Morning all.
The Aaron Ramsdale to Arsenal stories carry on and I’m not at all surprised. Arsenal need a goalkeeper and not just someone who’s prepared to accept he’s our number two. Let’s face it, if Arsenal spend big on a keeper, there’s no way Mikel Arteta intends for him to be the number two either in my opinion. If a keeper of Ramsdale’s quality comes to Arsenal, I think it’s going to be a straightforward battle between the two for the number one position between the sticks. Leno has already made a few gaffs in preseason, if I was the Arsenal manager, I’d be seriously concerned about how many mistakes Arsenal are still making when playing out from the back.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SA45lZOG00c
I hope Ramsdale arrives really soon. Arsenal need a new number one, not a number two. Just my opinion though. If he arrives, I wonder if Leno will have the stomach for a battle? I hope so as a battle for a place is healthy and can often bring the best out of those involved. At the moment, Leno knows he’s top dog, he knows he can’t be dropped because Mikel Arteta has no one 100% ready to replace him with.
The stats for Ramsdale don’t cover him in glory but stats lie as we know. Put him in a team with a solid defensive unit and I’m sure his numbers would vastly improve. Put Alisson behind a Sheffield Utd defence of last season and even he’d look average.
According to the tabloids and social media etc, Arsenal are also trying to sign Sander Berge. The Sheffield Utd manager said only yesterday that both players are happy where the are and not pushing for a move but it also said that losing one or both, would hurt.
I’m still hoping Edu and Gabriel Martinelli have been in the ear of Bruno Guimarães and after the Olympic Final which kicks off at 12:30 today, a move to Arsenal can be signed and sealed. He’ll need a holiday of course. Sorry, I’m getting carried away….
Good luck Gabriel… 🥇🥇
See you in the comments.
Hello there
I’ve always liked Leno as a keeper, but he just doesn’t seem cut out to play out from the back! However, he has been let down at times by poor passes etc!
I’ve no idea if Ramsdale is any good, or if he has better foot work! He cost Sheff Utd £18m tho! Surely there’s a keeper out there?
As for the DM position, I’ve always hoped we’d go bqck to Brighton for Bissouma. However Bergen-Belsen is a decent option and prem experienced.
Nice one.
UTA!
G’day Rico and all.
Great day for the armchair sports fan, England / India test. Olympic men’s football final, South Africa / British Lions deciding test and the Community Shield. I’ll be totally knackered after watching that lot. 😉
It’s vital that we sign a no. 1 ‘keeper, we can’t carry on with the error prone Leno.
Me too re Bissouma but the acon would be a problem.
Afternoon Cicero, I’m loving it. Cricket just stopped for lunch, so now it’s football, although it’s h/t.
Rico
Yeah the African championships would leave us without him as well as Partey, but hopefully the likes of Lockonga and maybe Azeez could step up?
Oh and I really hope all the stuff about Willock leaving is BS as I think he deserves a chance.
Dexter, Elneny too. Lol
Rick, who’s a regular academy viewer doesn’t believe Azeez is quite ready for the first team. When it comes to the younger players, he knows his stuff. Plus, Arteta does se4m reluctant to play the younger players in the league.
I thought El Neny would be away at the ACN!
As for Azeez, it’d be a long shot for sure…
What a lovely strike from Olazobel (spelling)
1-1
I meant Elneny would be away too.
Hi Rico.. spooky indeed 😀 pity he isn’t even in the squad!!
Ramsdale and Berge – not for me, I’m afraid. The clock is ticking, Edu and Co really need to pull their fingers out.. we also have a 2nd round Carabao Cup fixture on the horizon!
Partey is out for 3 weeks according to Chris Wheatley. Not ideal, but I’m relieved it isn’t longer!
McGuinness starts for Cardiff (yay football’s back!). I know he’s no longer with us, but he was one of my faves, so will keep an eye on the Bluebirds!
Later – the community shield! Sorted 🙂
John-Jules starts for Blackpool, Ballard for Millwall – all the more reason to sit and watch Soccer Saturday, hey Rico?! 😉
Sue
McGuiness was a player I had hopes would make it at Arsenal, I’ll be keeping an eye on his progress.
Ballard, thankfully is still with us and I’ll be watching how he does at Millwall too.
I rate Berge, not for 35m tho!
Hi Sue, I was disappointed to say the least. The guy Toots have signed looks nifty..
