Morning all.
There’s no Euro 2024 to jot down about and little or no going by way of substantive Arsenal information, however let’s see what bits and items we will dig up.
It’s been reported that Declan Rice was not coaching with the primary group forward of England’s Spherical of 16 sport towards Slovakia on Sunday, however working to a person programme to handle his workload apparently. It stays to be seen how far England go on this match, however when it ends, I hope we’ve got invested in some new expertise which is able to enable him and Bukayo Saka to take 6 weeks holidays in simply 2 weeks. Like Microwave holidays, or one thing.
The pre-season work has already begun for some gamers, with Ben White, Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira, Eddie Nketiah, Jurrien Timber and Emile Smith Rowe summoned to Marbella by Mikel Arteta for some health work. Different gamers, together with Martin Odegaard, are set to affix over the subsequent few days, and the preparations for subsequent season are underway.
Talking of Smith Rowe, a participant we discuss a bit within the new Arsecast (accessible now in all the standard podcast locations and so on), Sky Sports activities are linking him with strikes to Fulham and Crystal Palace. I’m on report many occasions about how a lot I like him as a participant, however I don’t assume we will ignore the truth of his scenario. He may keep at Arsenal, however how a lot will he play? Bar some form of damage disaster, not a lot – as final season confirmed.
I feel each he, Eddie, and Nelson, have choices to make about their futures and their careers. As a lot as they could been seen as ‘expendable’ by followers, and as a lot as Arsenal would possibly have a look at them as pure revenue gross sales within the PSR period as a result of they’re Academy graduates, every of them has to significantly think about what’s greatest for them. Arsenal is a superb place to be proper now, particularly should you’ve grown up a Gooner. A terrific supervisor, good gamers, great ambiance and reference to followers, and good cash too, however footballers need to play, not sit round and benefit from the atmosphere prefer it’s some form of rest spa or showroom. I’m actually fascinated to see what occurs with these guys, and I actually need them – in the event that they do depart – to go on and do effectively, so let’s see the way it performs out over the course of the summer season.
I noticed we have been linked to a goalkeeper referred to as Joan Garcia, who at present performs for Espanyol. I do know little about him however one of many necessary measures for any new keeper we usher in needs to be how competent they’re with the ball at their toes. There’s not a number of information on fbref, in all probability as a result of Espanyol are at present within the Spanish second division, however he appears to be pretty effectively aligned with David Raya by way of lengthy/medium/quick cross completion. Past that, I don’t know way more – however Inaki Cana’s suggestions have been hit or miss throughout his time right here, so we’ll have to attend and see.
One incoming hearsay for midfield was Actual Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, a participant with some Premier League expertise after a interval with Newcastle within the early a part of his profession. At 28 (he turns 29 subsequent yr however till then stays 28 as a result of that’s the way it works), he doesn’t essentially match the age profile of the signings we make today, however I noticed this stat and instantly recognised why Mikel Arteta could be : Within the 2023–24 marketing campaign, Merino received essentially the most duels for possession in Europe’s prime leagues with 326.
You possibly can think about Arteta sitting in his workplace, watching Merino win tackles and aerials with homosexual abandon, earlier than calling Edu and saying: “Convey him to me”. It might make some sense too, he’s a fairly large lad (6’2) so one other set-piece menace, and if tales about Saudi curiosity in Thomas Partey come to fruition (fingers crossed), he may slot into that position effectively, permitting Declan Rice for use additional ahead.
Going the opposite approach, Albert Sambi Lokonga is being linked once more with a mortgage transfer to Sevilla, which might be a pleasant factor for him, however I think about Arsenal would favor a sale. Maybe a take care of an obligation could be a part of the negotiation, and it’s comprehensible that the spurious hyperlinks with Bayern Munich (due to his previous affiliation with Vincent Kompany) have died down.
Proper, that’s your lot for this morning. As I mentioned, there’s a model new Arsecast accessible beneath, extra right here tomorrow.
