Morning all.
Arsenal are playing well, individually and collectively. Mikel Arteta, his coaching staff and his players, many of whom have been under heavy scrutiny over the last 18 months, are now performing. Those who have been afforded an opinion on all things Arsenal in public, are now having to write nice things. There’ll always be the ‘haven’t won the Premier League for 50 years’ line, or the ‘can’t beat a top three team’ line but that’s because a) it’s true and b) it’s all they have to cling on to for now.
But with Arsenal doing quite well, other clubs are no doubt watching. Yesterday, Real Madrid were linked to Kieran Tierney, with a £50 million transfer fee being prepared. Poppycock I’m sure, but this summer, I think Arsenal will be on the receiving end of few transfer offers. We know Klopp has been cosying up to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli after Arsenal played Liverpool and I’d imagine other clubs will have been impressed by them too. Not only those two though as since the turn of the year, majority of the starting eleven have been performing very well.
Brazil manager, Tite, has come out with an apology after it was suggested he’s in line to replace the Mikel Arteta:
The information is a lie. And the people that I represent, that feel identified with me, rest assured that Tite has personal moral conduct and values his professional conduct. I know the responsibility that bears at Brazil’s national team. Sorry Arsenal, Sorry, Arteta, this is not true, it didn’t come from us. There’s absolutely nothing.
Arsenal have an academy which is producing talent too and I’m sure some of them will be being looked at already by other clubs. Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Kido Taylor-Hart, Daniel Ballard, Miguel Azeez, Mika Biereth, Charlie Patino, Karl Hein, Omar Rekik, Zak Swanson – to name just a handful. All 18-21 year olds who’re no doubt hoping to make it at Arsenal, but the reality is, not all will. Being brutal, very few will although I hope I’m wrong because there’s nothing better in my opinion, than seeing an Arsenal boy become an Arsenal man.
Senior players out on loan:
Hector Bellerin – Real Betis
Lucas Torreira – Fiorentina
Runar Alex Runarsson – Leuven
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Roma
Reiss Nelson – Feyenoord
Konstantinos Mavropanos – Stuttgart
Matteo Guendouzi – Marseille
William Saliba – Marseille
Auston Trusty – Colorado Rapids
Under 23 players out on loan.
Jordan McEneff – Shelbourne.
Nikolaj Moller – Den Bosch
Jordi Osei-Tutu – Rotherham United
Matt Smith – Doncaster Rovers
Brooke Norton-Cuffy – Lincoln City
Reiss Nelson – Feyenoord
Daniel Ballard – Millwall
Tim Akinola – Dundee United
Ryan Alebiosu – Crewe Alexandra
Harry Clarke – Hibernian
Karl Hein – Reading
Tyreece John-Jules – Blackpool
Folarin Balogun – Middlesbrough
I know you’ve seen the above two lists of players out on loan before but how many of the senior group of players do you think we’ll see playing during 2022/23 pre season training? One or two, maybe three at a push?
What about the Under 23’s? I’ve not seen any of them in action whilst on loan but the only two I’ve read good things about is Norton-Cuffy and Ballard. Forgive me if I’ve left anyone out.
If my numbers are somewhere near the reality, what happens to the rest? The answer is simple I guess, another loan or be sold. If sold, it doubt it’ll be for much though. If loaned out again, then where they go is important because they need to be playing regularly in order to be noticed. Going out on loan to sit on a bench for ten months does no one any good.
Daniel Ballard is thriving in the Championship with Millwall according to reports but where could he fit in at Arsenal? Ben White, Gabriel, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari and possibly William Saliba could be ahead of him in the pecking order. Plus, Trusty should be joining up with the squad in the summer. Seven centre-backs in the squad is happening is it? In my opinion, one, two or even three of them will leave. Four if Trusty goes out on loan as Mikel Arteta suggested.