Sue, I can definitely say my Saturday afternoon is sorted. 😂
Brazil 2-1
Hi Dexter.. Was gutted when his sale was announced, like you, I thought he was our future. Good luck to him!
Bloody hell, the Blades will be laughing all the way to the bank! Please no!!
Panic buys incoming?? Just for a change 😆
Nice one, Rico! Feet up, a cuppa and cake? Perfect 🙂
I’ve heard the first ‘unbelievable’ of the season, Rico, didn’t take Chris Kamara long hahaha!
Congrats Brazil 🎖🇧🇷
I just heard Chris Kamara too, he’s is funny albeit predictable…
And Paul Mersons as articulate, eloquent and coherent as ever… 🤣
Good evening Rico and all
Have you been out today Rico?? For a good 4-6 hours??
Just asking.
We have an Olympian in our midst. I hope Arteta sees what we all see.
I liked the look of Cunha.
Dani Alves is the most decorated player in the world of football.
And PSG have offered Messi 40M per year….roughly 769K a week.
Evening Devil.
Man City beaten then..
Elneny would be away too.
And Pepe.
Aubameyang too I think Potter.
Hi Devil.
I wonder if there’s still an outside chance of selling Nketiah despite his injury?
Best part of 25 days to get him fit with both Brighton and Crystal Palace interested!
Good Morning everyone
Why would you want Nketiah gone Kev?? In the preseason he seemed more fitter than he ever was, played better than last season and also was way miles better when he played than either Auba or Laca. I prefer to keep him.
Just read the recycled story of Trippier. Now I wonder if its all click baiting or else there is a grain of truth in it. But at 30 years old?? and for 34M? a bit farfetched in my opinion.
Then again he is Englishman and has bags of experience and is a winner. And much better than Bellerin and Soares. Him and Chambers will give us a solid right hand side. Part of me says yes. But a big part of me says no…better invest that money in Aarons I feel.
Seems that Atletico have learned the English way……asking too much money because he is English and they always cost more.
DG a decision has to be made on Nketiah this summer or we’ll lose him for nothing. He’s already refused a contract extension so you can see which way the wind is blowing.
It’s looking likely that Lacazette will stay and play out his last year and with Martinelli and Aubameyang that puts Nketiah 4th because Arteta is sure to play the other three before he considers Eddie. We’ll see that today because if Nketiah was really a major player in Arteta’s plans then he’d start vs Tottenham. But we all know he won’t…
I agree Eddie looked really good in preseason and if he’d signed a new contract we could have loaned him out and made a decision on his future in 12 months but his agent is obviously pushing him towards a Bosman.
If he stays beyond August 31st then Arteta has a tricky decision to make, does he play Eddie instead of Lacazette and maybe Martinelli in order to make him feel more involved and try to get him to re-sign or does he give those minutes to Balogun?
I wouldn’t give that Trippier story a second thought it’s almost certain to be an agent trying to generate some interest for his client. Let him stay at Atletico…
Seems that Kolasinac could be joining Ozil at Fenerbache providing that we nullify his contract and let him go for no fee. He has 1 year left with us and if we don’t do this his wages will cost us £5, 200,000 in the remaining year.
In some ways they are bending us over , but with no other interest , it’s probably the best outcome we can get.
Reports this morning that Brighton have offered £20,million for Eddie . True or false ? but if true , I can’t see the club turning it down.
Leaves us with the 4 that Kev mentioned which should be enough to cover the number of games that we will have this season.
However his injury said to be out for 4 weeks could put that on hold until January.
If Brighton want Eddie, why not swap him for Bissouma? Worry about January when it arrives..
Morning all.
I always liked Kolasinac but he jumped on the Ozil bandwagon on social media and it did him no favours. It’s certainly best for both sides that he’s allowed to leave or go on loan.
If Eddie has refused a contract extension, then yes, sell him. Great shame he suffered injury but it’s only bruising so shouldn’t put another club off.
No point in loaning Kolasinac as we would be picking up his wages , best to cut the ties and trouser the savings.
Eddie £20miillion , Bissouma double that and Brighton think we are made of it after signing White.
Ah yes, I assumed the loan club would pay him but that’s not the case. Let him go then. I read a few days back that his contract was likely to be terminated.
He wouldn’t cost as much as Maddison though. 😂
Different style of player I know..
Good morning all.
Much as I would like us to sign a dedicate right back, I don’t think Trippier is the answer.
Man U wanted him but couldn’t agree a fee. Should we be prepared to pay more than them for a thirty year old who would only be a short term solution to our right back problem?
