Morning all.
We have heard a lot about transfers, the squad depth, ambition – you name it, we’ve heard it or read it. Whether it be Mikel Arteta or Josh Kroenke, the message has been clear. We’re in this game to win things and not just take part with this summer to be a busy one.
Arsenal began the season with a small squad. A small squad which shrunk as the days went by because we suffered injury after injury. Every single one who broke down was a key player. Yes, even Gabriel Jesus who had finally found a bit of rhythm to his game. The reasons behind such a vast number of injuries, many of which required surgery, is for the medical staff to deal with and together with Arteta, need to do all they can to prevent this coming season from being anywhere near as bad.
I think Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel will be ready for the new season but not Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus.
Karl Hein, Reiss Nelson, Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira, who have been out on loan all season are still under contract. Nelson and Vieira until 2027, Lokonga and Hein, 2026. I’d imagine all four will be sold this summer.
Sterling, Neto, Jorginho and Marquinhos have gone so by my maths, we have 18 senior players listed in the first team squad meaning there is room for 7 signings. Add in Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, we’re down to 5 although I know our two younger players don’t need to be listed because of their age.
7 or 5, what’s clear is that Arsenal need a lot of players this summer and that’s before anyone from last seasons squad is sold. The transfer window opened yesterday so today is what I’d call the first working day of the window so it’s time for all the talking to turn into walking.
Unlike the PGMOL staff, we can all see what’s clear and obvious. Arsenal are lacking creativity, a speedy winger who can do more than just run fast, a striker who not only knows it’s ok to move into the penalty area but it’s ok to shoot too! Stretching my hope out even more, perhaps he’ll believe it’s worth taking a shot from outside the box too.
Mikel Arteta needs to throw the predictable out the window and bring in the unpredictable. No, not in a Sterling kind of way when he didn’t even know what he was doing but organised and rehearsed unpredictability. We saw some of that last season with the long throws from Thomas Partey which might have worked had a tall striker been in the box but at the 100th time of trying, it was clear the long throws were a pointless exercise. We also saw a few different set piece routines but there’s always room for more.
This isn’t a summer for signing just numbers, it has to be a summer of numbers and quality. There is no point in signing a player who is just going to literally make up the numbers, he has to be someone who Mikel Arteta is prepared to play out of choice, or for tactical reasons rather than necessity. I know, you guys already know that.
Just as I know that you know, Arsenal need to get their deals over the line as swiftly as possible because as we have said before, most other clubs will and we could end up missing out. Our football might be slow, steady and sometimes laboured but the transfer teams actions over the next few weeks and months cannot be.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
No argument from me, to borrow a phrase from almost every Labour minister, we must work “at pace”. Mind you, we shouldn’t follow Starmer”s endless u turn policy either on or off the field.
Seven incoming? Rico. Wenger was quoted as saying three signings in one transfer window was the limit that could be assimilated at one time.
Good morning Cicero.
I’m anticipating 4/5 new signings. 5 if Partey goes to Barca..
Morning Rico and all.
well put Rico,
The amount of players coming in will come down to how quick we can get deals done and not waste time by making an offer well below what the other club is asking for, especially if other clubs are truly interested in the same player.
Morning Geoff, well the club have had ten months to prepare for this summer, longer perhaps in the case of Sesko is what’s reported holds any truth.
Good Morning (by otherwise 15 mins. Then it will be good afternoon) Rico and all
Yep Rico, good post. You should send it to the club. Especially the comments which everyone here writes. I guess if they have a stats dept they should also have a PR dept which reads the blogs etc to see what supporters feel as well. However, I doubt they give a rat’s arse about what we think.
Time for Arteta and Berta to walk the talk. By calculations we are one of the healthiest run clubs so paying 200M is not out of our reach and we would still be healthy with some change.
everyone has his or her own philosophy how the team should be built. Some say from the back, some say the central spine while others say all over the pitch.
