Morning all.
Last nights match must have been a tough workout for the players. It was hot, humid and hard graft. More minutes for the younger players, more headaches for Unai Emery. Martinez looked good, Eddie scored twice and Willock too found the back of the net. Our Spanish head coach has a lot of decisions to make. Which of the younger players stay, which go out on loan, who if any can he afford to leave. How on earth does he keep them all happy? Is there another club in the Premier League right now which has so many younger players coming through, showing the kind of promise our guys are? I doubt it.
We’ve waited for a long time to see our academy produce talented players and right now, there seems to be so many to choose from. 17-19 year olds who appear to have the world at their feet. Literally. If Bernd Leno thinks his first team place is guaranteed, I think he’s kidding himself because from what I’ve seen of Martinez so far, our German has a fight on his hands this season. In my opinion, this season will be the first time in a long while that we’ll have two very very good keepers. In fact all over the pitch we should have little battles for a first team place. All bar in the defensive department, including that much needed midfield powerhouse. Fiorentina ripped through us on too many occasions, just as many teams have before and will continue to do so unless something changes. In my opinion, only better players is the answer.
Here’s a few highlights of last nights 3-0 victory over Fiorentina.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7MXxuwAuB9c
The next test is Real Madrid and for that one I’d imagine we’ll see more of the senior players on show. Personally, I’d rather Unai Emery continued with his younger players because Real Madrid will tell him and us more about the players and where they’re at in their career.
Then it’s home time for the players. Not for long though as after The Emirates Cup, a short trip to France and then Spain end our pre-season.
You’ve probably all read/heard the interview with Edu by now. I don’t know about you but I found in to be interesting to say the least. He’s not going to be a pen pusher, he’s clearly not going to hide either. He’s going to be heavily involved with what Emery is doing right now, as well as looking to the future. He talks about the past, the hard work and how talent alone simp,y isn’t good enough anymore, something which applies to more than just Mesut Ozil. His love and respect of the fans is clear and the way he said about wanting to make us love the club again said it all I thought. He cares about the club and he cares about us. If you haven’t read it yet, you should, it’s refreshing.
Edu mentions that his good friend, well, one of them is Patrick Vieira. Watch out Unai……
Transfer update from our head coach earlier this morning:
I am patient because we want to choose the best solution.
“Some players are very expensive and we are waiting for this possibility because we don’t want now to go to the second line of players. We are waiting and really we have very good young players.
“We are aware we also need to improve some areas in this squad. But I only want to sign three or four players only if we can be sure they are coming to improve our squad.
“There are a lot of names and the club is working. Edu is very close to me every day and also with the Kroenke family.
“I want to send a message to all our supporters that we want to [build] the best squad possible.”
We get the message, just sign the players Arsenal….
See you in the comments guys..
Good post this morning,Rico.
Really need that new 1st team centre back. Holding coming back isn’t enough. Just Sok left to count on. Kos is gone, Mustafi should just help the groundsman and Chambers, who i’d like to see us keep, played his games at centre mid last year on loan, but the worringing thing is I’m not seeing many CB’s being linked.
Good morning Rico, I just hope that at least some of our young, talented players can actually make the step up to the first team.
Rumours abound, Tierney has agreed personal terms with the club and Saliba is due in London on Tuesday to undergo a medical.
Got one in English :- https://misterspruce.co.uk/arsenal-news/the-goals-arsenal-v-fiorentina-and-why-i-beat-down-mustafi-again/
Thanks Chrispy. I don’t think it makes much difference if we’re linked to a defender or not because seldom do rumours come true. Saying that, this 6’ 6” guy is still in the headlines.
Morning Cicero, Eddie is staying put according to Emery, Willock, Nelson, Smith Rowe and Saka Have squad numbers so they must be staying too.
What a nice problem for Emery to have..
Morning Rico and all. Nice introduction to the day. I watched it and agree that the conditions were freakishly unpleasant. We always looked dangerous on the break and Fiorentina had some tricky players for us to cope with. Mustafi and Nacho will no doubt continue to worry me as the season progresses but, looking at midfield it’s not difficult to have real concerns too. Essentially we didn’t have one last night and what was there was so easily bypassed. Better opposition finishing would have left us embarrassed. When Xhaka and Mikhi came on they announced themselves by getting booked immediately. I believe HM received a card before he had even touched the ball in open play. Xhaka, in true Granit-style pushed an opposition player into the advertising hoardings as the ball was rolling harmlessly out of play simply because he felt like it. This is how Debuchy was finished at Arsenal by Arnautovic. It was stupid, reckless and when he does the same thing this season, as he invariably will, it’s going to cost us. The bloke really isn’t a team player at all. He has a spiteful streak and we all know how PL refs like to deal with Arsenal players who carry on like this. If only we had a quicker, more talented holding midfielder to turn to I’d love to see the Swiss out of the door myself. He’s a massive liability for me.
