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Freepik.
Morning all.
I read through Mikel Arteta’s pre Southampton press conference yesterday although I’ll be honest, I’m really not fussed about the actual game. Of course I want us to win but there’s little resting on it other than giving the travelling faithful something good to watch. The game is not being shown live in the Uk although I’d imagine it would be had we not already secured Champions League football for next season.
All I wanted to read about really is the plans Arsenal for the summer.
> _**What is clear with the amount of injuries we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat, we need the firepower out there, and understanding that the context can change tomorrow. We cannot rely just on the numbers we had before. We have to add goals, we have to add creativity, we have to add numbers and that will be in different positions.**_
Music to every Arsenal fans ears I’m sure. More firepower and more creativity. More speed to our play, oh sorry, he didn’t say that. Lol
He’s made it more than clear to all of us what he wants this summer and I don’t think he’s simply shooting in the breeze either as I think his message is for the board too, get me the players I need. Please. Logic suggests he’s going to get the players too because otherwise, he’s setting him up for a lot of criticism, ridicule even.
I’m pretty sure there will be some moaning and groaning about who we sign, especially if it’s a player from Man City or Chelsea, but that’s inevitable as no one can please everyone all of the time.
It’s quite amusing reading the stories about Man Utd this morning as apparently, the club are prepared to listen to offers for all of their players. Ouch, imagine being a Utd player waking up to that headline. What must Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi be thinking now? The grass might appear greener but sometimes, it’s not. Omari Hutchinson found that out when he left Arsenal for Chelsea only to find himself at Ipswich and now, heading for life in the Championship. Unless another Premier League club snap him up of course.
Young footballers these days think they can run before they can walk but logic says, if they are good enough for the club they are already at, they would be given an opportunity. It is kind of a defeatist attitude to look at the players ahead of them in a team and accept there is no way through because what they should be thinking is, I’m going to push myself through because I am good enough.
As has been said and written by all of us at one stage or another, all it takes is an injury or two and a chance will come. Ironically, both players who thought life would be better at Utd would in all likelihood, found themselves playing a lot of first team football. Still, it’s good to sit back and not give a hoot.
More importantly for Arsenal is the young players who are at Arsenal, who want to stay at Arsenal and want to push on up into the first team. Who they might be though remains to be seen. Both Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are very likely to play a big part in Arsenal’s 2025/26 season but hopefully, we will see one or two more step up. The long term positions of both Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly are yet to be decided. Might both end up playing alongside each other in midfield? I have no idea but bearing in mind Mikel Arteta said he sees Nwaneri as ending up in the number 9 position, perhaps next season that will become a reality. The joys of having multi talented players in the squad eh….
Anyway, I’ve waffled on for too long..
Catch up in the comments.