LATE MOVES
Sorry I’ve been offline for a few days—having one of those months where things are getting on top of me. But right now, life is good because I’m in Nashville for a few days with friends, getting inspired by music and fat HOT chicken sandwiches.
A lot seems to be happening around the Premier League right now, so I’ll fire off some spicy hot takes.
Spurs signed another player who looks great on paper but doesn’t really raise their level to a threat that bothers me (also a Gooner). Solanke is a great striker; he’ll get them goals, but at 26, he’ll have no resale value, and I’m not sure he takes them to the Promised Land. He’s quite a similar signing to James Maddison. Big Ange has spent £300m, which is quite a lot for a Europa team. I’m a big believer in half season tables - Spurs were sussed last season - wide open football will be taken down in this league - I think 3 games a week will kill Big Ange.
United look likely to add De Ligt and Mazraoui to their ranks before the start of the season, and I have to say… whatever. Decent players, sure, but their window just looks like more of the same: some overspending on kids, some journeymen stars that haven’t hit the heights, and some bland choices. The new era feels very much like the old one.
Chelsea moved on Pedro Neto, which, to be clear, is fine by me. I thought he looked like an Arsenal signing—clearly a player we fancied, but I suspect only if we could have got him for £40m or less. £60m and a six-year deal for someone who has averaged 15 starts over five years and only made 145 appearances across club and country is a huge gamble. I like Pedro Neto, but history is a good predictor of the future, and I don’t see how Chelsea is going to change that narrative.
Let’s focus on Eddie Nketiah—word is that he’s off to Marseille on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy at around 30 million euros. That’s a good deal, folks. He’s going to go to France, score a bagload of goals, build his confidence, and become a continental hero. I love this transfer for him, and I love the cash we’re getting in return. It’s hard to make it at Arsenal, and when you’re someone like Eddie, you have to get more than five goals in a season when you’re given ample chances to deliver. Trossard made the most of his minutes, so now he starts; Eddie did not, and he’s being moved on. It’s the circle of life—no shame in it. He’ll have a fantastic career and learn a new language in the process.
There’s a quote doing the rounds that Edu said to wait until the end of the window. My big transfer strategy piece appears to be on the money. The reason we’re not seeing concrete moves on players is that the club is waiting for more options to hit the market. Bloated Euro squads like PSG, Madrid, and Barca will need to be trimmed; players in the last year of their deals will have prices slashed, and Premier League clubs looking to trade their jewels will look at players like Reiss, Aaron, and Kiwior with increasing interest. We also haven’t seen PIF pull the trigger on their moves. I’d be surprised if that doesn’t happen soon… they tried to raid Liverpool in the last week of August last season. There’s no reason to think the money has dried up, and they won’t come back and do it again. Ivan Toney is being linked there this morning. I’m keeping my eye on Ederson, KDB, Salah, and VVD.
TNAT has said that Arsenal is interested in Simon Adingra of Brighton. The Ivorian is 22 years old, electric on the ball, and he can play across the forward line. He’s exactly the sort of player our scouting department has done really well with: Premier League experience, a little under the radar, would integrate with our system, and wouldn’t cost £200m. I doubt he’s the only player on the list—we’re looking for a backup to Saka, so there are lots of players who could offer value there.
I think the key attribute they’ll target is explosive pace, because that gives us an option we don’t have, and it’s something we’ve looked at for a while and not yet made happen. Mudryk was that guy, but things haven’t worked out for him. Pedro Neto is also that guy. Let’s see how this plays out, but I am convinced we’re far more likely to land a winger than a striker this summer.
The Mikel Merino deal is hanging in the air like an annoying guest at an after-party. We need to get a move on. Is this guy getting an Uber, or are we making a lovely Arsenal bed for him? I have no emotion in this deal whatsoever. Twenty-eight-year-old signings have done well for Arteta in the past; if he likes him, we can bet he has something special. But I would prefer someone younger or perhaps a player with a little more Champions League pedigree.
Arsenal rocked another pre-season win, this time against Lyon. We can and will read into this game as a sign that we’re going to win the Premier League. Things we liked:
- Two set-piece goals
- More Zinchenko goodness
- A good Calafiori debut
- The team looking absolutely ready to bang this season
Right, a short one today. Hope you’ve had a nice summer. We’re about to get cooking on the season.
This week, I’ll get tight on what you get when you join the Le Grove membership in different places so you can be sure what you’re getting this season. Thanks to all those who have joined the writing part of the site. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to read the kind messages you’ve all been leaving. Big love—we’ll have a banger of a season, and I’ll try to be here for nearly every day of it, for your morning coffee, jog, or bathroom break. xxxxx
Ciento Quince FC has been told that a 10-week hearing will commence in September. Could this be the end of the Cheaties?
Raptora,
I enjoy reading opinions about Arsenal, and not just from Pedro, but I wonder why you're always compiling long lists of players we're not going to get?
I just finished reading your midfielder list from the previous post.
Is there anybody you haven't mentioned? We don't need most of the players you list.... even more, it's like a Todd Boehly view, because if we just kept buying names that fans list, we'd have the same mess that Chelsea have... too many players, all unhappy, with no team chemistry, selfish, and collecting a salary.
Our team is a tight knit group that plays for their mates as much as any team does. That's what Edu and Arteta are always trying to explain to fans who want every player they see dribble a ball or score a bicycle kick in highlights.
There's more to it than just listing talented names.
I also love how people had no vision to see Havertz as a midfielder, even though he's done it before, but they mention Eze as an 8. In our team? You might as well put Martinelli there.
The problem with these long wish lists of big names is that it makes people feel underwhelmed if we add a player like Merino. He's not a tricky dribbler with Salah pace... but the guy lead all of Europe in categories that are massively important to winning games. The hard work, the dirty work, that allows our creative players to thrive, score and also helps defences keep clean sheets.
Sorry he's not Vitinha or Musiala, but sometimes clubs need what he brings. Chelsea or United should probably buy a guy who fills a role like that instead of shopping from your list.