They might though. He is the most expendable. They brought him.back from Milan for Peanuts. They have Vini, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Arda Guler, Endrick and Diaz as options. Plus there is Joselu too. So if they have to sell someone he will be the one they will sell.
I don't care at all about Sesko because my personal preference to add is a pacey, wide forward who can play both sides with our depth up front being all false 9s like Havertz, Trossard, Jesus, Martinelli. I still want to sell Jesus.
Sesko would have been one for the future, who correctly would have received very little playing time in league or CL matches.
Being in a title race from the first game would mean only mop up minutes in blowouts.
It would have been similar to Kiwior, a top European prospect who can't even start at his real position for us. A forward would get more minutes late in games than a central defender, but not enough to really develop or increase in value.
The rumors have began about Joshua Zirkzee. Very annoying. The only reason they might like him is because he has a £34 mil release clause. I like him but we don't need him when we have an identical player in Jesus. There are no goal scoring CFs that won't cost huge money. But there are a lot of potentially elite wingers/RAMs. Go get those. If we sell Jesus then we can bring in a Zirkzee. Otherwise there is no point in bringing an identical CF that we already have.
Have you considered that the higher ups at Arsenal have figured out Jesus and may just want to squeeze him out by signing a striker that actually...scores goals.
Jesus left city once he realized that Pep had made up his mind that he's not a useful goal scoring option. His ego pushed him out of city.
City signed his replacement in Jan 2022, then were openly courting Haaland all through the spring of 2022...so Jesus got the message.
Arsenal may be taking the same path, i.e squeeze him out.
City wanted to renew his contract and play him as a RW. But he wanted to leave with a year left on his deal. They got their money so they sold.
Stockpiling players of the same profile like Jesus in the hope that he leaves is really not a good strategy. What if he stays, after we sign Zirkzee (who by the way scored 11 league goals last season despite playing a lot more games)?
We are denying ourselves the opportunity to get a really top class winger that would impact all our forward line. If we get an Olise for example we can play him on the right or in the middle in Odegaard's position. Saka can move to the left when needed. Trossard can move to false 9 if we need to as well.
So your plan of having two strikers that won't score enough goals isn't the right strategy for me.
"City wanted to renew his contract and play him as a RW"
That's why it's called squeezing out. You use the ego of the player to get rid of them.
They signed a striker and a backup for the strier. They were also well stacked in the RW position.
Jesus told the story of why he left city. It was a constructive easing out.
This is what he said:"Gabriel Jesus on a CL game against PSG: "Pep chose Zinchenko, a left-back, as false 9 instead of me. I was so upset, I couldn't eat. I called my mom, in tears, wanting to leave. Evolving under Pep was hard. That's when I decided I didn't want to stay. "
If Arteta plays it right, Jesus will cry, he won't eat and will call his mama before deciding to move on.
Havertz is not a number 9, he is a useful option to have but we shouldn't bank on him.
We will be taking a big chance on not buying a different type of striker to spearhead our attack next season, especially when we will be facing a Juggernaut city with a monster leading their attack.
It will be the difference between becoming perennial runner ups vs beating city to the title next season.
Someone will rightly remind me of our goal scoring form after Dubai, to which I will reply ...what about our goal scoring form in open play, before that point.
He is a 9. Closer to a 9½. He has no purpose in midfield. He was outstanding playing that upfront role in the 2nd half of the season. When he moves to midfield, our whole team looks disjointed because his qualities aren't passing or being available for the ball. His main qualities are making attacking runs, winning duels and laying off the ball. He found his place and he should stay there.
Havertz redefines the false 9, because he has the physicality of a center forward. I have no problems with him but we need another squad option to share minutes with him.
Word on the street is that Arsenal have been happy to let the Benny Tesco rumours fly while they’ve been working behind the scenes on their actual target.Interesting.
No, they wanted him. We definitely would have gotten him had he left Liepzig. But he made the smarter decision to stay and keep playing while he got a pay bump with it too. He would have been a rotation option here till he can hack it.
I think the price and potential is what attracted Arteta. But now, I would really be surprised to see any movement till the end of the euros. Some of our players might move because they are not going there though. ESR, Nelson, Viera, Eddie all might move and then we can go for it.
