Morning all.
Myles Lewis-Skelly started again for England last night and by all accounts, he played well. Declan Rice too and it was he who provided Kane with the easiest of finishes. I watched some of the game but another 90 minutes of watching England soon went out the window.
Most of our players international duties are finished now with just Martin Odegaard and Gabriel left to play one more fixture. Norway play tonight whilst Brazil play in the early hours of tomorrow. Riccardo Calafiori is our only casualty so far and I hope it stays that way. There’s been nothing official from Arsenal yet on what the Italians injury is or how long he could be out.
In a couple of days time, Premier League clubs will hold talks over what date this coming summer transfer window should close. According to reports, a number of clubs want deadline day to be before the new season begins whilst others want to stick with early September.
I can understand the differing or opinions but personally, I don’t know why the transfer window can’t officially open on the day after the Champions League Final and close before the new season begins because that way, clubs with huge budgets, cannot simply go into the transfer market should one of its players suffer a long term injury in the opening week or two of the season.
We have seen what injuries can do to team/squad so I’m of the opinion that if a manager has to try and cope with injuries half way through a season, he should have to deal with them from day one too. Two and a half months should be more than enough time for clubs to make the signings they need to. After all, they’ve had all season to discuss what and who they need.
I know many of us write about how slow we as a club are to get deals over the line but perhaps our new sporting director, reported to be Andrea Berta, will get things done a lot quicker. He might not have been officially announced yet but if he’s coming, he’ll already be working I’m sure. No way would a sporting director of his calibre go into a new job cold.
The Arsenal board know that Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Kieran Tierney are out of contract this summer, just as they know Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz won’t be ready in time for the new season so there’s five issues which need addressing. Personally, I don’t think Tierney needs to be replaced but Partey and Jorginho, absolutely but not necessarily by new players. By that I mean certain solutions/replacements might already be at the club.
A goalkeeper, midfielder and a goal scorer would be top of my agenda but in truth, we need creative players too. Even if Martin Odegaard returns to his form of last season, who is there to step in when/if he’s not available? Ethan Nwaneri cannot be in two places at once and I personally would love to see his skills and strengths put to better use in midfield. But hey, what do I know….
I can see a busy summer ahead for Arsenal. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Leandro Trossard moving on, Jakub Kiwior too. Plus, we have a number of players who are currently out on loan who I cannot see a way back for. Fabio Vieira, Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Marquinhos and Reiss Nelson. Karl Hein perhaps has the best chance of lengthening his Arsenal career but I wouldn’t put my mortgage on it.
Perhaps this summer is the most important for Arsenal, for Mikel Arteta too because he really needs to deliver silverware. Players want to be getting their hands on a trophy, fans want to see them doing it too and so far in five years, we have an FA Cup which the majority of this current squad weren’t part of.
Winning the Champions League this season would undo all I’ve just written.
As unlikely as that might seem, never say never in this game…
Catch up later..
The next season will be Arteta’s last of that I am sure.
His tactics are too negative and lauds not losing over winning.
Morning Rico.
As we all know “strange” things can happen in football and its never over until the fat lady sings. Who knows re the Champs League!
I have just been reading this morning that it is looking very promising re Zubimendi coming to Arsenal this summer and the release clause fee for Gyokeres has dropped, so Arsenal are moving in for him. Lets see.
Also read, Defender Gabriel will return to his club after receiving a yellow card in Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Colombia. The yellow cards mean Gabriel will be suspended for Brazil’s next match in the international break.
Top 3 priorities for me and along with the rest of the Arsenal fans, a Striker, another Goal Keeper as Neto is, well how shall we put it?!, Zubimendi and Nico Williams to? No doubt a surprise will be descend upon us
Like you, I was bored with the England game along with all the others in the pub.
Have a good day.
Al, I’m not so sure it will be his last. If we sign the right players, different tactics/way of playing comes into the fold.
Morning Laura, that’s good re Gabriel, I missed that.
