Morning all.
It’s the last day of June, the date contracts can run out as is the case with Thomas Partey who is set to leave the club for nothing. Tomorrow, the 1st July, is usually the date for a summer signing players contract to begin which I know you all know.
So far this summer, Arsenal have signed no one when clubs around them including Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool have spent big money already. I think Chelsea are about to sign another two players in Gittens and Pedro, taking their number of additions to six whilst Man City, after a big winter window, have added four players to their squad. Liverpool have six signings through the door too. According to Sky Sports that is. Newcastle Utd, Man Utd and Totts haven’t been as busy, busier than us though.
I imagine there will be a car boot sale over in West London before too long but as long as Berta and/or Arteta are nowhere near it, who cares?
I’ve read a few comments about how Arsenal’s slowness in this transfer window could purely be down to waiting for the 1st July which if is the case, this week should keep the admin team for the clubs official website very busy.
Zubimendi, Kepa, Sesko, Gyokeres, Norgaard, Mosquera and Eze are among the names strongly linked to the club but who the first through the door will be is anyone’s guess. My own guess is Zubimendi followed by Kepa and Norgaard.
This morning, James McAtee is reported to be on his way out of Man City. He’s just played his part in helping England under 21’s become European Champions, alongside Ethan Nwaneri of course and I think he’s a big talent. £25m is the reported fee City are asking for him. If Arsenal are looking at Eze, why not look at McAtee as well, or instead of? Did you know his great uncle was Arsenal’s Alan Ball?
As far as strikers go, Gyokeres is still involved in a transfer battle with his club, at least that’s what the newspapers tell us but the Sesko rumours have gone quiet which I think is a good thing. Hopefully this means there is nothing to tell because his future has been decided privately. Whether that means he’s on his way to Arsenal I don’t know but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he is.
Hugo Ekitike is back in the Arsenal headlines this morning, a lot of clubs are interested in him apparently but at least now we’re into the period where we should find out who will definitely be our striker for the coming season and beyond. After all, pre-season is just days away….
Catch up in the comments.
Good Morning Rico and all
good read today Rico. Seems you are settled now after the move.
According to FabrizioRomano: “Arsenal’s opening proposal for Cristhian Mosquera for €14m was rejected. Arsenal will return to the table, they hope to get the deal done for something around €20m-€25m.”
“Mosquera has said yes to contract terms offered by Arsenal, he has said yes to Mikel Arteta, to Andrea Berta, to everyone at the club because he wants to go to the Premier League & he wants to go to Arsenal.”
“Now, club-to-club, they are discussing, they are negotiating — I expect Arsenal to go very strong on this one once again.”
Financially Mcatee is more viable. depends how Arteta views him. He is English as well, like Eze. So homegrown. The more homegrown players we have the better imo as the Spanglish contingent will grow.
I have the feeling that Arteta is already preparing for the departure of Saliba. That is why Mosquera who at 20 years is already experienced. I feel that Saliba will sign a new contract to protect his value but he will be sold, either now or summer 26.
Morning Devil, settled is a bit of a stretch. 😂
You could be right re Saliba but Arteta might just be making sure we have enough centrally without the need to play White, Timber etc.
Plus, we don’t know what’s happening with Kiwior or Zinchenko yet.
Morning campers, morning Rico, nice post, the sea air has obviously revived your scribbling.
There’s nothing to get really excited about because most of these deals have been protracted and covered extensively in the media and especially online. It’s just a case of announcing them…
I’ve heard the young Spanish defender described as a young Big Gabby, or was it a young Big Bill, it was one of them anyway? If he’s anything like either then he’s gonna be good, he’ll also offer Arteta some serious options in central defence and depth.
This window seems to be more of an exercise in depth and not just in numbers but in quality.
Arsenal are certain to be considered 3rd favourites for this coming season. Liverpool after their splurge will be favourites and City are back, aren’t they (aren’t they?), I guess we’ll soon find out.
Chelsea are rebuilding, when are they not rebuilding? Some pundits will make the Chavs more serious contenders than Arteta’s ‘bottlers’ (their view not mine) and so the spotlight will be elsewhere.
Retaining fitness, rotating players early in the season, keeping some freshness in our players’ legs for the closing weeks of the season.
Let’s see how much the last three season’s have taught everyone at the club.
Morning Kev, there’s not much air down here at the moment so yet to venture to the sea. 😝
I see this window as similar, 2/3 top notch players plus very good squad players.
I’d love it if Chelsea can’t sell their players and are found to be in breach of PSR. City too.
Chelsea are a joke and how they are permitted to operate as they do ruins football imo.
Afternoon Rico and all, Hopefully over the next few days things may improve, except for Kepa, i’m not too excited about our possible new players mentioned,
Good morning Rico, nearly a week and you’ve not yet been to the beach? 😎
I’ve watched the U21s in the Euros but I’m not particularly impressed by McAtee. If City are selling him for that sort of fee they can’t be any more impressed than I am.
Incidentally, there was talk that Foden was likely to leave City this summer if McAtee was that good he would have been the natural home grown replacement.
