Not going to crucify a guy for a preseason performance though.
Hazbro@hazbro.bsky.social · 6h agoJesus didn’t quite nail that. Maybe he should’ve crossed.
Hazbro@hazbro.bsky.social · 6h agoNot that it matters too much but do we think Meslier starts against Dortmund?
Salmon is a fullback? That’ll be news to him…do these commentators know anything? He’s a centre back!
The tripe this lot chat at half time. Mikel won’t care, it’s fitness at this stage of preseason and lots of key players still not back yet. As for the theory that they look rattled by the Bruno news…give me a break. Here’s a clue: Bruno was walking into the midfield ahead of Myles and Ethan anyway.
Tzolis delivery is superb. Didn’t really think we had a right footer anywhere near Rice’s level last season but man alive we have another one. Between Rice, Tzolis, Saka and Noni we’ve got strong delivery with both feet.
Ok, all caveats that “it’s only preseason” aside but my thought that Myles was an 8 and not a 6 may have been very very wrong. Think he’s just as good in either role.
I do love how the commentator keeps pronouncing Gyokeres like Djokovic.
All the “this is preseason” caveats but Gyokeres has to score there when the season proper starts.
Ok it’s looking like we’re open to selling Ethan but with a buy-back clause. I like that thinking tbh. We probably do have a slight logjam at the R8/10 with Odegaard, Eze and Merino more likely to play there than further back (especially with Bruno arriving) and also Kai and Max as options.
Hazbro@hazbro.bsky.social · 2d agoSign 2 more senior players and use the extra 3 from Ethan, Myles and Max to get a 28 man squad and some sort of competitive advantage. If he wants to win the CL he’s going to need it bc the PL isn’t like Ligue 1 and twice now PSG being fresher has cost us against them.
I actually think we got him for the right sort of price tbh. I always thought £60m was his value to *us*, £100m+ was his value to Newcastle, so £75m seems slightly closer to our valuation than theirs tbh. Only slightly more than we paid to get Eze who’s only 7 months younger.
David Ornstein@david-ornstein.bsky.social · 19h ago🚨 Newcastle United to sanction sale of Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75m. #AFC started lower, #NUFC wanted higher but compromise in process of being sealed to grant 28yo Brazil int’l midfielder desired move. Lyon entitled to 20% of profit @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/749...
@arseblog.com no idea who the left winger Mr Colgate thinks Atletico have signed is. They’ve signed Grimaldo (a left back) and Kang-in Lee (left footed attacking midfielder) and Hjulmand (defensive midfielder). Wonder if @gunnerblog.bsky.social knows who this winger they’ve signed is? #arsecastextra
I’ve heard some talk of Vini seeing out the last year of his deal. However after seeing recent reports that Real would be prepared to bench him if this were to happen I think it’s unlikely. Mourinho is exactly the kind of manager to be the petty guy and sacrifice results to prove a point.
Everyone worrying about midfield numbers if Bruno arrives. Our 25 man squad has 3 keepers, 7 defenders, 6 midfielders, 2 RW, 2 LW, 3 CF. That’s 23. Max, Ethan, Myles don’t count against the 25 and given how stretched even our depth was last season it wouldn’t surprise me to see Mikel milk that.
Saw a video with a Spurs fan claiming we’re a “side chick” in this Vini saga. Sure. To Real Madrid. Spurs lost two of their all time great players in Modric and Bale to Real Madrid. Everyone is a side chick to Real Madrid. Luis Figo was the best player at Barcelona in 2000. Real still signed him.
What I also think is clear is unless both sides compromise a deal probably won’t happen and I think he gets sold. He’s too valuable to them to let him go for free and I’ve seen reports that they plan to bench him if he doesn’t renew and that’ll hurt the value of his image rights.
Hazbro@hazbro.bsky.social · 4d agoAgain, I want to be clear, I don’t know if he’s renewing or staying and right now if you asked me, I think he’s staying. I think Real will offer improved terms next week, and we’ll see if that’s close enough to his demands for him to also compromise. But the ball is clearly in Real’s court.
I’ve seen so many poor takes on the Vini situation: “The longer this goes on the more I think he renews” Quite the opposite. If he was willing to just take what was on offer right now, he’d do it. Is he hoping that the longer it drags out Real might improve their offer? Sure. But they aren’t yet.
82 minutes in and I can finally login and watch. Yeah, this isn’t ok.
Oh dear this is bad. We should really have been able to get more than this. Brentford quoted £45m to Spurs last summer. Not saying we should have gotten that but I can’t see too many players move between PL clubs for seven figures. Should’ve been at least low eight figures.
David Ornstein@david-ornstein.bsky.social · 4d ago🚨 EXCL: Everton reach agreement in principle with Arsenal to sign Christian Norgaard. Still needs formalising but 32yo midfielder set to join #EFC from #AFC for in region of £7m. Expected to undergo medical next week ahead of proposed move 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/748...
Here’s the thing about Vini. I don’t know if he’s coming or not but if Real were anywhere near as certain of him re-signing as many Arsenal fans seem to be, they wouldn’t be needing to brief journalists about him staying. They’d just wait for the contract to be signed and announce it then.
Kinda my take on this. And it’s why I still think we’re in a great spot going into the new season regardless of Vini. City were the closest to challenging us last year. And they’ve probably gotten weaker in the short term. United have Europe to contend with this season. Villa are weaker.
Adam Rae Voge@adam.cannonstats.com · last wk.Anderson + Bouaddi in, Rodri + Bernardo out feels like kind of a big shift in the City midfield. Better long-term, but a real standard to meet from very early
Got my away shirt (Rice 41) and new trainers from Arsenal Direct this afternoon. They both look great.
I’ve seen a lot of “Diomande is being signed for the right” and that’s certainly where he’ll play if Vini stays. But they also have Endrick who can play on the right (and is left footed). Arda Guler likewise. Both are top class players that, along with Diomande, let Mbappe be the star.
Just saw a Liverpool fan claim Barcola would rather play with Kerkez than any of our left backs… Which is ironic bc I think of a left side of Kerkez and Barcola and think “yep, that’s the side any competent coach would target to attack down”.
Seeing talk that Bournemouth want a similar fee for Kroupi as Rogers so I’m guessing it’s Vini or bust for us? That deadline day Rashford loan is going to hit so hard…
