Afternoon guys.
I’ve nicked this from James McNicholas of The Athletic who writes:
Arsenal’s goalkeeping department is in the midst of an overhaul. If all goes to plan, they will complete the signing of three first-team goalkeepers in this transfer window. Beyond that, they are hoping to make multiple additions at academy level.
The goalkeeping position is one usually associated with stability and longevity. At Arsenal, however, barely a window goes by without considerable focus on this area.
It’s true isn’t it, since Mikel Arteta walked through the Arsenal doors with his managerial hat on, the club has seen a flurry of changes in the goalkeeping department. Bernd Leno, gone, Emi Martinez, gone, Arthur Okonkwo, gone. Alex Runarsson was signed but he’s gone, Matt Turner didn’t hang around for long either and now it seems Aaron Ramsdale could be on his way out too although that is just speculation right now, fuelled by his comments about not wanting another season of not playing. With David Raya well established as Arsenal’s number one, Ramsdale faces another season on the bench if he can’t find another club.
As McNicholas goes onto write – Ramsdale moving on is not a formality as he is on a good contract and Arsenal expect to recoup a fee in the region of the £30m they paid for him. There are only a select few clubs in Europe who could meet those financial demands and most of them have first-team goalkeepers.
23-year-old Spaniard Joan Garcia is a name mentioned to replace Ramsdale should he leave and he’ll cost €25 million. The idea says McNicholas, is for David Raya and Joan Garcia to be supported by Dan Bentley of Wolves who made five league appearances last season. Bentley has worked with Cana, our keeper coach before which I’m not sure is a positive or negative thing.
The article also suggests that Arsenal are changing things up with their academy goalkeepers after Ovie Ejeheri, James Hillson and as already mentioned, Arthur Okonkwo were all released this summer. One replacement could be Ajax’s 18-year-old Englishman Tommy Setford. Arsenal have begun talks with Ajax about their intention to sign the England Under-20 international so he could join already signed 18-year-old Denmark youth international Lucas Nygaard.
Should Arsenal get their goalkeeper targets through the door this summer, I hope that’s the end of our seemingly revolving door in that department. Raya is likely to be number one for the foreseeable, certainly as long as Mikel Arteta remains at the club but then I thought that about Aaron Ramsdale just a year ago too.
Catch up in the comments..
I don’t see much difference between Raya and Ramsdale and one has to bare in mind that Raya had a far more stable defence and midfield than Ramsdale had the season before .Ramsdale is on £100K a week and the club have put an initial bid of £500K for Dan Bentley at Wolves (ex Brentford) all needs some understanding in my opinion.Hein is going out on loan I read .
Me neither Kelsey. It’s a move I’m not really understanding but then as much as I detest him now, Martinez was imo the best we’ve had.
Cana was behind the Raya move and and both and Arteta are from Northern Spain .Jobs for the boys ?I agree we seem as a club to always make the wrong decision about keepers since Seaman.
Exactly.
AS suggested in the previous post Ramsdale could have a nice time playing in Barcelona for a year whilst Garcia could have a year under Cana Pavon . It’s a win win for all concerned.
I reckon the 4-4- 2 report I saw either came from the same source or they both read the Spanish papers.
If both Hein and Ramsdale go we definitely need more keepers and with Arteta listening to Cana Pavon it seems that we are likely to keep shuffling the pack until we strike lucky.
Unless Cana goes. I’ve still not seen anything about him signing a new contract. Perhaps when Arsenal announce Arteta’s new contract, there will be new ones for his staff too. Assuming of course that Arteta will sign a new contract.
I haven’t either Rico but moving on average players on high wages is a problem Cana’s contract expired on June 30th. All very strange to me .We have over £300 million to spend from money for being runners up £175 million, £79 million from the CL and various sponsorships .
Some of that must already be accounted for though Kelsey. I’m hoping transfers will soon start moving after tomorrow. Pre season starts very soon so we could do with any new players through the door..
All this goalkeeper talk could just be smoke and mirrors intended to divert attention from what we are really up to in the transfer market.
Surely we have greater needs than another ‘keeper, or another central defender when what we are crying out for is a defensive midfielder and a striker.
Not sure Cicero that MA wants an out and out striker. Ollie Watkins would be ideal,if only.
