Nacho Monreal. A kind of unsung hero really as so often he goes about his business quietly and confidently. Occasionally he’ll make a mistake, a big one too when some useless man dressed in black performs a hop, skip and a jump whilst blowing his whistle and pointing to the penalty spot quicker than the subsequent spot kick fires past an Arsenal goalkeeper. Up the other end of the pitch though he’s scored a few important goals, I can’t recall who they were against but they were key to us winning a match, or getting something from the game anyway.
Because of his age, 33 years old next February and with Sead Kolasinac, who has removed his Wenger chains from around his muscular frame, breathing down his neck for the left back position, as soon as the rumours about him being sold this summer came out, I suspect the Arsenal fans were donning their thinking caps. Sell or keep?
Whilst it might be tempting to cash on a player who only has one year left on his contract, think experience, Emery and Stephan Lichtsteiner. Why would the guy sell Monreal when over on the right hand side, he’s brought in a defender who is even older than Nacho? Imo, he’s going nowhere and for what it’s worth, rightly so. Again, the latter is my opinion.
Experience, and Monreal has plenty of that, is key to Arsenal doing well this season. Of course it’s great to see younger homegrown players coming through but they need people around them who know what they’re doing. Emery and his team can do many things but what they can’t do is talk about what’s it’s like on the pitch, the highs and lows, the things which really make a footballer feel the game. I know we’ve mentioned it before but what Tony Adams did for the career of Ashley Cole was far more than Arsene Wenger and his lot did.
Behind Monreal and Kolasinac, or the other way round might be the case this season, is young Jordie Osei-Tutu, who according to Arsenal.com, is comfortable playing anywhere across the back line. He’s nineteen though and despite appearing as he’s built like a brick outhouse, is he ready to play deputy in the right back role? In the domestic cups perhaps but in Europe or the Premier League? Maybe and this next week or so will go a long way towards making a more informed opinion. I’ve no idea how strong a side our up coming opposition which be churning out but as far as Arsenal go, I’d imagine everyone on tour will get playing time and then once they all get back to north London on August the 4th or 5th, the final decisions will be made by Unai Emery.
The final few days before the transfer window closes could yet be quite busy, but for once, not with us all sat hoping Arsene Wenger might eventually sign someone….
A very good Post, Rico, and like you I hope Nacho will stay!
I had a comment ‘cut off’ by the New Post cut off, (my timing was off) so I hope it is OK with you for me to copy/pasting it, as I am really interested to learn what blogistas are thinking about the age/quality of or new purchases.
Rico,
This is the copy/paste I was referring too, so if it offends, please send it into limbo.
— Good afternoon, All,
There is a ‘feel good’ atmosphere amongst the Gooner fans because of the new regime at Arsenal, and made more so by the early signings this summer, rather than the last minute/last day rush followed by “we tried for ‘X’ but ….”
There does not seem to be much made of the fact that the newcomers are either quite old (in football terms) or are very young/inexperienced.
I agree with the above comments about the goalkeepers — Leno is the 4th choice Germany keeper, so why did we go for him? Is it the old ‘we cannot afford the really top players’ which smacks of the old regime.
Personally I think Cech and Ospina should go, and Macey or Martinez should fight to be the N0.2 to a new top keeper like Oblak. [Previous Post]
Is Lichtsteiner the No.2 to Bellerin – or is Bellerin going to be sold to Barca? Is a 34 y.o. full back the right way to go.
As the season gets under way I hope these transfer choices do not end up with the fans saying ‘why did we buy him …. or him’.
Hopefully I am being too downbeat — but amongst the current euphoria, it does not hurt to have at least one voice whispering his misgivings. 🤠
Thanks RA.
I totally get why Emery has signed who he has. The age thing doesn’t bother me and imo, the experience is key because of the mess Wenger left us in. This crop of players must have had the self belief sapped out of them and Wenger left them to hang for so long.
Now it’s about stability, stability with improvement and get this crop of players believing in themselves and each other.
It’s early days Rico, but to me Emery has arrived and immediately set about correcting the deficiencies our squad has had for too many seasons under Wenger whilst he stubbornly refused to address them.
Two years, three years even, it isn’t going to take one transfer window to rectify years of poor decision making on recruitment.
Wenger allowed things to drift whilst City, Man Utd and Chelsea monopolised the EPL and the net result of his steadfast refusal to sign the correct players and strengthen weaknesses and left us in the wake of Tottenham and Liverpool as well.
