Morning all.
So Arsenal’s second signing of the summer is through the door. Albert Lokonga was officially announced yesterday and like Nuno Tavares, I’m looking forward to seeing him playing in the Premier League.
Talking to Arsenal Media, our new guy said:
It’s a big move because I have been playing for Anderlecht for 10 years so it’s going to be my first big move to another country. It’s a big step, but I feel confident because we have to be. In the football world, you have to feel confident about yourself, but I’m looking to play in this league and I can’t wait to start.
Both he and a Nuno have oodles of pace, they’re young, still keen and ready to take the next step in their footballing with Arsenal. Do I care that their names aren’t big ones? Absolutely not! Arsenal have been there and done it with the big names and not many have returned the faith Arsenal put in them. No long term anyway. The best players Arsenal have signed over the years have been ‘flops’ – Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, Vieira etc, all struggling where they were before Arsenal picked them up. Youngsters too from overseas like Fabregas, Bellerin, Anelka, Clichy etc etc. More recently, Tierney, Martinelli, Holding – you get my drift I’m sure.
Of course it’s great to see the club sign a player in his prime every now and again but at some stage, they’ve downed tools and the team/manager has suffered because of it. Thankfully though, the process of moving on such players began a few months ago.
So yep, I’m pleased Arsenal appear to be signing younger players this summer. Even if Arsenal sign James Maddison, he’s not what I’d consider to be old, just more experienced and of course every team/squad needs experience.
But if there’s one thing Arsenal lacked last season is the ability to turn defence into attack at high speed. Lokonga and Tavares could help change that. No, should change that. Partey and Lokonga in midfield is an exciting prospect and I’m looking forward to seeing how it works.
Mikel Arteta said:
Albert is a very intelligent player who has shown great maturity in his performances during his development. He has been coached well by Vincent Kompany and his team at Anderlecht. I know Vincent very well and he talks so highly about Albert and the positive impact he had to Anderlecht in recent seasons. We’re confident Albert’s ready for the next stage in his development and we’re looking forward to welcoming a new member to our squad with his quality and presence.
“Sambi” will be on the aeroplane travelling to America, as will Nuno Tavares. The rest of the too of course. Lol
Sorry, I couldn’t resist…
Arsenal still have a lot of work to get through before the transfer window closes on September 2nd I’m sure. Ben White seems to be a done deal, but there’s still a need for a keeper and a creative midfielder. Then of course there’s the tough task of moving current players on. No rest for the wicked eh.
Anyway, so far so good on the transfer front and it’s great to see the club focusing on what the squads needs are before selling players. Arsenal showing ambition? I think so.
See you in the comments.
good morning
Wait and see.
‘Lucky’ Lokonga? Didn’t he play the numbers game with Big Al back in the days when prohibition was the norm and moonshine was plentiful??
I with him all the best and that all his ‘numbers’ remain high. In the clips he looks pretty good, let’s hope he adapts to English football quickly and has a successful career at the Arsenal😊
Morning Rico and all
It ain’t ‘arf hot here, already. A sleepy dogs kind of day.
Morning Wavy, all.
I hope both new arrivals settle in quickly. They’ll need to… lol
The arrested PL footballer is an Everton player according to The Mail…
They were showing ambition when they hired Mikel, imo.
They saw the future.
Morning all.
Gylfi Siggurdsson apparently caught texting under age girls.
Morning, thanks for the post and link rico. Can’t help the nagging feeling listening to Kompany, why so cheap if he’s that good and why other big clubs not snapped him up? Sounds like a used car salesman😂.
Those stats, Finishing 4/10 and Injury prone 3/10, mean he has some traditional Arsenal traits😀. Just joking, let’s hope he’s a goodun, to a degree Arteta and Edu will be assessed on these exciting signings.
The name has not been released here and there is another international 31 year old at Everton so is it confirmed or speculation.
Potter, I saw an article saying Siggurdsons wife came out in support of her husband.
Mate I can’t say it’s him, just that I wasn’t having a guess based on age etc etc
Reminds me of the Giggs situation when a Scottish paper printed his outline, hundreds of thousands of people passed it on on social media, yet his lawyers threatened to sue them all! Then an MP with immunity named him to stop legal proceedings. Strange system.
Morning Andrew, you ask a good question. Perhaps Anderlecht just needed the money.
Martinelli might soon be back, the Olympic Games could be cancelled.
Didn’t Thierry give the kid a big report?
So they should, Rico.
Madness.
He did Scott.
Absolutely re the Olympics, going ahead is ridiculous imo.
Morning Rico and all
From what I have read their were other clubs interested in Lokonga but Vincent Kompany recommend Arsenal as he believed we would be the best team to take him forward and give him some senior game time we’re as clubs like man city would have him on the bench.
