Morning all.
Euros kicked off last night with a big win for Italy over Turkey. Today though the fixtures hold a bit more interest for Arsenal fans. Certainly the first one.
Wales v Switzerland
Denmark v Finland
Belgium v Russia.
Arsenal old boy Aaron Ramsey up against potentially soon to be ex Arsenal player Granit Xhaka.
Young player’s to look out for if you’re tuning in.
- Belgium – Jeremy Doku.
- Russia – Igor Diveev.
- Switzerland – Ruben Vargas.
- Wales – Ben Cabango.
I would mention Sambi Lokonga but he’s not made the Belgian squad but I strongly suspect he’ll be at the World Cup next summer.
I’m sure football fans love it when their club sign a proven player whose expected to make a big impact on the first team but clubs have to be smart too by signing younger players who are yet to reach their full potential. Players who will sell for more than they were purchased for. One of best bits of transfer business Arsenal have done in my opinion was Anelka. Even RvP was sold for a big profit but at the time, his departure was hard to take regardless of how much Utd paid for him.
Other than Martinelli and perhaps Tierney, I can’t think of any Arsenal players who if sold, would make the club vast amounts of money. Players Arsenal have previously signed I mean, not those who’ve come through the academy. Saying that, any money the club get for Willian would be a profit but the problem with him will be the wages he’s been paid so at best, the club will break even.
These days though, unless a clubs scouting system is really on the ball and travels between the lesser known clubs looking for the next gem in the making, even teenagers sell for an enormous amounts of money these days. Have Arsenal even got a team of scouts anymore?
Arsenal’s transfer policy has been pretty dire over recent years. Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe, Partey, Mustafi, Xhaka – just a few examples of big money signings who we have or will lose money on. Alexis and Ramsey were allowed to leave in what can only be described as disastrous circumstances, Szczesny and Martinez too as their transfer fee was far too low in my opinion.
Arsenal can’t change the past but they can learn from it. As a club, they simply have to be smarter this summer. Of course Arsenal need experienced players as well as young ones and like every club, will lose money on those of certain age. That’s football but the balance needs to be right, especially if Champions League football remains out of reach for Arsenal.
Without sounding ageist, I hope Arsenal sign young, enthusiastic and energetic players this summer. Less Willian, more Martinelli.
Sky Sports paper talk:
- Arsenal are interested in a summer move for Ben White and have held initial talks but Brighton have put a £50m price tag on the defender. (The Mail)
- Arsenal have reportedly contacted Manchester United to ask about the future of Donny van de Beek. (The Express)
- Arsenal are one of four clubs keeping tabs on Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli, with Edu looking to engineer the capture a new central midfielder ahead of next season, according to reports. (The Express)
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico, Ben White? Another central defender? Certainly not a priority in my book.
Tierney in talks over a new, extended contract….reportedly.
Another bit of transfer gossip, Arsenal in talks with Brighton re Bissouma.
Morning Cicero, £50m too. Can’t see it either.
According to multiple reports in Italy, Arsenal have made an opening bid to sign Lazio striker Joaquín Correa.
The 26-year-old scored 11 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions with the Biancocelesti in 2020-21 and his contract at the Stadio Olimpico expires in 2024.
According to multiple reports in Italy, including Il Messaggero and La Repubblica, the Biancocelesti have received an opening €20m bid from Arsenal, with the Gunners on the lookout for a striker in the summer.
Adam on 11th June 2021 at 3:00 pm
Arsenal have become a very boring club unfortunately.
A reflection of the ownership and lack of leadership from above perhaps?
It’s interesting and for me enjoyable to see Daniel Ek making a second bid just as the transfer window opened as it heaps more pressure on the club to react and because another bid shines the spotlight on Enos and will mean that Josh will want to know what’s happening and maybe more funds will be forthcoming?
It may not mean a change of ownership but it may benefit us as Stan hates bad publicity and he’ll hopefully want to placate the fans with new signings. But imagine a season of anti KSE demonstrations and negativity around Kroenke and son, he hates the spotlight, he wants to stay in the shadows as that covers up just what a terrible owner he is and what a lucky man he is.
