Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Morning all.
Let me begin by saying this put up is the very essence of opinion. I’m certain Andrea Berta, an skilled govt, could have his personal to-do checklist when he arrives at Arsenal. He’ll have his personal concepts, the membership could have their concepts and priorities, Mikel Arteta might need some enter right here and there (*cough*), however from the skin, these are the issues I believe he’s obtained to kind out.
Please notice this checklist is just not exhaustive. There’s in all probability some stuff I’ve forgotten or not thought-about. During which case, please fill out our grievance type right here and buyer companies will reply in 28 days (or later).
Recruitment
The plain place to begin. Arsenal are going to wish to do some incoming enterprise this summer time, and prime of the checklist will the assault. ‘Striker, striker, my kingdom for a striker!’, cried Richard III again within the day, and SPOILER ALERT, it didn’t finish effectively for him. He was given a horse as an alternative then run-through with a long-sword. Typical.
Everybody needs Arsenal to signal a striker. Names like Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko, and Hugo Ekitike have been doing the rounds. I strongly really feel like Isak is as un-gettable as a participant might be, partly due to value and particularly so if Newcastle end within the Champions League positions. The opposite two ought to be doable from an Arsenal perspective, however who is aware of who else is perhaps on the radar?
I additionally suppose a left-winger can be a helpful addition. ‘Carry me Nico Williams or carry me loss of life!’ and many others and many others. I believe the age of Leandro Trossard and the plateauing of Gabriel Martinelli imply we might use an improve in that place. One stays, one goes – and given earlier Saudi curiosity within the Belgian, and the very fact he has one yr left on his contract, that is perhaps the plain one.
After that, you have a look at midfield and I’m fairly sure each Jorginho and Thomas Partey will go away this summer time. That leaves a niche on the base of midfield which I believe you possibly can fill with Declan Rice, however we hear quite a bit about Martin Zubimendi coming in. Personally, I might discover room for a couple of midfield arrival, and I’d wish to see a extra artistic/aptitude participant added to the combo. We ask an excessive amount of of Martin Odegaard as it’s, and whereas we might speak about current gamers being shifted round to try this job, the shortage of creativity throughout Odegaard’s damage and his subsequent points with type have been a significant situation for me.
By way of the defence, I believe it’s extra about trimming the left-back surplus than any type of addition, however I wouldn’t be shocked if we had our eye on a Tomiyasu sort participant who is flexible sufficient to play throughout the back-line (with out the unlucky accidents the Japan worldwide has endured).
I believe Neto will go so we’ll want a goalkeeper, with ‘good cash’ being on a transfer for Espanyol’s Joan Garcia. He appears to be the favorite of goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, however him being wedded that particular participant left us in a troublesome place on the finish of the summer time window, and maybe that is one space the place the brand new Sporting Director wants to indicate his authority. Extra on that under.
Departures
I’ve already talked about gamers like Trossard, Partey and Jorginho, and there are others whose futures must be sorted. Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic, that’s principally carried out and dusted; Jakub Kiwior gained’t need to sit by means of one other season with out taking part in very a lot; and Oleksandr Zinchenko could have one yr left on his contract and has turn into a bit-part participant. It’s time to recoup what we are able to for him when it comes to a switch price.
There are mortgage gamers too. I believe Nuno Tavares has carried out okay at Lazio, beginning his spell there with a flurry of assists, however nothing since. Not dissimilar to his spell at Marseille (a flurry of targets then a falling out with the coach). I’ve seen experiences about Lazio making it everlasting for a really affordable price, however Arsenal retaining a big sell-on price.
Fabio Vieira has discovered a little bit of type at Porto of late, in order we ponder one other artistic midfielder, do the membership really feel he can fill that hole or will we try to promote him? Reiss Nelson’s spell at Fulham has been beset by dangerous hamstring accidents; Albert Sambi Lokonga has carried out okay at Sevilla nevertheless it stays to be seen in the event that they take up the choice; whereas Karl Hein has performed week in, week out for Actual Valladolid. Maybe, if we have to prioritise our spending in different areas, the expertise he has garnered there means he returns to play back-up to David Raya somewhat than throwing £20m+ at a second selection keeper.
What I believe is attention-grabbing about this part is that it has been typically perceived that we’re not nice at promoting. It wasn’t simply on Edu, as a membership we actually don’t have an incredible observe document of garnering massive charges for gamers we let go. Whenever you have a look at the names of potential departures, I can’t see that change considerably this summer time, however over the course of Berta’s tenure, it is going to be be fascinating to see if that’s one thing we are able to enhance.
There was one summer time at Atletico Madrid when their gross sales have been huge, making big income on three gross sales particularly – however these gamers have been Lucas Hernandez (a product of their Academy), Rodri (who they purchased from Villarreal for €20m), and Antoine Griezmann. Large cash gross sales = massive title departures. Not one thing we essentially need to see, however maybe there’s a steadiness.
Contracts
As per yesterday’s put up, there are talks starting with Bukayo Saka, with William Saliba and Gabriel the plain two after that. As I mentioned, I believe Gabriel has earned new phrases to place him on a par with our highest-paid gamers, he’s that necessary. All three of those gamers have offers which run till 2027, so it’s urgent however not essentially pressing. Saka and Saliba each renewed with 12 months to go final time, however for peace of thoughts you’d completely need to tie them down as shortly as attainable.
Martinelli’s present deal additionally expires in 2027, so maybe that’s one which wants some consideration – past that although, there’s nothing urgent. It’s in regards to the centre-halves and Saka, and hopefully these are conditions he can kind out.
Profile
I suppose this isn’t crucial factor, however Edu was a really public face, a well-known one too. He was charming, avuncular, and well-known to followers due to his historical past as a participant and an Invincible. He did interviews, he met the press, we obtained to grasp his considering within the function of Sporting Director.
From every little thing I’ve learn and heard about Andrea Berta (you’ll be able to take heed to our Patreon podcast about him right here), he appears way more comfy within the background, simply doing his work and letting that do the speaking. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see what sort of ‘entry’ we get to him, even within the preliminary phases when he’s introduced. That looks as if a very good time to get throughout his message, akin to it’s, earlier than working within the shadows once more.
Finally, he’ll be judged on what he does and the way he shapes the staff/squad somewhat than what he says, however constructing some type of relationship with these crucial exterior factor of the membership – the followers – might be helpful.
—
He’s gonna be a busy man for certain, however that’s the job! Proper, I’ll go away it there for now, we’ll have an Arsecast for you a bit afterward so keep tuned for that.
