Wow, I am totally humbled today, like, every person that read yesterday’s post agreed? First time ever. Totally wild.

Just kidding, the best people on the internet agreed, the worst did not.

Let’s crack into today’s post (note, I drank some beer before penning this tragically bad word vom).

Arsenal, according to the press, are about to TERMINATE the contract of Mikhi. Sounds brutal, but apparently the deal is that we cut him loose and Roma will give him a contract that equals what he had before. Can you complain that we didn’t get a fee? Maybe. But this is the new world and I find it INCREDIBLE that any club in the world is willing to shell out £180k a week on a name that has done fuck all for 4 years, that is now 31. £10m a year for Mikhi? Madness.

That is the power of Raiola. If this were an Arsenal deal, I’d be FEWMING. I reckon their melt fans are saying, ‘well, a couple of bad deals from a super-agent probably means we’re due an exciting elite youngster.’

Fools.

This might be the way many clubs operate this summer. I’m expecting that sort of deal for Mesut Ozil. It might be tougher with him because no club in world football will offer close to £350k a week for a player that doesn’t like away games, but the German MIGHT consider getting a termination if a club out there wants to offer him the security of a 3-year deal, even at a lower rate. Maybe Team Fortnite has a place for him?

I watched all 17 minutes of the Mikel Arteta prezzer before the Norwich game today. There wasn’t a lot to chew on.

• Ozil and Matteo need to give a little more in training to be considered
• Norwich will fight for their lives
• Arteta really, really likes Soares and values his delivery in the final third of the pitch (POOR HECTOR (thought true))
• He offered a broad statement of love for Saka and Balogan

The press is focusing on this section of chat.

“I’m expecting a player that is not playing to feel hurt and disappointed,”

“I believe he’s not very happy because he’s not playing, but as well he picked up an injury the other day and we have to wait and see how he evolves.”

“Everybody that I have in the squad, my job is to get the maximum out of them and to try and help them and support them. And if they are willing, everybody is welcome. I always hope that the players want to give their best.”

I’m not sure Mesut feels, but it’d be nice if the conversation pre-game wasn’t about his lack of interest in being a good professional, but here we are.

Back to real talk.

Am I about the get hyped on Cedric Soares because Mikel said I should BE EXCITED?

You’re damn right I am. Best right-back in the Kia portfolio. THE FUTURE.

St. Etienne publicly slew/slayed Arsenal for not letting Saliba play a cup final which would cost Arsenal a £2.5m loan fee.

🔴 L’#ASSE n’a pu trouver d’accord avec Arsenal pour permettre à William #Saliba de bien préparer et jouer la finale de la @coupedefrance, le club anglais imposant des conditions sportives et financières absolument inacceptables !

📄 Lire le communiqué complet 👇

— AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) June 30, 2020

Absolute double melts on toast. Clearly reeling because their cougar fiend of a Prez cancelled the football season for Euro brownie points. Get over it lads, it’s done, you looked covid in the eye and jumped the incoming two-footed challenge.

I don’t quite understand what sort of contract madness Huss Fahmy put in place here, but it sounds like a mental clause. Bit of a worry that we’re going to take a teenager out of a cup final; like, why wouldn’t the French club just waive the fee? He’s their best defender? Stupid.

Transfer talk?

Mikel had this to say on Matteo.

“When Arsenal picked him to come here its because they could obviously see the potential & the qualities Matteo has. When you are developing, the curve is not normally so much straightforward, you have to have some bumps & you have to adapt to it”

Yep, life is a rollercoaster, you just got to ride it. What I’m reading into this is the Frenchman is one of the few sexy assets we have to work with this summer. I suspect he’ll make a great makeweight with an elite club. Could he be the midfielder that allows Atleti to justify moving on Thomas Partey? Maybe. The rumours are still hot that the Ghanaian and Upemacano are our primary targets. I’d love it if that were true. Maybe Lacazette is the RPL for Werner?

Back to the game.

If we beat the carrot crunchers, we’ll leapfrog Sheff U, Burnley and Spurs into 7th. The hope – and it’s a wild one based on form – is that we’ll be within 6 points of Wolves and United going into the weekend. We’ll then have the chance to close the gap on Nuno if we beat his excellent side. It’s one game at a time, but two wins in the next two games at least puts us in the mixer.

I don’t hold out much hope, but I’ll always dream.

Short post today.

If you are struggling for content, read my story on Raul the Bagman + Arsenal: Getting back to the top. OR, listen to this elite podcast.

Spotify | Apple Podcasts