He’s no business genius he’s just very good at marrying the right woman and not budging until his opponents gives up.
Never mind about Enos saying he doesn’t need the money, because if that’s the case then money is no object in this summers transfer window.
Kev, we regularly hear that Stan hates publicity, but he owns quite a few clubs and I can’t imagine he ever receives any positive publicity.
Thick skin and massive profits equal an investor who’s happy to stay on his ranch and ignore the fans 🙂
Kev. Not for me. Plenty has been spent but the management structures in place are poor and that’s down to him.
Bad contracts and player management I think. The football has been average too and I can’t blame Stan for that.
Pretty much how I feel Adam. Kroenke has his faults but he doesn’t sign the players or coach them.
Are you watching the game?
Embolo is a strong unit up front for the Swiss.
Rico. I’m switching between the game snd the cricket.
We are too Adam, switched back to the footie when NZ last wicket fell.
He’s a big fella alright.
He is a lump isn’t he?
Do you reckon Xhaka will leave?
Stan hires everyone Adam so if he’s Teflon who on Earth is at fault?
The football is so damned boring…
Jimmy is 3 wickets away from overtaking Kumble and becoming the 3rd highest wicket taker ever.
Broad is 41 behind McGrath who is 5th in the rankings.
2nd innings hopefully Kev, for both of them.
I hope he does Rico. We must surely be looking for an upgrade throughout the team.
My understanding Kev is that the board hire the team and those decisions are delegated. I doubt that Stan had ever heard of Garlick or Edu to name but 2.
I do too even though he’s had a decent season. I’ll miss him though, weird as that might sound.
Josh Kroenke said the same Adam, the board in London run the club. It’s the same at Liverpool isn’t it, many other clubs too I’d imagine.
What a joke the England cricket team are. 17 for 2 in the second innings.
Do we actually have a Board because I’m not sure we do Adam?
Who hired Arteta, who sacked Emery, who made Arteta manager, who hired Garlick, was it Tim Lewis, was it Lord Harris or was it Josh?
Raul hired Edu, Lewis sacked Raul, or did he?
Where is Josh in all this and Stan, I think you’ll find that they’re both on the Board such as it is?
Why did Chips Keswick leave and why did Raul over rule Keswick when he wanted O’Leary on the Board and who made that decision? Who had the final say on O’Leary, was it Raul or Josh or Stan?
What position does Ken Friar hold and is he just a figurehead?
Yes, I understand that all owners delegate but in the final analysis they have the final say and the buck stops with them.
I see it as a management chain Rico. But only one person picked the team that threw the Europa League semi.
We must get a grip on this contract situation and that means difficult decisions, sometimes against the manager’s wishes even.
I only go by what we hear from the club Adam. Blaming Kroenke for everything is like blaming Lord Sainsbury for the price of stock in store. My perception is they have the final say on big decisions but in the main, the board runs the club in the same way it’s always been run as far as finances go in that we don’t overspend on transfers. The problem Arsenal have over the last ten years give or take, is overspending on average players imo. And yes, the management of contracts has been appalling as suggested in the post.
Kev. I can only guess the answer to those questions.
I only know what I see on the pitch.
Ramsey would add nothing to Arsenal.
Agreed Jm.
I agree Rico. Ultimately it’s Stan’s responsibility because it’s his club and he bought it. But we spent about £2 mill per month last year on Auba and Willian and I think we’re still in for another million or so a month on Ozil. What did we get out of those 3 that benefitted Arsenal? I’m not dishing out blame or citing reasons but that’s a lot out for very little in. Businesses can’t sustain that sort of thing unless they have a sugar daddy.
Of course Adam and if those he leaves to run the club are failing, for the want of a better word, he needs to step in quicker than he did during Arsene Wenger’s final few years.
