Afternoon all.
As the saying goes, better late than never and this post comes with good news. Emile Smith-Rowe has signed a new long term deal with Arsenal. Still listed as an Academy player he might be but having turned 18 Years old whilst on tour, I reckon he’ll be involved a lot with the first team this coming season. He, and all the younger players who played in Singapore did themselves and the club proud.
After signing on the dotted line, he was clearly thrilled:
on how it feels to sign his new deal…
To be honest it feels great for me. It’s something I’ve always dreamt of since I was young, so to sign a new contract with Arsenal… I’m just so happy and it feels surreal at the moment.
on the main reasons for him extending…
Knowing how Arsenal play and knowing the background of the club is something I really look up to. The new head coach really inspires me so hopefully I can get chances in the first team to prove how good I am.
on playing alongside players he grow up watching…
It’s so crazy! Training with the players that Arsenal have is a dream for me, something that I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid. To get the opportunity to train and play with them on tour was just an unbelievable feeling for me.
on adjusting to being around the first-team group…
I just feel so much more comfortable. The players are so welcoming. No one’s tried to leave me out of the group or anything, so when I’m at Arsenal, it feels like a family. Everyone’s just so together and I think that’s helped me so much on and off the pitch.
on how things have changed for him since pre-season tour…
My phone’s been going off so much since that happened! Since I got back, I’ve had so many good messages from fans and the support has just been crazy. I’m just so happy at the moment. It was my birthday recently so for me it’s just been a crazy week in general.
on how the players reacted to his Atletico Madrid goal…
Everyone was just so happy. Everyone was showing my surname, they kept shouting it at me. It was a great feeling for me and I’m still so happy – I can’t stop smiling!
on what his family said to him…
When I got back to the hotel, I got my phone and the messages they were sending me said they were so proud of me. It gave me that belief that it’s only just started and now I need to stay focused and keep my head down. I just need to listen to them as much as I can.
on aims for this season…
For this season I’m hoping to play for the under-23s but my main target is to get minutes in the first team, progress, play well and impress the boss so I can maybe get chances in the Premier League one day.
Under 23’s? I think he’s under selling himself, but it shows how firmly his feet are on the ground. His goal against Atletico Madrid was superb, one any top player would be proud to have scored and he chipped in with an assist against PSG having not long come onto the pitch. Reiss Nelson is the next one who I’m sure we’d all like to see commit to the club and perhaps now he can see Unai Emery is more than keen to bring the younger players through, and that the squad in general is looking much better with training more interesting, it won’t be long before he puts pen to paper.
As Smith-Rowe said, Arsenal really are to look like one big family again. A happy one too.
Transfer gossip.
Max Myer, once a transfer target for Arsenal apparently is holding talks over a move to Crystal Palace. I don’t get why top clubs aren’t after him because he’s supposed to be a really good player, he’s available for free yet there appears to be little interest in him.
Steven N’Zonzi has again been linked with Arsenal. Lucas Perez appears to be on his way out, as does David Ospina according to reports and the rumbles go on about Ousmane Dembele coming to Arsenal with Aaron Ramsey heading the other way.
Z’Nonzi and Dembele in the door before the transfer window closes and suddenly we look like we could challenge for the Premier League title….
Ok, back to reality……
Who needs Dembele when you’ve got Smith Rowe..
We do. 😂
Afternoon Rico and the House
Great post Rico the news has made my day.
Just like Reiss Eddy Joe and Maitland Niles I have followed and supported Emile from
the moment he signed his Scholar Contract.
The one thing you missed out is he has stated he will turn down any offer of a loan deal,
He only wants to play as much as he can for us..
Afternoon Rick, thanks. I’m pleased he’s turned down a loan, they seldom do any good plus I think he’ll be in the squad often.
Evening all and thank you Rico.
Can see why talented youngsters want to sign for Arsenal as they get more chance to reach first team than at most othet clubs…………………even youngsters know Kroenke is a tight fcuker who wont spend his own moeny ! 😆
http://sport.bt.com/football/arsenal-make-most-use-of-homegrown-talent-study-shows-S11364286412196
PS…………………………….I may not be a gynecologist,but I knew Jack and Danny would win Love Island ! 😎
£186 million isn’t exactly tight Lc and that’s just what was mentioned earlier…
Smith Rowe good news with Maitland Niles already tied down we need to extend the net and tie in a few more of the kids. On the surface it looks like Emery has increased the average age but with the above players and Bellerin , Martinez , Iwobi ,Holding , chambers , Mavropolous , Guendozi , Xhaka , Lacazette , Welbeck. leno . We have a sizeable squad with an average age of 23 years old.