IMO if you have a sound keeper, two good CB, a good CM and a finisher the chances are that you will be there or thereabouts. the rest are just supporting cast. We keep harping about Saka, and its rightly so, however, if we get that darned finisher talk of Saka this or Saka that will diminish while the striker gets all the plaudits.
Morning Devil, always, always need a top notch core in any team sport. Without that foundation, a team is unlikely to be successful.
I would also add a good captain who not only has the respect of the players, but can also lift the team when needed
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45431347/uefa-change-home-advantage-champions-league-knockouts
We have two or three of them Geoff, they just don’t wear the armband.
Afternoon Rico and ensemble,
yes it’s definitely time to walk the walk after all the endless chat about planning ahead some 18 months etc, blah blah bleedin’ blah.
Nobody talks a good transfer window quite like Arsenal, you can actually look back all the way to Wenger and count on the fingers of one hand the number of summer windows that have actually made a difference, been transformative, you know like say 1997 when Anelka, Petit, Grimaldi , Upson and Overmars came in – I’m sure you all have your favourites.
If they don’t step up this summer then there’s going to be a lot of disgruntled supporters both online and at games and Andrea Berta will struggled to recover his credibility.
Afternoon Kev, and then we signed Jeffers 😂
I agree, if we have a poor summer, it’ll not only be Berta who gets stick. Arteta too will be in the firing line I’m sure.
What irks me a lot with regards Arsenal transfer department is the fact that (as Rico pointed out yesterday) Liverpool have let Kelleher go for 12million. Why didnt our department go for him?? He is a sound keeper, still young, experienced, proven himself well enough plus he could have given the 29 year old Raya a good run for his money and maybe even cemented the place himself. But wait a bit….he’s not spanish. And the goalkeeping coach only wants spanish guys.
Kvicha Kvaratshkelia is another. I have known about this player since he was playing in Georgia and Napoli acquired him while young. This January he went to PSG. He is much better than what we have on that wing. and bdw, he has won the treble with PSG and also the Serie A medal having played more than 15 games for Napoli till January.
Jude and Jobe Bellingham played in England no? Byno Gittens as well? Michael Olise is another. How come our scouts dont scout them when young but German clubs do? And tbh it is a disgrace that from here I know a lot about youth football and so called professional clubs diddle and dawdle their hands and drag their feet with regards youth players from lower English divisions. Even H Housers here sometimes come up with youth players from around the lower English clubs and then they turn out good players but at other clubs sometimes even foreign ones.
Or do we have to pay top money for players some of whom turn out to be has beens or flops?? Pepe comes to mind.
Exactly Devil, rumour has it we could have signed one or two of those players for a sensible transfer fee but we, whoever that was, passed the opportunity by.
Gittens was born near me. 😝
Eze and Olise were I believe, in our academy.
Even Kane was in our academy but Brady deemed him too fat.
Now we cant keep all the players of that I am sure, but one has to be very very very sure that the one who is going to be let go from academy will not go on to be super successful elsewhere.
Its hard to decide on academy youngsters, I can attest to that as I have experienced it many time over and over again. And its one of the worst feelings telling a young player that he will never make it at that club. It used to hurt me, not as much as it did to them, but it still hurt. But I never ever reached that conclusion alone. I used to ask other coaches opinion a lot of times.
Some players develop late. A case in point DB10 who was on the verge of being released by Ajax but fate deemed it necessary to intervene and two players who played in the same position were injured and DB10 was trusted in their place. The rest is history. Platt is another. but sometimes the person passing the judgement does give the wrong one.
it would be galling to sign Eze for millions after we released him for free.
I think Arteta prefers to sign players than bring them through the academy. I know that sounds bonkers as MLS and Nwaneri have stepped up this season but I cannot help wondering whether we’d have seen either had we not had so many injuries.
We barely saw Nwaneri once Saka returned from injury.
Yes I noticed that about Nwaneri. He could have been moved upfield…to CF and tried there when Saka returned.
