Arteta takes centre stage in Singapore

Morning all,

As Andrew talked about yesterday, I’m on cowl obligation whereas he makes his technique to Singapore forward of Arsenal’s upcoming friendlies towards AC Milan and Newcastle United. These video games happen on Wednesday and Sunday, respectively, and can give us our first correct take a look at among the new signings following the weekend’s behind-closed-doors conflict with Watford.

It appears just like the 30-man squad arrived safely over the weekend, and the supervisor wasted no time kicking off a busy week with a press convention on the Singapore Nationwide Stadium. Having not heard from him for a few months, there was, unsurprisingly, loads to cowl through the 11 minutes he spent in entrance of the cameras.

Let’s break it down by the important thing themes…

Pre-season thus far 

By the tip of final season, Mikel Arteta regarded like a person in determined want of a vacation, so it’s good to see him now wanting tanned, relaxed, and sounding as pushed as ever. He’s had a few weeks with the majority of his squad, giving him time to set the tone and body the challenges that lie forward. 

He’s clearly energised and insists the group are “absolutely satisfied” of their potential to win silverware. After three consecutive second-place finishes within the Premier League and a run to the Champions League semi-finals, that confidence shouldn’t come as a shock. Nonetheless, he’s taking nothing as a right, reminding his gamers that they should work daily on “these particulars that make you’re taking the subsequent step.”

He additionally touched on what he sees as a key goal this season: staying match. “One of many largest issues we’ve got to realize this season is availability,” he mentioned when requested about Riccardo Calafiori, who missed massive components of his debut marketing campaign by harm. In equity, the Italian’s setbacks have been principally right down to unhealthy luck, whereas a few of our different harm points – notably these involving hamstring surgical procedure – felt extra like the results of gamers being overworked because of an absence of depth. 

For now, the squad seems to be in good condition. Gabriel Jesus is the one injured absentee as he continues his post-ACL rehab in Brazil. Gabriel Magalhaes, in the meantime, performed 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors win over Watford on Saturday, and Arteta defined that new signing Noni Madueke is being eased in after his summer season exploits on the (abomination that was the) Membership World Cup with Chelsea. 

As for Martin Zubimendi, he likes what he’s seen: “After getting the participant every day there and also you see his character, his character, his intelligence, and the way a lot he’s going to deliver to the group. I’m very enthusiastic about it.”

The supervisor additionally had some encouragement for the academy gamers who made the journey. “The window is open. Whoever knocks so arduous and kicks that door goes to have the chance,” he mentioned. Remarkably, Arsenal may, in the event that they needed, discipline a few 15-year-olds – Max Dowman and Marli Salmon – on Wednesday, together with as many as eight different youngsters, two of whom are already a part of the senior squad. 

Whereas they’ve clearly earned the fitting to be there, it should be a surreal expertise to search out your self in an elite sporting atmosphere on the opposite aspect of the world at that age. I’d think about the youthful lads will likely be avoided a lot of the industrial bits, for apparent causes, but when they do get on the pitch, they’ll rapidly discover themselves on the receiving finish of clickbait articles digging into their backstories. Good luck to them is all I can say. 

Transfers 

With 4 new arrivals by the door and Cristhian Mosquera’s transfer from Valencia all however confirmed, Mikel Arteta was filled with reward for the work of recent sporting director Andrea Berta and the monetary backing acquired from the board and homeowners. That mentioned, the supervisor made it clear there’s nonetheless work to be achieved.

“We’ve achieved very, very effectively thus far. I’m very happy with the best way the membership is supporting the requirements and enhancements that we required within the group.

“Andrea [Berta] and the group have achieved a superb job as effectively, attempting to push the whole lot ahead. There’s nonetheless a very long time to go in that window. We have now loads of hope that we are able to nonetheless enhance the group. We’re going to proceed to strive to do this.”

He added: “By way of numbers, we’re brief and we’ve got to enhance the depth and high quality of the squad. We’re continuously wanting available in the market, however till that occurs, I can deal with the gamers that we even have and work with them.”

