Morning all.
So much has gone on this week and not all of it good, for me anyway. Finally though, I’ve fulfilled a dream by moving to the south coast.
It seems Arsenal FC have finally realised that the transfer window is open which is good news. On Wednesday, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported Mikel Arteta’s side are finalising an agreement for Brentford’s Christian Norgaard for around €11million (£9.3m; $12.9m). Sevilla’s 23-year-old French midfielder Lucien Agoume could be on the radar too.
Christian Norgaard is to replace the outgoing Thomas Partey say reports but that’s not quite true is it? Martin Zubimendi, should he ever arrive will be the main man in midfield whereas Norgaard is in theory, replacing Jorginho who has already departed.
So the below comparison between Norgaard and Partey is pretty pointless really, well, apart from Sky Sports trying to make out our potential new signing is a poor substitute when he’s not. He’s a Premier League proved player who should in theory be a great asset this coming season and beyond.
Kepa is widely expected to be our new number 2 goalkeeper next season and Valencia’s 21 year old defender Cristhian Mosquera is being lined up too. As is Crystal Palace attacking midfielder/winger Eberechi Oluchi Eze who started his career at Arsenal before being let go at 13 years old. I’m not sure re-signing him would be a smart move because other than the odd terrific performance, I’m not sure he’s any better than who we already have. If we’re going for a winger, which I hope we are, surely he has to be better than who we have?
Arsenal might not have confirmed the signing of any new players yet but after the good news about Gabriel staying at the club for the foreseeable, Myles Lewis-Skelly has now committed to Arsenal by signing a new five year contract. Honestly, I’m over the moon about this deal because he’s such a quality player. He’s Arsenal through and through too. Just need Ethan Nwaneri, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to do the same.
Finally, England take on Germany tonight in the European Under 21 Championship Final. Ethan Nwaneri will be involved at some stage if not from the start. Hopefully, when he returns to the club to sign his new contract, he’ll have a winners medal hanging around his neck.
Catch up in the comments.
Welcome back Rico. I guess the move didn’t altogether go to plan but you’ve plenty of time to settle in. Not too much swearing I hope. 😉
Thank you Cicero, the move was fine until we found the previous occupants had left a lot of their stuff in the house and garage..
Still, it was soon gone. 😜
Welcome home Rico, your dream move, that sounds fantastic, there’s nothing quite like realising a dream.
Everything else will sort itself out regardless.
Sky Sports pushing a negative narrative about Arsenal, surely not?
Yeah Nørgaard for Jorginho seems obvious to anyone else except for the mob on the A.4.
I have mixed feelings about Eze but maybe the plan is to use him off of the left-wing with his trickery against teams utilising the low block rather than Martinelli running down blind alleys? It’ll be good to have options off of the left.
Ok, I’m off soon with my son James to the Legends Tour of the Emirates.
Thanks Kev. It will….
Enjoy the tour…
MLS and Gabriel signing new deals are fantastic news.
I don’t think Norgaard is a replacement for Partey – more a replacement for Jorginho as Zubimendi would be viewed as the first starter.
In today’s hugely inflated market the amount spent on Norgaard is not even a risk and it is not a signing in which Max Dowman’s route to the first team would be blocked. It is an intelligent signing in my opinion and will allow Dowman to progress and become involved.
Kepa is a sensible and experienced signing and again at £5m represents very little outlay.
I will admit the signings so far are not particularly exciting but they fill gaps in the squad which are not critical (except perhaps Zubimendi who will be a first team member alongside Rice) but are still important.
They have been signed quite cheaply which will free up more funds for positions deemed to be more critical such as Left Winger and a Striker.
We will see….
Agree Leon, Arteta said we needed numbers as well as quality and if these recent rumours are true, we’re adding both. IMO, not every signing has to be exciting. They just have to be very good at what they do. We’re building the squad as well as a first team.
Kev you richly deserve a place in the legends being one yourself in your own lunchtime. 😉 h
Very true Cicero, I always saw myself as as bit of a legend, or was it leg-end? 😉
Good comments Leon.
Just watched Lewis Capaldi at Glastonbury, wow! Just wow!