Afternoon Geoff, Cicero.
Haven’t been able to Cicero, we’ve had tradesmen in every day so far and it’s too hot for the four legged one..
Re City, I’d imagine they have some pounds to recoup and as we know, English players, especially those from the academy are pure profit.
‘Gunners make contact with Eze’s camp’
Arsenal have made contact with Eberechi Eze’s camp over the weekend, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The report suggests contact has taken place for a potential move for the Crystal Palace star, with the Gunners informed of the conditions of the deal.
Tottenham also remain keen on a deal for Eze.
Seems as if Arsenal have pivoted away from Rodrygo due to the cost in terms of a transfer fee and the wages.
I mean if Rodrygo is so good that Madrid want €100m for him then why can’t he get a game for them?
Doesn’t add up does it, unless their new manager doesn’t see him fitting into his style of football.
Brentford sporting director ‘happy’ for Norgaard to join Arsenal
Brentford sporting director Phil Giles says he will be “happy” for Christian Norgaard to complete a move to Arsenal.
Giles has exclusively told Sky Sports News: “Arsenal approached us in the last two weeks about Christian – we’ve spoken regularly with Andrea Berta.
“As it stands, I think it’s more likely to happen than not, but we have to go through the full process, tick all the boxes, and we’ll see at the end of it.
“He’s been a fantastic player for us, unbelievable. I’m actually happy for him that he has earned the opportunity, at this stage of his career, age 31, to go and have the opportunity to win some trophies.
“It isn’t done yet but we are aware that, if and when he does depart, we also have a leadership void to fill. We’ll look to cover it.”
Devil you are right about Mosquera even before Arsenal made contact, I read that Madrid backed off of him because thay believe that would allow Arsenal to sell Saliba to them.
This Rodrygo interest is baffling. If anyone is familiar with Madrid set up, he flourishes when he plays the 10. He’s an average player when he plays the wing. When Madrid changed their setup after they got Mbappe, Rodrygo began declining. Watch Madrid games before Mbappe with Bellingham at 8 and Rodrygo at 10, it was awesome. Unless Arteta is going to use him differently, as a winger, Rodrygo is not better than Martinelli at least Martinelli tracks back.
If we want a winger with a purpose, it’s not Eze. We should go for Maduwake. More direct and stronger with epl attributes.
If you’re referring to Chelsea’s Madueke, apparently we are interested in him. Gordon too supposedly..
There’s no certainty that Rodrygo, if we’d got him, would have played on the left-wing, I’m sure he would have come inside especially against teams playing the deep block, I think that’s why Arteta is looking for players who can be unorthodox.
Non news this morning, Zubimendi more or less done, but that has been said for a month or more. Sesko and Gyokeres no movement yet. Norgaard still details to be settled. Same with Kepa. Eze, signing possibility explored. Rodrigo, who in hell knows?
Likeliest outcome? A last minute trolley dash. 😕
One more to add to the list, Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, is a work in progress and would cost around £20 million. Real Madrid were interested but dropped out.
Morning Rico and all,
If the media is anythink to go by we are more interested in defenders than a striker, I hope their wrong as we need a striker
Real Madrid were interested but dropped out.
Any Spanish player that looks like transferring gets linked to Real by their agent . It makes the player sound better and inflates the deal. The Spanish media are only too willing to go along with it and unfortunately our media both social and mainstream copy and paste and if they repeat it enough times it must be true .
Positive news from the commercial dept at Arsenal is the end of the clubs tie-up with Camden Ales (dishwater) and a new beer partner in Asahi the Japanese beer company (nice beer).
Thank goodness , although a local company their beer was a poor copy of Adnams Ghost ship it was far too citric for my liking.
The new club beer won’t last long, the government are set to ban alcohol advertising at all sports venues.
I think the ghastly Camden Ale had a lot to do with fans turning up late for kick-off and missing kick-off because they went elsewhere for a pint or three.
Ban advertising by all means but not the sale, I doubt that any ban would affect Henley or Ascot or Wimbledon or Twickenham or Lords, surely old chap?
Ban alcohol at Henley, God forbid. Nothing nicer when wearing my striped blazer in my old school colours with a straw boater dear boy. 😉 n
Careful with Pimms old fruit it’s 25 percent and 1/3rd Pimms with 2/3rds lemonade is about 8 so it can blow your hat off if your not careful . its the original gin based alcopop. Seen many incidents at summer balls , especially the girlies that drink it like lemonade.
Good afternoon Lady and housers
Kepa signs. Its official and on the website
https://www.arsenal.com/news/kepa-arrizabalaga-signs-arsenal
Andrea Berta: “We are really excited to have Kepa join our Arsenal family. He is a player with great experience, someone who has already won major trophies & we cannot wait for him to join the group & help the club win.”
“Kepa knows it is an exciting time to be at Arsenal & we know he is a player who will bring with him a winning mentality. We welcome him & his family to the club & look forward to him meeting the players & staff, with everyone excited to see him.”
Kepa will wear the number 13.
Asahi is up there with some of my favourites like San Miguel and Estrella although these days, it’s the zero version. 😝
New post up