i don't understand ayew at all. pundits and his managers seem to rate him and i just cannot see it at all. he's . . . functional, i guess? but just . . . i don't know. i've heard williams is great but i've never seen him play. that is, perhaps, a crew nketiah can break into. maybe one of their vice captains can talk to him to see about considering that chance. if only he knew one . . .
He's also 28 and has played in every one of Athletic Bilbao's league matches for the last 6.5 years. Lotta miles on those legs, even if he does seem like a fitness god.
in contrast to the other - more successful - loan moves, rekik's has been an unmitigated disaster. he's totalled all of 15 minutes across 4 games (12, 2, 1, and 1). he's missed 3 of the 14 games through injuries and sat DNP-CD for the other 7. i'd just as soon recall him in january and either send him on a different loan or, hell, even our bench and U21 is better than that garbage. and sparta can come off our list of possible loan destination. You have to feel for Omar Rekik. 🧵👇#JusticeForRekik pic.twitter.com/NBSvfkecHD— Arsenal Loan Watch (@arsenal_loans) November 16, 2022
He's been called up to the Tunisia senior team, probably had hopes of making the WC with a good loan. CBs are so hard to develop from academies. Or maybe it just seems that way as an Arsenal fan, never seems to work out.
I don't know anything about Rekik, but I'd make a point and ask a question: 1) Do we know if he's actually any good? Prior to this loan, his highest level of club play was the German 4th division. 2) Sparta is on track to have their best league finish since 1996. It makes sense that a club in their position isn't eager to switch things up in defense.
I mean, maybe Tunisia capped him early so they would have dibs over Holland if he develops into a good player in the next 4-5 years. Looking at who made the Tunisia squad, I would think someone playing regularly in the Eredivisie would be a lock.
Transfermarkt says he's only played in 2 of his last 9 matches. So I would assume they will try to find a better fit rather than use him for depth.
Probably won't but either way he needs to play---for his progress and our ability to get a decent fee.
F'n idiot... I’m at St Mary’s tonight for #SOUFOR in what is an absolutely pivotal game for #SaintsFC - somewhat belied by Ainsley Maitland-Niles arriving to the stadium in an AFC Roma training jersey - Nathan Jones & JWP both understandably furious, & no surprise to now see him benched.— Keenan Finch (@Keenan_Finch) January 4, 2023
Yeah I haven't missed AMN since he left. Or when he was with us on the bench either. Speaking of idiots, apparently Nuno Tavares was one this past weekend (it's in here at about the 2:30 mark)...
Nuno had a Nuno game. Scores a goal, gets a yellow for kicking out, gets another yellow for being belligerent (I might be wrong on the reason for that second yellow), ref goes to VAR and reverses the first yellow for the kick out to a straight red. Weird season. His attacking abilities are unreal and he honestly would be a great alternative to Martinelli. But his brain implosions are utterly insane.
Guen and Nuno are the reason why the character component to our recruiting is now the first requirement. What a pair.
Has pace, can pass and can shoot. We should be using him as an alternative to Martinelli on the wing. A smart club will stop using him as a WB.
Absolutely. No hard headed guys. We have fighters but they respect the coach and bleed for the team not their egos.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy ended his loan at Rotherham (21st in the Championship) and will spend the rest of the season at Coventry (currently sitting 14th). He made 14 starts and 6 sub appearances in Rotherham's 22 league matches since he joined but he's played less recently. I wonder if there is also something to how he was being used, he's mostly listed as playing right midfield (maybe as a wing-back in a 3-4-3?). Perhaps Coventry plan to use him in a way that better suits Arsenal's plans for him.
Shhh, Chelsea scouts are in the thread. The next Messi you say? Wow 60 million would be a bargain, you would be foolish NOT to pay that for him.