Morning all.
With no Champions League next season, Wenger can fully focus on the EPL. Key players can be rested, young players can be gradually introduced into the team/squad on a semi-regular basis and the Premier League will become the priority again.
I for one, will be glad about that.
Being out of the CL certainly seemed to benefit Liverpool and especially Chelsea, who both finished above Arsenal along with our Middlesex neighbours, in the top four this year. Both the Scousers and Chavs will have the added drain of the CL on their resources. Injuries/fatigue/more injuries during next season whilst Middlesex will be coming home to Middlesex and playing at the National Stadium where hopefully they’ll continue their wonderful record there.
Relegation awaits perhaps?
I wrote about a month ago ‘only the most blinkered of optimists can seriously believe that Arsene is still capable of winning it’ – that is the Premier League, but maybe we are in the best position for years to give it a go?
Even someone as stubborn as Arsene cannot disregard the last twelve months, how it spiralled into a world of negativity and how the atmosphere at away games in particular turned nasty and toxic. He is really drinking in the Last Chance saloon, because those feelings of deja vu have not been swept away by the FA Cup success, only a fool would think so, and Arsene is no fool.
So this summer is probably the most important summer he’s had to negotiate since 1997. If he fails to respond and it goes tits up then he really has no one else to blame and no where to go.
As for Europe next season, the manager has the opportunity to use the early rounds of the UEFA Cup, depending on the opposition, to further integrate some of our promising young players into the senior squad, if only from the bench.
With less life or death games to play he can rotate whilst allowing the ultimate ambition of a proper and sustained title challenge to deal with. In fact Arsene can rotate to his hearts content in Europe and let his imagination go full pelt.
Krystian Bielik has to come into contention after a successful loan at Birmingham City, whilst attacking Nigerian midfielder Kelachi Nwakali has had a stand out loan in Holland with Maastricht. There could be some work permit issues, but if Wenger pushes it and depending on other business he does during the summer, we could see Nwakali involved in Europe for us.
The three at the back opens doors for certain players and closes them for others, so whilst Theo Walcott could see his opportunities reduced the likes of Bielik and Ben Sheaf suddenly have more avenues into the senior squad. Sheaf has developed well, a bit under the radar since being switched from midfield to defence but even so, a season on loan could be more likely for the ex-West Ham midfielder.
A new goalkeeper is unlikely despite rumours linking us to Pickford of Sunderland, but there still is change in the air with Ospina bound to leave and the future of Szczesny unclear with rumours of interest for our 20 a day stopper from several Serie A clubs. Even Juventus have been mentioned. I can’t see Wojciech being happy at being understudy to Petr Cech even with a lot of games in the cups, so with only a year left on his deal (classic Arsenal) it looks likely that both Szczesny as well as Ospina will leave. So unless Arsene signs another experienced goalkeeper to act as cover, it seems that Emi Martinez will be our No.2 with Matt Macey and Hugo Keto vying for the position as our No.3 keeper.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Jeff Reine-Adelaide should be, after another year, at a point similar to where Alex Iwobi was last summer and so could both be in and around the squad more often and in particular involved in the UEFA Cup.
Besides Bielik and Nwakali our other loanees have had a mixed time this season and I doubt any others will be making any impression on the senior squad next season, in fact it might be in their interests to pursue their careers elsewhere.
Jon Toral, after a stand out season at our ‘nursery club’ Birmingham during 2015/16 has hit a bit of a wall whilst at Glasgow Rangers. He’s 22 and you’d expect him at that age to be on the fringe of the 1st team, but that doesn’t seem likely. Likewise Gedion Zelalem and Dan Crowley have been unable to step up to the level required for the Premier League. Those 3 midfielders could well find themselves at new clubs next season or shipped out on loan whilst their contracts run down.
Ismael Bennacer, 20, has already said that he favours another season on loan, probably back in France once more, rather than stagnate in the U23’s. Marc Bola, 20, after a spell at Notts County should do likewise, hopefully in a higher division.
Cohen Bramhall has kept his head down and worked hard, a good pre-season with some top level coaching and we might have a player capable of understudying our new Bosnian left-wing-back. Talking of wing-backs, Carl Jenkinson would probably be a much better wing-back than full-back. Freed of much of the defensive duties he struggled with, but bombing forward whipping over crosses. Maybe the change has come too late for Carl, with Crystal Palace waiting to snap him up.
