Arsenal.com
Morning all.
Arsenal have finally confirmed the arrival of David Raya, a signing which is getting mixed opinions on in the media. I even read that Aaron Ramsdale could now be sold which is probably one of the most bizarre transfer rumours of the summer. Arsenal need two very good goalkeepers and that’s exactly what they now have. Are either world class? Probably not but I don’t think there’s many about these days. On his day, Ramsdale can be outstandingly good but just like many players, he can be prone to the odd error but the problem with being the last man standing in an opponent’s attack, any error made are all too often highlighted which can be cruel considering ten other players on the pitch might have more beforehand.
Factoid from Arsenal.com
David owes his start as a goalkeeper to being pressured between the posts by his older brother, but admits he loved the freedom of being outfield.
My brother always put me in a goal. With my mates, I always played outfield. I enjoyed playing further up the pitch and I think that’s why I’m comfortable on the ball. Next to my house, there were always young guys playing on the futsal pitch. I always played outfield in those games.
Raya will of course reunite with goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, who moved from Brentford to Arsenal in December 2019 following Mikel Arteta’s appointment. It was Inaki who helped persuade Brentford to move for Raya the previous summer. I’m pretty sure Raya was linked to Arsenal soon after Cana made the short move across London too.
The Ramsdale v Raya battle should be interesting, hopefully with both bringing the best out each other.
In other transfer news, Gabriel is being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. His omission from Arsenal’s opening fixture against Nottingham Forest has probably fuelled his exit story but I personally think this is a non starter. Saying that, the way Saudi clubs are throwing their money about and the amounts they’re throwing, never say never I guess. Gabriel has been brilliant for us but, he too has made costly errors during his time at the club. According to The Express, Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba will be targeted should Gabriel depart. The same newspaper continues to link Arsenal with Ansu Fati.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are in talks with Arsenal over a deal for Kieran Tierney according to the Daily Record.
Roll on September when all this silly transfer nonsense ends and we know exactly where Arsenal are squad wise. Just two weeks to go now and honestly, I think we’re see mainly exits between now and then.
Chelsea are going to be a force this season I think. Not only did they confirm the signing of Caicedo yesterday but they also activated the release clause for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise according to Fabrizio Romano. A deal for Lavia has been agreed too. Next for them is a goalkeeper and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they went for Martinez. I can’t keep up with their transfer dealings. How Poch keeps them all happy I don’t know and quite frankly, I don’t care but needless to say, I hope he doesn’t.
All sorts of rumours were flying around last summer when a Premier League footballer was arrested on suspicion of rape. One of our own players, two actually were suspected to be ‘that guy’ but without any supporting evidence. Whoever that player was/is, has now had his bail lifted and instead, been released under investigation whilst further enquiries are carried out. A year on and no charges brought suggests to me that there is little evidence to support the original allegation. That’s not to say something untoward hasn’t gone on, just that the evidence is lacking.
Lastly, it’s Women’s World Cup semi-final day two. Spain won yesterday’s battle with Sweden and today, England take on hosts Australia. On paper, it should be a cracker but I thought the same about yesterday’s match which turned out to be a disappointment. The last ten minutes were good but that’s about it. Hopefully today’s will be better with England coming through as winners.
Catch up in the comments, if there are any. Lol
Fabrizio Romano reports that Nottingham Forest have submitted a bid to sign Nuno Tavares from Arsenal on a permanent deal this summer.
Afternoon Rico and all,
Should be a good match Aussie vs England
Hi Geoff, it’s started quite well.
I had to laugh when the commentator said ‘ Daly, the WSL top scorer last season, is playing wing back for England’ – a bit like one of the best PL midfielders playing right back. 😂
Ref giving nothing to England though.
West Ham in for former Gunner Mavropanos
West Ham United in talks with Stuttgart over the signing of Greek international defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.
West Ham moving on to other targets after Harry Maguire decided to stay at Manchester United.
Rico I hope you’re commentators are better then ours, we got 15 minutes of the game and 30 minutes of crap
They’re ok Geoff, obviously biased towards England.
What an equaliser
Congratulations England ladies, good luck for the final.
Very proud of the Aussie’s
Well the Matildas have waltzed off into the sunset, a good game but even with the help of a clearly biased ref they couldn’t quite create enough goal threat to beat the better of the sides.
The final against Spain is going to be some contest.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought the ref was awful. Especially in the first half.
Jurrien Timber needs surgery apparently. What a blow for him and the squad.
Well done the England Ladies, only saw brief highlights but all three goals were quality, I can’t comment on the officials but they’re never going to help England are they?
The fee I’ve heard quoted for Gabriel would be around the £50m range which isn’t, imho, enough to persuade Arsenal to sell as he’s one of our key players, of course his agents might be generating the Saudi interest but to me it’s a no go…
Tavares to Forest sounds promising, Arsenal should at least double the fee after his successful, generally, loan in Marseilles. Mavropanos has a sell-on clause so we’d get some dough back from West Ham. Surprised that Guendouzi hasn’t moved yet after all the noise – another sell-on clause incoming?
Lokonga has gone very quiet, we might have a job moving him on?
Cedric Soares needs to be crowbarred out of the door and I suspect he might hang around for one last year…
Nothing regarding Rob Holding which I personally find quite strange, I think that he is vastly undervalued and would be a great signing for quite a few EPL clubs, the bid from Turkey for him was laughable bu5 then most bids from Turkey are like that…
We have just over two weeks to go and I think that transfer business will start to move over the next few days as the deadline looms and the realisation that bargains are no longer on offer from Arsenal…
The Raya signing is a bit of a strange one,at only 6 ft (183cm) he is tiny by modern standards.
Ramsdale himself is on the small side at 6 – 2 (188 cm) Maybe they think competition will be good for both.
Afternoon all!
We have several options left full back and none are safe at this time.
Several players are getting seriously injured.
I expect Spain’s name has already been engraved on the World Cup.
ACL and surgery for Timber confirmed by Arsenal.
Limey, aphelion has quite a spring in his step. Lol
Agree Jm, if we get lucky though, Zinchenko and Tierney can rotate their time on the physio table to get us through.
Don’t suppose there’s much chance of an academy player getting his chance these days.
With our luck, Raya will trip up over the front step to London Colney, break a wrist and be out until Christmas. 😕
🤣🤣
The ladies ref was not only crap last night but the 1st game I watched her ref she was no better. England did try to waste time a lot but did deserve the win
The pressure will now be on Ramsdale to take the next step or could find the bench very quickly.
Allison Becker is around 6’ 3” and Emerson is 6’ 2”…
Ederson
Who else has seen the funny video of Santi Cazorla and possibly his son with the Arsenal shirts on talk sports
I bet talk Sport hated that.
R I P Michael Parkinson, he will be forever remembered for his on-screen battle with Rod Hull’s Emu.
I don’t mind our 3rd kit,
Timber will have surgery on his injured ACL. No date has been set for his return to fitness, but he is not expected to play again this season.
Arteta has said the club are assessing options around signing a replacement before the transfer window closes.
Bad news for the club and player.
Morning guys.
Arteta also said we have options… lol
Morning,
I see Newcastle are in for Lewis Hall of Chelsea,maybe that means they aren’t interested in Tierney ?
I hope he stays anyway.
Zinchenko and Tomiyasu are injury prone ( Tierney too to be fair)
RIP Michael Parkinson his interviews were iconic.I loved the Billy Connolly and Muhammad Ali ones.
New post up