5'9 would be okay for LB who can fill in at CB. i have a tough time picturing that for a full-time CB. even if tierney is staying, you're guaranteed a good 20-25 starts with his inability to remain healthy. i mean, unless/until xhaka is sold, there isn't going to be one.
that run we were on (while tierney was healthy) went that way (xhaka dropping to 8 out of possession and coming up to left-10 in possesion) and i can see that being where arteta wants to go long term (and where vieira ending up). unfortunately, it's also a system where tavares had difficulties in and, by the end of the season, xhaka had to drop back deep again to cover so it makes chasing martinez make sense.
our newest gabriel is finally official/announced on the website. https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-complete-gabriel-jesus-signing
Time to put the number 9 curse in the hearse. I am making the call now. We will win a trophy in the next 12 months.
Athletic has an article claiming that West Ham put in a 23m euro bid for Onana and had it rejected. Lille paid 10m (I think?) last summer. Sounds like they are expecting a huge profit or are not gonna sell.
Leeds are close to signing Luis Sinisterra which is relevant because it might give Feyenoord the funds to buy Reiss Nelson, and because Leeds were rumored to be in on Gakpo. Doubt they sign two wingers from the Eredivisie. They are also supposedly interested in Tyler Adams along with De Ketelaere, United signed Malacia at LB and are signing Eriksen. I get that they are in the midst of an overhaul, but with so many new faces maybe Martinez isn't a priority?
With Ten Hag at United and United overpaying in transfer and wages I doubt he would pick us over them. We do need that versatile player since AMN is not on Mikel's plans
Solid work from Arsenal's social media team, it has to be said. pic.twitter.com/CKUknUwIcW— HLTCO (@HLTCO) July 4, 2022
their plan is for martinez to be LCB to apparently be "different" from varane, maguire, and lindelof.
A Premier League international footballer has been arrested in North London on suspicion of rape. The player, in his late 20s, cannot be named for legal reasons & is currently in custody being quizzed over an alleged attack last month. [Telegraph] #afc https://t.co/llrdsYBNvZ— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 4, 2022
What is that a reference to the Jesus statue in Rio? Makes me think Gabriel isn’t particularly pious if he’s willing to let them use his image in that way.
I thought it was obvious he has like three photos with the same pose. Great to have Jesus. His overall play is good because when not scoring he can assist. Can imagine him getting at the end of Ødegaard's through passes, Saka crosses linking up with Martinelli, ESR and Nketiah. I think we need a midfielder still. I don't get why we're mulling over Tielemans for so long. But Edu has been doing business early and quick so let's be patient. Is it me or we also need to cover RB and LB covers. I'd take Lamptey in a heart beat
There is more smoke around Arsenal interest in Milinkovic-Savic. Whether they are all getting these rumors from the same source or are cribbing from each other it’s an interesting rumor. I’d be happy with him in a midfield three with Partey and Odegaard.
I'd like this deal a lot if we were getting Lisandro for 20-25MM GBP, but instead it's at least 40 so I'm going back and forth. He's undersized not blisteringly fast, but good explosive 1st step and leap, comes from the Netherlands, doing a position switch (in this case I don't really care about), pings around 50 yard balls like Cazorla. I do wonder though, being 5'9" why he's playing center back for Ajax if he has the positional sense and the athletic ability to play DM. On another note, a lot of what we want to accomplish this season depends on getting improvement and consistency from Martinelli and ESR. And to that end, I think we have to be looking at making ESR a forward, maybe even a center forward. He's got the body size and goalscoring ability for it but I've never seen him really show the positional aspects of being a center forward. In any event, it seems like a plausible direction to go. We have needs at forward, but not so much at midfield considering that we're buying Fabio Vieira and maybe Lisandro.