Saka becomes the first Arsenal player to score in knockout in both the World Cup and Euros. Seems a little unbelievable someone like Henry, Bergkamp, Van Persie or even Fabregas didn't do that. The abuse he gets from the "Arsenal are bottlers" narrative and because he had a penalty saved is ridiculous. Fudgeing clutch player and England's best.
Saka becomes the first Arsenal player to score in knockout in both the World Cup and Euros. Seems a little unbelievable someone like Henry, Bergkamp, Van Persie or even Fabregas didn't do that. The abuse he gets from the "Arsenal are bottlers" narrative and because he had a penalty saved is ridiculous. Fudgeing clutch player and England's best.
not sure about the 'bottlers' bit. I would prefer the term chokers bottler is an old aussie slang term for 'beaut' or 'bonza'
Tavares & Lokonga gone! Hopefully both of those turn into well perm deals at the end of them, Tavares looks more likely of the two. Random young English keeper looks on his way from Amsterdam. I wonder if he's coming in to either bolster U21's or become 2nd/3rd choice for the senior team. If he gets in quickly enough he could get some time between the sticks during the US tour...
Looks like moves for ESR, Nelson, and Nketiah are building momentum, but given the lack of a squad available for the US I suspect we may delay selling until after the tour…
Caliafori sounds done and dusted, just need the medical dealt with. Lots of focus on what this means for Kiwior or Zinchenko - but actually I wonder if it means the big money move for Gabriel is back on the cards. Flicking him to Saudi, PSG, or Madrid for big money would help a lot with the financials and I think between Kiwior, Saliba, White, Tomiyasu, Caliafori, and Timber we have a number of solid options at CB.
Kiwior would be on the keep list with maybe Zinchnko on the outer? I hope we keep Gabriel, his combo with saliba was epic last season, although if Timber ends up being as good as promised then we should be ok.
Agreed, Gabriel and Saliba are the best pairing we’ve had in years. If we sell Gabriel it will need to be for stupid money and with a solid plan in place.
Im just not keeping across news as much these days. Why is there chat around Gabriel? What's happened there? I assumed he was locked in for a bit
Been a few rumours floating around of a big offer coming in for him for a few weeks now, word is we could be interested given our defensive stocks and the needs to splash some cash on a Haaland type striker.
I'm just being bit Machiavellian TBH, of our big name stars I think he's the one who is most likely to go to balance the books because we could handle it. Maybe Martinelli is in that camp too. But one of Saka/Rice/Odegaard/Raya/Saliba moving on would be unfathomable.paulm
Im just not keeping across news as much these days. Why is there chat around Gabriel? What's happened there? I assumed he was locked in for a bit
I'm just being bit Machiavellian TBH, of our big name stars I think he's the one who is most likely to go to balance the books because we could handle it. Maybe Martinelli is in that camp too. But one of Saka/Rice/Odegaard/Raya/Saliba moving on would be unfathomable.paulm
Im just not keeping across news as much these days. Why is there chat around Gabriel? What's happened there? I assumed he was locked in for a bit
I could actually see Jesus being offloaded instead of Martenelli who really stepped up when Jesus was injured and off the boil. As did Havertz.
Oh for sure, Jesus is, in my mind, a squad player now. Martinelli and Gabriel starting 11 regulars, but given his injury struggles and lack of goals I really see Jesus as back up to Kai now - which is absolutely wild when I type it out.
Lots of chat about Mikel Merino. Seems to be a taller version of Arteta himself, albeit with lots of late Ramseyesque runs into the box to knick a goal. Could be quite decent option in the DM role, and would be able to rotate quite well with Rice/Odegaard further ahead. Cheap numbers too, £25m being floated.
Seen rumours we are chasing a deal for Nico Williams as well, which would put pressure on Martinelli and Saka. You'd assume on form that Havertz would be the leading option for a front man at the moment.
This would be the Rice/Odegaard deal of the summer if we can pull it off. Lifts the overall quality of the squad, puts pressure on the incumbents, and would drive us to another level. Challenge, I imagine, is getting him to join us without holding out for Barcelona or Madrid.theprof
Seen rumours we are chasing a deal for Nico Williams as well, which would put pressure on Martinelli and Saka. You'd assume on form that Havertz would be the leading option for a front man at the moment.
Riccardo's a gunner! Glad that deal got done. I think we're about to see ESR move to Fulham, which I think is a good move all around. It's Iwobi round two, but somehow harder.
Riccardo's a gunner! Glad that deal got done. I think we're about to see ESR move to Fulham, which I think is a good move all around. It's Iwobi round two, but somehow harder.
Fulham are spending an insane amount on ESR, great for us, but the kid has barely played any minutes for us over the last season and a half. I think he still has the skills to be a prem league player and he should do well at Fulham but they have wildly over spent for mine. (£34m incl add ons).