Rap, Viera doesn't have any more future than ESR. The only reason he might stay might be because others will leave for money and he might not. I can even see Nwaneri getting ahead of him next season.
And I don't think we are going to bring a CF now. Arteta has Havertz and Jesus. The only reason he was bringing Sesko was because of the potential plus the lower release clause. He won't just go ahead and get another big money CF who isn't his top target. And there are no low cost great options like we had with Mudryk to Trossard.
Now I think we will wait till next summer. But I think we are bringing in a top CM and a top RW though. I still think LB hinges on Zinchenko Leaving. If not 8 defenders isn't too bad either.
Interest, sure. But ready to pull the trigger, I doubt it. There's no way to really know but I highly doubt it.
Clubs are probably working on 3-5 names for a position at any given moment. Sesko was one of our options but if he had said yes, would we have scrapped all of our other options and paid the money when the window opens? I doubt it.
David Ornstein on Benjamin Sesko: "The belief among the English sides is Arsenal hold the upper hand because they can offer Champions League football and stability under manager Mikel Arteta, two things lacking at Chelsea and United. But there is a very real possibility Sesko will opt to stay at Leipzig."
Its weird isn't it. Various outlets were saying Sesko to Ars' was done etc ..... basically no one knows fuck all.
I love the 'preparing a bid' soundbites. Utter bollox.
Personally I think nothing will happen until the end of the Euro's with a buzz of activity around June 30th and then not much else until the last week of the window....... but then I fell for the 'Sesko was the one', so what the fuck do I know.
Less than 500 minutes up until January, then 1,500 minutes since the turn of the year.
= Natural progression.
Last season he played exactly 50% of available Bundesliga minutes.
56% of CL minutes.
Next season if he stays fit, then based on the trajectory in the second half of the season, alongside an additional 2 CL games in the groups, potentially 4.
Either way… He was used sparingly in the 1st half of the season..
They used 3 x more in the 2nd half of the season.
If they’re giving him a big pay hike to stay for another season, then expect his trajectory to be more in line with Jan - May, rather than August - December.
In which case expect him to clock between 3,500 - 4,000 minutes in all comps next season providing he’s fit + available.
But there’s infinitely more examples of players getting lost in the system, taking a big move too soon, or hanging on at a big club too long..
Than there are of teenagers breaking through at big clubs, and banging straight off the bat.
Also United signing an 18yr old Ronaldo in 2003, and a 18yr old Rooney in 2004, coincided with a trophy drought, and United fans calling for Sir Alex Ferguson’s head..
Ronaldo scored 6 goals + 8 assists in 2003/04
9 goals + 9 assists in 2004/05
12 goals + 8 assists in 2005/06
23 goals + 14 assists in 2006/07
42 goals + 8 assists in 2007/08
Even 1/2 of the greatest players of a generation needed time.. Granted the juice was worth the squeeze, but it still took them time to get them there.
They had to build a new team that banged between 2006-2009
I have been saying the Striker market was dead since the beginning of the summer. The quality of strikers available is just very poor. I would rather watch what happens next year and see who can be consistent and who will become the next superstar CF and try to do it the summer after this one.
I wanted to get both Olise and Bruno Guimaraes. Both would elevate the squad the moment they step in the door. But I am not sure any Striker would do the same. Isak might have but he is unattainable. I still would sign both these players. And if we have to sign another player we should wait for sales. Jesus, Zinchenko, Ramsdale, ESR, Viera should all be sold and replaced if good offers arrive. Otherwise, I would be content with signing those two players and just a couple of players leaving like Partey and Viera.
I agree in that I wouldn't start moving to lesser quality strikers in the list, as there aren't any really, even Sesko would have been one for the future. From matchday 1 we will be in a title race. No time for learning on the job, and no room for spending on a CF that will actually make us worse than this past season.
Habesha,I would love both but in the case of Olise, from what I’ve heard he’s not leaving Palace to be a rotation option for one of the Big6. Eze has alluded to the same, if/when they leave palace they want to be starting, don’t forget Olise turned down Chelsea and signed a new deal with the higher buyout clause. His game has elevated beyond being Saka’s understudy.