Morning Adam. Thanks. Absolutely agree re Mkhitaryan and he really should join Xhaka and Mustafi out the door. Behaviour like Xhaka displayed has no place in the game and certainly not in a friendly. The blokes an embarrassment to the club and I hope Edu feels the same.
Rico. Unfortunately it looks as if he is going to be one of several captains this season. I completely agree about the 3 you mentioned but they seem to be set to remain, by default.
Morning all.
Let focus on the kids as that’s where our future lies.
Project youth was set up by Arsene and when it didn’t pay immediate dividends, it was treated as a joke but really, it was always going to take a decade at least to give us results and that is how things are working out:
Damn, we have a great bunch of kids and that’s not by chance, not by coincidence and certainly not down to current management so credit where it’s due.
Let’s hope Emery gets the very best out of this crop as it could be dynasty we haven’t seen for a long, long time.
I know Adam, it’s worrying really. I just don’t understand what Emery sees in any of them, if he does….
I can’t see many if any similarities to the youth project Wenger tried and today’s situation Scott. The one Wenger tried was mostly foreign players, these are young Englishman.
Wenger might have been manager but didn’t he keep the younger players separated from his first team coaching? Surely if anyone deserves praise, it would be the youth coaches who have been with them through the academy.
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico, I’m really enjoying this nice new shiny post, cheers…
I think our coaching has really improved at youth level, these things can often take years to pay dividends and maybe what we are seeing just now is the benefit of all the hard work those Dutch guys we had on the Academy coaching staff a few years ago and what they set in place?
Afternoon Kev, thank you. I hope it reflects my Arsenal optimism. Well, apart from Xhaka and Mustafi….
Jonker? Yes, I wonder why he left.
Martinelli looks like he could be great for us. A real bargain if he is.
I believe he left because of the lack of opportunities offered to youngsters by Wenger. He once said that there were better chances of football in Europe and he was arguing that more young ones should take the route that Sancho who left City and Malen from us did .
I can quote him here “”“When I was at Arsenal, manager Arsene Wenger sometimes called up a few youth players for a couple of games in the League Cup,” Jonker began. “But when Arsenal had a league game a couple of days later, those boys were never in the squad. And in the next 50 games, Wenger would not pick them, either.
He just felt that his work was pointless.
Says it all really Potter and just why I wouldn’t lump too much praise on Wenger for today’s younger players.
Jonker, that’s it, he went to Wolfsburg with Ljungberg, didn’t do great and lost his job after less than two seasons…
Yeah, I’ve heard that Potter, apparently he and Wenger didn’t see eye to eye over a lot of issues, playing style, tactics etc…
Of course you can’t overlook the fact that we’ve just got a great group of young players coming through, it’s happened before, it’s just what it is…
Wenger didn’t see eye to eye with a lot of people 😉😉
I liked Martinelli
Yes Rico, your Arsenal optimism is well known throughout the blog world, as is the optimism that Adam always brings to this blog.
You are a breath of fresh air… 🙂
I won’t see the Fiorentina game for a few days, not until it’s on Channel 553 on the Virgin TV platform on Freesports.
But I saw enough in 10 minutes highlights to see that Olayinka and Burton struggled to protect our back four, they looked ok against a Colorado Rapids team that was average, but a team from Serie A is another level or two.
But this is pre season and it’s when Emery can look at what he’s got and at which youngsters are ready and those who might need more time.
It’s all part of a young players education.
As for Xhaka and Mkhitarayan, what can I say, we know their limitations and we also know that we’re stuck with them – for now…
We also know that if we can’t move them on and if we cannot replace them yet, the leftovers of the previous regime, that they’ll fcuk up in games, but maybe not for too much longer, as our youngsters could quickly supplant them if Emery has the courage to trust them?
