Morning all.
So, this is it then, our final pre-season fixture before the 2025/06 Premier League kicks off next weekend. The summer has seen Arsenal finally sign a striker and a winger. Oh, and a central defender, two central midfielders and a goalkeeper. Plus, Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly and now, Ethan Nwaneri have signed new contracts.
Ethan said:
Signing this contract means everything to me. I see this as my first real season in men’s senior football, as part of the squad in the changing room. I’m so excited for what I can bring to the team, I want to help us win as much as possible and bring happiness and glory to the club. This is where I feel at home.
That’s because you are at home Ethan and long may you stay. From Jeorge Bird:
Andre Harriman-Annous has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal, as reported by the club’s official website. The talented 17-year-old recently made his first senior appearance against Newcastle during the tour of Asia and was also named on the bench against Villarreal in the Emirates Cup.
It is anticipated that Harriman-Annous, who is now an England U18 international, could make his competitive first-team debut for Arsenal this season. Previously deployed in a variety of positions, Harriman-Annous was mainly used as a striker last season.
Should William Saliba and Bukayo Saka put pen to paper then what a great summer it will have been. Personally, I think it’s been good anyway.
Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira and Karl Hein are still with the club despite expectations that they will be sold but, I’m pretty sure that as the transfer window reaches its final days, interest in all four will increase, if not before. Perhaps one or two others might generate some interest too, and some funds for another creative player.
Mikel Arteta’s players take on Athletic Club at 5pm in The Emirates Cup. The Spanish club finished 4th in La Liga last season meaning they will be in the Champions League this campaign. They also reached last years Europa Cup semi-final.
A factoid for you.
- Athletic Club have a rich history with the beautiful game, having been founded on July 18, 1898. Based in Bilbao in the Basque Country, the Lions are widely known for their ‘Cantera’ policy, which focuses on bringing players through their famed academy system. Since 1911, the club has signed players exclusively from the region.
- The club are a founding member of La Liga and one of three clubs to have never been relegated, alongside FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
I find it incredible that the club has only ever signed players from its own region. Brilliant though and something I wish Arsenal could do but we can’t, not if we want to be successful. Still, if the academy keeps producing really good players, maybe one day the percentage of Hale Enders in the team will be greater than it is today.
With just a week until the new campaign kicks off, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a strong starting eleven this afternoon, possibly a side close to what we’ll see at Old Trafford, even if it’s for just 45 minutes. I’ve a feeling Noni Madueke will start and on the left because let’s face it, he’s unlikely to displace Bukayo Saka. I really want him to be a success story with Arsenal. Isn’t that what we all want for the club too, success?
Mikel Arteta might not be “your” choice of manager, just as the signings we’ve made this summer wouldn’t be your choice but once they don an Arsenal kit, they are ours. Neither the manager or players will get things right all of the time, even the great Guardiola mucked things up last season, but from the moment Arsenal as a group kick that first ball next weekend, let’s be right behind them all. For what it’s worth, I’m not a huge fan of Mikel Arteta’s style of football in previous seasons but honestly, I think it’ll be different this time. It has to be and he’ll know that better than you and I.
What was is Albert Einstein once said: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Enjoy the game guys but don’t forget, it’s a friendly….
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, with Senor Berta concentrating on new, and first professional, contracts I don’t expect any significant new signings. But we do need to shift a few out. Still plenty of time to do that before the transfer window slams shut.
Off-field priority now must be new contracts for Saka and Saliba.
On-field, a wide awake defence and a first goal or two for Viktor G.
Here’s hoping. 😉
Morning Cicero, all.
I think we might add one more player.
But yes, Saliba and Saka need wrapping up and a few sales.
I posted this on the old thread as this one came out but is has a relevance still.
potter says:
NR29 is quite nice too , an oft forgotten part of the country well worth the visit before the plans for over development takes away it’s charm.
Such are the pressures of predation from agents that the young players that once would have played in the south east counties are now being projected into the training schedule of the first team . Which in the cases of Nwaneri , MLS et al has been good for them but for the development of the others seems to have an adverse affect on the results of the under 18 and 21’s.
