Some activity in the departure lounge?

Hi there hiya.

It’s a bit mad to assume that in slightly below one month we’ll be kicking off the brand new Premier League season. The beginning date has been introduced ahead to August sixth, so extra video games will be squeezed in earlier than the World Cup. Our first pre-season recreation of consequence takes place on Friday, though there was a behind-closed-doors win over Ipswich final weekend.

I think there may be a creeping anxiousness in regards to the clock ticking inexorably in the direction of Selhurst Park on that Friday night time, not least as a result of it seems like we nonetheless have a bit to do by way of the switch market. Is there a substitute for Raphinha – who nonetheless hasn’t accomplished a transfer anyplace else by the way in which? There’s discuss that Youri Tielemans may be the topic of an imminent bid, and a midfield addition in that ‘left 8’ area has lengthy been excessive on folks’s checklist.

We even have to attend and see what occurs with Lisandro Martinez and, ought to he determine to hyperlink up with former boss Erik ten Hag in Manchester as an alternative, what different names we’ve on our checklist for whichever position we had earmarked him for. Left-back cowl? Left centre-half cowl? Defensive midfield? I believe versatile gamers are helpful, though I do have some doubts about whether or not or not one participant will be on the proper degree in three completely different positions – particularly in that space of the pitch.

Anyway, as I mentioned on Monday on the Arsecast Additional with Tim, the success of the switch window for me shall be primarily based totally on how we increase the squad with incoming offers. If we are able to promote effectively, that’s a bonus, however ought to we get to the tip of the window after which see a clutch of late mortgage + possibility/obligation departures, I wouldn’t be in any respect shocked. The difficulty for Mikel Arteta may be the actual fact he’s obtained some ‘bloat’ on the coaching floor, guys who simply aren’t going to be concerned, however that’s one thing he must be greater than able to coping with. Whenever you consider a number of the issues he’s needed to take care of since he took over, that feels sort of trivial.

Talking of these near the exit door, there’s extra chatter about Fulham and Bernd Leno. Having talked about the actual fact it had gone very quiet in yesterday’s weblog, I’m taking full credit score for this and isn’t it exceptional that there hasn’t been a single membership in all of the world stated to be involved in thrilling, thrilling, majestic winger Nicolas Pepe?

That ought to do it.

As for Leno and Fulham, it looks as if match, at the very least for this season. They’ve been a bit yo-yo in recent times, up and down between the Premier League and the Championship, so which may give the German some pause for thought. Nonetheless, if he desires to remain in England I don’t know who else on this league is actively searching for a brand new keeper, and from an Arsenal perspective it’s in all probability very welcome curiosity due to the potential switch charge we’d be supplied – more likely to be greater than a membership on the continent.

In the meantime, Hector Bellerin, who captained the facet towards Ipswich final weekend, has reportedly rejected a transfer to Villarreal as a result of his coronary heart is ready on a return to Actual Betis the place he spent final season on mortgage. Some will say he didn’t fancy linking up with former Arsenal head coach Unai Emery once more, however I believe it’s extra to do along with his need to return to Betis.

Villarreal have been apparently keen to match his present Arsenal wage, and we all know that he needed to take a substantial lower final summer season to go to Los Verdiblancos, however you get the sense from Hector that his major concern at this level is extra about skilled success than his financial institution steadiness. It sounds uncommon for a footballer, however then in some ways he’s an uncommon footballer – and I don’t imply that to sound crucial in any method. What number of gamers communicate out the way in which he has on points that don’t have anything to do with the sport? What number of of them constantly reveal a social conscience the way in which he has? It’s uncommon that any footballer sticks their head above the parapet to lend assist to points that can see them criticised and labelled in a damaging method. Not for him the PR platitudes or simply plain outdated silence.

So, for me anyway, the concept that Hector Bellerin would like one membership over one other as a result of he has a reference to it, even when he may receives a commission extra elsewhere, doesn’t appear in any respect odd. Hopefully he can get the transfer he desires. There are some gamers who I actually don’t care the place they go, so long as they go, however as somebody who has at all times had a tender spot for Hector, it’d be good to see him find yourself on the membership he actually desires.

Proper, that’s it for this morning. If there’s any breaking information through the day, we’ll have it on Arseblog News.

Take it simple people, thoughts yourselves.