Zak Swanson and Brooke Norton-Cuffy are up against each other for the right to oust Cedric Soares. Swanson has been in the squad a number of times for recent league fixtures but he’s yet to make an appearance. Age wise, Swanson has a three and a half year advantage but whilst he’s been sitting on the bench or playing for the under 23’s, Norton-Cuffy has been impressive for Lincoln City. Next season, I think he’ll go up a level, if not two, to the Championship or Premier League. Flo Balogun will be back at Arsenal I think, playing in the domestic cups at least.
As said, for the rest it’s either another loan or be sold. With or with European football, Arsenal need a stronger and deeper squad which can compete in all three domestic competitions at least but if the 19-21 year olds aren’t making a name for themselves in the lower leagues, it’d be wrong to think they’re ready for Arsenal’s first team surely? As for the senior players out on loan, barring one or two, there’s a reason they’re not at Arsenal right now and I can’t see them getting another chance.
See you in the comments.
Omari Hutchinson and Marcelo Flores as well and I am sure there’s a couple that we haven’t heard about.
The future for these youngsters depends heavily on the performance of the next 10 first team games . Qualifying for Europe opens up another competition and with it games and they will need them to progress.
My question is that from a financial position Champions League is important but from a quality of opponent angle Europa League gives us more chance to experiment.
Are we or will we be ready for the Champions league next season.
I’m sure there are others too.
Champions League finish and third in the group would be perfect. Lol
Morning Rico and All
There is also 27 year old Matt Turner the American Goal keeper.
Pablo Mari is on loan at Udinese and I think that Arsenal will look to sell him in the summer.
Tyreece John Jules was at Blackpool but he’s now at Sheffield Wednesday, where he’s injured.
Great post Rico
Morning Geoff, I didn’t include him as he’s not officially an Arsenal player until the summer I think.
Thanks Kev. Much was expected of John-Jules but he’s kind of drifted really. Being injured won’t help him either.
Morning Rico, yeah TJJ has so much talent but he also has a suspect fitness record, apparently he’s due back to fitness in late April, so another wasted season as he hardly played for Blackpool.
We all expected Miguel Azeez to really push on at Portsmouth, coached by the guys who helped develop Smith Rowe, but it didn’t work out that way. Azeez was very much a bit-part player in a team looking for promotion. Was it too much too soon for Miguel or did he just not click with what the Cowley brothers wanted from him?
Maybe he was homesick? It’s not an exact science.
I’m always reminded of the loan Hector Bellerin had at Watford where he fell out of favour and hardly played. He returned to Arsenal and enjoyed a huge stroke of luck when Debuchy got injured and from then he established himself as 1st choice right back and a very good right back he was prior to his ACL.
So loans are a great tool but in the end you need a bit of luck.
Morning Kev. Agree re the luck, I often wonder if ESR would be playing now had injuries not opened the door for him. Trouble is, how long do we keep these youngsters who aren’t able to get their lucky break. I’m glad I’m not a football manager. 😆
I do think the seniors out on loan will go barring one or two but for the likes of Ballard, he’s got the taste of playing each week and will no doubt want more than a place on the bench.
Some of the young guys getting on the subs bench Rico are, I imagine, just making up the numbers because our squad is so small. It’s great to see them there and I’d love to see one or two of them get some Premier League minutes over the next few weeks but the games coming up are probably too, well they are too important for that as Arteta will need to keep his seniors ticking over.
If we qualify for the Champions League then I can’t see too many games where Arteta will put out League Cup style squads as those games are just too important. So I’m not sure where the young guys will get a chance outside of the League Cup?
We also need to focus on the Premier League because if we do make the CL we don’t want it to be for one season only, so our squad needs a bit of strength in depth this summer.
Not so much if we make only the Europa Cup.
Yeah, I agree Rico, I was gonna say the same regarding Smith Rowe and a lucky break, you are so perceptive. 😉
Ballard looks really good Rico, he’s impressed at every loan club he’s been at and I agree with you (of course I do 😄) he’s not going to want to sit on the bench behind 4 other centre backs if Mari or Saliba return – or both. It’s a shame because I really rate him but he’s just not had the break at Arsenal when he needed it. I think we could regret losing him in the future if he leaves, but it’s just the way the cookie crumbles. Veggie cookies of course. 😀
Agree again Kev. Elneny isn’t even getting game time so to use the younger players would be too risky. Unless we go 4-0 up with five minutes to go which is very unlikely.
