Don't know if you guys can access this but Max Dowman has scored an outrageous goal for the England U17's. I can't wait to see how he goes on the pre-season tour and if he's got the strength to play at the adult level of the game. Shades of Wilshire about his movement.
I'm going on the pre-season tour to Singapore and Hong Kong so I'll let you know :)
That's awesome G4L! Looks like we're moving early with Zubimendi set for a medical and Gabriel extension almost announced. I like this new 'get shark done' mindset from the club. Would be a great statement if incomings were sorted early, contract extensions dealt with as the summer went on, and outgoings done as and when the opportunities arose.
Suddenly losing to PSG in the semi final doesn't look so crazy! I think much like ourselves (vs Real Madrid), Inter played the game of their lives against Barcelona and couldn't repeat the feat against PSG. Nice to see Neymar et al from the early PSG days being shown how its done!
Made it to London yesterday afternoon after 3 flights and over 30 hours of travel. Makes you realise how far away NZ is from most of the world! Felt a little emotional on landing as this is where I was born and where my parents and Grandparents were all born. Even though I've spent 80% of my life on the other side of the world it was the feeling of being "home" and having not been back since 2009 I didn't know when or if I would make it over here again. I'll share some pics when we go to Arsenal.
Berta’s been a busy boy! KT & Jorginho confirmed gone, and an extension on the table for Partey. Gabriel contract extension done. Noise around Sesko heating up, and so to Kepa with a £5m release clause which seems a bargain even if it’s Chelsea baggage (although I do love the idea of being the club that ensures they suffer a massive loss on that deal to our gain). Getting worried about the idea of Sane coming in, at 29 I’m getting Willian and Sterling vibes and free agent deals are normally very pricey!
Getting Kepa as a back up is a good option. Seeing Cherki goto city for nothing is very annoying l. I wish we had gone in for him. He'll be a phenomenal talent.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
It’s fudgeing mad to me that it’s been nearly 6 months since the case was heard and now it’s radio silence stilll. The fact that they’re out there rebuilding their squad instead of facing the consequences of their bullshark is beyond despair and continues to tarnish the credibility of the PL.kwlap
Getting Kepa as a back up is a good option. Seeing Cherki goto city for nothing is very annoying l. I wish we had gone in for him. He'll be a phenomenal talent.
At 40 years old Cazorla scored a free kick for his hometown team last night to get into a 2 legged play off to try return to La Liga - what a fudgeing legend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Goiebwdqph4
Randomly found this tonight, recorded November 2024 various squad players being asked their alternative positions. Merino said he wanted to play up front! Premonition or what? https://youtube.com/shorts/OiGyhmj1i20?si=qh8f7ZAtMoq7YLE2
Transfer cogs are starting to turn with contracts, sounds like Partey's declined the extension as we wouldn't offer a pay rise. I'm glad we didn't cave! This is why we're being linked with a tonne of midfielders, including Camavinga who I would love to see. Also sounds like MLS has signed new terms too which is massive.
Cazorla scored a penalty as his lads came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on aggregate and go up the La Liga next season! I wonder if Arteta can tempt him to hang up his boots and join his back room staff.
Looks like the Kepa deals just about done too. £5m is good business for 'the worlds most expensive goal keeper'. Fair play to Kepa and his agent, he took a wage deduction at Chelsea prior to the Bournemouth loan in exchange for the £5m release clause. Assuming that and Zubimendi get over the line and announced nice and early, plenty of time left to address the forwards!
Speaking of which is so easy to wind people up at the minute. Walked past a lad at a sports complex in an Arsenal shirt and said "you seen they signed Gyokeres?" and he lost his mind, straight on his phone. Lost his mind when he realised I was joking! After all this nonsense I'm convinced we're getting Watkins.
Apparently Partey isn't resigning and we've got Noorgard from Brentford instead. Very handy and experienced player. I would say he wouldn't be a starter but good at closing out games. Him, rice, Zubi, Merino, that's a collection of big unit to play in the middle
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
Norgaard fits the Jorginho elderstatesman role well too, I think it's a tidy bit of business and likely net-cheaper than over paying Partey. Glad to see we're moving quickly to other targets. Big money moves for the new centre forward seems tedious. I'm 99% sure we'll land Watkins after the season opener at this rate!
Can't get enough of MLS and his work ethic, he's working hard on his holidays. Love the way he's got his family around him and his mum as his agent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV9B7jJhggs
Kepa is a Gooner. As far as ex Chelsea pro's go I think this ones a slam dunk for us. 5m, 3 year deal, solid enough player you'd be happy with having a run in the starting 11. Much better solution than the Espanyol lad, or last seasons Neto loan. Looking forward to seeing more deals done!
