Kai Havertz
It feels like this morning is the morning of negative Arsenal stories in the press.
Unable to drive hits to their sites through negativity about our form, they have resorted to making up stories for that ad revenue.
The Mirror lead with a story that “Arsenal are losing patience with Kai Havertz”. There source is “Fichajes”, whoever they are.
I do laugh when English newspapers use fringe foreign football sites to create stories. It would be like Marca quoting Football.London or Goal.com. We would recognise these as fake news sites who make shit up for hits. But when it is a foreign site, more people seem to believe it.
I always ask the question as to how a fringe Spanish football website would have the inside track on a German footballer playing in London.
And to highlight how much BS the story is, it has not been written by John Cross. Had the Arsenal journalist put his name to it, you might have thought it had some more legs.
As it is, the writer is one of those new-age journalists who just trawls social media for stories, and pumps out content without checking its truth. They take the “someone said it so it must be truth, and who cares if it is not if it gets the hits”. Journalism in this country is at an all-time low.
Jakub Kiwior
The Express runs with a story this morning that we are chasing Ajax youngster Jorrel Hato, and their conclusion is the Dutchman will replace Jakub Kiwior. There are two sides to this story.
The first is about Kiwior.
The Polish centre back joined us last January as cover for Gabriel on the left hand side of the defence. He was linked in January this year with a move away.
The Express goes on to mention about how he has failed to establish himself in the Arsenal first team, stating Kiwior: “has started only five of Arsenal’s 24 Premier League games this season, clocking up an underwhelming total of 439 minutes. “
“Having shown minimal signs of being able to work his way in from the fringes, the Polish international is now understood to be on the chopping block.”
I feel this is huge disrespect to both Kiwior and Gabriel.
We have the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just 22 goals. Gabriel has shown time and again during in his 4-and-a-but-years at the club that he is one of the best left footed central defenders in world football. It is no disgrace that Kiwior’s game time has been limited.
Arsenal seem to be the only ever team that are not allowed multiple players per positions. I do not see the Express running with stories about Joe Gomes or Joel Matip when they are playing second fiddle to Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate.
Manchester City have John Stones, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji as their defensive options. But it is Arsenal that have the negative stories surrounding a central defender not playing enough.
As for Jorrel Hato, I had not heard of him today. A quick Google shows he has played 44 games for Ajax and has been capped by Holland. He is just 19.
Clearly a talent, I would be very surprised if he would be ready to play week in week out in the Premier League. Were Arsenal to sign him, I imagine it would not be to replace Kiwior in the short term. I would actually imagine we are targeting on for what he has done at left back, and he could become an alternative to Olexsandr Zinchenko in the long term.
If Kiwior does leave this summer, it will be because he wants first team football and not because Mikel Arteta does not rate him.
Kylian Mbappe
Not sure why the media have hyped up an Arsenal move for Kylian Mbappe today. It is not a deal that we will make happen.
I think we have no interest in paying the transfer fee, the wages will be astronomical, and the chip on the shoulder he brings could unsettle the entire squad.
Mbappe turns 26 at the end of the year and is wasting his career in France. I would be worried if he has the physicality and stamina to play week in, week out in the Premier League. Ligue 1 is just not the same level.
Having made his breakthrough at such a young age, and as someone who relies on explosive pace, he probably only has 3 or 4 years left at the highest level. Think Michael Owen and Fernando Torres.
But there is really no point going further into the debate whether we should sign him. We won’t.
Valentine’s Day
Our friends over at Kick Off Merchants are offering 14% off everything on their site today for Valentine’s Day. Use the code LoveFootball to claim your discount!
They have a huge range of stuff, from their famous original Arsenal beer mats, to exclusive clothing and artwork, bottle openers, mugs and more! Discount expires at midnight tonight.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
Those 2 you’ve mentioned do not have the tiniest decency to mask their dislike for Arsenal even from an occasional foreign onlooker. I figured that about them and now don’t bother to read them even when the news item emanates from them only. I have concluded about them, they are utterly prejudicial.
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