I think Nketiah’s time at Arsenal is up if he hasn’t signed the new contract on offer. A swap deal with Brighton for Bissouma makes sense. Southampton are also looking for a new striker, perhaps they would pay enough for Eddie to allow us buy the Brighton midfielder.
I think there’s more chance of Bellerin staying than Trippier joining Arsenal.
Frankly Rico, I think there’s more chance of me going up Everest on a pogo stick than Arsenal signing the ex Spud. 😉
You’ve gotta be a bit careful with terminating a players contract because we may think a player leaves for nothing but in fact they expect their contract to be paid up in full and they still get a free and then the agent also gets commission, so it’s not necessarily a good deal for us.
That was the problem when Mkhitarayan joined Roma, the sticking point was paying him up and his agent but in the end Mick wanted the move so much that’s he passed on the money we owed him and even his agent did the same. They both got paid by Roma anyway so they weren’t out of pocket.
If Kolasinac passes up on his contract and his agent passes up on his commission then that is fine, otherwise I’d loan him out, then at least a percentage of his wage gets paid by another club. We might even get a loan fee?
I’d pay to watch you do that Cicero…. 😃
Interesting to see how emotional Messi is about his impending departure from Barcelona, no doubt a nice cheque from PSG will ease his pain…
Cicero, I heard that Pogo stick jumping is going to be an Olympic sports discipline. So you should get started by training for it.
Having a gold medalist on HH will mean the world to us mate.
Keep us informed.
Every other silly discipline seems to be getting incorporated into the games so why not . Maybe they cound pogo stick up and absail down And for training purposes they could come and fix the roof on my windmill.
I already have a gold medal DG, I got it in 1968 in Istanbul….street market where I also got my Rolex Oyster. together they cost me four pound ten and six. a lot of money in those days. 😉
😂 Cicero
You have a windmill Potter?
…without a roof by the sound of it Rico. 😉
You’re on good form this morning Cicero. 😆
Headlines on NN suggest Toots have agreed a fee for Lautaro Martinez..
Kev
Eddie is injured so won’t be playing any time soon.
As for right backs. We don’t need one! We’ve currently got FOUR! 🤣
I’ hope Arteta convinces AMN his best position is at full back. If he manages that small miracle the with him and Chambers we are sorted.
Bellerin can go to Atleti when Manu finally buy Trippier. Who at 30 ain’t worth more than 10m max.
Dexter…if, as you said, Arteta convinces AMN that RB is his best position than its better than anyone else for that slot. Maybe only Rolando Aarons would get my vote. Same age and maybe same fee for them both. if he plays there and plays well then its great but if AMN does not want to do so anymore (even though Allardyce told him the same what we are feeling) then its best for club and AMN to part ways.
Cant we offer Norwich AMN for Aarons in a straight swap and give them Kolasinac on a free? You know buy one get one free!!!
Arsenal XI vs Tottenham: Leno, Bellerin, White, Mari, Tierney, Lokonga, Xhaka, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Nice line up. No Willock or Willian – interesting
Saka on the bench.
DG
Yeah the ol BoGoF! Like it! 🤣🤣
Sue
That is (mostly) a nice line up and sad to see no Willock again. Or AMN for that matter.
Great time for Arsenal.com to crash!
Hope you haven’t wasted £7.99 Rico. 😉
Subs: Runarsson, Hein, Cedric, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Kolasinac, Tavares, Elneny, Nelson, Saka, Balogun.
Saka on the bench.
I would still have not played Bellerin. And tbh…neither Auba on the left as its getting boring now.
If we put 5 past the spuds and win we will take the mind series.
Were is Willian?? Thank God he is neither in the team nor in the bench. Maybe he was given some rest after spending the night partying away when Brazil won the olympic gold?
I have Cicero, but I’ll be asking tor a refund 😂
Deli Ali booked 34 mins. Still 0 – 0
Where is Willian? Who the **** cares?
Booking for Skipp HT 0-0
half time…..0-0…..and the spuds have Alli and Skipp booked. Is anyone watching the game?? how are we getting along?
Dexter.. Are they on their way??
White and Laca looking good…
What a miss from Alli!!
Excellent save from Leno
I reckon Willock, AMN and Eddie will go.
Great save from Leno and Lacazette unlucky not to have scored by now
Tierney and Xhaka booked 56 and 57 minutes 0-0.
Now then…
AMN on for Hector….. 👍👍👍
Loris going off ! Didn’t realise he was playing
Afternoon, just catching up. Where is Holding?