Think it’s a good move for ESR. He needs game time and a playing system which suits him better. Looks like Eddie is off to France with a few clubs putting in bids for him. Doubt we are getting N Williams as it looks like he has re-signed with Athletic Club. Looks like we are in a deadlock for Merino from sociadad. We’ve put in offers, the club has an offer to re-sign and the player and agent have said nothing. Hope we get him because we can’t rely on Partey again.
Happy for ESR getting a new gig and agree that Arsenal are doing very well out of the deal. I like the man but he’s looked a bit off the pace and understandably so.
I feel for the guy though. His trajectory was looking unstoppable and he just got completely derailed by injury. There were shades of Wilshere about his story but hopefully he’ll get fit for Fulham and succeed there.
Bit of chat about Zubamendi being off to Liverpool. If we can't convince him to leave, I'm unsure why Liverpool is a bigger prospect. I'd have thought a Spanish manager who has similar heritage and playing styles to him would have been more attractive, but hey - people are complicated right?!
With our new Italian stallion, we now have kiwior, Gabriel,, Zinchenko, timber and calafiori who can play LB or LCB. That is a lot to invest in that space. I don’t quite see the strategy in it. Unless maybe we are moving calafiori or Zink to DM to compete with Partey? Who should be the priority for an upgrade.
With our new Italian stallion, we now have kiwior, Gabriel,, Zinchenko, timber and calafiori who can play LB or LCB. That is a lot to invest in that space. I don’t quite see the strategy in it. Unless maybe we are moving calafiori or Zink to DM to compete with Partey? Who should be the priority for an upgrade.
We still have Tierney on the books, and Tomiyasu has been used there a bit as well.
Nice way to start and we could of finished with more. I thought there was a pen on saka and we wasted a few good openings. Also, stunning save from Raya in the middle of the first half to keep us ahead. And for all of Partey’s faults, the way he spread the ball and disrupt the space today was very nice to watch. He is class when he is fit and firing so long may it continue.
Yeah happy with that as a starting performance. I was surprised by the starting of Zinchenko at LB - and really happy to see Timber come on and do what he did. Havertz looked good up top, and saka was his useual self. Was very happy to see him get subbed off at the 80th. Needed to happen way more often last season, just for him rather than the team. Raya was solid, did what was needed when called upon. Really happy with the so called tough start we have, Villa next, the Brighton - both should be winnable, then Spurs and City. Would be great if we could give City a shake up early in the season.
Would be great if Chelsea nicked something for us tomorrow morning and we got off to an early lead on cheating Citeh but it’ll probably be a routine 3-0 with a Haaland brace.
Pretty much nailed this. Chelsea are such a fudgeing mess, 15 players training away from first team waiting moves, selling home grown talents for PSR who should be anchoring their midfield for the next decade, just a right mess. Long may it continue!Buffon II
Would be great if Chelsea nicked something for us tomorrow morning and we got off to an early lead on cheating Citeh but it’ll probably be a routine 3-0 with a Haaland brace.
Plenty of chat about outgoings at the moment, with Nketiah's move to Forest gaining momentum and Patino rumoured to be off to Deportivo. Wolves in the hunt for Ramsdale, albeit with a loan and obligation to buy. Silence on the Nelson front, and I'd not be surprised if we saw a left sided defender or two depart given Tomiyasu, Timber, Gabriel, Tierney, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Calafiori on the books. I'd be happy to see Tierney and one of Zinchenko/Kiwior to go...
Plenty of chat about outgoings at the moment, with Nketiah's move to Forest gaining momentum and Patino rumoured to be off to Deportivo. Wolves in the hunt for Ramsdale, albeit with a loan and obligation to buy. Silence on the Nelson front, and I'd not be surprised if we saw a left sided defender or two depart given Tomiyasu, Timber, Gabriel, Tierney, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Calafiori on the books. I'd be happy to see Tierney and one of Zinchenko/Kiwior to go...
Before the first game I was certain we'd see Zinchenko leave, but since he started and the Timber came on to replace him I can't see either leaving. Same with White, if he is starting RB then maybe Tomi is on the list for a move away. Tierney is unlikely to be kept surely.
I'm sure the club would be very keen to offload Tierney, but given his recent injury record I imagine it will be a tough to find a club willing to take him
Similar for Tomiyasu. He couldn't pass a medical. Slightly concerned that Calafiori came from the same club so hoping the medical process wasn't the same given he has previously suffered a knee injury that was thought to be career threatening.
Ramsdale is the other one I can see leaving pretty soon, he wont have been happy with the level of playing time he got last season and it's unlilekly to change anytime soon.
Pleased with the win this mornnig, Villa were thorns in our side last season! Took some time but Saka and Trossard really lit thigns up. ESR looked good for Fulham, scoring and getting good minutes.
