He ain’t Neto….


Photo from Arsenal.com

 

Afternoon guys.

At last, Arsenal have signed a new player this summer and its ex Chelsea goalkeeper, Kepa. I prefer to think of him as ex Bournemouth goalkeeper because that’s where he was last season and he did well too.

The 30 year old Spaniard will I’d imagine, play second fiddle to David Raya but I’m pretty sure he’ll do all he can to take the number one spot off his fellow countryman. I think this is a clever signing by Arsenal, certainly a more reassuring keeper than Neto and one who might actually get to play a lot more than the Brazilian did too. Reports suggest we paid just £5 million for him which if true, is a bargain.

 

I’m really, really happy to be here, really excited and looking forward to what is coming. The ambition that is shown in this club, when I talk with Mikel [Arteta] and Inaki [Cana], how much they show me their desire to win. I think we are so close to winning and, hopefully, altogether, we can achieve it.

So it’s one in with four or five more needed but at least the Arsenal transfer ball is now rolling.

I’d have thought it was a bit early for mind games and excuses but dear old Guardiola is at it already.

He says he does not know if Manchester City’s Premier League challenge will be “destroyed” by their Club World Cup campaign or not but admits, they are in it to win it. However, he had to watch his team get knocked out of the competition overnight by Al Hilal. I don’t suppose he saw that coming. Funny though…

England manager Thomas Tuchel has already aired his concerns for the clubs involved in the Mickey Mouse tournament in sweltering conditions, even going as far to suggest that the involvement of City and Chelsea would hand the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal a “huge advantage” in the title race.

Jurgen Klopp has also described the event as “the worst idea ever implemented in football” because of concerns over player welfare.

Love or loathe Klopp, he’s absolutely spot on in my opinion. After ten months of constant football, why on earth would anyone think yet another competition, especially during the closed season, is a good idea? All the money in the world is not worth risking players health or potentially their career for. I simply cannot understand why the PFA, if that’s the body who look after players welfare is called these days, haven’t done more to stop it.

Guardiola reckons that the moaning and groaning about the club World Cup comes from jealousy for not being involved. He must have been smoking too many cigars or the one he was puffing on was swapped for something different. I for one am extremely happy that Arsenal are not involved and hope it stays that way.

Lastly, the next couple of months are great for fans of all sports. Wimbledon kicked off yesterday in what was a good day for Great Britain, both the England men and women are playing international cricket and the Women’s Euros 2025 kicks off this week too. When it’s a bit warm to do much in the garden, what more could one want other than a feast of sport on television.

Catch up in the comments.

 

 

 

 

37 thoughts on “He ain’t Neto….

  1. Carmelsson says:

    Kepa in!!!!!

    The dream…..Raya and Kepa get to play 19 games each in the EPL and both end up winning the golden glove with 14 clean sheets each. Now that would be something to shove down other people’s throats.

  2. Cicero says:

    Very good news about Kepa. Should keep Raya on his toes.

    Don’t forget the British and Irish Lions tour down under is underway too Rico.

  3. Aussie Geoff says:

    Afternoon Rico and all, good news about Kepa now let’s see a striker cross the line

  4. kelsey says:

    Good Morning
    Not sure but I think the attention has turned to Eze, which sits well with me as he has PL experience and definitely an eye for the goal.
    Keppa interests me as he will not want to be a sub keeper who rarely plays and we all know Arteta and keepers “we have two Number 1 keepers” (Raya/Ramsdale )

  5. Cicero says:

    Panic over folks, Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has abandoned his plan to ban alcohol adverts at sports venues after a few words in his shell like from Donald Trump.

    Good to know we have strong, steadfast leadership at the head of the government. 😉

  6. allezkev says:

    Ah, the good ship Kier, everyone on board singing the ‘red flag’ as they sail towards the iceberg of economic and social disaster…

  7. allezkev says:

    Arrizabalaga, there, I’ve done it!

    Seems a sound bit of business from Arsenal’s West London ‘feeder’ club.

