Morning all.
Arsenal’s fifth summer signing was confirmed yesterday afternoon. Oleksandr Zinchenko. He’s a winner, Premier League proved, a left sided player in midfield or defence and a great addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad. I say squad but I think it’s fair to assume that a player of his quality is for the first eleven. I doubt there’s an Arsenal player or fan who is not excited by this signing, or any other signing the club has made this summer.
In his first interview, Zinchenko was asked many questions but I’ve just picked out three:
You have just been welcomed to the training camp here in Florida, what have been your first impressions?
It’s an amazing atmosphere you know, everyone is so kind, and all the staff here are amazing. I heard a lot of good things from Manchester City people about the medical staff or whatever, the guys working in the kitchen, the players and obviously Gabriel Jesus. So I heard here is an amazing atmosphere.
One of those people you knew from Manchester City is the boss. How important was he in your decision to sign?
I would say it’s the most important role in my decision because I’ve known Mister for a while, I used to work with him at Manchester City. Since the first day at City I knew that he’s going to be a very good manager. The way he can see football, especially I was watching the last season of Arsenal’s games and I was really enjoying it. You can see in the style, the picture of the game, so I would love to see it (while) playing and being involved.
What was your relationship like back at Manchester City? How much did he help your game?
The way we were working together, I was so impressed because I remember how many times we were working hard in the training sessions and then straight after with individual stuff and I took a lot from the manager and I hope I can take even more.
I suggested the other day that Mikel Arteta is an important part of why City players have said yes to Arsenal. Jesus and Zinchenko aren’t old has beens, they’re certainly not Pep’s rejects either, they are footballers who are joining Arsenal to make a difference. Top quality players who are yet to reach their peak.
Arsenal aren’t done in this transfer window yet either, Mikel Arteta made that quite clear during his interview yesterday when he discussed our new addition. Grinning from ear to ear he said:
There are still a few things we’d like to do, ins and outs, and that will be determined by the possibilities that are on the market. We know where we’re going to end up at the end of this window, and hopefully we can make it work.
Ins and outs is music to my ears albeit obvious because there are a number of players who simply aren’t going to be in Mikel Arteta’s plans going forwards. If they were, they’d not have gone on loan last season. I’m referring to the more senior players here: Torreira, Bellerin Mari, Nelson and Maitland-Niles. If the latter two have impressed Arteta during pre-season, maybe there’s a chance they will stay bearing in mind the homegrown ruling and being in four competitions. Tavares is rumoured to be off out on loan whilst there’s being no news on what’s next for Balogun. There’s a good chance he’ll stay in my opinion because of the domestic cup competitions.
More interesting than who leaves, is who might join before the transfer window closes and after Mikel Arteta’s comments, I’m sure we’ll be linked to a lot of players before the end of next month. We’ll see what unfolds soon enough but I’m liking the ambition the club is showing this summer. I like the fact that the Kroenke family are stepping up and putting their money where their mouth is. Josh Kroenke told us to be excited about the future and as far as signings go, what’s not to be excited about?
Lastly, the back pages, certainly the Mail, report that Bukayo Saka has been offered a double your money new contract. Whilst I don’t usually believe a word the Mail write, this one is probably one of their better guesses. Of course Arsenal will want him to stay, what club wouldn’t want to keep hold of their prize asset and with Arsenal showing so much ambition this summer, on top of last, I reckon he’ll soon sign a new deal.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico and everyone.
It’s been quite exciting seeing Arsenal make these bold steps in the transfer market I can say for now that Top4 is somewhat guaranteed.
I’ve been excited many times in the past decade but this one seems different. I feel we will make a big push and hopefully we get our first Europa League trophy this season.
As for incoming I won’t mind Sane. It will be a massive signing.
And I also have a soft spot for Torriera. I feel we can make it work, they rest can move on.
Good morning Rico, Zinchenko makes all the right noises, just hope he is a good on the pitch as he is with the P R people.
