Merino is coming back, presumably there's no setbacks there, at least we haven't heard of it. Plus you'd think that MLS has earned Arteta's confidence to play MF, at least a little bit. And Norgaard didn't get to play very much this year, even though supposedly the coached liked him. So whoever comes in would have to be willing to take a Norgaard-like role. Otoh, you could say Zubimendi won't be doing very much for us next season. He's clearly out of gas now, and will probably be playing most or all of the World Cup.
I'd think they'd be listening to offers for Leo also, maybe even moreso than Marti. Maybe Leo has produced arguably bigger moments/goals, but he's considerably older, and really had a long moody lull just before he snapped out of it, just in the nick of time.
🚨 Hamburg will NOT trigger their €22m option-to-buy for Fabio Vieira & would like to pay under €10m to sign the player on a permanent deal. Arsenal expect Vieira to attract interest from elsewhere. ❌🇵🇹 [@RyanTaylorSport] pic.twitter.com/kvi9kGE7TT— afcstuff (@afcstuff) May 18, 2026
I hate when teams pull that shit. Vieira had a strong season for them and they are trying to pay 10m? ******** off.
We have been one of the worst selling teams when it comes to getting money as well as value. Beating a dead horse but Kofane will be a star if we buy him. At a cheap cost. He'll run rampant i the league. Fernandes from West Ham is the closest we'll come to a Fabregas/Ozil type. Zubi is a very good player, but he's not cut out for the league against certain sides. Our best midfield is either Rice, Eze Odegaard or MLS, Rice and take your pic of Eze or Odegaard depending on the opposition. Zubi is best when its a low block side where the chances of countering aren't great, but against dynamic end to end sides, he's a bit more of a disadvantage.
Josh Kroenke is a football fan. His dad isn't. His dad's only sports passion is the University of Missouri football & basketball teams like any rich alum in America. My understanding is Josh played football (soccer) as a kid so has an affinity for it. Josh wants Arsenal to be among the top clubs in the world. So, that's why we might be on the cusp of a purple patch and a quasi dynasty. Its why I think we'll be good enough to get a title every 2-3 years and a CL will come within 3-5 years if we don't win it this year. And if we do we'll win another if not we'll get a couple within 5 to 10 years.
If White stays, I’ll be surprised if they add a new right back, they have bigger fish to fry in the attack. I’m also not sure who you can attract to sit behind Timber, White, and possibly Mosquera. If by kid, you mean a teenager, they are always a gamble, but Arsenal may already have a player who might be able to fill the role you described in Marli Salmon. .
LW - Trossard is 31, has a contract that expires next June, and disappeared for about three months of the season, to get anything for him I think you have to sell him now. If you get a striker that can also play on the left plus a new dedicated left wing then maybe you can sell both Trossard and Martinelli. FB - Someone who can rotate with Timber without a drop off is a bit of a unicorn and would probably cost an arm and a leg.
Rude of me to keep forgetting Mosquera and really hope he becomes something special but right now Mosquera is well behind Timber for movement and defending, and both are a big downgrade on Whites attacking ability. If White and Timber stay fit they both rotate RB and offer high defense or high attacking qualities. But that feels like a very big if to me. Mosquera is in the squad as a CB and occasional RB isn't he? I worry about Mosquera in the UCL final.
WhoScored has Kroupi alternating between striker and center attacking mid/second striker this season. Transfer Market lists left wing as a secondary role.
I think you may be mixing up your Fernandeses. Mateus in no where near the creator that Ozil and Fabregas were. He has a grand total of 3 goals and 3 assists this season. That said, I think he is a good player and at the right price I’d be happy with him at Arsenal. I also think you are underestimating Zubimendi.
I think Zubis late season drop off has masked just how good and how crucial he was to our early and mid season form, that 6 goals for a player in his position in all comps is a really really good return. And most weren't "cherry on the cake" goals and assists either. Scored the opening goals against Forest, Leeds and Sunderland in games we won, got the 2nd goal against Villa at home to put us 2-0 up and help settle nerves especially how Villa turned us over weeks earlier, got a crucial assist to put us 2-1 up against Sunderland away from home when they weren't losing games there and that was important because they pinched a 90th minute equaliser. And in the UCL 2 assists to Madueke to put us 0-2 up away to Club Brugge in an 0-3 win, which is impressive when you consider they didn't lose at home in the UCL (and that included beating Monaco and Marseille, drawing 3-3 with Barcelona and then in the "Intermediate stage" drawing 3-3 at home with Atletico before being knocked out of the comp 4-1 away). His only "cherry on top" goal was he scored the 3rd goal in a 3-0 smashing early season against Aussie Ange's Nottingham.
I love Kofane's potential but I think he would be my plan B to Kroupi. Kroupi will be more expensive but he is EPL proven (ish), adds a different look (more of a false 9) and is more versatile (F9, SS/AM and could probably play LW in a pinch).
LW - Agree that moving Leo makes more sense overall but I can see the financial argument to moving Marti. If you can snag 50+ for him that is a huge FFP/PSR boost. News coming out that Leo and his wife are divorcing. May be the root of his disappearance. FB - Most anyone you go after (even the sure thing) is gonna be a risk. Gotta hope the scouting dept can find another Timber/White.
We need an rb. It’s a position you need quality players because it’s so demanding, particularly how Arteta uses them.
At RB, the rumors of Mingueza make sense in that he can offer depth across the back 4 and won't cost anything being on a free. I'm not under any illusions that he's a brilliant player, he wouldn't still be at Celta Vigo if he was, but at 27 he could offer experienced depth, especially in cups, and avoid those times when one FB is hurt and the other is having to play every match. And the ability to play other positions means he wouldn't be as buried at RB if Timber/White/Mos are all fit. However, if White goes, they need a better option. They might want a HG option to replace him which may be the root of the Livramento rumors but he can't stay healthy either.
@thebigman thats why I want another midfielder so we can play Zubi higher up. This season is over, you gotta start thinking about changing tactically and personnel wise. Plus after winning it's natural to get complacent, get a quality set of players in who have not won and want to win. Keeps everyone on their toes.
I agree with you that Mateus Fernandes isn't a 10, but he's probably got more creativity in his locker than his stats alone would indicate spending the last two seasons with relegation dwellers Southamton and West Ham. He should be affordable if West Ham go down, he's still young but PL experienced, and has versatility to play different roles that I think would mesh well with similar CM's in Rice, Zubimendi and Lewis-Skelly.
I've got some concerns with him. Not sure he is an ideal fit for us but also saw a clip from some podcast (non-Arsenal) the other day that made a too much sense. Their basic assertion was that he would flop when he goes to a bigger club much like Phillips did when he went to City. Their reasoning is that his skillsets aren't quite up to par with what most big clubs look for in a MF base but at CP he is the best (or top 2-3) player and CP has effectively built the team around his skillsets to maximize him. A bigger club won't do that.
Thought Zubi looked excellent first 1/3 of the season, then he just looked knackered. His ability to move the ball forward one-two touch is prob one if not the best on this team. I think our rigid structure doesn't allow him to express that as well and he's prob not used to the intensity and frequency of games in a prem season. The fact that he hit the ground running bodes well that he can play as a holder, but he also runs into space quite well and finds himself in good positions in the final third so it'll be interesting to see if Mikel and the staff want to try him further forward next season. Think Wharton would fetch a sizable fee for Palace, 3 years left on his contract, English + prem tax. But if we can sign him, Kroupi (or another prospect ST), RB, LW (if one of Martinelli and Leo leaves), that'd be a good window.