Morning all.

As one of the few teams no to be playing mid-week, we have seen the media rehash some discussion points in an attempt to drive Arsenal traffic to their site.

The two I have seen the most is about Arsenal regretting letting players leave. Namely Joe Willock and Emiliano Martinez.

We sold Willock to Newcastle for £25million nearly two years ago. It was one of those transfers that was a good deal all round. So I am not sure what is fueling the “Arsenal must regret selling Willock” and “can’t believe they only sold him for £25m” stories.

Willock was turning 22 when we sold him, and needed to kick on with his career.

Not really a defensive midfielder, not really suitable for the way we attacked, he struggled for game time in his last season with us.

Willock is built for counter attacking football, not being too involved in build up and arriving in the box late to score. He averages just 25 passes a game for Newcastle.

He does not have the passing technique to play in tight places, and struggled at Arsenal as we pinged the ball around the edge of an opponents box looking for space. This is not to sya he is a poor player. Just he is not suitable for us.

The soon-to-be-24-year-old suits the way Newcastle play – they defend deep, look to break quick, and try not to have too many touches between winning the ball back and getting a shot at goal.

Arsenal sold a player that did not suit them, Newcastle signed someone that was better than anything else they had in midfield, and £25m was a fair price all round, which we reinvested in Martin Odegaard. It is not a debate that Odegaard is the better player.

I am delighted to see him doing so well and he will be well worth an England call up.

As for Martinez, I really do not get why this story keeps popping up.

A bit part player who only played a handful of games for us, he refused to sign a new deal without being gauranteed to be first choice. The only team interested in signing him was 17th place Aston Villa.

A year later, we signed Aaron Ramsdale. The Englishman was happy to compete to be number one.

Since signing for Villa, his team have finished 11th and 14th. They are currently 9th. He has also won the World Cup be default of being the only half-decent Argentine keeper.

You have to think if he was as good as some say – and he thinks – then he will get a move to a big club this summer. But will someone want to sign a near 31-year-old who still makes a lot of errors; they are just not highlighted as much whilst at a smaller club?

Whilst Arsenal are challeging for the title with Ramsdale (who is second to Nick Pope in clean sheets), Villa are mid-table once again. Really not sure how we regret not keeping a player who was unwilling to fight for his place.

The fact these two stories have reared their heads this week shows how important Arsenal are for advertising revenue. They really are both non-stories and I doubt too many Arsenal fans have shown their regret this season over the two.

And before you tag us in some wierdos, yes I know there are odd fellas out there with #EduOut #ArtetaOut in their Twitter bio who complain about Odegaard every week and would much rather have Willock. These same fellas preferred Nicholas Pepe over Bukayo Saka. They build their opinion based on who Arteta rates.

Arteta likes a player, they hate them. Arteta does not rate a player, they love them.

These fellas would see Arsenal having a forward line of:

Aubameyang
Tavares Guendouzi Willock Pepe

Anyway, I get the irony of me moaning about these topics popping up again, and then proceeding to blog about them. I guess I am part of the problem.

Keenos

Declan Rice is a Chelsea boy.

Born in Kingston upon Thames, a Borough in both London and Surrey, he joined the Chelsea academy as a seven-year-old. Already at the club was a Mason Mount.

Mount and Rice “hit it off straight away” and remained really close as they went through the age groups. At 14, Rice was released and quickly joined West Ham.

The expectation for some time is the Rice would likely end up back at Chelsea.

Since making his debut for the Hammers in 2017, he has become a World Class defensive midfielder. Up there with the likes of Thomas Partey, Casemiro and Rodri.

Rice still lives on the Surrey / London borders and is a member of the Kingswood Golf Club. The club is around 11 miles from Chelsea’s Cobham Academy.

Going back to his boyhood club, to play with his best mate, a stones throw from where he lives. It looked the perfect move for Rice. But that has potentailly been soured with what is happening with Mount.

Mount is currently in contract dispute with Chelsea.

His current deal ends in 2024, and Mount was reportedly hoping to treble his wages to £240,000 a week; similar to what Reece James is reportadly on

The Englishman is not in Chelsea’s top 20 highest earners, despite being named their Player of the Year in 2020/21 and 2021/22 – the last two seasons. Mount rejected an offer of around £200,000 per week back in November.

With a bloated 33-man squad, Chelsea will need to get rid of some players in the summer. With his contract dispute, Mount could be one of those to leave. There will be no shortage of suitors with both Arsenal and Liverpool considering a move.

Despite signing Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea still need midfielders. And that requirement will become more crucial if Mount leaves. Rice will still be on their shortlist.

From Declan Rice’s point of view, playing with Mount again was a huge reason to return to Chelsea. With things turning sour, his boyhood club may no longer be as attractive.

Would you join an employer who had recently treated your best poorly, leaving them to leave? Probably not.

With everything considered, Arsenal look to be in pole position in the race for Rice. And what is happening with Mount only strengthens our opinion.

Finaly thought: Should we also chase Mason Mount?

Keenos