Morning all.
William Saliba’s loan deal with Marseille was finally made official yesterday. He’ll spend next season with the French club along with Matteo Guendouzi. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when those two get together and talk about Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.
Stan and Josh Kroenke are making changes at the club. There’s to be an Arsenal Advisory Board, exclusively comprised of Arsenal fans, to provide counsel to the Arsenal Board on a range of predominantly off-field matters. The will consist of elected representatives from the Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association, the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, Gay Gooners, Domestic and International Supporters’ Clubs, Arsenal Disabled Supporters’ Association and the Fans’ Forum representative for 18-24-year-old fans. Joining them from inside the club will be Josh Kroenke(ownership), Tim Lewis (board member), Vinai Venkatesham(Chief Executive), Mark Gonnella (Media, Communications & Community Affairs Director) and Mark Brindle (Supporter Liaison Officer). There’s a lot more information about this and other changes at Arsenal.com.
The whole idea in my opinion is to build bridges. The Super League created a bigger divide between the Kroenke family and Arsenal fans than before and I think this is a way to bring the two closer together. Fans will have a voice, the Kroenke family, who have again emphasised their 100% commitment to the club, need to listen and hear.
There are many headlines on NN and social media surrounding the much anticipated arrival of Albert Lokonga. His isolation period is reportedly over and an official announcement is expected any day. Possibly today. Ben White and James Maddison stories rumble on but yesterday, a new name popped up from nowhere. Well, The Metro actually who suggested Arsenal are interested in signing AZ Alkmaar star Teun Koopmeiners. He’s Dutch, 23 years old and plays in the defensive midfield position. Excellent, as on paper, he’s ideal. He ticks all the right boxes, right down to the suggested £15m reported fee. Is he good? No idea as I’ve never heard of him. Other clubs around Europe are interested in signing him but he’s a big Arsenal fan. That old chestnut eh.
If you have a spare £100, I know how you can spend it. Yep, that’s the cost of the authentic new Arsenal home kit. I say kit, but it’s just for the shirt. If you want the whole kit, you’ll need another £60. Anyway, the kit will be worn for the first time tomorrow when Arsenal take on Rangers. New signing Tavares could make his debut. Kieran Tierney might get a few minutes too as he’s already back in training despite playing for his country just a few weeks ago. What a guy eh. Dedication, it’s the name of the game….
Loving the Tammy Abraham rumours. If only they’d come true.
See you in the comments.
Spooky…
I like Tammy Abraham, he’s a big, mobile, physical centre forward, the type we’ve not had since the days of Adebayor (Giroud was never mobile) and at £40m it’s do’able, but can we do it and will we do it?
Chelsea won’t want to see Abraham move to Arsenal, he’s not an old codger like Cech or Willian he coming into his peak and they’ve already done this before with Lukaku so they won’t want that again, this time on their doorstep. It’ll be hard to get over the line and Chelsea will want top dollar.
Then there’s the situation at Arsenal with Aubameyang, Lacazette, Martinelli, Balogun etc, signing Abraham would cause some in-house issues and at least one would need to go and as we’ve seen already this summer that’s not easy. Aubameyang isn’t going anywhere as he sits on his gold plated contract and Lacazette might view a bosman in 12 months as an attractive prospect?
It might all hinge on any deal Chelsea can do for Haaland and with Dortmund banking a nice sum from Man Utd for Sancho that’s looking an unlikely transfer, for at least this summer.
Morning rico, all. Swop Abraham for Nketiah! Oh, and 20 million if Chelsea did want him. He hasn’t really looked like taking the next step up has he, shame?
Andrew, when I saw Eddie here in 2017, I was ecstatic.
He’s no better now than he was then imo
Morning all
Morning Rico and all
Their are a lot of us fans who don’t like Kroenke however,
If we are going to give Arteta a chance then we need to give Kroenke a chance after all we need both of them to work as one, Our we are going nowhere as a club.
This season should be enough to prove to us fans weather or not Arteta is going to be the coach to take us forward and what the Kroenke’s really feel about the club and it’s supporters.
Scott, I wonder if it’s application, coaching or he just naturally didn’t progress forwards?
The difference is Geoff, Arteta has his heart in Arsenal, whether he succeeds or not. Stan doesn’t, only a wish to be a financial success. So it’s hard to warm to anyone like that, especially when he visits maybe once a year?
Andrew, no idea mate, it’s really difficult to say.
Geoff, Stan’s been around long enough to show what he’s all about.
Nketiah has left Chelsea once , can’t see him going back to be a bit player again. I doubt Abraham will end up with us and if he did he would be fighting Balogun for starts . Taking into account the hype that went with Balogun’s signing , do we want to go down this street at £40 million ?
Btw , Martinelli who could develop into the same position got a good goal for Brazil , flaky pictures on Planet football.
Morning all.
I wouldn’t mind saying cheerio to Aubameyang or Lacazette if it meant we signed Abraham. Mind you, even if we didn’t, I wouldn’t mind saying goodbye to them. Lol
Potter, I agree with you on both Martinelli and Balogun.
Morning Andrew. I too think Eddie will be moved on this summer.
Re the Kroenke family, I think they care about Arsenal, just in different ways to us. Similar with Arteta, he cares about the club, but in a different way to the Kroenke family, and us.
Unless one is born into the club, I still believe feelings are different for those who ‘chose’ to support Arsenal.