Evening Rico, Kev. I like to bring a bit of optimism otherwise I might become a Doomer😃
As the new season approaches it seems to me that something needs to happen soon and it must be multi-faceted. We have problems through central defence. Big problems too. Personally I would add central midfield to that. Having reacquainted myself with Xhaka and Henrik last night I had forgotten how little I’d missed them and how ill-equipped they seem for a team with our aspirations.
Evening Adam, Kev, all.
I’m optimistic because I think there’s much to be optimistic about. What Josh said, Edu, the young guns, the potential signings.. I know we’re stuck with Mustafi, Xhaka and co but two years they’ll be gone.. lol
It seems that we are in it for the long run however whether Emery is makes another question. Two years to wait for the squad cleansing and as we bring forward a low cost team of young players with a few supplements the old unwanted will gradually fade away unfortunately their salaries will continue to drain our resources.
Koscielny has agreed to sign for French club Rennes, for €10 million. That’s if my French is good enough to translate the report. Good business if it’s true.
This might be the week things start moving,outs as well as ins.
If Koscielny goes that pushes Mustafi a little higher up the list.Just saying…
It would appear that Nketiah is staying at the club rather than going out on loan. Despite almost going to Germany in January, a move put on hold by the injury to Welbeck, Emery has said that he will get “minutes” if he stays with Arsenal. It will probably be Nketiah’s decision whether to stay or go. With no Welbeck replacement signed Eddie would be the natural back-up to Aubameyang and Lacazette.
Morning all,
As guilty as I may be for giving Wenger too much praise, plenty are equally guilty of giving the man none so it goes both ways, surely.
The quality these kids have displayed surely shows we don’t need to be signing the likes of Zaha.
If we do buy, we need to be buying massive upgrades on what we have and I don’t see him as one.
Good morning Scott, no need to worry about wasting money on Zaha, Bayern Munich are after him and no doubt they will out-bid us.
Until these younger players get a few games under their belt in the PL, I think it’d be wrong to expect too much from them. There’s no doubting their talent but friendly fixtures aren’t the same as the PL etc imo.
Morning all.
Cicero, seriously?
Bayern want him?
That surprises me.
Rico, you’re right, and I don’t want to see them thrown to the wolves but it’s exciting to see them.
Exactly Scott.
The Bayern rumours are probably agent driven, hinting to Arsenal to get a move on. Lol
I think it’s time we stopped talking of Nketiah as a “kid”, he’s twenty, how old was Rooney when he scored for Everton against Arsenal? Guendouzi was twenty in April and has had a full season in the first team. Joe Willock will be twenty next month, if they are good enough they are old enough. If they are not good enough at twenty when, if ever, will they be?
Cicero, fair call, but will all fans agree to give these guys a chance?
We’ve discussed this in previous years and it’s probably never been more relevant, but if the club told us they’d have a season or two giving the kids their chance, I’d say most supporters would back them.
They’re still young as far as experience goes. Of course they have to start sometime and perhaps now is their time. Surely it’s not just about age with footballers? Doesn’t physique come into it too?
How old will they be, Rico, before they get that experience? Which would you rather see, Nketiah go out on loan for a season, leaving a vacancy in the squad or filling that vacancy by giving Nketiah a chance? The alternative is to sign a second rate striker, probably on silly money, to replace Welbeck.
We are said to be close to getting, on loan, the Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos to replace Ramsey, taking into account the home grown rule wouldn’t we better giving Joe Willock a chance to fill that gap?
Pace skill and speed of thought are infinitely more important in today’s game than bulk.
I’m not for one minute suggesting they’re not ready Cicero and I don’t mean ‘bulk’ either, I just mean body strength overall. There’s a different imo.
I fully expect Willock to play this season, Nelson too but experience is needed too which is possibly why the club want Cebello. Also there are four competitions to play in, Willock can play in every one of them.
Morning All
Morning Rico, hasn’t Raul returned to the UK to finalise some transfer business?
Arsenal fly home in a few days after the Real Madrid game, so I guess things will start to happen, also after 3 games Emery may have made a few decisions on who stays, who goes on loan and where he thinks we need strengthening?
Morning Kev, I didn’t know that.. Good.
Reading between the lines of the comments by Nketiah, he is considering asking for either a loan or a permanent move away if he’s not given a chance in the first team this season.
How must our other loanees, returning to the club, feel if they too are not given a chance and see a Spanish loanee given a place that one of them could fill.
