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 are able to dig up.
It’s been reported that Declan Rice was not coaching with the primary group forward of England’s Spherical of 16 sport in opposition to 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 event, however when it ends, I hope we’ve got invested in some new expertise which can 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 (obtainable now in all the standard podcast locations and many others), Sky Sports activities are linking him with strikes to Fulham and Crystal Palace. I’m on file many occasions about how a lot I like him as a participant, however I don’t assume we are able to ignore the fact of his state of affairs. He might keep at Arsenal, however how a lot will he play? Bar some sort of harm disaster, not a lot – as final season confirmed.
I feel each he, Eddie, and Nelson, have selections to make about their futures and their careers. As a lot as they may been seen as ‘expendable’ by followers, and as a lot as Arsenal may take 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 noticeably think about what’s finest for them. Arsenal is a good place to be proper now, particularly should you’ve grown up a Gooner. A fantastic supervisor, good gamers, fantastic 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 sort of leisure spa or showroom. I’m actually fascinated to see what occurs with these guys, and I really need them – in the event that they do go away – to go on and do effectively, so let’s see the way it performs out over the course of the summer time.
I noticed we had been linked to a goalkeeper referred to as Joan Garcia, who at the moment performs for Espanyol. I do know little about him however one of many vital measures for any new keeper we herald must be how competent they’re with the ball at their toes. There’s not a whole lot of information on fbref, in all probability as a result of Espanyol are at the moment within the Spanish second division, however he appears to be pretty effectively aligned with David Raya by way of lengthy/medium/brief go completion. Past that, I don’t know far 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 may be : Within the 2023–24 marketing campaign, Merino gained probably the most duels for possession in Europe’s high 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: “Carry him to me”. It could 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 might slot into that position effectively, permitting Declan Rice for use additional ahead.
Going the opposite manner, 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 cope with an obligation may 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 stated, there’s a model new Arsecast obtainable beneath, extra right here tomorrow.
