Morning all.
Mikel Arteta has spoken to Arsenal Media. Yes, he mentioned transfers, a topic we all like to hear about this time of year. A topic which perhaps divides so many of us. Christos Tzolis isn’t the big money, big named player who perhaps a section of fans were dreaming of before the transfer window opened but considering he’s not kicked a competitive ball for Arsenal yet, I’m not sure how a fair assessment of what he will bring to the team can be made. When the Vinicius Jr story broke, I can imagine the excitement surrounding it. A true worldie could be heading to Arsenal – except exploring a deal and doing it is two very different things. In any case, it would seem he’s staying at Real Madrid, so the media say anyway.
But what about any new signings arriving?
A lot is happening. We all know about the context of this transfer window. From ownership to the board, the sporting director and myself, we know that we want to take this club to a different level. That is going to require a better squad, better individuals. We have identified where we have opportunities to grow and to improve and to evolve our game and what is going to be needed to achieve that. Hopefully very soon we can start to put things in a very concrete way.
Arteta isn’t holding back. He wants a better squad and better individuals. He wants to evolve our game. I’ve always said there can be no sentiment in sport if one wants to be the best and Arteta has certainly made it clear that there are individuals within the squad who either need to be better or he plans to replace them with better and I’m leaning towards the latter. I think we can all guess as to whom he is talking about.
Evolving our game is one of the key messages in Arteta’s words in my opinion, probably because I agree with him. Sometimes last season, Arsenal were a hard watch. It’s not up to opponents to change their approach to playing against Arsenal, it’s up to Arsenal to be more effective against them.
As Arsene Wenger used to say, we, as in the players need to play with the handbrake off. Quicken our speed of play as well as our thinking. Be less predictable and more clinical. If Mikel Arteta’s teams can make the low block irrelevant, the game will be better off for it.
Having better individuals should help but better decision making across the whole team will help even more.
I remember something Dennis Bergkamp said in his book which was when he had the ball at his feet, he didn’t need to look up before making his pass because he knew where his teammates would be – or something like that anyway but I’m sure you get the gist. That’s the kind of understanding our attacking unit needs between them because let’s be honest, our attacking unit can sometimes look like they’ve not played together before. We can master a set-piece, let’s master open play too. Think forwards and not backwards or sideways, not unless it’s a necessity. I think I wrote something similar around this time last year, perhaps the year before too…
I’m a firm believer in big names don’t guarantee success but players who give big performances each game can. It’s easier to perform in a great team in a less demanding league each season but when when the wet and windy conditions arrive in winter or the freezing temperatures, what kind of player would you rather see out on the pitch fighting for the Arsenal cause?
That’s why in my opinion Arsenal spent big on Declan Rice, because everyone at the club knew he was worth it. That’s also why I hope Arsenal can get a deal done for Bruno Guimarães because I think we all know exactly what we’ll get.
Catch up in the comments.
New post up
I read it this morning.
Didn’t know that !
It will be interesting indeed ,
The way the set up is made the smaller states are being bribed to accept this deal . every member has 1 vote no matter their size , so obviously Cape Verde with a population of half a million has the same number of votes as say Brazil population 213 million will vote for the 40 million dollar bribe.
So a split of African and Concacaf against Europe is likely and whether their members will be banned from playing in Eufa leagues could cause problems everywhere.
Kerry Packer and Liv golf have perfect similarities.
Infantino will not give up easily.
All the African and America countries have rejected it too. Good luck with your plan Infantino, take it with you when you’re sacked.
Morning Cicero, all.
Well, well, well, all 55 members of UEFA voted in favour of boycotting the next World Cup unless Infantino abandons his plan to flog of the whole competition to the Trump family.
Our very own Football Association finally hopped off the fence and came out in favour of the boycott.
We live in interesting times!
It’s difficult though isn’t it because we’ve not always had great players to sell. We did ok from City back in the day but the players we could sell for vast amounts are players we want/need to keep.
We agree on something, a back to back PL title would indeed make a statement.
Buying and selling has never been our strongest point
Hi everyone.
Arsenal have always been a bit unorthodox in the transfer market, which goes back as far as I can remember.
Peter Marinello (the Scottish ‘George Best’), and Jeff Blockley were odd signings, selling Charlie George to Derby was criminal. Brian Kidd finished as top scorer in the two years we struggled after decimating the ’70-’71 Double winning side. You can’t claim to be a serious club when you’re swapping Frank McLintock for Terry Mancini!
Terry Neill was just as strange, it’s like he was a little bit obsessed with Irish players (selling Jimmy Rimmer to buy Pat Jennings as Spurs were upgrading with Ray Clemence, is strange logic).
