Morning all.
The Athletic reports that Manchester United are exploring a deal to sign youth striker Chido Obi-Martin following the expiry of his schoolboy terms at Arsenal. The 16-year-old visited United’s Carrington training facilities earlier this week, with the club in early-stage discussions over a move. Arsenal made what they felt was a fair offer to Obi-Martin, whose next deal will be a scholarship before switching to a professional contract upon reaching his 17th birthday.
This kid has no loyalty to Arsenal whatsoever and why should he, after all, he’s only been at the club for a couple of years. He might have been a prolific goal scorer throughout his short Arsenal youth career and scoring ten goals against Liverpool might have turned a few heads but look at Eddie Nketiah who broke records for England under 21’s, life in the Premier League is a very different thing to playing academy football.
I’d rather he stayed but he clearly thinks the offer Arsenal have put to him isn’t good enough, or he’s simply unhappy about what his career path looks like in north London.
Should Arsenal be concerned that one of its bright young players thinks moving elsewhere is a better option than staying put?
No one knows how good Obi-Martin might turn out to be right now. He might make it to the top, but just like so many who have thought there’s greener grass away from Arsenal, he might end up playing in the Championship or back in Denmark. Even some of our most exciting or talented 16 year olds who’ve left us for Barcelona, Chelsea or another club have ended up moving again soon after. If Obi-Martin succeeds in the game, he’ll be an exception rather than the rule but that won’t stop Arsenal taking a media hammering for ‘allowing’ him to leave.
I think what’s more important for Arsenal and any football club for that matter is having players at the club who really want to be there because only they will give their absolute best week in and week out. Arsenal have had more than their fair share of players who if their performances were anything to go by, weren’t happy at the club. Having them around the squad had and will often have a detrimental effect on the others who want Arsenal to be a successful club at every level.
Despite constantly reading stories about a deal for Riccardo Calafiori being close, such stories might have been a tad premature as yesterday, according to The Mirror, Bologna chief Claudio Fenucci was asked if there was any update regarding Calafiori’s move, to which he replied: “No, there are no developments.” Add that to the Football365 story about reports in Spain suggesting Arsenal have offered €40m (£34m) to Barcelona for Spanish defender Alejandro Balde – perhaps Arsenal have opted to change direction in pursuit of a new left back.
I know, it’s all conjecture. Fenucci is not going to tell some random reporter what’s going on between his club and Arsenal and ‘reports in Spain’ could have come from anywhere or anyone.
I hate the saying what will be will be but in the case of transfers in or out it’s so true. It doesn’t matter what’s written in the back pages, unless David Ornstein has his name attached to the article, it’s usually not worth the paper it’s written on. If Arsenal really want a player and that player only wants to join Arsenal, then I’m quietly confident the club will do all it can to get him through the door.
Catch up in the comments…
What have they offered you ? ……. 10 quid ………………….Ok we will offer you 11 quid and your mum can have a washing machine .
There’s nothing new , it’s been happening for years .
Obi-Martin’s agent is playing the field , United didn’t creep out of the woodwork , they were approached.
He may score goals but his agent and the player should be labelled mercenaries if he goes. His choices are a reasonable offer or holding clubs to ransom and a career that could have been much better.
Anelka anyone
Totally agree.
Anelka is a very good example and since when did 16 year olds hold clubs to ransom. Arsenal gave him a foot into the big time and he’s basically sticking his two fingers up to the club.
Afternoon Rico and all,
I don’t blaime Obi-Martin for looking at leaving, Just look at who Arteta has brought in from the academy and then our bench players like ESR – Eddie ect that are not getting much game time,
United have signed Bologna striker Zirkzee for circa £40/50 million so Bologna have less need of money to balance their books, allowing them to play hardball when it comes to a fee for Calafiori. The longer we dilly-dally the higher the price will go or another club will gazump us.
Sky Sports report deal for Calafiori close to being done…
Afternoon Geoff
I’m staying positive Cicero 😂
Apparently Nuno Tavares has had a bad start to his loan at Lazio, after picking up Muscle injury after 22 minutes
It’s going pear shaped at Trent Bridge. Windies 453 for 9 we just can’t get the last wicket.
At last all out 457
Stokes dropped one you’d expect a player like him to hold..
