END OF SEASON MEETINGS BEGIN TO SHAPE THE SUMMER

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Arsenal’s summer of madness is about to kick off very soon. Mikel Arteta and the squad will jet off around the world to recuperate and get planning for the season ahead.

The club will have majority of the deals they want to progress well in the works, but I suspect there are is a number of potential players they are interested in that are more complex and risky that they are keeping and eye on.

Players exiting is going to be massive this summer. There are names we know are most certainly gone. Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, Sambi, Tavares and Granit Xhaka will be out the door, no doubt.

Then there’s the second layer of players we need more information on.

Emile Smith Rowe has been out in the cold for the whole season, clocking a meagre 240 minutes – but according to David Ornstein his people spoke to Arteta and they are assuring him he is part of the plans. This is the best news of the window for me. Kicking out a player coming back from surgery always felt harsh, especially when you consider the output he offers, and the love the fans have for him. There’s also an U21 Championship this summer – last big miss from a youth tournament was not giving Serge G a deal before he smacked up the Olympics.

Reiss Nelson is also an interesting one. The internet cooked me a few weeks ago because I said I thought he’d exit – and some sites said he’d signed. Well, we’re 30 days out from his contract expiring and still no deal signed – he’s had 4 offers which tells you where we are with numbers. There was a Premier League club pushing hard for his signature – my guess is they’ve offered him more money and more minutes. Will he stay on at a club that gave him 600 minutes in the hope that as we level up he’ll get more time? Or will he take the game time and prestige of knowing he’s a starter – kind of like Zaha did when he moved from United to Palace. He might have penned the Arsenal deal already – but it was far from cut and shut. If he stays, it’s love for the club over serious minutes. A bit like John O’Shea at United.

Eddie is going to be an interesting one. He played plenty of minutes, he did really well, but he was only really used once Jesus picked up and injury. He’s top talent, has all the attributes to be a starter in the Premier League – what will Arsenal tell his people when they come knocking?

We also live in the same situation with Folarin Balogun. He’s just scored a bucketload of goals, landed 3000+ minutes, and he’s about the become an All American Icon as he moves towards WC 2026 – will he risk a season like Eddie? Or will he see striker openings at clubs like Brentford and push for a move. On this topic – we need to get bank if we are selling. If he was French and United or Chelsea were bidding on him from a Ligue 1 club, the fee would be astronomical. I want to see a big number for him.

‘Remind them of Mudryk’ should be the negotiating strategy.

Thomas Partey, one of the best players in our team under pressure, has interest from Italy. BUT, he is expensive, and he’s important to us. Do we really want to shift him out this season? Italy will be there the season after. If the number is big enough, it helps us with other players, it also gives more flex on wages. It would be a HUGE decision to move him on now – but it could happen.

Then you have other positions the club might need to invest in. There’s no back-up for Zinchenko UNLESS the club is thinking Tavares is the alternative. If you keep Smith Rowe, do you need a Maddison? Or do you go for a Tielemans. Matt Turner needs minutes, he can’t do what Ramsdale does, so do we we look for another backup keeper? I simply refuse to believe Arteta has attempted to buy a back-up to Saka 50 times, only to decide he’ll have that be Reiss. Or… does he go for a striker instead of a back-up to Saka and genuinely move Reiss up a level? Are we going to sign a right back or will we have a #6 dropping back next season like Partey has for us and Caicedo has for Brighton.

There are so many questions.

The great thing is this: Arsene Wenger would have finished at 5 points off City and been very satisfied. He’d have moved again with the same squad. Mikel Arteta know he has to roll the dice and he will, even if it costs us. I like that – he never settles, he never lets a bad idea fester even with good results, and he’s keeping the club moving forward at speed.

This summer will have twists and turns and I’m here for it.

See you in the comments. x

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salparadisenyc

If I was Saliba coming off season he just had… I’d go deep as well taking into account what Liverpool pay VVD, United Varane and City Dias.

NORG

Sal

They are all over £200K per week – much more than AFC are currently offering.

Emiratesstroller

Norg Arsenal are now paying £200-250 K per week to at least 3 players in the club ie Partey, Jesus and Saka. I would be surprised if Odegaard and Saliba are not put on similar wages. Also if Declan Rice arrives he will get paid a similar amount. We have owners who will pay Champions League wages if we qualify for that competition. It is highly unlikely that they will do otherwise. What has changed is that we are no longer adopting a socialist policy where we were paying inflated wages to bog standard players. Arsenal have a highly experienced… Read more »

jwl

I think Saliba is staying because he’s just had a deluxe gym installed in his London home, not actions of guy who has plans to leave this summer. And its a peaky blinders poster and no gooner wants him sold because of it.
————–

ARSENAL star William Saliba has shown off his home gym but brutal fans “want him sold” for the poster he has on the wall …. To help him keep fit in the future, Saliba has installed a gym in his house.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/sport/22308611/arsenal-william-saliba-gym-sold-sackable/amp/

Guns of Hackney

Along with The Wire, Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders is so overrated, boring and total dirge.

Saliba probably also ‘loves’ rap music…because apparently ALL footballers do.

They are easily led, low IQ children.

NORG

ES

Saliba’s agent is obviously aware of the going rate for world class central defenders and will have opened negotiations with a claim in the region of £250K per week. I expect there is still a huge gap between the two parties.
Tim Lewis is a top corporate lawyer and in the past has specialised in the sport sector. Garlick will be AFC’s negotiator with Gasper.

raptora

Man City’s away record against the ‘top 9’ this season: 🤝 3-3 vs Newcastle 🤝 1-1 vs Aston Villa ❌ 1-0 vs Liverpool ❌ 2-1 vs Man United ❌ 1-0 vs Tottenham ✅ 1-3 vs Arsenal 🤝 1-1 vs Brighton ❌ 1-0 vs Brentford Seems like United aren’t the only Manchester club that struggled away from home in the Premier League 👀 _____________________________________ Of course we handed them the only away win to a top 9 club… Some hyperbole that this City team is some kind of a legendary behemoth… These madafakas won once away vs all the decent clubs… Read more »

raptora

New post 5 minutes exactly after I post. Typical…