Morning all.
Arsenal play again tonight, against Monaco at The Emirates Stadium. It’s the last pre-season friendly before the new season curtain raiser on Sunday. I think most the ‘injured’ players were involved in training yesterday, including Sambi Lokonga. No sign of Flo Balogun or Reiss Nelson though which is a shame.
It’s hard not to think of Arsene Wenger when Monaco is mentioned, Thierry Henry too because it was the time when the two came together for the first time back in 90’s. Both then enjoyed great success at Arsenal, Henry via Juventus, Wenger, via Nagoya Grampus.
Arsene Wenger will be remembered for giving young players a chance, although the best years under his management came thanks to a number of overseas players, many of whom he signed. Vieira, Petit, Overmars, Anelka, Freddie, Pires, Gilberto, Edu, Kanu, Reyes, Wiltord – to name just a few. Bergkamp was already at Arsenal when Wenger arrived, as was one of the best back five’s in the game.
Fast forward to the Mikel Arteta years, he didn’t have such good fortune with the squad he inherited. A top class goal keeper in Martinez admittedly, but for reasons I don’t know, nor will I understand, he was sold for a pittance. Only a handful of players Arteta inherited remain at the club and I think I’m right in saying that only Holding from the transfer days of Wenger and I doubt he’ll be at Arsenal when the transfer window slams shut.
Arsenal giving youth a chance seems to be a thing of the past, if it ever really was a thing other than in the domestic cups. I’m talking about Arsenal youth, not youngsters signed from overseas clubs.
In transfer news, David Raya is reported to have agreed personal terms with Arsenal. Great, however, until Brentford and Arsenal agree a fee, he’ll remain at Brentford, or go elsewhere if a deal is agreed. If he does become an Arsenal player, it’ll be interesting to see how the battle between he and Ramsdale unfolds. We’ve kind of been here before with Leno and Martinez and we know how that ended.
It’s fair to say that the club need to move a number of players out before the 1st September because the numbers are far too high.
Kev sent me his thoughts on that very subject so here they are.
As I see it there are 22 players nailed on for the 25 man squad: Turner, Timber, Zinchenko, Partey, Gabriel, Odegaard, Jesus, Havertz, Kiwior, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Vieira, Jorginho, ESR, Saka, Martinelli, Ramsdale, White, Rice, Nketiah, Nelson and Saliba – feel free to disagree…
Marquinhos and Hein are still U21’s..
So, if I am correct with my assumption above then that leaves three spots for Arteta and Edu to play with, which given that we have around 11 or 12 players over 21 to fit in is going to be one heck of a magic trick to pull off and never mind any more additions!
It’s pretty clear from what’s been rumoured that the likes of Tavares, Lokonga, Pepe, Cedric, Runarsson and Okonkwo have been informed as have their agents, that it’s time to find a new club. Several academy players have also been informed that they can leave like Patino, John Jules, Rekik, Akinola and Alebiosu. However, that still leaves a quart trying to be squeezed into a pint pot which will necessitate more departures, even if only on loan.
Tierney, Holding, Trusty, Balogun and Elneny, 5 into 3 doesn’t go and even if Arteta decides on the 3 that means no more new signings – which I’m actually quite comfortable with as unlike the ludicrous Daily Mail I think the squad is good to go.
Tierney and Arteta have both been talking up his prospects of staying and I don’t mind that at all. Tierney was one of the few to come out of the Met Life kicking competition against Utd with any credit in the bank – and unless another club comes up with a realistic fee we have Kieran tied to Arsenal until 2026, so jog on Eddie… (Howe)
A club like Everton, who’ll have a lot of defending to do this season could really do with a good defender like Rob Holding – he’s straight out of the Tarkowski, Ben Mee mould of deep lying ‘over my dead body’ centre halves and he can play, as long as he’s not expected to be a William Saliba clone and cover half of the pitch on his own. I’m sure that a respectable fee would do the trick and he has a great attitude around the dressing room which Everton need.
