Category Archives: Arsenal

Arsenal look to make it 9 from 9 against Fulham

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Game day 3. Fulham at home.

When the fixture list was announced, it was important we got off to a winning start following our favourable scheduling.

Nottingham Forest (home), Crystal Palace (away) and Fulham (home) looked like a comfortable start to the season. And with 6 points our of 6, we have done what we have needed to do without coming needing to come out of 3rd gear.

I always feel the team that wins the league is not who comes flying out the blocks quickest, but the side that gets through the opening half a dozen fixtures expending the least amount of energy whilst gaining maximum points.

In recent years, we have seen Manchester City have “slow” starts to the season where they do just enough to get through games. Then in the second half of the season they go up and gear before peaking for the run in.

Last season we flew out the blocks, and we needed to do it. But the consequence was when it came down to the business end of the season, we ran out of steam.

This season it certainly feels like we are holding a bit more back. Ensuring we are getting through games without needing to go 100%. And a home fixture against Fulham should see us go 9 out of 9.

Fulham had an exceptional season last year, driven by a 10-games spell from the end of the World Cup to end of February where only Manchester City, Man U and Arsenal got more points. But they finished the season poorly.

From the beginning of March to the end of the season, they fell away and were one of the worst teams in the league – only the 3 relegated sides alongside Chelsea and Nottingham Forest gained more less points from the last 13 games of the season.

I think this season they will struggle (although will stay up).

Losing Aleksandar Mitrovic is a huge blow after he finally learned how to score goals in the Premier League. Recruiting the past-his-best Raul Jimenez is a huge step down – the Mexican has not been the same since suffering a head injury against Arsenal.

Teams will not time them as lightly as last season, which will see midfield pairing Andreas Pereira and João Palhinha get less time on the ball.

They started this season with a ropey 1-nil win over Everton (who I think will go down), and that was followed up by a 3-nil defeat at home to Brentford.

That Brentford game was an interesting watch as it felt like Fulham were in control for much of the game. They were hampered by going down to 10-men after 64 minutes, and Brentfod’s second goal was from the penalty spot. Their 3rd was in injury time.

We have only dropped points once since 2012 against Fulham – a 1-1 draw during Covid in April 2021.

That team consisted of Matt Ryan in goal, with Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Granit Xhaka in defence alongside Gabriel. The midfield 5 was Bukayo Saka, Dani Ceballos, Mo Elneny, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli. Alex Lacazette was upfront.

It shows how far we have come in a little more than 2 years that you would expect just 3 of those to start.

Win the game, then it is onto Manchester United at home (3 home games in the first 4 of the season?), then we are into the international break.

If we can get into that break with 4 wins from 4, fears that last season might have been a fluke should be diminished.

Enjoy the game today.

UTA

Keenos

Two stars set for Arsenal exit – could both depart today

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So o wrote this mornings blog last night.

The synopsis was around a left back merry1go-round that is delaying exits for Nuno Tavares, Kieran Tierney and West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell.

Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Aston Villa are both chasing Cresswell, whilst his exit could open the day for Tierney to move to West Ham.

Then overnight, David Ornstein killed my blog with his breaking news:

A loan deal to Spain is a move that no one saw coming.

In the blog that will now never see the light of day, I wrote about KTs issue in finding a new club.

Out of the other top 6 Premier League clubs , Newcastle were the only ones in the market for a new left back. They have bought in Chelsea youngster Lewis Hall on loan with an obligation to buy.

Chelsea, Man U, Man City or Liverpool were never really interested in recruiting the Scotsman.

As you went down the league, more clubs would close their door on him.

Aston Villa have Lucas Digne, a move to Tottenham is a non-starter, and he is just not a Brighton sort of player.

That left him with the likes of West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace and other mid-lower league teams. Moved that KT clearly did not want to make.

Whilst Sociedad are not one of Spain’s big names, they have established themselves in the top 6 in La Liga over the last few years seasons.

They have now finished top 6 four seasons on the bounce. Last year they finished 4th which saw them qualify for the Champions League.

