Morning all.
Arsenal.com has a post match assessment of our how our pre-season fixture against Bournemouth unfolded.
Mikel Arteta opted to start with a mixture of youth and experience, with Ayden Heaven, Ethan Nwaneri, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand and Myles Lewis-Skelly all given the nod to start, and all put in solid displays during a strong opening 45 for us.
Dominic Solanke blasted over when well-placed, however in the 17th minute we made our early dominance pay. Reiss Nelson was fed on the left flank by Nwaneri, and tricked his way past Max Aarons to get to the byline and clip a cross to the back post. That was where Vieira was lurking to expertly volley into the bottom corner and get our tour off to the perfect start.
Romain Faivre went close when he fizzed a low shot across goal, and then on 35 minutes Solanke seemed destined to score when he slipped past Heaven and blasted goalwards, but Karl Hein showed excellent reactions to flick the ball onto his crossbar, and ensured we took our lead into the break.
Mikel opted to make just one alteration to his line-up at the interval, with skipper Martin Odegaard being introduced and just after the hour mark, and after a quiet opening 15 minutes of the second half that only saw another Solanke shot fly into the crowd, seven more players were introduced by the boss, including our quartet of Euro 2024 stars.
The injection of fresh legs sparked the game back into life, and Hein had to be at his best when a neat flick from Daniel Jebbison sent Dango Ouattara through on goal but the Estonia stopper stayed big and made the block, before Odegaard whipped a free-kick goalwards that Neto pushed around his post.
On 72 minutes, Semenyo nicked the ball off Omar Rekik and charged forwards. He took a shot which deflected off Ben White and into the top corner.
With seven minutes remaining it looked as though we might edge back in from when a fine Odegaard pass slipped in Leandro Trossard who twisted and turned in the area to get a shot off, but Neto blocked with his feet to deny us a win.
Arsenal won the penalty shootout 5-4 with Hein the hero.
There are highlights on YouTube for anyone who’s interested.
Of course it’s good to win a game a football regardless of whether or not it matters but the most important thing is building up fitness and Mikel Arteta getting to see what some of our young and exciting players are made of. By the sounds of it, they all did extremely well against a strong Bournemouth team.
After the game, Arteta talked about where he would like to see more growth next season:
In a lot of [areas], we want to improve in every area in the attacking and defending metrics, restarts, set-pieces with the amount of minutes that we shared around the team. I think that’s an area that we can still improve [in], and having a bit more variability and versatility in certain moments with players that we have.
Sharing minutes around the team/squad is definitely something which can be improved on…..
Talking of which, Emile Smith Rowe didn’t feature in the game, something Mikel Arteta was asked about:
Yeah, there are things happening in the background at the moment and we decided the best thing to do was to keep him away from the game today.
Sky Sports and David Ornstein report that a deal for him to move to Fulham for around £35 million is close. Crystal Palace were interested in him too so perhaps they will come back with a better offer. To say I’m sad about him leaving would be an understatement.
Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah is on the verge of joining Olympique de Marseille (OM) in a loan deal with a mandatory purchase option, according to L’Équipe and Reiss Nelson could be on the move to Leicester City according to Fabrizio Romano.
David Ornstein also reported yesterday that all agreements are now in place for Arsenal to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori. The Italy international must still undergo medical checks and put pen to paper — however the deal itself is essentially done and if everything goes to plan, the 22-year-old can be expected to join Arsenal’s pre-season tour to the United States.
So it looks like things are starting to move at Arsenal as far as transfers go.
Catch up in the comments.
Good post Rico.
I have one question with regards Nelson……if he goes on loan to Leicester and they are obliged to buy him would that remain the case if they are relegated back??? because they still have to pay the money.
Karl Hein was awarded MOTM in today’s shoot-out Win against Bournemouth. He made two game saving saves to prevent Arsenal from going behind and made two more penalty saves to give Arsenal the Win. Cool and collected in possession, however I feel that hneeds to improve in his distribution of the ball. I feel safe to say that he’s heading in right direction.
Thanks Devil.
I think they’d have to commit to the signing if conditions are part of the deal.
But would they have the money to sign him?? They need to balance books as well even if they go down
That’s their problem Devil. 😂
Mikel Arteta on whether Hein needs to leave on loan: “That’s a conversation that we are having at the moment. Obviously, David [Raya] & Aaron [Ramsdale] are away at the moment & we’re really short in the position.”
