I honestly think some of our fans are idiots. Either that or they are so agenda driven that it leads them to making idiotic assessments.
Yesterday it was announced that we had agreed a deal to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for £5m. And it lead some fans (and for clarity it was a minority; just a noisy one) to use the news to spread negativity.
**“Another Chelsea reject”**
The most common comment around the signing is that it was another Chelsea reject. But why do people care so much about where a player comes from? Saying this sort of comment just shows you are unable to engage your brain before you speak and all you care about is “statements that might make you go viral”.
We are signing Bournemouth’s number one keeper. The team that finished 9th last year. And Kepa played 31 league games for them.
A 30-year-old Premier League proven keeper for just £5m to be our number two. What is there not to like about the deal. But of course, we know some fans just love moaning.
**“A keeper was not a priority”**
Anyone that thinks signing a 2nd choice keeper was not a priority this summer is either thick or deluded.
With Neto’s loan deal ending, our back up keepers to David Raya were Karl Hein and then a bunch of teenagers.
Had we not signed a 2nd choice keeper and Raya got injured, the same people moaning now we’ve signed a keeper would be complaining we failed in the summer.
Football in real life is not a computer game. You can not sign players “in order of priority”. Some deals got done quicker.
You can not delay or miss out on signing someone of Kepa’s quality just because you decide you “need to sign a striker first for PR”.
**“But 8 keepers signed”**
I had no idea we were keeping count of how many keepers we had signed under Mikel Arteta (remember, players are not signed by the manager. But some fans can’t see beyond a simpleton thought process).
If I am honest, I was surprised that people were claiming it was 8 keepers under Arteta. For me it is Aaron Ramsdale, David Raya and Neto making it 3, with Kepa making it 4. So where does the 8 come?
Runar Alex Runarsson – £1.8m – signed as a back up keeper to Leno when we had none.
Aaron Ramsdale – £24m – signed as a first choice. Fantastic in getting us back to top 4 level. Not quite top level enough.
Matt Turner – £5m – American number one signed to be out number two.
David Raya – loan – came in to replace Ramsdale as number one. Consistently one of the best in the league
David Raya – £27m – Do we count him twice?
Neto – Loan – Premier League proven number 2 signed for a season
Lucas Nygaard – £0m – Academy goalkeeper signed at 18.
Tommy Setford – £1m – Academy goalkeeper signed keeper signed at 18
So since Arteta has joined we have signed:
2 starting goalkeepers, both of whom were upgrades on the men they replaced.
3 number twos, all of whom were better than the men they replaced.
2 youth team keepers – if we count youth team keepers, then why don’t we count youth team strikers who have joined us under Arteta? Can’t be saying “8 keepers signed, 1 striker” when it’s not true.
If you are unhappy that we are signing Kepa, unhappy that we have signed 8 keepers, then your mentality is holding the club back.
You are basically saying that you do not want us to improve. You do not want us to sign better players than what we have. Why don’t you not want us to get better?
And for those that will respond to this with “we should have got it right first time”. Maybe you are right.
But then when we signed Runarsson back in 2020, Kepa was a £70m rate keeper starting for Chelsea. I doubt he would have joined us as 2nd choice. When we signed Turner, Neto was leaving Barcelona’s bench to be first choice at Bournemouth. The players you sign in the future are not always available in the past.
Have a good Sunday. Including all you miserable sods. Hope signing Kepa ruins your Sunday roast.
**Keenos**