Reports are Sociedad will pay his full wages, as well as a long fee that could be as high as £5m.

KT will get to play regular first team football again, including in the Champions League, and remind potential buyers in 2024 just how good a left back he is.

Good luck to him.

The other one with one foot out the door is Folarin Balogun.

Whilst it is good luck to Tierney, it is more good riddance to Flo.

Balogun should have returned from his season on loan with France, got his head down in pre-season training and worked hard. That would have led him to get chances to show what he can do in the friendlies and force his way up the pecking order at Arsenal.

Instead, he returned from his loan move and made it very clear that he wanted first team football or was going to leave.

It showed a player who was not willing to work for it. That thought he deserved to be given it. And it is no wonder Arteta basically showed him the door.

He is clearly a young man that thinks he deserves an opportunity without firstly working for it. His decision to change allegiances highlights this.

For England, he had Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham ahead. Instead of backing up a good 6 months, he moaned to the press that he was not getting a chance and then switched his allegiances.

But he did not opt for the nation of his parents, like so many players with African heritage do. He opted for America.

With Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awonyi and Emmanuel Dennis, Nigeria are not short of a decent striker. Balogun was not guaranteed getting into their squad.

So he chose the easy option of playing for America, a team whom he would walk straight in for. And suddenly on social media he began promoting himself as “Mr America“, despite having never even previously mentioned Independence Day or Thanksgiving.

Back at Arsenal, I was always concerned about his snide posts on social media.

There was a time last season (I think, my memory is a little fuzzy), when Eddie Nketiah missed a good chance. That evening Balogun posted up a compilation of goals he had scored.

Then over the summer, whilst training on his own prior to returning to Arsenal, he released a video of him working out in an Inter Milan shirt. It was a clear “come and get me” plea.

So Balogun, who thought he was good enough to start for Arsenal, is on the verge of joining Monaco for £40m.

Last season, Monaco finished 6th in Ligue 1 and are not even in Europe for this campaign.

Why did no better team come in for Balogun? Were they concerned with his attitude? Were they unable to offer him the guarantees of first team football that he demanded after 1 senior season?

I am sure he will do well in France. Score 20 league goals again. But as we know scoring in France is much easier than the Premier League.

It will be interesting to follow his career. Where he goes next after Monaco.

Will a big European club come on for him? Or will he end up at the West Ham or Crystal Palace’s of this world? Clubs he probably looked down his nose at and scoffed when he was told of their interest.

Big talent, but big ego as well. Goodbye.

Have a great Friday!

Keenos

Arsenal focus “100% on exits”

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We are unlikely to buy a replacement for Jurrien Timber.

Mikel Arteta recently spoke about the difficulty in replacing the versatile defender.

Timber plays across the backline, and you are not recruiting someone else to do that without spending big, big money. Money that Arsenal will not look to invest on temporary replacement.

I think we are likely to look at Takehiro Tomiyasu as being first choice cover for both Ben White and Olexsandr Zinchenko out wide, with Jakub Kiwior, Ben White and Rob Holding as the cover in the middle.

Arteta also rates Arsenal teenager Reuell Walters highlighy. Thre 18-year-old is developing nicely and could be called upon if we need further cover at right back.

White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
Walters Holding Kiwior Tomiyasu

With a week to go in the transfer window, our focus is 100% on exits.

Nicolas Pepe has begun to receive admiring looks from Saudi Arabia.

I am actually surprised the Saudi Pro League did not come in for him earlier. He seems like the perfect profile for what they have previously bought.

My theory is that they did make contact with his people early in the transfer window but were rebuffed. Pepe still had hopes of “making it” in Europe and preferred the challenge of playing in a relevant league above earning loads of money infront of one man and his camel.

With a move to another top European league not materialising, Saudi looks to be the only option. My bet is Al-Ittihad following Jota’s exit…

Next in the shop window is Folarin Balogun.

Not long ago I blogged about how I think the Balogun transfer will be a deadline day one.