I like Solanke. But I don't think we should sign just good players for £50 to £60 mil. We are at a stage now that the players we sign for big money have to be bona-fide world class players or players that have the potential to be world class. But If we sold Jesus and Solanke came in I wouldn't mind that as competition for Havertz upfront. But if we he was to sign and we used Jesus wide to cover for Saka it is a no for me. So basically I wouldn't mind him if we were to sell Jesus. If not, he isn't for me.
I like Olise because he will be world class in the next two or three years. I like Guimaraes because he is also on the verge of world class and needs to win things to be called that. Those are the players we should aim for for me.
Fair enough take your point.In which case a striker seemingly at this stage off the board? We may end up going big on a ‘ Olise’type winger & save the striker shekels for next 1 or 2 windows for the ‘ cream your pants’ player.All seems very oppportunistic & back to supermarket trolley dash in that dept.
‘ If that is the case then Arsenal need to review very rapidly their Academy programme and more importantly the pathway of academy players into first team.’
When I wrote about this in the past, it was deemed as an attack on Arteta.
Obi-Martin was aged 15-16 last season, he was basically a 5th former, how much of a pathway did you want us to make for him last season?…
Players can’t sign their first professional contracts until they turns 17 in the UK, and then they can only pen 3yr contracts.
If he stays at Arsenal, then he’ll likely be promoted to the under 21s next season.
This could be one that if he slips through our net, that we’re kicking ourselves down the line, same with Patino who could leave.
But if Obi-Martin goes to Bayern or Dortmund.. For next season at least, I suspect he’ll be in the exact same position he’d be in at Arsenal.
Which is playing youth football.
Copenhagen apparently wants him as well, that sounds like a much better move for him, as it’ll get him on the professional ladder earlier.
Top talent will always be in demand.. But we managed to keep Nwaneri + Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal, at least for now..
The reality is that less than 1% of academy players play a single minute as a professional at any level..
Let alone break through at top clubs straight off the bat.
Players like Sesko, Haaland, Saliba, White, Ødegaard, have all prioritised playing time, rather than taking bit part minutes at big clubs.
De Bruyne + Salah both left Chelsea for the same reason.
The reality is that very few academy players will make it at Arsenal.. And the smart ones will probably take backwards steps to get onto the professional ladder.
The problem with loans.. Is that managers under pressure, are less inclined to develop players for other clubs.
To go through the teething + shitting the bed stages, while their jobs are on the line, only for other clubs to get the benefit of that education.
The fact that a lot of people are losing their minds over Obi Martin is hilarious to me. There are prospects who make it at the top level at destroying up to U21 football. But most fail at the top. Akpom Balogun both were setting records too. We need to be calm. For every Musiala and Foden there are countless who won't even have a decent career.
Seeing as Benny Tesco is not gonna do “ an every little helps”. It would appear the strike list has shrunk leaving the hottest two as the Ozzy man & Gykores.Either,are going to cost a lot of wedge.
Got a gut feeling Arsenal are now going to go leftfield here.Ladies & gentlemen,I give you ‘ Dominic Solanke’.
Hear me out,before you get the pitchforks.First he sought of fits the profile of a a Sesko.Tall,fast,physical,good finisher( both feet).Oven ready( prem proven) available,with a £60m release clause.A bit of a king Kai move.But hey?
If Madrid sell us Brahim Díaz, we would have that Cazorla like ambidextrous player that can take us another level.
He's dynamite, makes you sit at the edge of your sit when he's playing.
They won't sell him though, lightning won't strike twice, not after Odegaard.
They might though. He is the most expendable. They brought him.back from Milan for Peanuts. They have Vini, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Arda Guler, Endrick and Diaz as options. Plus there is Joselu too. So if they have to sell someone he will be the one they will sell.
I don't care at all about Sesko because my personal preference to add is a pacey, wide forward who can play both sides with our depth up front being all false 9s like Havertz, Trossard, Jesus, Martinelli. I still want to sell Jesus.
Sesko would have been one for the future, who correctly would have received very little playing time in league or CL matches.
Being in a title race from the first game would mean only mop up minutes in blowouts.
It would have been similar to Kiwior, a top European prospect who can't even start at his real position for us. A forward would get more minutes late in games than a central defender, but not enough to really develop or increase in value.
