Spice is in the air, my nose is starting to twitch, I may even sneeze… transfer Scoble level is moving up a level.
The Portuguese press is reporting that Arsenal is interesting is moving for left-back Grimaldo, who was ahead of Nuno Taveres when he was at Benfica. The fee is €7m, which would represent at a €42m saving on what we were being asked to pay for Lisandro Martinez.
There’s a great article on the player here.
As touched upon previously Grimaldo has an excellent appreciation of space and how best to access the space in the attacking phase to bypass the defensive block.
This also extends to an ability to accurately play the diagonal pass across the field for his opposing fullback or winger if they have been left isolated against an opposition defender.
Having the ability to run with the ball, play short combination passes to advance up the near side of the pitch or switch the focus of the attack with a diagonal pass makes Grimaldo exceedingly difficult to play against.
I don’t know enough about the player to give you a deep run down, but it’s clear he has different attributes to Kieran Tierney. The player grew up in La Masia, he’s 26 years old so he’s experienced enough to deliver from day one, and he’s kind of an all-rounder left-back. He’s great in tight spaces, tactically astute, with a wide range of passes. He’s also a bit of a dead ball specialist.
This is where I kind of expected Arsenal to be with the back-up left-back, Lisandro Martinez was the dream, a super-specific specialist, but it looks like the deal was getting expensive, and we need to move on that position with urgency. This looks like a very solid plan B.
Also… Mikel Arteta sniffing around a Spaniard? A true rarity.
So let’s imagine these rumours are real, that puts additional funds back into the mixer. So… we’re once again being linked with a Brazilian. This time, it’s internet fan favorite, Lucas Paqueta. The fee is apparently £55m. He’s an 8, has all the flair you’d look for from a Brazilian, he’s a very Bang-Bang type of player. The journo that had the Gabi Jesus story is apparently behind this one, so who knows, it just seems like a lot of money when Youri Tielemans is there for £25m.
… but who knows. I said at the summer that there’s every chance that you could see an unexpected exit.
Player sales are going slow.
No movement for Hector, Bernd, Lucas T, Reiss, Ainsley, Runarsson… or any notable loans yet.
Ok, short one today, we’ll be back with a podcast at 9pm EST, so tune in!
Looooooads to talk about!
ALSO, why aren’t you subscribed to your Youtube channel? Get on it you monsters.
Un “We’d play teams like Borham wood and field the kids for first 2/3 games then do a tour or the emirates cup, fans in which first teamers got 45 mins quite often.” This is true to an extent , i used to always go to the borehamwood/ Arsenal pre season game as my family moved out to that area. The last one i went to was when Guendouzi made his debut and Aubamayang scored a hattrick. Quite often the team was quite strong though for this fixture, but not always . One year the team included pires, Ljundberg, Reyes… Read more »
Liverpool just sold 21 yo RB Neko Williams who has a career total of 484 EPL mins or the equivalent of 5 full games and a half for £17.5m and 15% sell-on clause. They know when to sell and for a lot of money too. Something we should have done with AMN 2 years ago when Wolves came knocking with £20m in their pockets. AMN a much more established English international at the time, we would never cash more than that amount.
I hope the Gabriel rumours are true. Does this mean Lisandro coming in? 🙏
I think we could be seeing a 352 a lot next year
Gabriel is too error prone. That’s my take. He’s the only player in the squad I’d be happy to sell. He pays for someone like Lisandro too who can play multiple positions
I really hope this signals Lisandro is coming in
Un
I see that you’ve started your daily Gabriel attacks.
According to you, ditching a player who’s done well for us for 2 seasons for a players who’s king of the Eredivisie is a great idea. I bet you didn’t watch more that 10 mins of Ajax domestic games in real time. We aren’t talking YouTube highlights now.