“We want to develop our players, especially a player like Karl with a big potential & a big future ahead of him. He needs to play games, so we’re going to explore that option as well.”
Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are getting a lot of praise as well. I feel that both of them will get more than enough minutes the coming season. Nwaneri was very good yesterday and physically he can be there with the senior players.
Can he do it on a regular basis?? No. But he can get games to rest others, he can get on as a sub in the last 5-10 mins or so in regular games. Yesterday showed that he can cut the mustard.
Myles got on well at LB as well and he seemed assured when in possession and tactically he was good. He kept it simple, nothing flashy.
Heaven did ok. But not yet ready to cut it out. he still has way to go
I don’t think one game in preseason is enough to judge any of our younger players, some of who were playing in the senior team for the first time. Nerves would have surely played their part.
Another thing and I think we should be honest here, which, if any of the younger players will Arteta give minutes to this coming season? My hunch is none as I think it’s likely that most of them will go out on loan.
I think Nwaneri will be kept and he will get minutes. I feel sure about that. At least he will be kept till January. And it depends on who is bought in.
I can’t see it, is he better than ESR who is being moved on?
Arteta doesn’t use youngsters or at least hasn’t in the four years he’s been manager.
I see that the Calafiori deal is nearly done,although I did read he’s had injury problems so fingers crossed about the medical. Everyone I’ve heard says he is exceptionally good but the last thing we need is another injury prone player.
His history of injuries concern me too.. Would be crazy to sign another unreliable play regardless of how good he might be.
Timber at right centre-back seemed impressive to me, initially I thought he was the right-back but Benny looks immovable in that position.
Hein looked very confident and competent, I wonder if the club might re-think sending him out on loan and have him as the No.2..?
We looked light up front, although Bournemouth were equally rusty in that dept, I guess it’s the stage on preseason we’re in. Expecting an improvement vs Man Utd.
Big respect for those fans from abroad who watch the games at unGodly hours all the time.
Is it any wonder that they’re so impatient?
Nice post Rico
Thanks Kev. I wondered similar about Hein. If Ramsdale goes we might not need to spend. It’s not like Hein is a novice, but I guess Cana will have the final say..
Great news that it looks like we could be bringing in some good money for unwanted players,I feel they could all do well at another club.
ESR is the bittersweet one because he hasn’t really let us down when called on,whereas with Nelson and Nketiah,if we are honest they have had plenty of chances.
My feeling to re ESR, just feel there’s a great player in him just waiting to shine and sadly, it looks like Fulham will find it.
Afternoon Rico and all.
The only regret I have about getting up early in morning to watch us play, is not haveing a soundproof room were I can turn the volume up the get more of the crowed noise, except for the guy with the drum,
Maybe, Arteta feel Hein needs a bit more match experiance that’s why he is looking at loaning him out and getting a 31 year old keeper for 2 years then bring him in to replace / challange Raya,
I like ESR but the best thing for him would be to move and find a club that will give the game time, so he refocus and show Arteta how good he is.
Afternoon Geoff.
Maybe, maybe if he does well in the next two fixtures, he’ll stay.
Rico, I feel that with regards ESR it’s not his skill, technique or the potential but his physical issues plus the problems pointed out by Kelsey recently, that is, his attitude.
There’s also another issue why I think Nwaneri stays and ESR goes. The latter will fetch 35M+ to the club while keeping Nwaneri means a good player, lesser contract and he could be moulded as Arteta wants.
What leads you to think that there are clubs out there willing to pay £35 million for a player with chronic injury problems and, as you intimate, attitude issues too? Words such has pole touch and barge come to mind.
What would your attitude be if it was Arsenal looking to spend that sort of money on that sort of player?
So personally I feel that the major reason why ESR goes is purely financial
Cicero, how much did ESR play in the EPLin the last 2 years? Just 25 games.
How much time did he spend out injured? In the last 6 years he has made 80 appearances. Most of the time he was out injured.
With regards attitude I just pointed out what was said.
I am mostly in the dark…..as most of us are. And I don’t expect AFC to come out and tell us the real reason.
I would have loved ESR to make at AFC. much more than anyone can imagine. Unfortunately it’s not meant to be.
