Everyone have a better night sleep last night?

Yesterday the travelling squad for the US tour was announced. It was very much a “senior” squad with the likes of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale on the plane.

Just one academy player has been picked –Reuell Walters.

The lack of academy players on tour will be a surprise for many. Usually pre-season is a chance to integrate some of the youngsters into the first team.

The likes od Charlie Patino, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Miguel Azeez, Omari Hutchinson, Marcelo Flores and Karl Hein might feel a little bit miffed that they did not get a ticket for the trip. But they should not be too disheartened.

There are 33 players on the plane to Baltimore for friendlies against Everton, Orlando City and Chelsea.

That is already a huge senior squad. There was simply not enough space to also then take another half dozen youngsters.

Those players would see verry little – if any – game time over the next 10 days.

Mikel Arteta would have focused his time on getting his senior players match fit for the new season. And with just one friendly between the America tour and the opening day, he is right to focus on the first team.

In the meantime, lets remember the academy played Hereford last night (winning 3-1). They also have pre-season friendlies against Slough and Bromley coming up.

These might not be glamour ties, but it is important that the academy gets match fit for the PL2 season and respective youth campaigns. They get that by playing games, not by sitting around watching the first team play.

Reuell Walters is an interesting one.

He would have been on very few peoples lips to have a break through season this year – Patino and Norton-Cuffy were my two to keep an eye on.

Just 17, he impressed against Nurnberg last week. He did not look out of place physically and with will travel with the squad as the 6^th choice centre back.

The England under-18 international joined us in November 2020 from Tottenham. Since joining the club he has predominantly played at right back in the academy, but the feeling is he will move inside to centre back.

Enjoy your Thursday.

Keenos

As well as the new T-Shirt, we also have a Gabriel Jesus x London mug! #Arsenal #AFChttps://t.co/Fq8rpqMpCz pic.twitter.com/0CDMfCKMLi

— Kick Off Merchants (@KOMerchants) July 6, 2022

Anyone else hardly get a wink of sleep last night?

The big Arsenal news is surrounding a player that will not be joining us as Raphinha looks set to secure a move to Barcelona.

Barcelona was always his primary choice.

Talks of a deal between the Catalan club and his represents being agreed emerged in February. The only sticking point seemed to be about whether Barcelona could meet Leeds United’s evaluation.

Arsenal then “stepped in” and tried to get a deal done, before being gazumped by Chelsea.

Whether either side were actually close to getting a deal done is unknown.

Was it just media speculation? Deco (Raphinha’s agent) or Leeds leaking stories to the press in the hope of pushing the Barcelona bid up?

Eventually, Barcelona have found the cash needed behind the sofa to satisfy Leeds and get the deal done.

I always found it uncomfortable that we were looking to spend big on a player that would not immediately walk into our first team.

When you break it down, he losses possession more than Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, is the worst passer of the 3 and assists the least.

It is only in goals that he is a leader – but still only equal to Saka. And by the time you take out penalties there is no difference between the 3.

Personally, I am happy with Saka and Martinelli on our wings next season.

We move on…

Speculation continues to circulate that we are interested in Lucas Paqueta.

The Brazilian was signed by Lyon to replace Houssem Aouar when the Frenchman looked to be on his way to Arsenal a couple of years ago. That deal never materialised.

This one feels like Arsenal are being used.

It is almost a carbon copy of our links to Bruno Guimarães.

We were never really in for Guimarães, but our name was used for hype and he eventually moved to Newcastle.

I would not be surprised if the exact same situation occurs over the next week and Paqueta joins his compatriot in the North-East.

The Geordies will celebrate once more, claiming to have beaten Arsenal to a second player (remember their club spent half of his official release video talking about The Arsenal). But the reality is if we wanted him, we would have signed him. Just like we would have signed Guimarães if we desired.

With Fabio Silva joining to play the left hand side of a midfield 3, I just can not see us signing another raw talent to also play there. And like with Raphinha, it will be a huge investment to sign him to play second fiddle to Saka.

Arsenal are heading off to America so I expect any transfers to slow down a little whilst Mikel Arteta will assess his squad.

We still have Bernd Leno, Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson , Hector Bellerin, Pablo Mari, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Lucas Torreira, Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson at the club – a total of 33 members of a senior squad.

You feel ahead of any further arrivals we will have to sell or loan those 8 out.

Martin Odergaard as captain? That is a blog for another day….

Enjoy the day.

Keenos

As well as the new T-Shirt, we also have a Gabriel Jesus x London mug! #Arsenal #AFChttps://t.co/Fq8rpqMpCz pic.twitter.com/0CDMfCKMLi

— Kick Off Merchants (@KOMerchants) July 6, 2022

Morning.

A few bits of Arsenal news to rattle through this morning before I jump in a cold shower.

Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Granit Xhaka, Nuno Tavares, Aaron Ramsdale, Lucas Torreira, William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu all return to training yesterday.

The return of those given in extended break after the pointless internationals leaves Mikel Arteta with a full squad to take out to America.

The first game is against Everton on Saturday 16^th and the final a week later against Chelsea on the 23^rd.

In this era of  “net zero”, it is laughable that clubs lecture fans on climate change, then fly 4,336 miles to face a team that are 6 miles away.

Now I know the commercial benefits of these worldwide tours, and it just highlights what a scam it all is.

It is not just football clubs but almost every major organisation – they are happy to ignore their morale’s on climate change, equality and inclusivity if it means making a few million quid.

Jack Wilshere was also named as the new Head Coach of the Under-18s following his retirement.

Last year he was undertaking a few training sessions with the Under-17s whilst he did his coaching badges.

Wilshere is joined at the club by Mehmet Ali who takes over the U23s.

Turkish born Ali joins from Reading U23s whom he joined from Tottenham in July 2019. He became their U23 manager in August 2020.

Wilshere becomes is 3^rd former youth team player to become part of Per Mertesacker’s academy set up joining Adam Birchall (U18s manager) and Julian Gray (U18s assistant).

William Saliba is looking fit and healthy in training and is on the verge of signing a new deal.

With European football back on the agenda next season we need 3 top class central defenders and there will be plenty of games to keep Ben White, Gabriel and Saliba interested.

Still just 20-years-old, Saliba is still an exciting prospect.

Had we signed him for £40million this summer, we would be buzzing about his recruitment.

Having not yet played a game for us, he is literally like a new signing.

Some final sad news.

Mesut Ozil has had his contract terminated by Fenerbache. That turned sour quickly.

Hopefully he fins fulfilment in life playing his computer games and we never have to hear about him again.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Keenos

Already a best seller this summer

Gabriel Jesus x London#arsenal #AFChttps://t.co/gncoEgzg4i pic.twitter.com/5uxTldRRCo

— Kick Off Merchants (@KOMerchants) July 11, 2022