LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 15: Thomas Partey of Arsenal during a training session at Emirates Stadium on May 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Morning all.
Thomas Partey is close to finalising a move to Saudi Arabia, report ESPN. The Ghanaian midfielder – who turned 31 yesterday – was restricted to just 16 appearances last season due to injury.
I hope this is true, not because I’ll be glad to see the back of him but because Arsenal simply cannot afford to go into another season with a player who just can’t stay fit for more than a handful of games. Partey has been one of my favourite signings Arsenal has made in recent years but the poor guy is broken. He’s also lost some of his fitness in my opinion. The premier league is fast and furious but towards the end of last season when Partey did play, the signs were there.
With club finances being scrutinised like never before, financially, it makes complete sense for Thomas to leave now. His wages are high, too high for a guy who sits most of the season out. I know there is no guarantee any player will stay fit for an entire season but with Partey, everyone knew, just like back in the Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby days, we knew. Of course we hoped we were wrong, but we knew.
I think I look at this transfer window differently to others as I don’t think we need players who are better than those who Mikel Arteta usually relies on. I think we need to improve on the players who he often overlooks which is why I doubted the Sesko rumours. Nice idea of course and I might yet be proved wrong about Arsenal’s approach this summer but my thought is that Arsenal want better substitutes. Along with a top notch partner for Declan Rice of course.
When every single player in this current squad is fully fit, it’s hard to see how a typical Arteta first eleven could be improved on, even our best 11-15 players are pretty darn good but then, as one looks deeper into the squad, there’s the weakness. There’s the weakness I think Arteta sees which is why I think the way I do.
As said though, I could, and probably will be wrong….
Catch up in the comment.
Good morning Rico, the sun has just come out here hopefully summer has at last arrived. 😎
Partey to the Saudi league makes perfect sense, his fitness problems will be less of an issue there, I don’t expect we get much in the way of a transfer fee as he’s not a “marquee” name. Anything will be welcome and the reduction in our wage bill won’t hurt our P S R situation.
Morning Cicero, all.
The weather has been dreadful hasn’t it? I thought we were back in autumn yesterday…
I too think Partey to Saudi makes sense. Footballing wise and to leave all the idiots who boo him all the time behind.
They can just boo Saka instead .
Pathetic though isn’t it.
Football fans are a weird and fickle old lot. Some anyway..
Warning to all in London .
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1365746937138053/permalink/2112791879100218/
Good Afternoon Rico and all
Rico, we seem to agree with regards the CF issue….instead of replacing Havertz we need someone who can rotate with him. That is why I think that although I badly wanted Sesko because he was really a good upgrade on Kai and Jesu, the best option right now would be Tammy Abraham. He wouldnt break the bank, he is coming back from ACL (he played the last 8 games of the season past and did not feel any after effects), plus Arteta wanted him around 4 years ago before he went to Roma. On Italian sites I read that they wanted around Eur26 million.
I am waiting for the Euros to begin especially Germany….simply to watch Havertz. I hope he has a good tournament and finishes it as the topscorer. Who knows. It will certainly do him the world of good if he does.
Potter, what is that warning about becuase it is not allowing me to open it since I am not a member.
Thanks
I can’t access the link either Potter, not without becoming a member.
Afternoon Devil, it’s not just the striker situation though, not imo anyway.
“People” want a winger but in all honesty, who is going to displace who Arteta currently has not including Nelson? Unless the club are thinking of selling Martinelli, Trossard, Jesus or Saka – what we need is a player who Arteta rates/trusts higher than Nelson.
As suggested in the post, the only position which definitely needs adding to this summer is in midfield, imo that is, is midfield.
I should have added, the rest of the summer is about replacing who we sell. Imo.
Effectively , the parking system in London has had a QR code stuck on the phone payment posts. The code then steals your bank details .
Just a warning to be careful.
A 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄 will be Introduced in #EURO2024
Players have been told that only the CAPTAINs will be ALLOWED to speak to the Referee During games at Euro 2024..
Any other player who approaches the Referee to complain will be instantly BOOKED.
If the Captain of a Team is a Goalkeeper, a designated outfield player is allowed to speak to the official.
UEFA Refs chief : “We are doing this for football, for the image of the game, for the next generation of players and referees.”
“It is impossible to explain a decision to 10 or 12 players who are surrounding the referee.”
