According to a report from Nick Ames in the Guardian, Arsenal have completed a deal for Sao Paulo winger, Marquinhos.
The 19 year old has been credibly linked with the Gunners for a few weeks now, but there was an apparent complication after it emerged he had signed a pre-contract agreement with Wolves.
However, it seems that is no longer an issue and the Brazilian is set to be the first signing of the summer.
Meanwhile, as per procedure, the club have listed the players out of contract, including Alex Lacazette, who signed for Lyon on a free transfer yesterday, and also Eddie Nketiah – although there are still ongoing discussions regarding a new deal for the 23 year old.
Similarly, Arsenal Women remain in talks with Lydia Williams, but will say goodbye to Tobin Heath, Lisa Evans and Viktoria Schnaderbeck.
At youth level, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Joel Lopez and Jordan McEneff are all expected to depart when their deals expire at the end of June.
Sounds good, let’s hope he steps up like the Gabriels that we have (and may have).
Will have. 😉
should have?
Can we prove that we can get the best out of Pepe first? Can we deal with the present at one point? The future has been like the horizon for us, when we get close to it, it recedes.
The life of an Arsenal fan.
The best fee you must mean?
I know he will be sold but perhaps more game time should have been given to him instead of Willian at a critical time for his integration into the team. I have gotten the Guiness record of downvotes for saying that young players impress but don’t win you anything. Was I proven wrong with 4 points ahead, three games remaining, two against weak teams?
You forget Arteta had half a season with Pepe, and had initially resolved to “persevere with him.” By the summer he chose to step things up and increased competition in his position. This season, the idea remained, but with Saka as the upgrade on Willian. I think he believes in Pepe’s talent. He wanted to coax it out of him as well as adapt to the system. I don’t think it was ever going to work; he doesn’t fit the system. He doesn’t do well against packed defences or the EPL in general. His league stats without EL football while… Read more »
When he was playing he was just as productive as Saka, look it up.
He says, as he hopes we can get the best out of Pepe in a receding future.
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into Europa League.
That’s actually not a bad call. I certainly wouldn’t have a problem with him staying, if I thought he could be bothered. Sadly, Arteta’s indifference towards him eventually led to him more or less throwing in the towel. He was awful against Leeds at home when he came on – and whilst we were hanging on for a desperate victory, Pepe’s mind was already on the beach. But you have to hold Arteta accountable for much of that – his treatment of Pepe has been almost cruel. When you’re out of favour with Mikel, that’s you more or less done… Read more »
Pepe is not an Arteta player. He was inherited. If Gabriel Jesus is signed it will be because he is Arteta’s choice and because he manager sees something in him. So it would be expected that he already has a plan in place to get the best out of him.
Hope he’s that good 🙂
I have a feeling we have signed another Martinelli.
Saka can play more central – he is that good. Then we may have two angels manning our flanks, one in attack and another in defence.
Invincibles loading!
And if you move Saka to a central position (????) where are you going to play Odegaard?
Get back on your FIFA22…..
Saka can play Xhaka’s advanced (8) role with Partey behind. He would do well.
Well, you’d best better get on the blower to Mikel Arteta and not deprive the world of football this Wenger-esque tactical genius act of transformative brilliance for a moment longer….
He did that after the red V Sp*rs and did well. Something to look into, really
Yeah. Let’s move a world class winger to play in the middle of the park on a permanent basis.
Or we could sneak on an extra outfield player when no ones looking to fit everyone in…. .
🙄
Absolutely. I am seeing a lot of locked in thinking here. Saka would do well on the left side of midfield. His movements with Martinelli would be a nightmare for any RB and RCB any day.
Let’s put ESR in goal as well, while we’re at it. Jeeeez…
wtf did i just read!?”
My thoughts.
An absolute plausible comment about Saka’s future role in this squad. Absolutely believe he’s got everything it takes to be a great player in a more central role. Loads of other people have said before that they think this is where he’ll end up as he’s actually too good for the wing.
Can say you’d prefer him on the wing but to act like it’s complete nonsense to suggest to deploy him more centrally is a bit strange tbh.
Plausible? It’s laughable.
Why on God’s earth would you move a world class play out of his preferred position….?
Honestly, some of you lot on here should be doing stand up at the Apollo…
Boy is 20. if you really think he‘s only somewhere near the end of his development, you‘re lacking a lot of immagination. Alaba was a top class left back, then a top class central midfielder and now he‘s probably one of the top 5 center backs around. I may remind you that Henry was a World Cup winner as a winger before a certain guy told him he‘ll be even better playing through the middle. Same goes for RvP. There are millions of such examples. Santi came as a 10, played on the wing when Özil arrived and ended up… Read more »
So why do Arteta and Southgate continue to play him on the right wing?
