Morning all.
Newcastle, Chelsea, Totts, Aston Villa, Man City and even Brighton have been pretty busy this summer. Hideous amounts of money has been spent already and that figure is only going to rise. Premier League players are switching clubs more perhaps than ever before. It makes sense though because the risk seems less, not that it always turns out to be the case.
Arsenal seem to be swerving the big money signings this summer at least so far anyway and whilst you/I might get a bit twitchy when other clubs nip in and steal a target of ours swiftly, it’s easy to lose sight of a player is only a target because the media told us so a few weeks ago. If Arsenal really wanted Morgan Rogers, I’m pretty sure they would have got him, something they did when Declan Rice really was on Mikel Arteta’s wish list.
There really is more to football than English and Premier League players. In six months time, it’ll be interesting to see how Christos Tzolis has performed because he might just turn out to be an absolute bargain. I for one hope he does because call me old fashioned, I love signings like him. They kind of remind of Arsenal’s early years of Arsene Wenger when players who I knew very little about joined the club and were brilliant. Before Tzolis’ name hit the back pages, I’d never heard of him and yet I’m really looking forward to seeing him play. Yes, I mean that because I really don’t give a toss what a player costs and refuse to judge him on whatever that amount might have been. Tzolis cost Arsenal roughly the same amount as Jurrien Timber.
This season, assuming they stay at the club, Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri, Marli Salmon and maybe even one/two others coming through the academy might just surprise us. Not so much Dowman I suppose as we all know what a dangerous player he is but Ethan, will his disappointing loan deal in France spark something inside him. If he has a strong and determined mental attitude, this season could be a good one for him and in my opinion.
This pre-season could see quite a few younger players involved because of the number of players still on their summer break. It’s their best chance to show what they are about ahead of the new campaign with their aim to be involved in both domestic cups at least. That’s certainly what I’d be thinking if I was them.
I know I mentioned Josh Ogunnaike the other day after he signed his professional contract but for an 18 year old, he looks a solid lad. If he has the footballing skills to impress Arteta, his involvement in first team training should continue this season.Speaking to Arsenal Media after signing his contract Josh said that his aim is to learn more and after a seamless journey into the under 21’s, he wants to raise his level to that of first team players. Perhaps we’ll see him involved in our preseason fixtures and new signing Elijah Upson too.
That’s why I enjoy pre-season. It’s the hope that one more youngster might just be close to following in the footsteps of those before them.
Catch up in the comments.
New post up..
Wrighty says Gyok is staying..
There seems to be a media narrative that Arsenal are unable to do an outright purchase because the rumours going round today include not only the Gyokeres and cash for alverez but now Zubimendi plus cash for Vini jr .I wonder who they are going to link to Guimaeres , Odegaard maybe ?
Nwaneri scored a cracker apparently..
Arsenal 3-0 MK Dons
Arsenal first half: Arrizabalaga, Copley, Mosquera, Salmon, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Nelson, Dowman, Tzolis, Jesus
Arsenal second half: Arrizabalaga (Meslier 59′), Ogunnaike, Salmon (Julienne 59′), Clarke, Copley (Washington 59′), Ibrahim, Agustien, O’Neill, Harriman-Annous, Kabia, Mooney
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/13566893/vinicius-jr-transfer-news-arsenal-exploring-deal-for-real-madrid-and-brazil-forward
David Ornstein is running the Vinicius jr story too..
Excellent Kev, you’ll enjoy that.
The media are stirring the pot I think. The more they write, the more it winds fans up and they know it.
I’ve got my ticket for Borussia Dortmund courtesy of my son. He’s a good lad!
I think if the rumour is true that £70m is a very good offer for Bruno, Newcastle though are playing the drama queen with a headache and seem to have said non…
So maybe it’s time to pivot to option Two and leave the barcodes with an unhappy player, whereby they’ll probably sell him to Chelsea for £70m + 5 bob in add-ons.
I’ve bought my pre-season pass..
Afternoon guys.
How we end the transfer window matters most imo. I know I’m boring but big names often concern me because of what they bring with them. We have a great group and the wrong apple signed could spoil the whole bunch.
I really hope Gyokeres doesn’t leave so we get Alvarez, bad move imo.
Less than 4 weeks now to the Coventry game,5 weeks on Monday to the Villa game.
Afternoon Gooners, despite the noise and a myriad of names, Arsenal’s business has been, depending on your view, underwhelming or smart, I’m leaning towards the smart end of the spectrum myself.
The top five spenders have remained pretty much the same with one notable change, little old Brighton ousting Liverpool. And so here’s the latest pop pickers:
Brighton…….. £100.8million.