Have that in mind the next time you join the typical anti-negative posse on legrove going after other posters for ‘attacking’ Arsenal players
A backup left back and two decent central midfielders would seem to meet our current needs. Grimaldo,Tielemens and Milinkovic-Savic would be the ideal scenario..I really don’t believe we need any more “wide players” as we currently have Saka,Martinelli Vieira,Marquinos ESR and even Jesus who are capable of playing on either flank..In fact I dont really understand Arsenal’s currently fixation with the possibility of bringing in a dedicated winger!..With the addition of Saliba it could actually make sense to occasionally play a back three and two wing backs…negating the addition of a ” winger” even further!. At the same time we… Read more »
I am assuming Partey is not going to play for a while and we might lose ground in top 4 race by the time he returns
Is partey injured? Cause if it’s the other thing you can forget about him returning
Yeah I’d be disappointed to lose Gabriel I think he’s our best CB along with Saliba. Certainly be a travesty if Holding lasted longer than him
Diss That’s a fair point on the hype around Lisandro but that passing ability is pretty much as good as it gets for any no10 let alone a defensive player. I could well be hoping he is sold within 6 months of him arriving as I admittedly have never seen the guy play in real time However, when pointing out how certain posters here only seem to want to share negative thoughts on any particular topic I will think of this day and totally ignore your pleas as not being too keen on just one arsenal player doesn’t strike me… Read more »
Odengaard as captain? What you think?
Yeah I’d be disappointed to lose Gabriel I think he’s our best CB along with Saliba. Certainly be a travesty if Holding lasted longer than him
😂 😂 😂
🤦🏻♂️
Travesty. Such a drama queen
Un For me , we have 4 starters that are not up to scratch, Ramsdale, Gabriel, Xhaka and Odegaard. Ramsdale and Gabriel have their good moments but when push comes to shove they will let the team down. Xhaka is not press resistent so should be nowhere near the starting line up.. And i prefer my playmaker to be something more than a ball recycler. Again, he will show moments of quality, but that is normally when we are 2 goals up, I’d like to see the quality when we are behind.. For me , a playmaker is all about… Read more »
“Odengaard as captain? What you think?”
I’m cool with it. He is captain material
I mean Rob Holdings shite it’s a travesty that he’s earning a living while occupying space at Arsenal. He’s a modern Johan Djourou shit and miraculously lasting longer than he should at the club
Gabriel is our best CB in my opinion. Sure he has made a few errors but he has everything to be a top CB. Koscielny was worse when it came to errors when he started his career at Arsenal. But we all knew he would eventually cut his errors and become a top defender. And he eventually did.
Pierre
I’ll respond properly when I can mate
Little busy my end for a bit
Marko
Wow. Another world class take on football. You’re a man of extremes. There is no grey with you eh? Apart from that rain cloud that follow you around.
To be honest Holding has gotten better over the past two seasons. He was very shit before that though. I had no problems selling him when Newcastle were being linked with him for 10 mil back then. But I wouldn’t sell him now. He is very good to see games out and use as a 4th choice CB. And he is a positive influence in the dressing room from the videos I have watched of him being interviewed and interacting with his team mates.
I would not sell cb Gabriel he is young improving and great in the air
Holding is shit. If you can’t see that I dunno what to tell you. How many times does he have to let us down before you realize that
Marko
You do know that Gabriel has committed the second most errors leading to a goal in the entire league since his arrival?
Can you cite many or any particular time he’s let the club down or made any glaring errors during his career? Maybe spurs, maybe. Outside of that he’s been a solid and dependable professional and is a far better penesly box defender than Gabriel.
I’d compare him more to Martin Keown. Proper old school defender who relishes penalty box marking
Serge
Gabriel isn’t great in the air. He lets his marker get across him too often because he switches off and ball watches
Much better over long distances where his athleticism gives him an advantage but struggles with high or low wide balls into our box
Just a passing thought: given his defensive foibles make Tavares into a winger rather than continuing as a LB?
Thoughts?