Chloe Kelly has re-signed for us. Sounds like a bitter exit at Man City, and as soon as her contract expired she inked with us. Great to see local talent returning to the club...like maybe Eze!
In all seriousness, where does Eze play if he comes in? For me he's an upgrade on Trossard, giving us options at left wing and left mid, and given the numbers he's been putting up probably takes the starting left wing slot.
Mutual termination agreed with Tomi. Bit sad by this as when he was fit, he was awesome to have around the team..issue that he just wasn't fit enough. Hope he can find a new club and stay injury free.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
Disgusting he was allowed to continue for so long when others in similar situations (Mendy, Greenwood, Siguardsson) were suspended by their clubs. Happy to be rid and another player whose contribution on the pitch will barely be missed or even remembered.
Anyway made it to the Emiratea Stadium tour yesterday and spent way too much in the shop. Amazing experience and felt surreal to be standing by the pitch. Hopefully make it back one day to go to a real game.
Disgusting he was allowed to continue for so long when others in similar situations (Mendy, Greenwood, Siguardsson) were suspended by their clubs. Happy to be rid and another player whose contribution on the pitch will barely be missed or even remembered.
Anyway made it to the Emiratea Stadium tour yesterday and spent way too much in the shop. Amazing experience and felt surreal to be standing by the pitch. Hopefully make it back one day to go to a real game.
little different as far as i remember, Partey has only now been formally chatged, before that it was just rumours, and you cant really suspend a player on rumours.
Disgusting he was allowed to continue for so long when others in similar situations (Mendy, Greenwood, Siguardsson) were suspended by their clubs. Happy to be rid and another player whose contribution on the pitch will barely be missed or even remembered.
Anyway made it to the Emiratea Stadium tour yesterday and spent way too much in the shop. Amazing experience and felt surreal to be standing by the pitch. Hopefully make it back one day to go to a real game.
little different as far as i remember, Partey has only now been formally chatged, before that it was just rumours, and you cant really suspend a player on rumours.
Greenwood and Sigurdsson were both suspended without being charged.
Big chat around Gyokeres becoming the main focus. Just get the bloody thing done man.
Worried about these links to Madueke as the price being touted indicates a profit for Chelsea for a player that doesn’t fill me with confidence, especially after the links to Nico Williams & Eze, and ensuring space in the squad for Nwaneri.
Happy we can finally talk about Zubi. I'm very excited for him. Yea the striker chat continues. Today its being said we've agreed terms with gyokeres. Yesterday someone from Sesko's camp said they've agreed terms with arsenal. I'll wait until we announce whoever it is to care about it. The madueke thing is interesting, I really rated him before he went to Chelsea. While he has plateau'd a bit there, he is still putting up good numbers and would suit Arteta tactics to date. Which I think is probably why we won't get Eze. I think he has an x-factor that we don't have but I'm just not sure where he would play or what role he would do. Not sure he walks into the first 11 either. I'd rather than if we were going for a left winger, we went for rodrygo.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
The stuff I was reading suggested that Madueke signing doesnt change our interest in Eze - we want both? Madueke is more on the right isn't he, so back-up to Saka? Eze would slot right in on the left, probably seeing Trossard leave, and Martinelli to battle with Eze. I would love to get him, he's quality. Thought he was better than Olise and was surprised Olise left for a bigger club first. Window is turning out pretty good. Kepa same as Jorginho for me - hated him at Chelsea, but when he's on our team, happy to see it.
Yeah it’s shaping up to be a good window for us so far, goal keeper and midfield sorted out. Now just question marks about a back up CB and upgrades in attack. Still think we might see more coming in than we expect with some surprise departures, ie seeing rumours about Havertz, Martinelli, and Trossard and wouldn’t be surprised if one of that last two moved on.
It sounds like the Gyokeres talks have broken down. Typical Arsenal transfer window. For three seasons, we've needed a striker so we go and sign a goalkeeper and two defensive midfielders while everyone else seems to have no trouble getting a striker.
I think Sterling was so rubbish last season we forgot the role he filled in the squad; cover for Saka. Madueke is a big investment for filling that role, but if he's coming in he can't surely be an upgrade on Martinelli/Trossard given he's played off the right most of his career. Suspect if we're dropping this cash on him we're still going to have a decent sized window but might need to include a sacrificial PSR lamb at some point.
