Afternoon guys.
I can say that I am even more confident than I was at the end of last season when you asked me the same question 10 times!
I am very optimistic. I think [those fans who are worried] can be pretty relaxed!
There is absolutely no way Mikel Arteta would stick his neck out that far if Aubameyang wasn’t staying at Arsenal. All the way through this ‘will he or won’t he’ saga, our head coach, oops, our newly promoted manager has been confident that he’d stay. Too confident for there to be any doubt. Maybe the FA Cup swung it, maybe Mikel Arteta, maybe it’s as simple as Arsenal having a plan for the future. We’ve heard lots of promises from board members but now there’s a whiff in the air that things really are moving in the right direction. I don’t just mean Mikel Arteta either. Edu seems open and honest and not afraid to talk to the fans. The same fans who not that long ago were deeply disappointed to see him leave Arsenal.
Neither is chief executive Vinai Venkatesham afraid of being open with the fans. Talking to Arsenal Digital about Arteta he said:
He has lifted the spirits and lifted the energy here at London Colney and with Arsenal fans all across the world. He is doing an absolutely phenomenal job.
“The other thing that’s clear is that right from the day he walked through the door, he was doing much more than being our head coach. So we’re going to be changing his job title going forward. He’ll move from head coach to be the first-team manager. That’s recognition of what he’s been doing from the day he walked in the door, but also where we see his capabilities.
“He is doing a great job of coaching the first team and that’s his primary responsibility, but there is so much more that he can bring and that’s why we’re making this change, in recognition of his capabilities and also the job that he’s doing already.
Transfers, sales, fitness, you name it, Arteta will be involved and I think it’s right that he is. It’s his job which will be on the line if things go belly up. Rumour had it that Unai Emery wanted Steven N’Zonzi but the board, or rather Raul disagreed and we signed Lucas Torreira instead. Fine, but when it goes wrong, it wasn’t Raul who left. Although he did eventually. Water under the bridge now but little things like that, no pun intended, can make all the difference to a manager/head coach’s career.
Anyway, here we are, a new season kicks off tomorrow with short trip across London to face newly promoted Fulham at lunchtime. Honestly, I’m really looking forward to the new campaign. Probably because of the optimism which winning the FA Cup brought with it. The way we did it too. Not by beating Hull City, Reading or whoever else we scraped past but three strong team in Sheffield Utd, Man City and then Chelsea.
I doubt we’ll better our last season’s achievement as far as trophies go but I do believe we’ll be more competitive. Tougher both mentally and physically. Not a team who’ll go to places like Brighton, Crystal Palace and West Ham etc and roll over. I also believe the likes of Man City and Liverpool will find beating us on their own turf more difficult. We might not win but we won’t get rolled over with such ease in my opinion. If that means playing in a way that isn’t the most attractive to watch, who cares? I don’t, certainly not away from home.
Maybe I’m being too optimistic, I don’t know but I don’t care either because finally, there does seem to be a light at the end of the Arsenal tunnel, rather than just someone with an old torch with batteries on their last legs in it.
Transfers. Can we expect more? Yes we can.
We are still active in the market, we are looking at different options. We are active in the market with players in and out, at the moment the squad balance is not ideal.
There is still some work to do, but we have to bear in mind the complications of this market. The complexity and as well the timing because you can see that clubs are behaving in many different ways and it is a bit uncertain how this is going to evolve in the next few weeks. Numbers-wise, some positions are overbooked. Some others, in terms of the specific qualities we need, are still not there.
See you in the comments guys.
Hi Rico and all I guess the issue with Aubameyeng as I see it comes down to 2 things
1 if he has not signed then why is Arteta putting his head on the chopping board so to speak by promising fans he will stay when their is still a chance he may leave.
2 if he has signed and the club is holding back on a official notice it show’s disrespect to the fans.
Just wondering if Arteta is becoming a manager and coach like Wenger was, is he taking on too much to quick and should he just say who he wants and who he wants to sell and let some one else do that part and just concentrate on coaching for say 2 years then start thinking about expanding his power / say in how the club is run and who we sell and buy
I don’t think it’s disrespectful if he’s already signed Geoff, it’s all part of football and the intrigue and excitement 😂
Thanks for the new post Rico, I was beginning to wonder? 😉
Some interesting comments from Vinai, Edu and Mikel which hopefully mean the club is progressing in the right direction again, no more agent inspired transfer business.