‘Supermac’ Malcolm Macdonald only gave us two years (Villa signed Andy Gray the same summer for £100k from Dundee Utd). Ex-Chelsea player Alan Hudson was another waste of good funds from Stoke.
He bought John Hawley and Ray Hankin who just weren’t at the level, and we lost Liam Brady after signing John Hollins, with Brady accusing the club of lacking ambition.
Clive Allen has to be one of the shortest transfers ever.
That’s just a snippet of our strange transfer approach, we’ve had many more recent episodes such as Wenger refusing to pay an extra £2-3m for Xabi Alonso, and the summer where the only incoming was Petr Cech. So many examples each of us could pick out over the decades.
We all have grievances over things concerning Arsenal, we’re only human, and it doesn’t hurt to share and discuss them sometimes.
We tend to win our trophies, particularly PL/1st Div. titles very sporadically, as though there is no long-term vision. We haven’t successfully defended a title since the 1930’s, and that has to be something rooted in our DNA.
It could be the new regime are changing this narrative with the investment and support they’ve given Arteta, and he repaid the faith bringing The Emirates its maiden PL trophy.
Winning the PL back-to-back would be a huge statement.
No fight in him then. Lol
Lacroix didnt want be behind Saliba again
He’s the test team batting coach..
Not a big cricket follower but what is Trescothick’s role. At least he is Cornish.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13568511/uefa-will-boycott-fifa-tournaments-if-gianni-infantino-continues-with-plans-to-sell-off-stake-in-world-cup
Good..
And he still is the best all rounder,while players from all over the world are in the hundred,the best of the lot plays in the County One Day Cup.
Don’t be sad, Limey. You also had a kiwi cricket captain and he wasn’t half bad. Probs your best all rounder since Botham.
As do I. I cannot believe there is not an Englishman capable of managing either.
So England now have a German football manager and a Kiwi cricket coach. OK the previous coach was also Kiwi,nothing against the individuals but I find it sad.
Hi Geoff, possibly, or Howe told them a while ago he was out.
Morning Rico and all.
looking at how quick they replaced Howe, I would guess that they already planned to sack him.
Don’t mention him Kev. 😂
Fingers crossed Limey, a new broom and all that might want a fresh start. Mind you, players have already been signed.
Has Lacroix done a Rogers then?
Hopefully Rico,the new manager at Newcastle will think there’s no point in keeping a player who doesn’t want to be there. Apparently the German has already been lined up.
I saw on X Jurrien Timber was in London to be at his partners graduation,not to do with the injury,I hope that’s true.
Legendary money laundering
I had to laugh at the comments by Lacroix – everyone knows the legend of Chelsea,the tradition of winning.
They haven’t won the Premier league since 2017 and any domestic trophy since 2018.
Managers manage, scouts scout and coaches coach, I think that’s how it work, the only coach with specialised input regarding recruitment is our goalkeeping coach.
That makes a lot more sense than Albert being blamed.
I do believe that sometimes, thoughts can be that just because Arsenal are interested in a player, that player will automatically say yes. Football isn’t like that, as much as we all love the club, not every player sees the club the way we do.
The Howe departure points to the fact that our buying team has been working and that until this situation has been resolved at Newcastle nothing can be resolved and that points to the delay being on Tyne side.
At the time of looking at the three players HH has objected to us not buying our chief scout was Francis Cagigao. who was subsequently sacked by the club and since has gone to Galatasary and now working in Russia.
Maybe , just maybe the club were not happy about missing out on them as well.
Let’s hope it’s not the latter Limey.
It’s being reported that Eddie Howe has just walked of his own accord. Could make it easier to sign Bruno,it could work the other way,the new manager might insist they don’t sell.
Matthias Jaissle is set to replace Howe according to The Athletic so I guess I’m wrong, he might have had a gentle push. 😜
It couldn’t be easy for him seeing the club sell its so called better players. I reckon it was his choice but who knows.
I really hope so re Bruno, a player like him would allow Rice to rest properly imo.
Strange things happen in football, Howe leaving Newcastle is one of them.
Did he jump? Or was he pushed?
Earlier in the summer he said he was happy to remain at Newcastle, in March chief exec said they were not having discussions about a management change..yet.
Howe has made it clear that he is unhappy at losing some of his best players and sees no evidence of the club replacing like for like for like.
Mutual consent? Seems likely.
Maybe the Bruno trade will be back on.
Thanks Rico. 👍
Just as I posted this, news broke that Eddie Howe has left Newcastle.
Perhaps the expected departure of Bruno was the last straw for him.
Hopefully he’s being lined up to replace Tuchel.