up when Leno did get injured.
It’s the FA Cup draw later today and seeing as we can’t draw Marine at home, Crawley would be a good tie. I watched them beat Leeds yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Crawley totally deserved their victory but Leeds really were awful. Crawley have a good left back, a guy the Toots and then Brentford let go apparently. He scored a cracking goal and defended well too.
Anyway, at 7.10pm today, we’ll find out who we’re to face next.
See you in the comments.
Good Morning Rico and everyone.
(I copied and pasted the comments I made a few moments ago on the previous post)
Napoli in for Tierney??? lol. that has got to be the fake news of the century. First of all and most important is that Napoli have bigger needs elsewhere and will simply not offer £80m for the left back position. Secondly and also important is that financially, Napoli cannot afford that outlay. Even Juventus are finding finances hard let alone Napoli.
I dont think Arsenal are daft enough to allow him to leave whatever the money thrown at them. Imo Tierney, Saka, ESR, Martinelli and at the moment Lacazette are untouchables. Yes I included Lacazette because he is the focal point of attack. Unless we find someone who can do his job better that will make him as untouchable.
Each player has his price. But the above mentioned players atm have no price. They should be unavailable to sell, loan, steal or whatever.
https://www.justarsenal.com/ozil-offers-arsenal-the-chance-to-get-rid-of-him-in-a-flexible-way/269734
If this is really true than Arsenal should do it. It is spread over three years. Imo its the best way for the present circumstances…..as with the wages they free up they can employ other players with his wages alone. At least two players to three.
Any fee they get for other players they sell will be a bonus.
Good read for the article above Rico. I too feel that with Holding, MAri and Gabriel, we have three fourths of a very good CB permutations. Now its either Chambers steps up or else we get someone else in the Gabriel mould. Should be right footed of course. As I pointed out yesterday, the FB situation has only Tierney as untouchable. The future of the other three is up in the air. And while I expect Soares to stay next season as well, Bellerin and AMN need to be addressed. Especially if AMN may be deployed at CM, his favourite position. So either way we still need to address the FB situation equally.
Morning Devil and all.
Napoli can take a long walk off a short pier, as can Ozil imo.
I think you should re-phrase that (about Napoli) in favour of the author of the journalist(?) who came up with the news/invention/joke/ fake news/fantasy dream/muddying waters (delete as appropriate). Because honestly I cant see Napoli even thinking that one out. Napoli know that in Italy only Juventus can tempt a player like Tierney. And even they are suffering financially. The journalist needs to be flogged with a cat-o-nine-tails until it sinks in that he must not lie or invent to earn decent money.
Scott said :
Leno didn’t receive enough recognition for his performance imo.
There were 3 parts to that save , the first was standard blocking, the second was brave , and third quick reactions to fall on the ball . All of this is standard goalkeeping practice but
The way Carrol came in swinging his foot could have taken his head off,it would have been easy to get out the way , he didn’t
Great save .
Regarding Tierney I doubt that there’s anything in it , you wouldn’t play the way he does if he was looking at moving elsewhere. The story invented by Mike McGrath in the telegraph has now been picked up by the Sun and this is the way it spreads be prepared for a hundred News Now threads tempting clicks
.The best thing would be for Tierney to deny it unless of course his agent is spreading the news to get a bit more money out of the club as Tierney has now become so important to the team.
Potter,
I believe Leno did a lot more than just those few seconds of action though.
He was fantastic and if he conceded a goal, we’d all be hearing about how we should’ve kept Martinez so I reckon we should be fair.
We are recalling well right now, and headed the right way though there is a long way to go.
Tierney comes across as an honest and decent guy imo. I think this rumour is mischief making.
Morning all.
Isn’t the Tierney to Napoli a bit of historical recycling? Didn’t they show some interest in him whilst he was still at Celtic? For any pencil sucking hack during the TW what an easy suggestion to make.
The only thing that we can be 100% certain of is that there is not one grain of truth in the current story. I mean why would he want to go to Italy? He’s a Scotsman therefore he must love porridge and haggis not pizza and pasta. I mean really……?