We still have the contracts guy and the loans manager so it isn’t really Wenger Mk2 even if Edu is increasingly looking to take on the David Devin role, his comments seem to point towards ‘the buck stops with me’ which you never got from Ivan.
AfternoonRico and the House.
A goal by Cottrel has given the U23s a half time 1-0 lead
against Southampton.
Macey is in goal, along time since he last played for the u23.
Uplifting post rico, I too am optimistic. Enjoyed the Vinai/Edu garden interview, they know to include fans and be open is the only good way forward. Mind you, it did remind me of Cummings interview in the garden😀😀😀
I was wondering if Auba had agreed terms long ago, but was waiting for squad signings to be confirmed rather than muted. Like Van Persie sought. Probably not, but it would explain the delay.
5 CB’s out injured! Good job we have been collecting them and have 8!
Off to watch cricket recorded. 9 of our 11 heroes playing!
Rico, so much has happened since my last good comment,
and i am struggling to keep up with you all. Many thanks for your great posts.
Kev its good to see you in great form as well keep your comments coming mate.
I have not heard anything about Danny going on loan but I fully expect him
and Mcguiness to be in demaned by others in the next few weeks
Been babysitting Kev. 😝
Agree re Edu, he’s putting himself out there. I really like him.
Afternoon Rick, how is Macey doing, any idea?
Geoff, can’t see it re AW etc, Arteta, seems more open, perhaps more honest although only time will tell us for sure.
Afternoon Andrew, there wasn’t as much bull**** in the air with Vinai and Edu though. Lol
Nice one Rico, evening all,
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt Arsenal really had a plan, and a bright young manager too.
It’s a bit of a shame the only players in demand are the ones we want to keep, but hey that’s life.
At least we’re not Spurs.
Yeah we can all relax, we’ve agreed to pay Aubameyang enough to keep him happy until there’s only one year to run on his next contract. Mind you he will probably change the name on his shirt to Methuselah by then 😉
With Ivan the buck stopped anywhere that he wasn’t.
It’s been a period of turmoil since the removal of Arsene but hopefully the route is clear for us now and everyone is pulling together.
The squad is out of balance we all know that but until the last remnants of the old regime pass it’s going to be a mix and match situation . This is not made easier by the virus and it’s effects , no club apart from the artificially funded ones has the money to buy and banks are reticent to lend any to businesses with greatly reduced income streams.
So loans and swaps are being mooted but the players that people want are not the ones that clubs need shot of.
Today it’s Bellerin going back to Barca but they don’t have cash and want to palm a player or two off Jean-Clair Todibo, Martin Braithwaite and Junior Firpo are believed to be surplus to requirements.
Excited ? me neither and I doubt that Edu and Arteta are either.
El Shaaraway from Roma has been touted but what do we want with a forward while we have Lacazette who is quoted as saying he’s staying and fighting Eddie and Martinelli for a start although apart from the forward bit , I don’t see them as in any way similar. It will be horses for courses and substitutions all round.
So tomorrow we have our first game and apparently we are active in the market still . Looking at the squad if it stays relatively stable it’s just a midfielder for me and I trust Arteta and Edu on this , I reckon they know that position’s demands rather well.
Thanks Rick.
Are you at all surprised at how many of the younger players are going out on loan considering the domestic cups and Europa?
By the way Andrew, I too think Auba agreed his deal a while ago. Just wanted proof of the direction in which the club are going.
Hi Rick, thanks again for the info on the Stiffs, yeah the Ballard rumour was something I read on another blog, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt but as you say both Ballard and McGuinness will probably go out of loan if not for now but for sure in January.
I really like McGuinness he’s very big, very strong and technically sound – it does seem that the academy are signing bigger more physically imposing centre backs again after a period of tiki taka defenders. I wonder if it was a policy passed down the line by Wenger who seemed to want Puyol types? I mean who could ever forget that triumvirate of Gallas, Toure and Silvestre consistently losing out in the air while we pulled out our hair. Good old Arsene, nobody quite ignored an obvious deficiency in our team/squad like him, bless his cotton socks.
