Morning all.
Both Ismeal Kabia and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji made the bench for the game against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday instead of just the latter as has been the case recently. It might be that the suspension of Myles Lewis-Skelly opened the door for Kabia and nothing more.
However, I’ve not read or seen anything positive about Raheem Sterling’s time at Arsenal so far and despite me writing a week or so ago about not throwing the younger players into the team, perhaps the time has come for Kabia or Butler-Oyedeji to be given minutes instead of him.
I think the fans would get behind one of our own whereas with Sterling, it’s hard to think further than him being a Chelsea player. A Chelsea reject at that. He has been so bad, I don’t think a Sunday League player could do any worse. (Ok, maybe they would.)
This season has in general been pretty poor and not just for Arsenal. The media hyped this to be season we’d win the league probably based on the fact that we’d come so close last time. Now of course we’re being labelled as having failed. Never mind that Totts, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea and every other club other than Liverpool are behind us in the table, it’s Arsenal who constantly take a media caning.
Mikel Arteta takes a caning each week too, each day in certain places but he cannot magic up three attacking players to replace the injured by clicking his fingers and nor can those who work with him. He could though, introduce one or two of younger players at the second half IF a game looks won or as and when the season draws to a close with top four hopefully secured.
I know it’s easy for you and I to suggest that January was a greatly missed opportunity to bring in a player or two, even if it was a loan deal but the last thing we needed was another Sterling to rock up and be as effective as a chocolate fire guard in front of a roaring coal fire.
I suppose another option would have been to pay way over the odds for a striker but that would have been stupid in my opinion because in just over three months time, Arsenal as a club will have a lot of work to do in the transfer window so will need to spend every last penny available, wisely.
There’s a story going around in the newspapers which suggests Arsenal need to sell one of Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli to fund signing a striker. I doubt it’s true, or at least part of it but if a serious offer comes in for one or both, then the club would be foolish not to consider it. In fact we have a number of players who are likely to move on this summer because for most of the season they’ve either been on the bench or injured.
Jakob Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and if he’s fit enough to sell, possibly Gabriel Jesus could move on this summer for a transfer fee. As it stands, Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Kieran Tierney will leave for free. Sterling and Neto will return to their parent club.
We will need a keeper if Karl Hein is deemed ready or right for the club. A CDM, probably two, to replace Partey and Jorginho but I don’t think we’ll need any more defenders. Lol
What we need then, at least in my opinion, is attacking players including at least one striker. Then look at the academy and who is on the cusp of becoming a first team squad member.
Can or will some of our squad places be filled internally?
Catch up in the comments….
Good morning Rico, on a theme of drifting to towards next season :-Some Arsenal gossip this morning. We are interested in 30 year old Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich on a free transfer in the summer. As well as 27 year old Real Sociedad midfielder Zubimenda, for whom, it is said, a deal is very close.
Two of our aging midfielders are due to leave this summer, Jorginho and Partey, so a couple of experienced replacements makes sense. M L S will, therefore, have a season or so to morph into a very accomplished midfielder.
Two strikers supposedly on the Arsenal wanted list, Juventus Dusan Vlahovic 25 and 21 year old R B Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko could both be a available and, maybe, attainable.
Morning Cicero.
Not sure if that’s good or not so good news. 😜
Seriously though, both make sense, especially the replacement for Jorginho. Blocking those coming through, if they’re as good as being suggested, would be daft.
Joshua Kimmich Has only just turned 30 so 2/3 seasons left in him at least.
With a few others supposedly on the way out there would be room for all four of the above mentioned players.
Agreed, we really need that top four spot for the money. I fear it’s going to be an expensive summer.
Hopefully we’ll see a change in style of football as well as a few new faces.
A change of style would be good. Instead of interminable passing in and around the box, we should try dribbling the ball more inside the area in the hope of drawing fouls and winning penalties. But under no circumstances should Sterling be allowed to take a penalty.
Joshua Kimmich is an excellent player and he’s trying to get an improved offer from Bayern, so it makes sense for his people to link him to Arsenal and pressurise Munich into raising their ‘final’ offer.