Pierre Odegaard is never gonna be that guy who dribbles past opponents Like ozil he is very much a passer but unlike ozil he’s not the guy who likes t give the final pass He’s much more like Bernardo silva for me in that he likes to make the team tick More of an 8 and a 1/2 than a 10 ESR is better off being more advanced than him for me. Vieira is apparently the young up and coming king of the assist so maybe he’s there to provide that what Odegaard is more a xavi style prober to… Read more »
Again Rob Holding’s shit. I can’t even be bothered arguing about it it’s just like with Chambers who was also shit and should have been sold years ago but he was continually debated upon and eventually he left for nothing having done next to nothing at Arsenal. This fanbase I swear you guys get so attached to mediocrity it’s unreal. Is it because he’s English?
Gunna
I have a feeling that we may be going to a back 3 a lot this season and will deploy Jesus and Nketiah together frequently too.
Especially if we lose our best centre mid, I can see Arteta switching to a back 3 with progressive passing and either or both of holding and Saliba tasked with being out out and out defender.
Tomi and KT could play both wing back and cb in this system and Tavares wouldn’t be such a risk defensively.
Marko
Yes it’s because he’s English. If you can’t give me data or clear examples to support your argument then just saying he’s shit doesn’t cut it. 0/10 for effort. Must try harder
Marko
The below doesn’t include the mistakes he made vs chelsea Man U and palace when he cost the team at least 4 goals. Plus the (luckily) ruled offside cr7 goal
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-rio-ferdinand-gabriel-criticism-23867389.amp
https://mobile.twitter.com/talksport/status/1477297310535073796
https://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-man-is-in-the-top-three-of-players-with-errors-leading-to-a-goal/308459/amp
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-gabriel-mistake-fulham-draw-20413744.amp
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-wolves-gabriel-premier-league-26324330.amp
Hold8ng is a decent 4th choice and good to come on and shut up shop for 20 mins, would I want him to be a regular starter hell no
How about watching him flounder about for the best part of 5/6 years never really cementing himself as a starter being nothing more than a bench warmer. Is that the kind of data you want? I mean you only have to watch him and know he’s never going to displace the other cbs we have
One of the most iconic moments in the last decade for Arsenal was when someone with the quality of Rob Holding wore the captain’s armband. On Dec 19 2020, Rob captained the side to a 2-1 away loss to Everton and one of the goalscorers that night was Holding himself. I promised myself that I’ll be fine with anything else just to never lay my eyes on captain Rob fkin Holding again.
I mean Gabriel isn’t infallible he plays in a mistake ridden team under a novice manager who’s still trying to spend his way out of those mistake ridden performances. Gabriel still is a good defender hence why apparently Juve are interested in him. I think the closest we got to getting rid of Rob Holding was a loan to Newcastle before they got big money. Now they’re signing up the likes of Sven Botman and forgetting Rob exists
I don’t have exact data with me but last season Gabriel probably cost us more goals per 90 mins than Holding. Not saying Holding is an amazing defender but Gabriel isn’t great either. I don’t rate White either.
TR7 hard for Rob to cost us goals from the confines of the bench. Anyway the data doesn’t always tell the truth I remember last season there was a game against who I can’t remember and Rob Holding lost a header against someone small and they scored and it was a shocking mistake on his behalf but it technically didn’t count as an error leading to a goal cause he has to touch the ball? It’s like with Xhaka his errors leading to goals stats don’t actually tell the whole truth when you see him play. Holding regularly gets out… Read more »
Marko
Didn’t Keown play second fiddle until bould dipped?
And so what? He’s not considered elite enough to be our first team defender, hardly makes him shit. You talk in absolutes and always go to the extreme
Holding is valuable
Gabriel would be (for me) as long as he’s not guaranteed starter. But I’d rather someone who can defend their box than someone who’s athletic from the half way line
That puts holding above Gabriel as the superior out and our defender for me
” I can’t remember and Rob Holding lost a header against someone small”
Yes that incidence and the one against Son are the two glaring mistakes I remember. Apart from those two mistakes he largely did well in whatever opportunities he got. Not bad for a back up CB.