Newcastle……£114.6million.
Man City……..£153.1million.
Chelsea………£225.6million.
Tottenham…..£229.5million.
The Champions have spent £79million…
Yep, Declan…
Hi Maasai, I hope we get him but not for stupid money. He’s 29 later this year.
Crazy money Kev..
Greetings from the savanna Rico. imo Guimaraes is a decent player and premier league proven so I’d do anything to sign him if I were Arteta. Might be the final missing piece of the jig saw that will help us dominate the next 3 years.
Of all the £100m players signed by Premier League clubs since and including when City signed Grealish only one imo has been worth it and he’s ours….
Probably Rico, £100m seems to be the new £65m, so I guess we’ll have to see what’s available in the Belgian League?
I don’t think we’ll pay silly money for Bruno either and nor should we. He’s not 25 is he?
I was listening to local radio the other day and they went to the Bournemouth camp who are abroad for pre-season. Suggestion is they really don’t want to sell Scott and wouldn’t even accept a £150m offer for him. I’m sure the fee was very much tongue in cheek but he’s going to be another £100m player if he moves.
They will probably have a quick fire sale Limey, just hope we’re not part of it.
Lacroix is good but he doesn’t want to be an understudy to Saliba
I think if Newcastle act like twats that our recruitment team will pivot elsewhere and leave the Geordies with a deeply unhappy player, Alex Scott perhaps, Kone, there are a lot of players out there and a lot of them would love to play for Arsenal.
Just a hunch, but maybe the best business we might have done this summer could have been revamping our medical dept?
Have to agree with Kev on his post , I doubt that the Nwaneri parents would have sanctioned him coming in if big brother was due to leave . I think the plan was not to go mad in the market but to just shore things up knowing the value of what was coming through.
The media and the easily led fan base want to see a revamp of the team whereas I think our strategists know that we have the basis to continue being successful and once we have solved the injury and world cup tiredness with a tweak here and there not only to the playing staff but the style we should be able to surge ahead and compete in all competitions.
Rogers would have been nice as would Guimaeres but we have to remember the players that we already have but bringing in another midfielder to join the 8 we already have plus a couple that we want to sell is possibly fanciful.
Rogers went for silly money and we were not prepared to go to it . Is there any belief that if Newcastle hold out for similar that we will suddenly cough up. I on’t think so when we still have Zubimendi , Rice , Merino , Lewis Skelly , Odegaard , Norgaard , Eze and Nwaneri. We are hardly desperate.
I see Chelsea are close to a deal for Lacroix from Crystal Palace for at least £55m,financial rules don’t apply to them?
Excellent 😂
I think I’ve worked it out, Rico.
testing
Afternoon Cicero, thank you.
The edit option should be working but I’ll double check it.
The Norgaard situation last season will always baffle me. A very good player pretty much ignored. I can’t see him hanging around for this coming season and who could blame him.
That should be “Five stars again”.
The edit function doesn’t seem to be working.
G’day Rico.
We need to integrate some of our youngsters into the first team squad as soon as as possible as we are in for another crowded fixture list. We can’t afford to have situations like the Norgaard conundrum, a player who was largely ignored when it came to first team minutes.
Rice stars again.
Afternoon Kev. I always hope for a surprise or two when it comes to the younger players and hopefully this summer will be no different.
Re Ethan, quite honestly I think his Arsenal career is up to him. He needs to remember AMN, and do the opposite. Head down and prove his breakout season wasn’t a fluke and last season was just rotten fortune.
Morning Rico, there was a lot of talk around Myles and Ethan last season, mainly on the back of several other clubs selling off many of their home-made players in order to boost their PSR and keep them on track.
Arsenal spent really big last summer and despite the profits last season, we maybe have to take a bit of a financial breath this summer?
Myles worked really hard in training on his game and eventually supplanted Zubimendi in the team – who would’ve imagined that 8 months ago when Zubi was flying? So I don’t see Myles not having an impact especially early in the season whilst the WC players are catching up.
Ethan had a terrible time in France but what doesn’t kill ya makes you stronger and when his younger brother Emerson signed to stay at Arsenal that seemed a clear sign to me that Ethan is in Arteta’s plans for this season at least.
Max is an absolute gem and could, by the end of this season, have made himself an essential part of the senior squad.
Marli showed some enormous potential last season but also showed some naivety and you can’t get away with that in defence. I’d guess this season will be another year of growth for him with the prospect of a loan in the New Year depending on opportunities at the Emirates if it’s possible to loan him given his age?
The squad for the League Cup, when it comes around, might make for some suprises?
Everything closes at seven in Norwich?
Sounds like a wild town…