Morning all.
In his role as technical director, Edu will coordinate the work of our first-team coaching group, the academy and player scouting and recruitment in order to oversee the constant building up and efficient strengthening of our squad.
His arrival is the final and very important part of the jigsaw in our development of a new football infrastructure to take us forward. He will be working closely with Unai Emery and the first-team coaches, and will play a relevant role leading our football vision and ensuring we have – and follow – a solid philosophy through all our football activities. Raul Sanhelli
So that’s it then, the final man to join the team. The man to move this club forward to where we think it should be and that’s challenging the likes of Liverpool and City rather than turning up at their respective grounds expecting a beating. We’ve already signed a Brazilian player and if he turns out to be as gifted as his fellow countryman was, we’re onto a winner.
Arsenal has always had a special place in my heart and I’m thrilled to be returning to this great club in this new role. We have a strong squad and some very talented young players with fantastic people at every level. I’m looking forward to helping make a difference. Edu
I still wonder why he turned his back on the club all those years ago and walked out the door for nothing. One of the most underrated players around at his time. Certainly during the 2003/04 season. What he’ll bring to Arsenal, only time will tell but I’m optimistic. Maybe now we’ll move a bit quicker in the transfer market. I did say maybe… Just don’t go and find the ‘next Denilson.’
Emile Smith Rowe is the latest youngster to be promoted into the first team squad. He’ll wear the number 32 shirt. Just like with Eddie, Willock and Nelson, his step up will hardly come as a surprise.
The links to Kieran Tierney go on and having been left out of the Celtic squad last night, speculation over a move to north London rose. However, he’s injured, or rather he’s recovering from groin surgery. He has suffered a few injuries though.
| Season | injury | from | until | Days | Games missed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/19 | Groin Surgery | May 7, 2019 | Jun 9, 2019 | 33 days | 3 |
| 18/19 | Hip Injury | Apr 19, 2019 | May 2, 2019 | 13 days | 2 |
| 18/19 | Cals Sclerosis | Mar 31, 2019 | Apr 5, 2019 | 5 days | 2 |
| 18/19 | Hip Injury | Dec 10, 2018 | Feb 22, 2019 | 74 days | 16 |
| 18/19 | Knock | Nov 15, 2018 | Nov 22, 2018 | 7 days | – |
| 17/18 | Calf Injury | Mar 16, 2018 | Apr 7, 2018 | 22 days | 3 |
| 16/17 | Ruptured ankle aigament | Oct 28, 2016 | Jan 21, 2017 | 85 days | 15 |
Should Arsenal think again about pursuing any deal for the Scottish international? That’s if they are of course.
See you in the comments guys and gals…
So pleased about ESR I know he didn’t do too well on loan last year, but injuries took a part in that, I did read that he had an ‘attitude’ problem too, but not sure about that. Emery actually didn’t send him out on loan at the beginning of last season as I think he liked him and to be honest I thought he might play in the first team last season. I think eventually he will be a replacement for Ramsey, but not this coming season, but a brilliant talent. Also pleased about EDU, let’s hope we now have a brilliant team that will take us forward
Me too Sohara re both.
If before the 8th August we can get a couple of defensive players through the door, we might not concede so many goals. Still think there’s a few to be moved on too.
Morning Rico and all.
Edu leaving was, I think that he, like too many other players fell out with Wenger, (I can’t. Remember why?) however, despite frequent and one long period out with injury, when he returned, I think as sub against Blackburn, in what was a turgid game he showed his class and we won 3-0. But after that reappearance his return to the team was only as an occasional sub. He was much better than that! He left at the end of the season and the rest is history. Much in the same way as Ramsey left this year. It’s a recurring Arsenal problem. Perhaps Edu is just the man to resolve our running down of contracts difficulties!
Glad to see him at the club. Might he be the new David Dein??😊
As for the promotion of some of the youngsters. It is a great advert for the youth academy. Long may it continue. I hope they are really successful and make a real difference to the team and our less than impressive results.
Cloudy here and a bit damp.
OK, you’ve convinced me with your lovely Post — Tierney – eh?
With all those somewhat chronic injuries — he would fit in perfectly on our physio bench. Bring it on!! 🤪
Morning Wavy, I had a feeling it might be along those lines. Wasn’t he also in a similar position to Gilberto? Both off playing for Brazil, missed pre-season because of it and the opening few games and that was that….
I really hope all this speculation about Emery falling out with players and then not playing isn’t true otherwise we haven’t really moved forward.
Those days need to be long gone Ra. The injury which concerns me most is the hip because once that goes, it’s often weak.
Good morning Rico and all others.
I’m pleased that we have, at last, filled the DoF vacancy and I hope that Edu is a success, we will have to wait and see however.
