Morning all.
March 2023, Bournemouth were at The Emirates to face top of the league Arsenal. Ten seconds into the game and Mikel Arteta’s team were a goal down. Early in the second half, the visitors doubled their lead. It looked like being a dreadful day for The Arsenal. But then Thomas Partey pulled one back and it was game on with 30 minutes to play. Eight minutes later, substitute Reiss Nelson crossed for fellow substitute Ben White to make it 2-2. A draw was better than defeat I guess as the seconds ticked down in added time. Then, with virtually the final kick of the match, Nelson popped up with a winner, a stunning half-volley it was too. That was probably one of the best moments during his long stay at Arsenal. A stay which looks set to end as reports suggests he’s moving to West Ham on a permanent deal. He’s still young with many years in the game left and I wish him well. Honestly, I hope being at a new club permanently serves him well. When I think of who has come and gone over the time Nelson has been at the club, I often wondered how he might have fared given the same opportunities. Yes, I think that even now when watching a certain right winger in an Arsenal shirt.
I think the same when wondering why Gabriel Martinelli has suddenly become the player we no longer need. Selling him, a player who works so hard for the team, makes no sense to me when just a year ago, we spent a similar amount of money as we might get for Martinelli, on a player who might have a lot of pace but has little else.
Nor do I understand the idea of moving our top goal scorer of last season on when we’ve just won the league with him. Perhaps even because of him or at least his goals. With the footballing handbrake appearing to be slightly released this season, he would surely benefit? If Viktor Gyokeres departs and I know it’s still a big if, we’ll be back to square one of needing a top notch striker. We’ll be saying goodbye to a player who fought tooth and nail to sign for Arsenal, supposedly for a player who is fighting tooth and nail to join Barcelona. Yes, that makes sense doesn’t it, not!
Reading around the internet and fans opinion, quite a few fans cannot wait to see the back of Martinelli and Gyokeres which I find strange but I guess it’s easier to focus on what marmite players don’t do rather than what they do. The moment which stands out for me from Martinelli last season which brought so much joy to so many Arsenal fans was the headed penalty area clearance against Everton which set Max Dowman racing off down the pitch with the ball. Martinelli stayed with him like one of the three musketeers, no one was stopping our young winger on his journey towards goal and they didn’t. Dowman scored and Martinelli was as happy for him as he would have been for himself had he poked the ball home.
Let’s not forget Martinelli’s Champions League goals either as we raced through the group stage with ease as well as reaching the final. Martinelli didn’t miss his spot kick did he?
Like Nelson, if Martinelli leaves, I hope he thrives in the game. He’s still young enough to get a move to a big club in the future and should he do so, he’ll be a lot richer because Saudi clubs pay well. If rumours become the truth, then Gyokeres will be at Barcelona and if is, I hope Arsenal don’t come up against them or him.
I know that as Premier League Champions we cannot afford to stand still but I just cannot see how selling two players to get one, especially one who has already tried and left the Premier League quite recently, is going to improve this Arsenal team. Pep must have agreed to sell him for a reason….
Catch up in the comments.
Yep, it does, Potter. I saw signs during the WC that he can improve in that area.
Dolly had some hits alright and also a couple that rhyme with that. I wasn’t a great fan of her music but always loved her for her warmth and humour: After her gown split down the front when she won CMA’s entertainer of the year in 1978, Parton quipped: “My Daddy said that’s what I got for putting 50 pounds of mud in a five-pound bag.”
Bless her.
Not my music but strangely when her hits are played you know all the words. R.I.P. Dolly .
Stuart I hope that you are right about Madueke but he has been in the Premier League for 3 years and the first two he was watched by friends of mine that go regularly to the bridge and they could not believe their luck when we took him off their hands.
They said at the time he will run and run go past players and then put the ball in the stands
Sound familiar.?
Dolly will certainly be missed Stuart..
Thanks Stuart, there’s a way of doing things though. We wonder why we are rubbish at selling players but much of that is probably down to way the club make it so obvious they are not wanted.
I think there’s a difference to being lured away from from a club with a big money offer and the player wants to move to simply being dumped.
Yes Rico. As Johnny Cash described her, “a little girl here from up in East Tennessee”, she is now up in Heaven. Bless her, what a life she lived and what a contribution to the world she was.
Nice post, Rico. Kind and honouring.
Life at the top is ruthless. Players have done it to the Arsenal (Liam Brady, Van Persie, Adebayor, Cesc, even Thierry…) all leaving in their prime. The Arsenal has done it to other clubs (SuperMac, Declan, Bruno…) lured to us in their prime. We do it to our own too.
The financial reasons offer a rational and make such decisions strategically sensible. I believe Mikel and the club will have worked hard to help the likes of Reiss and Gabby understand. There is a good heart in the club. Leadership has to make hard calls.
Alvarez did well at City, The big Norwegian was the reason he moved on, that and his connection with his countryman coach at Athletico. He’s an EPL, CL and World Cup winner and would do well at Arsenal.
