One thing about Calafiori... be prepared.. he does open things up and he's fun to watch, but he does lose the ball trying fancy footwork sometimes, and those are turnovers in very dangerous areas. I think he had 3 mistakes leading to goals last season. I wonder if they'll ask him to be a little more judicious about certain spots on the pitch.
Last season we bought Timber to be a line breaker, ball carrier and didn't get the benefit.
Calafiori is probably liked for that same quality. Breaking down some tough mid blocks by dragging opponents out of place instead of always trying to pass though them. Large parts of the season without Parteys passing and Timbers carrying did definitely hurt us.
Fab Romano on twitter and he even has a photo of 3 of them in their private plane.
"Riccardo Calafiori, on his way to London with his agents — all set for medical tests with Arsenal! Here Calafiori with Chairman & founder of WSA Agency Alessandro Lucci and CEO Alessio Ceccarelli."
For those who see the creative aspect as being critical then Ruiz shades it whereas for defensive aspects it is more Merino. Their raw output (goals and assists) last season broadly similar although Merino had more game time.
Personally I’d like to see both signed as our midfield needs some bolstering and more rotational possibilities. Ruiz to be the left 8 and Merino to rotate with both Ruiz and Rice at DM or 6 as we now say
Might not be possible though if we can’t shift Partey.
One edge I hope to see this season is a settled and confident Kai. We lost 1/2 the season last time while we waited for him to grow in confidence and for us to use in the right way (both factors being interlinked of course). If he hits the road running this time then we have moved on massively as an effective team. If Jesus has also upped his game a notch from his additional training then the attack should take care of itself.
This is the no new signings up front reality I am gearing up for. If there are any then they are most likely on the wings.
According to SSN the Calafiori signing is all but done.
He should have had his medical completed today so all we have to wait for is the official Arsenal.com announcement which should not be too far away if he is expected to be flown off to the USA.
Fulham sound like they are very keen to have ESR. Mooted fee is £27m + £8m in add-ons. A decent fee for a player that has a lot of potential if he remains fit.
Reiss Nelson has some suitors apparently. If we can sell him, that will always be welcome considering how little he has played for us.
The less good news is that Marseille are undervaluing Eddie and are not meeting what we want for him. Not clear whether Marseille will go back in for him. Let's hope we can still sell him.
Eddie would score there leaving our false 9 system, I'm a weaker league. Look at lacazette .. 1 goal for us in this system... 20+ in French team.
But Eddie would put away goals at lots of mid table premier league teams where he could spend a little more time in the box. He's not lazy, just not a semi- midfielder like Havertz and Jesus.
Calafiori as a left 8 (as has been suggested by a few here) is such a non starter that it's not even worth entertaining. He's a young talent. Never played that position before. Hasn't even tasted top level football for more than 1 season. To believe that a coach that wants to win like Arteta would do that is just crazy.
I look at our midfield and I see big holes. If Merino is the addition we get, then maybe we have to really try not to sell Partey and then really really hope he doesn't get injured. Merino is just so underwhelming and not starting quality (not his fault).
Partey is still in our best 11. I don't see how we play well without him if only who we buy is Merino. I don't know if people realise that with Partey out, we would have Rice play 6 and Merino start at 8 (Jorginho simply shouldn't be considered as first team material anymore). For me that's Aston Villa levels midfield. Grafters and nobody to help Ode with creativity. Another player that could drop down and help there would be Haverts, who's atrocious as a L8 and would also mean a worse no9 in Jesus will then be played at 9 OR Vieira who frankly shouldn't even be at the club.
I get that people (including Pedro) think our squad is set and we just need back ups but the truth is that we realy still need a starting quality 6/8 and a starting quality 9 and maybe even a starting quality 11.
We may be in for a very rude awakening this season if we don't plan well.
A lot of stats there Rich. I'm not arguing with all of that bro but we still finished 2nd and have a need to improve to finish 1st. I'm just saying he's in our best 11 if who we sign is only Merino meaning we haven't improved. I know we won a lot without him but there was also a noticeable improvement in our play when he came back on board.
