In the early hours of yesterday morning, our pre-season tour in the USofA came to an end with a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.
Our results Stateside read: P3 W 1 D 1 L 1. A bit of a mixed bag. And as expected, there has been an overreaction by some to us losing a friendly to Liverpool.
I would think everyone was ugly enough and old enough by now to not get wound up by pre-season results. Surely we all understand that these games are about getting fitness into players legs?
Every manager has a different philosophy on friendlies, and Arteta’s is to play a 50/50 team, and then switch after 60 minutes. That means we see 50% senior pros, and 50% 2nd string / youngsters. Around the 60 minute mark, he then makes wholesale like for like changes.
Then in the next game, those that came off the bench tend to start, with those who started the last game tending to be on the bench. This can lead to disjointed performances. But these are all about fitness.
You also never know what training sessions teams have had. In the past sides have done full training sessions the morning of a pre-season game, whilst others might have treated it like a proper game and only done stretching and relaxation the day prior.
Some have raised their concerns over our loss to Liverpool and that it shows we are in desperate need for a new striker. But as is the usual with Arsenal for friendlies these days, we have not taken it easy in pre-season with all 3 games against Premier League opposition.
We could have taken it easy in pre-season. Played some random team from Scotland and a lower league English side before flying out to Japan and Korea to play against sides no-one knew existed 2 weeks ago. That could have led to a big load of stat padding for our youngsters and a false security that we were better than what we are.
Whenever people moan about our pre-season results, I always ask the same question: what were our results in 89, 91, 98, 02 and 04. The answer is always “I do not know” which highlights that no-one remembers pre-season.
My final thought on this before I crack o with work early so I can get to the pub: Manchester City have played 3 pre-season games so far. They have lost to Celtic. Lost to AC Milan. And drawn to Barcelona.
Worry about results when proper games begin. Not before.
It is always sad to see a player making a move for money rather than for the betterment of their career. And this sadness deepens when it involves a young player who is clearly being badly advised by those that just see him as a commodity, a cash cow.
Details of the Chido Obi-Martin have emerged in the last day or so which paints a bad picture for both the former-Arsenal teenager and his advisors.
The deal on the table from the Arsenal was reportedly for £15,000 a week. This is the top end of what we pay our 16-year-olds when they sign their first professional contract with us. The majority of youngsters sign for a lot less.
This sort of money is usually offered to those young players who the club expect to be breaking into the first team squad before they reach 18. Think Bukayo Saka.
The offer highlights just how highly the club rated Obi-Martin. But Manchester United have blown us out of the water.
Reports are that Man U have doubled Arsenal’s offer – with Obi-Martin set to earn in the region of £30,000 a week. Over 2 years – the maximum length contract a 16-year-old can sign, that is the difference between earning north of £3m and earning “just” £1.5m.
The figures are not huge considering what Obi Martin may earn if he continues his progression, but for a teenager yet to play a game they are massive. The £3m on the table from Man U would mean that Obi Martin could retire at 18 and never work again!
Considering the situation at Man U right now, it is clear that Obi Martin and his people have valued money earned over the next two-years above what is best for his entire career.
To further illustrate the move is all about greed, Obi Martin’s representatives have reportedly demanded £1.7m commission to make the deal happened. This is not money that goes into the players pockets, but money that goes into his handlers.
And handlers is very much what Obi Martin has.
The Danish forward is not the first youngster to be moved from club to club to benefit those that control him, and he will not be the last. Football is littered with teenagers who were encouraged to move for the money, and then never fulfilled their potential.
Agents who have their clients best interest at heart will ensure any move is to a club that will develop the player, and help them reach their full potential. They will know the real riches in football are when your career progresses. They are not interested in making a quick buck off a 16-year-old.
We should not be surprised by Obi Martin and his representatives actions. We poached him as 14-year-old from his native Denmark.
Whilst a move from Kjøbenhavns Boldklub to Arsenal is likely to be for football reasons, I imagine we sweetened the deal with payments to friends, family and the player. The move to Man U is clearly solely based on finances.
And I would not be surprised if in 2-years history repeats itself once more.
As mentioned, a 16-year-old can only sign a 2-year contract. Most will usually then sign a 3-year deal at 17, taking them through to their 20th birthday, and then a 4-year deal at 18. This is the progression most young players go through at almost every top club.
I would put money on Obi Martin not signing a new deal with Man U when he turns 17, and instead in 2 -years he and his handlers will re-assess their options. His handlers will likely pimp him out across Europe again to see if they can get him more money. And at the same time bolster their pockets with more commission.
By losing the greedy wonderkid, Arsenal rid themselves of being in the exact same situation again in 12-months.