And, Leno has looked far more poised and secure over the last few matches. It stems back half a dozen games or so, ago, when he jumped for a cross and actually caught the ball, not just once but three times in the same game. Whoosh…..we seem to have a bit of a keeper again, albeit not a ‘goalie’ yet!
Turgid game on Saturday until we were bolstered by the ‘young guns’
Wavy, any playe, takes time coming back from a major injury, especially when it was caused by an obvious foul so I never understood the criticism of Leno but so be it.
You’re right, Napoli were after Tienreny in 2019 and missed out so this is just media crap!!!
I hope that my comments about the keepers didn’t come across as criticism of Leno . It was just my belief that Martinez commanded his area better. However that is all under the bridge now so it’s upwards and onwards from here.
Morning Rico, good news from the contract dept regarding Rob Holding, he might not have the passing range of David Luiz but I know who I prefer in our defence.
His style is never going to suit the purists but to me he’s a proper defender and we just look a better team with proper defenders in our defence.
I get what you’re saying about Ozil spreading out his contract DG but it’s just 6 months and I’m sure we can cope with another 6 months because then he’s gone for good. Imagine if we are constantly reminded, as we certainly will be, that we’re paying that wasters wages for another three years!
I don’t want that and I’m also suspicious of why he’s offering Arsenal that deal in the first place, what’s in it for him?
No, if he’s got a nice little earner lined up for this January window then let him take it and take a reduction from Arsenal otherwise sit it out for the duration, it really doesn’t bother me one iota.
Its a double edged sword Kev. If we force Ozil to sit it out then its 350kpw till June but we will be limited on how many players we can get with regards wages. However if we split his wages over three years of 68kpw then we will have around 280kpw available for other players.
Yes we will be lumped for 3 years with him but with the money saved it will be two or three players’ wages.
its a conundrum. one which needs careful consideration
Afternoon Kev, all.
I too think Martinez was a much bigger presence in goal and certainly more reliable on set pieces.
Ditto Kev, Holding wins that race every time imo. By the end of the summer, I think our squad will look quite different to how it is now.
G’day all.
I hope the rumour, and it is only a rumour there’s nothing on arsenal.com, that Rob Holding has signed a contract extension is true. I think that along with Tierney, Gabriel and Mari we have the makings of a strong defensive force.
Arteta pretty much confirmed it in his press conference Cicero.
on if it’s true that Rob Holding has signed a new contract?
“It’s something that we will announce as quickly as we can, but it looks like it.”
I honestly don’t think that any business we do this January is going to be season changing DG, it’s what we do next summer that counts for me, but I take your point.
Ozil wouldn’t suggest anything that would be beneficial to Arsenal unless he is going to benefit even more and I personally don’t want to see that.
One day the truth will come out about his stay at Arsenal and I don’t think that Mr Ozil is going to come out of it smelling of roses.
Martin Keown was pretty ruthless with his assessment of Ozil.
Arsenal are number 12 in the draw.
Away to Southampton or Shrewsbury then if we get through that , away to Wolves or Chorley
Not a bad draw by any means for us.
Norwich away to Barnsley, C’mon The Canaries!!!
If Ozil spreads his wage over the next 3 years, will that make it easier for him to find a new club?
That’s the only reason I could think he’d make this offer.
He could take a pay cut Scott to find a new club, but maybe that’s a bit too radical?
Of course, Kev and he should but it seems that isn’t happening.
Good Morning everyone
I think Ozil prefers the salary to be spread over three years, and the reason why lies with Elneny’s experience in the Turkish league. Clubs in Turkey dont have much money due to present covid situation. Elneny was not getting paid by his club abnd infact there were games in which he refused to play during mid-season. Ozil is aware of that and while he knows that he will be eventually paid, he prefers to split his remaining Arsenal contract over three years which translates that he will still be receiving a sort of income from Arsenal even if the club he is playing for dont pay him on time.
That is what I feel to be the real reason for his suggestion. I might be mistaken of course.
Morning all.
New post up now