Morning all.
Lisandro Martínez, primarily a centre-back, but capable of playing at left-back and central midfield, is the latest name linked to Arsenal. He’s currently at Ajax so I’m surprised Man Utd aren’t linked with him. I’m not going to mention his height but needless to say, if he arrives, I hope he’s not the one responsible for marking Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez. The bit about him playing left-back and central midfield caught my eye though. Like so many footballers outside of the Premier League, I know absolutely nothing about him other than what I’ve read this morning. The Athletic newspaper suggest he’s a priority signing for Mikel Arteta.
Kieran Tierney is unlikely to go through an entire season without injury as is Thomas Partey so perhaps Arteta sees this move as solving either problem when/if it arises. Saying that, I doubt a player who’s spent last season playing for Ajax and winning the Eredivisie League, would be joining us just to sit on the bench. Good, competition is healthy.
Also in the news today is the chase for Youri Tielemans is over for Arsenal. Yep, the same people who suggested the deal was on, are now saying it’s off.
Arsenal’s new goalkeeper Matt Turner has vowed to be “an important member of the locker room” according to Sky Sports:
We’ve talked a little bit. (He and Mikel Arteta) His main message for me was just to focus on what I need to focus on right now, getting through these next few months, staying healthy, staying fit and getting ready for pre-season and compete. The project they have going on there, [I want to be] an important part of the locker room, adding some experience – not a ton of Premier League experience – but national team experience, league experience and playing games in pressured environments. I’ll be an older head in the locker room, being 28.
Older and wiser than Aaron Ramsdale he might be but is he better I wonder? I don’t think it’s harsh to say that after a seriously impressive start to his Arsenal career, Ramsdale’s performances dropped off a bit. To single him out though would be wrong because I think he was one of many whose performances dropped a bit during the second half of the season. Certainly the last couple of months. Injuries to key players didn’t help of course but that’s why this summer transfer window is so important. If we lose players through injury or when rotation is required, Mikel Arteta needs to be able to rely on those who come in.
If the Tielemans story is true, I’m disappointed as I think he’d have been really good for us and certainly a better option than Granit Xhaka. Less of a liability too. I read this morning that’s it his booking for time wasting against Leeds Utd is the incident which is being investigated by the National Crime Agency amid suspicions of a major betting scandal. According to nearly all the newspapers, this follows a six month enquiry conducted by The FA who have come to the conclusion that corruption and possible criminality has taken place. Must admit, it was a strange game because prior to his booking, he’d committed a few ‘strong’ challenges which in other matches would have resulted in the referee waving his yellow card towards the player yet Andre Marriner let him off. I guess we’ll have to see how this plays out.
Perhaps a very large can of worms is about to be opened…
See you in the comments.
Good day Rico. I too read a brief report about the betting scam, in it there was a significant sentence “There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the player (Xhaka)”.
I hope our alleged interest in Tielemans is indeed over, I just don’t rate him.
Nothing official on either Nketiah or Vieria and someone needs to point out to Matt Turner that in this country we don’t use the term “Locker Room”.
Afternoon Cicero, I think, and hope, they’re looking at Marriner rather than Xhaka.
Referees involved in a betting scam, surely not?
Could that be behind the rumoured removal of Mike Riley (still waiting)?
Afternoon Rico and all
From what I have read Tielemans does not want to join us because Arteta is looking at another player who plays in the same position and he feels he will not get enough game time, If this story is true then it shows he is not willing to fight for his position.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1915_British_football_match-fixing_scandal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25132538
I hope so Kev, I hope it’s the beginning of end for Riley and his lot.
Hi Geoff, don’t believe all you read. Lol
Now it’s official, Nketiah has signed a new long term contract and will wear the number 14 shirt, 👍 I can’t quite remember who wore that number a while ago, some Frenchman? 😉
Excellent news.
Now that Eddie has signed lets hope he gets a good run
Good evening Rico and all
A very good read Rico
“Perhaps a very large can of worms is about to be opened…”……I have been saying for years that matches have been rigged in the EPL…..and nothing has changed my mind ever since. I have been saying that since 2008/9 season….over 14 years of that. There is a pattern…..and even the smallest foul is sometimes part of betting
Evening Devil. I think we’ve all questioned the officials in this country for a while. The inconsistency of referees on a game to game and season after season basis has been clear to see.
If the sort of corruption you are suggesting has been going on for such a length of time DG, surely it would have been exposed long ago. I put poor refereeing down to incompetence rather than criminality.
Ajax have turned down Arsenal’s £25 million bid for Lisandro Martinez, according to the Mail.
Morning Cicero, all.
New post up now