In what way, financially, will ESR benefit by a move to a mid table club like Fulham?
I’m far from convinced by your theory Devil. Fulham would have done their homework and as Cicero suggests, they probably wouldn’t be signing him for that kind of money which is a record for them.
I think it’s more simple, Arteta doesn’t rate him.
I did not mean that ESR will benefit financially. I meant that Arsenal are seeing the financial profit they will make on ESR if he goes.
Acc to internet, Fulham are ready to meet Arsenal’s valuation with their 2nd bid. Again I am in the dark, going only by what I read
I think we are saying the same thing in different words Rico. It might be that Arteta does not rate him because of the above reasons.
If there is a serious attitude problem, why hasn’t Arteta acted before now, he’s had what four years to do so?
he couldnt do so before Cicero. maybe he was ok in the first two years and then he could not sell him in the past two years due to injuries. now he has ended the season well and maybe the club considers this the right time to sell him at a profit.
Again, I go by what I read. I dont work in the club.
It’s a discipline problem with ESR breaking rules by going out clubbing the night before a home game and as my daughter worked there for 5 years I heard many things.Pepe was even worse .It was confidential but she gave up teaching English to PL footballers 6 months ago as it wasn’t lucrative and the majority cancelled same day of a lesson.Most are great with their feet but make friends from all clubs often from their mother countries. I know you don’t believe me but I know it’s a fact otherwise he wouldn’t be for sale.
I don’t think he rates him as a footballer Devil regardless of what else he’s supposed to have done or not done.
Agreed Cicero, he’s not been slow to deal with others who’ve not behaved well.
Devil, I’ve not seen anything negative written on the internet about ESR though..
Let’s face none of us knows what’s really going on perhaps in a few years ESR will write his memoirs and reveal all. In the meantime it’s all just meaningless speculation and hardly worth the effort of typing it.
Fabian Ruiz on loan from PSG rumours are doing the rounds.
Amen to that…
Rico, while I agree with Cicero that it’s all speculation, with regards those who Arteta got rid of, namely Ozil, Auba, Guendouzi and Laca, keep in mind that they didn’t fetch any dough through sales. With regards ESR he will fetch over 30M+ according to what I keep reading.
I read that about Ruiz, but I tend to prefer Merino
But they could, perhaps should have done Devil. How could we not sell Auba but Chelsea did? Guendouzi should have gone for a fee and again, should have.
But, it’s water under the bridge now..
I don’t know much about Ruiz apart from that published by Wikipedia, a midfielder capable of playing both defensive and attacking versions with good passing skills. At twenty-eight he’s at the upper end of the ideal age range, a five year contract, which seems to be the industry standard, would mean little or no sell on value.
Apparently it’s a loan we’re interested in. Maybe, perhaps, who knows 😜
I wouldn’t mind bringing both Merino and Ruiz but it would mean maybe Vieira and/or Partey leaving.
Regardless of all the chat about the dough that KSE/Arsenal have brought in over the last 12 months we still have a heck of a lot of amortising to deal with for previous deals, so I don’t see too much more laid out after Califiori and Merino, hence taking Ruiz on the never never!
Still no concrete interest in Ramsdale who is costing a lot of dough to warm a bench.
If it is an attitude thing with ESR, Then the only reason why Arteta kept him that I can think of, was to give him one more chance.
Isn’t Merino a breed of sheep? Signing him might not be a baa baad thing. 😁
Morning everyone.
From what I have read on the money that Arsenal stand to get for 3 players, EN14, ESR10, AND Nelson it seems that Eddie will fetch 30, ESR 35 and Nelson 15. That is 80M for 3 players from Hale End. If those suns are correct then those three would have balanced Calafiori, Raya, Setford and maybe Bentley meaning equal balance between money received and money spent.
Ramsdale may balance Merino and Ruiz loan fee.
That’s how I think it might go.
Cicero, In that case Marino has to play along side Timber, now only if we can find a keeper called Farmer
Morning, I am sure there is a lot going on behind the scenes and I believe the transfer window doesn’t close until the end of August (which I personally think is wrong) but who are we linked with in attack? Jesus has a poor goals per games record and Saka looked knackered having played so much last season for club and country and we have no like for like replacement,thoughts.
Cicero, that’s bad… 😂
New post up.