GOOD MORNING.
How are you today? Still sad? Still raging at the dickheads that ruin nice things for England?
Be all of those things, but it’s time to get things back on track. The Arsenal are about the start preseason and there’s simply loads to talk about.
William Saliba did leave to go to Marseille for his third loan back to his home country. Call me mean, but I think this is a weak move from the player. If you think you are ready for a starting spot in our back four, and you’re told you are not ready, go to a Premier League club and make a statement. Maybe the offer wasn’t there… but I suspect it probably was. What tipped it? Comfort? Or a lack of desire? We’ll find out next season. Good luck to that man.
There is VERY interesting news that Joe Willock has seduced MIkel Arteta with his outrageous run of form at the back end of the season. The coach wants to keep him as part of the Arsenal plans next season. I’m not sure about this, we’ve been here before, this is AMN all over again. If there’s £25m swimming around for him this summer, we should probably let him go. I suspect this is negotiation tactics from Edu. We don’t need to sell, but we’ll lose him if the money is right.
The Arsenal Admin is playing games with our heart. Smith Rowe is getting a new number. Will it be #8 or… #10. Really hoping he lands that #10. What a statement that will be from the club. No way he’s not signing a new deal with that sort of prestige on his back.
Question is, what would that mean for a HUGE name like Maddison? Surely that would end that idea? Would Maddison at #8? For double money, I’m sure he’d take #67. I mean, I am still struggling with the idea that Arsenal are going to find £70m for anyone this transfer window… especially with the bargains going on in Europe. But we’ll see, I didn’t expect us to move hard on Ben White this window, but that seems to be happening.
Balogun has been given the #26 this season and promoted to the first team. I’d love to see him land minutes this season, so I hope if he’s the third striker, he’s picking up time in a season slim on games. He has an edge athletically that Auba and Lacazette don’t have.. so it’s a big chance, but he really has to make his moments count next season. Stand up, be counted, make a difference.
Short and punchy one today. I am recording a Twitch Stream Podcast with Johnny a little later. Tune in at 6pm GMT, come with questions, enjoy the live vibe of it all.