Premier League clubs such as West Ham and Crystal Palace will waiting until late in the window in the hope we drop the price. But likewise, Arsenal will be waiting for deadline day to sell in the hope clubs become desperate and “pay whatever is needed”.

The fake-American has recently been linked with Chelsea.

This would be a surprising move considering the driving force for his Arsenal departure is not being a starter. Can I see Balogun getting in ahead of Nicolas Jackson or Christopher Nkunku (when fit again)? No.

But then if Chelsea offer him an 8-year deal on £100k a week, I am sure he will suddenly give up his wish to play regular first team football.

Balogun has shown that he does not have the heart for the challenge. Opting to not fight for his place at Arsenal. Opting to play for America rather than England or Nigeria. It is the easy option every time.

Sit on bench for Chelsea for 8 years and pocket £40m. I am sure he will enjoy the easy life.

Arsenal are still trying to find a buyer for Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares.

Both have recently been linked to lower Premier League clubs, but solid deals have not yet come to light.

Lokonga to Brighton is an interesting one.

Not too long ago, I compared Lokonga to Moises Caicedo. The aim of the blog was to highlight the difference between being a young, up and coming player at somewhere like Brighton against playing at Arsenal.

Brighton were able to give Caicedo the game time to work through kinks in his game and develop. Arsenal were unable to do similar with Lokonga. I wondered if in 2021 Arsenal had signed Caicedo and Brighton Lokonga, their careers thus far would have been the opposite of now.

Lokonga’s development would have massively benefited from playing week in, week out for Brighton, whilst Caicedo would have stagnated sitting on the bench at Arsenal.

Tavares has received admiring glances from a couple of Midlands teams – Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa most recently. Both seem to be put off by Arsenal’s asking price (reported to be £20m).

With both men on a fairly low wage, and with 3-years still left on their contracts, Arsenal are in no rush to undersell either, and a loan could be the likely outcome.

If no club meets our asking price, we will probably be happy to agree loan deals where 100% of their wages is paid and a small loan fee.

That loan fee will be around £1.5m for Tavares and £3m for Lokonga. Or what their 1-year amortisation value is.

We would then hope that after 12 months of performing well in the Premier League, there will be more interest (and therefore higher transfer fees) in 2024.

I can certainly see a situation where Brighton loan Lokonga, with an option to buy for £25m, and Aston Villa loan Tavares with an option to buy for £20m.

As for Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney, I think there exits are up in the air.

Holding may be kept as a back-up to the back-ups following Timber’s injury. He is not on high wages, we will not command a huge transfer fee, and Mikel Arteta is probably happy to keep him around as an extra defensive reinforcement.

He has been with us for 7 years and is settled in North London with his family. My feeling is he will only consider leaving us if it is another London club that comes in for him. It is basically up to Rob Holding whether he leaves or not. 

As for Tierney, it is damning that Timber, Tomiyasu, Gabriel and Zinchenko have all played at left back for us this season whilst Tierney has not even been in the matchday squad.

Clearly Arteta does not fancy him, but we have also not had a bid come in that we deem acceptable.

With Lewis Hall joining Newcastle on a season long loan with an obligation to buy for £28 million plus £7 million in add-ons, that is one door shut. But that deal also shows why we are justified in holding out for £25m+.

The issue for Tierney is that not too many Premier League sides need a new first choice left-back. Those chasing Tavares are looking at him as their 2nd choice.

When you look at the Premier League, you get to West Ham in 7th as the first club where Tierney would start. They could become a real option if Aaron Creswell departs.

Next up would be Nottingham Forest in 10th and maybe Crystal Palace in 11th.

I think a bit like Balogun, teams might be waiting until the last minute to launch their Tierney bid.

Finally, Cedric Soares. I do not think he is going nowhere.

No-one seems to want him. And with 1-year left on his contract he might be happy to sit around and watch TV for 12 months. I suspect it will be a bit like last year where he gets a January loan move.

Enjoy your Thursday…

Keenos