Morning all.
Eddie Nketiah looks set to become a Crystal Palace player. I’ve lost count of how many summers they’ve been chasing him for but this time, it seems they’re ready to stump up the kind of money Arsenal are willing to accept for him. £25m plus add ons apparently which is cheap really considering he’s English, he’ll score goals and he knows this league inside out.
Charlie Patino’s move to Deportivo La Coruna has now been confirmed. Apparently, Patino has always been a Deportivo fan so I’d imagine this move is a dream come true for him. The fee is reported to be £1 million which incredibly cheap for a player with so much talent.
If transfer gossip/rumours are anything to go by, there’s little interest in Reiss Nelson but that’s not to say a move for him isn’t in the pipeline, it just means the media haven’t heard about it although with Gabriel Jesus injured, it might just be that Arsenal are reluctant to let the winger go.
What worries me right now, especially as fixtures will soon come fast and furious, is that assuming in the next four days, Nketiah, Nelson, Ramsdale and Kiwior leave, our squad will be very small. Including Smith Rowe and Vieira, six players will have left and just one, two counting Merino have been brought in. Yes, Ethan Nwaneri is likely to play a lot of minutes this season but Arteta’s rotational options will have shrunk.
Admittedly, most of the players who have left or could leave didn’t play much last season but they did play. Right now, there are 23 players listed in the mens squad on the official Arsenal website but it should be 22 as Vieira has gone. That number will decrease to 18 should the above listed players depart over the next four days, 17 assuming Tierney leaves too. Add Merino and Nwaneri and it’ll be 19. Within that small number of players we have Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, Jesus and Partey – none of whom can stay fit for very long during a season.
If we as a club end up with just 18 outfield players, it wouldn’t be enough, nowhere near enough in my opinion. I know Mikel Arteta doesn’t rotate as much as other managers do but to potentially cut the options down to just 7 is risky, very risky.
Man City have 24 players listed on their official website, Aston Villa have 28, Liverpool have 25. Chelsea have 122…..
This is just a food for thought post because of the speculation surrounding player exits over the next four days.
Catch up in the comments.
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Another good post Rico.
The players leaving wouldn’t really make the difference for us during this campaign, so I’m not at all worried about them leaving.
But we are getting a bit thin on numbers which wouldn’t matter if all of our players stayed fit but we know that the reality is that we’re likely to suffer injuries and have already this season.
I hopeful that Edu has another deal or maybe two just primed and ready to go as soon as Eddie leaves. Who knows we may have a Chelsea player or two in our sights?
Good morning everyone
Very valid questions Rico, questions which Arteta and Edu should be asking themselves imo.
With regards Nwaneri as you said he will play a lot of minutes. I think that one should have added Lewis-Skelly and Heaven to the list as well, although I guess that Nwaneri might play much more than them combined. However the fact that they are training all the time with the senior squad shows how much they are rated.
With regards PAtino there is a 50% sell on clause plus first refusal for Arsenal. So basically they have sent him away to play but Arsenal are holding much of the cards and can take him back. Its a system which is very much in use in Italy, the selling club has a 50% sell on plus first refusal. They do this to see how the player develops and if in the positive they can always take him back.
Speaking of Serie A, Juventus have begun the season with two wins out of two, yet their new manager has introduced 5 youngsters with the first team, their age being between 18-21. The players are Mbangula, Savona, Rouhi, Yildiz and Anghele. Mbangula who plays on the LW has scored 1 and assisted 2, while Savona has scored one. Both have started games although they didnt finish them.
Fingers crossed Arteta does the same with Nwaneri and the other two, not starting every game but relying on them to rotate and give them minutes.
Morning Rico, I commented about this the other day. I think we’re more than ok at the back, just about ok in midfield but woefully short upfront. God help us if Saka or Odegaard get injured!
Good morning Rico..
This post reminds me of Aston Villa under O’Neil, going into the season with 17-19 players and always pushing us for top 4.