Sitting back and allowing to club to drift is certainly his responsibility. Or Josh as he seems to be the Kroenke rep now. They can’t afford to let things drift for long this time imo.
Another wicket down Crawley 30 for three. At this rate neither Anderson or Broad will have much chance to increase their wicket haul. The target won’t be big enough.
Roll on the return of Stokes, Buttler, Bairstow etc…
We wait in hope rather than expectation Rico.
I have wondered about how things might change if Ek managed to buy the club.
I still have a bit of both Adam but I do understand FFP has to be taken into consideration.
Does Ek have the football knowledge to influence the playing side of the club? Or will he rely on ex-players to have an input?
Good question
Two more wickets down, Pope 23, Lawrence for a duck.
There’s still hope Root is still there not out on 5 off 41 balls. What a great captain’s innings he’s playing.
Is FFP still in operation Rico?
I thought that MC had effectively destroyed it with their ‘Yes I did commit murder but it was only a little murder and I have billions snd billions of £’s’ defence.
As far as I know Adam. Unless the PL/FA are relaxing the rules again this summer because of Covid.
Arteta has made it clear he has the owners support as far as changes go so if we don’t see a few team improving signings this summer, they are both liars.
….and another one bites the dust. Bracey out for 8. Still 14 behind
I don’t think we’ll see Bracey in the next test. His keeping is suspect to say the least.
Root out for 11 off 50 balls. 76 for 7. Still trail by 9.
On a wicket and with weather conditions the commentators said was ‘perfect for batting’. 😂
Omg, the football. A Danish player is having CPR on the pitch… 😢😢😢
It’s Christian Eriksen…
Rico.. it’s horrendous..I feel sick and want to cry. I hope he pulls through
It is Sue, the way he dropped to the ground was awful. His poor wife and family watching..
Fingers crossed all goes well for Eriksen and his team mates and the ref get the support they need.
That was a terrible thing to happen. Best wishes to the poor bloke.
He’s conscious, Rico, thank god for that 🙏
The BBC say that Eriksen is in hospital and his condition has been stabilised
That’s good news Sue. I feared the worst…
Ericsson has been transferred to hospital and stabilised. UEFA statement. Better news than we all feared.
Me too, Rico..
Good evening Rico and all.
When I saw Eriksen collapse I felt it was Muamba all over again.
Thankfully he is stable now.
Thanks for the post Rico.
Evening Devil, I too thought of Fabrice instantly. Big respect to Eriksen’s teammates for giving him protection from the cameras.
Xhaka is being praised for having 94% pass success. What they did not say is that even wearing number 10 his forward pass percentage was very low. Switzerland and Wales….two average sides today.
Stats eh…
Evening Rico and the House
The Eriken collapse has really put a damper
on the todays gamesI wish him well and hope he will soon be on the road to
recvery
Thomas Vermaelen, remember him? Playing left back for Belgium tonight.
Great news about Eriksen you don’t want to see that happen to anyone
Xhaka 94% pass success was that during practice ha ha ha
That has to put his market value up now
To see Vermaelen still playing and representing him country at 35 years old not a bad effort
Good morning Rico and all
how many of you would entertain the idea of Arsenal buying Locatelli (30million) make a swap deal with Inter for Barella (giving them Partey) and that would be midfield problem solved for all season.
These two together with ESR in front of them would be a very strong midfield. And they play forward passes plus shoot from distance as well.
Morning Devil, all.
New post up now.
https://highbury-house.com/2021/06/13/a-day-when-a-result-really-didnt-matter-life-did/
Devil Barella looks ok but I would prefer Sambi Lokonga over Locatelli and he me be cheaper as well
Morning all.
That was a horrible thing to see with Eriksen, and I’m glad he’s on the improve.
Football is secondary to health, and while I’m sure we’d all like to see him play again, living a long and happy life is far more important.
Thanks Devil, Scott. Morning to you both and all.
Credit to Taylor too but yes, Denmark as a team 👏
I can’t see him playing again, at 29, what would be the point. Go and live and be happy.