Rico these are athletes we are talking about, they have been nurtured from an early age, they have been given the best possible medical care, careful dietary control and individual fitness and bodily development programmes. If after all that they are not ready at their present age they are hardly likely to improve much in the next few years.
If for instance Willock was playing the Ramsey role in the first team he wouldn’t be expected to play in the minor competitions.
Cicero, I think you’re missing my point. I really want these younger players to play and I’d have thought you’d have realised that by now. I’m simply saying, let’s not big them up, only to kick them down again in a few months time.
Similar to Cebello coming in if he does. Ramsey gone, Elneny probably going so who will play in midfield other than Willock? Smith Rowe perhaps but he’s been plagued with injuries and is injured I believe right now.
One day it’s ‘we haven’t got two players in every position’ then it’s grumbles when the club try and do something to improve the squad. Makes no sense to me.
If Arsenal get a good draw in the EL and have some luck with home draws in the League Cup, then we’ll have two games a week, most weeks, so there’s more than enough games for everyone, not least our young guns…
The change I’d like to see is with the subs in EPL games, that’s where I’d like to see Emery showing faith in our young guns, no more wasting spots on players who bring nothing to the table. Freddie has a big job on his hands to keep pushing for our youth to be included…
I mean, who would you rather bring on with 20 minutes left of a game depending on the opposition, Mkhitarayan or Saka?
Same here Kev. If anything I’d rather see the likes of Mkhitaryan in Europa than the PL, similar with Ozil when they are sandwiched in between an away game.
Perhaps more to the point Kev, if Mkhitaryan is only good enough for a place on the bench why are we paying him the ridiculous wages we are and not giving the younger player the place.
Rico aren’t you forgetting a Swiss international and future club captain, Xhaka?
….and, Rico, I’m not “bigging” up the younger players I’m merely pointing out that in my opinion they are ready to play for the first team and should be given the chance over imported loans.
How could I Cicero, same for Torreira but will they create goal scoring opportunities or score goals?
Well, you and I agree because as I’ve said before, I believe a few are ready to play.
Saka Kev, every day of the week.
Metro reckon we’ve offered Nelson as part of a deal for Zaha….
if Mkhitaryan is only good enough for a place on the bench why are we paying him the ridiculous wages ?
Mainly because no-one wants him and we can’t sell .We are all forgetting that earlier Iwobi was touted to be moved inside. He does have many attributes for a midfielder . He is quick , not lightweight , can dribble and pass . It could be the making of him as he can’t cross.
Only touted as a midfielder by us on here though. 😝
Seriously, I guess where Iwobi plays depends on Emery and if the club are after Cebellos, I doubt he’s thinking central midfield.
The waiting game is so exciting. Lol
Potter beat me to the draw Cicero, but yeah, I agree, why was Elneny and Mkhitarayan on the bench last season, and why oh why do we have so many average players on massive wages?
I really don’t have the answer Cicero, but I know a man who does, and his address is:
AC Milan,
The San Siro,
Milano
Italy.
Good luck with getting an answer…. 🙂
Rico, is that Nelson on loan or Nelson moving to Palace permanently?
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-arsenal-should-become-a-selling-club-once-again-their-own-good
I’d rather have Nelson than Zaha, Palace will want more than he’s worth and the player will want astronomical wages. On top of that he’ll be twenty-seven come November so a couple of seasons and he won’t be worth half of what we will have to pay him. He’s a diver and every ref in the world knows that and will be only too ready to flash a yellow card at the first opportunity.
Whereas Nelson has no such reputation, will not cost a penny in transfer fees and is already on a longish contract so his future wages can reflect his performance.
Don’t know Kev, don’t even know if it’s true..
Well Rico, if it was on NewsNow, then it’s gotta be bollocks
Bollox it is then Kev.. lol
Let’s get the Tierney deal over the line Cicero, that’s a real urgent need for the team, having seen Kolasinac in preseason, I’m dreading another campaign with him as our 1st choice left back…
Where’s Le Coq these days, let’s hope that he’s ok…
Afternoon all.
All these names! Tierney would be very good. Montreal has been outstanding for many years but sadly his legs are going, to a good thing for an up and down wing back. Replacement and renewal sooner rather than later.
Nelson for Zaha? What would be the point of that, and we have other very talented wingers, well one anyway in Saka. I mean why would we especially as we are so short of funds. The young man from Real? I sort of think he may well turn out like our last dabble in the loan market from Spain!
