In the AV scouting video, Elliot noted that he's "not tear away winger fast" but his CL stats (admittedly small sample size) showed he isn't slow either. Top 70 percent in top sprinting speed, and quite interestingly 90 percent in number of sprints and sprint distance.
They had a natural wing outlet in Gordon who actually did absolutely nothing except score that nice Rogers cross. I'm not saying he was amazing but what i am saying is he was playing on the right wing and in a team with gordon, rice, kane and jude he created all the danger and played better than all of them. What did Barcola do? I've already said i don't want him at this price, and i said it's a one game thing but he showed some positives.
Seen 2 new CB links/rumors this morning..... 1. White is gonna stick around but move back to CB to provide depth. I don't have an issue with this. He's played CB for us before and I think he needs a move back inside to help prevent some of his injuries. Buy a legit RB and I think that is a reasonable option. I would probably still make the job Mosquera's to lose but would give White a shot at minutes. 2. We are talking to 20yo CB Jon Martin from Sociedad. Saw links to him a couple months ago as a player of interest but today I'm seeing claims that we have engaged as an alternative to the EPL CBs we've enquired about. Personally like this vs buying older EPL. Bit risky given his age but he would be cheaper and have higher upside. Plus Mos deserves a shot to start while Saliba is out.
Rice’s one touch pass gave him all the time in the world to pick out Gordon. With that much time and space I could probably have picked out Gordon, though admittedly I would never have made the initial sprint to be in position to receive Rice’s pass.
I'm obviously not a fan of a move for Rogers and don't think he'll be helpful in breaking down low blocks (though he'll help with midblocks). I like the Bruno deal as a win now move, but think we should be reassessing based on the Saliba injury.
A few other rumors from Robbie/AFTV today Morten Hjuland - DM and captain at CP Sporting Lisbon. Could be much cheaper option if Bruno deal falls through We also may hijack Chel$ki potential deal for Lacroix from Palace to shore up defense. I like him more than Konsa. we are apparently also still going after Kroupi.
AC Milan have proposed an offer of £13,500,000 to Arsenal, for striker Gabriel Jesus. Arsenal are looking for more in the region of £20,000,000.— Oliver Nakamura (@OllyNak) July 17, 2026
Think Berta rates him quite a bit. We were linked to him last summer before signing Zubi. However..... Atletico just finalized a transfer for him last week. Like Lacroix better than Konsa. Think I would rather move White to CB and sign a good RB. I'd take him over Alvarez, especially if our intent if for Alvarez to be a F9.
Martin looks to be very good in the air, his “Welcome to Arsenal” highlight video is almost all headers. It’s also backed up by his stats, with Got Soccer crediting him with winning 68% of his aerial duels. One thing that did concern me was a couple of examples of him going in feet first on a slide tackle, he did keep his studs down, but sliding into an opponent the way a baseball player slides into second base can easily go wrong.
See, I've been a bit lukewarm on Bruno but actually think we need him even more in light of the Saliba injury. We rely on Willy so much to carry the ball and spray passes around. Mosquera can't do that. In fact, probably no other CBs can do that. So we need Bruno to have another progresser.
Rogers takes shots from distance and is a powerful ball carrier. And I think he is about to go up a level, like Rice has.
Bouaddi is done. And rumor is he's going for big money. The pettiness in me makes me bring up a claim on here that the WC won't affect Bouaddi's price. I know...I know, I am in a petty mood right now. Anyway, they overpaid and that's what they do. Nothing has changed. Everyone acts like we don't have any left wingers. We have Martinelli and Tzolis. Not saying they are good enough but its not like we are barren there. We know what Martinelli can do. We still have to see what Tzolis offers once he settles in. People are acting like he won't have any great effect. Martinelli came in with less experience than him and played way better than expected given his prior experience. I have a suspicion Tzolis will be a very good signing. We are also assuming we can read Arteta's mind as to what he wants Rogers for. Given the last 24 months, Arteta has raised his managerial game. He has gotten transfers right almost always. If he wants Rogers badly, then so be it. I personally am guessing its not solely as a left winger but someone who can change games off the bench as well as starting in weeks where we have two big games and we can limit key players to one game a week. Also, our attack, given that we are at worst a top 3 club in Europe, seems much weaker than our counterparts. Maybe its me projecting or whatever, but I fancy City, BM, RM, Barca, PSG, even Liverpool's attack better than ours....on paper. As far as Saliba. I hope we don't buy. I personally feel we have enough quality to ride out 5 months. Saliba will be needed from January for the push. As long as we are in touching distance (4 or 5 ponts) at worse of the top of the table, we'll be fine. And if we are 4 or 5 points behind I would say it will likely be for not scoring enough rather than be scored on. We play great team defense. Its the top 6 teams we really have to worry about scoring on us. I can't see Ipswich, Fulham and Forest scoring on us more had Saliba been in.
The different setups and permutations of having a midfield with choices such as Odegaard, Eze, Zubi, MLS. Merino, Bruno G, Rogers, Rice, is mouth watering.
Last preseason there were games we lined up, pre-Gyokeres, in a 4-2-3-1 and it looked great and we never used it after that. There will be games where, if we have those players at our disposal, we go away from the 4-3-3 with wide RWF/LWF and we could go into a game with Rice/Zubi Odegaard/Eze/Rogers Havertz or alternatively MLS/Bruno Saka/Odegaard/Rice Gyokeres You are right, its mouthwatering to have that sort of attacking midfield talent. When everyone is fit it gives Arteta a selection headache but also means that you have options pre-game when setting up but have talent on the bench to swing the game if its not working.
To many players, to few minutes, don’t forget Tzolis, Madueke, Ethan, Max and Merino, plus Havertz’ time in midfield. If Arsenal add both Bruno and Rogers more than one someone will have to go.
i didn’t even mention Martinelli, because I figure he’s gone. Hopefully Ethan is just a loan. If Ethan is sold, preferred positions aside, it will essentially be Madueke that pushed him out, which is unfortunate, because I believe Ethan has a higher ceiling than Madueke. Even without Martinelli and Nwaneri, the Guimaraes and Rogers scenario still leaves a lot of midfielders and wings behind the strikers in a 4-2-3-1. While there is a lot of fan speculation about Odegaard leaving, there was recent reporting that he’s not for sale, nor should he be. Who else is leaving?
Orn BOMB 🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea reach verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign Morgan Rogers. Bid of £117m accepted by #AVFC & being finalised. 6+1y contract, medical Monday. #AFC interested but 23yo attacker wanted #CFC; Xabi Alonso instrumental @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/81YbZw7ELc— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 18, 2026