Finally the Willock brothers should see their contract impasse sorted out this summer with both deserting us for Manchester United. Arsenal will receive some compensation for the duo who’ll link up with their elder brother and hopefully be as successful as Matthew Wicks was.
So Europa might not be all that bad as we could just get to see some of our younger players coming through..
Written by AllezKev..
Very refreshing read
Let’s hope Arsene takes advantage of the situation Kev!!
Let’s also hope some of the young guys step up as the chance is there!
Morning all.
Morning all, thanks Kev and good post.
I’m with you, you Europa to bring a few younger/squad players. Mix them with a few older heads and it’ll do them the world of good. As it will our PL challenge.
If AW has a good summer and the league campaign starts and continues really well, he won’t have to worry about the CL place the Europa offers…
I did read we can expect a max of three signings which I can’t believe will be true, especially as we’re clearly going to wave goodbye to a few…
Interesting read Kev. It’s not often we get much info about the youngsters, you and Fred aside. It makes you wonder what goes on down at Hale End, so few of the trainees ever come through. So many hopefuls and so many under developed talent. Wenger was thought to be a giver of chances to any good/top, top young players. I can only bring to mind Cesc and wheelchair! In twenty years, that’s not very many. There may have been one or two others but they clearly didn’t come to anything, with us as I can’t remember them!
As for two or three in, li believe it when I see them in red and white. If he has any targets I’ll wager they, whoever they may be, will have been hoovered up long before the old man has woken from his post prandial nap(s). He suffers from the worries of the older generation how much to spend, always prepared to look at the bargains before committing to the main men. The main men will be long gone and there will be no top, top players left!
The Europa cup perhaps poses a bit of a problem in that if you win it you are automatically in the CL. If you don’t commit to the competition and go out early the focus has to be finishing in the top four. That conundrum will pose all sorts of muddle headed thinking in the few remaining competent brain cells in the old chap’s head! What he’ll choose to do I don’t think he knows himself! Plus ça change!
Wet and windy here. Not best. Morning all.
Don’t forget Bellerin and Iwobi Wavy, Coquelin too… lol
And Gibbs !………………………and Bendtner ! 🙂
Morning all……………………..wet and windy here, lucky I was on the ride-on-mower gone past 9pm last night !………gives me a couple of weeks off from mowing before it all starts again !.
Fine post Adonis Kev.
In theory all sounds well, but we are talking Arsene here !
As for the maximum 3 players being brought in, does that incude the freebie from Shalke ?………….cant think of his name Kolapseddisc….Kolashnikov ?
Kolasinac !..
Oh yer!
Bellerin has been a top top player, not at the top of his game recently, however.
Le Coq, well, a good combative player, probably EPL standard but not a top top player or even close, imo.
Iwobi, no not yet. Good in flashes but more ordinary than top, as yet. I do believe he could develop into a top top player though, if he’s given the right kind of encouragement and coaching. Mmm, we’ll have to wait and see on that one.
Gibbs had all the makings of the ‘new Ashley Cole’ but he reached a good standard but he never took the next step up and has now become a bit of a liability. Too many injuries perhaps.
Injuries and he’s not as strong as he could be. Perhaps he’s a better winger than defender.
I really hope that whoever Wenger signs, they are in before The Emirates Cup. We need to be ready for the first game, unlike last season.
We are not in the CL but we are in the Euro League. Wil we want to win thus cup or not?
If the answer is yes, we play more games in that competition then in the CL. Besides, we play on Thursday, not Wednesday or Tuesday. So, it’s worst because whenever we play on Saturday, we have a few days off.
On the other hand, there are more games, we can be involved in several competitions, we are a team always with several players injured and excluded, travel much, paralyzed financial issues. The only advantage is if we win, we have direct entry into the Champions League.
We might have to do about 55 games in the season.
How is it more advantageous?
Jm, if we play Europa on a Thursday we will play on a Sunday sonits no different from playing a Wednesday and then Saturday.
I don’t think Wenger will treat the cup the same as the CL, I think he’ll go all out for the league. However, if the league campaign goes belly up, andcwe are still in Europa, his focus might turn to that..