Un, dissenter,
Good debate about Havertz. I see him as an almost perfect false 9 so I don't worry about the midfielder or CF labels at all.
He's a monster at pressing and playing literally a box to box false 9 for us. He has the size and pace to do that.
Nine and a half, or eight and a half, I don't really care, because he's like having 2 players on the pitch.
The rumors have began about Joshua Zirkzee. Very annoying. The only reason they might like him is because he has a £34 mil release clause. I like him but we don't need him when we have an identical player in Jesus. There are no goal scoring CFs that won't cost huge money. But there are a lot of potentially elite wingers/RAMs. Go get those. If we sell Jesus then we can bring in a Zirkzee. Otherwise there is no point in bringing an identical CF that we already have.
Have you considered that the higher ups at Arsenal have figured out Jesus and may just want to squeeze him out by signing a striker that actually...scores goals.
Jesus left city once he realized that Pep had made up his mind that he's not a useful goal scoring option. His ego pushed him out of city.
City signed his replacement in Jan 2022, then were openly courting Haaland all through the spring of 2022...so Jesus got the message.
Arsenal may be taking the same path, i.e squeeze him out.
That's very accurate about how Pep handled Jesus and we took the opportunity when it came up. But I don't think there's another CF coming this summer.
Lol
City wanted to renew his contract and play him as a RW. But he wanted to leave with a year left on his deal. They got their money so they sold.
Stockpiling players of the same profile like Jesus in the hope that he leaves is really not a good strategy. What if he stays, after we sign Zirkzee (who by the way scored 11 league goals last season despite playing a lot more games)?
We are denying ourselves the opportunity to get a really top class winger that would impact all our forward line. If we get an Olise for example we can play him on the right or in the middle in Odegaard's position. Saka can move to the left when needed. Trossard can move to false 9 if we need to as well.
So your plan of having two strikers that won't score enough goals isn't the right strategy for me.
"City wanted to renew his contract and play him as a RW"
That's why it's called squeezing out. You use the ego of the player to get rid of them.
They signed a striker and a backup for the strier. They were also well stacked in the RW position.
Jesus told the story of why he left city. It was a constructive easing out.
This is what he said:"Gabriel Jesus on a CL game against PSG: "Pep chose Zinchenko, a left-back, as false 9 instead of me. I was so upset, I couldn't eat. I called my mom, in tears, wanting to leave. Evolving under Pep was hard. That's when I decided I didn't want to stay. "
If Arteta plays it right, Jesus will cry, he won't eat and will call his mama before deciding to move on.
Havertz is not a number 9, he is a useful option to have but we shouldn't bank on him.
We will be taking a big chance on not buying a different type of striker to spearhead our attack next season, especially when we will be facing a Juggernaut city with a monster leading their attack.
It will be the difference between becoming perennial runner ups vs beating city to the title next season.
Someone will rightly remind me of our goal scoring form after Dubai, to which I will reply ...what about our goal scoring form in open play, before that point.
He is a 9. Closer to a 9½. He has no purpose in midfield. He was outstanding playing that upfront role in the 2nd half of the season. When he moves to midfield, our whole team looks disjointed because his qualities aren't passing or being available for the ball. His main qualities are making attacking runs, winning duels and laying off the ball. He found his place and he should stay there.
CF for Germany and Arsenal. Doesn't sound too shabby for someone who isn't a number 9.
He absolutely is a no9 and he proved that in the second half of the season
Nah, he's a midfielder that has a presence in front of goal.
Compare his style to a center forward like Ollie Watkins.
Havertz has been good..but we need to do more to beat city to the title.
Don't get lulled man, it's like thinking Martinelli will replicate his 2022-2023 form. You know what that feels like.
Could Ramsey or Lampard play as a traditional cf? No
They are legit midfielders with a presence in front of goal
Not Kai
He’s a centre forward in waiting who’s just found out what his role is
A bit like rvp and Henry
Just you watch
Havertz redefines the false 9, because he has the physicality of a center forward. I have no problems with him but we need another squad option to share minutes with him.