Newcastle have failed in their bid for a new winger and are sizing up the possibility of signing Pepe. We can only hope. 😉
IF and it’s a big IF our important players stay fit then it is very likely we will finish in the top four. We nearly did it with Lacazette and aubemeyang scoring only 4 goals each. Even pep or Klopp couldn’t of achieved better with our squad last season. I don’t wanna jinx anything but I predict an end of season injury happening to one of our main players before Xmas impacting our season negatively.
Morning all.
I think we are doing pretty well with the transfers so far. And the pre-season results are also encouraging. So for just the sake of signing we shouldn’t spash the cash, but if ran across an exceptional player for a reasonable fee we might make a transfer more.
If Vieira came for CM, then we don’t need further central midfielders, so I wouldn’t insist on Tielemans, Arthur Melo or SMS. Paqueta is not a CM, so him joining wouldn’t address any existing need we have at the moment. But if we manage to sell Pepe – hopefully for a decent price – the Cody Gakpo purchase would have my blessing (not that anybody cares).
The exit door will have to be the busier now and I can’t see the entry one being used until some have left.
Afternoon Rico and all
Can’t wait for the season to start, At the moment watching practice matches of oz teams against Man u, villa, palace and man c to get my fix but not the same as watching us play.
Afternoon rico, all. Geoff, enjoy things now, season usually goes down hill after a few matches! 😀
Only joking….. or am I?
afternoon all!
Wait and see…
Scared of getting hopes too high after a good proactive pre-season, and then seeing them dashed!
Andrew lets hope it’s the other teams that go down hill not us. I am hoping for a great season so I can eat my humble pie as it’s taking up space in the freezer. haha
Afternoon guys.
I’m like you Andrew, on paper it’s all looking good but on the pitch? We wait to see…
If Partey gets injured though…..
Or worse…..
My fears are first game a sending off kills us like that bad Villa memory, 2nd game Partey gets bad news, 3rd game ref lets someone crock Jesus out for the season…….
Oh that’s enough, stop these negative thoughts😀😀
Nothing would surprise me, not even all three scenarios…. 😆
I have watched all Arsenal and Chelsea preseason games, and the best two players on both teams have been Jesus and Sterling. No one with any limited knowledge of football would say they were surplus to the requirements at City. I would argue that both were better at City than Greleash, and he’s still there. The last two games that I have watched Zinchenko on duty with Ukraine as DM/ CM, he was better as a midfielder than LB/ WIngback. Pep philosophy is if a player wants to leave he wouldn’t keep them, that’s reason they are not at City anymore.
With regards to Partey, there is nothing worse on the horizon barring injury. That whole situation seems from a woman scorn, “you don’t want to marry me, I show you”. Partey has slimmed down to take pressure off the knees, so maybe he will be less injury prone, I hope he kept his strength.
Ramsdale | White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko | Partey, Xhaka | Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli | Jesus subs :- Uncle Tom Cobley and all . basically everyone on tour that isn’t injured.
Trying to stay awake for the first half hour, dosing up on coffee.
Edu seems to have ruled out any interest in Paqueta and the train left town ages ago regarding Melo, I think it’s just his agent that keeps the rumour alive, but a winger certainly seems on the agenda.
Yes Peter your Cody Gakpo blessing seems to have passed everyone by, don’t worry though, it happens to me all the time and I couldn’t give a toss… 😉
I know another blogger who absolutely loves Cody but I’m more in the Sane camp – it’ll probably all come down to finance and Bayern aren’t easy to negotiate with…
Has Gnabry signed a new contract ?
2 – 0 up at half time Jesus and Odegaard , we look sharper than them and defensively sound White , Saliba , Gabriel and Zinchenko across the back . Their main threat is coming down their right and our new boy is getting stranded with two as James is over lappping quite a bit.
Having another cup and waiting to see who gets on for the second half .
Saka gets number 3 ( looked a touch offside to me ) 68 minutes
Finished off with a great cross from Cedric and a neat header from Logonga , 4 – 0 . I’m off to bed see you alI wake up.l sometime after
sounds like a good match at 4-0 can’t complain about that
A good result which will help build confidence, bring on Seville.
With Zinchenko in, Tavares looks to be on his way to Atalanta on loan.
New post up now