He’s spent his entire career in Germany so he’s going to want big bucks to uproot and come to London. That said my money is on him staying at Bayern.
Does a 30 year old midfielder fit our profile of a signing? Yeah, no transfer fee is a plus but he’s gonna be expensive…
I hope we get him. 😉
Afternoon, boring for Arsenal isnt it?! Charlie Watts podcast was discussing why Nathan Butler-Oyedeji hadnt been given a chance. Seems he had two lower league loans and failed to score, and was about to be released by Arsenal before our injuries prevented it. He wondered if that’s how Arteta rates him, he’s could well lose posetion and be costly rather than use an out of position/form first team squad member.
It’s looking like we’ll have a new Director of Football in place before the end of the month and he’s going to be a busy busy boy so I can’t see it being Jason Ayto.
I think fans would be very disappointed if Ayto got the job after the January fiasco. We dont know if he had his arms tied, or if Edu would have done any better, but being in that position and nothing happening doesnt inspire confidence
Nketiah scored again today, and as for Biereth, his 10th in 2025 last night!
Add in Marco Asensio (another who we were linked with) scoring 2 for Villa last night, hard to say no loans available 🙂
I wouldn’t be bothered if Sterling never donned an Arsenal kit again…
Afternoon Kev, Andrew.
Yep, our season has just drifted away really. I know we’re still in the CL but if we can’t beat West Ham or Forest, we’re unlikely to win that…
This is from James McNicholas of The Athletic re Ayto:
While it’s pretty clear from reading the comments on this site (Athletic) that January has damaged Ayto’s standing among supporters, I don’t think it will have had the same impact internally. He is still considered a strong candidate for the position, and remains under consideration along with the shortlist of names in our news piece yesterday.
The reason he won’t be held responsible for January is that the decision to proceed without a signing was not Ayto’s alone. He was part of a wider committee, including manager Mikel Arteta, that opted to continue as they were. If anything, I think Ayto’s prudence and unwillingness to compromise the long-term plan may have improved his standing with the hierarchy.
All the conversations I’m having indicate that this was a club decision – one made collectively. So if there is blame to apportioned, it would be wrong to level it at any one individual.
Its sad rico, that I expect many feel like I do, already waiting for next season, by the end of Feb! And self-inflicted this time.
* PARTY self-inflicted *
we still suffered with red cards, refs in general, and injuries, but it still should be so much better than relying on Sterling and a 17 year old. And bound to suffer another forward injury soon
It is Andrew. I expected it though when we ended the transfer window without signing replacements for Eddie and ESR. Not to mention selling Biereth who imo, always looked like he had what it takes to succeed.
I read a piece from Calafiori who talked about his potential career ending injury when he was young. He said he reflected on what he could have done differently to avoid getting injured and wished he’d left the pitch minutes earlier because he was suffering with cramp. Had he done so, he probably wouldn’t have suffered such a dreadful injury.
Did anyone see the comment I posted the other day from Arteta who said he pushed Nwaneri as far as he could after suffering with cramp? That’s exactly how injuries can occur, pushing a player whose body is telling him to stop and rest..
Butler- Oyediji is 22 and apart from a few minutes in the Champions league hasn’t really been given a chance,so you have to think we don’t rate him.
We have really hit a brick wall in the last few games,even the set pieces have dried up,so surely it’s worth giving him or Kabia 20 minutes or so from the bench.
Apart from some great finishing from Merino even the Leicester game was pretty dire.
Our senior players need to step up,the likes of Rice and Odegaard,we know they can do it. At the moment they look more likely to be the next Pope than score a goal.
A big summer coming up,Tierney and Jorginho confirmed leaving,there will be others. The one who starts most games is Partey,so a big miss.
It’s still important we get as many points as we can from the last 11 league games.
Kimmich would be a great signing.
I can’t disagree Rico at all – and afternoon to you.
I’ve tried to give Stirling the benefit of the doubt but he’s finished at the top level. I’d rather give one of our youngsters his minutes. But we know that Arteta will stick with Raheem.