I was tempted to title this blog “Arsenal in for cut-price England Euro star” or “Arsenal chase ex-Manchester United keeper”.

Both of those headlines would have got me loads of clicks and earned me about 50p.

But for years I have criticised those blogs that are there are as the “most read Arsenal story” who hide players names behind things like “6’4” stopper” and other bollocks.

They are usually the blogs that make very little contribution to the Arsenal conversation, and spend there days regurgitating transfer speculation for a few quid.

So Arsenal have been heavily linked with West Brom’s Sam Johnstone.

The 28-year-old keeper was a called up to England’s Euro 2020 squad.

Being linked to a recent relegated keeper is fairly uninspiring. But there is plenty of logic in there.

With Bernd Leno set to stay next season, a deal for André Onana is unlikely (Onana’s contract is set to expire next summer so our interest might be revisited ).

So as it stands Leno is first choice, and recently promoted Arthur Okonkwo will be 3^rd choice. What the plans are for Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson is unknown.

So Arsenal need a second choice goal keeper.

In recent weeks we have been linked to Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale – who was also part of Gareth Southgate’s squad. But it looks like Sheffield United’s asking price – £30million – is a little steep for Arsenal.

And Arsenal would be crazy to spend that one someone who would be 2^nd choice keeper considering our financial restraints following Covid and finishing 8^th. There are more important areas of the team that need addressing.

So why has Edu and his team landed on Johnstone?

Home Grown

A 2^nd choice keeper will likely see very little game time – in David Ospina’s last 3 seasons in red and white he played just 11 games.

With a lack of European football, our 2^nd choice keeper will probably only play in the League Cup and potentially the FA Cup. He could then play as few as 2 games.

So Arsenal would be crazy taking up a non-home grown playing spot with someone who will play so little.

Being home grown was one reason why Emi Martinez got promoted following the departure of Petr Cech and Ospina, and ended up getting his chance.

Sam Johnstone is basically England’s 4th best keeper (behind Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, and Henderson).

If we are looking for home grown, there is probably not anyone else available for cheap.

The Price

Ramsdale was clearly ahead of Johnstone on Edu’s wish list. But £30million for a back up keeper for a team with no Europe is silly money.

Johnstone meanwhile could be available for a fraction of that.

In 2018, Johnstone signed for WBA for £6.5million, agreeing a 4-year deal. That deal is due to expire at the end of this season.

A situation Arsenal have found themselves in a few times in recent years, WBA will have a choice of letting Johnstone got for cheap, or lose him for nothing at the end of next season.

Taking into account the impact Covid and relegation will have on their finances, they probably could not afford to lose him for nothing.

So this could open the door for a move to Arsenal.

WBA recently turned down a £10million bid from West Ham – who have moved on to Alphonso Areola. They are reportedly demanding £20million.

Even at £20million, Johnstone is already cheaper than Ramsdale. But Arsenal would expect to drive the price down further.

Arsenal may well be willing to do business at £12-15million. Or lower with a player perhaps going in the other direction on loan (maybe Runarsson or one of the U23 lads).

Better Than Ramsdale?

Johnstone was in Southgate’s original Euros squad whilst Ramsdale was a late call up to replace the injured Henderson.

Premier League Ready

Okonkwo showed against Hibs that is important to have someone with experience as 2^nd choice.

Johnstone played 37 of 38 games for WBA last season, and did not miss a Championship game for them in the two previous.

Prior to joining WBA he was Aston Villa’s first choice in the Championship playing 45 out of 46 games in 2017/18.

Over 280 senior games to his name, he would be more than capable to step up n Leno’s absence.

Summary

If we signed Johnstone for £12million, there will be plenty who will say “getting Johnstone for £12million when Onana is available for £10 is bad business”. But worse business would be having a foreign keeper as 2^nd choice with no European football next season.

Johnstone might be unwilling to be a number 2, which would probably sacrifice his chances with England in Qatar – but there are not many Premier League clubs looking for a number one.

His best hope would be joining someone like Arsenal and then, when we are back in Europe, getting 15-20 cup games in during a season.

Johnstone would be a good deal.

Keenos

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Former Arsenal academy prospect Donyell Malen looks set to join Borussia Dortmund. This will trigger the idiots on Twitter who say “Arsenal let go a superstar again” without actually having seem him play either for Arsenal or in Holland.

We have seen it before with the revisionism of Serge Gnabry’s departure (short version: Arsenal wanted to keep him. He wanted to return to Germany) and I imagine we will see the same happen with Malen.

Malen left Arsenal back in 2017. Joining PSV for less than £1million.

The then 18-year-old engineered a move out of the club under the guidance of his agent – Mino Raiola.

Many Arsenal fans who saw him play were disappointed that he left, as he was clearly a talent. But they also understood the situation.

Here was a player who had come to Arsenal at 16-years-old from Ajax. Within 2 years of being at the club refused to sign a new contract and decided to move back to his native Holland to find 1st team football.