We’ve just bought or are buying a talented 18 year old from France but loaned him back so, he’s not going to be any help this season, is he? How old was Tony Adams when he burst into the first team? Oh, I remember, he was 18.
I could go on but what would be the point? I’ll put my faith in Prince Ornstein and Arsenal.com.
LC, you okay, l have been contemplating the possibility of moving home. Up sticks and settling in the Duchy of Cornwall, especially if they go for independence, post Brexit. I’m prepared to put up with the prospect of continuous rain and gale force winds for the sake of all the attractions the Cornish tourist industry has to offer😎
Unsurprisingly it’s very sunny and extremely hot here 30+ tomorrow.
Kev, it would be something of a first, okay maybe a second or third, for Arsenal to actually get a transfer deal over the line and Tierney might well be a good signing….if he is genuinely over his injury problems that is. Could we have found a left back lurking in the academy? I don’t know but we should have at least looked before leaping into the transfer market.
I must admit that I’ve been disappointed with Kolasinac, at first I thought he might just be what we had been looking for, tough, fit and with a bit of something about him. Sadly he’s turned out to be a pussycat in defence although he has been product in the wing part of his wingback position. If we do get Tierney I sincerely hope that he is a sound defender first and a winger a long way back in second.
Productive, that should read.
Right , the ribeyes are on the barby and a nice bottle of Pino Noir breathing on the table. Catch you later…..maybe. 😉
I`m rehabilitating boys ! 😀
Have to walk for 12 weeks(obviously not in one go ! hahaha) before any gym work……..so another 8 weeks !.
I`m already on the top stage of walking where you have to walk at a brisk pace and raise the heavy breathing for 30 mins !………..which to day was 2.12 miles in 30 mins and important to warm up for 5 mins and cool down for 5 mins so a 40 min walk in total and about 2.75 miles in total and guess how many cars I saw in that 40 mins ?…………………….the same amount as Kroenke has invested in Arsenal ……0 !
Bit of gardening and taking lots of shrub cuttings !
Knowing Cornwall like the back of my hand, Wavy, I can tell you where it hardly ever rains !………….Perranporth and especially Harlyn Bay, which I deliver to on Thursdays and Saturdays and it has never rained there on 15 years of deliveries !. Must be the topography of the land or just an unbelievable coinincidence that it doesn`t rain on Saturday and Thursday when I`m there !……………….so my advise Wavy is buy a holiday home there and only use it on a Sat or Thurs !
😆
So Le Coq, you’re into heavy breathing, I’m glad you don’t have my phone number. 😉
Keep up the rehab mate!
A bit of a commute on Fridays, don’t you think? Just to get back for Saturdays, but dry and sunny is everything! I’ll page up right move and see what I can find. Ta.
Good luck with the rehab, take it steadily, no over doing it. You know it makes sense!
Don’t be tempted Wavy, statistically speaking Norfolk is the driest county in the United Kingdom. There’s more space and far less grockles (Cornishspeak) for tourists. 😉
Statistically speaking Penzance is the mildest all year round temp in Britain and you can become a Pirate aswell…………………..but Harlyn Bay is the place……………plus Wavy can be a silver surfer !
😀
Scouted Football
Arsenal fielded ten under-23 players against ACF Fiorentina last night:
🏴 Robbie Burton
🇧🇷 Gabriel Martinelli
🏴 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
🏴 Zech Medley
🏴 Reiss Nelson
🏴 Eddie Nketiah
🏴 James Olayinka
🏴 Bukayo Saka
🏴 Dominic Thompson
🏴 Joe Willock
Kev those young England qualified players must be the future of Arsenal.
A new Welsh wizard 🙂
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49078846
Looks like the Tierney deal is dead – fair enough, just walk away.
I’m getting really bored with the Zaha thing, feck Palace, walk away, we’ve got Eddie, Saka, ESR and Nelson. Use the money on a centre back….
Zaha is almost 27, if he stays at Selhurst Park for another year and he hits 28 his value will start to fall especially if he has the hump for this coming season…
This summer is the optimum summer for Palace to sell.
Maybe they’ve overdone it and will see his value decline.
Let’s see if they can get £55m in a years time, let alone £80m
That’s right Cicero, we also have ESR when he’s fit and we’re probably also scouting plenty of other young players outside of the U.K…
Martinelli and Saliba is just the start mate…
11.30 Kev. Amen to that.
New post up now