We really do need new arrivals, very important and if Nelson and Nketiah leaves we would need to replace both of them.
I really hope we get enough business done before transfer deadline.
Thanks Kev.
I think those leaving could make a difference though because they can feature in the domestic cups or come on when we’ve put games to bed with 15/20 mins to go. They might not be first choice but if it’s between no one and who we have, I’d prefer the latter.
As you say though, hopefully Edu and co have a couple of surprises for us, after all, he did say we wouldn’t be disappointed at the end of this window.
Defensively we’re looking strong though Devil, so MLS and Heaven probably won’t be needed. I worry about our attacking unit should we suffer injuries. Jesus can’t be relied on and I’m not overly fussed on him anyway.
Morning Anthony, I think we’re on the same page. Midfield is pretty much covered if Merino signs as we have Partey, Jorginho and a couple of options from elsewhere in the squad.
Off the back of a Euros, expecting no injuries this season is overly optimistic imo.
Morning Mexy. Just what I’m hoping too.
Hi Rico. Some very valuable and keen insights; the kind of information which we tend to overlook as fans. Also, we always assume that new players will be incoming but even if we sign another winger and/or striker, we are still going to be relatively short if the “clear out” happens. Lets hold thumbs until Friday at least.
Morning Rico and all,
I think you may of forgot one play who likes to play from the medical room, Keiran Tierney, or has he finally moved on
Good morning Rico and all.
There can be no doubt that Arteta/Edu are fully aware of our squad numbers, so I expect some incomers by the close of the window.
I would not be surprised to see Arsenal make a bid for Chelsea target Osimhen.
I am starting my own rumor, Edu is deliberately leaving us short. as he plans to leave us and join man C after all there players / management run for the hills when found guilty and get demoted to second division😉
Do we need to bring in any more English players or do we have enough
Why is it taking so long to announce Merino if it is all agreed and medical passed
Nwaneri for me is the joker in the pack, once we complete this current run of 5 games, of which we cannot fanny about with because of their importance, we’ll then see more rotation and I agree I reckon that Lewis Skelly will get minutes as will Heaven and maybe Salah Eddine in the League Cup, to start with.
By the end of this season both MLS and Ethan will be very valuable players in our squad.
Morning Mark, that’s all we can do, hope with fingers crossed.
Morning Geoff, Cicero.
I did mention him Geoff, I’m assuming he’ll be going at some stage but he’ll need to be fit first.
I hope not Cicero, a forward player yes, but not him surely..
Viktor Gyökeres I reckon…
Kev, I hope we see the youngsters in the league cup..
Personally I wish that we have Gyokeres but seeing that havertz is Arteta’s favourite I think that (as has been suggested a few minutes ago) its more probable that ArteEdu go after the one, the only, the Englishmen, Siiiiiirrrrrrrr Dominiiiiiic Calvert Lewin.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen I will be here all week (said Geoffrey Chaucer)
Sorry Rico mist that line. back to spec saves for some new glasses these one’s are working too well.
Another crock Devil..
No probs Geoff..
Perhaps we’re hanging on for Toney 😂
I wouldn’t be surprised though if we signed Sancho.
Those leaving or left are no loss whatsoever so calm down.
Kiwior is basically replaced by upgrade in Cali.
Nwaneri is an upgrade on ESR.
My mum is an upgrade on Nketiah who should have been rid 3/4 years ago.
Nelson is pointless.
Nichols and Skelly will get cup games.
And we WILL be signing someone
Al, I admire your confidence if not your views. I think you missed out ‘in my opinion’..
Nwaneri better than Emile Smith Rowe?? Sorry but that’s poppycock.
Rico….I thought that about DCL. But I still dont want us to sign Toney.
and with regards Sancho I have had that funny feeling about it. Maybe that’s why we havent signed anyone….so that we sign him late and leaving Manure with a man short but cannot spend the money on someone.
Me neither Devil.
