Morning all.
There’s no Euro 2024 to jot down about and little or no going by way of substantive Arsenal information, however let’s see what bits and items we are able to dig up.
It’s been reported that Declan Rice was not coaching with the principle group forward of England’s Spherical of 16 recreation in opposition to Slovakia on Sunday, however working to a person programme to handle his workload apparently. It stays to be seen how far England go on this event, however when it ends, I hope now we have invested in some new expertise which can permit him and Bukayo Saka to take 6 weeks holidays in simply 2 weeks. Like Microwave holidays, or one thing.
The pre-season work has already begun for some gamers, with Ben White, Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira, Eddie Nketiah, Jurrien Timber and Emile Smith Rowe summoned to Marbella by Mikel Arteta for some health work. Different gamers, together with Martin Odegaard, are set to hitch over the following few days, and the preparations for subsequent season are underway.
Talking of Smith Rowe, a participant we speak about a bit within the new Arsecast (accessible now in all the same old podcast locations and so on), Sky Sports activities are linking him with strikes to Fulham and Crystal Palace. I’m on file many occasions about how a lot I like him as a participant, however I don’t suppose we are able to ignore the truth of his scenario. He may keep at Arsenal, however how a lot will he play? Bar some form of harm disaster, not a lot – as final season confirmed.
I feel each he, Eddie, and Nelson, have choices to make about their futures and their careers. As a lot as they may been seen as ‘expendable’ by followers, and as a lot as Arsenal may have a look at them as pure revenue gross sales within the PSR period as a result of they’re Academy graduates, every of them has to significantly contemplate what’s greatest for them. Arsenal is a good place to be proper now, particularly for those who’ve grown up a Gooner. A terrific supervisor, sensible gamers, fantastic ambiance and reference to followers, and good cash too, however footballers must play, not sit round and benefit from the atmosphere prefer it’s some form of leisure spa or showroom. I’m actually fascinated to see what occurs with these guys, and I actually need them – in the event that they do depart – to go on and do effectively, so let’s see the way it performs out over the course of the summer season.
I noticed we have been linked to a goalkeeper referred to as Joan Garcia, who presently performs for Espanyol. I do know little about him however one of many vital measures for any new keeper we herald needs to be how competent they’re with the ball at their toes. There’s not quite a lot of knowledge on fbref, in all probability as a result of Espanyol are presently within the Spanish second division, however he appears to be pretty effectively aligned with David Raya by way of lengthy/medium/quick cross completion. Past that, I don’t know way more – however Inaki Cana’s suggestions have been hit or miss throughout his time right here, so we’ll have to attend and see.
One incoming hearsay for midfield was Actual Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, a participant with some Premier League expertise after a interval with Newcastle within the early a part of his profession. At 28 (he turns 29 subsequent 12 months however till then stays 28 as a result of that’s the way it works), he doesn’t essentially match the age profile of the signings we make nowadays, however I noticed this stat and instantly recognised why Mikel Arteta is likely to be : Within the 2023–24 marketing campaign, Merino received essentially the most duels for possession in Europe’s prime leagues with 326.
You may think about Arteta sitting in his workplace, watching Merino win tackles and aerials with homosexual abandon, earlier than calling Edu and saying: “Deliver him to me”. It could make some sense too, he’s a reasonably large lad (6’2) so one other set-piece menace, and if tales about Saudi curiosity in Thomas Partey come to fruition (fingers crossed), he may slot into that function effectively, permitting Declan Rice for use additional ahead.
Going the opposite method, Albert Sambi Lokonga is being linked once more with a mortgage transfer to Sevilla, which might be a pleasant factor for him, however I think about Arsenal would favor a sale. Maybe a take care of an obligation is likely to be a part of the negotiation, and it’s comprehensible that the spurious hyperlinks with Bayern Munich (due to his previous affiliation with Vincent Kompany) have died down.
Proper, that’s your lot for this morning. As I stated, there’s a model new Arsecast accessible under, extra right here tomorrow.