It can be argued that cream will always go to the top but as soon as they start to rise the agent agitates for them and due to the no contract under 16 E.U law hawks them around for the best deal.
It’s a shame but kids develop at different rates , I know of one ( nephew } very skilled and picked up by our local professional club (Norwich ) played all the way through the junior ranks until at age 12 was told that he was too small at 4 foot 3 “and discarded , now at 17 he stands at 5 foot 9 ” and plays local football .
Patience is a virtue .
.com is showing a first team squad of 27 players not including Nwaneri , Dowman , Harriman-Annous, and other Hale Enders .
I believe that 25 is the maximum players in the squad which can be supplemented by youngsters and then there are the home grown 8 player minimum.
Hein , Zinchenko , Vieira , Lokonga , Trossard and Nelson are all included so if we buy another player then 3 have to go or they sit on their hands for the season .
Departures are inevitable but how many and who and what we get for them will be the questions that dominate the rest of the window.
Manchester United complete €84million deal for Benjamin Sesko , that’s about £ 73 million in our language.
Makes the first match a media circus.
It will be interesting to see how Senor Berta’s choice, Viktor G, gets on in comparison to my preference, Benjamin Sesko.
Interesting to see all the players that have been apparently interesting many suitors have been included in todays squad, it’s almost as if Arteta and Berta are saying, ‘if you like what you see, pay up’…
I’m all on board with that, no more ‘Mr Soft Touch’ – sorry Rico Ms Soft Touch – we need to raising revenue for these players…
Btw Rico, if Berta had been in charge awhile earlier I wonder if the Biereth situation would have ended differently as far as what we got for him or if he’d stayed?
Have we a strong team?
Athletic is my favourite team in Spain.
Hope we fight for everything this year
Afternoon Rico and all. Every player who knows he is up for sale should put everythink on the line or their career could be easly over.
You could be right re Biereth Kev.
Afternoon Geoff.
Hein, Vieira and Zinchenko will surely leave before the end of the window. Nelson and Lokonga? I wouldn’t be disappointed to see Nelson stay and play, nor Lokonga if he’s sorted himself out..
Cicero, do you reckon Arsenal will accept the offer for Mead?
Should think it depends on her and whether she will get regular game time if she stays.
Rico, it’s a shame about Lokonga as I was glad we got him, he had so much to offer but for reason he just struggled to cement a place.
For sure re Mead, she must be thinking about playing time, especially having dropped down the pecking order for England..
He shot himself in the foot I think Geoff when he was caught on camera moaning about playing time. He was really good when he first arrived.
Arsenal team to play Athletic Club: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Did I miss something? Offer for Mead?
A straight forward 4 4 3. A run-out for two full backs after injuries.
Hmm, London City believed to have made a formal offer for Beth, I doubt she will move unless they are offering her substantial monetary inducements.
Personally, I would be very sorry if she decides to leave.
I would too Cicero..
Zubimendi’s passing is amazing..
Great header from the big striker and nice second from Saka, Martinelli played a big part.
Good afternoon Rico and all
Thanks for the post Rico.
4-4-3 Cicero? Does that mean Raya is playing somewhere else and we are playing with no keeper 😅😅😅
2-0 so far with VK14 breaking the score and Saka adding a second. Assists by Zubimendi and Martinelli.
He’s off the mark, may it be the first of many for Viktor G. 🔔
Saka too has hit the net.🔔
D G Arsenal don’t do goalkeepers. 😉
Just checking everyone is awake. 4 3 3 of course.
Afternoon Devil
Brilliant from Havertz. 3-0
Full time Arsenal 3 – 0 Athletic. 🔔🔔🔔
A penalty shootout win too.
I enjoyed all three goals. The first one by Macdonald was an excellent header. Then the 2nd one was a combination of Pires and Lyungberg while the third one by Henry was brilliant 😉😉
Great goal by Havertz.