Morning all.
I didn’t watch much of the Charity Shield final yesterday afternoon but apparently Liverpool fans booed the national anthem and Palace fans were noisy during the minutes silence in memory of Jota and his brother. Shame on them I say. It was slightly amusing to see Liverpool the penalty shootout though. You’d think their players would be spot kick experts by now considering the amount they are awarded each season.
When Mikel Arteta was asked if Arsenal have concluded their transfer business for this summer, his answer was probably little more than one would expect:
Let’s see what happens in terms of where the squad is in the next few weeks, but we are actively looking at options. There are a few players that have to leave as well, so we’ll be open to see what happens.
I think he has said similar during every transfer window since he became manager, it’s just a non committed response to what really is a stupid question. After all, he’s hardly likely to tell the media what the club has planned. Mind you, he wasn’t shy about selling players and those who ‘have to leave’, are probably already trying to find another club. Assuming they haven’t already because knowing they need to move on isn’t something which they would have found out yesterday. They would have known since the beginning of the summer if not before.
As well as the players returning from a season out on loan, Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko and perhaps even Gabriel Jesus must wonder how many playing minutes they are likely to get and with our new centre back signing Cristhian Mosquera looking so at home in the centre of defence and Riccardo Calafiori hopefully over his fitness troubles, Jakub Kiwior could be thinking about a future elsewhere too.
With numbers as well as quality being the goal for the summer, I’m sure Arteta would be reluctant to let a player as good as Kiwior go. However, money talks and just like any other club, if the right fee is offered, I’m sure the club will think long and hard before saying no.
Pre-season has been a bit mixed but then that’s to be expected really. Gaining fitness ahead of the new season is all that matters really. Of course we want to see the team win but more importantly in my opinion is seeing the team play well. Gabriel and Kai Havertz missed the last couple of months of last season through serious injuries and yet here they are now, back in the mix and looking stronger than ever. Certainly Havertz. He’s bulked up, he looks quicker and he certainly looks up for the battle with Viktor Gokreyes for the striker role. Competition is healthy and I think in certain areas of the pitch we’ve been lacking that. Perhaps we still are in the centre of midfield as who is breathing down our captains neck? What if suffers an injury again?
On that note, catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
My one concern about our returning players is Calafiori, either he cheated at his medical or was horribly unlucky to get a serious injury seemingly hours after signing his contract. It has to be said that he does seem to be injury prone. Hopefully, Timber will have a less injury plagued season and will be able to cover the left back position if required.
Cloudless sky and 25c heading to 28/9c later in a very dry Norfolk. 😎
Sorry Rico, I didn’t answer your headline question, Nwaneri? Or perhaps Zubimendi.
Morning Cicero, I’d love nothing more than to see Nwaneri be the player.
Calafiori worries me too, we always seem to have one or two who break down after signing for us. We must be really unlucky or, our medical aren’t robust enough.
Just watching the training coverage, all bar Jesus and Trossard are involved..
I didn’t think Trossard was injured perhaps he’s on his way out.
People saying Nwaneri can cover for MO are completely wrong!
Arsenal need a top quality number ten who isn’t a teenager!
Arsenal will not win the title or champions league if Arsenal pin their hopes on a teenager!
Yes I love Nwaneri and yes he will be a great player for Arsenal but a teenager that has hardly played a full 90 mins at senior level isn’t ready to be expected to be the creative force at number ten!
Be realistic!
Arsenal need a top class number ten who is ready now!
Without and it’s another season of nothing!
He picked up a niggle against Totts. Apparently, contract talks have come to a standstill so I reckon he’s off.
AFC Rick, I wouldn’t say it’s wrong re Nwaneri but it’s unlikely imo. I think he’s more likely to continue on the right for resting Saka etc. I still think we’re a midfielder short because as good as Nwaneri, Dowman are, they are still young and growing. Play them of course, but not overplay them imo.
Nwaneri and Eze will have that covered.
18 year old Fabregas took us to the Champions League final.
Eze is not our player, nor likely to be in my opinion.
I’d go for the latest kid on the dock-Dowman
If he was coming reckon he would already be here. However that’s not say that another player will come in . Can you really see Eze coming to sit on the bench behind Odegaard because with the best will in the world I can’t see Arteta dropping his captain.
will not come in
I can’t see Odegaard being dropped either and of course, for rest/rotation purposes, between Dowman and Nwaneri were covered but I’d hate to see us play again with Trossard’s filling in should Odegaard be out for a stretch..
I think we’re more likely to sign that left-footed French centre back from St Etienne (?) rather than a No.10, especially if Kiwior and Zinchenko leave?
Even though he’s only 15 I think that Dowman has already forced a rethink on player recruitment, his emergence and influence, regardless of age, has probably killed any deal for Eze.
I think that theres no chance of signing Rodrygo either because of the financial package he and his advisors would demand.
I’d take him on loan with an option though, try him out and then send him back if he isn’t up to it. Sell a few shirts and if he’s any good then talk about a deal then but a year from him would buy Dowman time.
It’s also worth checking out our feeder club Chelsea’s squad, to see who they fail to use properly and who we can snap up next summer.
Jeremy Jacquet Kev?
I still have a hunch Eze will arrive.
That’s him Rico!
I’m not too fussed about Eze either way Rico, if we get him great, if we don’t 🤷
I get that Kev, I’m the same really. In a perfect world, Vieira would be physically able to fill in.
PSG have agreed a £54.5m deal to sign Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi.
Looks like I won’t need to try and watch Bournemouth, they’re selling all their good players. 😜
Good afternoon Rico and all
I managed to find the reel I told you about regarding Madueke’s penalty miss. here it is
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1927340361391586
That is why I was confused
https://x.com/C02003/status/1954679774586237357
Where has his pace come from 😜
Afternoon Devil, I knew he missed one previously..
The only problem with buying from them is we get them out of PSR problems . I often wonder whether Boehly has got something on Stan in the states or whether they are mates.