I do agree about White too I think it’s rose tinted glasses if you think he’s anything more than okay or worth 50 million. I personally think that if Saliba is given a fair opportunity he’ll probably show himself to be the best CB at the club. Whether it’s this season under Arteta or the following season under someone else imo
Marko
That game was agaisnt city and it was Leno’s inability to come for the cross which cost us that goal
But I’ll admit holding could have did better.
Apparently Partey arrived at London colney this afternoon, may be he got a bail.
I’m not even gonna respond to someone comparing Rob Holding to Martin Keown.
TR7 my point exactly those are mistakes and they don’t come up as some data metric. He’s actually got a lot of mistakes in him and a bit of a careless defender and after 6 years I don’t see the point in him
Marko
The point is Holding is good for a third or fourth choice CB. We have spent enough money already on defenders. Tomiyasu and Elneny can play as CB too if required. Our defense should not even be a talking point as far as transfers are concerned.
Also another thing about Holding and this idea of keeping him around I hate it when players are a certain age and have been at a club a certain time and they’re nothing more than back up the mentality and everything behind it is just bad for me. It means he’s complacent he’s unambitious and he’s content with being nothing more than a back up. If he was younger okay he’s got time to try to push to be a starter but at nearly 27 that time has passed. He’s basically our Rugani who also at 27 once highly thought… Read more »
The point is Holding is good for a third or fourth choice CB. We have spent enough money already on defenders. Tomiyasu and Elneny can play as CB too if required.
You’re kinda reinforcing my point. We have enough options at CB so why keep Rob Holding as 4th/5th choice CB? I’ve yet to see anyone make an argument for keeping him around to challenge for a starting spot
Don’t we have some American CB joining this summer at 23 years of age? Why can’t he be 4th choice or what’s the point in him
As has been pointed out Holdinho has a role to shore up the defence in last desperate throws of a game where invariably we’ll be struggling with a physical aerial bombardment adopted by the lower 2/3 of the prem when we’re away.Makes sense to keep him.Brit grit required in those moments.
Brit grit required in those moments.
We just talked about him making mistakes but sure brit grit.
” have enough options at CB so why keep Rob Holding as 4th/5th choice CB” Holding is definitely better than Elneny. Tomiyasu is likely to play mostly as a right back. Saliba has not yet played even one game in PL. White and Gabriel aren’t Maldini and Baresi either. So in effect Holding is not necessarily the 4th choice or 5th choice right now. He could well be the third choice as things stand right now and could even replace White or Gabriel if their form drops. He is a readymade and able back up if you will who can… Read more »
The main point I made earlier today was that Juventus seem to think that they can buy Gabriel on the “cheap” and below the Euros 40 million which they claim Arsenal are demanding. This is the usual “chutzpa” of clubs on the continent. They seem to assume that Arsenal will/ should sell their players on the cheap or even better let them go out on loan, but when we want to recruit players they quote grossly inflated prices. Personally I would not have any dealings with Italian Clubs. Most are run by gangsters. Every time we are dealing with these… Read more »
I will not allow Holding slander on here , man pocketed Diego Costa with Per Mertesacker as his partner . Has helped Arsenal win a trophy ! Its the modern way of playing out the back he hasnt adapted well to otherwise he is still very good player.
Funny that as Costa still scored when he overpowered Holding and if it wasn’t for Ospina saving another 2 big chances, Rob would have a direct hand in a Costa hat-trick. In fact every single chance that Chavs got in that game was through Costa so funny that Holding is touted as having a brilliant game then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXeS3rsW1Z8
Marko the big go getter talking about rob holding being complacent when he comes in and performs well. Such high standards for a back up center half. It’s a wonder yu aren’t a billionaire
And of course Rap bowls in with another bull shit take.
I’ve seen more sense out of jedward than rap and Marko
Holding isn’t shit. Neither is Gabriel. One is an okay low block defender the has gotten better recently and one is a potentially top class high line CB in the making who has made a few mistakes. That is my take on it.
