Joyful Friday, everybody. With the US tour achieved for the summer time and the season quick approaching, there’s nonetheless loads of work for Edu to do earlier than the switch window closes. Mikel Arteta is greater than conscious of that too.
“Now we have 30 gamers right here which is unsustainable,” he mentioned after yesterday’s win over Barcelona. So 30 is unsustainable and we all know Arteta would ideally have 22 outfield gamers, a minimum of that’s what he advised us again in April 2022.
“When you can afford it — and we don’t need to do the turnaround within the squad that we’ve needed to do — in the event you ask me what I need, it’s 22 outfield gamers and three goalkeepers.”
Together with the gamers not taken on the tour — the likes of Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares, Sambi Lokonga, Nicolas Pepe — that’s a hell of lots of work for Edu to get by. So what would a 22-outfielders Arsenal squad appear like for the brand new season and who does that depart behind? Let’s begin with the certainties from again to entrance.
Defenders: Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior.
The primary alternative again 4 from final season and the signings from the final two home windows. Let’s add Takehiro Tomiyasu as nicely and that’s seven gamers.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Emile Smith Rowe.
Subsequent up could be Fabio Vieira to take it to seven, and with Mohamed Elneny could be an eighth participant. Trying on the quantity choices in defensive midfield in comparison with additional forward, Elneny is actually unlikely to play in any respect however I believe he’s more likely to stick round. However with 4 potential holding midfielders after which simply 4 gamers for the 2 extra superior positions, I nonetheless wouldn’t in any respect be shocked to see Rice play a extra box-to-box function at occasions.
Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson.
After which let’s assume we maintain certainly one of Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun.
That leaves us with … 21 gamers up to now. And lots of senior gamers omitted. I believe we’re so over-indexed in defence, and there doesn’t appear to be that a lot curiosity in gamers there (Tierney apart — however not on the worth we would like for him) that we in all probability find yourself conserving certainly one of Tierney and Rob Holding to take the squad to 22.
Which nonetheless means exits for: Tierney/Holding, Auston Trusty, Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nicolas Pepe, Marquinhos, Nketiah/Balogun.
Plus potential loans for the likes of Amario Cozier-Duberry and the work that may go into figuring out the futures of youthful gamers who’ve had loans already, like Charlie Patino and Brooke Norton-Cuffy. I hope Edu has multiple cellphone on the go as a result of he’s going to be a busy, busy man as soon as he’s again in London.
Perhaps we get sufficient achieved to make one other signing — promoting each Nketiah and Balogun, for instance, or chasing up among the curiosity that has been proven in Thomas Partey, although that now appears much less probably. However for now the main focus needs to be on slicing this squad all the way down to dimension.
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On a really completely different word, it was such a disappointment to see Jordan Henderson full a transfer to Saudi Arabia. He has achieved and mentioned some improbable issues throughout his time as Liverpool captain and an England participant, he has genuinely been a mannequin ally for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood and a stellar instance of how footballers can take a optimistic, public stance on a desperately necessary situation and supply gentle for individuals who might have it most.
Hello Joe nice to listen to you loved the sport as you must. Nobody needs to be afraid to go and help their membership or nation as a result of soccer is for everybody it doesn’t matter what. Thanks to your help, get pleasure from the remainder of the Euros. 💪🏻🏳️🌈 https://t.co/xHqXgDj1h7
— Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) June 30, 2021
In 2019, speaking concerning the improbable work of Stonewall and the Rainbow Laces marketing campaign, he mentioned this:
“I’m a dad or mum, a husband, a son and a brother and the concept that anybody I like and care about wouldn’t really feel secure or snug coming to observe me play in the event that they had been a part of the LGBT neighborhood makes me marvel what world we stay in.”
Henderson has now signed for a membership the place, as a dad or mum, a husband, a son and a brother, anybody he loves and cares about can not comfortably go to observe him if they’re a part of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
That is completely different to, say, Idrissa Gana Gueye refusing to put on rainbow colored numbers whereas taking part in for Paris Saint-Germain (we don’t have to get into unpacking simply how sophisticated that’s) as a result of Henderson has made extremely clear that he not solely holds a optimistic stance on LGBTQ+ points however that was repeatedly prepared to take that stance loudly, in public.
In a video asserting of his signing, Al-Ettifaq turned the rainbow armband worn by Henderson at occasions as Liverpool captain black and white. A slideshow of photos of Henderson with the armband, the place gamers so usually adorn these rainbow colors, and solely the armband in black and white.
The message is obvious: with sufficient cash, allyship might be purchased. The help might be distinguished. That’s now the legacy he has to stay with and it’s bitterly disappointing. I sympathise with the Liverpool followers his views have resonated with up to now as a result of I’d be so offended and so gutted if this was certainly one of our gamers.
I’ll depart it there for as we speak ✊🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
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For one thing else to learn this morning, try Tim’s very good account of his time on the tour and the way particular it’s that all of us have this membership connecting us irrespective of the place on the planet we’re.
And to your ears: the Andrews have recorded an arsecast the morning after the win over Barcelona, you’ll find that under and in all the standard locations.
