I see Zech Medley has been transferred. That's a shame. I really liked the look of him on those admittedly rare occasions when he got a game.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/zech-medley-joins-kv-oostende

Anyone over 18 can turn up at the Arse and get jabbed over the coming weekend.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/emirates-stadium-host-mass-vaccine-clinic

Getting there.

I’m so old that I’ve already had my two jabs a while ago.

Indeed. Back in the halcyon Wenger days one summer I kept a log of rumoured transfers to Arsenal and I stopped bothering when it reached 50 different players. This at a time when we had a squad, most of whom would have been near impossible to displace!

Old? Mine was administered by Dr. Pasteur...

I can remember getting excited at Teletext and Ceefax. Spotting some transfer news on a page and then having to wait for it to scroll through another 70 pages to be able to finish off reading it.

Did they have Teletext and Ceefax in 1415 then?

Just seen that Man City are reported as having bid £100m for Harry Kane.

Quite remarkable that they should feel the need to go that high in today’s financial climate and also given his recent form.

Perhaps they’d like to go for Aubameyang as well. That sort of money would help our rebuild.

It looks like Lokonga is the most credible link and most likely to be our first signing of the summer for around £15m with add ons
His style of play from what I've read seems to be a more mobile Xhaka but maybe more attacking and less on the defensive positioning side.
21, 6ft 2, around £15-20m, already captain of his team, good athletic ability. On paper this is the sort of signing we should be making

Billy Gilmour tests positive for COVID and is out of the competition.

Because they embraced him at the end of Friday’s game, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount are isolating and out of tomorrow’s match.

So shouldn’t the entire Scotland squad self isolate and be out of the next game because they all hugged Gilmour as well.

Lukaku looks brilliant. You could make an argument for him being the best out and out centre forward in the world right now. Man U sold him and are now struggling for a decent centre forward.

For international goals he is well ahead of Ronaldo at the same stage.

My guess is Pogba going for the most money he can get even if he's not the best fit for a club he goes to. Of all the top tier clubs, I'm not sure who would want him. He's been inconsistent ever since Mourinho.

I thought he would take the EPL by storm, and have people liken him to Vieira but obviously that hasn't happened.

Who would pay his wages for what their getting? I can't see Barca or RM. Not Bayern Munich either. Would PSG take a punt with the thinking that he'll play better in France?

While there's continued speculation of which players are actually being considered of late...throw in Jesus Corona.

https://www.sports-nova.com/2021/06/21/ ... us-corona/

Makes no sense what so ever. The English are more susceptible to covid it seems.

Going to the game tonight. Will be a Strange feeling as it’s been a while since I’ve been to a ground. Looking forward to 90 minutes of sideways football from Southgate.

Talk this morning that if we land Ben White that Newcastle can take Saliba on loan. They still want Willock as well.

Part of me just wants us to give Saliba a chance but if we are determined to loan him then definietley getting him in a premier league club is essential

Turkeys still think Christmas is a great idea

https://twitter.com/bylinetv/status/140 ... 45190?s=21

What’s the logic behind the location of games? For example, both Germany’s games have been played in Munich, which I’m comfortable with as I want them to win it. Yet I accept it seems an unfair advantage.

Although I only saw brief moments of them, haven’t all three of England’s (including tonight’s) been played at Wembley? I heard somewhere that the final will also be at Wembley whatever teams reach it. Again, why are England (should they reach the final) getting an unfair advantage?

Why aren’t the matches being spread around a bit more? Covid, or are they not bothered about giving some countries an advantage despite there no longer (as far as I’m aware) being a host nation like there used to be?

I have regularly seen reports as to how Brexit is affecting the general populace negatively. I have yet to see a single example of a benefit.

Hopefully somewhere along the line…..

Chelsea and PSG are chasing Hakimi, the brilliant attacking right back currently playing for Inter. Talk of £60m. I understand PSG going for him as I don't think they are that strong at full back but Chelsea already have Reece James as a very good right back.
If Chelsea get Hakimi I wouldn't be adverse to us signing James as a home grown right back. Undoubtebly there would be cheaper non-english options though

The vaccine rollout would be rightly lauded as a success however our desperation for a remedy was definitely heightened by us being riddled with covid. So yes maybe you got a jab a couple months quicker because of it. Not sure that’s logical justification for wrecking several industries though

I’d start Saka tonight. Southgate won’t but if there’s a player who can pick out Kane it’s him.

Any idea when the club starts pre-season training. I think our first game is 14 July at Hibs. Would be ideal to get all our new players to training for pre-season, or is that too weird an idea. So we may need to make things happen.

It's obviously ideal to get everyone in for pre-season, but it never really works like that for any club. Especially considering the amount of business we're seemingly looking to do. I think we'll get a couple of players in before July 14th though, but I would expect more arrivals after that as well.

Hopefully we won’t repeat our normal practice of getting them in at the very last minute of the transfer window and well after the season has started.

Hi Bernard,

It isn't Covid related. The format for Euro 2020 which was agreed several years ago was that it would be played in cities all across Europe.

With the exception of largely empty stadia, I think it is the biggest negative about this tournament. It is daft that a number of countries get to play their games at home while others are travelling all over the continent.

Also, there is something missing in not having a host nation.

A few leaks that Saka is starting tonight. Hope so and hope he has a fantastic game.

Partey is also taking the number 5 for next season (his favourite number). It was Sokratis when he joined.

Some prominent numbers not taken.
4, 8, 10 with no one in them. 11 probably available when Torreira leaves. Expect Smith-Rowe to take the No.10.

I see that the Champions League is starting tonight. A qualifying round involving such as teams from San Marino and Kosovo. I hadn’t realised that it started in June.

So more pre-season fixtures added in. This though is for mental health charity Mind. Only Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs, Aug 1-8.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba ... 42043.html

Grealish Maguire aaaaandd Sakakakaka….

Might watch this one

Could've sworn I saw TG on the Independent live sit of fans arriving at Wembley.

Easy to see, he was flailing his arms in exasperation.

*shot*

Brave selections from Southgate.

Saka is finally playing

So Grealish provides the chance for Sterling BUT that was Saka all the way.

The ability to beat a man in mf sets Saka apart.

Blind referee. Can't spot the foul and yet gave Saka a talking to.

It won't be long before the top clubs start baiting Saka. Arsenal need to show ambition and progress much faster to retain Saka's loyalty when it happens.

I think there's an interesting stylistic dilemma for England this tournament with your attacking options. Guys like Foden and Mount are brilliant players, but more team oriented, works well in a system but doesn't provide the same cutting edge as guys like Grealish, Rashford and Saka. Maybe the latter is better suited for a tournament like this, where almost every game is a decider.