Interesting post Rico, transfer chat always drives some narrative…
As for next season being the last for Arteta, who’s under contract until 2027, well that’s about as likely as a manned space mission to the sun.
Arteta has already suggested that the emergence of Ethan and Myles means that some finance can now be redirected to other areas as those two have solved some ongoing squad deficiencies.
Next season should see Max Dowman announce himself as the next academy talent off of the production line and he needs to coveted as there a few vultures out there looking to steal him away from us so plenty of inclusion in the senior squad and an early debut for Max I predict.
Good afternoon all.
Geoff, from yesterday, that sounds like you have an enormous amount on your plate, I can only offer you my sympathy and hope that you find a way to cope.
Might we have already found our new midfielder? Myles Lewis-Skelly is already listed as such in the academy and effectively played in midfield in both England games. I commend the idea to The House.
Thanks Kev, I think a few from the academy will be pushing their way forward next season. Dowman especially despite being so young.
I think MLS and Nwaneri could play in any position and do well..
Yes Cicero, I second your sentiments to Geoff.
Rico, there’s every chance for a few more of our youngsters to get some exposure, probably in the League Cup and as young players develop at different rates it may mean somebody breaking through at ages 19 or 20. Not everybody can be a precocious 15/16/17 year old.
Agreed Kev. I think those we’ve seen in the cups this season have the best chance.
They do Rico, shame we lost Heaven but the rest are in with every chance if they keep working hard and making the most of it when included in senior training sessions.
Yep, Heaven leaving was a shame as he would have been ideal to replace Kiwior but, I do wonder if Utd spend billions in the summer, he’ll keep his place.
Feet on the ground is their best way forwards.
Good afternoon Rico and all
Great post Rico however I honestly hope that all that you have written will be undone when MO08 lifts the CL together with Arteta. 5 games to go……five 1-0 wins. and I dont give a rat’s arse how we manage even with negative football. If we do win the CL it will put the AOB into hibernation till summer 2026 at least.
I still say that the EPL is the yeardstick and top honour imo. Better than the CL which is played with 15 games. I value the domestic trophies more than the CL.
As Cicero pointed out….and I have said in the past…..MLS will be the midfielder who replaces TP05. MLS is more the Makalele type but can play in any midfield position. I do wish we keep Jorginho….a coach in the pitch….he can rotate and replace players in the last 20 mins of the game. Plus he can teach those around him a lot. He reminds me a lot of Arteta in his last two years as a player.
Tierney will need to be replaced especially if MLS goes into midfield. Dont bet on it that we dont get another Italian. Infact lots of italians can be coming…..Berta will see to that. And I hope we get Barella of Inter he is another Pirlo.
Berta, will no doubt focus on Italian and Spanish players and maybe one or two from France.
I am with Kev with regards Heaven. He was a top top defender and one which I wasn’t happy to see going. Obi Chido I didnt mind…..he could have stayed and played a lot more. But Heaven I regret him leaving. But what could he do having Saliba and Gaby in front of him. Plus Aiden is English.
Now imagine having 5 English players in the national team (we discussed that yesterday) and adding Heaven as well. With Dowman also on that trajectory we might see the record set in the thirties equalled or broken. Now that would be the day…….to rub it in the face of those pundits.
Afternoon Devil, thanks.
We can’t assume MLS will replace Partey and personally, I can’t see Arteta doing that. Not yet anyway.
I agree though, if we win all our fixtures with a scrappy 1-0 from now until the end of the season then it’ll mean we’ve finished at least second and lifted the CL trophy. I bet Chelsea fans didn’t care when the won the competition on penalties after being totally outplayed in the game.
just read that Trent AA, VVD and Salah are all out of contract in the summer….and all may leave. TAA is in advanced talks with RM while the other two are stalling on signing a contract.
AA to Real has been in the news for a few months now. I hope both VvD and Salah are hopefully looking for a big pay day elsewhere.
Morning Rico and all
Thanks for the kind words,
Morning all.