Nope
He’s got far more to his game than martinelli
His timing is elite
His touch and ability to bring his team mates into play is elite
He has power and pace
He is 6 foot tall and offers a serious threat in the air
I love martinlli but he can play one game and if that game doesn’t open for him then he’s next to uselsss
Kai has so many facets to his game
You’ll see
Keep watching
Word on the street is that Arsenal have been happy to let the Benny Tesco rumours fly while they’ve been working behind the scenes on their actual target.Interesting.
I believe this completely.
No, they wanted him. We definitely would have gotten him had he left Liepzig. But he made the smarter decision to stay and keep playing while he got a pay bump with it too. He would have been a rotation option here till he can hack it.
I think the price and potential is what attracted Arteta. But now, I would really be surprised to see any movement till the end of the euros. Some of our players might move because they are not going there though. ESR, Nelson, Viera, Eddie all might move and then we can go for it.
I just read an article at The Guardian saying that in addition to a CF, Arteta would also like a left-back, central midfielder and winger.
I would scrap the CF completely. Just bring in a top class/talent LB, CM and a winger and call it a day.
LB - Tomi + new LB
LCB - Gabriel + Kiwior
RCB - Saliba + White
RB - Timber + White
Timber and Kiwior can always help the LB. Tomi and Timber can help in CB.
7 players for 4 positions is alright.
DM - Rice + Jorginho
LCM - New boy (Bruno G etc) + Vieira
RCM - Odegaard + Vieira
LW - Marti + Trossard
CF - Havertz + New boy (top talent)
RW - Saka + Jesus
But in all honesty, if we can bring in a top winger like Leao, Kvara or a top talent like Nico Williams, Olise, we should do it.
LB + CM + Winger is what the doctor ordered for this summer imo.
Curious to see what happens as there aren't any names we are sure to focus on.
I didn't believe in the Sesko rumors one bit, same goes for Gyokeres.
Havertz is better than both and will improve even more.
Rap, Viera doesn't have any more future than ESR. The only reason he might stay might be because others will leave for money and he might not. I can even see Nwaneri getting ahead of him next season.
And I don't think we are going to bring a CF now. Arteta has Havertz and Jesus. The only reason he was bringing Sesko was because of the potential plus the lower release clause. He won't just go ahead and get another big money CF who isn't his top target. And there are no low cost great options like we had with Mudryk to Trossard.
Now I think we will wait till next summer. But I think we are bringing in a top CM and a top RW though. I still think LB hinges on Zinchenko Leaving. If not 8 defenders isn't too bad either.
The Sesko rumours were real, he had offers from Arsenal, Chelsea, United.
He could leave for €65 million.
But choose to stay at RB Leipzig for another season, and sign a new improved contract.
No offers - no bid was placed. Discussions, yes.
No bid was placed because we were waiting for the green light of the player.
Had Sesko given us the thumbs up, we’d have triggered his release clause.
No club was going to make the offer, until they got the ok from the player.
Interest, sure. But ready to pull the trigger, I doubt it. There's no way to really know but I highly doubt it.
Clubs are probably working on 3-5 names for a position at any given moment. Sesko was one of our options but if he had said yes, would we have scrapped all of our other options and paid the money when the window opens? I doubt it.
David Ornstein on Benjamin Sesko: "The belief among the English sides is Arsenal hold the upper hand because they can offer Champions League football and stability under manager Mikel Arteta, two things lacking at Chelsea and United. But there is a very real possibility Sesko will opt to stay at Leipzig."
{The Athletic}
Insane insight.
I’d certainly take Ornstein’s word on it, over one of your moronic hunches..
Happy to know you're still a gentleman.
Its weird isn't it. Various outlets were saying Sesko to Ars' was done etc ..... basically no one knows fuck all.
I love the 'preparing a bid' soundbites. Utter bollox.
Personally I think nothing will happen until the end of the Euro's with a buzz of activity around June 30th and then not much else until the last week of the window....... but then I fell for the 'Sesko was the one', so what the fuck do I know.
At this point, the only player Arsenal has submitted a bid for is Ferdi Kadioglu. Everything else is just smoke and mirrors, true silly season stuff.
Sesko got 2056 mins Bundesliga, cl dfb, dfl last season.