Morning Geoff. From the outside, it seems Josh is the one more involved with Arsenal. He’s certainly been the mouthpiece over the last couple of years. I’m not expecting him him to be in England for every home game, especially whilst Covid still hangs around, but I think he’ll be a bit more involved than his father was.
After all, didn’t he spend a few months at LC prior to Wenger leaving and Gazidis shortly after..
Another Chelsea reject. You couldnt make it up,We should change our name to Chelsea retirement home FC
Hasty, he’s hardly a reject. He’s young and an exiting player I think. He’s early in his career, not at the end of it.
I have nothing particularly against Abraham it’s just that I put him in the same class of Danny Welbeck , good but not prolific and not £ 40 million.
Arsenal advisory Board. A typical public relations knee reaction to the s**t storm the Kroenkes created over the European Super League fiasco. Nothing more than a talking shop, of course the Kroenkes will listen to what comes out, but will hear only what they want to hear, the rest will be kicked into the long grass.
The first and only thing for the new entity to do is “advise” the Kroenkes to appoint an Arsenal supporter to the main board. Only when that has been done can we believe that they are listening.
Tammy Abrahams? Yes please!
I keep getting told I should give Arteta a chance and I am,
That’s why I am saying as much as I don’t like or trust Stan / Josh maybe we should give Them one more chance to prove to every body else and my self that they have now seen the light and understand the club and it’s fans are bigger than Kroenke sports and his super league dream. ( or in short Kroenke’s can put up or get out )
Good Afternoon Rico and all
I missed the last post, as had personal family matters which left me grasping for breath, but today I got to see the above post. Thanks for the last two Rico.
Tammy Abraham??? Either him or DCL. Tbh I prefer DCL as him, Balogun and MArtinelli can play for the striker’s position. And yes, like you I would not mind both Lacazette and Auba leaving. ASAP I must say.
The thing is, would the Chavs sell him to us as willingly as they would to another club outside the EPL? They would ask for more money than he is worth if it was us alone. He is mobile and has a presence, but him being English olus his strength, mobility and size they would demand more money from us. Matty Ryan went for just £1M abroad….but I feel that if he was sold to us it would have been 3-5 million. The same with Tammy Abraham. Chavs would want £40M from other clubs but I feel that if we went for him he would be 55-60M bracket.
Tammy Abraham I not fussed one way or the other maybe a new club is the best for him
Andrew some times people who have their heart in the club can try so hard to please every one that it works against them.
Some of the most successful coaches / managers in the word don’t care about the club they work for, It’s all about winning and making their resume looking good.
Hi Rico.. Abraham? 40m?? Sorry, not for me. Bambi on ice springs to mind 😂 Although we’d be daft enough to pay it!
And some manager / coaches hold grudges . I would not be surprised to see Mourinho duck out of the Xhaka deal and leave him with us at the last minute.
Some managers just bear a grudge and I would not be surprised to see Mourinho pull out of the Xhaka deal and leave us stuck with him.
Afternoon Devil, Sue, all.
Good point re Mourinho, that’d be him all over…
Hmm, I wouldn’t mind Xhaka staying, he’s played his best football under Arteta and the fee offered from Inter isn’t really worth considering IMO.
I would 😜
Keeping him doesn’t take us forward unless he suddenly finds 2 yards of pace and quick thinking to go with it.
Xhaka is not a bad footballer but he doesn’t react quick enough to play in the Premier League . he looked fine in the international side played at a slightly slower pace.
Agreed, if we’re to speed up our attacking play, we need the ball through midfield a lot quicker than Xhaka moves it. Great passing range but takes too long to decide where he’s going to pass it.
And the last 18 months has seen the multiple silly sending-offs by Luiz and Xhaka, not all deserved, but time to move on.
I believe one of the reasons why Xhaka is leaving must be due to him being told, by Arteta, he no longer figures in his plans. Staying is not an option.
Seems as though Ben White is happening, Lokonga as well.
Things are looking good!!!!
Morning all.
Seems that way Scott.
According to Chris Wheatley the delay in announcements (Lokonga/Taylor-Hart contract) is due to the temporary closure of London Colney (covid!)
It’s matchday! Let’s hope it’s better than the Hibs game…
City’s academy is closed too because of Covid.
Many a slip twix cup and lip folks . Until it’s confirmed don’t get exited.
We have bid apparently £50 million for him and there are are only a few clubs that can either match or be willing to beat that bid .
Looking at their squads do United , Liverpool , City or Chelsea need a centre back at that price.?
Liverpool depends on the fitness of Van Dyke albeit they have just signed under 21 French Kanoute. , Man U are looking at the same fee for Varane if that falls through they could be late runners.
City are well set and then there is Chelsea with Zouma , Silva , Christiensen Rudigher . On the surface they look set up but Thiago Silve is no spring chicken and a23 year old may be in their long term plans.
As I said I heard a rumour that they are in talks with Brighton and I would not be shocked if White ends up there.
Potter, be wrong ffs 🙂
Nah I know what you’re saying, but rumour (yes, that dreaded word) is he wants to play for us.
Let’s hope it’s correct.
Surely Sky Sports wouldn’t get it wrong. Lol
Arsenal XI vs. Rangers: Okonkwo; Cedric, Holding, Mari, Tavares; Elneny, Partey, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang; Balogun.
Subs: Hein, Chambers, Bellerin, Tierney, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Nelson, Willian, Nketiah, Lacazette.
Morning Rico and all
Giroud has signed for AC Milan
Arsenal have signed White, according to BBC News at One. £50m reportedly.
Hi Geoff.
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/07/17/debut-day-white-tierney/