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Afternoon guys.
Chukwunonso Azuka Tristan”Noni” Madueke – born 10 March 2002, ex Crystal Palace, Totts, PSV and Chelsea winger is now an Arsenal player. To suggest his move to Arsenal has divided fans opinion is a bit of an understatement. Rumours of graffiti at The Emirates along with a petition opposed to this signing doesn’t represent every Arsenal fan, if indeed is our own fans were behind both to start with.
I read around a few blogs to see how this signing would be thought of and there is a serious lack of positivity. The writers of back page headlines have clearly enjoyed ridiculing Arsenal for giving Chelsea money in exchange for an unwanted player. I hope the player ends up having the last laugh, Arsenal football club too. Still just 23 years old, I’m sure there’s room for improvement which is the challenge for Mikel Arteta and his coaching team. I read he was/is a bad trainer, well, there could be a number of reasons for that if true. I’m sure Mikel Arteta and/or Gabriel Heinze will have something to say about that if the player even thinks about repeating such antics in north London.
Every ball he plays, every touch he takes and every shot he takes, every one will be scrutinised by fans and media alike, no doubt waiting to add more negativity to this already negative transfer business. What I hope though is that when this young man dons an Arsenal kit for the first time in the league, the cups or in Europe, the Arsenal fans in whatever stadium his debut arrives, are right behind him and I’m pretty sure they will be. Surely no one wants a player to fail just that person can say “I told you he was rubbish and a waste of money”..
I’ve no idea if Arsenal will add Eze to the signings of Zubimendi, Kepa, Norgaard and the expected soon to be confirmed Madueke, Gyokeres and Mosquera, or anyone else for that matter but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they did. Equally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or two depart before the end of the transfer window. Hein, Nelson and Vieira being tipped to depart by the media while both Zinchenko and Trossard’s Arsenal future is being questioned too. Young centre-back Kacurri is expected to move on too, either on loan or a permanent deal. (The Athletic)
We all love new players joining the club, especially when they are top notch but keeping our best is equally if not more important. Saliba, Saka and Nwaneri need to put pen to paper real soon. Perhaps a stronger, deeper and more competitive squad will help convince them, others too, that Arsenal are going to be better equipped to challenge for something this coming season and beyond. If Arsenal want to keep their best, they need to be playing alongside some of the best too. The best though doesn’t always mean the biggest names or the biggest fees either.
Arsenal aren’t just strengthening the men’s first team squad but the women’s too. Anneke Borbe has joined the club today, a 24 year old keeper who stands at 5’ 11. Our other two keepers are 5’ 9” and 5’ 8”. Borbe walked away from Wolfsburg for free earlier in the summer. They’ve already snapped up Chloe Kelly, Taylor Hinds and Olivia Smith.
Like the mens side of the club, a league title has evaded them for a number of years, however, Renee Slegers players are currently the Champions of Europe.
Had Mikel Arteta’s squad been deeper and stronger, the club might have two European Champions but it wasn’t so it’s pointless thinking about it. Yet I can’t help thinking about it because that and the two seasons gone by, I think we missed a golden opportunity to lift some serious silverware.
Maybe next time..