Don’t forget we were worried about Burnley, that’s right bloody Burnley, catching us in the League. Everton also, under Silva, could be a more dangerous adversary this season.
So it’s going to be tough, but I’m optimistic…
I suspect you are correct, Rico — Emery is no fool, and he seems to be making the decisions necessary to cut the past and leave it behind — another is a ‘feeling’ that things are changing now – and for the better.
Hi AK,
There are so many big spending teams out there that it would not be a surprise for an assault on the top prizes to take two or thee years, as you say.
What worries me is the neanderthal tendencies that might start to torment Emery if he has a difficult start.
Man City and Chelsea at the start of the season will make things interesting — personally, I cannot wait!! 😃
RA, I think you’ve fallen for Wenger’s philosophy that players over thirty are over the hill. Top clubs around Europe have proved Wenger wrong time after time by buying older players with great experience and by doing so have been quite successful trophy-wise.
Maybe, financially, he chose to let very good players go because he was not prepared to give contract extensions beyond one year. Clichy, Sagna, Toure to name just a few went on to have extended careers, and won things with their new clubs.
The age of quality players is far less important than their experience.
Agree entirely Kev. He took over a mess as far as on the pitch go. Our midfield already looks 100% better imo.
Agree Ra, I’m really looking forward to the opening two games especially.
Spot on Cicero, Freddie, Pires and right back to Merse had another season or two in them, there’s more too..
Alex Iwobi is close to signing a new long-term Arsenal deal, according to the Daily Mirror.
It is reported that Iwobi has agreed terms on an improved contract until 2022.
🤨
Rico, if the Iwobi thing is true then Ramsey’s future at Arsenal must be in doubt. If he doesn’t sign in the next week or so he must be sold. No more run down contracts and leaving for nothing.
Nowadays the amount of fitness stats available far outweigh worrying about age ..Would you take an experienced player that can run 50 metres in say 6 seconds or a young one that covers the distance 2/10ths quicker.
We have cried out for experience / leadership for years . Don’t complain if that’s the fault that’s being dealt with.
Rico, we’ve got to get used to the more proactive people dealing these days with contracts, Iwobi signing a new deal doesn’t mean that he’s the great hope for the future, it just means that Arsenal’s investment in him is protected, so that we don’t get another Walcott, Alexis, Ozil, Ramsey scenario again.
Those days are safely in retirement now.
Cicero, if Ramsey is off I’d rather we replaced him with someone far better than Iwobi…
Spot on Potter.
You’re probably right Kev, that’s something I’m struggling to get used to.. 😝
Red Henry, yeah, that’s true, but Leicester blew that excuse out of the water.
Arsenal have some great players, that just need direction and organisation.
There seems to be a lot of fuss concerning Ozil retiring from international football…
Ozil, Xhaka, whoever it is and there’s usually one who gets picked on, will always be an easy target.
Evening all and thanks Rico.
I`d take quality over age and lets remeber these “kids” have been playing football for years in the academy and are drilled day in day oiut about tactics, formations and discipline etc`……………….if they are skilfull enough they will swim not sink in the “deepend” of EPL.
I think the club is definately moving in the right direction in the management department from Gazidis downwards off the field, but I have said previously, I am underwhemed with the signings, I think most on here were of the opinion that we already had a decent squad that just were not being coached right, but to reach the levels of the big gun s above us we not only needed a new direction from the new management, but statement signings aswell !…………………………so I`m in the Redders(RA) camp in hoping I dont have to say……..told you so !
###BREAKING NEWS###
Ozil has quit international football !………………………….yippeee !
Le Coq, who can blame him for quitting International football, he’s been blamed for Germany’s early exit from the World Cup. Despite having a number of good or even very good players (just like Arsenal) they were (just like Arsenal) badly coached.
Did my Nachos comment get edited ?
Badly coached, Cicero !……………………………wasn`t Loev/Low one of the coaches some on here wanted ?
🙂
Yes Lc.
Wasn`t that bad was it ?
😆
Le Coq, some might have wanted him. Not guilty me lud. 😉
Some people need to get a life, it’s easy to knock Ozil, wasn’t he the only German to bust a gut to track back and try to stop the Mexican from putting the ball in the back of the net in the opening game………just a shame he couldn’t be bothered to put in a challenge at the end of it lol !
I’m with RA, not sure why we’re going with 4th tier German goal keepers and various journeymen !!!
Allez Les Bleus, gotta admire Giroud, a world cup winner despite not getting a shot on target all World Cup hahaha.
New post up.