Morning all.
Ooo errr, Arsenal have made a signing. One which was probably pretty much done and dusted after he was spotted with Edu at the airport.
It’s easy for us to sit back and groan about how this kind of signing should have been made as soon as the transfer window opened but we don’t know what money the club have available to spend etc etc.
On paper, Pablo is the perfect signing, even if it is only a loan for now. He’s 26 years old, 6’ 3” or just over, he’s fit, he’s a left sided central defender who along with his Flamengo team mates, prevented Liverpool from scoring for 99 minutes in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup Final which took place in December last year. Not many clubs can brag about achieving that this season. The good thing about the timing of his signing is that after the Burnley game, he and his new teammates will head off into the sunshine for some warm weather training so he’ll have two weeks to settle into the squad and adapt to the Mikel Arteta school of football.
Edu:
Pablo is an experienced player who will provide us with additional defensive quality. We have been monitoring Pablo’s career for a while and we are very pleased to have reached agreement with Flamengo for him to join us initially until the end of our season. Together with Mikel and his coaching team, we are all looking forward to seeing Pablo in an Arsenal shirt.
We have an option to make the deal permanent in the summer so there’s a lot for him to play for.
Same for his twin Dani Ceballos, who according to the media, hasn’t been happy with the lack of playing time he’s been getting which considering he’s been injured etc, would be odd. If true of course. Unlike with Mari though, there is no option to make the deal permanent in the summer. Ceballos was good from the bench against Bournemouth in the Cup, certainly good enough to make Arteta think about whether or not to start him on Monday night.
Finally, Sky Sports report that Southampton right-back Cedric Soares is close to joining Arsenal too after the two clubs agreed a loan deal. In the summer he’ll be a free agent so like the two above, if he wants to make his future in north London, he has the chance to prove he’d be worth keeping. Soares hasn’t been confirmed yet but Southampton have already snapped up his replacement in Kyle Walker-Peters.
Mikel Arteta’s defensive options have just got a whole lot better.
Enjoy the rest of your evening guys.
Or our new CB Xhaka 😆
New post up now.
Not forgetting Sokratis, Obi. 😉
Arsenal is slowly buiding a superb defense Bellerin, Saliba, Mari (captain material), Holding, Chambers, Luiz, Mustafi, Tierney, Saka and Soares, if he’s added. Coupled with the proper coaching as Arteta has already shown, the Club is doing something right.
We cant underestimate coaching, Xhaka is playing like the Xhaka of the Bundesliga and Mustafi is playing like the player that played for the German National team, all because Arteta is putting them in the right situation, and not demanding that everything be played out of the back.
Soares is not a bad player. He’s experienced and very underrated, he’s is similar to Azpilicueta. He plays on the Portuguese national team and imho is more dependable than Bellerin and AMN, but we all know AMN should be playing in the midfield. When you watch the dude he’s not fleshy just does his job.
Saints manager has said Cedric free to leave. Looks like the rumour of him to Arsenal has legs.
Hi Wavy. I reckon you’re right… lol
West Ham ffs
Morning all Rico, Kev et al.
Have just seen “Kalou to Weather Ham” headline.
We’ve ducked a bullet there, I think………would Wenger have bought him now he’s available?……… Yes I think so😀
Hi Kev your not wrong about agents these players agents are like the tax man, all ways have there hand out first then they discuss the player
The arrival of Raul has seen Arsenal getting into bed with kinda of agents we’d all rather not deal with, but it is what it is and that’s how business is done there days as FIFA and UEFA have zero control over the activities of agents and other parasites.
Morning Limey, I can’t see AMN going anywhere really, or at least I hope he doesn’t..
I actually think it’s Bellerin who is the problem. Not the player himself but his fitness. Signing Cedric might just be a precaution.
Limey, Willock seems to be the leading contender for a regular starting position, AMN more likely to get the bit parts.
If Ceballos does stay it will be at the expense of Ozil who seems to have gone back into hibernation since his brief spell in the early Arteta sunshine.
Update on Soares, an initial six month loan with a minimal £1 million loan fee. Option of a four year deal after that when his contract runs out in the Summer.
The loan has been agreed following the signing of Spud’s full back Walker-Peters by Southampton.
Morning Rico/everyone,
I hope AMN is retained, the signs are he is responding to Arteta.
Burnley away is the opposite of an Ozil game. So hopefully Ceballos yes or maybe AMN/Willock for that one.
I can see AMN in midfield/wings – poss more towards the latter as hell give us more defensively in away games thanks to his stint at right back. Same with Saka on the left.
I don’t believe all the stuff about Ceballos, he’s only just returned to fitness and now he has, he’s started to play.
Sure hope it’s him rather than Ozil on Monday.
Morning all.
Apparently the 2 loans rule applies to domestic loans only.
Where do you see AMN fitting into midfield Scott? Defensive? Holding? Attacking?
If Soares arrives it will be on a permanent basis for around £5 million.
Ceballos wants out as he’s not getting enough playing time. He spent time back at Real Madrid while recovering from injury, witch made it difficult to get time on the pitches. Strange that. 😉
Morning all.
Maitland-Niles to midfield will give the lad every chance to show his wares.
He’s had a tough 12 months or so but has done well imo
Massive 12 months in front of him.
Evening Rico, I’m pleased about Mari, not sure about Soares he’s not a player who sticks in my mind.
Ceballos out makes sense if Soares signs because Arteta might move Maitland Niles back into midfield, therefore problem solved and maybe some finance redirected.
Time will tell if we’re operating in the market smarter or not?
Night all
You can have 4 a season and only 2 at any given time
Could be Ceballos is moving on.
A thought just occurred (always dangerous) I thought there was a rule saying PL teams could only have 2 players on loan,if Soares joins that makes 3.
Soares is a strange one on the face of it,we have players who can – do a job – at right back,as back up to Bellerin;AMN, Mustafi,even Reiss Still, you need a squad,and it’s Soares regular position.
Morning all.
LC, good to see you’re on top of that Corona Virus mate 🙂
Hope all is well.
I don’t know Soares, but if its just a stop gap signing then I doubt we’d be getting a top class player.
If he slots in and does a decent job on occasions then it could be considered a success.
If he does work out, then we have a free agent to sign in the summer.
If he doesn’t, he’s cost us a few months wages.
There are no negatives in this one, I reckon.
Aparrently to live in this village you have to be a Spud season ticket holder and attend the weekly village hall black and white Pathe News reel club where they play Chas and Dave songs continuously!…………….shaving the top of their heads for the Ralph Coates combover look is non-compulsory, but they will be made to watch and listen to Diamond Lights video if they dont!
Hopefully Mikel the Messiah has a good reason and all will be revealed!
Cheers Wavy 🙂
Talking of The Messiah, I have been watching The Messiah on Netflix and in the last episode “The Messiah” is in a plane crash and a boy walkng to see it has an Arsenal jacket on with the Number 10 !……………..it`s a sign !
Call me the eternal optimist but if we sign Soares, I’m going to see how he fits in and how he plays before writing him off.
Good to see you back LC.
Can you leave a note letting us know where you are next time you’re off, please. I can lock up then if I know you’re not about😂😂😀lol
Agree about Sores or is it Suarez?
Waste of money imo.
Evening all.
I’ve not seen him play Lc so can’t comment on Soares. When did you last see him play?
Thanks Rico.
This could be my first bust up with Mikel and just as I have been building…………..due to global warming………a boat to save my family from the inevitable floods of biblical proportions and called it Mikels Arkteta !………………….the Soares thing is baffling to me and dare I say it a waste of funds we could use better in the future.