How did you conclude next season he will get 4000 mins at liepzig but 2000 at Arsenal.
I will ignore the contract stuff for a while.
Less than 500 minutes up until January, then 1,500 minutes since the turn of the year.
= Natural progression.
Last season he played exactly 50% of available Bundesliga minutes.
56% of CL minutes.
Next season if he stays fit, then based on the trajectory in the second half of the season, alongside an additional 2 CL games in the groups, potentially 4.
Then he should be on for 3,500 + minutes +
Rotation to rest Baumgartner. Lack of midfielders. Manager had to change formation to 442 from 433.
Either way… He was used sparingly in the 1st half of the season..
They used 3 x more in the 2nd half of the season.
If they’re giving him a big pay hike to stay for another season, then expect his trajectory to be more in line with Jan - May, rather than August - December.
In which case expect him to clock between 3,500 - 4,000 minutes in all comps next season providing he’s fit + available.
Because up until Xmas he was used sparingly.
In the 2nd half of the season he became a main player.
Are you suggesting Sesko wouldnt be given time at Arsenal like Ferguson gave Rooney and Ronaldo at Man u?
No… I’m suggesting that 3,500 - 4,000 minutes at RB Leipzig at this stage of his career..
Would be more beneficial than 1,500 - 2,000 minutes at Arsenal next season.
That he’s essentially backing himself to kick on again next season in his development..
Then in 12 months time, instead of signing £100,000 a week contract this summer, he’ll get potentially twice that next summer.
This summer he signs a 5 year contract worth say £26 million at Arsenal..
Next summer he signs one worth £52 million, his career doesn’t stall, then he develops quicker, by playing more consistently.
Then when he does move, he’s more prepared + developed to become a starter from the off.
He also gets a bump in wages at RB Leipzig in the meanwhile..
Arsenal were clearly willing to develop him behind Havertz.
Fabregas, Rooney, Cristiano and many others didnt chicken out and still got contracts north of 10 million.
There’s always exceptions..
But there’s infinitely more examples of players getting lost in the system, taking a big move too soon, or hanging on at a big club too long..
Than there are of teenagers breaking through at big clubs, and banging straight off the bat.
Also United signing an 18yr old Ronaldo in 2003, and a 18yr old Rooney in 2004, coincided with a trophy drought, and United fans calling for Sir Alex Ferguson’s head..
Ronaldo scored 6 goals + 8 assists in 2003/04
9 goals + 9 assists in 2004/05
12 goals + 8 assists in 2005/06
23 goals + 14 assists in 2006/07
42 goals + 8 assists in 2007/08
Even 1/2 of the greatest players of a generation needed time.. Granted the juice was worth the squeeze, but it still took them time to get them there.
They had to build a new team that banged between 2006-2009
Sesko lacks the longstuff, Haaland didnt chicken out like him.
But Haaland is a Cyborg.That doesn’t count.
Haaland joined City at 22… Which is the age Sesko will be next summer.
Haaland did a season in Norway, then went to Austria.. Then 2 seasons in Germany before going to City.
Sesko played in the 2nd division of Austrian football on loan.. Then played in the Austrian top flight.
Went to Germany last summer, where he started off as a bit part player, then finished the 2nd half of the season strongly.
Next season he’ll likely be the main man for RB Leipzig… Before getting a move next summer on a contract worth north of £10 million p/a.
Like Haaland, Bellingham, Saliba, White, Ødegaard.. And many others..
He’s managing his career astutely, but prioritising playing time, and taking the right steps at the right stages.
Exactly Rich but other posters too myopic to understand that
Solanke is a flat track bully.
Does well against botton table teams and top teams missing 1st 11 defenders.
I have been saying the Striker market was dead since the beginning of the summer. The quality of strikers available is just very poor. I would rather watch what happens next year and see who can be consistent and who will become the next superstar CF and try to do it the summer after this one.
I wanted to get both Olise and Bruno Guimaraes. Both would elevate the squad the moment they step in the door. But I am not sure any Striker would do the same. Isak might have but he is unattainable. I still would sign both these players. And if we have to sign another player we should wait for sales. Jesus, Zinchenko, Ramsdale, ESR, Viera should all be sold and replaced if good offers arrive. Otherwise, I would be content with signing those two players and just a couple of players leaving like Partey and Viera.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-news-benjamin-sesko-33003744
I agree in that I wouldn't start moving to lesser quality strikers in the list, as there aren't any really, even Sesko would have been one for the future. From matchday 1 we will be in a title race. No time for learning on the job, and no room for spending on a CF that will actually make us worse than this past season.