Both him and MLS are still young with regards muscles and bones. they need to have breathers because their body is still forming until the age of 22. So we have to take that into consideration. However, Arteta could have given him more minutes when Saka returned to rest Saka and also to give him time to recover
You say that, and you are right of course but how many minutes was MLS given and he’s just months older than Nwaneri.
Afternoon all,
I think in regards to young players and game time is a tough one. We look at it positionally MLS LB and Nwaneri 10/Wide forward, the lads further up field are more likely to take a beating than the defenders so can’t get way with more minutes.
We look at Saka, when he broke through at MLS and Nwaneri’s age he played alot at fullback. I remember with Wilshere, Wenger saying for the type of player he was he invites dangerous challenges as he likes to carry the ball forward rather than pass it. We all know what happened with him and a promising mercurial talent lost to the treatment table.
Saka is a machine and can take alot of the hard knocks that are thrown his way especially now his body has matured, I can’t say I have confidence Nwaneri is the same specimen of a lad Saka was when he came through at his age, and he has a touch of Wilsheres fearlessness carrying the ball. We and he has to understand that he has to be carefully managed as he had a few lay offs after receiving rough treatment this year.
I agree we need 4 to 5 GK, 6, LW and 9 two 6s if were silly enough to let Partey leave i think hes worth another 3 year contract with and option of 1 more. I think he can play at the top level for at least another 4 seasons. With Zuba almost done and us looking like were favouring Sesko thankfully that should see us strengthened. I was all for him over Gyokeres I’d even put Mbeumo or Jonathan David on a free over Gyokeres too. I watched a clip on X of all of Gyos 39 goals. There were alot of pens and tbh the goalkeeping on at least 15 of the goals was as if they had read the how to GK by Andre Onana hand book and they dropped that whilst reading too
Fabi Viera has been playing a deeper role at Porto this season and been doing great there perhaps we should give him the opportunity there as and 8 or even six deputising for Zuba, Partey, Dec and Merino maybe. I like him I think he has the talent its now up to him if he wants it.
The next 2 months are key let’s see where we are come mid July
Hi Simmo, that’s interesting re Vieira. He seems very lightweight though for the hard knocks PL opponents dish out. I too see a part to play for Partey but whether he can resist the reported interest from Barca is another matter.
Declan Rice has been named in the Champions League team of the season. 🔔🔔
I don’t think partey will hang around, and if we had a bigger squad the younger players would not have been given a second glance,
Very quiet about Man C 115 charges
Good Morning Rico and all
Talking of lower divisions……..we are close to Blackburn’s Igor Tyjon (6ft 1′) a 17 year old who plays as a CF. Already played in the first team (2 appearances) and an England youth international. 1 Million pounds plus add ons according to performance and appearances.
I am very very sure and certain that like Tyjon there are a host of other young players under the age of 21 in the lower divisions. In any position. Doesn’t the club have scouts anymore on the lookout for emerging talent?
Morning Geoff, Devil.
Very quiet re City, mind you, there are a lot of charges to rule on.
We had a young striker In Biereth but let him go. I guess being just 17, Tyjon wouldn’t take up a squad place so he’s a much lower risk.
Good morning all.
I’m feeling a bit deflated at the moment, my wife and I were due to take a hot air balloon ride this evening but due to wind conditions it has been cancelled. The south westerly wind gusting up to 24 mph would have quickly blown us from Norwich out over the North Sea. 😕
Morning Cicero, goodness, you are brave. Wouldn’t catch me in one of them. Deflated 😂
Cicero, what a shame, it’s hard to explan who it feels in good weather, but the landing can be a bit of a buggger when the basket tips over.
I hear that Norway is the place to visit by balloon…
Guten Tag Rico und kammerads.
I don’t know where that came from!
Football opinion is very much an animal made up of narratives and it seems that the notion of Arteta not liking youngsters is one that is accepted, mainly because he won’t play young players for the sake of it.
