Morning all,
As Andrew talked about yesterday, I’m on cowl responsibility whereas he makes his strategy to Singapore forward of Arsenal’s upcoming friendlies towards AC Milan and Newcastle United. These video games happen on Wednesday and Sunday, respectively, and can give us our first correct have a look at a few of the new signings following the weekend’s behind-closed-doors conflict with Watford.
It seems to be just like the 30-man squad arrived safely over the weekend, and the supervisor wasted no time kicking off a busy week with a press convention on the Singapore Nationwide Stadium. Having not heard from him for a few months, there was, unsurprisingly, lots to cowl throughout the 11 minutes he spent in entrance of the cameras.
Let’s break it down by the important thing themes…
Pre-season to this point
By the top of final season, Mikel Arteta seemed like a person in determined want of a vacation, so it’s good to see him now wanting tanned, relaxed, and sounding as pushed as ever. He’s had a few weeks with the majority of his squad, giving him time to set the tone and body the challenges that lie forward.
He’s clearly energised and insists the staff are “absolutely satisfied” of their skill to win silverware. After three consecutive second-place finishes within the Premier League and a run to the Champions League semi-finals, that confidence shouldn’t come as a shock. Nonetheless, he’s taking nothing without any consideration, reminding his gamers that they should work day-after-day on “these particulars that make you are taking the subsequent step.”
He additionally touched on what he sees as a key goal this season: staying match. “One of many largest issues now we have to attain this season is availability,” he mentioned when requested about Riccardo Calafiori, who missed massive components of his debut marketing campaign by damage. In equity, the Italian’s setbacks have been largely all the way down to dangerous luck, whereas a few of our different damage points – notably these involving hamstring surgical procedure – felt extra like the results of gamers being overworked as a result of a scarcity of depth.
For now, the squad seems to be in good condition. Gabriel Jesus is the one injured absentee as he continues his post-ACL rehab in Brazil. Gabriel Magalhaes, in the meantime, performed 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors win over Watford on Saturday, and Arteta defined that new signing Noni Madueke is being eased in after his summer season exploits on the (abomination that was the) Membership World Cup with Chelsea.
As for Martin Zubimendi, he likes what he’s seen: “Upon getting the participant every day there and also you see his character, his character, his intelligence, and the way a lot he’s going to convey to the staff. I’m very enthusiastic about it.”
The supervisor additionally had some encouragement for the academy gamers who made the journey. “The window is open. Whoever knocks so exhausting and kicks that door goes to have the chance,” he mentioned. Remarkably, Arsenal might, in the event that they needed, subject a few 15-year-olds – Max Dowman and Marli Salmon – on Wednesday, together with as many as eight different youngsters, two of whom are already a part of the senior squad.
Whereas they’ve clearly earned the fitting to be there, it have to be a surreal expertise to seek out your self in an elite sporting surroundings on the opposite aspect of the world at that age. I’d think about the youthful lads will probably be refrained from a lot of the industrial bits, for apparent causes, but when they do get on the pitch, they’ll shortly discover themselves on the receiving finish of clickbait articles digging into their backstories. Good luck to them is all I can say.
Transfers
With 4 new arrivals by the door and Cristhian Mosquera’s transfer from Valencia all however confirmed, Mikel Arteta was stuffed with reward for the work of recent sporting director Andrea Berta and the monetary backing obtained from the board and house owners. That mentioned, the supervisor made it clear there’s nonetheless work to be finished.
“We’ve finished very, very nicely to this point. I’m more than happy with the way in which the membership is supporting the requirements and enhancements that we required within the staff.
“Andrea [Berta] and the staff have finished a wonderful job as nicely, making an attempt to push the whole lot ahead. There’s nonetheless a very long time to go in that window. We have now a whole lot of hope that we will nonetheless enhance the staff. We’re going to proceed to strive to try this.”
He added: “When it comes to numbers, we’re quick and now we have to enhance the depth and high quality of the squad. We’re always wanting available in the market, however till that occurs, I can give attention to the gamers that we even have and work with them.”