Well said Cicero. Kiwior hasn’t really done anything wrong has he?
If we’re selling Ramsdale, Smith Rowe, Nketiah and Nelson, we might need a couple of English/homegrown players.
Afternoon Rico and all,
Unless I mist it, have we really had any concrete offers for Ramsdale,
As you said Rico we need to be carefull about the amount of English / homegrown players
The homegrown quota is not in danger. We are replanishing our goalkeeoing group for the whole system. We were rolling with Hein and Okonkwo for too long…. with no real plan or monetary value.
We’re now investing in quality youth like Cheksea and Man City have done for years. We’ll be able to sell for profits in the future, anyone that we can’t use.
You have to spend money to make money. Its just that Chelsea and City were spending (allegedly) fake sponsor money.
At least our investments are above board. We are becoming much more progressive.
The Kroenke stadium deal if true is proof that we will be trying to use cash much more to our future advantage.
Hi Geoff, I’ve no idea. My guess is the Euros is holding up any potential move for him. If indeed he’s moving.
Harry Kane says he’d swap everything in his career for a Euros win. Well, he hasn’t got much to swap really. 😂
Morning all.
Morning Rico,
TBH I will be glad when The Euros are over and we might win through default my main concern is that Rice and Saka get home uninjured but hardly a day to catch their breath.
Traditionally we always buy late but we need at least two or three quality signings and not sure if Partey is staying or not .
Morning Kelsey, ditto re Rice and Saka.
I’m quietly confident we’ll sign players in the positions we need including a striker if Eddie goes. I think we all have differing on views on what we need but a midfielder would be first on my agenda. Defenders would be last unless anyone leaves.
Morning all,
I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up loaning out some of those we want to sell,actual sales might be hard to come by. It’s crazy really because any of Ramsdale,Smith-Rowe,Nelson,Nketiah would be a real asset to most teams.
Good Morning everyone and happy Sunday
will you celebrate this evening?? even though Spain are favourites because of their football England have got good players and can win as well. Its 11 vs 11 after all.
Remember Ipswich 1978 and West Ham 1980. We were favourites but the winners took it all. These two finals hurt Pa much more than anything else. In my case its the 2006 CL final in which we lost to a team who was on top not beneath us. We weren’t favourites but it still hurt a lot. and still does.
So keep your fingers crossed for Saka and Rice to return unharmed and raring to go and also that England bring the cup to your country.
And from January 2025 you will not be allowed to type Starboy for Saka, but Sir Bukayo Saka MBE or Lord Rice. We wait in anticipation. Sir Bukayo Saka sounds nice and mythical like Sir Gawain or Sir Galahad. But imagine Sir John Terry or Sir Frank Lampard. It makes a jarring sound lol.
Some other news……….which I found on FB
Arsenal trialist Coran Madden scored in a friendly against Watford U16s for the Gunners’ academy this week.
Madden reportedly played as an attacking midfielder/left winger, and he scored in the opening five minutes of the game. The match finished 4-1 to the young Gunners.
Cliftonville had previously confirmed that Madden would spend this week on trial with Arsenal, and he’s considered one of the brightest prospects in Northern Ireland.
Madden is a Northern Ireland u15 international, and he appears to be on the radar of most of the top Premier League clubs.
I’d rather we kept Smith Rowe though Limey, he offers a lot more than Vieira imo. If we end up loaning players Arteta doesn’t want to keep, perhaps there’ll be less money to sign new players.
I’m not expecting an England win Devil, not unless Spain turn up thinking they’ve already won it.
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2024/07/14/ayden-heaven-stakes-claim-for-first-team-involvement-for-arsenal-in-pre-season/
Rico, Spain do have that habit that when it matters most they shoot themselves in the foot. I have seen them countless times where they dominate every statistic except scoring stats…..the other team score to win while they dominate possession and everything else but dont do what counts most….that is, score.
Vieira is Arteta’s signing and pet. ESR is not. that says it all.
I hope they do tonight Devil. Saying that, it could mean Southgate stays which would be a disaster imo.
Don’t know why re Vieira as he’s not even Spanish. 😂
Arsenal agree deal to sign English teenage goalkeeper Setford from Ajax’
Arsenal have reached an agreement with Ajax to sign English teenage goalkeeper Tommy Setford, according to The Athletic.