I’m just guessing though..
Sky Sports report that a deal has been agreed for Szczesny to move to Juve.
Afternoon Rico,Kev and All
Kev looking at the U/18 squad a lot have been brought in
from other clubs.
If you go back in time the best times for bringing players through
was from the combination league.
It would nice if we could keep a few old heads to play in a reserve
set up.
Managing the playing time 90min could work.
Listening to The real players praising ZZ after most thought he
would flop,maybe a little clue….something rubbed off.
He must be a good coach,even without the Rep.
Looking at The quides from Sports Science modules..
One of the key points is younger players being able to play
with older siblings or older teams.
Thats not happening with the top sides anymore.
Afternoon Fred.
Vieira perhaps in two years time…
Wenger and Gazidis are both in France.. Mmmmmmm…..
Arsene Wenger spotted in Nice with Ivan Gazidis as move to sign Kylian Mbappe intensifies…………………………………that would be nice !…………………………but maybe they are more than just work buddies and like to holiday together near Monaco, that would be nice too.
I`m not copying or reading anything from The Sun anymore as they are scum and I hope it all goes tits up for them !………………………Mirror instead !…………………….
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsene-wenger-kylian-mbappe-arsenal-10564134?service=responsive
Who said The Syrup can’t Crack The Whip.
Rico, you forgot to put nice on the end of Mmmmmmm…………….. 🙂
Or…..Mmmmmmmbappe !……………………..nice !
Fred, who did? 😉
Lc it’s probably to hunt down Sanogo and drag him back….
Lets hope its not Red Herring Day …Rico.
Afternoon Rico
Hear Sanogo has left the stage .Nothing lost or gained .
Had he a meaningful salary to start with ?
Still we are left the massive under achievers overpaid dead woods like that midget Feo who is draining resources and places for a decade.
Good luck boy on your injury…. and me think given time-play there is something in that lad.I always liked his chaotic presence in that box..
In that little time i have seen of him was scrappy as Wellbeck or Ade before him but vilified in bundles.
Fingers and toes Fred, fingers and toes..
Hi Alex. Another £45k off the wages each week so plenty gained I’d say…
If it was on 45k i agree 100% Rico but i doubt ??
If that the case Le Prof has lost that little bit respect i had on him.
I assume the Jenks and Gibbs and all the rubbish that he accumulated there are paid more.
Good Afternoon to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gunners in residence.
Kev – A very interesting article and it’s great to see you’re maintaining your AllezKev. persona in these trying times.
You didn’t mention Reiss Nelson – too early &/or young?
Afternoon Cg, unusual to see you at this time of day.. lol
JM, if Arsene rotates the squad, and that was the gist of the post, (lost in translation perhaps?) then Wenger can save his 1st choice for the Premier League and mix n match in the ‘early’ rounds of the UEFA Cup, maybe taking it more seriously if we progress?
The Premier League remains the priority, which is what I wrote, sorry if you misunderstood, And that’s where Arsene’s focus should be next season.
Doesn’t mean that we cannot enjoy the UEFA Cup and if possible try to win it.
I hope that is clearer…
Fred, we definitely miss the Football Combination, that mixture of older players and youngsters. I’m not sure that our young players are any better prepared now than they were 25 years ago.
Thanks for the edit Rico
Thanks for all the positive comments.
CG, Brainwashed Kev is still lurking, glad you enjoyed the post, Reiss Nelson is definitely one to watch next season, alongside Nkteiah and Mavididi
Pleasure Kev.
Wavy – I think that there would have been a few others like Larsen and Ozyakup who might have made it, but matured when we already had two or three established players ahead of them in their preferred position.
Arsene has never been one to hold onto players and stifle their development just in case they may be needed. Also, most ambitious young players would rather be playing regularly for a lesser team than waiting on the bench for an opportunity that might not come.
Kev – Let’s hope things go well for The Arsenal and you can keep ‘Brainwashed Kev’ in the distant background.
Were you driving during the chaos at London Bridge the other night?
Le Coq – They could also be there for Mbappe’s team mate Thomas Lemar.
Both would be nice…. Ok, that’s being greedy..
