Morning all.
Pre-season fixture number three takes place tonight as Arsenal face Real Betis is Ireland. Watching on will no doubt be Arsenal’s youngster Victor Ozhianvuna who signed for us this time last year. He cannot make the physical move until he turns 18 years old in January but the record fee Arsenal paid for the young Irish international will be worth every penny according to his current Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley who himself was a graduate of Arsenal’s academy.
Talking to The Athletic, Bradley said:
I genuinely believe Victor is a special talent. He has so many good attributes. His athletic ability is at a really high level. The game is so quick and dynamic now, and Victor has that level of movement. He’s got a Russian mum and a Nigerian dad, but he was born in Ireland — he’s got a great mix. He’s got the mentality we value here, alongside outstanding athleticism, technical quality and very good decision-making.
I remember watching Myles Lewis-Skelly in Arsenal’s academy. What stood out wasn’t just his physique, it was his ability to break lines by carrying the ball or playing penetrating passes. That’s become a defining part of his game. Victor has that same ability. He can break lines from a standing start and eliminate opponents. As football continues to evolve, players who can create those advantages are going to become incredibly valuable. I think Victor has that ability and I am convinced he’s going to be really special.
Something I didn’t know but do now thanks to the article in The Athletic is that Arsenal have a Belfast-based development centre to help recruit the best of Northern Irish talent, bringing them over as scholars at 16. Players like current academy player Ceadach O’Neill, who was part of the squad which played Girona last Saturday. At just 18 years old, he’s already been capped twice by the senior Northern Ireland team.
These words from Bradley are special I think:
When we met the people from Arsenal, it felt like they’d rediscovered that touch of class. They understood what Arsenal is, they understood people, and they wanted to rebuild that Irish connection. It made it very easy for us to sit down with Victor and his parents and tell them he was going to a special football club.
I think that’s part of the reason we as a club are disliked by so many because we do tend to do things the right way. This summer alone we wouldn’t be drawn into paying over the top transfer fees for the likes of Rogers. Arsenal aren’t afraid of spending big money in my opinion but I think they want value for money and most of the time, that’s exactly what the club gets. Have Arsenal made mistakes in the transfer window? Yes, I think they have but what club hasn’t? In any case, what one person sees in a player, another can see him differently.
I do like the idea of recruiting the best of Ireland though, the country has served us well in the past and I hope it does again in the future and it sounds like it might.
I’m looking forward to tonight’s game especially as I missed the previous one thanks to Arsenal.com crashing. Real Betis finished 5th in La Liga last season so they will be a good test for us. With only 16 days to go until we kick the new campaign off against Coventry, a stronger opposition is exactly what we need.
Bruno Guimarães is exactly what Arsenal need too and according to David Ornstein, that deal is expected to be concluded very soon. A £75m deal is expected to be sanctioned by Newcastle although he doesn’t say when. Sky Sports have gone a step further as they report the deal has been agreed and Guimarães has been given permission to travel to Arsenal for his medical. Until Arsenal announce the deal, I’m not taking anything for granted although I am a tad excited. lol
Enjoy the game guys later, catch up in the comments.
Morning all.
New post up.
Good morning beautiful people
I think that Kepa will be gone by the beginning of the new season. Messlier seems a safer bet. I doubt that Arteta is that dumb to keep Kepa as number 2 with Messlier as 3rd choice. Raya is undisputed number 1 no doubt about that. But with regards no 2 Arteta has a choice. If it were for me Kepa would have long been gone. He needs to leave. For his sake and ours.
Although I always want to win every game, even it its a friendly, I am not losing sleep over yesterday’s result. If anything it was a good experience for the youngsters and new signings especially. In all my experiences I have learned mostly from defeats not from wins. Especially those which hurt.
I liked Salmon yesterday. He is not yet ready to replace Saliba but I hope he breaks through and plays more.
We’ve almost got him! £75 million fee agreed! Only medical and regulatory matters to complete and Bruno will be an Arsenal player.
Didn’t see the game but going by the Girona game Meslier seemed a safer bet to me than Kepa.
In hindsight our youngsters did well to keep the second half scoreless, and Meslier proved himself again as a good shot stopper.
Yup, a disappointing display. The first 9 minutes were fab, tho’ Victor missed a very presentable chance and then Kepa flapped and we lost momentum. Their second was an absolute peach, but could have been avoided by better ball retention. Our midfield was lightweight, but it will be a lesson learned. Great to see Liam Brady, David O’Leary, Emma Byrne and Niall Quinn during the pre match chat. Legends all.
Classic example of playing
the 3rd pre season against a team that finished 5 th in La Liga who are two games ahead .
Throughout they were quicker and sharper and we were second to the ball and overrun in midfield .
It was a painful watch but in the end a down to earth experience and a chance to see who is ready and those that are not.
We lost it to our own mistakes , rustyness .
The second half Gabriel and Martinelli came on and for 20 minutes we looked better but I am sorry to say it’s time for Jesus to go and take other suspects with him.
Things will be different when the England and Spanish return with Odegaard.
Well that was an exercise in futility, just what good does that sort of performance do the squad or the coaches?
