Tag Archives: Kieran Gibbs

Arsenal set to give 1st teamers run out in U23 friendly

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Having left 16 first team players at home, Arsenal look set to give some of them a run out in upcoming U23 friendlies.

On Friday, Arsenal U23’s play Brighton at the Arsenal Training Centre (aka London Colney) in a behind closed doors, invitation only, friendly. Usually a behind closed doors game screams out two things:

  1. Trialists
  2. First team players set to play

With Wojciech Szczesny, Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Lucas Perez & Chuba Akpom all fit and left at home, we could see a whole host of players be given a run out against Brighton. It will be an opportunity for them to show visiting scouts that they are fit and ready to go for the new season.

On July 27, Arsenal’s traditional meeting with non-league Borehamwood is set to take part. Usually an U23 fixture, rumours are that Arsenal could play up to 5 first team players, as they continue to put those who are not wanted in the shop window, and ensure that their fitness levels do not drop – putting at risk a potential transfer.

With the Borehamwood fixture set to be open to fans, it is a great opportunity, in the summer holidays, to take your kids and see a mixture of first team players and some youngsters who will be bloodied with an eye on the future.

If they have not yet left the club by July 27th, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Mathieu Debuchy, Lucas Perez, & Chuba Akpom are almost certainly set to play a part. The only one likely to miss out is Wojciech Szczesny – who has recently cleaned out the closet in his house ahead of a move to Juventus.

All 5 players will be looking to put themselves in the shop window and show that, despite the lack of match time last season, they are not overweight, they are injury free, and would be ready to join pre-season training at a new club.

Get down to Borehamwood with your kids on July 27th to support a non-league club with heavy links to Arsenal, and to see some senior players (who might be leaving Arsenal) play.

Keenos

Where will Arsenal’s 9 contract rebels end up?

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All the news in recent weeks has been about the future of contract revel Alexis Sanchez’s future at the club.

Whilst Sanchez has taken up all the column inches, Arsenal have another 8 senior players who’s deals are coming to an end in 2018.

Here is my opinion on where they will end up…

Mesut Ozil – The German wants to leave Arsenal. But the problem is that no one wants him.

No club in England fancy him.

A return to Spain is impossible. Real Madrid won’t have him back, Barcelona don’t need him, and he won’t suit Atletico’s style (and they have a transfer ban).

Bayern Munich don’t want him, no other German side can afford him. A move to Turkey will see his wages massively cut. That leaves Italy and France.

He might be waiting to see if PSG will make a move. Then you have the new cash rich AC Milan and Inter Milan.

Likelihood is he will realise he has no other option but to stay at Arsenal. Either sign a new contract, or leave on a free to Fenerbache after the season – with Fenerbache paying him a big lump sum to make up for lower wages.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – In a World Cup year, the Ox has realised that his career has stalled. He has not moved forward since the last World Cup – where he started every game – and he is now in danger of not even making the squad.

The Ox wants more game time, and not at right back. His future rests on Alexis Sanchez’a decision. He sees himself as the perfect replacement for Sanchez behind the striker. If he is guaranteed a chance to fight for that position, he will stay. If he has told “we see your future at right wing back” he will be gone.

Jack Wilshere – Missing pre-season again is a disaster for Arsenal as it means they can not shift the no-longer-youngster on.

With a year left on his deal, so Arsenal offer him a new 4 year contract and risk another Abou Diaby situation? Or do they let his contract run down and lose a player for nothing who cost nothing.

This is a situation that is in Arsenal’s hands.

Wojciech Szczesny – He wants to leave. Arsenal want to sell him. But until a decision is made on the future of Petr Cech, David Ospina and a new 2nd choice keeper, he might be another who ends up staying.

Would be Arsenal’s second choice for a year, before likely joining Juventus on a free transfer to replace Buffon.

Kieran Gibbs – Basically can pick who he wants to join. Offers will come in for him from the likes of Newcastle, Watford, West Ham and more. A simple case of seeing what they offer him, and deciding where he wants to go.