In your own time mate…… 🙄
I get the sentiment that Saka is our most productive player 2 seasons running playing right wing. But wing to central positions isn’t really all that rare. Schweinsteiger, Rakitic, Toni Kroos, Mesut (to name a few) made successful transitions to central midfield. We also have our very own Henry and Van Persie making that switch to centre forward.
Well, you know the old saying – “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Which is why Man Manny is currently using the toaster to watch his latest Blu-ray purchase and Berlingoon has just converted his washing machine into a giant economy-sized food blender.
Laughable isn’t it?
We’ve enough on our plates trying to bring in some new striker and forward options, cover for our first choice full backs and a back up for Thomas Partey – and these numpties want Saka thrown into central midfield, because he had relatively unscathed 60 minutes there against the Spurs when we were down to ten men.
🙄
I also ask myself how often you‘re allowed to call people names just because you have a different opinion before you‘re kindly being told to fck off, @arseblog?
Mate, come back to me when you’ve endured the name calling I’ve had on here
A Spurs fan, a prick and a tosser are just a few watered down highlights.
I’ve had members of my family insulted and on one occasion questioned whether or not I had been sexually abused as a child (Snagger – come on down, mate).
‘Numpty’ is far from halo inducing, I’ll give you that, but it’s still a far cry from some of the above. Grow a spine, pal. You’re a Gooner for crying out loud. 😉
If you act like this all the time, and I’ve seen quite a bit from you in that regard on here, you shouldn’t be surprised that people call you names.
I just stated why I think a player could be at least as good if not even better in the centre of the pitch in the future. If that‘s enough for you to call someone a numpty, fine. But then don‘t expect me to waste any more time with you.
Is that a threat or a promise…? 😂
And I have the feeling we sign another wellington silva
And I have the feeling you’ve just laid another egg.
This is a marqui signing.
Bravo! 👏
I was coming to right. Let’s hope he can leave his Marq.
Yours is better
Write*** sorry for that folks. Like reading needles
Marquis de Sade.
Oh hang on, that was Wenger. 😊
Great potential from the limited clips available. This feels like an insurance policy and backup for the possible departure of Saka in a few years, should the club not progress enough.
This feels like squad building.
Mate, stop reading the tabloids. They’re only full of anti-Arsenal pro-Tottenham shit.
Ain’t that the truth
I guess we’ll see in the fullness of time. I’m not sure anyone reads tabloids any longer, but I would love to see him sign a new contract. I guess I’m not fully confident in the team making big enough strides forward.
Why…..?
We only just missed out on top four by the skin of our teeth – and without Auba, Tierney, Partey and Tommi. Put those four into the squad from January onwards to May and we’re home and dry, no question.
Now, if we can get in few more quality squad members and keep everyone reasonably fit – then I see no reason why this young team can’t go again next season and triumph.
Utd are shit, West Ham are shit and Spurs will always be shit.
Fourth can – and will – be ours. 😉👍
As fans excited about our new additions, we forget that other clubs are making upgrades as well. Jesus worries me, coming at huge cost and with Eddie’s numbers being superior by the minute. Why did he score so few goals in an elite chance making system at City? They are similar players and I think we need more physical presence up front as an alternative. Our forward line are all super talented, but fairly light-weight. Spurs have passed their best because the team is ageing and they don’t have money now. However, you’d be naive to imagine United and Chelsea… Read more »
You worry too much about the wrong things.
Jesus spent a lot of his time at City warming the bench – yet when he was allowed on, more often than not to replace De Bruyne, his goal return was always very good. Unlike Lacazette he’s not afraid to mess up his hair product by heading the thing as well.
He’s an international 25 year old proven Premiership/ Champions League goal scorer in the prime of his career – and you guys are ‘afraid’ of him!!
😂
https://youtu.be/oFNhc-9ukOY
Watch this and then give me one good reason to be ‘worried’ if we sign him – and have Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard putting them on a plate for him…..
I don’t dislike Jesus, but just don’t see the value. Eddie has better numbers.
Nketiah a goal every 113 mins and Jesus a goal every 191 mins last year. https://www.fctables.com/gabriel_jesus-vs-edward-nketiah-240310-351981/
We are always looking at powerful players from other teams terrorising the Arsenal backline in years gone by. We need at least one player up front who could put himself about a bit.
Third was there for the taking but for the small matter of us hitting the implode button 🙈
We didn’t implode – we just ran out of juice and we’d been running on fumes without Partey, Tommi, Tierney and, truth be told, Auba, since January. That we actually scraped into 5th is nigh miraculous, given the patched up state of the team, the total lack of goal threat from Laca and the kitchen sink reliance of Eddie, Tavares, Cedric and Elneny. If we have a good summer in the transfer window (Jesus, Tielemans plus Saliba, and Eddie, etc) and can keep everyone reasonably fit, then we can approach next season’s assault on 4th with much greater confidence. We… Read more »
This rather feels like another young player with loads of potential coming in.