Injuries aside, just how good is Tierney? A Scottish international but Scotland are hardly setting the football world on fire. A successful couple of seasons at Celtic, in a weak league which is effectively a two horserace between to two Glasgow clubs. How ready for the Premiership is he? Will he sparkle and fade like Peter Marinello, or turn out to be a colossus like Frank McLintock? Another wait and see.
Morning Cicero. Wasn’t something similar once said on here about Vvd?
If we sign him, only then will we see if he’s good enough I’d have thought.
Hi, Celtic fan here. While your concern is fair you have to factor in how barbaric the players are and how incompetent/corrupt the officials are up here. I can’t tell you how many tackles to the knee Tierney gets week in week out. Any talent in Scotland is soon stamped out, that’s why the women’s team is better than the men’s!
Welcome Jim, good to see a Celtic viewpoint. I didn’t realise the Scottish league was so brutal. The officials are no better in the PL though so it looks like football in the UK has a real problem.
Would you be disappointed if Tierney left?
Rico, the price seems about right in terms of our limited budget, let’s hope that we’re not putting too many of our precious eggs into one basket.
I’d be happier if our scouting set-up had a better track record.
I take your point Jim, Sad isn’t it?
But what is our budget Cicero? Does anyone outside the club really know for sure?
Can I venture a somewhat contrary point of view to those who are very happy with the appointment of Edu, without being seen as an ‘agent provocateur’? 😳
First let me say, I too am happy with an ex-Arsenal man being brought back to the club, and I hope Edu will exert his influence and authority over the many areas he is now responsible for.
So, what’s my beef? Well, I was disappointed with the way that Vieira, Arteta, Campbell and Overmars were allegedly treated during the search for the new Arsenal manager following AW’s departure.
I use the word ‘allegedly’ because, of course, any such discussions would be personal and private, so going on the only sources available to me, and every other fan, I read in the media that Sol was very miffed that he was not considered even for the list of possible applicants. Vieira said much the same, in that he was politely turned down too, and told he was inexperienced (probably right in the case of Sol – but Vieira having studied under Pep just needed the break to show he was good enough.)
Anyway, there is a way to do these things – and a way not to do them).
The other two were a bit different. Arteta a studious man, had relatively recently left Arsenal and again had been right-hand man to Pep from the start of his reign, and if I had had my ruthers I’d a ruther had him as manager ruther than Embers.
And in the case of Overmars, it seemed that he had been in talks with Arsenal, but probably not for the managers job, as he had a top job with Ajax, and was widely respected throughout football for the successful management of the club’s finances.
I think, if the media were right that he had applied to be Arsenal’s technical Director, that he should have got the job rather than Edu.
Anyway, at least Edu is an Arsenal man, but it makes you wonder at the selection process. [Well, it makes me wonder!!] 😜
Didn’t Overmars opt to stay with Ajax, turning us down in the process?
Imo, Gazidis etc opted for experience instead of going for Arteta etc. Perhaps their time will come.
I agree Rico we did approach Overmars but he wanted to stay with Ajax. I also agree with RA’s comments. Viera wanted to join us years ago, but Wenger did not want him, and so they fell out. I never heard that Viera was a prospect for Wengers replacement. I would have much preferred him to Arteta as he is doing OK managing in USA. I think Arteta wanted to be the manager not head coach. I would love to see Bergkamp back at Arsenal, he has already stated he would like to be a Forwards manager somewhere, and he is out of work !!! Pires practically lives at London Colney, not sure why we haven’t approached him. One change I am delighted with is Freddie becoming Emery’s assistant
Vieira has left America Sohara, he’s at Nice now.
Hey Hey!
My dad’s English team was Arsenal for some reason that I’ll never know, so for that reason I’ve a soft spot I suppose for your team.
Tierney is every bit as good Andy Robertson at Liverpool and he’s doing not too badly.
I don’t want him to go just now. If Celtic could have held on to their best players over the past few years: Wanyama, Virgil Van Dyke, Moussa Dembele and so on, Celtic would be challenging at a far better level in Europe. Players may not be getting the outrageously obscene wages that they earn in England but £30k a week is not leaving them an impecunious party after their electricity has been paid.
The other year with six Celtic players on the Hampden turf, England were let off the hook against Scotland.
Tierney is a star now and will be wherever he goes. Barcelona? Madrid? Arsenal? He’ll hold his own in any company.
Always come down to money Ian, Arsenal went through a similar stage of losing good players just for a bigger salary. It hurts.
Welcome by the way.
Morning Gooner’s
Morning Rico
That’s a good point Rico, I’ve heard a bit about his injuries before, but are Tierney’s any worse than average? I’m not sure, mind you Jack had hip issues and it helped to kill his career!
