Noni, Ebe, Rodrygo, Martin, Cristhian, Kepa and Christian and why?

I haven’t been able to write for a while and now I’ve done 2 in 4 days

God bless Jamaica  

I wanted to give my thoughts on all of our other signings and rumored signings, beyond the glorious Viktor who I spoke on on Monday.

I have so much energy for Viktor. It’s almost like this…

1. My wife
2. My kids
3. My Dad
4. My brothers
5. Viktor 
6. My mother in law
7. Lasagna
8. Santi Cazorla
9. Anders Limpar
10. Chocolate chip pizza 

I wanted to recognize Richardo. 

Last time I was in Jamaica I got a photo with an Arsenal fan who

was a member of staff at our resort. I was talking today to a guy who looked similar when Lori showed me a photo of him from last year. 

In Jamaica, they really know their stuff. We have chatted about our Arsenal, Jota and much else. 

Much love mon to Richardo and his belt buckle.

• Noni Madueke

Firstly,…..but he plays for Chelsea. I understand the Chelsea thing. I am not in this club however.

Chelsea have good young players. A whole bunch of 7.5/10 players in my mind. Only Caicedo and Cucurella are 8/10 players. But you have to ask the question, is a 7.5/10 winger good enough to be back up? I would say most every elite club would struggle to say they have two players in one position who are both 8/10 or higher.

With every potential Arsenal purchase I always take into account that we have one of the best coaching staff in world football at squeezing the juice out of every player. Madueke is a 7.5/10 player who could go higher because of his natural attributes. He is ultimately a little quicker than Saka and seems to run behind more, which is the most important challenge for Saka. His decision making and finishing isn’t yet at his level, but who is? Saka sits almost alone on this pedestal. 

Let’s not forget the benefits of signing Premier League established players and players that will not necessarily have to move house or lives. You’d think the transition would be quick. 

I do have a concern that he would not be trusted to start instead of Saka and that might defeat the main purpose of signing a back up to Saka. Nobody wants a first choice RW, then want a player that Arteta trusts to come on in the 70th minute AND the 1st minute. 

If the idea is for him to have significant minutes on the left wing then I’m more interested. As you will have heard me say previously, I want one of our wingers to be crossing into an aggressive target man with their favorite foot. The option of the out-swinger. I also see great improvement and numbers from Declan Rice, but in order for him to be utilized more in the box then the ball has to swing out to his location.

I also cannot ignore that Madueke’s superpower is the 

in-swinging cross. Much like Saka and Ethan, Arsenal are not going to dump this dangerous tactic and they shouldn’t.

It seems like it’s just us doing this but many teams in other countries shop at their neighbours yard sale. If Arsenal are looking for partially polished talent that could blow up under good coaching in the right environment then I would go to the local yard sale to at least check it out.

I think it is angry headed to constantly state that we are getting Chelsea‘s cast offs. The easy comment. I predict that if we sign him that we will notice after  three months with Arteta that his standards and efficiency start to noticeably improve.

Madueke is not my first choice, but I do get it.

I would’ve chosen Semenyo in order to get something different rather than similar.

I was also interested in Kudus but in order for us to do the Eze business on top of everything else, I think Kudus’ price is prohibitive.

• Ebe Eze

With all the talk of the striker and winger being the priority, I did not think that we would have enough for an attacking midfielder. Maybe El Khanouss at 25M, but not Eze.

If he comes to Arsenal then he could be the catalyst to Arsenal unlocking those defenses that Odegaard struggled to last season. He is exactly the profile needed. A player with a massive toolbox compared to other players in Europe who is willing and able to use both feet to thred cheeky balls and use all parts of both feet. He is criticized for looking to laid-back. Not a good look if you are defending but lucidity is what all coaches wish that all their final third players had.