Or, for that matter the fans who travelled to Dublin, paid to see a match played by a disjointed group of ever changing players.
Was that Arteta proving to himself that rotation doesn’t really work? Shambles!!!!
I know it’s only a warm up exercise, but Kepa is horrible. He can’t be trusted as a backup if Raya goes down.
yes Kev. he is very lightweight. Definitely not cut to start EPL games at the moment. Still young.
I dont want him sold. Men’s body dont develop until the age 22. Arteta should loan him to some team in Germany or Spain where they dont rely on physical strength but on skill and tactical level.
But definitely not yet ready for EPL starting games.
Arsenal line-up for the second half: Kepa, Copley, Salmon, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Vieira, Nwaneri, Nelson, Martinelli, Jesus
Here comes the Brazilians
I thought that Nwaneri was lightweight in the previous match and it seems much ado the same this evening Dev
Kev….midfield is attack minded and quite light. MLS has to battle by himself as the other two are not defensive. we need a 4-2-3-1 not a 4-1-2-3
however, its good for MLS that he has to battle. a defeat teaches you much more than a win. he is still 19 remember
Not watching, but it seems that our midfield is non-existent and Kepa is having a mare.
its 1-3 now.
We scored from a corner…..Tzolis took it quite well and Hincapie scored. So now we have good deliveries from Saka, Rice and now Tzolis.
But then Havertz gifted them a third.
so its 1-3 halftime.
I told you its gonna be fun. but the wrong way lol
3 – I down at half-time.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NvzmJNSJdzQ
A Kepa cockup I read..
that was quite a screamer. 0-2
we cant seem to get a foothold
we CONCEDED from a corner. WOW. quite unusual.
1-0 down..
Same starting eleven which faced Girona then..
That’s a very attack minded line up Cicero. its 4-1-2-3 with wingers.
Should be fun today. fingers crossed
Kev, if he stays with Real I would also be happy. Because whilst I would love to see him end up on our left hand side since he is a technically elite player, his baggage would count against him. Whenever we sign a player I ask some questions….His wage every week, his influence and his attitude. If he has a high ceiling then his wages would be astronomical. That would mean the others would get itchy feet since they want higher wages as well. Rice in particular would want more since he is by far our best player. Saka is already on high wages and no doubt he would want more since he is starboy. And why not??
I also think about his attitude. If his attitude is not a top one at Real because of his contractual dispute, then what would his attitude be at Arsenal. not different for sure.
So yes while I would love to see him tearing up and down our left Tzolis has already done enough to assure me that he would be more than capable replacement for Trossard.
Line-up
Kepa, White, Mosquera, Incapie, Calafiori,
Havertz, MLS, Nwaneri,
Dowman, Gyokeres, Tzolis.
Everyone in the media will be very happy.
I reckon he’ll sign a new deal with Real.
Perhaps we can get him on a free next August.
No need now to sell Martinelli.
Vinicius jr staying at Real Madrid according to Sky Sports.
Norgaard at Everton having his medical.
Afternoon Devil, I think one of the players in the WC has been banned until the player he fouled returns from the resulting injury. I think it’s a bit harsh really as not every foul/challenge is made deliberately.
Just read as well that such has been Tzolis’ ferocity and aggressivenss in Arsenal pre-season training that his nickname among the Arsenal fitness coaches is that of Leonidas, the king of Sparta.
Good afternoon Lady and Gentlemen.
I just enjoyed reading your post Rico, under the AC since outside is frying at about 40 degrees. No wine today, just cool water. We are compaining at 40 degrees, imagine Spain poor them, temperatures of 49 degrees. And in central Europe some rivers are decreasing in waters. Troubled times.
I just read that the Brazilian football federation has imposed a new ban when a player injures another player severely, like broken foot/ leg etc. The suspension lifts only when the injured player returns to playing again. I just wish the EPL imposed the same sanctions to the players who injured Diaby, Eduardo and Ramsey.
Seems that Xabi Alonso, during on of his comments, stated that he likes Zubimendi. I am not saying that we should sell him to the chavs, however if it happens then Arsenal should ask for 85M. It would cover the Bruno G deal quite well.
I am excited by the Bruno deal. A midfield of him, Rice and Odegaard is one solid unit. I do not want to see Zubi go either, as a back up midfield of MLS, Zubi and Eze would be quite solid as well. And allow the others to take a rest and a breather.
Neither do I, it’s costly enough paying for Sky Sports..
The match is being shown live on Premier sport 1 from 7pm.
As I don’t subscribe to that I won’t be watching.
That’s not good news re the tech folk not being able to fix it. Guess I won’t be watching then..
I hadn’t Potter, thank you. I guess they received a lot of complaints.
Sounds as if tonight’.s match is a dodgy stream as well . As our techy staff haven’t fixed it .
I think Bruno will be the signing of the summer.
Morning Kev, all.
Have you seen this Rico ?
“Details for claiming this full refund are as follows, depending on where you made your purchase: If you bought through Arsenal.com or through Android/the Google Store, your refund will be processed automatically.
“You don’t need to do anything and your refund should be processed within 5-10 working days. If you bought through iOS/ the App Store, you must claim your refund via this link.”
Bruno, come on down, the price is right.