I just hope all our players return after tonight’s fixtures in one piece. What’s left, 10 cup finals?
It’s my crystal ball Kev… 😆
In stead of years on loan, maybe it should be on age for example 20 yrs old’s should be the cut off point for any player on loan if he is not good enough for the senior team by then just sell him as there are more to come through. ( except keeper, maybe 24 yrs old as they mature later )
Rico I thought we signed matt Turner him but maybe it’s just a gentleman’s agreement to sign him next time.
I think it’s subject to a medical and regulations Geoff, that’s all.
Yes Rico, 10 cup finals.
Apl 4….Palace (a)
Apl 9….Brighton (h)
Apl 16…Soton (a)
Apl 20…Chelsea (a)
Apl 23…ManUre (h)
May 1…West Ham (a)
May 7…Leeds (h)
May15…Newcastle (a)
May 22..Everton (h)
TBC……Middlesex (a)
So many tough matches in there Kev..
Ballard 22 years old local boy born in Stevenage been with us since he was 8 years old and a full Northern irish international with 9 caps . Contract at Arsenal ends 2024 .
Marcelo Flores born in Canada plays for Mexico 18 years old , very tricky player very much in the Carlos Vela mould contracted until 2023 .
Omari Hutchinson . 18 years old contract until 2023 . Looks the business to replace Pepe if he goes .
Personally I can’t wait to see him get some time in the first team because he looks head and shoulders above everything else in youth football.
Hale end is producing and not all will make the first team but we have as a business got to become harder headed when we let them go.
I’ve not ever seen Hutchinson play, one to get excited about then..
Good evening Rico and all
Ben White is the only player to keep his place in the English national team. Otherwise its 10 changes.
England XI: Pope, White, Mings, Maguire, Mitchell, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Bellingham, Sterling, Grealish, Watkins.
I will place a small bet that MAguire will have a brain fart, commit a costly mistake and guess what??? Ben White will be blamed
Evening Devil. That’s so annoying, I was hoping White would miss this one.
I dont think he will give him more than 45 minutes. Personally I would give Marc Guehi another chance
Aurier has been sent off and England are 2-0 up
Ben White and PEpe have both been subbed
ESR is on with 30 mins left
A €600,000 (£508,000) luxury car built to withstand bullets and explosives has been seized in Sardinia as part of EU sanctions against oligarchs with close links to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
The black Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard belongs to Alisher Usmanov, a former shareholder in Arsenal football club, and was recently seized by police in Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda, the Corriere della Sera reported on Tuesday.
Corriere speculated that the armoured vehicle may have been used to transport Putin during “secret visits” to Sardinia, a popular destination for Russian oligarchs, especially the Porto Cervo area.
Usmanov is an honorary citizen of Arzachena, the administrative hub of Porto Cervo, where the “maximum protection” car was bought in 2018, according to Corriere.
The mayor of Arzachena, Roberto Ragnedda, told the Italian press in early March that Usmanov regularly hosted “heads of state, businessmen and personalities who played fundamental roles in the economy, culture, politics and property at a world level”.
Usmanov is also reported to have donated €500,000 to Sardinia’s regional authorities to help fight Covid-19.
The local newspaper, L’Unione Sarda, reported that other assets owned by him had also been seized on the island, including a property complex worth €17m in the Gulf of Pevero and six corporate cars.
Usmanov, once said to be the UK’s richest person, last week claimed that millions of pounds of his assets were in an irrevocable trust.
Other properties owned by oligarchs confiscated in Sardinia include properties worth €4m linked to Petr Aven, who until recently headed Alfa Bank, Russia’s largest commercial bank, and a property complex in Portisco, in the municipality of Olbia, owned by the billionaire businessman Alexei Mordashov.
Italian police seized a yacht owned by Mordashov, the richest man in Russia before being blacklisted by the EU, and another owned by Gennady Timchenko, a billionaire with close ties to Putin, in the Ligurian port of Imperia
New post up now.
Morning all