I may be wrong but I believe his old club also needed the money
G’day all, it looks as though your headline from the previous post is coming true Rico, have you been consulting Mystic Meg? 😉
A quick trip to a small branch of Lidls this morning and I reckon 80% of the customers were wearing masks plus a 100% of the staff.
Did somebody say, recently that the Arsenal / Inter Milan game had been cancelled? It’s still listed as going ahead on the club website.
25 degrees in the garden, a day for cool drinks and little physical activity.
I can’t explain why but I’m looking more forward to seeing Lokonga more than Ben White
Good to know we are off to Aldi in Norwich later will report after. Kompany sold Arsenal to Lokonga because of his relationship from Man City with Arteta and Henry put in a good word when he was with Belgium according to rumour.
Potter we use the small one on the roundabout on Drayton Road. The big one on Aylsham Road looked very busy when we passed it an hour or so ago.
Great story just read that a player from Inter Allies, defender Hashmin Musah overheard some one near him organising to fix the match with his team loosing 5 – 1 late in the game he was brought on with his team loosing 5 – 0 he then kicked 2 goals for the other team helping them win 7-0 claiming after the match he is against cheating.
Hi Geoff, I read that too. I’m just glad he wanted to join Arsenal.
Similar with Ben White if he signs, he’ll be a starter I think, not just a squad member.
Ha ha Cicero but Arteta said new faces would be on plane on Wednesday.
How will we know they are “new” faces if they are all wearing masks?
Arteta was talking about the pilot and crew when he mentioned new faces hahaha
New Faces , hope ity’s not the pilots first day.
Ivan Gazidis has been diagnosed with having throat cancer according to reports. How horrid for him and his family…
Sad news.
Afternoon Rico and the House.
Is it wet where you are Kev.?
Afternoon Rick, have you got rain?
Only a 5% chance of rain forecast for this part of Norfolk over the next nine hours.
Has clouded over though currently in Wroxham . Did I catch something on the news about new regulations for crowds over 20,000
Hi Rico.. Arsenal and ambition in the same sentence?! It’s unheard of 🤣
Rumour has it Xhaka will join Maureen next week at Roma’s training camp, the deal is almost done apparently! Things are heating up, not only in the transfer window, it was too bloody hot today!!
Just listening to Linkin Park – 4 years ago today we lost Chester Bennington.. gone but not forgotten 💔
Will Bellerin go to Orlado a Gunner
and come back with Milan?
It started to rain but not enough to cool things down.
But heavy rain stopped the cricket at Chelmsford not far from Kev.
Hi Sue, yes, unheard of indeed. Good news re Xhaka too…
Clear blue skies and sunshine in West Berkshire Rick, just watching the T20.
Tomorrow it’s meant to be hotter than today..
🚨 EXCL: Arsenal pre-season tour to USA cancelled because of #COVID19 cases in #AFC camp. Small number of positives in travelling party, all asymptomatic. Club working through alternate plans as virus wreaks more havoc ahead of new PL season
@TheAthleticUK
Oh no, that’s rotten news..
Not now Rick, but it rained quite heavily in London for about half an hour and then drizzled for about another hour.
Now it warm and humid again…
I wonder if that’s tied in with the positive cases at London Colney last week leading to a deep clean. We might be the first but we won’t be the last, it’ll happen to other clubs next season, I’m sure of that.
I’d imagine that games behind closed doors can be arranged before we play Tottenham and Chelsea, there should be enough players who tested negative available to get a game or two sorted at short notice.
I bet that Willian and Kolasinac are available…
Can we still send Willian to the US to sell shirts and have dinner with David Beckham who knows David might be able to talk him into staying and sign a contract to play for his team.
Won’t all the players who’ve been in close contact with those who’ve tested positive for Covid, have to isolate for ten days?
I’ve lost track of the rules regarding isolation..
Rico, funny you mention “the rules”/
My take on our restrictions is that I can still do business.
Had a few well intentioned mates suggest I double check as the funds are huge.
Off to the police station I go today, who claimed it that yes, I can continue.
I make the announcement on my FB business page and all hell breaks loose.
Why am I allowed to work,
Others saying I’d better check etc etc
Damn, our state premier says I can work, the police say I can but people on social media who’s husband or sister can’t work know better lol
The rules are GREY here, to say the least.
I think the rules are muddied everywhere Scott. I just stay at home with the fans on. 😅😅
It’s all a conspiracy Scott, the Deep State is watching your every move.
I wish I could stay at home Rico, it was like driving in a sauna yesterday, I almost cheered when it started to rain.
Btw today’s post is up already, you’re very efficient Rico, I’m impressed…
Ha ha Kev, I’m finally getting the hang of it..
Kev, I just want to earn a quid lol