Good coaching and a few in and out and it seems that we are well set for the future.
It’s certainly looking good, on paper that’s for sure. I love it when players come through the ranks, especially when/if they can go on to really make a difference to our Arsenal.
Sometthing for HH technical tactitians to mull over !……….
🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZYZeHUc3Mo
Smoke and Mirrors Rico ………………………………if I could manage to bring up some of my comments over the last couple of seasons you would probably find that Arsenal made money because of the sales of players !……………………..I`m sure we made £30M last summer !…………………………………..this window is different in that we haven`t made any money yet !…………………….but what we have spent is dwarfed by Bindippers !
Well I’m going to remain positive Lc, as far as I can see things are looking up big time. I’ll leave you to swim in your half empty ocean. 😉
Dont really need to dig up anymore going further back as it probably is even more money made, but this is just an example………..I rest my case………………….the rose tints need to come off, dont get caught in the hype !
🙂
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/5475551/arsenal-made-profit-transfers-season-man-city-spending/
Give Dick his due, he has managed to do what Arsene rarely did and put us in Transfer dealing debit, although the quality of the debit is yet to be known !…………………..we will see against a rumoured second string CFG !
😆
https://www.thisisanfield.com/clubinfo/transfers/liverpool-fc-transfers-season-201718/
Your half full ocean is probably nicer…………………..if it comes off ! …………………………………..I`m afraid after more than a decade under Wenger`s delusion it will take much more than a new manager and £70M spent to get me to think all has been swept under the carpet or Kroenke`s rug ! 🙂
Not sure what Kev is trying to say ?…………………………………….from that link they made £15M last summer and that`s with the abnormal price they got for Coutinho…..£142M !…………………………………..this window however is mega in spending……………more than CFG, Chavs and Manshafter and only West Ham have spent more than us after Bindippers, but CFG`s spending since Pep took over(and before) is still beyond anyone else and so much so that it showed with a record points haul in the EPL !………………….everyone one else is going to be playing catch up for years, so need to take advantage of the weakened CFG side at the start of season,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,mind you Liverpool have all their players back early, so with their big spending and CFG still on holiday it might be a chance for them !…………………………………….actually Rico you`re too kind, after years of disappoinment, I`d say I was swimming in a 3 quarter empty ocean ! 🙂
More rumours that Gazidis is going……………………….no idea where I swim in that ocean !
🙂
What you’re forgetting though Lc, amongst al your ….. & ,,,, is the improvement factor both for the players Emery inherited and those he’s signed. Together with those from the academy, I’d say we’re looking really quite balanced.
Only once the season is over, or at Christmas even will we be able to see how things have gone but until then, I’m not going to write of Leno just because he only cost £20m, or Guendouzi because of his £8m or even Torreira at £20 million before the season even kicks off.
Cocker, what I’m saying mate, is that Fenway Sports (Liverpool) haven’t spent a load of dough, they just reinvested what they earned in sales.
Tottenham do the same and even Chelsea have reigned it in, only Man City, with their deep pockets, spend like there’s no tomorrow and of course the financial giant that is Man Utd.
And don’t laugh, we still operate a kind of FFP in the Premier League.
Good morning Rico and all.
News this morning that Ivan Gazidis has informed the board of an off for him to join AC Milan. “Arsenal are now giving serious consideration to the potential loss of Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis to AC Milan but remain confident they would have the time and personnel to make a seamless transition”. Source, Daily Telegraph.
………….an offer for…..
Morning all.
Dont get me wrong Rico, I`m excited too, but I am at the start of every season, just that from experience not to get to carried away .
I cant remember when we last had a bad pre-season, so it means nothing to me as the real stuff starts with Man C.
Yes there is a different buzz to the club and even the players are saying Dick is more tactical than Wenger, but it has to translate in the EPL where most the other clubs managers are more technical than Wenger was !