Disappointing to lose to another dodgy goal which was offside but otherwise, a typical pre season friendly really. Same old toothlessness up front..
The Chelsea match with VAR was a draw and today their goal was offside.So two draws really
And yes I have a 70 foot 5 storey monolith in my garden if I could post a picture I would. However you can see it on Facebook ( Windmill Rentals/ ) mill house bungalow.
Rico
Yep, it’s a preseason game, so I’m not bothered by results.
Like the look of all our new signings.
We just need a couple more please! And sell a few too. Easy peasy! 🤣
Looks lovely Potter, ready nice inside. Love the wet room.
Me too Dexter, they all look ready tidy players, quick too.
Sorry but I can never stomach a defeat by the spuds even if it was a friendly between the under 5s.
Even if it was offside the fact remains that we lost. The statistics show it was an even game with regards possession, shots, passes, corners etc. But they scored a chance and we didn’t.
Devil
You need to let it go mate!! 🤣🤣🤣
I know Dexter, but it’s something I have never accepted. I hate them with a passion.
Tbh, every defeat hurts. Even when I played and it was only friendlies. But the ones against the spuds I could never come around to accept
I’m more concerned about the lack of creativity and the finishing than losing to Toots by an offside goal.
Beating them in the League is what matters.
Have to give the Spuds credit for the reception Saka received 👍
MA has a lot to ponder between now and Friday. That 2nd half display has made me a little anxious over facing Brentford!
White, Lokonga, Tierney and Lacazette did ok, the rest were average to poor.
If we play against Brentford as we did against Tottenham today then we will lose.
Mind you Tottenham look rubbish as well.
Spooky Sue, I’ve just written that in tomorrow’s post. Credit where it’s due eh..
The rest of the 90 mins was pretty grim.
The fact we are selling Willock, our only goal scoring midfielder is a worry for me. The fact Xhaka is still at the club worries me.
The fact we only have Leno to call upon in goal worries me and so does the fact we still need a first choice DM and CAM (no offence ESR but we cannot seriously be relying on a 21 to carry our attacking and creative threat).
Oh and the likes of Bellerin, Kolasinac,
Torreira , Eddie, Reis and Cedrics futures need sorting out too!
So, not much to do between now and the end of the month!! 🤣
I’m not bothered about Xhaka staying. But yes, the club have a lot of work to get through in a short space of time.
Evening Rico and the House
3 games in 48hrs and no goals
At least they can’t blaim Steve.
Evening Rick. The under 23’s?
ARTETA COY ON WILLOCK ABSENCE
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta refused to be drawn on the absence of Joe Willock from Sunday’s pre-season friendly defeat at Tottenham.
When asked about Willock, who continues to be linked with a move to Newcastle, Arteta told reporters: “With Joe, will explain the reasons when we can. That’s all I can say now, when I can say more I will let you know.”
Reports now that it’s done and dusted for £22 million . That’s Xhaka‘s wages paid off.
Exactly Rick, exactly…
Well that’s Willock gone then. I’m not surprised. Hope we’ve inserted a clause and put the money to good use! Not often we sell a player for that amount!!
Good luck, Joe and thanks for the memories! Especially that rocket at Anfield – let’s see it again https://youtu.be/DINVyeWa3C0
Sell-on clause inserted..
This should cheer everyone up. Tottenham Women 0 – 4 Arsenal Women. 🎵🎵🎵🎵
Willock is still to agree personal terms. He hasn’t gone yet…..
Another £20 million for Nketiah and we can buy Bissouma.
Good night Gooners …..everywhere. 😴
Sad but understandable I suppose re Joe Willock. I wish all the very best at Newcastle.
Having seen some of the tackles going in today at the Toilet Bowl the theory that Arteta has coached tackling out of the team to some degree in order to cut down on the yellow cards we get should be quickly reversed and Bissouma brought in asap.
Could we be in line for another Brazilian? Barca are offering us their 32 year old ‘keeper Neto. That’s according to the Express. They’ve also offered him to that mob down the road, and we are competing with the swamp dwellers for 21 year old Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Isn’t the transfer window exciting? 😉
Good morning
Willock is gone 😢😢😢 even though he has yet to agree to the transfer. Its a transfer I dont feel comfortable with. We are sell a promising goal scoring midfielder who graduated from our academy and extended Granit Xhaka’s contract. I have the feeling that in two years time he will move for mega money.
Morning all.
New post up now