It would be absolutely hilarious this summer if Arsenal signed Brentford’s Yoane Wissa as the replacement for Kai Havertz.

It is not that I would be massively in favour for Wissa. Although I also would not be against it. It is more than it would be absolutely glorious watching the melt down in Newcastle were they to miss out on yet another target.

All their bleating about being a big club after one League Cup in about 70 years. A club who have been relegated more this century than won trophies do not suddenly become a big club just because they have become a sportswashing project for a Human Rights abusing state.

This summer, their fans have shown a complete lack of knowledge around PSR and have blamed everyone but themselves as they have limped from target to target, rejected by everyone.

Their club is the joke of England, to the point that Alexander Isak is doing everything he can to leave! And again Newcastle fans will blame everyone, including journalists, for the Swede wishing to play for a bigger club competing for the biggest trophies.

But Newcastle tears aside, could Yoane Wissa actually fill the Havertz size gap?

Proven Premier League pedigree – Wissa scored 19 goals last season, with only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah scoring more “non-penalty goals”. He understands the pace, intensity, and physicality of English football, which makes him a low-risk addition compared to untested names from abroad.

Versatility in attack – Before the departure of Ivan Toney, Wissa played primarily on the left wing for Brentford. He only became the focal point in Brentford’s attack following Toney’s departure a year ago. And in that 12 months since he has put up incredible figures. Cover for Viktor Gyokeres in the middle and also an option out wide. That will mean Wissa would not quickly become surplus for requirements when Havertz returns.

A clinical finisher – Last season, Wissa quietly built a reputation as a sharp finisher. His movement inside the box, instinct for rebounds, and composure in one-on-one situations make him a constant threat. He thrives on half-chances, meaning that he could build a partnership with Gyokeres, not just be his cover. Big man little man when chasing the game anyone?

A “system player” for Arteta – Arteta prioritises players who fit his tactical vision rather than just big names. Wissa has demonstrated intelligence, adaptability, and selflessness – traits that Arteta consistently looks for. Wissa’s humility and work ethic align with the culture Arteta has built, where the collective comes before the individual.

Wissa wouldn’t arrive demanding to be the star man, but he would contribute significantly whenever called upon. That type of mentality is exactly what Arsenal need as they continue to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts.

Physicality and work rate – Arteta values forwards who not only contribute offensively but also press aggressively and defend from the front. Wissa embodies that ethos. His tireless energy makes him a nightmare for defenders trying to build from the back.

Brentford’s system relies heavily on coordinated pressing and transitional play, and Wissa has excelled in that environment. Bringing that same intensity to Arsenal would fit seamlessly with Arteta’s pressing schemes and strengthen the team’s ability to suffocate opponents high up the pitch.

A Realistic and affordable target – The headache for Mikel Arteta and the team is who to bring in that will not cost a bomb. As it stands, Brentford have rejected an offer of £35m + £5m from Newcastle for Wissa. Arsenal could comfortably dwarf that, and he would still feel like a value signing.

While we may dream of new blockbuster attacking signings, sometimes the smartest moves are the ones that bring balance, depth, and tactical options. Yoane Wissa represents exactly that. Proven in the Premier League, versatile across the front line, and affordable, he would add another dimension to Arsenal’s attack without disrupting the current structure.

If Arsenal are serious about sustaining a title push and competing deep into the Champions League, signing a player like Wissa to replace Havertz could be the kind of savvy addition that makes all the difference.

And it would wind up those Geordie mugs…

Keenos

And just as the doom and gloom merchants are coming back from their Benidorm breaks, Arsenal do something magical!

I honestly thought the Eberechi Eze deal was dead.

We were struggling to sell the players needed to free up squad space. With Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, Ethan Nwaneri, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson, we already had 8 options for 3 positions. It was clear Eze would only come in if departures happened.

Then the new contract for Trossard was announced.

I was always of the view that if Eze came in, it would be as a replacement for Trossard – someone to be cover on the left wing and also be an attacking option more centrally. Trossard’s new deal seemed to kill off the idea.

And then you had Tottenham.

They looked set to swoop for Eze, a long term target of theirs. And with James Maddison out for the season, Eze would be a guaranteed started for them in a World Cup year – something he would not be for The Arsenal.

In the time it takes to refresh your Twitter timeline, the world went from doom and gloom over Arsenal to excitement and piss taking.

I get those that did not really understand the new deal for Trossard. More money but no more years. It confused many.

I tried to make sense of it and the only thing I could think is Mikel Arteta wanted him to stay (the contract was on the table since early summer), but Trossard was getting sniffed around by clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia – he nearly left to Saudi Arabia last year.

Not wanting him to kick up a stink and try and leave, the decision was then made to increase his salary at Arsenal to keep him happy. But the club did not want him to have a contract beyond his 33rd year on this planet, so it was decided to offer the raise on existing terms.

That ensured a key player was kept happy and committed for two years, and not agitating for a move away. Had we not offered Trossard the contract, the options were:

1. Sell and replace him. His replacement would likely cost more and come in on the money Trossard wants, whilst then needing to be integrated into the team
2. Keep Trossard and risk that he becomes demotivated and downs tools

The payrise on the same years feels like the best deal all around. But I get it if some are still scratching their heads.

Then the news came through that Kai Havertz had picked up an injury and, worryingly, no time frame for return had been declared. This led to concerns around fans about only having Viktor Gyorekes as our forward option (with Gabriel Jesus also out injured).

It felt yesterday that moral amongst fans was lower then it should have been having seen us beat Man U 1-nil at Old Trafford, and spend close to £200m on new players following three-peating 2nd place.

