The full-back circle of life is a thing of beauty.
Arsenal have signed Zinchenko, the Ukraine captain is heading to Orlando, he had his last supper with Pep, the 25-year-old is an Arsenal player.
Manchester City are going to turn their attention to Marc Cucurella of Brighton, a superb player, trained in the basics of what City do.
Brighton, according to reports, are now going to target Nuno Tavares on loan this season, with Marseille turning their attentions elsewhere. Give me the Brighton move all day, Graham Potter has a great system, he’s a top class coach, and he’ll make Nuno better in the Premier League.
Then you have Spurs. They just signed Djed Spence for £12.5m, a player that was put out on loan by Boro’, who terrorised Arsenal, is now the star boy at Spurs.
Right?
Right?
This is the Antonio Conte unendorsement:
“Spence is an investment of the club. The club wanted to do it. I said okay, this player is young but he showed he can become a good, important player for us. The club decided to buy him.”
hahaha
Pure leadership, as usual. Now, Spurs has to sign young players, if they left Conte to his own devices, he’d be buying eleven 32-year-olds… but this shows you his mentality and why he doesn’t last long. It’s all about him. Imagine how Djed feels reading that? Imagine what they does for his standing at his new place of work? Super amusing.
Back to Arsenal.
Next on the agenda is Youri Tielemans at Leicester City. Edu is finally showing a bit of maturity with the way he moves on players. The player wants Arsenal, the club wants the player, no one else can be arsed to create a bidding war, Leicester has no leverage… so the deal will be done and it’ll be done on our terms.
The move reminds me of Georginio Wijnaldum when he went to Liverpool. Newcastle had a bad season, they were relegated, Liverpool moved, and the player smashed his chance under Klopp. Youri doesn’t have a lot of credit in the bank because fans would rather pine over someone playing for Rennes than a talent doing it at a high level in England. Also, far too many people think the only way you can exist as a midfielder is if you are Bissouma. Sorry people, you don’t need sprinter pace to be an elite midfielder. Tielemans doesn’t need pace. He’s operating in a small section of the pitch. He has to be able to turn in tight spaces, he has to have the intelligence to create openings. He has to have the ability to executed complex instructions. Thierry Henry’s fave player in Monaco has all that. He’ll be an absolute star at Arsenal, do not sleep on his talent, you’ll end up looking silly like I did when I championed Tall Boy Summers.
Tielemans has it all, he’ll be a top, top signing for Arsenal if we get him.
After that, we’ll need just one more player: A wide forward that has elite levels of production in their profile.
I have no idea what that looks like but Raphinha was interesting to Arsenal for about £40m with incentives. You can do some damage with that sort of money. Remember, cash really isn’t flowing around Europe, our sort of money can get you a very good deal if you know where to look.
Leroy Sane would be ideal, but it feels a bit naive to think we have that pull now, I’m not sure we’re going to be dropping £290k a week deals when we’re in Europa. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other players that could do the job. Johnny on the latest Patreon suggested we might source a wide player that can operate as a #9 if needed. We’re short in the striker department, so who knows.
… but, whatever your thoughts, you can’t deny that we have gone very big already and with two more players we’re talking about a 10/10 summer on paper.
How awesome is that?
Very awesome.
Ok, some sexy new content for you.
We have a NEW Patreon that you can get access to today. We talk vicious animals, Zinchenko, and where he’ll play, whilst also ranking our summer so far. I’m tired, but look, I still try and deliver a 10/10 performance for the good people that send cash our way.
You could become one of them and get the early access content. Just click below.
If you are cool watching some older content, we cover off Sane and Zinchenko before the confirmation landed. It’s a cracker, so dive in, then give in to the Patreon dream after.
Also, to get more traffic, you have to do these dumb thumbnails where the brief is basically ‘what’s an annoying face that will draw attention.’ Did I do it right? Click the damn video and we’ll see.
Freddie yep I guess. Just didnt have any real impact either postively or negatively Kind of a net sum Zero half for him. Anyhow… not like he was our worst … like Rich said.
Gabriels coming in… defense and attack. Ode… in midfield
I think Ben White is at rb too. or 3 at the back.
Wonder if we can dump Mari and Xhaka at a retirement home in Florida where they can live out their days racing their peers to the 4 o’clock dinner buffet.
Bet Xhaka loves him some Matlock.
Jesus in for about 1 min and gets a shot on target,
Pepe going with the multiple stepover attack.