    It makes sense to keep up to date with their transfer business to see what players they sign, ruin and eventually sell to the Gunners where we can show how good they really are after some basic, sensible coaching.

    Madueke, Jackson, the next two off of the taxi rank perhaps. Don’t diss it until you try it, remember, Arteta is a genius at coaching players back to their best ( notwithstanding Raheem)…

  8. Cicero says:

    Chloe Kelly has signed a permanent contract after a spell on loan last season after leaving Manchester City. 🔔🔔🔔

  9. rico says:

    Fabrizio Romano
    @FabrizioRomano
    ·
    4h
    🚨🔴⚪️ After direct contact revealed on Monday, Eberechi Eze has opened doors to Arsenal move in clear way.

    He’s open to joining Arsenal project and attracted by this chance for his future.

    Arsenal are informed on release clause details and more.

  10. rico says:

    Fabrizio Romano
    @FabrizioRomano
    ·
    2h
    🚨❤️🤍 Christian Mosquera’s plan remains clear: he wants to join Arsenal project despite new contract proposal from Valencia.

    Full focus on negotiations with #AFC as personal terms are agreed and new bid will be needed after opening one for €14m, rejected.

  11. Cicero says:

    Good morning all.

    Arsenal “encouraged” in £70 million pursuit of Rodrygo as new Real manager will not guarantee him a starting spot.

    Would Arteta guarantee him or any player a starting spot?

  12. rico says:

    Morning Cicero, all.

    I don’t think Arteta should be reassuring any player of a first team place. They need to fight for the right to start. If Arteta rotates more as I think many of us would like to see, they should all get plenty of playing time.

  13. potter says:

    He want a guaranteed first team spot generally means that he thinks that he is more important than anyone else . We want a worker not a prima donna , that’s why I always had a lot of time for people like Ray Parlour.

  14. allezkev says:

    Morning campers, yes Rico, that’s quite a shock re: Jota…

    He only got married a few weeks ago, has three kids I believe, thankfully not the kind of subject we chat about on here…

  15. allezkev says:

    Tuesday it was Kepa, yesterday it was Chloe Kelly, today nobody on the back of the Jota news, so Zubi by the close of play Friday?

    The Valencia lad turned down an improved contract offer and must be on his way as soon as a fee can be agreed?

    I saw an interesting, but probably imaginary story on Just Arsenal – they do live in a flowery football fantasy world – regarding Patrick Vieira apparently wanting to sign/loan Nelson, Lokonga and Vieira for his present team Genoa. I’d imagine one of those to Genoa could be a possibility?

    Yes, if you want to read some totally unsubstantiated nonsense, Just Arsenal is the blog for you. Their imagination knows no bounds as they pump out the BS, all of it based on nothing, much of it is, how can you say ‘green’ and good for environment because it’s ‘recycled’….

  16. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Two months ago he was celebrating the Premier League title with Liverpool. A month ago he lifted the Nations League trophy with Portugal. Two weeks ago he was at his wedding, where he had three children.
    He left yesterday with his brother André.
    RIP Diogo Jota and André Silva.

  17. Cicero says:

    India 406 – 5, flat pitch, no spin, no swing, no bounce, England bowlers no hope.

    I expect India to get to 700 by close of play today.

  18. Aussie Geoff says:

    Morning Rico and all.
    RIP Diogo Jota and your brother, way to young condolences to his family and club

  19. potter says:

    Cicero , probably not !
    It reminds me of the Reyes incident in 2020 , He was driving a top of the range Mercedes and Jota a top of the range Lamborghini both were speeding and both had tyres blown out . Speculation will run rife in the bars of Spain as my Spanish friends have long suspected that criminals were involved and a stinger was used by a rival gypsy family , It was never reported whether a robbery took place , but it does make you wonder.
    Jota of course is Portuguese and Reyes’ Spanish and his accident was in Andalusia and this one near La Coruna .
    I for one will follow the Guardia’s reports with interest.

  20. allezkev says:

    Saw a picture of Jota on his wedding day, he has three very young and I’m guessing very confused young children. You don’t often come back from something like that at their age, it stays with you…

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