3 of the most important deals we can do this summer are extending the contracts of Saka, Martinelli and Saliba. I think all 3 have 2 years left on their deal this year. 3 year extensions for all would secure their futures

33 years ago today (shouldn’t be any need to say what was). 3 months from being a quarter of a century. Gulp. Mind you, getting old is better than the only alternative.

Er, so maths is not your strong point

In what way? 26 May 1989 to 26 May 2022 is 33 years isn’t it? A third of a century is 33 years and 3 months isn’t it?

EDIT: Sorry, I get what you mean. I meant to say a third of a century not a quarter. Incompetence using the wrong word more than faulty maths.

Good thing you caught that. The 1/3 of a century that is, mother a 1/4 century. Was sort of wondetong that myself....

Edit: supposed to be 'not a 1/4 of a century' and wondering not wondertong....

It was only after I’d done my first reply to Terry Henry that I noticed I’d somehow used the word quarter rather than third. Incompetence or carelessness I guess, as I’d actually been talking to my wife about it being three months off a third of a century just before I did the post. Indeed, it was my chat with her that made me do the post.

I also chatted (by text) this evening about it being 33 years to an Arsenal supporting friend who didn’t go to the game with me as he decided to watch it at his family’s home with his dad, who was terminally ill with cancer. The friend was a regular home and away fan like me. Says he doesn’t regret his decision not to go because when Thomas scored the winner, despite being terminally ill his dad (also a lifelong fan) somehow found the strength to get up and celebrate the goal.

My friend said if he’d gone to Anfield with me, he’d have never shared that moment with his dad.

I was never there but when I see the videos of it I feel like I were.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=704931333892630

Unless I hear any evidence that supports why we risked losing him by never playing him (we could have used him instead of Holding), that even Henry has commented, if he leaves, its self inflicted mistake.

Saliba is one of the big mysteries I am hoping the documentary solves.

Translation of la Liga comments: "Only we are allowed to offer insane contracts because we have Real Madrid and Barcelona who are above mere football"

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61598269

I know this is the season of transfer babble and click bait targets and such but we were strongly linked to Morata a while back. I used to want him but not anymore.

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-transfer-alvaro-morata-winger-24074650

Arsenal 'very close' to signing Alvaro Morata and hold 'legal guarantee' over midfielder signing

Looking at music across eras brings back memories of where i was in past years.

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=335054751023549

Holding made 9 starts and 6 sub appearances for us this season
Saliba made 51 starts for Marseille including 12 in European competitions and made his senior international debut....and was voted in the French team of the season and won young player of the year. His development at Marseille has been a resounding success, as good as you can hope for by sending a young player on loan. He would not be the player he is now if he'd stayed with us and played just those 9 starts Holding did.

There is always a risk with loans that the player gets a taste for first team football at a lower level and wants more of it, as the club loaning out the player you have to hope that the desire translates in to coming back and proving himself at the bigger club and fighting for his spot in the first 11.

I can't think of many 21 year old CB's playing every game for one of Europe's top teams

I hear ya Rich, but from the little I know, it wasn't like he was initially seen by Marseille as a raw, rough player who worked on his game and developed.

Wasn't he good from the start? Of course he got better...as any young defender will when they get minuites. If anyone is trying to say Holding, who I have always been a fan of, was better and thereby should be higher in the pecking order...well, if they can convince me I suggest they go to Newcastle and sell them some coal.

We didn't even get a chance to find out. We have to take Arteta's word for it and as much as I like Arteta I can't take his word for it regarding Saliba, especially when Henry himself has slammed Arteta.

I have yet to see any independent observer say Saliba didn't deserve to play for us at all.

...furthermore, I think it was Holding who should have been sent on loan. Given what was at stake as a club. 8th in the league prior to the season, we needed all hands on deck. If we had a better, deeper squad, I wouldn't have liked it but I would have grudgingly accepted it. We were desperate for defenders at the end of last season.