Anything that comes out of the Italian media you can take with a very,very large pinch of salt.They are the mouthpieces of the big seria clubs.& will spout anything to get a player for peanuts.Real or imagined.Even if Arsenal were interested,the fee in todays market would prob be £60 million plus.They know this.
Marko.Does Holdinhos mistakes occur regularly when he thrown in the dying embers of a match? Just curious.can’t recall any.
Don,
You’re the one with the hot take. Who said that Holding is superior to Gabriel? You did. Only in your eyes btw.
See Bernie Ecclestone up for fraud.Couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke.A chav fan to boot.
Positive Pete
Fiorentina took Torreira on loan and there was an agreed price should they want to buy him.
Also there was apparently an agreement with the player and his agent regarding wages.
Apparently they broke their agreement regarding both.
When a club behaves in that fashion I would not touch them with a barge pole.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk6LZYKC44s
Pocketed costa
He was the best striker in Europe that season and he got goal side of holding once, just.
Rap
Yeah as a penalty box defender
In a high line Gabriel is clearly superior
They are polar opposites
Un
If holding was a top class defender, how come he has never been close to an English cap? Because everyone knows his limitations. Do you think Gabriel wouldn’t get a cap of he was English? Do you think it would have been as hard for him to displace Maguire ast it was for Holding, when he is getting call ups from a Brazilian team that has Marquinos, Eder Militao, Thiago Silva, Bremer, Diego Carlos?
Don,
Weird that they don’t show Costa’s goal after he got the better of Holding in that supposedly “Rob Holding vs Chelsea” compilation. At least they showed Ooooospina’s 2 top saves vs Costa after Holding errors. They also showed 3 fouls commited vs Costa by Holding.
Weird thing if Holding supposedly had Costa in his pocket.
Pocketed costa
Like that one good game wilshere had against Barca am I right. What a career he had
Habs
I never claimed he was top class
But he’s not shit either
He’s very capable and a highly dependable 3rd 4th choice and he’s only going to improve
Marko
If you can’t see how good wilshere was then you have no business commenting on a football blog
Broken and overhyped comes to mind
Exactly.
Anyway onto something worthwhile it seems like Saliba extension is going to be announced soon
Haha.
The numpties over at Untold have just done a whole article around the Premier League table disregarding the first three defeats, like they don’t count.
Childish fools.
Saka and Saliba contract extension on the cards apparently
“Haha.
The numpties over at Untold have just done a whole article around the Premier League table disregarding the first three defeats, like they don’t count.
Childish fools.”
As childish fools as they are, you still visit the blog. What do you call that?
I would be happy to see us make more signings, the season is going to be long and tough because so many teams are improving, so we need more bodies. I hope we make the Champions League next year, it’s long over due, Arteta must deliver it this coming season. We need to start rubbing shoulders with the big boys again.
Partey was at training today aswell.
Odegaard soon to be announced as captain
” I can’t remember and Rob Holding lost a header against someone small”
Raheem Sterling
How can you say Wilshere had one good game against Barca?
As a teenager he was phenomenal. It wasn’t until he missed a season through injury, came back and started breaking down regularly that he declined. His first couple of years at arsenal he was absolutely brilliant. That Barca performance was only a surprise to someone who hasn’t been paying attention to his other games in those early days. He was running rings round senior PL players like it was nothing before he broke and his very early decline started
Un July 11, 2022 14:55:03 Habs I never claimed he was top class. But he’s not shit either He’s very capable and a highly dependable 3rd 4th choice and he’s only going to improve I know he isn’t shit. He is an okay defender for me. But I am pointing to the fact that Holding wouldn’t get in to Brazil’s squad and Gabriel is getting in to the Brazil squad plus he would have a chance to get in to England’s squad as well if he was English when Holding won’t. And Gabriel is clearly the better player between the… Read more »
Holding should be a first team CB at a team like villa or one of those mid table teams. He is an ok defender nothing special. I would question his motivation in why he is not aiming to be a first teamwr somewhere else instead of a bench warmer here.