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5614190/2024/07/20/riccardo-calafiori-arsenal-transfer-news/
Root dropped a much easier one the player was on nineteen and went on to hit a century.😕
Zak Crawley run out at the non-striker end backing up. Careless!
33-1
I think I read something similar last week Rico.
The Root drop yesterday was shockingly bad…
Ah, not an actual update then Cicero..
reports Calafiori, has asked his club to let him join Arsenal so he can fullfill his dream, deal could go through in the next 24 hours.
….or not!
I read that that too, it’s from Fabrizio Romano.
Pope out, Root in, 131- 2
Yep, and a little bit of drizzle did the trick.
And now Duckett goes…
Duckett LBW. 140 – 3
Could be an interesting day tomorrow, especially if the conditions remain as they are..
I think Atherton heard me, he’s just said the same. 😂
Pre season news result Arsenal X1 2 Leyton Orient X1 0 Arsenal scorers Jesus and Emile Smith-Rowe
Root and especially Brook have stabilised the England second innings and taken the lead to 201+ as we move into probably the last over of the day.
Stumps 248 – 3
Good morning everyone
According to Italian media Calafiori is a done deal.
Arsenal academy players named in the first-team squad travelling for the tour of the United States.
Alexei Rojas, Lucas Nygaard, Michal Rosiak, Ayden Heaven, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jimi Gower, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Ethan Nwaneri
Where did you read that Devil?
Morning to you and all.
Crucial day at Trent Bridge.
Califiori deal seems to be coming to a positive conclusion if all the noise is correct – still waiting on Ornstein?
Kiwior and Zinchenko back at London Colney and watching the Orient game.
Italian media Rico. Its all in Italian in various different sites. I dont know how many of you know Italian fluently so I had to give you the news in English. But even his ex girlfriend seems to confirm this as some of you pointed out already. Bologna wanted Kiwior in the deal but both the player and Arsenal refused.
I meant the squad Devil. lol
The Calafiori stuff is everywhere..
the players were mentioned in one of the Facebook sites. I just copied and pasted it.
I wonder if both will still be at Arsenal at the end of the transfer window Kev..
I reckon Zinchenko might be Rico, I’m not sure that any club would offer Arsenal an acceptable fee anyway, Kiwior likewise, if an Italian club makes a realistic bid then Kiwior will be on the plane but if he stays then I’m ok with that.
Last season the fitness of our squad was very very good but you can’t take that for granted and on the back of 12 months of ceaseless football we might see a few break down, so extra bodies in the squad might be quite handy.
I like Kiwior Kev and if he stays, it only gives Arteta more depth so it’s win win really. Perhaps we’ll go further in the domestic cups..
If rumours are correct Kiwior is open to go to Italy but only to one club , which doesn’t make much of a negotiating position.
Nope, a bit like when Fabregas only wanted Barca.
I like both Kiwior and Zinchenko so honestly I would love it if they stay. Kiwior would be perfect for rotation and cover for the defence together with Timber and Tomiyasu. Zinchenko should be kept and played on the LW. He can also play on the RW and in Odegaard’s place so its a win win imo if he is played there.
That means that Arteta has to find cover for Ramsdale if he leaves, a midfielder and a CF to rotate with KH.
I have to say that I see Zinchenko as a good player that suffers from concentration lapses and shifting him around to make a space for him is not really the answer. Firstly would he be prepared to be used as a stop gap and I think that Smith Rowe would be a better option to replace Odegaard and we already have Martinelli and Trossard to play left.
I don’t doubt that his situation at home may well be having an effect on his concentration but if it comes down to him or ESR I would favour Smith-Rowe.
I always think why did Pep get rid of Zinchenko and Jesus because they both weren’t good enough for an elite squad.
Arteta likes many players to play in different positions and i still think we need a fiT LB (Tierney without the injuries) and does one stick or twist with Partey.
Do Real Madrid want Saliba for a near world record fee or is that paper talk.
ESR did himself good yesterday but still think that justifies his price if/when sold.
I know negotiations are extremely complicated but the days are counting down.
Rico, I have to log in every time a post and when a new post is announced I have to log in again .is there a reason for that please.I have ticked all the boxes to no avail.
There’s a new post up guys.
Kelsey, are you logged into WordPress? That usually solves the problem.