Noni? Mikel and Tomas T obviously see something in him. It may go against the grain of opinion here, but I like him. He is fast, direct, a skilled dribbler. If his end product improves, I think he’ll win us over.
RIP Dolly Parton. What a woman, what a singer. Country Musics best.. 😢
You sound as cross, angry even as I am Potter..
I reckon we could be looking at unrest in the camp, the happy we are all together comments seem to be very hollow and will players now be looking over their shoulders .
Incidentally it appears that Chelsea have entered the Alvarez chase , I sincerely hope that they get him and Arteta and Berta are left with egg on their faces and no back up left winger.
I get players come and go but as often in life, it’s not what one does but how one does it.
Absolutely agree Cicero. This doesn’t sit well with me either. Just hope other players in the squad understand this better…
A rotten decision by the club, to sell a loyal and effective player while retaining a waste of space like Madueke makes my blood boil.
Arteta and Berta make so much of the Arsenal family guff and loyalty but that seems not to matter so much were money is concerned.
I thought the club was better than that.
That is so sad.
I recall him saying that when he was offered his last contract his reply was ‘where is the pen’.
I think this is an awful way to treat a player who has given so much to the club.
As long as his surname isn’t Stepanovs Kev.. 😂
Wow ! read this
It broke our hearts, said the “AGENT”. Gabby was in love with Arsenal, he came as a child but he is leaving as a man. He always wanted to be where his heart Belong to and that was Arsenal, he use to tell me that one day he will be One of the iconic Arsenal player and one of the the Arsenal legend.
It’s very painful, Gabby isn’t okay since he was informed by Mikel Arteta about his move to Al Hilal, it was always his dream to play at Arsenal and to win everything here, it was just the beginning, he had started enjoying the fruits of his hard work, but it’s sad he is leaving without fulfilling all his dreams, winning EPL was just the beginning.
And finally, we just want to thank Arsenal for the good opportunity you gave Gabby when he was here, you introduce him to those platform that made him to be whom he is today. It’s club decision, we can’t go against it because we have nothing to do. Gabby will leave and he will no longer play for the Gooners again, we will miss you, we love you Arsenal, we love you fans.
Igor Paixão (Winger / Forward)Full Name: Igor Guilherme Barbosa da PaixãoDate of Birth: June 28, 2000Current Team: MarseillePosition: Winger / ForwardKey Details: A graduate of Coritiba’s academy who went on to star for Feyenoord in the Netherlands before moving to Ligue 1.
An Igor playing for Arsenal, I like it…
‘Listen to them, the children of the night’..
Perhaps Igor could run through defenders legs, a whole new meaning to a nutmeg… 😂
Alvarez isn’t much taller…
That’s shortism Cicero. 😂
Mind you, I thought the same. Lol
He’s only five foot six inches tall Rico, useless at corners. 😉
Thanks Cicero,
I forget how long Arteta has been at the Emirates(and the state we were in)
Brazilian Igor Barbosa is a name floating around.
Chelsea need a keeper, Sanchez is as bad as Almunia. Perhaps they’d welcome Kepa back..
Me too re the transfer window, cannot wait for it to shut.
Afternoon Limey, Geoff.
Apparently there is a younger striker/winger we’re interested in. Can’t recall his name..
Limey, Arteta left The Etihad before Alvarez arrived.
Could be a diversion, like the Vinicius saga. I never thought we were seriously intent on signing him just as I doubt Alvarez will wash up at The Emirates.
Just saw that Alvarez joined City in 2022,I was a little surprised to see he is 26,peak age for the selling club I suppose. Another reason not to sign him – no value.
Martinelli looks to be partly out of the door,I just saw on X that Arsenal have never lost when he scores,given he has 62 Arsenal goals,amazing really,I’m not sure if that can be true.
Only a week of the Transfer window…
Morning Rico and all, I just hope we don’t panic buy, Arteta says he will need Alvarez to prove to him that he is fully committed to us before he approves it, I hope Alvarez is not good at lying
Morning Rico/all
I agree about Alvarez,it makes no sense. I liked him when he was at Man City but for the money,and given he wants Barcelona it would be mad. I mean you can just see him agitating for a move to Barcelona this time next year. We’ve been there before. I haven’t checked but I’m just wondering if Arteta knows him from his time at Man City.
Our next 3 games are all fixtures where we dropped points last season. We are stronger though,Aston Villa are certainly weaker,there’s talk about them bringing in new players,presumably they won’t be ready for Bank Holiday Monday .
Chelsea are stronger,to listen to their fans they are going to win the league,you have to laugh,but that will be a hard game. All teams seem to try harder against Arsenal anyway,even more now we are the Champions.
I’ve not read or heard anything about Bruno recently and his fitness/recovery, that’s gone very quiet, it gives me Merino vibes, early injury, out for weeks, takes awhile to settle.