Jogi is also a year older, and frankly shouldn't be counted upon at this stage of his career and our development for any serious prolonged set of matches.
This leaves us with Rice and Merino. That was my point.
If we sign someone like Bruno G or the likes or Eze (a personal favorite of mine) I'd be more confident.
First sign that Partey will have that new contract great season is that he looks thinner ... not sure if the black kit slenderising though. At the end of the season he appeared lumbering and slow, as happened on a few injury returns.
If there's no substantial offers, we may as well ride him for his final season.
The signings sound like it will tighten up the defense even further, maybe Mikel envisions the team just not allowing the opposition out of their third for most of the game. If so, you do not need explosive, powerful and super athletic players to win the ball in the midfield and start counter attacks.
However, we still need some skill players like ESR to break open deep blocks and or start the counter attacks by turning and moving the ball up the pitch and athletes on the wings not named Saka to get the ball forward with pace and urgency.
Gundo at $h*tTy was a locksmith. These guys are not that!
I don’t think anyone at the beginning of this TW said “Di you know what? I really hope we sign Mikel Merino”. Not even Nigel! It’s another one of those underwhelming signings.
Underwhelming or not (I said the same about Jorgingho and Trossard!!) it could be one of those title clinching Gilberto type acquisitions. So if he does join us I will do my best to get excited!
Maybe not like-for-like, but consider when City acquired Ilkay Gundogan from Dortmund. No outsized expectations bringing him on-- but hell if he didn't exceed all expectations, when plugged into a midfield of stellar quality.
This might be where Merino shines matched up with Ode and Rice-- two stars who make everyone in their orbit just that much better.
Arsenal com has put together 4 minute vid of last night but they haven't included penalties for some reason. You also have to be a member of site but it was easy to join.
Bit of expected chaos from an amalgam of players stitched together over a few weeks time. But still pleased they held an almost first XI of Bournemouth's to just that crazy, deflected goal. Karl Hein had game-saving moments where he looked like class, others where it's apparent he's 'not there yet'. Still, MOTM in a preseason opener he'll remember. Partey may not have shone, but he was still always available as a safety valve outlet for the youngsters over 60 minutes.
If I'm not mistaken, that PK miss by Tross-- was the club's first miss from the spot in our last 23 attempts-- in all comps including pens and shootouts. Streak broken, but what a strength to rely upon.
From what I am reading, it feels like none of the academy players are ready for the step up to the first team.
Now I admit that the team is not the usual line-up and that this is a pre-season game where no one is match fit either, so I may be a bit harsh here with my assessment considering that I haven't actually watched the game to see who has done what.
Nothing too conclusive about pre season games, particularly when the team is made up of a hotchpotch of first team and academy players.
For the youngsters it must be a surreal experience to play with first teamers but one can’t help but feel that these are commercial and training exercises first and foremost.
Calafiori will hopefully be flying out there right about now and we’ll see him get assessed and integrated in the training ground pictures in the next week.
Sad to see ESR go but happy that he’s going to Fulham, a club I’ve always had a soft spot for. It feels like all parties are getting a good deal. £35m is a decent chunk of change all things considered and regardless of what the whiners might choose to say, another great success for the Academy. You know that if and when he scores against Arsenal, he’ll be respectfully restrained in his celebrations. Best of luck!
New post
One thing about Calafiori... be prepared.. he does open things up and he's fun to watch, but he does lose the ball trying fancy footwork sometimes, and those are turnovers in very dangerous areas. I think he had 3 mistakes leading to goals last season. I wonder if they'll ask him to be a little more judicious about certain spots on the pitch.
Last season we bought Timber to be a line breaker, ball carrier and didn't get the benefit.
Calafiori is probably liked for that same quality. Breaking down some tough mid blocks by dragging opponents out of place instead of always trying to pass though them. Large parts of the season without Parteys passing and Timbers carrying did definitely hurt us.
We could have done better in PL and CL.
