Morning.
So, we made our first official signing of the summer season yesterday, as David Raya joined on a everlasting foundation after spending final season on mortgage from Brentford. The payment is round £27m, and his contract will run for 4 years – till 2028, at which level he’ll be 32, nonetheless comparatively younger within the lifetime of a goalkeeper.
Then once more, he does need to carry on the proper aspect of a supervisor who does love a goalkeeper signing.
Talking to the official web site, the boss stated:
David confirmed us final season what an vital participant he’s for us, so we’re delighted he’s now formally our participant. He’s a giant presence in our dressing room and we’re actually happy to maintain working with him.
We all know he’ll take the robust foundations he put in place final season and construct on them within the years to come back, and that he’ll get pleasure from extra success with us. We’ve got a really gifted group of goalkeepers and I like to see connections just like the one I see in our goalkeeping unit.
It was clear fairly shortly final season that Raya was introduced in to be the number one, regardless of Arteta’s uncharacteristically clumsy feedback about ‘timeshare goalkeepers’, and though he had some wobbles right here and there (largely at the beginning), he performed a giant half in our season, so let’s hope there’s much more to come back over the approaching years.
And whereas this deal isn’t a shock in any respect, it does carry into the highlight the Aaron Ramsdale state of affairs. He’s away with England, in fact, however he received’t wish to spend one other season on the bench, so it’ll be fascinating to see what occurs with him. Some will say Arsenal are in a robust place as a result of he has a long-term contract, however the deal he signed final Can also made him among the finest paid keepers within the Premier League, in order that’s a problem in the case of discovering a brand new membership. What number of golf equipment can afford these wages? Not too many, so it may be a case he goes on mortgage with the hope {that a} good season wherever he performs generates a bit extra curiosity than there’s proper now.
The opposite query is what number of golf equipment are available in the market for a top-level keeper this summer season? There would possibly should be a couple of items transferring right here and there earlier than the proper transfer comes lengthy, so we’ll wait and see how that one performs out.
In the meantime, Arteta did a really attention-grabbing interview with James Olley of ESPN from the Marbella coaching camp, and was requested about his contract. He has lower than a 12 months left, however sounded a optimistic observe, saying:
Issues occur in a pure method and our relationship is that good that I don’t predict any points occurring. However issues need to develop in the proper method and it’ll occur. The main focus now’s, ‘OK, how we are able to enhance issues across the workforce, how we are able to enhance now the issues within the switch window that we have now.’ We’ve got time to sit down down and focus on that.
And on the plans for the switch window, he was as opaque as you may think, quick on specifics, however made it clear he needs to enhance the squad:
We need to enhance in each attainable division. With the brand new laws, there are specific issues we have now to respect and take heed to after which clearly the Euros and Copa America are slowing every little thing down. Hopefully now it will choose up a bit bit.
There are issues that we have now to enhance, that’s for positive and we’re going to attempt to. However the market is hard. We’ve got been very aggressive, we’re very decided and we have now a transparent concept clearly of what we wish to do. It should come all the way down to discovering the proper agreements on the proper time.
A match summer season is at all times tougher than others, and I do sense a bit anxiousness amongst Arsenal followers – maybe tied to the truth that a participant we targetted (Sekso) determined in opposition to making a transfer. Nonetheless, I believe the best way we’ve finished our enterprise over the previous couple of summers, each by way of high quality of participant and timing (for probably the most half), ought to reassure those that we’ll have the ability to do the offers we wish. Who? When? Your guess is nearly as good as mine, however with somebody like Arteta, you possibly can think about how onerous he’s pushing behind the scenes for the optimum end result, so let’s wait and see.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. There’s a brand new Arsecast so that you can hearken to under, chatting about Riccardo Calafiori and much extra with Phil Costa. Take pleasure in.