Merino has it and this is largely why he scored so many from January onwards. A complete calmness. Odegaard needs a break and he needs the pressure to create taken off him occasionally. Has there ever been a more hard-working attacking midfielder in the history of the game that repeatedly presses all game? No wonder his legs are jelly when he finally gets the ballin the final third. He would have to be superhuman to be able to sprint as much as he does and not feel a little heavy legged in the final third. 

Perhaps the biggest difference maker next season is that the level of our current players raises as they get a physical and mental break so that they can reach their high ceiling more often.

Eze is the player about to explode. Just breaking into the national team and capable of taking over games at the elite level as well as at the Palace level. 

I’d also add that the Emirates stadium is in particular need of an energy boost. A player who can get the crowd off their feet. It can be all too predictable, even with our best players and so because we know that Saka is inevitably going to cut inside and bend one to the far post it doesn’t really razzle the dazzle because we know it’s coming. Arsenal could really do with a player that we don’t know what he is going to do. A substitute coming on that lifts a 1-1 frustrating game against West Ham and re-energizes those on the field with the sudden eruption of expectation in the fan base.

• Rodrygo

The biggest benefit of signing Rodrygo is that during the first half of the season, every coach and fullback will be equally as concerned about him as they are Saka. That is most certainly an advantage.  

I do have concerns over his performance against us. He was average twice and Real Madrid needed someone to step up. I like his directness and how he dares defenders to tackle him in the box. If we sign him I would be excited in the short term but be apprehensive about the long-term  as I am unconvinced.

• Zubimendi 

I liked the idea of the signing when it was rumored last summer. I didn’t love it. The more content I watch the more positivity I hear from people that I respect. I am now convinced that we have pulled off a signing that every club in world football would and pay an extra 30 million for.

The advantage he has over Partey is that the scanning and vertical passing comes quicker and more often.

He will likely free Odegaard when Martin realizes that he can trust him to build up the play alone leaving him between the lines to play the final ball which we don’t see enough of. Again, the beneficiary could be a current player rather than the new signing.

• Mosquera

I know very little about him so I shall not pretend. 

Much like Madueke, he not only needs to be a bench option but a player that Arteta fully trusts to give Saliba a break. A player he WANTS to get on the field not one that makes him squeeze his butt cheeks together and hide behind a Gyokeres celebration. 

• Kepa

I love everything about this apart from the fact that I used to dislike him and not rate him at all. 

I then grew up and shook my bias and watched him win many games for Bournemouth. 

I saw his confident distribution and lightning reactions and noticed that he didn’t seem to be playing with the tag of ‘world’s most expensive goalie’ anymore. 

If he gets mad at his lack of game time and leaves next season we will easily get 5M + back.

• Norgaard

I was upset at myself for not predicting this one. 

Of course we should sign an older player rather than expect a 20 year old to sub in for Zubimendi and play as a lonely single pivot.

Of course if we’re buying 7 or 8 players, they can’t all be 25M plus.

Of course with Jorginho, Partey, KT, and likely Zinchenko leaving we needed to have more experience in the squad. 

Of course a PL captain of a good team is a smart option. 

Of course I should’ve watched him more closely and noticed how technically secure he is and that Arteta is only going to buy a press resistant lone DM rather than a younger guy who can Cruyff turn his man in the middle of the field.

I’ll finish by sharing a picture of Romario. This is the real Romario, not the toe-poke merchant.

Another Jamaican Gooner. 

If you have ever been to Jamaica, I recommend it.

They are genuinely happy people and can change your mood quickly.

Romario did that.

It’s our 26th anniversary today. I need to put this down.

I might take a cheeky quick look at Twitter to see if Gyokeres’ toenail specialist has booked a flight to Heathrow and left a #ClipsInN5BetterBeSharp hashtag.

Mike McDonald

Former Highbury regular. Moved to TN, USA in ’99. Married with 3 kids. Coached in UK and US for 27 years.
Mike McDonald Soccer Academy in Morristown TN, Olympic Development coach, Regional Premier League Champion.