Understand all that Kev, but as I say Bindippers made a profit last season due to Coutinho sale, this season they are spending big and it`s nothing to do with Coutinho and yes FFP is still in place !………………..the EPL one and the European one, maybe that`s why Man C have only spent little as they spent so much last season and are probably trying to find another loop hole after being investigated by UEFA.
Morning al.
Gazidis on the move is interesting in that we all thought he was instrumental in Wenger’s removal and, perhaps he was, but if so why would he leave so soon as hed ‘cleared’ the old chap’s desk? The club, it would seem to me, would be his to run as he chooses, at this point. So, why leave now? More money? Higher profile and status at Milan? More freedom? A falling out with Josh and or the follicle challenged owner? Who knows? Finally will it upset the new structure of coaches and procurers? Does he feel sidelined as a result of all the changes……….perhaps Wenger wasn’t such a bad chap to work for after all!
I just can’t keep up with all these impactful, structural changes that are occurring at my football club!
We need only to alter the composition of the Board, find some intelligent, knowledgeable hard working and wealthy new members and we may be set up for the rebirth of the successful Arsenal! Oh, three other necessary qualities, integrity and honesty plus ambition. Then we may be well reset for glory! Gazidis going might be the beginning of the renewal and replacement of the old guard. The replacements seem to be far more proactive and clued up. No wonder we’ve slipped so far behind our rivals we just haven’t had the personnel to drive us forward until now!
Got to be a bit excited about all the changes though, can only bring progress, imo.
A bit cloudy and cool here.
Wavy, Gazidis was a Kroenke appointment, Wenger was a long standing fixture. The last couple of seasons saw a rapid decline in Wenger’s managerial abilities and Gazidis, in concert with the boy Josh, set about preparing for his eventual departure. Between them they have put in place a much more proactive managerial team, one that is not reliant on an all powerful central figure. It is worth noting that Emery is referred to as “Head Coach”.
As a new technical management system is in place, I suspect that young Josh can now see his way clear to become Chief Executive, no doubt Ivan can see the writing on the wall.
A lovely English summer’s day here, blue skies puffy white clouds and warm sunshine. 25c.
Lazio, Fiorentina, Wolves, Newcastle, Leicester, all of them apparently interested in Lucas Perez, and at a reported fee of £7m then why not?
But if Perez leaves then does that mean that Welbeck stays, despite going into his last year?
These are the major spenders in the Premier as it stands;
Liverpool……. £171.3m
West Ham …..£83.5m
Arsenal…….,,,£71.4m
Man Utd……..£64.2m
Man City…….£62.6m
Fulham………£59.5m
Everton……,,,£58m
Leicester……£57.9m
Chelsea…….£50.4m
Tottenham….£0.
Kev …………….Daniel Levy is waiting for last minute of
deadline day where he will get a BOGOF !
🙂
How much we getting for Chuba and Jeff ?…………………if Perez goes as well we will be getting closer to £60M………………………..anymore “deaders”……………….Campbell…..Ospina…….????
You`re no Wenger, Dick !………………………..you`ll have Kroenke pulling his hair out with this overspend !
🙂
Le Coq, I doubt that we will get much more than £25 million for the three of them. Perez only £8 million and about the same for Chuba and Jeff. £60 million is wildly optimistic. 😉
I did read Cocker that we got £2.7m for Reine Adelaide, not sure about Akpom, I’ve seen his fee quoted as £2m, but also read that it’ll be a lot less.
Ospina’s loan fee is quoted as £1.5m but I don’t know about Campbell.
Tottenham are £2m in profit.
Leicester obviously have the Mahrez money to spend.
Man City have sold players for £29.4m and Man Utd £20.7m, so as you say Cocker, PPI.
Tonights team
Cech, Bellerin, Mustaafi, Sokratis, Kolo, Elneny, Ramsey, Guendouzio, Mikky, Auba, Oziil.
To be honest I dont care who has spent what
I think its how this lot turn it on
Guendouzi gets another start, good experience for a young player.
a late change to the starting eleven, Smith-Rowe replaces Ramsey. Who is busy signing his new contract……..with Chelsea?
1 – 0 to Chelsea. Five minutes.