Per Mertesacker & Santi Cazorla – Both just signed new one year extensions. Will probably be their last at the club.

Carl Jenkinson – Like Kieran Gibbs, Arsenal are looking to move him on. But the lack of Premier League interest will be a a worry for him.

He might look to push a loan deal to a Premier League side to prove himself as a Premier League player before leaving on a free next year.

Might end up with a lifeline at Arsenal if Debuchy, Bellerin & Ox leave.

Joel Campbell – “Get out whilst you can Joel”. Arsenal might wish they had of got him out after the last World Cup when they could.

Likely to be sold to a La Liga or Portuguese side, but not for very much.

Keenos

Arsenal set for mass exodus as 13 senior pros set to leave

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This morning we awoke to news that Newcastle were looking at Kieran Gibbs and Wojciech Szczesny could be off to Juventus. These likely exits will be just the tip of a very big iceberg when it comes to players set to leave the club this summer.

Alongside Szczesny, FA Cup winning goal keeper David Ospina is surely set to leave for pastures new. The Columbian has now been at Arsenal for 3 years and the club have clearly decided that he is not the long term replacement for Petr Cech. A move to Fenerbache might finally happen for him.

Per Mertesacker has recently announced an intention to retire from football. Although there might have been some mix up in translation as it also appears he is saying he is prepared to be a β€œstand-by” player next season. I would not be surprised if he signs for one more year, but clarification on his future will happen soon.

If Mertesacker stays, Gabriel will likely return to Spain.

Behind Laurent Koscielny, Shkdoran Mustafi, Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal in a back 3, he might also find Mertesacker and Calum Chambers ahead of him. His future will be linked to what Mertesacker and the club decide.

Arsenal are almost certain to show the exit door to two left backs. Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson will both be allowed to depart the club this summer. With Hector Bellerin, the returning Calum chambers and (if we stick to 3 at the back) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of the pair, their are surplus to requirements.

Perhaps the biggest name set to leave the club will be Jack Wilshere. A year on loan at Bournemouth was supposed to show to the world that he can get fit enough to be relied upon week in week out. What resulted is the same old, same old.

Despite only doing half training sessions, being wrapped in cotton wool, and only playing once a week, his body still gave up on him. The problem Arsenal might find is that his inability to pass a medical could see the clubs interested in him, and his value, diminish quite quickly.

A surprise exit could be Francis Coquelin. He seems to have gone backwards this year and with Arsenal targeting a new central midfielder, he will have to either accept massively reduced game time, or find a new club.

The Lucas Perez transfer has not worked out. He has found himself behind the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott in his two favoured positions. Some will say he never got the crack of the whip. Others will point to rumours of training ground bust ups, and the fact that those playing ahead of him were in exceptional form. He will return to Spain.

Another wide forward who will see his time at Arsenal come to an end is Joel Campbell. Get out whilst you can Joel will always stick in the head when it comes to Campbell. He became a cult hero. Someone a lot of those who want Wenger Out hung too, claiming he was a brilliant player not getting his chance.

The reality was Joel Campbell was simply not good enough. On loan at Sporting, he has struggled to break into their side on a regular basis. More yellow cards than goals this season, I bet Arsenal wish they could have gotten him out when they could 3 years ago after a decent World Cup.

Finally, this summer will also be the year we finally wish Yaya Sanogo farewell. It might also be the year the club decide tat Chuba Akpom will never be good enough for the club. He could lead the way of a lot of youngsters such as Dan Crowley, Jon Toral, Glen Kamara, Stefan O’Connor, Julio Pleguezuelo, Gedion Zelalem and Matt Macey who all struggled to make an impact when on loan.

 

Arsenal are set for a clear out this summer, and the list does not even include the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil & Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whom the club wants to keep, but due to contract ranglings, their future is in their own hands.

The reality is, the majority of what is leaving is (although I hate this term) dead wood. Players who have barely played for us over the last 12 months. When Arsene Wenger talks about 3 quality signings this summer, they would improve the top end of the squad.

As long as the 3 quality players do come in, none of the dead wood should be missed, or requiredto be replaced.

Keenos