Morning all.
Don’t know about a new number 10, but it seems a new number 11 is on his way in after the same player gave it back in May.
Superstition aside, a number is irrelevant. It’s what a player does on the pitch which matters to the team. In flashes, Ødegaard showed brilliance during his short spell on loan, his close ball control is reminiscent of the Ozil Arsenal signed and not the one who left but the Norwegian seems to have a lot more to give than the ex German international.
Here’s his best bits in an Arsenal shirt.
Sky Sports showed some stats this morning, comparing him to James Maddison and in the same amount of games played, apart from goals scored, Ødegaard came out on top. As said yesterday, if the deal is signed and sealed by tomorrow lunchtime, he’ll be available for Sunday’s fixture against Chelsea.
Interestingly, Aaron Ramsdale was left out of the Sheffield Utd squad last night for their match against West Brom. The assumption being that he too is heading to north London. Not for one minute do I expect he’s moving to Arsenal just to sit on the bench. Nor do I think Arsenal would pay £25m give or take a few million for a keeper whose only coming to keep the bench warm. This transfer, if it goes through, is about ousting Bernd Leno from his position in my opinion. Most of us here on HH have little to no faith in Bernd Leno and I suspect Mikel Arteta feels the same.
Reading around the Internet, you’d think the signings Arsenal have made so far this summer aren’t great. Good, but not great. Sometimes Arsenal are dammed if they do, dammed if they don’t.
What’s clearly obvious to me is that Mikel Arteta is building a young squad, a group of guys who’ll be playing together now and in the future. Not one signing signing, including both Ramsdale and Odegaard is over 25 years old. It appears that Mikel Arteta wants ‘out with the old, in with the young’.
In my opinion, this is looking like it’s going to be one of the better transfers windows the club have had for a while. I don’t mean numbers, but quality. Arsenal have also tied down the futures of ESR, Saka, Tierney, Taylor-Hart and Balogun. Basically, the club are building a young, exciting and energetic squad.
So, despite Arsenal fans in certain corners believing that Mikel Arteta is living on borrowed time and the sack isn’t far away, I’m not so sure it is. If his agreement with the club is to build a squad for the future, then it’s fair to say, he’s doing it rather well. If he can move on a few more of the older players who seldom fail to disappoint, replacing them where he can, perhaps Arsenal will show much improvement on the pitch.
I’m glass full on this Thursday morning. Either that or somebody has put something in my tea..
See you in the comments.
Terrible window apart from 2 youngsters.
White isn’t the right C/Back for us.
Ramsdale is so poor and a ridiculous signing.
70 mill or so and our team is worse.
Odegaard just a safe signing. Certainly won’t help with goals.
I agree, I’m quite pleased to be honest. Sure, there are frustrations in terms of system, starting eleven tinkering etc, but looking at a longer perspective I’m quite excited. Our young top guns are a year better, Ödegaard will be better I’m sure and White is a good player and I’m sure him and Gabriel can grow together. Sambi looks exciting too. Stay positive, COYG!
Good morning Rico, sorry if I jumped the gun, we must be tuned in to the same crystal ball gazers. 😉
You don’t sound happy Brad, have you tried The Samaritans?
David, agree re White. Judging him after one fixture is a bit daft imo.
Morning Rico. Just because an artist can afford the best paints, brushes and canvas it doesn’t mean he’ll produce anything of beauty. Many more games like last Friday’s and the writing could be on the wall for Mikel. He has to seriously up his game I think.
Morning Cicero, we must be.
Our attacking unit with Odegaard, Saka and ESR should create a lot of chances as well as score a few goals between them. I know it’s wishful thinking perhaps but a more committed striker than Aubameyang would certainly benefit. In time, Balogun should too, just give him a few games to settle in.
Morning Adam, agree Mikel Arteta needs to up his game, he knows that too I’m sure. It’s such a shame Partey is injured as he looked up for it during pre-season.
I agree Rico. Mikel has a mountain to climb to get Top 6 as a minimum. How I wish he had some experienced help. That image of him last Friday, prowling the touch line with a rather dark, saturnine expression while the 3 stooges watched from behind the barrier is a hard one to shake.
As do I Adam. He’s very much alone out there. Even the best managers had a strong team around them.
Unfortunately I am siding with Adam here .
The one thing that Arteta doesn’t have is time , the pressure has been building and if things don’t turn round quickly the chances are that the noise will become a crescendo .
The board are backing him in purchases but have failed to move players on . In effect much of this is not his fault but if he names his squad and that means that players are ostracised and left to rot then players are less likely to want to join if they feel that they are a few performances away from a footballing wilderness
His head will roll sooner rather than later if he doesn’t get immediate results , we have 9 league matches before November and a possible 3 cups . If things are not looking up by then I can see him going.
Morning all.
The three stooges, ha ha! I think they were ushered away by Mike Dean. He had words itch at MA at one point, the final gesture was a shrug of his shoulders and the coaching staff then took a back seat. I’ve no idea why! I’m just adding 2+2 and making 4 or-is it 3? (Never was any good at maths!)
I agree Rico that our transfer business plus Odergard and Rams(gate) plus the other newbies may be judged as very good investments, but they have to perform now and not develop over a five year period! Mikel will be judged by the results the current players achieve now not what they may do sometime in the future. A top 6 finish is essential this year and proper success would be top 4. As things are presently I cannot see either of those dreams being attained by May 2022! 7th or lower I reckon. A third year of no European football would be a general failure of the club and the players under performing, imo.