Although I take on board what you say about the hip injury Rico, that does seem a worry as it affects almost everything a player does, 2 hip injuries and one groin operation, that does seem an issue and may explain the lack of competition for his signature and Arsenal’s reluctance to match Celtics valuation.
Maybe the player needs a new exercise regime to target that area and build it up, or maybe he just needs to adjust his technique or maybe it’s a biomechanical issue, you know could be that sorts of things.
I wouldn’t knock the Scottish League, it may not produce the quantity and quality of players it used too, particularly of Scottish heritage, but it’s not a pushover League by any counts.
Morning Kev. I wouldn’t either. As Jim said earlier, it’s brutal. At least we know Tierney would be a tough player, unlike so many soft centres we have.
Rico, I think it’s a good thing that nobody knows our transfer budget, let the press speculate, we just have to be aware that the press are in general anti Arsenal and are just looking for clicks (ads) – personally I prefer the fact that we haven’t got anymore Gazides BS regarding war chests and matching Bayern or any other empty statements that mean feck all.
We’re suspicious of Raul because we’ve heard it all before and we aren’t sure about him because of last January’s failure to address the issues in the squad and the Sven saga.
But all he’s said is that ‘we have a plan’ and that ‘we have to be smarter in the transfer market’ – and let’s be fair, we haven’t had a ‘plan’ for the last few years and we’ve been quite dumb in the market, so he’s seen where we’ve been clearly failing under Gazides and Wenger so that has to be a good thing…
Edu will need to get stuck in pronto, a couple of smart signings and everybody will be on the happy pills again and bigging up the new management structure…
Wenger did it when he came to Highbury, although we all forget sicknote Remi Garde, it was Patrick Vieira that confirmed Wenger as a genius in the eyes of the fans, shortly afterwards he got Anelka, Petit and Overmars, he couldn’t fail…
Raul/Edu/Emery need their Vieira type signing….
Good luck for that! 😉
11.33 Kev, very well said.
Totally agree re the budget, you don’t see other clubs finances plastered over the Internet so why should ours..
Hi Rico
Great piece again.
Tierney is a gamble, at 25 mil a huge gamble. There’s got to be a better left back available for less or around the same sort of cash, another Winterburn/ Cole must be waiting to be unearthed.
Still wondering why Edu will actually bring, yes they just won the Copa but that’s not the greatest benchmark, I guess time will tell!! I like to be a glass half full type of guy but at this moment my beer is a little warm and flat.
Warren
Hi Warren, thanks.
I don’t think Edu with Brazil and now Arsenal can be compared, especially as Raul said he’ll oversee transfers etc. What he did at Corinthians tells us more I think, not that I know what he did but it’s a like for like role.
The one advantage that Edu gives us is his knowledge of up and coming players in the Brazilian leagues. Perhaps we’ll get first crack at a few more like Gabriel Martinelli.
I hope Eduardo puts us back on the path of permanent success.
If he needs it, he has an adviser here, speaking the same language.
Fenerbahce have made a statement to the effect that they cannot afford to sign Ozil. .😕 hopefully they will raise the money from somewhere. 😉
Afternoon House,
I didn’t realise Tierney’s injury record was so bad, explains why none of the big teams are in for him.Maybe still worth a gamble IF the price is right.
India having a shocker in the cricket.
Afternoon Rico and all you contributors to HH.
Personally I think Tierney would be a bad acquisition with those particular injuries. Look at Diaby for example.
A tweaked hamstring or muscle here and there isn’t a problem that requires weeks of physio.
Groin or hip injuries are not easily solved but if everyone here thinks he’s a good prospect then maybe they should offer Celtic a lot less than they are asking?
What’s the general feeling on Zaha? Worth a shot?
Afternoon Andorra, not for what Palace want for him.
Limey, didn’t see that result coming. Big game tomorrow.
Dan-Axel Zagadou is linked to us again.
A waste if money Andorra, in my opinion.
Hi Rico!
Thanks for the welcome. Here’s to a good season for your team.
Best wishes
Ian
Evening Rico and the House.
Very busy couple of days catching up
with everything(at home and the house)
Busy day tomorrow I understand there is a cricket match on,
the first team off to the USA, and the U23/u18 leave for tour.
Kev
I have been told good things about Cijan but I have not seen him play.
Did you know both Ben Sheaf and Rob Holden both took part in the Fitness training session
over the week end and both were training with the first team today.
I will be watching to see if they are on the plane tomorrow,
It will be good news to see Ben given the chance this season
he is another one I rate very highly
Rico you know what I think of Reiss, Eddy Joe and ESR.
All I would ask is give them a fare chance and play them in their best position
All for now see you all later
Same to you Ian, enjoy your forthcoming season…
Yeah, I did see that Sheaf has been involved quite a bit Rick.
