Arsenal set to welcome two new “signings”

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Morning all! A later than normal blog this morning from me. Took a little longer than usual to get the engine started. Bit too much sunshine and rum at the weekend!

The only real Arsenal news floating about right now is that we are set to welcome two new Gooners into the Arsenal family – both Aaron Ramsdale and Fabio Vieira announcing over the weekend they were going to become father’s for the first time. Congratulation to both of them.

Uusual morning of transfer speculation. Things will not begin to move until after the international break so stop stressing! The Harry Kane to Real Madrid stuff is interesting though…

A quick mention on leagues finishing across Europe. It has been an interesting see.

Arsenal put the pressure on Manchester City for much of the season, with City coming out eventual winners, and winning their 5th title in 6 seasons.

Over in Germany, Borussia Dortmund really should have won the Bundesliga, but could only draw at home on the last day of the season. That opened the door for Bayern Munich to win their 11th title in a row. Munich winning the league on goal difference.

And then in France, Lens finished just a single point behind PSG, having push them all the way. It was PSG’s 9th in 11 years.

It is good to see teams pushing the likes of Manchester City, PSG and Bayern Munich so far. But it is also a concern that once again the predictable 3 won the title.

All 3 can vastly outspend (on transfers and wages) every other team in the league. The French and German leagues are already an uncompetitive borefest, and the Premier League could end that way.

At least over in Italy, Napoli held their nerve and won Serie A at a canter. The worry now is that “bigger boys” across Europe will be circling them like hawks looking to grab Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Min-jae Kim, and Napoli will be back to being a challenger rather than champion.

Football has always been about “those who spend the most”, but I have never known a time when top leagues like Germany and France have had the same winner 11 times in a row.

Manchester United won 5 in 6 in the 90s/00s, but looking into my crystal ball City could easily go on to win the next 5/6 league titles.

One thing that has always made football great is the story a league season tells. The game will not be the game if the end of the story is always predictable.

Enjoy your Monday. I am off to grab a 4th coffee.

Keenos

Declan Rice future “in his own hands”

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This week we have seen Bayern Munich reportedly enter the race for Declan Rice. This news got those Mockney Essex boys a little bit excited.

“It’ll start a bidding war”

“Sell him to Bayern for less”

“Bayern will pay more than Arsenal”

Rice will almost certainly leave West Ham this summer. And the truth is, Declan Rice’s future is in his own hands.

It does not really matter what Bayern Munich offer. If Rice does not want to move to Germany, he will not.

Just because West Ham might agree a fee with Munich, it does not mean that Rice has to move.

The feeling from all sides is Rice wants Arsenal, and Arsenal want Rice. It is now just about West Ham and Arsenal agreeing a fee. And they will not happen until after this weeks Europa Conference.

The Munich stuff is just noise. Just West Ham fans getting excited and spreading fake news.

Rice has recently moved from Cobham, where he has lived for much of his professional career, to the Essex / Herts borders.

In August last year, he became a father for the first time. His son, Jude, is not yet one.

So he has moved to North of London and has a child under one. It is highly unlikely he will up and leave to Germany – no matter what Munich are offering.

It is not too dissimilar to Harry Kane who is settled in North London, has 3 children under 6 and a 4th on the way. He is unlikely to uplift his life and move abroad. Or even Manchester.

Rice has two choices. Arsenal or West Ham. And the fact he wants Arsenal drives down the price.

The Hammers won’t want to risk turning down a big offer, forcing Rice to stay and having an unhappy captain. They will not want to price him out of a move.

My expectation is that serious negotiations will begin once the England internationals are over. The fee will probably end up £80m.

I am confident Rice will become an Arsenal player. It does not really matter that West Ham fans would rather he goes Munich. It is not their choice. It is not West Ham’s choice.

Have a good Sunday.

Keenos

Saka becomes a global superstar (but Arsenal could lose him in just 2 years)

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Morning all from my sunny Essex garden. Feels like a bit of clam before the storm right now. Sitting and relaxing with a coffee before I have to get on with the days chores.

Mow the lawn, dead head some plants, paint a fence panel, and then relax to watch the F1 qualifying. I was looking forward to the cricket today but I would be surprised if the England v Ireland test goes beyond lunch.

Nice and peaceful here right now. Can just hear the sound of the birds chirping and the distant murmer of cars on the M25. And it is nice and peaceful in the world of Arsenal as well.

With the international fixtures not starting until 16 June, players have been given a leave of absence from the club. A chance to start their holidays early. For some, they will have to come back ahead of representing their country. Others can begin recharging their batteries ahead of next season.

Bukayo Saka has taken the opportunity to return to the home of his parents. The response to him out in Nigeria just shows what a huge global star he has become.

Saka is going to be Arsenal’s next superstar on and off the field. Like Thierry Henry, he will be a reason why people begin to support Arsenal. And similar to Kanu and Didier Drogba (for Chelsea), he will capture the hearts and minds of those across Africa. Expect our profile in Nigeria to rise even further.

And he is a credit to his family, the club and himself. Such a polite, down to earth, well rounded young man. No airs and graces. No arrogance.

I do worry about 2-years time. If Arsenal do not continue with this upward progression and begin to win the trophies he craves, he could be off.

Saka only signed a 4-year deal. That means summer 2025 will be when he either signs a new 5-year deal (taking him to 28), or is sold. Likely to Manchester City.

It does remind me a little bit of Raheem Sterling at Liverpool. In 2015, they could not match his ambition and he jumped ship. Top players will always want to go somewhere where they can win trophies.

There is not much else really happening around Arsenal right now. Just the usual transfer gossip. It is a bit harder to tell what comes from a journalist these days since Twitter took away unpaid verification.

I think todays flavour of the month is Xavi Simons. The only reason that link has come up is because his agent is Darren (son of David) Dein.

Not really sure why that is relevant. Darren was an agent for many an Arsenal player back in the 00s and was key in engineering most of them a move away from Arsenal.

The Declan Rice deal is still making a lot of noise. Ignore it. Nothing will happen until after the England internationals.

Have a great Saturday. The grass won’t cut itself.

Keenos