Not sure that he’ll be sackable this year, unless we find ourselves pinned in the bottom 3 then things may take a turn for the worse for our greenhorn coach. We’ll just have to see how it goes. For now though the squad is looking promising. Let’s hope the results follow an upward movement starting on Sunday!
‘Itch at’ = with
Business isn’t done yet, still players to shift but I imagine ones their gone it will be a different atmosphere at the training ground. Ramsdale is a food goalkeeper just because he was relegated twice doent mean he’s bad. Odegaard is a fine player and look forward to him linking up with Saka and ESR again. Hopefully Auba can start scoring again. But we have ticked a few boxes so far we need another 3 players especially a RB but we’re getting there
Afternoon Gooners, afternoon Rico, yes I agree we’ve done some really positive business this window not least re-signing all our young players.
Btw did someone mention the other day that Mesut Ozil had scored for Fenerbahce and anyone really care anymore?
Yes Cicero, I check in with the Samaritans on a regular basis, absolutely splendid group of people who’ve done a fantastic job keeping me on the straight and narrow.
I can wholeheartedly recommend them. 🤪
I understand the thought process that Arteta doesn’t have time on his side and ultimately, if he’s sacked, so be it. I just wonder what the board are thinking though, are they giving him a timeline?
Agree the new signings need to hit the ground running but surely they too need a few matches to get used to their teammates and the managers tactics, whatever they might be.
Arteta’s body language worries me though, he already looks beaten.
Wavy, I too am far from convinced he’ll be sacked this season. Saying that, if the Emirates faithful become unfaithful, I can’t see what choice the board will have.
Let’s hope he turns things around quickly and the talk about him going is forgotten.
Afternoon Kev.
Ramsdale having his medical according to Sky, not that all Arsenal fans will be pleased. 😂
Morning Rico and all
I wouldn’t call it a great transfer season so far,
but it if we get Odegaard and Ramsdale then it has a very good transfer season.
I just wonder some times, if we would have been better off getting a true striker before we spent so much money on white.
Lets give all our new players at least one month before we start judging them.
We took your recommendation Kev, underground from Liverpool Street to Angel, but the five minute walk to Sadlers Wells took a lot longer, mainly due to a stop off at Weatherspoons Angel for a pint and a grilled chicken fillet burger. Good food and very good prices, £2.60 for a pint of Green King IPA a real bargain.
I can thoroughly recommend both The Angel and Singing in the Rain. Cheers!
Morning Geoff. A bit difficult with Aubameyang and Lacazette at the club.
Rico if we got a striker early I recon one off them would have been sold, Possible Laca but I feel Auba wants to leave no matter what he says about enjoying his time at Arsenal
If only it were that simple Geoff..
Hi all,
Anyone see Abaumang and Lacazette training this week? What sickness do they have, covid?
Not seen any training photos Brad.
Tripper and Bellerin swap rumoured.
Trippier again ? Thouight they had hiked his price when Man Utd started sniffing round.
Apparently now want 40 million.
I guess that means we want £40m for Bellerin. Lol
I’d rather keep Bellerin than sign Trippier. Anyway, we have Tavares who can play right back if needed as he did on Sunday when Chambers was subbed.
Cedric and AMN too.
Hi Rico..
All #AFCU23 fixtures will be free to attend at Meadow Park this season! Everyone 16 + will be expected to scan the NHS QR code to gain entry. ID will also be requested. (Arsenal academy) 👍
So, Auba, Laca, Runarsson and Willian all had covid! Why the big secret?
Well we’ve spent much more than I was expecting, so MA has been backed!
Hi Sue.
Not sure why it was kept quiet re Covid, just hope no one else gets it.
Yep, I guess the excuse are fading fast.
Paços de Ferreira! 🙂
Aren’t these players vaccinated? If not why not? These “professional” sportsmen like to be known as role models for young men and women, but what message are they sending out by not being vaccinated?
Good Morning Rico and all
To answer your question Cicero……being vaccinated does not mean you cannot catch Covid. You can still have it, the difference being that your body, especially the corona area, is able to fight it. If you have been vaccinated the effects of Covid on you would be minimal. But you are still a risk…..because you can infect others. Its similar to Flu….you carry it but it does not kill you. Whatever vaccine you take Covid can still leave its mark on you. So you have to quarantine for 10 days minimum until a covid test proves negative.
So these four players may still have been vaccinated but they were kept in quarantine for the benefit of the whole squad.
Aubameyang is happy to stay at Arsenal. He says he wants to become a legend at the club. Well there’s no need to hang around any longer , he is a legend as the highest paid Arsenal player ever. A record that I believe will never be broken. A quarter of a million pounds every week.
Ozil was on 350K per week Cicero
Apparently 11 tested positive in the PL last week…
JM.. I forgot all about that!! Always a joy seeing a Spud defeat!
Martin Odegaard confirmed. A bit early for Arsenal.com…. 😀
Morning all.
Number 8 for Odegaard.
Very kind of Mikel to answer the question about why the club didn’t release the news about Covid sooner..
A much different Mikel today. Positive, upbeat with a dig at the media etc for their negativity.
New post up now