Taylor Foran (1st year) is really highly rated by Jorge Bird and we have Harrison Clarke, the improving Tolaji Bola, the Tottenham reject Dinzeyi and Alex Kirk (2nd year) so we’re well stocked for centre backs, which is great.
And Squilli Kev, a nightmare signing. I saw Silvestre play in the soccer aid match on the other night. He hasn’t improved with age. Lol
McGuinness is a monster.
Nice comment Potter, yeah Squillaci but he came a bit after the the trio I mentioned Rico I’m sure, we got him the same window when we sign Koscielny, whatever happened to him and him? 🙂
I’ve missed a few comments. Agree Potter, I can’t see Edu and Arteta taking any old player just to appease another club. I can see them driving a hard deal.
Thanks Limey. Yep, it’s a long time since a bit of optimism has been around before a new season.
Could have been worse Cicero, Auba could have been sold for peanuts, then there would be some moaning and groaning going on.
Not heard about either since they left Kev. One retired and the other injured I suspect 😆
Nick Ames
@NickAmes82
Exclusive – Emi Martinez out of Arsenal squad to face Fulham so Bernd Leno starts. Brighton have joined Villa in the running and currently have the bigger bid. Transfer talks ongoing. Full story: https://theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/11/emiliano-martinez-not-in-arsenal-squad-and-brighton-join-race-to-sign-him-aston
A bidding war is good for us.
We’re after Edouard according to NN. Replacement for Lacazette
Emi Martinez out of Arsenal squad to face Fulham so Bernd Leno starts.
Selling him will be a great mistake , he is the better keeper nearest thing I’ve seen to Seaman in style and presence.
Absolutely agree. Not giving Emi the gloves from the start is a big mistake I think. Better at crosses, catching and playing out from the back. Just hope this sale, if it happens, doesn’t bite Arteta on the backside.
If Martinez is sold, we need To include a buy back clause and while everyone has been impressed with his form, he needs to do it week in, week out at the top level before he can be rated above Leno, imo, as Leno has proven himself.
If he does show us he’s the bette keeper over a reasonable period of time, great, get him back.
News:
a) BARCELONA TARGET BELLERIN
Barcelona are keen on Arsenal’s right-back Hector Bellerin. The club would like to loan the 25-year-old for a season but would cost 30 million euros, and Spanish newspaper Marca have said that there is a chance of a permanent move though the Catalans would prefer a loan. They are also ready to sell Nelson Semedo if they can find someone to pay the 40-50 million euro asking price.
b) Aston Villa are closing in on Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, the Telegraph reports. The 28-year-old Argentine stopper has been left out of the squad to face Fulham for the opening round of the Premier League, meaning a move to Villa is imminent. Bernd Leno will get the nod for the London derby after Martinez impressed during lockdown.
c) Ainsley Maitland-Niles is not yet committed to remaining at Arsenal. The 23-year-old is now a full England international after coming on against Denmark in the week, but knows he needs regular minutes to secure a place in the squad for Euro 2020. The versatile Arsenal player had a £15 million bid from Wolves rejected recently but there is still a chance he could move on.
Rico I’m just a bit worried that Arteta is taking on too much too soon I feel he needs to concentrate more on his coaching an prove he is the right person to take us forward as I have all ways said I will make my mind up about Arteta at the end of this season let’s face it all players lift when you get a new coach at the moment Arteta looks good but leave the contracts to Edu and co and concentrate on coaching
Morning Rico and All
6 months ago I would have sold
martini for 5 mil wouldn’t you
for me Lino should be the one to
sell but its hard to know what goes on behind closed doors
I hope like everyone else Micky keeps his eyes on the real stuff
I remember watching Phil parkingson A day in life of
his family never see him much in 10 months
I hope Micky can balance the problems he will be having
I how much family life is to the spainish people
We need a box to box player every manager knows this
let’s hope it’s not Last Minute . Com.
I’m not Geoff. Edu and Arteta will be doing the work away from the pitch, perhaps in a similar way to Dein and Wenger. That combination worked ok.
Morning Fred. I’m not fussed if we have to wait until deadline day for the much needed midfielder, as long as we get him in the end. Ideally he’d have been in already but as Edu and Arteta have both made clear, getting who they want isn’t always as easy as it might seem.
New post up now