Like some of you I hate internationals and thankfully a memorable birthday celebration and milestone wedding anniversary meant I was out of the country for 8 days, however it’s always good to be able to keep up with the football news via the internet where ever you are on the planet (in particular HH).
I admit to dipping into the dark side A.K.A. Newsnow and one snippet by the Express seemed reasonably believable than Nwaneri is eligible to also play for Nigeria and they have stepped up their efforts to convince him to play for them instead of England as did Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi.
I am not convinced he will depart as his pedigree appears to be propelling him to something great for England (🤞).
Geoff – life can be cruel and you seem to be having more than your fair share, as Cicero well put it I can only offer my sympathy and hope that the Arsenal family you have on here will offer a little bit of respite with our footballing views.
Morning one and all, yes Berg, I still periodically flick through NewsNow and occasionally click, only to regret it, in a way I miss some of the old naff blogs they used to have on there at least they were good for a laugh, the newspaper driven ones that have replaced them tend to be more poisonous.
Not being an aficionado of X or Facebook etc means that I’m often left out of the social media whirl so I miss what’s ‘going down’…
YouTube helps me keep in touch with the ‘in crowd’ so it was worrying to hear about some of the vitriol that had been aimed at Lewis Skelly and in particular by MSM pundits, who should know better.
People like the appalling Jason Cundy on Talkbollocks and such like have made comments that have generated some awful stuff online aimed at Myles.
All this has fortunately passed me by but that doesn’t mean that I don’t hear about it because I do, I just don’t read it and hope that Myles and his family don’t either?
I’d like to see Arsenal be more proactive in ‘calling out’ these MSM scumbags whilst also reducing any contact those broadcasters have regarding club content.
Good Morning Rico and all
This AI stuff is really fascinating. Enjoy
https://www.facebook.com/reel/579797645222798
Hey Kev.
Like you I totally avoid Facebook etc and also miss out on a lot of social media, maybe that’s why we dip into NN 😊 and yes the blogs were good entertainment. There’s some awful abuse banded about on social media and it affects a lot of kids as we often read in the news and I know my grand kids have had bad experiences on it.
Yes Berg, it is a big concern, more so in these modern times, all you can do is do your best with your own kids and hope they can pass it on to the grandkids. Sorry to hear that yours have been on the receiving end, hopefully it’s just a passing phase and that they can see it for what it is, cowardly rantings borne out of envy.
The people who post this stuff are invariably sad, lonely, miserable and have no real friends themselves.
Dev, that was pretty cool, Califiori really hit the mark as Thor.
It appears that Arsenal are in talks with Gabriel over a new and improved contract in order to ward off an expected Saudi offer for him in the summer.
Afternoon guys,
Big game for the ladies tonight. Let’s home the Emirates pitch helps them..
Good re Gabriel. A lot of focus tends to be on Saliba yet Gabriel is a man mountain at the back. He’s one player I’d hate us to lose..
Transfermarket value Big Gabby at €75m, so anything south of that isn’t worth considering, not that I’m suggesting we should sell but if Gabby seems reluctant to extend his contract then that price is worth remembering.
I think he’ll want to stay, he seems really happy. However, I know money talks..
Bill and Big Gabby enjoy playing together too which sort of re enforces the partnership.
Like most in the football world I thought City would be our stumbling block again this season, we are still as we know a few players light so it would have been a bit of a surprise for us to have topped the table this season though I’d still love to be proved wrong.
If we don’t add some serious silverware by end of next season it’s then a question of whether those two will stay for me.
Certainly didn’t see it being Liverpool. Boy they’ve had all the luck..
Can’t believe we haven’t scored..
We have now, 2-0..
Final score 3 – 0 Arsenal win 3 – 2 on aggregate. Fanbloodytastic!!!_ 🔔🔔🔔
Brilliant performance, could have been more goals..
Well done Arsenal women…
Good morning all.
Chelsea and Manchester City are chasing a £100 million prize at this summer’s FiFa club world championship.
The level playing field just tilted a bit further. 😕
Morning Cicero, level playing field, what’s that in football? 😜
New post up