“The referee will explain to the captain, while the fourth official will explain to the coach at the same time. We don’t want other players mobbing and surrounding the referee. Only the captain.”
I am waiting to see what the Man UTd players do. Licking my lips in anticipation about what will unfold
Hasn’t that been the case in the PL for a while?
Back chat, as its long been known as in Rugby Union, is penalised by moving the ball forward ten yards. It works well and is accepted readily by the players. Until recently if a captain approached the referee he would address him as “sir”, another instance of the respect shown to officials by the players.
In football, at a free kick, my preference would be to move the ball forward ten yards in the direction of the penalty spot, if that means it goes into the penalty box then the free kick would automatically become a penalty. Adopting this punishment would lessen the likelihood of players being sent off which so often ruins the game as a spectacle.
Football could learn a lot from rugby Cicero, as could the players and fans.. it’ll never happen though, not in our lifetime anyway.
Watch out for bogus QR code signs that are being put on some parking machines by scammers trying to get money fraudulently. We do not use QR codes for paid for parking in any of our car parks or on-street parking bays.
From Havering BC
Ramsdale’s transfer fee has been set at £30 million. Too much for Wolves but Chelsea are still interested.
Did I say Summer had arrived this morning? Well it’s gone again. 15 degrees c and p*****g down right now.
Thunder and Lightning over here . Just right for the German Euros . :: Donner and Blitzen
I read Ramsdale has said he doesn’t want another season of not playing so I guess that means he’ll be leaving. Shame.
Actung Spitfire…
I’ve been listening to a few podcasts and on one of them they said the reason that Arsenal aren’t interested in Toney is that Arteta and the guys didn’t like him when they met him and spoke to him last year during his ban, apparently Arteta didn’t like his attitude.
So we move on.
Doesn’t surprise me if true.
Via Twitter,
David Ornstein: “Reiss Nelson informs Arsenal he wants to asses options for potential transfer this summer. #AFC rejected approaches in January + would want ~£20m including add-ons if decide to sell. #CPFC, #FFC, #NFFC & #WHUFC among 24yo winger’s suitors.”
How can it right that the owner of Roma can buy Everton? Bonkers.
Good evening Rico.
That’s why I keep banging the drum that Arsenal should buy a club in another league. We would give players more game time for sure in a competitive league like Germany for example
Haverts has bagged an assist. Germany 2-0 up
Evening Devil. 3-0 now, Havertz with a penalty and Scotland down to ten…
5-1 and a good old thumping. The gulf in class was enormous.
I liked Kai’s contribution. Would have loved it if he scored more
It took an own goal by Germany to provide a tiny amount of solace for a very ordinary Scottish team. Their best player was, of course, Tierney. 😉
The tartan army can stuff their bagpipes up their kilts and prepare for an early departure.
I don’t think it should be allowed Devil.
😂 Cicero…
I think that FIFA and UEFA should ban the multi-club system if it’s in the same federation, so only one club in europe, one in South American, one in Africa etc.
Of course nothing will be done because money has no doubt changed hands…
Bonjour everyone
After that thumping yesterday I think that many will be the teams looking nervously at Germany. Granted, it was only Scotland and the gulf in class was enormous, however you can look at that stats and the way Germany played, passed the ball accurately and clinically in the Scottish half, amount of goal attempts, recovering possession to know that this team will reach far. Not because they are at home only, but also because they are comfortable playing as a team.
Today there are Spain and also Italy. Tomorrow its England. I hope Saka does not play while Rice stays on the bench. not holding my breath though
If they can walk Saka will play , Southgate plays him to death whenever he gets the chance. Also he will play Rice given the chance because he is the best player in his position .
However the only reason that I can see Saka not featuring is the record of Serbian supporters and their attitude to black players . He has been targetted before but he will not be alone we have a number of black players and their supporters have form .
I fear problems in the stadium and outside in the fan zones , although the beer has been watered down I think it is likely to go off as they say. The German police will have to be on their toes , I really hope that trouble doesn’t steal the headlines.
R.I.P. Kevin Campbell Sad loss.
Apparently Arsenal have put a price tag on ESR, £30 million.
Kevin Campbell has passed away. Just 54 years old. Gutted about it.
Kidney failure apparently , There but for the grace of god as they say.