The Gunners will reportedly pay a fee in the region of £860k (€1m) plus add-ons for the 18-year-old.
It is claimed the England U20 international will sign an initial four-year contract with Mikel Arteta’s side.
I agree about Vieira not offering much,Arteta/Edu have made some great signings but that one hasn’t worked out(yet)
He has showed signs of quality,just when you think he’s going to really establish himself he goes missing.
Yep, he’s still a bit too soft and easy to push off the ball.
How many keepers do we need ?
I guess he’s replacing Arthur Okonkwo, Ovie Ejeheri or James Hillson.
We are looking for a third keeper and is he young enough to play in the under 21’s
Garcia on the radar apparently..
Rico, Southgate will stay whether England win the Euro or not. two finals in just three years is an achievement so expect the FA to offer him a new contract. unless he resigns his post and leaves you will not see him sacked and will have to put up with him till end of WC 2026.
Perhaps Devil but lose badly and he might call it a day. I’d rather England won and he walks away on a positive note.
Whatever happens later, England have been fortunate to get this far because the football has been average at best.
and Vieira will stay that way Kelsey because of the position he plays in. If he plays on the wings or as a wingback then his height and weight would not be that much of a problem. however he plays in central midfield/advanced midfield areas and height and weight are needed as well.
He is 5ft 7 and in the EPL that is quite short imo. He does not have that burst of speed which can take him past players leaving them tackling thin air. Although skillfull and has quite a good range of passing, his height and weight will always be a problem in the EPL
sorry I meant Rico not Kelsey with regards to Vieira being too soft and easy to push off the ball
Reports Southhampton interested in Ramsdale,
Santi Cazorla was 5’ 6” though Devil and he took to PL football like a duck to water. Vieira’s height isn’t the problem imo, it’s his physique. He doesn’t appear to be very strong.
Cazorla was a different fish Rico. yes he was on the short side but he had speed of thought plus he was bidexterous which was a blessing in itself. and Santi, although small, was not lightweight as much as Vieira.
Cazorla was like Arteta…a coach in the ground and that is something which very few have. Arteta himself was a coach in the ground. such players manage to find pockets of space, make the decision and before you knew it both ball and player were out of sight leaving players tackling thin air. I simply find it impossible to compare Vieira to Cazorla.
I know Devil, he’s the perfect example of why height isn’t a problem. Kante too.
I wasn’t comparing the two by the way, they couldn’t be further apart.. lol
I know Rico, that you weren’t comparing them both. I just wanted to point the difference. The difference between a footballer and a player. Vieira is a player. he cannot adapt to different positions. Cazorla could, DM, CM, AM left right or centre and he would perform.
Ronaldo was a great player right? yes a great player. but only a player. Saka is a footballer. Both number 7. both right wingers. But can you ask Ronaldo to play as a wingback?? nope. but Saka can. Can Ronaldo play as a left back? No but Saka can and did….and in all positions he has played in he has done so in highly good levels.
Same with Vieira….just one maybe maximum two positions. but not any more.
I dont like comparing because comparisons are odious but as I always said, a footballer is higher than a player. Take Maradona for example. He could play anywhere across the pitch bar goalkeeper. even as a CB he would have done well. that is why when people say Messi is the greatest of all time I smile because Messi, although he would have tried his best cannot play in defence. MAradona could. Now Messi is a footballer by all means and he can do things with a ball that no one imagines. But, imo a great footballer can play anywhere across multiple positions and still shine.
I would have ESR over Vieira in a heartbeat. the problem is that ESR’s body is like that of JW10. it breaks down easily.
We agree re Smith Rowe then although I believe he stayed fit for longer last season.
When I think of Fabio Vieira I tend to think and compare him with his countryman Bernardo Silva, the comparison is stark – and that’s why I don’t think that Vieira has it in him to make it in the Premier League.
I like Emile but that train is pulling out of the station, he needs a new challenge and a manager who’ll trust him and play him.
Saka might begin to feel a bit lonely as all his academy muckers gradually leave…
Some critics continually complain that Arteta doesn’t rotate enough but based on last season, when they were fit he used: Raya, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Jorginho, Gabriel, Odegaard, Jesus, Havertz, Trossard, Partey, Zinchenko, Saka, Martinelli, White, Rice, Saliba and would have used Timber. That’s 17 players and not the 13 or 14 that’s often mistakingly quoted.