Afternoon Rico and all.
Glad the move went well. as they always corse headaches, and hows your puppy going
Afternoon rico, house. Glad move ok apart from surprise from mean previous owners. Lots to look forward to. Looking at a few days at Lulworth next week ourselves, an area never been, for a few coastal walks. Are we really waiting for July to announce many together, seems like it unless Monday?
Afternoon Geoff, Andrew. Thank you. Selfish and unnecessary imo.
I think Monday too, might even get four announcements in one day. 😂
toe or a heel? Kev. 😉
Gotta be the toe Cicero…
Charlie George showed us around the Emirates, he did make me laugh, some of his quips escaped the young audience. It was nice to shake hands with the King of Highbury.
Sounds great Kev..
It was Rico, the heat was a killer unfortunately, great to see my hero all the same, he’s a bit of a lad, still.
He said the best defender he faced was Colin Todd and the best footballer he played with was Francis Lee…
It has been a hot one Kev, and that’s with a lovely breeze… lol
Both ex City players aren’t they?
Come on England…
Good evening Rico and all
Welcome back Rico. Enjoy your new surroundings and a new life. Who you’re going to support now?? Southampton or Portsmouth?? Maybe you should invest in a fishing rod???
Kev…..the heat was a killer??? You should be here….it was 39 degrees today and we’re still in June
I am so happy that MLS has signed a new contract. Nwaneri next. But first there is the small matter of winning the final against Germany. England are winning 2-0……there’s good pace all across the front line and this stretches the German defence. For the senior England team’s sake I hope they are watching the u21 and learn how they should play. Then I jsut remembered that the u21 don’t have Kane slowing down the attack
its 2-1 now.
Germany are so lucky to go only 2-1 down at HT. They should be dead and buried imo
Both ex-Derby players Rico…
And City then Kev. 😝
Evening Devil, thank you. Bournemouth is the closest so might try and get tickets when they play Arsenal.
Agree, this game should have been pretty much over had a bit more determination been on show.
Discussing midfielders everyone seems to forget that we still have Merino, mind you we may not buy a striker; call me pessimistic but I have visions of him up front again this year.
We might see Merino up front if we suffer injuries similar to last season.
its 2-2 now. England should have been out of sight but they are level.
now where do we have seen that happen???
Colin Todd and MacFarland were the central backs of Derby County in that time;
Francis Lee was the right wing of M. City
Bothe were/are legends of theirs clubs.
Nwanery in
Rowe makes it 3-2
England defend their title
🔔🔔🔔 🏆 🔔🔔🔔
Good night all. 😴
Probably the hardest ground to get a ticket Rico . Vitality Stadium has a current capacity of 11,307. It is the smallest stadium in the Premier League. The next nearest ground will probably be a home match.
Or the Amex in Brighton. 31 thousand capacity.
good afternoon Ladies and gentlemen
just read this…….Bukayo Saka is reportedly trying to convince Eberechi Eze on a move to Arsenal.
The pair are close friends from their time with England and they often spend time together off the pitch. Sources suggest that Saka has privately encouraged Eze to make the move to the Emirates. Arsenal’s primary target remains Rodrygo, but with the Brazilian yet to make a decision on his future at Real Madrid, the club cannot afford to wait indefinitely. As a result, they have begun exploring alternative options, with Eberechi Eze emerging as a top candidate. The appeal of Eze lies in his proven quality in the Premier League.
Maybe we can get him and offer Rhys Nelson in return as part of the deal??
Good Morning
In other news it appears more than speculation that Martineli can be sold and Rodrygo is on our list to replace him and CF attention is now on Eze.
Read this as well……Arsenal have reached full agreement on personal terms with Christian Mosquera.
New proposal set to be submitted after opening bid worth €14m got rejected by Valencia.
Arsenal hope to get the deal done for fee in excess of €20m, talks underway
Seems to me that we will soon have a SPANGLISH majority in the team.
Max Dowman can now represent Arsenal in the Premier League, now he is officially an U16 player, per @jeorgebird
I didn’t realise it was that small a ground Potter, need a rethink then…
New post up.