For years Arsenal have been hammered left right and centre in the media for having the “most expensive season tickets in the Premier League”.
Almost every media outlet ignored the fact that our season ticket also included the first 7 FA Cup and European games, and that once you divide the prices by game, Arsenal were actually less than the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea.
But it gave them the headline that drove the click to their sites.
So we have the last home games of the seasons going on in front of the crowds, and I was surprised not much has been mentioned as to what clubs are charging:
Firstly absolute hats off to Burnley for not charging fans for their last home game of the season against Liverpool. Great touch.
But look who is top of the league. Tottenham charging £60.
Meanwhile Arsenal are near the bottom, charging between £26-36 for the game against Brighton.
Tottenham’s £60 is the flat price – there is no range like most other clubs. This means there cheapest £15 more expensive than the next most expensive “cheap” ticket – Liverpool charging £45 for their game against Crystal Palace.
Spurs’s £60 is more than twice the average cheapest cost that all the Premier League clubs are charging, and more than 50% higher above what the highest average cost is.
Fans of Tottenham will probably “celebrate” the fact they are over then 100% more expensive than Arsenal as some sort proof that they are a “bigger” club. Saying things like “Arsenal have to sell cheap because no one wants to watch them”.
Reality is, Tottenham fans are being turned over by their owners and it is only going to get worse with a £1bn stadium to pay for
You feel if it was Arsenal at the top of the price league, it would be headline news across the BBC and other media outlets. But as it is Tottenham it has been quietly brushed under the carpet.
I have always been a huge champion of our academy products.
After winning trophies, getting to watch someone who has come through your academy, bleeds red and white, making it is the next best thing in football.
I will always have an affinity to kids that come through the system – whether it was Ray Parlour, Jack Wilshere or Bukayo Saka.
But not all kids will make it. In fact the majority will not. And we have to thank them for their time and wish them luck at their new club – and wherever they go I will keep an eye out for them.
We have a few academy products who are finding themselves at a cross roads this summer – Eddie Nketiah, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock.
Whilst you will find very little support or justification for us to keep the first two, there is a conversation to be had over Joe Willock.
Willock has taken his loan spell to Newcastle by the rough of the neck and put in match winning performances for them.
Despite his good form, Arsenal should resist turning down an offer over £20million from the Geordies if it comes in.
I am pleased for Willock, he has done fantastic. But that does not mean he is good enough for Arsenal’s long term thinking.
“Where does he play” and “can he fit the system” are the two most important factors.
Is Willock a box to box midfielder or a “10”? That has been a question asked by many throughout his career at Arsenal.
He certainly has the physical attributes to be box to box – he is tall (although he still needs to fill out a bit more) and has an engine on him. But whenever he has played deeper, he seems to get lost.
His passing is the weakest area of his game.
For Newcastle his pass completion ratio is just 73.5%. For Arsenal this season in the Premier League it was 78.2%.
Last season in the Premier League for Arsenal it was 82.8%.
Compare this to Mohamed Elneny (92.7%) and Granit Xhaka (90.1%) and the drop off his huge.
Thomas Partey has been accused of being sloppy on the ball this season, but his completed pass ratio of 86.9% is also superior to Willock’s.
Willock just does not suit playing deeper and needs to be further up the pitch.
That then puts him competing against Emile Smith Rowe.
Arsenal still need creativity and goals in the top end of the pitch.
Smith Rowe is superior to Willock when it comes to creativity – his technic, passing and vision is vastly superior. Whilst Willock is the better goal scorer.
Edu, Mikel Arteta and the recruitment team need to be looking at players that are better than Smith Rowe and Willock. Someone that provides the goals and assists on a more consistent basis – Houssem Aouar remains a target.
That would leave either Willock or Smith Rowe playing second fiddle to the new signing.
So do you go with Willock’s goals? Or Smith Rowe’s creativity? That is where the system is then important.
With regards to the system, Willock with his pace and ability to drift into the box has a game made for counter attacking football.
But Arsenal do not play counter attacking. We do not defend deep and look to hit teams on the break. We try to dominate play and possession.
Therefore the attributes that he has bought to Newcastle will not be as devasting for Arsenal.
Meanwhile Smith Rowe is better suited to playing in those tight areas. Short sharp one touch passes. Operating with not much space.
So if it is a choice between Smith Rowe and Willock as understudy to whoever else we bring in, Smith Rowe is the better option.
That would leave Willock as 3rd choice in the position – and with financial constraints as they are the £20million could be used elsewhere on the pitch than tied up in a fringe squad player.
Willock will go to Newcastle and perform well. He will suit their style of play and their fans will love him.
But for Arsenal to kick on and return next season as a top 4 team, we need to funnel funds into better players. And cashing in on Willock, Maitland-Niles, Nelson and Nketiah raises important funds.
Keenos
I dont think I've ever done a sale…. Today I'm doing a sale….
Ryan Bertrand would be a good signing for Arsenal.
There, I said it.
Cheap Option
With the possibility of no European football, Arsenal’s finances could be impacted by a further £40million in lost revenue. Add in the financial issues COVID19 have created and we do not have lots of money to spend.
Taking that into account, it would be irresponsible to spend big on a back up left back.
Bertrand would be a free transfer and, as long as we do not give him a silly contract, will prove value for money.
Getting in Bertrand for free leaves more money to be spent elsewhere.
No one breaking through the youth team
“If we want cheap, why do we not just promote someone”.
Well there is no one to promote.
There is a reason why Tolaji Bola is still at the club despite being 22-years-old and not yet having played a first game. It is because the youth team has a dearth of full back.
Joel Lopez is highly rated, but is still very much a rough diamond and is not ready for first team football.
What would make the most sense is bringing in Bertrand for 2 years and allowing Lopez to go out on loan next season to get the first team football he needs for development.
Premier League proven
We went for the cheap, senior option in Stephan Lichsteiner and it failed. But he was not Premier League proven and the pace of England compared to Italy proved too much for his ageing legs.
Bertrand is closing in on 500 games in the England – most of which have been in the top flight.
Over recent years he has proved himself to be a solid, consistent Premier League performer.
He is fit as a fiddle
Only 3 players have played more minutes of Premier League football this season for Southampton, so despite being 31-years-old, fitness is clearly not a problem.
Home grown
Arsenal need to keep an eye on the squad quotas for the upcoming season.
As it stands we have 16 non-home-grown senior pro’s; leaving us space for 2 more.
With us likely to lose a few of the fringe youngsters (Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock), we need to ensure that “non essential” positions are not taken up by a non-home-grown player.
Bringing in Bertrand as a back up left back rather than looking abroad frees up a space to bring in someone else.
Ryan Bertrand might not be a signing that excites everyone, but he will be quality back-up for Kieran Tierney without breaking the bank.
Keenos
I dont think I've ever done a sale…. Today I'm doing a sale….
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 