As a lot as I hate to be the bearer of dangerous information, Andrew truly isn’t again till tomorrow, so I’m again within the chair for one final dance right this moment. I’ll simply provide you with a second to roll your eyes and let the frustration sink in.
OK, come to phrases with issues? Good. Let’s crack on.
Not that there’s hundreds to crack on with, thoughts. With no worldwide match this summer season, not less than none with any Arsenal curiosity, there simply isn’t a lot happening. As Tim touched on yesterday, this does appear to create a form of angst for some individuals, the place the dearth of stories is interpreted as a scarcity of motion. So I assumed I’d attempt to put issues into a bit little bit of a perspective by zooming out.
Tomorrow is fixture launch day, with the opening day of the season nonetheless nearly two months away. Two months! Have you ever any thought how lengthy two months is? Two months in the past right this moment, Andrew opened the weblog with this:
Arsenal are into the Champions League semi-finals for the primary time in 16 years, having accomplished a well-known double over Actual Madrid with a 2-1 win on the Bernabeu final night time.
The purpose is, two months is an eternity. Andrea Berta was two weeks into the job at that time. His ft needs to be firmly below the desk by now and he’ll be on the cellphone continuous, little question ruining the household vacation. The identical goes, I’d think about, for Mikel Arteta.
Personally I don’t see the dearth of stories as a scarcity of exercise, I simply assume Arsenal are speaking to varied events and, as issues stand, there are nonetheless numerous methods for the summer season to pan out, so it is sensible for the membership to be protecting as many irons within the fireplace as doable. Do the preparation on plenty of offers so that you’re not ranging from zero if one thing falls by means of due to worth, competitors, and even damage.
We’ve turn into so used to getting day by day updates on each information story on the market, it turns into more durable and more durable to modify off in the course of the summer season, however a scarcity of updates doesn’t imply a scarcity of labor. The earliest first crew summer season signing I can discover lately is Kai Havertz, and that wasn’t till 28 June two summers in the past. Most — Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Sambi Lokonga, Jurrien Timber, Ben White — have been introduced in July and been greater than out there for the opening sport of the season.
Anyway, tomorrow is fixture launch day! All of that can be coated in these pages tomorrow. I believe Andrew’s of the opinion that, mainly, none of it issues. And whereas I believe he’s most likely proper, I nonetheless can’t assist however be enthusiastic about it annually.
It’s not simply the primary landmark that basically signifies one season is over and one other is on the horizon, however I believe you’ll be able to actually see a season start to take some form of form in your thoughts. Generally you see Newcastle and Chelsea away with a Champions League sport (which ended up being Inter away) squeezed between them and also you assume, eesh, that gained’t be enjoyable, and also you’re proper. Generally you see a troublesome begin to the season — journeys to Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester Metropolis — and also you assume, eesh, that gained’t be enjoyable, and also you’re proper however not as a result of Arsenal truly find yourself shedding any floor.
A season clearly doesn’t take form simply with the schedule there for all to see. Final season it seemed like we had a extremely nasty begin to the season and we got here by means of it properly, solely to drop factors in among the ‘simpler’ fixtures that adopted. Liverpool had one of many best begins to the season on paper however misplaced to Nottingham Forest earlier than anybody knew Forest would truly beat a number of groups. After 5 video games there wasn’t a lot of a spot between us and Liverpool. By the point 10 had been performed — and our run had eased, their’s had picked up — the hole was seven.
However by way of meaninglessness, I nonetheless assume it’s fairly satisfying. I’m wanting ahead to scouring the 38 dates, making a psychological observe of when the derbies in opposition to them lot are, when Liverpool can be on the town, who we play on Boxing Day (if we play on Boxing Day — my fingers are crossed), and once we can lastly beat Fulham at dwelling and Newcastle away once more.
By then we’ll have a brand new striker, a brand new midfielder, a brand new backup goalkeeper, three new left-backs, new contracts for half the crew, and no purchaser for Oleksandr Zinchenko. Plus ça change.
There was an announcement yesterday that Renee Slegers can be on the BBC’s punditry crew for the Ladies’s Euros — one thing Jonas Eidevall additionally did as Arsenal supervisor — and I’m wanting ahead to seeing her insights. Usually I believe managers in these conditions can provide a lot extra that former gamers would miss or probably not respect, and that form of number of voice is extremely welcome.
Additionally on the ladies’s facet of issues, the WSL yesterday introduced a transfer from 12 to 14 groups for the highest flight beginning with the 2026/27 season, which actually does sound to me prefer it’s method into the longer term however, properly, clearly it’s only a yr away. You’ll be able to learn extra about the main points right here and hopefully it means extra golf equipment throughout the nation make investments an increasing number of into their ladies’s groups.
There’s additionally an Arseblog Information round-up on a few of the newest switch stuff from Andrew Allen if that tickles your fancy.
You (and I) can be again within the most secure of Irish arms tomorrow. I’m certain Andrew will return properly fed, tanned, and delighted to be again on the keyboard. Till subsequent time!