Nothing wrong with that. Let’s hope he ultimately saves us a fortune in the transfer market.
Nah, by the time Saka leaves in 2037 this guy will be a little long in the tooth.
Haha just in time for Saka Jr. to be climbing through the youth setup to break into our first team. As Saka Sr. joins forces with the retiring Flamini at Flamini Lab Sciences to cure world hunger, zero-emissions energy and end all wars!
😄
From highlight reels, even his stand out game against Vitoria, I really want to say I see more than an average player but I don’t. I have SP supporting friends and there isn’t the buzz around him like there was around someone like Antony. It would be great if I was wrong and he absolutely thrived at Arsenal – but I think this is really just a low risk opportunistic gamble – and why not?
Meant Racing* not Vitoria
The last time Arsenal sold a player at his peak was RVP in 2013. Why do you think we would consider selling Saka?
For the same reasons we sold RVP – an expiring contract, an ambitious and talented player fed up with perennial failure and an attractive transfer fee offered. It might not happen this year and it’s horrible to even consider it – but sadly these things happen however much you want to believe they won’t.
Failure to qualify for top four again next year and you may well have a point worth considering. For the time being I would say that young Saka is happy with life at the Emirates and that any speculation to the contrary is merely the Gary Neville led feeble squeaks of the gutter press. Still, let’s all take this opportunity to have a fucking good laugh at them all, as they weep and wail at the exclusion of Heung Min Son from the PFA Team of the Year, despite the refs and VAR handing him the Golden Boot. “With no… Read more »
Middle stump. 😂😂
Unfortunately, he does have a point. I voiced my concerns about that and (*barely audible whisper) got voted down for it….
Has Eddie not signed his contract? I could have sworn we had locked him down.
Only rumors so far (but they seem awfully credible). My hunch is they’re waiting to announce his signing at the same time the away kit [or third kit] goes on sale. Maybe a dual-striker announcement with GJ by that time?
Got a hunch Nketiah will be given the #9 shirt.
Not Gabriel Jesus?
(if he doesnt go to chelsea)
He won’t go there – especially whilst that lumbering lump of shit Lukaku – who makes Lacazette look like a 1970 Pelé – is still there.
Besides, why would you want to work with that miserable cunt Tuchel when you already get on so well with Arteta…? No mate, he’s coming to The Arsenal. 😊👍
It wouldn’t surprise me to be honest – Tuchel is well liked in the game, and Chelsea can offer Champions League. They could probably offer more wages too with their new consortium.
Fingers crossed though. Jesus and Tielemens would be quality additions to our first XI.
Or sp*rs… Or the zebra sanctuary… Or (insert tabloid bollocks here)…
Well I reckon he could be offered the #9 shirt to entice him to sign a new contract.
Hale Ender’s taking #7, #9, #10 looks good.
That’s for Jesus.
Have faith. 😉
Nah
I pray your hunches don’t often come true 🙏🏻
He will, Big Fudge. He will mate. Stop reading the tabloids!! 😊
We’ve had some excellent Brazilians and a few (Willian and Santos) I’d rather forget.
Please be good Marquinhos and welcome to the Arsenal
Agreed but always fondly remember that Santos goal at Stamford Bridge in 2011, the 3-5 game with Terry falling on his face, etc.
Andre Santos was excellent, he just forgot at times (actually, most of the time) that he was a left-back.
so tavares?
With less energy and bustle and more tricky skill and swagger. He was also at the end of his career so he played his maverick game completely unapologetically – there was no hope of redemption or excuse of naivety.
Good wing back.
Crap full back.
😄
Good gay
😄
No. That’s really twisting the truth. He was shit – his goal at Stamford Bridge not withstanding.
He got what he came to Arsensl for, RVP’s shirt.
I was there. The Away Boys were in fine clear voices fettle that afternoon, particularly with that wonderful ode to John Terry’s somewhat dishonest mater.
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
“She’ll be coming out of Tesco’s with her dinner in her coat….”
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
Then he went and slipped over. Oh how we laughed. 😊
Man I wish people would stop viewing our squad as 11 players. If you look at the elite teams they are squads of 18-20 really good players that can be interchanged based on tactics, rest, etc. it isn’t saka or martinelli or this kid but all of them throughout the year.
Well said, top post.
The trouble is, we’ve been so threadbare on quality players and overstocked on rubbish, that people have subconsciously gotten into the habit of seeing eleven names plus the bench.