I mean who doesn’t love Matlock?
Jesus with another shot on target,
Lord have mercy Gabby Jesus is a clone of Henry and Alexis Sanchez.
Wow.
Jesus is a lit matchstick.
Oh I guess we switched Keepers too.. didnt even notice .. hahaha
Dissenter, Understood regarding Ishola… But some are re-writing the history from last summer. Xhaka admitted in this most recent espn interview that he was going to be allowed to leave…. but the truth is the bids weren’t close to Arsenals valuation from the cheap Italian clubs. We extended him so his contract wouldn’t run down, to retain some value. Any nonsense about the club convincing him to stay, begging him, are just public relations junk. People saying that here.. they all remember how last summer went. They are being dishonest. And yeah, I was ready for him to leave last… Read more »
Hand Lokonga over to Kompany at Burnley to pump life into his fball soul
He is like a pitbull looking for a bone.
Pepe, the man with 1000 touches and no right foot!
All he had to do with his position was cross it with his right foot, but no, cut back, slow it down to nothing!
Jesus is electric…..
Tavarres boots man 😂😂
Look at that junk player Tavares sending the ball into the moon.
What a scrub …
Lol Nuno wouldnt have hit a 50Yd wide goal.
Partey
Saliba
Xhacrap
Saka
About to enter
Here comes the cavalry Saka and company.
Wow Saka gets the loudest ovation
I would have to give Pepe a very lowgrade for this one, Get Leeds on the phone.
Now all our big guns are in. Let’s go!
Pepe reminds me of that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Harrison Ford takes down the swords slinger with his pistol.
Pepe being the ineffective sword slinger.
The difference between starters and second team is ginormous. Just dont get any injuries all I ask.. Was that Partey on target from distance?
Goallll…..!!!!Think it was Eddie..
Goalasoooo 2-1.
Beautiful Arsenal.
Get rid of the scrubs
Glad he got one.. he was working hard all match.
Wow the talent and the gap in effectiveness in this team is a little scary
Great little goal from incatchuh
Odegaard is a bloody magician.
He is so deft and smooth in his touches
Eddie is good picking up lose balls.
Saliba never in doubt
Jesus… Eddie and Saka are kind of like a buzzsaw.. compared to first half.. Ode is dealing as well.
Saliba isnt having none of that fancy moves business. good defending.
Hope I don’t jinx him but I think Saliba looks like our best defender already.
So composed and strong on the ball
I kind of want Ben White to score not gonna lie. hahaha Has he ever scored a goal?
Saliba looking like a starter to me so confident.
Yep Gabs Saliba and Ben White don’t look put of place across the back.. add in Zinchenko as the free roamer.. and we might be in business.
Our first buys this season should’ve been.
BIssouma
Jesus
Hickey
Tielemans
Those four alone would’ve constituted a great summer
Arteta take out Tavares and put him out of his misery.
This guy is terrible.
He belongs at Leyton Orient
No way were we gonna make Bissouma an offer given the Partey situation… just wasnt gonna happen. Zinchenko is a baller ..happy with our business so far
Reiss Nelson with the tap in..
Ødegaard just next level vision.
3-1.
Another good goal.
Ohhh Saka probably should have scored.
Mid
Did you see Zinchenko one the stands at half time
There was a row of fans queuing up to take selfies with him
Saliba doing well. Eddie’s ability to be in the right place at the right time is definitely an asset to the team.
Yep Diss.. I would have been in line.. hahaha
Our first team and top 4 subs are top quality
After that, it’s a preciptious drop down a ravine
*I meant “Our first eleven and top 4 subs are top quality
They shouldn’t sell Tavares
He needs a good loan out under a good manager
Odegaard is putting on a clinic… just dont get hurt. dude.
Same with Jesus ….. dont get hurt man..
To think there were 35k gooners at theBaltimore game
We would have filled this stadium, 2x over.
Yep think it;s about 50/50 maybe 10k Gooners
Saliba is going to give Mikel many a headache this season.
Odegaard taking a beating just dont think Vieira is ready for that.. through the middle.
Reiss Nelson gave a good account of himself
Ok then… second half very good.. Starters look primed to go…
First half.. ummm sell some dudes. Edu.
Saliba is a big boy
Nice to have tall defenders
Midwest,
Were any of Øde chances created “BIG” chances?
Can’t get too excited if not.
