Raya needs to be benched

 By 1970s Gooner 

Raya has looked shaky throughout this Asia tour. This shakines has come to the fore in todays NLD. 

He has been nowhere good enough defending corners with two of them plainly sailing over his head and almost into the goal. Once the post came to his aid and then for the next one Richarlison blocked it from going into the net!!

But what was he doing passing the ball to MLS in the middle of the pitch with his back turned and with two Spurs midfielders around him.

He needs to come off.

Gyokeres debuts, Dowman tastes NLD but Arteta needs to go full strength vs Spurs

 By Danong 

The first North London derby abroad is here as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur clash in Hong Kong in a pre-season friendly at the Kai Tak Stadium.

So far, so good as Arsenal’s Asian pre-season has got off to a bright start.

A 1–0 win over AC Milan and a 3–2 victory against Newcastle have set the tone for the Gunners. They should head into this game buzzing.

Given it’s a derby, Mikel Arteta needs to go full strength. He can’t let Thomas Frank win his debut NLD and with it, claim the first North London derby ever played abroad.

Arteta has confirmed Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori are unavailable for the game.

While he has also admitted Viktor Gyokeres could feature against Spurs, it’s unlikely he’ll start (Kai Havertz starts). Jurrien Timber may also get some minutes, but it is unlikely as he’s only just returned to full training.

Still, Arsenal should line up close to full strength:

Raya  
White, Saliba, Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly  
Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard  
Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

Max Dowman impressed against a physical Newcastle side. It would be interesting to see him handed another cameo to confirm he’s truly ready for a breakout season.

As for Nwaneri, he didn’t shine against Newcastle, but if introduced versus Spurs, let’s hope he silences the critics and reminds everyone of his brilliance.

Can Arteta go stronger than this line up vs Newcastle?

 By Danong

Following their 1-0 win over AC Milan to kick off the Asia pre-season tour, Arsenal are back in action on Sunday this time against a familiar foe, Newcastle.

While the Gunners edged the Magpies 1-0 last time out, Eddie Howe’s side had beaten them in three consecutive meetings prior.

This fixture carries weight for both teams and could offer a genuine gauge of where they stand as the Premier League return draws near.

As he did versus Milan, one would expect Mikel Arteta to go strong with his selections but can he go stronger than this?

Raya
White, Saliba, Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly
Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard  
Saka, Havertz, Nelson

Obviously Viktor Gyokeres cannot make it to Singapore in time to take any part in this game.

But Reiss Nelson impressed against Milan and his influence from the left wing was palpable.

Some argue he deserves another shot at the Emirates and facing one of the most physical, defensively-minded Premier League sides should help assess whether he can be a viable option next season.

As for Gabriel, given Newcastle’s physicality and the fact he’s just returned from injury, it may be wise not to feature him prominently in this one.

Martin Zubimendi, meanwhile, should relish the chance to test himself against one of the league’s finest midfields.

His partnership with Declan Rice and Ødegaard deserves a proper run-out against Premier League opposition.

Max Dowman was a revelation against Milan, it would be great to see him get another cameo and test himself against top-flight competition.

As for Nwaneri, it would be encouraging to see him continue his midfield run, especially with next season likely to offer him more prominent opportunities.

Arsenal Lagging, United Gatecrash The Party But Agent Fees Can Bring Gyokeres to Arsenal

 By 1970s Gooner

The future of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres continues to dominate headlines as the tug-of-war between Sporting, Arsenal and now Manchester United intensifies. 

Arsenal have officially proposed a deal worth €63.5 million upfront, plus €10 million in performance-related bonuses, totaling €73.5 million.

The Lisbon club has made clear they will only part with their star striker if the add ons are easily achieved.

In contrast, Manchester United have now submitted a bid that is expected to be between €70 to €80 m.

While the structure of the payment — whether in installments or upfront — remains undisclosed, the total valuation may well satisfy the Portuguese club’s demands.

This will be the worst case scenario as far as Arsenal are concerned.

If we assume for the purposes of clarity that United's bid is at worst €80m this would make Arsenal's bid fall short by €6.5 million.

However all that Gyokeres and his agent Hasan Centikaya will then have do to is to simply bring back the latter's right to demand the fee of around 10% (which would be around 7m). 

This is what he waived in the first place to get Arsenal's bid accepted by Sporting!

This would make the two offers almost the same and should therefore allow Gyokeres to choose his next destination.

And we know which he will choose...