Good post Rico. How often have I heard Arsenal are after this winger or that forward or that midfielder. Yeah let’s not worry about defence ala Wenger. Here we are against Chelsea 1-0 down. Guess what defence at fault. Couldn’t make it up. Emeryou needs to fix that defence or we are going nowhere. I Had high hopes when Dick joined but now the defedefence so going to let us down again again again. Maybe the idea is we score 6 and they score 5. I know it is only pretty season but you can be sure Chelsea are taking it very seriously. Wake me up when it is over. Rant over
Rico. Did a post. Is it in moderation or what
………………Cech saves a penalty. Still 1 – 0 to Chelsea. 15 mins.
Come on folks. Nothing has changed. Was reading the reports “Arsenal losing concentration” or “Arsenal taking time to get into the game”. Kim Jong Weng might as well be in dugout. This will end up 4-0 to the Chavs – hope I am wrong. Need to buy a defence. Stan where are you. 6th this season I believe.
……………..A couple of chances for the Gunners, Half-time Still 1 – 0 to Chelsea.
Four or five games into pre-season, Patrick, and you’ve given up on the team and manager already. I despair of some supporters, I really do.
Cicero. I take your point but I have been a supporter since 1966 and have seen the good and the bad. Yes I know it is only pre-season but our defence is all at Sea as soon as they come up against quality. I have not given up on the team, would never do that I’m a Gooner through and through. I know Emery has to work with what he has got. I just think the defence needs a huge upgrade just like it has since 2005. Stan needs to put his very short arm into his long pocket and release the funds for a defence or we won’t make top 4. I know you are a commited fan just like I am and I apologise if I have come across as defeatist but the last 12 years of Wenger does that to a person. Kudos to Emery and look forward to the new season
………………90 Mins. Lacazette gets the equaliser
Penalty shoot out.
Arsenal win 5 – 6 on penalties.
Some good pens from both sides. Lacazette looking more assured and Nelson and M.Niles pens were brilliant.
………….and Cech saved one again! He must have spent the summer practicing. Wenger wouldn’t have allowed it. 😉
Good night Potter and all. 😴
After a shaky start I thought we began to play around the 30 minute mark, lucky to still be in it at half-time, but we didn’t fold and were the better side second half. Fully deserved a draw for our 90 minutes and thoroughly enjoyed winning by penalties, I knew Loftus-Cheek would miss, it’s that England thing.
Lacazette was more effective than Aubameyang as the lone striker, he gets into the box and holds onto the ball bringing others into the game. Guendouzi had another impressive run out but Bellerin worries me. In fact both full back positions worry me.
Night Rico, sleep well, Night All.
A fair summary Mr Allezkev.
Why aren’t you in bed asleep Mr Adam?
You don’t want to become an insomniac like me…. 😉
Light off now…
Exactly what i have been saying about our two full backs Kev.
I think they are confused , for a few years they have been wingers but not allowed to cross. Now crossing is part of the game as is defending and they are not used to it.
Evening all.
Only seen brief highlights and that was mainly Hudson-Odoi giving Bellerin kittens !……………..there might be a new buzz around the place, but from what I`ve seen so far I`m going to agree with Patrick O`Neill about the defence………………it still looks shocking !………………………………….Guendouzi has been outstanding in nearly every game, is he a Dick or Sven signing ?
Will watch the whole game when it has been recorded in a few days time, I want to see if we are pressing like Dick said we would !
Game on Saturday Vs Lazio is live on Arsenal.com @19:00……………
I go off for two days and you all abandon HH, tsk tsk.. 😜
Morning guys..
Morning Rico. I’m still here. 🙂
Morning Adam. 🤣
Me too, just… lol
Looks like Ivan might be leaving.
Seems that way Adam, odd but perhaps it’s all part of the clear out. Josh Kroenke to take his place I wonder..
Or a broader management base perhaps. But, I imagine, there will still need to be a chain of command etc. After decades of Wenger’s rather static approach it seems as though the club finds itself diving in the deep end without a life jacket. Could be a good thing.
I’d have thought so too, perhaps Josh, perhaps Raul will have a say. A bit like Ramsey really, can’t say I’m overly fussed, not yet anyway… 😉
I’d like Ramsey to stay myself. But, if he doesn’t and we reinvest then that could be ok.
The media would love him to leave though, I bet their headlines are prepared already.
I read one this morning about Totts becoming the new arsenal as they haven’t signed anyone yet. They’re a ghastly lot..
New post up now..