Fab Romano on twitter and he even has a photo of 3 of them in their private plane.
"Riccardo Calafiori, on his way to London with his agents — all set for medical tests with Arsenal! Here Calafiori with Chairman & founder of WSA Agency Alessandro Lucci and CEO Alessio Ceccarelli."
For anyone interested there is a stats comparison between Ruiz and Merino.
https://www.footballfancast.com/forget-merino-arsenal-enter-talks-for-alternative-ruiz-artist/
For those who see the creative aspect as being critical then Ruiz shades it whereas for defensive aspects it is more Merino. Their raw output (goals and assists) last season broadly similar although Merino had more game time.
Personally I’d like to see both signed as our midfield needs some bolstering and more rotational possibilities. Ruiz to be the left 8 and Merino to rotate with both Ruiz and Rice at DM or 6 as we now say
Might not be possible though if we can’t shift Partey.
One edge I hope to see this season is a settled and confident Kai. We lost 1/2 the season last time while we waited for him to grow in confidence and for us to use in the right way (both factors being interlinked of course). If he hits the road running this time then we have moved on massively as an effective team. If Jesus has also upped his game a notch from his additional training then the attack should take care of itself.
This is the no new signings up front reality I am gearing up for. If there are any then they are most likely on the wings.
According to SSN the Calafiori signing is all but done.
He should have had his medical completed today so all we have to wait for is the official Arsenal.com announcement which should not be too far away if he is expected to be flown off to the USA.
Fulham sound like they are very keen to have ESR. Mooted fee is £27m + £8m in add-ons. A decent fee for a player that has a lot of potential if he remains fit.
Reiss Nelson has some suitors apparently. If we can sell him, that will always be welcome considering how little he has played for us.
The less good news is that Marseille are undervaluing Eddie and are not meeting what we want for him. Not clear whether Marseille will go back in for him. Let's hope we can still sell him.
Eddie would score there leaving our false 9 system, I'm a weaker league. Look at lacazette .. 1 goal for us in this system... 20+ in French team.
But Eddie would put away goals at lots of mid table premier league teams where he could spend a little more time in the box. He's not lazy, just not a semi- midfielder like Havertz and Jesus.
They signed Greenwood for 27m so I'm assuming they really don't have much need for Eddie cue the lowball offers. Hopefully they stomp up the fee
Calafiori as a left 8 (as has been suggested by a few here) is such a non starter that it's not even worth entertaining. He's a young talent. Never played that position before. Hasn't even tasted top level football for more than 1 season. To believe that a coach that wants to win like Arteta would do that is just crazy.
From what I have read, Calafiori looks slotted to be our LB and I suspect he will be a rotational option with Timber.
Can’t say I’ve heard that - got to be rotating in LB/ LCB with Timber and Big Gab
Arteta played Partey at right back last season so I don't think it obvious that our manager will not do something similar with Cala or someone else.
Think he learned from that and won't try it again. Atleast I want to believe so.
I look at our midfield and I see big holes. If Merino is the addition we get, then maybe we have to really try not to sell Partey and then really really hope he doesn't get injured. Merino is just so underwhelming and not starting quality (not his fault).
Partey is still in our best 11. I don't see how we play well without him if only who we buy is Merino. I don't know if people realise that with Partey out, we would have Rice play 6 and Merino start at 8 (Jorginho simply shouldn't be considered as first team material anymore). For me that's Aston Villa levels midfield. Grafters and nobody to help Ode with creativity. Another player that could drop down and help there would be Haverts, who's atrocious as a L8 and would also mean a worse no9 in Jesus will then be played at 9 OR Vieira who frankly shouldn't even be at the club.
I get that people (including Pedro) think our squad is set and we just need back ups but the truth is that we realy still need a starting quality 6/8 and a starting quality 9 and maybe even a starting quality 11.
We may be in for a very rude awakening this season if we don't plan well.
A lot of stats there Rich. I'm not arguing with all of that bro but we still finished 2nd and have a need to improve to finish 1st. I'm just saying he's in our best 11 if who we sign is only Merino meaning we haven't improved. I know we won a lot without him but there was also a noticeable improvement in our play when he came back on board.