And just as we were tucking into our dinner (mine was sausage omelette and hash browns), the news broke: Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle to sign Eberechi Eze.

It was not only the news that Arsenal were about to sign Eze that got the world rumbling with excitement, it was that we had seemingly snatched him from Spurs’ grasp at the last minute.

2 weeks ago it looked like Eze was off to Tottenham. Terms with the player had been agreed and they were negotiating the final aspects of the deal with Palace. But the deal had stalled. And now we all know why.

Arsenal was always Eze’s preferred option. We had clearly let both him and Palace know that we were still planning to come in for him if they were patient. So they stalled the deal.

Any movement from us was contingent on a player or 3 departing. But that has not happened. So why have we moved so quickly?

Well, firstly, Palace and Eze would only stall so long before taking the Tottenham deal. There might have been a feeling that had Arsenal not come in before the end of this week, the Spurs deal would be wrapped up.

But then you also have the Havertz injury.

Arsenal already had 26 senior players that needed to be registered with the Premier League. The maximum you could have is 25. That always meant that new signings would either need to see departures happen, or the club decide not to register a senior professional. And the club would have been very reluctant to do the latter due to the squad disharmony it could create.

No new players in would mean we only needed to shift one player to make the squad balance (although more were likely to leave).

Havertz injury looks like it could be long-term. If he is out beyond Christmas, he will not be registered in the first half of the year. That means we would be in the exact same situation if we signed someone – only needing to sell one.

The injury to Havertz basically “free’d up” the squad place for the recruitment of Eze.

Getting Eze not only improves our squad and gives us another attacking option, it also makes Tottenham the job of North London.

From Petit to Campbell, and now Eze, anyone that ever questioned who was the biggest club has now had the answer firmly thrown in their face.

North London has always been red. It always will be red. And those Middlesex swamp dwellers can cry into the pints they will be having in Waltham Cross, Broxbourne and Cheshunt.

Enjoy your Thursdsay!

Keenos

Expecting instant results is a cultural phenomenon in the digital age.

This expectation is fueled by the speed and immediacy of online interactions and the constant availability of information and services. The likes of Amazon with their “same day delivery” and your food delivery company being able to get you your KFC or McDonalds within 20 minutes of ordering without leaving the couch.

It has led to many having a misconception of time. They order from somewhere not Amazon and they are emailing the day after their order, demanding to know where it is, having not read the shipping which clearly explains they are buying from a small company and dispatch is 3-5 working days.

They sit in a high-end restaurant and have to wait 45 minutes for their main course to be prepared and served, not realising that their meal is being cooked fresh and they are in a TGI Fridays where everything is frozen and flash-fried for 10 minutes.

This high expectation of immediacy leads to complaints against the shop, restaurant and service provider from the customer, when in fact it is the customer who is in the wrong as they have not allowed themselves to appreciate that sometimes things take time.

And we are seeing this expectation of immediate results come through in football.

After one game, fans are already bantering off Florian Wirtz and labelling Tijjani Reijnders as the better signing. Likewise, they are already calling Viktor Gyokeres a flop.

We now live in a society where opinions are built after one game, and if a player is not scoring or assisting in their debut then they are automatically labelled a flop.

The expectation of instant results is amplified by social media leading fans to focus on batner rather than fact. It is all about mocking an opposing a team rather than allowing yourself to build a deeper understanding of football. And I also appreciate that many on social media are under 18 so all they understand is childish banter, as they are children – and they would not yet have that deeper understanding.

You also have the sad adults who rely on boosting their own moral through e-likes. They are bottom-tier fans who do not have the intelligence to engage in discussion and debate, so always go to banter.

Now Reijnders might prove to be a better signing than Wirtz, and at £45m I beleive he could be one of the signings on the summer. But I am basing this opinion not on one game but on last season at AC Milan.

To get a player of his quality, someone who was named the best midfielder in Serie A last season, so cheap is great business. But lets wait beyond the first game to make comparisons between the Premier League careers of Wirtz and Reijnders.

Likewise, the criticism of Gyokeres is laughable.

I have often said that Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, amongst others, would not survive in the “instant success era”. They were heavily criticised back in the 90s for their slow starts to their Arsenal careers. That criticism would have been amplified 100 times in the social media era. Both went on to become Arsenal legends.

Now I am not saying that Gyokeres will become an Arsenal legend on the level of Henry and Bergkamp, but as Arsenal fans we should know the history of the club and not be writing off a player after one appearance.

We also should not be spending time bantering opponents because they signed someone who did not “bang” from gameweek 1. But of course, as explained, some fans do not have the mental aptitude to involve themselves in conversations beyond banter and simple

And if you are one of those who demand instant success from others, whether it be an online shop, a resturant or your favourite footballer, why are you not applying the same level of expectation to your own life?

By your own bar, you should be a multi, multi-billionaire. And if you are not by the time you are 30, you have failed in life. But of course, you do not apply the same level of success to your life. And infact holding others to a high stand means that you can knock them down and present them as failures, even if they are not. You live to bring others down to your level rather than trying to raise your own life up.

So what sort of fan are you? Someone with intelligence who does not judge a player after one game?
Someone who is bottom tier and does not have the intelligence to contribute more then just banter to a discussion?
Or one of life’s failures who would rather drag others down to their level by labelling them failures rather than focusing on building themselves up?

Let us know in the comments.

Keenos

New on the store!

Our new Mikel Arteta t-shirt is available in 6 colours, sizes up to 3XL! As a Metallica and Arsenal fan, I love this design!!!https://t.co/8Meg9m9AjH pic.twitter.com/CZ8z4Nh5AV

— Kick Off Merchants (@KOMerchants) August 18, 2025