I haven’t seen the Saka and Saliba extension news from credible journalists. Just a lot of rumors on Twitter. It would be fantastic and would give us a boost if it happens though.
6ft 2 Rob Holding losing out to 5ft 7 Raheem Sterling is pretty yikes
Why the constant need to shit on our own players.
I would love to pinch that Tyrick Mitchell from Palace as a back Left Back.
How can you say Wilshere had one good game against Barca?
They even mentioned that in his retirement announcement twat. The Barcelona game and the goal against Norwich basically summed up his arsenal career.
Vieira doing well at Palace. Some good players there but that Gallagher lad will be missed
Reiss Nelson could be given opportunities to play in cup games this season.
Odegaard is medicrity personified. What a pointless lightweight signing. Another with 0 resale value who will run down his contract. The typical modern AFC player.
Habesha GoonerJuly 11, 2022 ” Holding isn’t shit. Neither is Gabriel. One is an okay low block defender the has gotten better recently and one is a potentially top class high line CB in the making who has made a few mistakes. That is my take on it.” Very reasonable take. Italian media is even more corrupt than most.. Juve trying to destabilize Gabriel, who I think we will extend soon enough. I would add… if Saliba signs an extension, I would consider selling Holding. I think he’d be a very good defender for most teams in the Prem except… Read more »
Saliba is not only good at defending, he is also good at scoring goals. Definetly worth more than 60m.
Shitting on your plates and miraculously expecting high value bids for them.
Congratulations
Marko
“Vieira doing well at Palace. Some good players there but that Gallagher lad will be missed”
Exactly what i was thinking, he is a player who can press ….as Partey found out the last time we played palace.
Odegaard, the invisible guy when the going gets tough, will apparently lead us on the pitch. I would consider giving the armband to one of Saka, Tierney, Gabriel, Partey (I guess not anymore) before the Norwegian. Oh well, not like we’ve had great captains of late.
Can someone convince me that Gabriel is a better option than Holding?
Imo, if he was injury free and given the game time, he would be a better option.
As a defender Gabriel scored 5 goals last season .. many of them game changers when we were struggling to score goals so any errors he made leading to goals he more, then made up for, scored more goals then Pepe who we pay an absolute fortune to score them. The stat I read Xhaka and Cedric lead our team with errors leading to goals over the last 5 seasons anyhow much bigger liabilities then Gabi. . Weird player to call one of our weakest links to be honest. Plus he is part of the Brasilian posse now. Adds that… Read more »
“Crystal Palace confirm the signing of midfielder Cheick Doucoure in a £22m deal from Lens”
There’s good value on the market
We should stop kicking tires around Europe with that offer for Savic. Get this central midfield hole filled quickly.
Who can the poster that hated Wilshere with every post what was his name again?
Mid great post
MidwestGun
July 11, 2022 17:23:17
As a defender Gabriel scored 5 goals……
“There’s good value on the market”
There is but Arsenal come along and it’s extra premium getting added.
That type of midfielder would of probably grown up watching his idol Vieira.
The Kante rumour starting to gain legs. Seems Chelsea aren’t going to extend his deal which has just 12 months left and are looking at Guido Rodriguez from Betis.
Kante in his prime was a shoe in but his body has taken massive hammering so far from sure he would provide any thing other than a 1-2 year civer
If it had not been for total incompetence by our transfer team we should have been able to bring big Mav back into the squad. I am sure he would at least be better than Holding and Mari.
Elneny staying is at least a plus as he is perfect for all our cup games as he shines against lower quality opposition like on Friday but is out of his depth against Pool etc where there is real pressure.
I think it was Bob or some poster name like that … who hated on wilshere every time he played with about 30 different I hate wilshere posts.
I actually thought it was the real Jack Wilshere trolling himself as a joke it was so over the top. That would have been pretty funny if true.
If Chelsea do not want to extend Kante then there must be good reasons. I hear Willian type warning bells.