Habesha,I would love both but in the case of Olise, from what I’ve heard he’s not leaving Palace to be a rotation option for one of the Big6. Eze has alluded to the same, if/when they leave palace they want to be starting, don’t forget Olise turned down Chelsea and signed a new deal with the higher buyout clause. His game has elevated beyond being Saka’s understudy.
Habesha.Solanke?Thoughts.
I like Solanke. But I don't think we should sign just good players for £50 to £60 mil. We are at a stage now that the players we sign for big money have to be bona-fide world class players or players that have the potential to be world class. But If we sold Jesus and Solanke came in I wouldn't mind that as competition for Havertz upfront. But if we he was to sign and we used Jesus wide to cover for Saka it is a no for me. So basically I wouldn't mind him if we were to sell Jesus. If not, he isn't for me.
I like Olise because he will be world class in the next two or three years. I like Guimaraes because he is also on the verge of world class and needs to win things to be called that. Those are the players we should aim for for me.
Fair enough take your point.In which case a striker seemingly at this stage off the board? We may end up going big on a ‘ Olise’type winger & save the striker shekels for next 1 or 2 windows for the ‘ cream your pants’ player.All seems very oppportunistic & back to supermarket trolley dash in that dept.
Emirates
‘ If that is the case then Arsenal need to review very rapidly their Academy programme and more importantly the pathway of academy players into first team.’
When I wrote about this in the past, it was deemed as an attack on Arteta.
Obi-Martin was aged 15-16 last season, he was basically a 5th former, how much of a pathway did you want us to make for him last season?…
Players can’t sign their first professional contracts until they turns 17 in the UK, and then they can only pen 3yr contracts.
If he stays at Arsenal, then he’ll likely be promoted to the under 21s next season.
This could be one that if he slips through our net, that we’re kicking ourselves down the line, same with Patino who could leave.
But if Obi-Martin goes to Bayern or Dortmund.. For next season at least, I suspect he’ll be in the exact same position he’d be in at Arsenal.
Which is playing youth football.
Copenhagen apparently wants him as well, that sounds like a much better move for him, as it’ll get him on the professional ladder earlier.
Top talent will always be in demand.. But we managed to keep Nwaneri + Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal, at least for now..
The reality is that less than 1% of academy players play a single minute as a professional at any level..
Let alone break through at top clubs straight off the bat.
Players like Sesko, Haaland, Saliba, White, Ødegaard, have all prioritised playing time, rather than taking bit part minutes at big clubs.
De Bruyne + Salah both left Chelsea for the same reason.
The reality is that very few academy players will make it at Arsenal.. And the smart ones will probably take backwards steps to get onto the professional ladder.
The problem with loans.. Is that managers under pressure, are less inclined to develop players for other clubs.
To go through the teething + shitting the bed stages, while their jobs are on the line, only for other clubs to get the benefit of that education.
The fact that a lot of people are losing their minds over Obi Martin is hilarious to me. There are prospects who make it at the top level at destroying up to U21 football. But most fail at the top. Akpom Balogun both were setting records too. We need to be calm. For every Musiala and Foden there are countless who won't even have a decent career.
Not to mention that the press just love to bleat how we’re losing a prospect.Another rod.
This is needed but won't happen in this regime. We cannot sustain by buying from the market.
Seeing as Benny Tesco is not gonna do “ an every little helps”. It would appear the strike list has shrunk leaving the hottest two as the Ozzy man & Gykores.Either,are going to cost a lot of wedge.
Got a gut feeling Arsenal are now going to go leftfield here.Ladies & gentlemen,I give you ‘ Dominic Solanke’.
Hear me out,before you get the pitchforks.First he sought of fits the profile of a a Sesko.Tall,fast,physical,good finisher( both feet).Oven ready( prem proven) available,with a £60m release clause.A bit of a king Kai move.But hey?