Links to Zinchenko from City today. It is a move that makes a lot of sense. I do like what I've seen of Hickey as well, young and 2 footed.

Jesus, Zinchenko, Bissouma, Tielemans, Abraham - I'd snap your hand off for that this summer, all Prem league ready which de-risks transfers massively

Zinchenko would be an excellent signing. Tavares is well short of the level we need. With Tierney's injury record, Zinchenko would be a great fit. He can play in midfield too, which he does consistently for Ukraine.

Are city really going to sell us all these players

Would be a good signing and a genuine replacement for Tierney in the event of an injury. Would be a bit weird though because spending at least 35 million on a backup player whilst desperate for midfielders and strikers

I know debating which players may join is what football fans do, but I do think it’s wise to ignore clickbait and see what actually does happen. I mean, according to this link Wolves could be taking Arsenal to court which may lead to a transfer ban. Hopefully it’s clickbait nonsense, but there again so might 99% of the transfer rumours circulating.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... dium=email

Top 5 names being put on the backs of the new shirts by the fans

1. Ødegaard 8
2. Saka 7
3. Martinelli 11
4. Smith Rowe 10
5. Tomiyasu 18

Tomiyasu must be the overseas market, I'm guessing.

If only this were true!

Getting minutes quite often exposes young players' weaknesses and shows that they are not going to cut it.

So we’re signing hickey, zinchenko and now this guy

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/18708170 ... ter-milan/

Oh this Marquinhos thing is all over the place. So whether or not Edu was at all aware of last summer's Wolves supposed agreement is another thing entirely.

https://dailycannon.com/2022/05/wolves- ... s-arsenal/

Oh this Marquinhos thing is all over the media. If Edu was even aware of last summer's supposed deal with Wolves is left to be revealed.

https://dailycannon.com/2022/05/wolves- ... s-arsenal/

Retaining the likes of Elneny and Nketiah makes sense in terms of there being a lot we need to do with the squad this summer in terms of quality and numbers, keeping those two maybe allows us to add fewer but higher quality players.

Centre mid and striker are the two key areas to add quality, perhaps we can commit more money to those positions now. If it is Tielemans and Jesus I think that’s a pretty good start to the summer, both would be somewhat cut price as they have 1 year left on their deal.

There are lots of rumours around Gnabry, he also has one year left on his deal, won’t sign again with Bayern so they’re looking for £34m this summer, he’ll have just turned 27 when next season starts

Ivan Perisic is close to a 2 year deal with Spurs, I think he’s a very underrated player, but he’s 33 and will command huge wages. He’s the sort of signing you make if you’re a winning team who just want a bit of extra edge for 2 years….looks like Conte is going all out on the short term to try to be successful- and he might be - but I don’t see a long term plan when all your best players are ageing and on very big contracts…..plus the £75m to make two loans permanent to just stay still for next year

Help please.

What time is ko for the CL Final - UK time?

8

Rather looking forward to it.

I’m going for a Mediterranean meal with the lads first then trying to beat John’s record number of pints watching it round town

Ta TG.

Stick to the Guinness. Thats what I did. Good luck

DiMarcho is not a bad name for a back? About time we got some Italian defenders - they usually know what they are doing.

I'm cooking for the guys tonight - drawing heavily on Keith Floyd's Spanish book. Sardines in oregano; garlic prawns; Basque cod; potato casserole; red pepper salad and for afters, Liverpool Tart.

C'mon the Pool - when all envy is put aside, a proper football club with a great manager.

That sounds utterly mouthwatering. Damn.

I'm also going with Liverpool. I detest Real.

Ceballos on the bench for Real.

Or……

…as it turns out…..8:15

…. Nope.

Now 8:30

Shambles

I always enjoy seeing other English clubs losing in Europe. I'll be hoping for a Madrid victory.

The delays are no surprises to those who went to our final there like myself. Utter madness

Never seen such madness at any ground before our final there. Hope there are no human consequences

Salivating now your talking