RICCARDO STORY MOVES TO MEDICAL

ARSENAL PREPARE FOR UNITED IN LA

The cogs are turning in the world of transfers. We have one player coming in and one nearly out.

Riccardo Calafiori is reportedly on a jet, trying to get his medical details sorted so he can join Arsenal on the preseason tour in the States. I doubt he’ll be suited up this evening, but there might be a chance he’s available for the game in Philly next week.

This is a fantastic move that seemed too good to be true. We’re signing a player who fits the JdP (Juego de Posición) style, so there will be a quicker integration into Arteta’s ideas. He’s a left-sided centre-back who can also play as a left-back—some think he’ll be the left-back, but I don’t think so. However, the fact he could play there if needed provides the kind of flexibility that will benefit us. He’s also a ball-carrying monster, which will enhance our in-game attack. He’s tall enough to be a threat from set-pieces, very aggressive, and a duel monster.

Gabriel will need to be on his toes this season—this move shows huge ambition, especially considering it's for about half the wages and fee of the player United signed.

The player most likely exiting is Emile Smith Rowe. Fulham are rumored to be nearing the magic £35m number the club wanted. This is good money for a player with an injury record, and the cash represents pure profit on the old PSR balance.

We’re not really losing much; he barely played last season despite being fit, and he’s been out of favor since we signed Ødegaard. There have been persistent doubts about his discipline and his ability to keep leveling up in Arteta’s system. I think he’ll do well at a mid-table club that can build around his strengths—scoring goals, running at players, creating, and putting in a decent effort off the ball.

This is a great show of ambition for Fulham after losing Paulinha, though I will maintain until my dying breath that he’d be better at Palace under Glasner.

Martinelli, Big Gabby, and Kai have all joined the Arsenal team in LA for the game this evening. It’s too early in preseason to worry about the result. My focus will be on seeing who is in favor and who might not be. Eddie and Reiss both started the last game because they needed to. If either is on the bench, maybe that indicates moves are happening for them.

Things I’m also looking for:

Signs of life from Gabi Jesus—people have been telling me he’s looking fitter than ever before, and he could really shine this season. So we’ll see. I want goals, goals, goals. He’s the nearly striker—has it all except end product.

Some indication of who will be our backup keeper this season. Signing someone from Wolves for £46 and three half-and-half scarves doesn’t fill me with confidence. Setford is only 18, and Karl Hein is being linked elsewhere… if Ramsdale is leaving, we’ll need to bring in some competition for Raya. We don’t have it right now.

Jurrien Timber has been a hot topic for a year now. Arteta loves the player and what he offers from a technical and leadership perspective. He’s so good, no one knows where he’ll play. I can’t see him taking the right-back spot from Benny B. Left-back is still open, but he is naturally right-sided. I doubt we’d use him in midfield. One thing is for sure—Arteta is going to use him. So this evening might give us some insight.

I wasn’t overly impressed with the kids in the last game, except for Ethan Nwaneri. He looks like he’s ready for 400 minutes this season. Will he get a look in this evening? Where does Arteta think he can fit in? What does the future hold? Preseason might give us a sneaky clue.

Ok, that’s a quick one from me. I’ll be working this evening, but I have a late OTW planned for tomorrow. In the meantime, check out some of the latest content below with our first Before The Whistle of the season.

PRESEASON BEFORE THE WHISTLE - UNITED