He can play def/mid, Centre-back and full back, is a very technical player and it’s pretty much now or never for him after an injury ravaged last couple of years.
I’d be delighted to see him go on the tour, but it’s disappointing to see that Bielik seems to be surplus to requirements, I wonder if that situation would be different if he’d cut short his holiday?
Like Reiss Nelson…
Rico 4.45, you just love that song… 😉
Rico 4.50, you just love that song… 😃
😂 Kev, I do.
Thanks Ian, likewise for your team, hopefully with Tierney. 😜
Morning Rick, Kev and all.
Come on England… 🏴
Re Viera Rico, I forgot about his move to Nice. Is this still with a Man City involvement like it was when he moved to USA ?( as I think that was to a team Man City owned)
He is doing well out there too, I would love him to be involved with Arsenal one day .
I don’t think so Sohara, I think he’s done with City now. Yes, I too would like to see him or another Arsenal man manage the squad. As others have said though, perhaps that guy will be Freddie.
Morning All.
Has anyone seen the Arsenal statement about Koscielny refusing to travel for the pre-season tour? Looks like he is on the way out then!
Yes I saw that, but I also read another report that we were getting a good offer for him from a French club, so perhaps there is a deal in the offing so that’s why he didn’t travel
I completely see why we would take the money on him, but to be honest I think I would have kept him for another year
Didn’t see that Andy, if true then yep, he’s gone. Just hope we get a fee for him. Or use him in a deal for us.
His injuries are a problem though, two games a month at best I reckon. We need fit and strong players in our back line imo. Plus, we don’t know how Holdings return with play out yet.
How refreshing is it though that the club has made the statement confirming Koscielny refusing to travel? Isn’t that the openness and honesty we’ve always wanted?
I know Rico, this is the first time I think that Arsenal have made a statement like this about one of our players….new brooms? what do you make of it? I’m not sure what it means but it certainly is different and could be just what we need strong management
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48948345
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico…. All together now ‘Agga do do’ 😁
Morning all.
The club giving us openness and honesty is refreshing, and long may it continue.
If, However, they believe an offer is in the wings, they’ve hung Kozzer out to dry with the working of the statement.
I say if, because if he’s simply refused and they don’t know why, then fair enough.
‘ morning all, a clear statement by Arsenal. Bordeaux were sniffing around Koscielny last week and it’s sign or sell time as far as his contract situation is concerned. There has been no hint of a new deal on the table so we can be reasonably certain that he’s on his way back to France.
Great start by England three quick wickets and some chin music served up to Carey by Jofra. Luvvly jubbly. 😉
Shocking call to bat first by our boys, Cicero lol
I hope the pitch deteriorates else we are gooooooone.
Gotta agree with the view about the change of management stance, much more decisive despite what’s being said about our transfer business, which is similar to everyone else in the EPL but the media only seem to comment and comment negatively on Arsenal…
Must get a fee for Koscielny, no more getting mugged off.
Personally I think it’s a great move, Laurent is finished at EPL level, he’s been great but we’ve gotta let him go AND we must get a fee!
I remember Wenger letting Campbell go for free and we then ended up with Silvestre, that nonsense has to end…
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Mustafi stay, so there has to be a balancing of the books somewhere.
Scott, gud day, as long as Smith is there then this game ain’t done…
I’ve not seen an Aussie team fold and I don’t expect it today…
He has been a good servant, with his injuries not what we need. If sold that’s £5m off the wage bill, plus whatever fee we can get. Koscienly must be the longest serving Wenger player left. After that, Montreal?
Interesting what happens with Chambers and Beilek.
If, as the report states, Bordeaux have offered Koscielny a three year deal the club must be aware of the fact but have not made any offer to the player so I see nothing wrong with their reaction to his refusal to travel.
Ha ha,
I mean Monreal and Bielik!
I’m trying to stay positive, Kev and Smith is a machine.
Carey is really showing himself to be a ripper as well.
Our attack could well rip through your guys as well if the pitch has anything left.
Morning Kev, I’m doing the dance as I type… 😆
Morning Rico and the House,
It is being said that he requested to be released from his contract
so he could leave on a free.
When they said no he arrived for training and refused to fly.
The club are said to be shocked and disciplinary proceedings have already started.
He w3ill not leave on a free
Sohara, I think it’s just the club saying, ‘don’t blame us, blame him’ – seems to me he’s refused to travel because he wants out. Or he’s been told he isn’t in this season’s plans and he’s sulking.
Morning Rick. Well I’m glad the club have said no to him going for free. About time we showed some balls. We’ve been too soft on transfers for far too long, I’m with Kev, £10m sounds about right.
New post up now