It actually took him a season to find that 1st team football as he spent a year at Jong PSV – the reserve team of PSV Eindhoven.

He was a talent within Arsenal’s youth team, but he was by no means the brightest star.

Capable of playing across the front 3, Malen was in direct competition with the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Stephy Mavididi.

Malen often found himself playing 2nd fiddle to those 3 players. Usually only playing within his age group when they moved up a group or were involved in the senior team.

Only Mavididi – who has since joined Juventus and now at Montpellier – was older than Malen.

Back in 2017, Malen was down the pecking order for the 1st team action he demanded.

2016/17 none of Nelson, Mavididi or Nketiah got any senior game time as Chris Willock, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Chuba Akpom were the youngsters given the chances in the cup games.

So Arsenal had a talented young player; who was not more talented than players the same age. Whilst the club did not want him to leave; they also did not stand in his way.

Malen has now been in Holland for 4 years, scoring 40 goals in 81 Eredivisie games.

So in the most basic of terms, it has taken him 4 years to develop a game good enough for Dortmund to be interested in him. So 4 years previous he was no where near good enough to be involved in first team action.

Most will consider Nelson and Nketiah as “not good enough”. However how many goals would the pair of got had they gone to Holland? Probably not to dissimilar to Malen.

The Dutch league is a similar level as the Championship.

During Malen’s time in Holland, Mason Mount spent a loan period there, scoring 14 goals. The next year he was in the Championship where he scored 11 goals. Last season he scored just 6 Premier League goals, despite being 3 years old, wiser, stronger and better.

So we shouldn’t be getting our knickers in a twist of Malen scoring 5 goals against Vitesse. For every Luis Suarez that comes out of the league, you get 2017/18 top scorer Alizera Jahanbakhsh who failed to score a league goal for Brighton in 2018/19.

In his time in Holland, Malen has been outscored by the likes of Luuk de Jong (0 goals in 12 games for Newcastle), Steven Berghuis (0 goals in 9 games for Watford) and Dusan Tadic (ex-Southampton). Even the likes of Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar outscored him even though they were well past his best.

So some will cry that Dortmund are signing an ex-Arsenal trainee 4 years after he left the club. But there is a reason why it has taken him 4 years for a bigger team to come calling.

He simply was not ready for the big leagues when he left us.

Keenos

During the post game interview, Mikel Arteta was very aggressive in his defence of Emile Smith Rowe.

Asked if he is determined to keep Smith Rowe despite Aston Villa’s interest, Arteta said: “Without a question, yes. He will stay here, 100 per cent”.

When asked about Joe Willock’s future, his answer was a little more wet.

“Joe is part of our plans, he’s our player and in the time that he is here we will try to make the most out of him.”

Willock was fantastic at Newcastle scoring 8 goals in his 14 league games. In his short spell for them he fell in love with the city and Newcastle fans fell in love with him.

The feeling is he wants to return to Newcastle.

At 21 he needs to make decisions in the best interest of his career.

He can stay at the club he grew up supporting, and continue to be a bit part player or he can join someone like Newcastle and get regular first team football.

In the 6 months in the North East, Willock started 11 Premier League games. In the 4 seasons he was part of Arsenal’s first team, he started just 12.

Were he to stay at Arsenal, he would still be a fringe player. Behind the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and any new signings to play in his preferred advanced midfield.

At Newcastle he would be straight back in the first team. Playing week in week out.

Newcastle fans will cheer his name from day one. Already giving him hero status after he saved them from relegation. The air is different at Arsenal. Fans will grumble when his name is on the team sheet. The online abuse that he is not good enough will not go away.

It is easy to understand why he might want a move away. To really kick start his senior career.

The stumbling block is whether Arsenal and Newcastle can come to a deal.

Everything is up in the air at St James’ as the potential takeover by a Saudi consortium heads for the courts.

With everything going on, it would be surprising if any big transfers were “signed off”.

You also have the impact that Covid19 has had on finances.

A loan deal for Willock is more likely, with an obligation to buy.

I think this summer you will see a lot of deals done on loan with an agreement to buy next summer (similar to Matteo Guendouzi’s move to Marseille). This benefits both clubs:

1) The buying club can ick the debt down the road knowing that in 12 months time they would have had a 2^nd full year of season ticket money.

2) The selling club can access the funds they are due by selling it on to a factoring company.

So if Arsenal agree to loan Willock to Newcastle with a fee of £20million agreed in 12 months, Arsenal could sell that debt to a finance company for £19million which they would get immediately.

In 12 months time, Newcastle would owe that £20million to the finance company who would make an easy £1million on the deal. It is something that happens regularly in football when teams pay in instalments.

So do not be surprised if over the next week Willock joins Newcastle on loan, with a small upfront payment and an obligation to buy next summer.

Arsenal then sell the debt, in the same way they would have done with the incoming Guendouzi fee, and boost their own transfer funds.

I would be very surprised if Willock is not playing in black and white next summer.

Keenos