Clearly, it’s good to listen to that from the horse’s mouth, however given Arteta mentioned a lot the identical in January, it doesn’t assure new arrivals. Simply to be clear, I imply, along with Viktor Gyokeres and Mosquera. Naturally, the boss was requested for an replace on the Sweden worldwide however remained coy.

“There’s loads of events [involved] and loads of issues that we’ve got to keep in mind to get a participant over the road and right here. I’m very hopeful that we’re going to do it very quickly.”

What occurs subsequent is anybody’s guess. There was some chatter about curiosity in Xavi Simons – a reputation which will effectively have come up throughout talks with RB Leipzig once we enquired about Benjamin Sesko – however he now appears to be closely linked with Chelsea. To be trustworthy, he’s not a participant who massively excites me, although I’ll admit my judgment might be clouded by a long-standing desire for Eberechi Eze. That mentioned, hyperlinks to the Palace man have gone ominously quiet in latest weeks.

In some unspecified time in the future, we might want to offload a couple of gamers, whether or not by gross sales or loans, so it wouldn’t be stunning if that turns into the subsequent space of focus earlier than we take into consideration including any cherries on prime. As Arteta mentioned, there’s nonetheless an extended technique to go within the window.

Thomas Partey

After revealing on the Arsecast Additional that he had given severe consideration to sacking off his season ticket when it emerged Arsenal have been exploring the potential for extending Thomas Partey’s contract – talks that ended with no new deal being provided previous to the participant being charged with rape and sexual assault by the Crown Prosecution Service – it felt applicable that James, who so typically strikes a considerate stability between fan and journalist, was the one to press Mikel Arteta on the matter publicly for the primary time.

Right here’s the total (brief) trade:

James: We’ve talked quite a bit about new signings right now, however somebody who isn’t at Arsenal anymore is Thomas Partey. He’s now dealing with some very severe felony prices. Can I ask in your response to that? And, clearly, he’s not an Arsenal participant, so was the prospect or chance of these prices an element within the choice to not renew his contract?

Mikel: I believe the membership was very clear in its assertion. There are loads of authorized issues which are very difficult, so I can not touch upon any of that.

James: I recognize that, however loads of followers have questions on the best way the matter was dealt with by the membership. Do you are feeling assured and comfy that the membership adopted all the fitting processes in that?

Mikel: 100 per cent. Sure.

Did I anticipate something extra from Mikel? In fact, no. The most secure and most predictable response was to keep away from giving one, and he did simply that. Presumably having been briefed forward of time.

Whereas I’ve sympathy for the supervisor, who’s routinely anticipated to discipline tough questions on the membership’s behalf, I can’t assist however really feel that on this situation he left himself, and the membership, open to criticism. Having gone on the file on the finish of final season expressing his need to maintain Partey on the membership, he now appears, at finest, naive. That was an avoidable misstep, to say the least. 

Maybe he’s so deeply embedded within the Arsenal bubble that he didn’t absolutely grasp the energy of feeling amongst supporters on this situation. If that’s the case, he has been poorly suggested. Both means, silence doesn’t supply decision. Not answering questions merely invitations extra of them. And I’m positive there will likely be extra within the weeks to return. 

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Away from the press convention – and sure, I do know it’s barely ridiculous to segue into this after the above – Arsenal made an enormous tune and dance in regards to the new away package, full with a enjoyable launch video that includes Gunnersaurus and a Will Poulter (sure, chef!) attended occasion in Singapore.

Will I purchase the package? In all probability. Will I put on it in public? In all probability not. Will it find yourself in a field with the remainder of my ever-growing assortment of unworn Arsenal gear? Completely. Does that make me an enormous sucker? Sure. Sure, it does.

That mentioned, I believe it’s a enjoyable design. I actually desire it to the final two away kits. However very like listening to there’s yet one more Superman or Batman reboot, the return of the lightning bolt motif, first seen within the Nike period and now a little bit of a recurring theme below adidas, does make you surprise if we’ve collectively simply run out of concepts. 

Anyway, I’ll depart it there for now. 

Andrew is again tomorrow. I’ll be again subsequent week when he’s flying residence.