Saliba looks like a rolls Royce defender.
Time to get that extension signed and sealed.
That boy can play.
Pato and Jesus taking selfies together … shirt exchange.
Those are good headaches….
Nigel… I don’t know.. that;s Pierre;s department.. I just know he was good and opened them up.
Ok then Chelscum up next.. should be interesting.. Eddie was voted motm.
I don’t know how you can love football, but not love Martin Odegaard?….
A few in this space that have written in stone that Ødegaard just won’t cut it so it must be eh?
I feast on that shit, the lack of mobility in a view about a very fluid thing. We’re going to have some fun this season
Something to do with Ozil worship.. and comparison or something .. I honestly don;t try to dive too deep into the pyschology of it. Hurts my head.
Jesus looking very sharp, Ode with some magic, Saliba very composed again, Eddie working hard, .
Tavares terrible again, not very good defensively, and those shots, smh. Really needs to work on his decision making.
When we get some players back to fitness most of our problems will go away, just worried about the state of our midfield any time Partey is missing. Get that sorted before the season starts and it could be a good one.
Everton lost 4-0 to Minnesota
Obviously we’ll find a way to gift them some points, but unless they secure some better players, they’re going to be in big trouble this season.
Everton lost 4-0 to Minnesota
Obviously we’ll find a way to gift them some points, but unless they secure some better players, they’re going to be in big trouble this season.
Loaning Tavares to a PL club would be risky, he’s the type of player that loses managers their jobs.
We need him to play consistently, he has raw potential, but unless he has some type of epiphany, he’s currently a long way off the required level.
Send him to a lower level, set him up on a loan somewhere he’s like,y to succeed, rather than setting him up to fail.
That goes without saying for sure, Everton are our charity case.
My money is on Tielemans next in after the baller move for Zinchenko, fleshes the mid out with the options we need.
Have to say the Saliba ultras will not be disappointed, has a real almost zen like calmness and composure defending, we going to see much of him this season. Perfect headache Dissenter.
https://twitter.com/gigicat7_/status/1549700895939538945?t=uhsrkSwi5sHnK7IYxUqfOw&s=19
Stumbled on to this friendly football match between Casillas 11 and Nadal 11. Had Nadal chosen to be a footballer he would probably have been as big a superstar as he is now. Already better than Sanogo I guess.
Still think we need 3 signings after Zinchenko, In no specific order, and dependant on outgoings:
Left sided centre back, doesn’t necessarily need to be left footed, but needs to be good in possession, and comfortable playing a high line, we can’t go with Mari + Holding.
Left sided No8, with energy, end product, + cutting edge.
Right winger to compete with Saka, but who can play also play on the left if needed, Pepe’s confidence looks shot, I’d rather keep Nelson and give him some opportunities.
I think Eddie, Jesus and Saka as our front 3 will be amazing.
TR7
Wow. Talent just oozing out of him.
Rich
Saliba, Gabriel, Holding and White – we are well covered in central defense
Tierney and Zinchenko as left fullbacks and Tomi and Cedric as right fullbacks is not bad at all.
I don’t think we need to sign any defender. A CDM/CM and a Saka back up is all we need.
Lokonga and Tavares need to be sent on loan.
TR7
Holding is a decent penalty box defender, but he’s a liability stepping out.
If the opportunity presents itself to shuffle the pack, then we shouldn’t blink.
If we want to install a consistent style of play, then we need symmetry in our backline.
Rich
Holding is good as back up option.
Yeah I don’t rate Cedric at all tbh but as a squaddy for emergencies, fine
Our entire defense has plenty of quality and numbers now. Tho rather than use Cedric as Tomi’s backup I’d use White.
Cedric and his endless pointless floaty crosses gives me an aneurysm.
Also
Rich ‘ Everton lost 4-0 to Minnesota’
That’s gotta hurt man, Christ. I know it’s preseason but how do Everton pass this result off? Shameful
Nigel Tufnel
You use the word “hate” a lot when it comes to responding to those of us who see failings and weaknesses.
GX is a liability and irrespective of what MA and others see in him, he is not a player I personally rate highly.
Anyway, what do I know.
I’m with Rich on the LCB. I do think they need to be a left footer. That will ensure continuity of play. I love Bob Holding, but he’s an I’ll fit for our system, so better to get as much value for him as we can, and then top it up and go and get someone to compete/rotate with Big Gabi
I have to say the players look amazing in the black kit
Good post Pedro. I agreed that if Tavares ends up at Brighton that would be the best chance he has of having any future with Arsenal. I didn’t see any of the Orlando game but from the sounds of it, he was fairly awful, albeit not the only one.