We are in the process (one hopes) of building a decent squad – something we haven’t had at Arsenal for a very long time.
This feels like Wellington Silva 2.0 or Joel Campbell
He’ll be loaned across the continent for 5 years until he leaves for Liga MX or somewhere…
“Get Out While You Can….Cedric.” 😂
Or Emiliano Martinez 2.0. Loaned across the continent for 10 years, comes back to win an FA Cup, and sold for a cool £20,000,000. You win some you lose some.
As the reports say he’s been signed on a five year contract for about £3 million, I couldn’t care less if he will.
Or to West Brom where Tony Pullis decides he’s not good enough.
This boy is a very good prospect. I fear G Jesus would be a mistake, especially if he earned more than Saka etc. The Brazilian we need is Danilo, from Palmeiras.
Danilo is a DM though right? Where we already have Partey, Elneny, Lokonga. Even Xhaka is more comfortable at DM.
The CM we purchase this summer will likely be more attacking. I also think it will be a ‘now’ signing, not someone who will peak in 2 or 3 years time.
An experienced proven 25 year old Premiership goal scorer a ‘mistake’……?
For every 50m signing you need a few 3 mil to 5 mil signings who have potential. City signed Zinchenko for under 2mil. Look at Martinelli. Now not every one of these will pay off, hoping he does but if not you loan hope he does well and sell for a higher price. Name of the game.
Nice, now let’s get more reinforcement in and try to win some trophies. Those shitespurs thinking they’re all that now! Bag of shit!!!
It’s the press thinking those shitespurs are all that that gets me. Can you imagine the absolute dogs abuse Arsenal would be getting from them if we’d last won the title in 1961, the FA Cup in 1991 and anything at all in 2008? Fucking wankers, all of them.
They’re all crying at the moment, because Son didn’t make the PFA Team of the Year.
You couldn’t make up better comedy if you tried. 😂
so sad to see Nketia released
🙄
He has been offered a new contract. Though the longer it takes to sign, the more the worry is he could join a different club.
Another tabloid reader here, Q.
And another one below. I bet old Fats loves The Sun with his blow up the kitchen 10,000 calorie Full English.
He misses them not having a Page 3 girl anymore though.
I hope so
What is this? Crass Post Competition Time or something…? 😂
Shame about Joel Lopez. He arrived on a wave of hype and never broke through. A reminder that talent is only part of what makes a great footballer. I hope he still has a good career.
Does this mean a return of the “new signing” noise on the arsecast? If you could somehow work the “Mhiki” sound bite in there too it would be much appreciated. #givethepeoplewhattheywant
A lot of people are going to be pretty shocked when Arsenal doesn’t bid for Tielemans. Lovely passer, lovely vision, wicked shot, but doesn’t have the tight control, low centre of gravity and burst of speed needed to break the press like Arthur and Zinchenko. Also, a bit too one-paced. Arteta will want an LCM who can drop deep and be the first receiver from the goalkeeper/CBs. His job is then to spin his man and send the ball upfield. Most vital job in a possession-based team like Arsenal. Tielemans is not that player. Indeed, he’s a bit too much… Read more »
Partey is the one to be the first receiver of the ball. That’s why Tielemens is the first choice signing at CM, he’s an upgrade on Xhaka in that #8 position.
Tielemans is an upgrade on Xhaka, yes, but a very similar package (a one-paced passer rather than a ball carrier). In that case, I would keep Xhaka and his leadership qualities. The team needs at least two options as receiver. Partey is an excellent receiver, but Arthur (or Zinchenko) are even better. You could hit Arthur with a baseball bat and he would keep the ball. Arteta is a Nazi about ball security. I think his first priority is to build a team that can break the fierce presses of Liverpool, Man City, etc. Nor do I see many signs… Read more »
The issue with Xhaka is his discipline (red cards, penalties and to a lesser extent free kicks).
Following that train of thought, I was curious to make a comparison with Youri.
0 red cards from 158 appearances for Leiecsster which compares quite favourably to Xhaka (5 reds from 250 appearances for Arsenal).
But I came across a shocking stat for Tielemans this season…
He apparently conceded 4 penalties.
That is very concerning.
Wow. Top of the league! But almost no penalties in previous seasons. I wonder what caused that.
Expect him to be directly in the squad as a replacement for an outgoing Pepe. He seems quite capable cutting in from the right and can operate in tight spaces. He doesn’t have the nuance in passing and creating rotations that Saka can do. But he seems to be dangerous enough on the ball to cause some doubling up by the opposition defence. So we can finally rotate Saka in and out of the starting 11 without having to keep the training loads on both defensive and offensive left sided setup. We could just keep it a lopsided attacking right… Read more »