If a player at 16 only has money on his mind, or is being influenced by handlers who have no interest in their career, then we are better off without them. the names Nicolas Anelka and Paul Pogba come to mind.
Chido Obi Martin might go on to become one of the best in the world. The won that got away. But he is more likely to be the next Marcus McGuane.
Enjoy your Thursday.
Keenos
A new season means new kits which means new custom shin pads!
These were designed for us last season by @CarlBourkeArt
A new midfielder was always going to be a key acquisition for The Arsenal this summer.
We were either going to sign a new defensive midfielder who could also player further forward, or an “8” who could also play deeper. Who we recruited depended on one person: Thomas Teye Partey.
The future of Partey has been up for debate for two summers now. Driven by his high wage, injury prone body and Declan Rice’s recruitment, there was always a feeling that if big offer came in from a Saudi Arabia, we would accept it.
Partey’s departure would leave us in the market for a new defensive midfielder to provide both cover, competition and an alternative for Declan Rice.
It would be likely that we would go for someone who could dictate play from deep in the way Jorginho does. Martin Zubimendi and Joshua Kimmich are the first two that come to mind.
The signing would give us the option of playing Declan Rice as the sole defensive midfielder, with Kai Havertz in a more attacking midfield position. Or play Rice further forward, with the new recruit in behind him dictating play.
A third scenario would be the new recruit also playing either as the sole defensive midfielder, or in a partnership with Jorginho were Rice to pick up an injury.
This plan only works if Partey were to leave. But it is increasingly looking like that offer from Saudi Arabia will not come in, and the Ghanaian believes he still has plenty to give to a European based side. This leads to the likely scenario that he will remain with us for 2024/25 and see out his contract.
As a result, we then need to recruit a more advanced midfielder who is a natural in the 8, bridging the gap between the defensive mindset of Rice and the attacking instincts of Havertz.
There is no doubt that we missed Granit Xhaka in that position last season – a left footed aggressive midfielder who has the eye for a pass and can contribute in defence and attack.
When Xhaka was having his huge wobble a 3 years ago, Fabian Ruiz was top of my list to replace him. The Spaniard instead joined PSG from Napoli in 2022.
Ruiz’s understudy for Spain is Mikel Merino. He shares a lot of the same attributes as Ruiz, but is not quite the same level – hence why he is Spain’s second choice in that position. But being 2nd choice does not mean he is not good enough!
If Partey stays, we do not need to go big for a midfielder. We have Rice, Partey and Jorginho as the defensive midfield options. We then need to recruit someone who can either cover Rice if injured, or be an option between Rice and Havertz if we decide to set up a little more defensively, but without going all out defence in the midfield.
It is quite clear that Mikel Arteta and his team fancy a bit of Merino.
Talk is that the Merino deal could be done for less than £25million (his contract expires in 12 months). That is an incredible price for someone with his attributes, build and experience. And as we move into a title winning squad, he is the exact sort of player that we need to be recruiting as a squad player.
Primarily an “8”, Merino can also play deeper if required. He has a great engine, fantastic technique and will be able to influence games in the final third in the same way Xhaka did.
His recruitment will mean we are not overspending on Declan Rice’s cover, and basically gives us 8 players for 3 positions: Rice, Partey, Jorginho, Merino, Havertz, Odegaard, Jorginho. Plenty of squad depth and options depending on how Arteta wishes to set up.
Fast forward 12 months, Partey and Jorginho will both likely be leaving. At that point we then go big on a single defensive midfielder to replace the pair. I am then talking about a Zubimendi or Kimmich. that would then give us the 4 men – Zubimendi (for example), Rice, Merino and Havertz. With 2 out of the 3 starting depending on fitness, opponent, and how we want to set up.
Last summer, Manchester City spent £25million on Mateo Kovacic. The Croat is a versatile, experienced midfielder capable of covering multiple positions. With 1,548 minutes played in the Premier League, Rodri and Bernardo Silva were the only two midfielders to play more minutes for the club.
That means Kovacic played more than Kevin de Bruyne (who was out injured), more than Jack Grealish, and more than Matheus Nunes – whom City spent £53m more than in the same summer.
I am sure City fans would agree that Kovacic was a much better signing than Nunes, despite costing half.
Not every player needs to cost the world. Not every players needs to be a superstar. And not every player needs to be the best in the world.
A final thought on this.
You improve your team by buying better than what you have. In the past some have made a case that Emile Smith Rowe could play that more advanced midfielder role, but the departing Hale End lad has yet to show he can to either a consistent or high enough level.
In Merino we are clearly upgrading on Smith Rowe, and by continually improving is how you maintain the pressure, and potentially overtake, City.
Keenos
After our original Arsenal beer mat set sold out twice over, we worked again with @SheWore and @CarlBourkeArt on a second set!
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 