As I have said before, he gives me serious Eboue vibes, which is probably being unfair to Eboue.
So zinchenko, this is turning out to be a monster of a summer. One stat I read the other day. Zinchenko has 10 goal involvements from 25 games as cm and 10 from lB from 4x the games (approximations and I don’t know if for club or country but was like the last 5 seasons) I think we will be seeing a lot of his versatility. I would not even mind zinchenko displacing xhaka and only filling in lb when Tierney is out. But the squad is looking fit as fuck!!! Seems to be all coming together again. Up the… Read more »
Did Vieira play yesterday?
Matt
No. Not sure if he has started training yet.
Rich Arsenal have recruited sofar 4 new players and we can anticipated also the arrival of Zinchenko as well. My view is that the addition of one more midfield player to rotate with Partey and Xhaka should be the end of our incoming transfer business this summer. You should not forget that we have brought back Saliba so that we will have seven additions to our squad which is now in my view bordering on excessive recruitment. You can go OTT in recruitment and destabilise the team. The focus should be on finalising the last two pieces of jigsaw and… Read more »
GoobergoonerJuly 21, 2022 09:15:09 So zinchenko, this is turning out to be a monster of a summer. One stat I read the other day. Zinchenko has 10 goal involvements from 25 games as cm and 10 from lB from 4x the games (approximations and I don’t know if for club or country but was like the last 5 seasons)I think we will be seeing a lot of his versatility. I would not even mind zinchenko displacing xhaka and only filling in lb when Tierney is out. But the squad is looking fit as fuck!!! Seems to be all coming together… Read more »
Or maybe he sucked in there so he had to be converted to another position.
Its like Lokonga was asked to pick three Arsenal players to get their traits infused into him. He chose Niles, Kallstorm and Denislon. Absolutely passive and worhtless.
These pre-season games are more about conditioning than anything else. The aim is to build up match fitness and give everyone a run. Match fitness is not the same as physical fitness. Good opportunity to run your eyes over new players, integrate them and make final decision on fringe players. Some might not have done enough.
What is so good about going to the states, is these MLS teams are already at peak match fitness because their league season is underway. So that creates a good test. Fitness wise we look really good. I’m itching for the season to start.
ES I agree we certainly need to sell players before entering the market for anymore, I also agree that contract extensions for Saka + Saliba are a priority in the meantime. But providing we can clear the deck, I don’t buy the argument that we can unsettle the squad, by improving it too much. If we can sell Pepe + Nelson, then we should sign another winger who Arteta trusts to compete with Saka, but who can play both sides. If we can sell Torreira + Niles, then we should enter the market for a left sided No8. If we… Read more »
Raptors
Ever the optimist Rap 😂
Matt “I didn’t see any of the Orlando game but from the sounds of it, he was fairly awful,” It’s never wise to go by the comments on Le grove during a game when assessing whether a player has played well or not.. It sometimes feels that you have watched a different game than the one le groaners are commenting on. At present , Tavares will be slaughtered on here as he has been judged by Arteta as being surplus to requirements. Mari …same Holding apparently can’t play a high line so that is the main angle of criticism with… Read more »
Pierre
So Mari and Tavares had good games then?
I know you’ve been batting for Mari for a while but he’s simply not good enough. You can’t be that slow and survive as a CB in the PL for a team that isn’t always sitting back.
Should have kicked him out after the initial loan as it was very obvious back then too.
Rich There are always some players who can be upgraded, but sometimes it is better to do it progressively rather than in one go. Players like Soares and Holding are clearly not top level, but they are popular within squad. Holding as a fourth string CB and Soares at Europa Cup level are probably good enough. If we look at Centre Back positions we need to rotate Saliba, White and Gabriel to keep all three happy and Holding understands very well that his game time will be limited. However, the lesson learned from last season having just 3 CBs in… Read more »
Amazing how people carry water for Gabriel’s mistakes when he has a “weak” midfield ahead of him and Tavares to he left but never for anyone else with Lakonga and Elneny in front of him (as opposed to GX and TP)
Mari is too slow for the league yet Gabriel gives away the most goals in the entire team and 2nd in the entire league yet he’s the mutt’s nuts