Auston Trusty has, or is about to move to Sheffield Utd on a permanent deal. Mo Elneny will probably stay because everyone loves Mo and he loves the club but if the squad is full up and there’s an interesting midfield option out there then Mo could be sacrificed, not that I think it’ll come to that. Mo can still do a decent job in the lower profile matches – and like Trossard for example, he doesn’t need a run of games to warm up as he’s at his level straight away.
Finally Flo Balogun, the conundrum of the squad. Was last season his Joe Willock moment on loan or is that really him? He missed two sitters against MLS which makes you wonder is that actually really him and is this the optimum time to sell? Nketiah also missed some easy chances against the Mancs as did Martinelli but that’s football, it happens. I’m really torn because Balogun could stay and be an absolute sensation then again he could sulk and do a Lokonga if he doesn’t get the playing time he wants. Alternatively he could leave and be a sensation elsewhere, an Andy Cole, we just don’t know. I guess it all comes down to the fee offered as he’s under contract until 2025 but we also don’t want another Ainsley Maitland Niles….
Anyway, the next few weeks will be interesting. Busy too I’d imagine.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico and all.
As mentioned by someone a couple of days ago, let’s hope Arteta plays some of the players up for sale to show them off.
Auston Trusty to join newly promoted Sheffield United for £5 million. We signed two years ago for less than £1.5 million. A good deal for both teams and the player.
Morning Geoff, Cicero.
Brazil out of the WC. Wow…
Thanks Kev by the way…
I still think selling Balogun would be a mistake..
I asked the question when Arteta went to America and met Kroenke and a short time later announced that we had purchased some American players, did Arteta really want them or did Kroenke buy them with out Arteta approval, if true and we have sold trusty it makes me think that Arteta had no say in buying them.
Buying for selling perhaps.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-and-emirates-extend-partnership-2028
Cheers Rico, it’s a fast changing scenario from when I wrote the above. Turner looked nailed on and now looks likely to leave, Raya was the furthest from my mind and now he’s being touted in some quarters as replacing Ramsdale…
I hope the Trusty deal comes with add-ons like Sheffield Utd staying up and appearances etc. £5m now might look like a significant profit on £1.5m but in a years time if Trusty is playing like a £30m defender it’ll look like a steal?
Rico, ability wise I’d also like Balogun to stay but he’s been a bit of a tart on social media and is now complaining about the fee Arsenal are asking for him, he should stay quiet and his agent should make sure he stays quiet – I think he’s actually burnt all his bridges with Arteta, Edu has done a great job moving on all the disrupters but unfortunately Balogun seems to be evolving into another one…
That’s handy Rico, Emirates will continue to provide an aircraft for our away days.
Has much of it come from him though Kev? I’ve not seen anything about his fee..
Kev, totally agree about Balogun, he should stay quiet and let his manager do all the talking after all if no one wants him and he gets on the wrong side of Arteta his carer could be over before it gets started.
Every cloud Cicero..
Tavares is back. I wonder how long for..
Pepe rumoured to be going to Besiktas
Stories doing the rounds today :- Marquinos loan to Olympiakos , Lokonga Loan to Burnley , and Pepe to Besiktas whether on loan or for a fee or with us cancelling his contract to get rid .
Marquinhos would be better off at a PL club I reckon.
One all draw Arsenal win on penalties.
From what I have read we cancelled Pepe contract so he can leave for free.
Besitkas are offering €18 million for our £76 million man Pepe.
Inter Milan are interested in signing Tomiyasu.
I am on holidays abroad. UWas not a good pre-season or I am wrong?
Just watched highlights of last night’s match and it seemed both teams defence looked easy to break down.
Well Jesus will not be going anywhere anytime soon, not even onto a football pitch. He has had an operation on his knee, the same knee that caused him to miss more than three months last season. It seems obvious, in hindsight, that he was never fully fit during the second half of last season which would account for the serious drop off in his form.
Arteta/Edu need to rethink their striker options. Balogun should be given a place in the squad, we can’t rely on Nketiah to fill the empty space.
New post up