Clearly, it’s good to listen to that from the horse’s mouth, however given Arteta mentioned a lot the identical in January, it doesn’t assure new arrivals. Simply to be clear, I imply, along with Viktor Gyokeres and Mosquera. Naturally, the boss was requested for an replace on the Sweden worldwide however remained coy.
“There’s a whole lot of events [involved] and a whole lot of issues that now we have to keep in mind to get a participant over the road and right here. I’m very hopeful that we’re going to do it very quickly.”
What occurs subsequent is anybody’s guess. There was some chatter about curiosity in Xavi Simons – a reputation that will nicely have come up throughout talks with RB Leipzig once we enquired about Benjamin Sesko – however he now appears to be closely linked with Chelsea. To be sincere, he’s not a participant who massively excites me, although I’ll admit my judgment might be clouded by a long-standing desire for Eberechi Eze. That mentioned, hyperlinks to the Palace man have gone ominously quiet in current weeks.
Sooner or later, we might want to offload a couple of gamers, whether or not by gross sales or loans, so it wouldn’t be stunning if that turns into the subsequent space of focus earlier than we take into consideration including any cherries on high. As Arteta mentioned, there’s nonetheless a protracted strategy to go within the window.
Thomas Partey
After revealing on the Arsecast Further that he had given critical consideration to sacking off his season ticket when it emerged Arsenal have been exploring the potential of extending Thomas Partey’s contract – talks that ended with out a new deal being provided previous to the participant being charged with rape and sexual assault by the Crown Prosecution Service – it felt applicable that James, who so typically strikes a considerate steadiness between fan and journalist, was the one to press Mikel Arteta on the matter publicly for the primary time.
Right here’s the complete (quick) trade:
James: We’ve talked rather a lot about new signings in the present day, however somebody who is just not at Arsenal anymore is Thomas Partey. He’s now going through some very critical prison costs. Can I ask to your response to that? And, clearly, he’s not an Arsenal participant, so was the prospect or chance of these costs an element within the choice to not renew his contract?
Mikel: I believe the membership was very clear in its assertion. There are a whole lot of authorized issues which can be very sophisticated, so I can’t touch upon any of that.
James: I admire that, however a whole lot of followers have questions on the way in which the matter was dealt with by the membership. Do you are feeling assured and cozy that the membership adopted all the fitting processes in that?
Mikel: 100 per cent. Sure.
Did I count on something extra from Mikel? In fact, no. The most secure and most predictable response was to keep away from giving one, and he did simply that. Presumably having been briefed forward of time.
Whereas I’ve sympathy for the supervisor, who’s routinely anticipated to subject tough questions on the membership’s behalf, I can’t assist however really feel that on this occasion he left himself, and the membership, open to criticism. Having gone on the file on the finish of final season expressing his need to maintain Partey on the membership, he now seems to be, at finest, naive. That was an avoidable misstep, to say the least.
Maybe he’s so deeply embedded within the Arsenal bubble that he didn’t absolutely grasp the power of feeling amongst supporters on this concern. If that’s the case, he has been poorly suggested. Both method, silence doesn’t supply decision. Not answering questions merely invitations extra of them. And I’m certain there will probably be extra within the weeks to return.
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Away from the press convention – and sure, I do know it’s barely ridiculous to segue into this after the above – Arsenal made a giant tune and dance in regards to the new away equipment, full with a enjoyable launch video that includes Gunnersaurus and a Will Poulter (sure, chef!) attended occasion in Singapore.
Will I purchase the equipment? In all probability. Will I put on it in public? In all probability not. Will it find yourself in a field with the remainder of my ever-growing assortment of unworn Arsenal gear? Completely. Does that make me an enormous sucker? Sure. Sure, it does.
That mentioned, I believe it’s a enjoyable design. I actually favor it to the final two away kits. However very like listening to there’s one more Superman or Batman reboot, the return of the lightning bolt motif, first seen within the Nike period and now a little bit of a recurring theme below adidas, does make you surprise if we’ve collectively simply run out of concepts.
Anyway, I’ll go away it there for now.
Andrew is again tomorrow. I’ll be again subsequent week when he’s flying residence.