The advisors of Alvarez are doing a sterling job, ensuring that both the fans of Atletico and the fans of Arsenal don’t want him…
I will actually be quite happy when the transfer window closes, because it’s now beginning to get on my nerves. The constant speculation is exhausting…
Take note, Chelsea have become the new media darlings for the forthcoming season, viewed as the best option to stop Arsenal there will be a Chelsea and an Alonso love in whilst those haters will wait patiently for us to slip up, the the gloves will come off and the haters will hate as they always do…
Spot on Potter. None of what is supposedly going to be happening makes any sense to me.
From The Athletic.
What has happened this week?
Arsenal completed the signing of Ezri Konsa in a deal worth £51million plus £4m in potential add-ons. The 28-year-old centre-half was paraded on the pitch before the 3-0 home win against Coventry on Friday in the opening game of the new Premier League season.
The champions have also moved to bring some new talent into their academy. Habeeb Ogunneye, a 20-year-old right-back, has undergone a medical ahead of a proposed move from Manchester United. Arsenal are close to finalising a move for 19-year-old United winger James Scanlon. The expectation is that both deals will be free transfers, with the Old Trafford club receiving significant sell-on clauses.
Ogunneye and Scanlon are known to Arsenal’s new under-21s head coach David Horseman. He previously spent four months at United as an academy coach. Arsenal are keen to strengthen that group to make the team more competitive.
They are also close to successfully concluding their protracted pursuit of Blackburn Rovers’ 18-year-old Igor Tyjon. The striker had been in dispute with the Championship club after they resisted multiple approaches from Arsenal, but a breakthrough was found last week, and Tyjon had a medical on Friday. Arsenal have agreed to pay an initial £1 million, plus bonuses and a sell-on, for the England Under-18 international.
How would the Martinelli sale affect Alvarez interest or other attacking signings?
The Athletic has reported that Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal are pursuing a deal to sign Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazil international has been omitted from the squads for the Community Shield and the Coventry game on successive weekends, and looks likely to depart before next Tuesday’s deadline.
Arsenal entered the window keen to drive significant revenue through player trading. The sale of Martinelli would generate a substantial profit — should the deal go through, it is expected to become the club’s record sale, topping Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s £35million move to Liverpool in 2017.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal would divert that money straight into signing a replacement attacker. The club have pursued the likes of Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior in this window without landing the new forward they hoped for. Enquiries around
Kenan Yildiz have been met by Juventus with a firm refusal.
Arsenal retain an interest in Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid, but accept that a deal would only be possible if he were to soften his insistence on joining Barcelona.
Should Alvarez remain resolute about Barca, Arsenal must determine whether to persist with their current attacking group or pivot to alternative targets. There are other forwards they admire, such as Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain, who has been on their list throughout the summer. In the case of Barcola, however, Arsenal consider PSG’s asking price — in the region of £145million — too high for a player who has not always been a regular starter.
What positions/players are they looking at?
Away from the first team, Arsenal’s drive to recruit emerging talent continues.
The club have made a contract offer for 17-year-old Georgian Andria Bartishvili. The attacking midfielder, who plays for second-division Kolkheti Poti in his homeland, is currently on loan with top-flight Georgian side Iberia and has already represented his country at under-21 level. His deal expires later this year, and Arsenal are hoping to secure him on a pre-contract agreement.
Which players could be leaving?
Ethan Nwaneri could leave before the window shuts next Tuesday night, with Arsenal considering loan offers. There is interest in the 19-year-old from the Premier League and abroad. If it is to be another loan, the club will deliberate carefully over his destination, especially given the difficulties Nwaneri experienced during last season’s spell with Marseille.
Fellow academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly is set to remain with Arsenal. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed he expects the 19-year-old to “100 per cent” stay beyond the deadline, and Manchester United’s move for Carlos Baleba of Brighton effectively ended their pursuit of Lewis-Skelly.
Another player who looks unlikely to move is KepaArrizabalaga. David Raya’s deputy had a release clause in his contract earlier this summer allowing him to depart for a set fee — but that expired without being activated. While things can change quickly in the market, with eight days to go in the window, the expectation is that the 31-year-old will remain in north London. Fellow backup goalkeeper Tommy Setford, 20, is set to leave on loan, however.
Two years ago we played with Havertz up front and everyone said that we needed a goalscorer . So we went and got one but now seem to want to play Havertz in front of him. Doesn’t make sense to me .
It seems that the Martinelli deal is going through but who are we linked with to replace him ? Well it seems that Yildiz is out of the question for some time.
Are we trying to shoehorn Eze or Alvarez into the team on the left ?
Both would have an advantage over the outgoing Martinelli as Arteta bought the two of them and He will always back his own judgement and not go back to take any blame .
We have seen Martinelli go to the right when Saka was out and he was effective, we have seen Nwaneri do similar , we now have Dowman coming through as well .
Will Arteta admit that he wasted a fortune on Madueke ? I doubt it.