Lol….Rico
Sanogo the generous one are quoting @30k but seems to be 20K
Matters not really Alex, he’s gone and I’m pleased. Shame we never really got to see him play but I guess he wasn’t really deemed good enough, even when fit.
Rico – I think after all the disappointments of previous summers we deserve to be greedy for once. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’d do the toes too, but it makes it hard to walk without falling.
We are certainly overdue a good summer Cg but is Arsene Wenger the one to get the best out of them? Of that I’m not convinced..
What z hell….Tiote is dead
Surely Arsene cant tempt our taste buds with an offer for Mmmmmbappe and then go for someone less !………………………he wouldn`t do that would he ?
It`s an Arsenal thing !…………….I remember years ago my young taste buds were in meltdown with the rumour we were going to buy George Best………….only to get Tommy Coakley instead ! hahaha
Only 30 years old !……………………………..RIP Cheick !
That’s terribly sad news. 30 years old! That’s cruel. RIP Cheick Tiote….
RIp Cheik Tiote …we will remember you with that unbelieveable long strike ..4:4 draw
The Donkey Diaby game….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq2GhVEGgig
Was it Almunia in the goal that day or schezny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCoMb1QuWgw
Szczesny Alex
Yes I was working that evening CG.
If wasn’t a pretty sight.
No rico, we will play on Saturdays ans Sundays because:
a) Not depends only for ourselves but also the others teams.
b) There are domestic competitions and international competiitions for us and for the others
c) Depends of TV schedule
d) After 48 hours, we can play another game. The question is the overload of the games, specially in Christmas, Easter and at the end of the season and the reflection in the whole season and players.
So we are not play when we want but depends of others things. Lokk for instance, M. United. How many games did they play last 3-4 weeks?
Another reason to rotate players then Jm.
I’m with Kev, treat it like the domestic cups…
Shocking news about Tiote.
Adam, that was awful, only 30 years old.
We don’t play European games over Christmas
Barcelona News: Arda Turan’s agent speaks out on Arsenal transfer talk;
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/813215/Barcelona-Arsenal-Arda-Turan-Agent-Transfer-News-Rumours-Gossip
Whether this is the truth, his agent ensuring his loyalty bonus or a ploy to get Farcelona to lower his price is anyone’s guess.
The good old Express, one of the worst… lol
What a pile of crap the Express is as a newspaper. Nothing but Juncker, Nicola Sturgeon and the nutjob from North Korea. Terrible writing too.
Rico – Are any the English papers good?
The Islington Gazette used to be a good read CG.
The South London Press.
Kev – Thank you, I’ll look for those.
Are Chelski still hoovering up and warehousing any and all promising young players they can get their hands on?
I don’t know of any Cg. I guess we all have a preference but when it comes to football, most just guess…
I think CG, that both Chelsea and Man City are busy throwing copious amounts of cash at any half- decent footballer, but they can’t sign and keep everyone.
Holding for example!
I wonder if City will sell Stones..
Thanks again Kev.
Night all.
New Barcelona coach wants Bellerin
One of the reasons why Chavs and Mansour City were (and I like CG`s interpretation ) hoovering up and wharehousing all the best young talent was due to FFP at the time !…………………….as anything to do with academies didn`t fall under FFP, so it was a way around it to get all the best talent for the future without breaking FFP rules of spending money they didn`t “officially” have in the future in running a sell sufficient sustaining model.
Rico @ 8:31… given the plethora of young English defensive talents out there, why would any one buy Stone???? Lol…..Oxford, Mings, Dunk, the CB at Brentford, the 2 at Hull, etc…..you can’t teach concentration, Stone’s laps are unbelievable. And plus City would like to recoup as much of the 50m that they sunk down the drain.
Morning all.
On newsnow that Arsenal are preparing a £40m bid for Nice midfielder !……………………..£40m for a Nice midfielder, how much is it going to cost for a quality one ?
😯
Interesting read kev! Do you drive cabs? coz you seem to have the knowledge.
I think it is an exciting option of playing up & coming kids in the Europa League, allowing the core squad to be rested for the PL.
Just watched the 21 goals scored by Mbappe. Geez he’s Thierry Henry Version 2.0
Sure seems to have turned out that way Obi re Stones..
Morning all.
New post up now.