But he has 25 to choose from 😂
Ethan Nwaneri will likely participate in the entire pre-season of Arsenal’s first team, starting with a tour in the US 🇺🇸 according to Team news and ticks. Last night, he played in Arsenal U21’s 4-2 win over Boreham Wood and it only took him 3 minutes after coming on to score in this match. He is currently the young player with the highest salary in Arsenal history. He was also tutored directly by captain Martin Odegaard last season. This means that Martin Ødegaard’s role is also the position that Ethan Nwaneri is expected to take on when entering the Gunners’ first team.
If he continues to perform excellently as he is now, the opportunity for Ethan Nwaneri to be considered to keep playing for Arsenal’s first team next season is entirely possible.
That number should be higher I think Kev. 17 is not bad considering we won the league once using only 14 players if I remember correctly. Dont remember which season was it.
I think that nowadays you need at least to rotate at least between 20-22 players.
Arsenal have signed Setford it seems according to reports.
If Arsenal want a really good keeper Desplanches of Palermo is very very good. He is the under21 Italian international keeper.
https://metro.co.uk/2024/07/14/arsenal-agree-deal-ajax-gunners-close-second-summer-signing-21223903/
11.13 Devil, The Athletic reported the story on Setford.
England wasted an hour with a donkey up front . Time for him and Southgate to leave.
Well that’s that! England beaten 2 – 1. I can’t say that I’m disappointed as I never expected England to win. Southgate should have hooked Kane off at half-time, in fact he should not have started with him in the first place.
Their will be no Knighthood for Southgate and no OBEs for the squad and, hopefully, that’s the last time we’ll see Kane in an England shirt.
Great minds think alike Potter, it must be something to do with schooling. 😉
The same was said in my house too.
What a waste of time Kane has been this tournament. Hope to wake up to the news that he’s retired from international football and Southgate has stood down..
I know he has 25 Rico, but that wasn’t the point.
Bad luck England, at least you pushed them untill late in game.
as for rotation that Arteta done,
should come down to how/when were the rotation done, not the amount done for example
(1) how many of those come on with only 5 minutes left.
(2) how many of those started the match.
(3) to a lesser point broken down again into how many were in the following – premier league – FA cup – ect.
(4) how many players started but were never dropped.
I realised Kev… 😜
Two things cost England last night . Spain were the best team in the tournament and Southgate wasn’t prepared to make changes from the start.He played an out of sorts Kane when Palmer,Watkins and/or Toney should have been on from the start. he didn’t learn from the two previous games and I am in the Southgate Out camp.We have the best squad of players for years and he never got the balance right .It wasn’t a great tournament football wise and we got extremely lucky to get to The Final so no tears from me but it wasn’t to be .
My concern is that Rice and Saka will hardly get a rest which they need mentally and physically.
They’ll be ok Kelsey, 3 weeks rest and a gentle week of training before the opening game….
Plus, if we sign a winger and midfielder, both might be rotated early in the season. 😜
A squad of 18 players that Arteta will use should do it…
England have a good mix of players but their organisation was terrible. We were dysfunctional ,with no cohesion between front and back and for all the good saves at the end Pickford lumping it forward to an ineffective Kane just gave the ball away time and time again. This was because as a unit Spain were pressing our defence and midfield and without movement there was no-one to pass to.
We didn’t press as a team in the first half Foden must have run past Kane half a dozen times and then had the ball passed to the player that Kane should have been closing. Their first goal came because both Saka and Mainoo didnt get back to get a two man defence with Walker . He cut inside and did something similar to that of Saka against the Swiss . Incidently notice how Williams was back everytime we got it wide to Saka . Spain had a plan to negate him knowing that he was their main threat and they did it.
Spain knew their job and did it to perfection , they were the better team and got the result they deserved. By comparison it was Man City against Middlesborough.
Move on !
Pep used 25 players last season, with 22 of them making at least 10 appearances.
The constant lumping the ball up front only to see it come back again was frustrating. Agree too re Williams, Spain knew Saka could cause problems so simply doubled, sometimes tripped up on him. England however gave Williams far too much space.
New post up.