Bukayo Saka put an end to four years' worth of slander with a monumental performance that showed the world who he is, what he does, and how he chooses to deal with games.
England were heading out of the Euros after a terrible Southgate-ball performance. The football was drab and defensive. The reaction to a good Swiss team was slow. After going 1-0 down, most of us were probably penning mean "SOUTHGATE’S A DISGRACE" tweets, leaving an opening for Saka to save his manager’s bacon. It was a solo effort from about 20 yards out with his left foot. We’ve seen it plenty of times at Arsenal, but it felt extra special to see him do that while everyone else was having a massive stinker.
BBC got the graphic right.
The game finished on penalties. Saka scored his, as did the rest of the players—5 out of 5. There were no enemies of the people this time. However, it is worth noting that Phil Foden was rumored to have been subbed because he didn’t want to take one (TAA was overheard saying it). Each to their own. It was very funny to watch Ivan Toney death stare the keeper and drop it into the bottom corner.
“Arteta doesn’t like him.”
Grow up. Sign him for £35m and be done with it.
The other semi-final between Turkey and Holland was a bit more fun. The technical level of the game didn’t feel high, but there was plenty of attacking football on display and some "LOOK AT THE HEART OF THIS PLAYER" last-gasp defending. I’ll eat my words on this, but I was more worried about playing Turkey than Holland.
So, next Wednesday, two of the thuggiest nations in the world will have a tear-up on a German plaza, then give us a heritage semi-final with some good football (doubtful).
The hottest Arsenal rumor is that Calafiori is on our radar. The club has agreed to £4m a year, and now all that is left is for Bologna to agree on a fee with Arsenal. That might be painful; Basel has a 50% sell-on over a certain number. We also don’t know if this rumor is even real. We’re basing it off Fabrizio, who has had a few high-profile misses this summer. Not that I care about misses. Transfers are complicated. I’d just be far more confident if it were David Ornstein giving us by-the-minute updates on what coffee his agent was drinking.
On the Fabrizio thing—do you think it’s really amusing to watch him credit his paymasters with links to every single player even though they don’t have money to spend? How is it news that Chelsea are interested in every big player but don’t plan to bid? What is going on there?
I said on a podcast a few weeks ago that I was concerned Madrid wants William Saliba. He’s the best center-back in the world, Madrid is stacked with young Frenchmen, and he will certainly play there in the next five years. The rumors have kicked up a gear, with a price tag of £117m being shopped. I would say that there is almost a zero percent chance Arsenal has put a price tag on William Saliba. He is indispensable to our short-term success, he’s just signed a new deal, and Madrid can fuck right off.
…but remember… if he doesn’t sign a new deal next summer, we’ll have to sell if we want to get peak money. I still maintain the reason he didn’t sign that extra year everyone else did is because he was pissed at the way Arteta ignored him at the start of his career.
I will say, I thought there’d be a lot more pain with regards to selling players. Arteta has kept them all. He’s the best young coach in the world. But, I fear, even a Champions League win or a Premier League title will still not be enough to keep Saliba. However, I’m not sure we have any other stars who will be pressuring for exits. Arsenal is peak for them. Especially the English players.
Let’s end on a positive. Only a few more games are left of the Euros and Copa America - once those comps finish, there will be BIG movement in a short space of time. I cannot WAIT.
Ok, short post today. See you in the comments. x
P.S. I’m recording a Calafiori deepdive a little later - while you wait, jump on this David Hillier special with Johnny! x