Arsene loved playing young players, Gavin Hoyte, Justin Hoyte, Fran Merida, Danny Karbassiyoun, Denilson, Quincy Owusu etc, Carlos Vela, Gedion Zelalem, Armand Traore, Gilles Sunu, Mark Randall, Martin Angha, Thomas Cruise, to name but a handful.
It was great and we loved it, but the vast majority were never going to make the grade and most of them left to persue careers at lower level clubs. Most of them weren’t going to make us competitors for the big trophies, but Arsene love a punt…
Arteta doesn’t, he’s serious and doesn’t play youngsters for the sake of it and yes, it does frustrate me as well but it’s what he does.
I saw an interview on YouTube yesterday where Ian Wright visited London Colney to interview Myles and Ethan – if you get the chance watch it.
Both of them seem totally committed to Arsenal so ignore the wind-up rumours being put out by ITK’s.
Morning Kev, I saw that re Wrighty but not actually watched the get together. Hope Wrighty told them both to get on and sign new contracts..
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6397772/2025/06/03/arsenal-transfer-latest-summer-window-2025/
Gyokeres pulls out of Sweden squad
Viktor Gyokeres has withdrawn from the Sweden squad for friendlies against Hungary and Algeria.
Sweden’s FA says it is because of a “minor injury”.
The Sporting striker has a lot of Premier League interest this summer, including from Arsenal and Chelsea.
Gyokeres’ release clause is around £84m, but he has a gentleman’s agreement to leave for less.
Sporting are expected to consider offers of around £59m for the 26-year-old, who scored 54 goals in 52 appearances this season across all competitions.
M L S has been offered a new and improved contract as a result of reported interest from Real Madrid.
Just sign da ting.
Him and Nwaneri. Just do it..
Chelsea target new goalkeeper
Latest from Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol:
Chelsea are in talks to sign AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
There is a good chance the deal will happen.
The France No 1 is widely regarded as one of best in the world in his position.
His Milan contract expires next summer.
Martin Zubimendi on his Instagram story on the beach after reports he was undergoing a medical at Arsenal: “It’s an example of what surrounds football. Many times I wake up in the morning & read things that I didn’t know I had done. That was a clear example.”
“It’s true that I don’t take it very seriously, but anyway, I uploaded those photos to emphasise a little that it wasn’t exactly the reality that was happening.”
Why doesn’t that surprise me…
Saying that, wouldn’t he now be with the Spanish national team for their international fixtures?
Martin Zubimendi on his future: “Of course there are options, but it’s true that it seems like it’s going to be a different, long summer & I don’t know how it will end.”
“I don’t think thinking about that right now is my priority. I’m here with the national team, which I think is already quite demanding & if I have to say something, then I will.”
Martin Zubimendi on his Instagram story on the beach after reports he was undergoing a medical at Arsenal: “It’s an example of what surrounds football. Many times I wake up in the morning & read things that I didn’t know I had done. That was a clear example.”
“It’s true that I don’t take it very seriously, but anyway, I uploaded those photos to emphasise a little that it wasn’t exactly the reality that was happening.”
Martin Zubimendi on a potential reunion with Xabi Alonso: “I have always said that he was my idol & that for me, it was lucky that he was able to coach me in the Sociedad B team in a very important year. The following year I was already in the first team.”
“I don’t like to talk about those hypotheses, I prefer to talk about the present, because I also think that it would be disrespectful to answer from the national team camp & before facing such an important competition.”
So if Real Madrid bid for Zubimendi he’ll be off to the Bernabeu. Given that he’s Spanish, we shouldn’t be surprised and if the leaks from the club if in fact they were from the club, prove to be false then our new recruitment team is going to look very foolish…
I wonder if we’re going to have the kind of summer that we had when we get needed a goal scorer and was chasing Higuain and Luiz Suarez only to end up with Mesut Ozil..?
If he ends up at Real Madrid, I pray there’s a plan b… Same with any players we’re after, there has to be a plan b.