Sancho would be a good addition imo..
Anthony Taylor will be referee for Manchester Utd v Liverpool this Sunday.
how many of you would think PGMOL would select someone NOT from Manchester for this level of game.
of course he won’t be biased toward any team!! He’s a professional referee!!!
I don’t think there any non northern officials are there?
Evan Ferguson has been mentioned.
Who’s next please?
David Ornstein- Eddie Nketiah has been given permission to undergo a medical at Crystal Palace.
The south London club are working to finalise agreements with Arsenal and the 25-year-old striker having tabled a bid worth £25million plus £5m in potential add-ons.
Woyciech Sczesney has retired at the age of 34.
I still say that Arsenal have a very short squad. We will have to play more than 60 games (don’t forget that the Champions League now has more games) and several weeks with 2 games per week.
Playing more games increases the likelihood of long/short-term injuries and more players being prevented from playing by suspensions.
And obviously, more cycles of loss of form, tiredness and physical breakdown.
I also think that the hypothetical winter market has already proven that it is not a solution. Either you predict the season in advance and look at a squad as a whole, where everyone has equal opportunities to play or most likely the end result is failure.
Interesting about Sczesney if Rambo goes last minute and we dont have time to get Garcia he might be persueded to do another year . At the moment lots of bets are being hedged , it’s almost like a tactic to weaken squads . I reckon the last day will be like supermarket sweep .
Rambo will go last minute. That is my feeling.
If Arsenal want Joan Garcia they should take him on loan. And exchange Rambo with Espanyol on loan as well. That way Rambo would be happy as he gets to play, Arsenal would get what Arteta and Cana wants, that is another spanish keeper who is still young and who can challenge Raya, Espanyol get a top notch keeper and everyone would be happy. What you all think about this????
Potter, as much as I loved Sczesney when he was with us I dont like the idea of any player coming back. Well with the exception of TH14 when he came back. otherwise I never like the idea of anyone coming back.
Merino it’s official.
Sporting Director Edu said: “We are so happy to have completed the transfer of Mikel Merino. This has been another great team effort from many people at the club to finalise the transfer of a player who attracted interest from a number of clubs over the summer.
“Mikel was a key target for us this summer, and we identified him as a player who can fit perfectly into our squad and profile to improve us, as we aim to build on our strong performances of last season. With Mikel’s arrival, he brings us an added high quality of experience, physicality and athleticism as we look forward to this season ahead.
“We welcome Mikel and his family to the club, and look forward to seeing him play in the Arsenal shirt.”
Well well, I didn’t see the signing of Merino coming. 😜
Mikel Merino will wear the number 23 shirt.
A veritable bolt from the blue Rico. 😉
Absolutely Cicero, I had to sit down… 😜
Chelsea in for Toney apparently. How many players does that club need?
Maybe Arteta and Edu are looking at the season in two phases. Right now they have the players to get them to January. However, if the youngster don’t pan out as the season gets hectic, they can always strengthen in January. Realistically, they are only a player or two away.
I really can’t agree with the statement that Arsenal have a very short squad, I mean, most of our first choice XI are over 6 foot.
Nico Williams may seem unobtainable just now, but he could be Edu’s trump card and make Arsenal great again.
He was great at the Euros Kev
So was Johnny Jensen signed on the back of a brilliant goal.
I was there when he scored against QPR
OBI, the problem is not many good players are available in January and if we are desperately looking then, the season could be over.
I know there is a lot of back and forwards in negotiation but personally I feel that Edu is too slow.
You sound like Max Boyce, Kev. “I know cos I was there”. 😁
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bid go in for Sterling as he worked with Arteta for 3 years at City and it looks like the emphasis is on a winger not a number 9,Media says United but it is feasable we go for him but he is on big wages
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I can’t believe there have been 6 bids for Tierney,two from the PL and they don’t match our club’s valuation.He is of no value to us .
Morning all.
I hope not re Sterling.
New post up.