Jogi is also a year older, and frankly shouldn't be counted upon at this stage of his career and our development for any serious prolonged set of matches.
This leaves us with Rice and Merino. That was my point.
If we sign someone like Bruno G or the likes or Eze (a personal favorite of mine) I'd be more confident.
First sign that Partey will have that new contract great season is that he looks thinner ... not sure if the black kit slenderising though. At the end of the season he appeared lumbering and slow, as happened on a few injury returns.
If there's no substantial offers, we may as well ride him for his final season.
Would be worth it in trophy challenges.
‘Slenderising’ sounds like something you do to prepare meat for cooking!
I missed the match so I can't really comment on how he did. Our biggest issue with him now is staying fit. Hopefully he does.
The signings sound like it will tighten up the defense even further, maybe Mikel envisions the team just not allowing the opposition out of their third for most of the game. If so, you do not need explosive, powerful and super athletic players to win the ball in the midfield and start counter attacks.
However, we still need some skill players like ESR to break open deep blocks and or start the counter attacks by turning and moving the ball up the pitch and athletes on the wings not named Saka to get the ball forward with pace and urgency.
Gundo at $h*tTy was a locksmith. These guys are not that!
Excitement levels will be much easier if we sign Fabian Ruiz and Nico Williams. We will then become El Grove
I don’t think anyone at the beginning of this TW said “Di you know what? I really hope we sign Mikel Merino”. Not even Nigel! It’s another one of those underwhelming signings.
Underwhelming or not (I said the same about Jorgingho and Trossard!!) it could be one of those title clinching Gilberto type acquisitions. So if he does join us I will do my best to get excited!
Maybe not like-for-like, but consider when City acquired Ilkay Gundogan from Dortmund. No outsized expectations bringing him on-- but hell if he didn't exceed all expectations, when plugged into a midfield of stellar quality.
This might be where Merino shines matched up with Ode and Rice-- two stars who make everyone in their orbit just that much better.
Could see MM easily kick it up a level.
Can see that but he may not be a very creative option for an 8
Arsenal com has put together 4 minute vid of last night but they haven't included penalties for some reason. You also have to be a member of site but it was easy to join.
https://www.arsenal.com/video?entryid=0_b6f3cpyh
There's a vid of the shootout up now too.
Bit of expected chaos from an amalgam of players stitched together over a few weeks time. But still pleased they held an almost first XI of Bournemouth's to just that crazy, deflected goal. Karl Hein had game-saving moments where he looked like class, others where it's apparent he's 'not there yet'. Still, MOTM in a preseason opener he'll remember. Partey may not have shone, but he was still always available as a safety valve outlet for the youngsters over 60 minutes.
If I'm not mistaken, that PK miss by Tross-- was the club's first miss from the spot in our last 23 attempts-- in all comps including pens and shootouts. Streak broken, but what a strength to rely upon.
And, nobody came up gimpy-- a plus.
Thanks for the match report Pedro.
From what I am reading, it feels like none of the academy players are ready for the step up to the first team.
Now I admit that the team is not the usual line-up and that this is a pre-season game where no one is match fit either, so I may be a bit harsh here with my assessment considering that I haven't actually watched the game to see who has done what.
Nothing too conclusive about pre season games, particularly when the team is made up of a hotchpotch of first team and academy players.
For the youngsters it must be a surreal experience to play with first teamers but one can’t help but feel that these are commercial and training exercises first and foremost.
Calafiori will hopefully be flying out there right about now and we’ll see him get assessed and integrated in the training ground pictures in the next week.
Sad to see ESR go but happy that he’s going to Fulham, a club I’ve always had a soft spot for. It feels like all parties are getting a good deal. £35m is a decent chunk of change all things considered and regardless of what the whiners might choose to say, another great success for the Academy. You know that if and when he scores against Arsenal, he’ll be respectfully restrained in his celebrations. Best of luck!