 

Deal now agreed between Arsenal and Sporting according to AS!

 By 1970s Gooner

A fresh report claims Arsenal and Sporting CP have reached an agreement for Gyökeres:

€63.5 M in cash with a further €10 M in add-ons, potentially raising the total to €73.5 M.

Some concessions have been made by Arsenal to make a larger amount of the add-ons easier to achieve.

Gyökeres is set to sign a five-year contract worth about €8 M net per year.

He skipped Sporting’s pre-season as leverage for the move.

A London medical is planned for this coming Friday to complete the deal.

Gyokeres transfer add-ons revealed: the amount of money left to be agreed on

 By 1970s Gooner

Arsenal made a formal offer of €63.5M + €10M in add-ons, but according to A Bola only €3M are considered easy to achieve. So there is a difference of 7m to be covered.

Sporting rejected the bonus proposal because they want all the add-ons to be guaranteed; there’s obviously a dispute over the structure and criteria of the bonuses.

Obviously not all can be guaranteed by Arsenal as there would be no point in having any add ons in the first place.

The answer is somewhere in the middle but still Arsenal will consider this as having to increase its offer by much more than agreed in the first place.

Gyökeres’s agent, Hasan Çetinkaya, is already in London, involved in negotiations. New meetings are scheduled for today, aiming to reach a deal.

Gyökeres All Smiles with Usain Bolt Ahead of imminent Arsenal Move

 By 1970s Gooner 

Amid growing speculation about his future, Viktor Gyökeres has been spotted in high spirits, enjoying time with legendary sprinter Usain Bolt. 

The Sporting CP striker, heavily linked with a summer transfer to Arsenal, was photographed alongside the Jamaican icon at a wedding event in Stockholm. 

The moment captured the pair striking Gyökeres’ now-famous “mask” goal celebration — a gesture that has become his trademark in Portuguese football.

The timing of the photo has sparked further intrigue, as it comes just days before Gyökeres is expected to report back to pre-season training with Sporting. 

However, with negotiations between the Lisbon club and Arsenal reportedly at an advanced stage, many believe the Swedish striker could soon be headed to the Premier League.

Gyökeres, 26, enjoyed a sensational debut season in Portugal, scoring 43 goals in all competitions and helping lead Sporting to the Liga Portugal title. 

His dynamic style, physical presence, and clinical finishing have made him a top target for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who are in search of a proven No. 9 to complement their attacking setup.

The striker’s relaxed demeanor in the presence of Bolt — a global sports figure known for his charisma and winning mentality — could be interpreted as a sign that Gyökeres is mentally ready for his next challenge. The two athletes appeared to share an easy camaraderie, highlighting Gyökeres’ growing profile beyond football circles.

Although no deal has yet been finalized, reports suggest Arsenal are prepared to meet Sporting’s valuation. The coming days will be crucial as both clubs work toward a resolution — but if his recent mood is anything to go by, Gyökeres is more than ready to sprint into the next chapter of his career.

Berta flying to Portugal to seal the deal

 By 1970s Gooner 

Local press in Lisbon is reporting that negotiations for Gyokeres transfer to Arsenal is finally coming to a conclusion.

Arsenal have made an offer of 65m euros plus 15 m euros as add ons bringing the total package at 80m euros. Sporting however are demanding at least 70 plus 10.

It is also reported that Gyokeres himself has offered to contribute 2m euros towards facilitating a conclusion to this saga.

One would think that with Berta's presence in Lisbon this 5m euro difference will be bridged. 

It is impressive however that Gyokeres himself has been so enthusiastic from almost day one to join Arsenal. An enthusiasm that he will bring on the pitch I am sure.

The hope now is that we pursue Eze AND Rodrygo! 

Partey is heading for the exit door but guess who will be coming in

 By Danong

In recent days, it has emerged that Arsenal’s new contract offer—reportedly retaining his current wages—has not convinced the Ghana international, who is believed to be holding out for improved terms.

With his departure anticipated, Arsenal are now considering following up the Martín Zubimendi swoop with another midfield addition.

Several high-level midfielders have been linked, but one name standing out is Sevilla’s 22-year-old Lucien Agoumé.

It is not his relatively modest £20 million price tag that makes him so appealing.

It is the fact that, should Partey leave, Agoumé is quite capable to step in and share the workload alongside Zubimendi.

In Agoumé, Mikel Arteta might finally find the Moisés Caicedo-style midfielder he once believed the team desperately needed.

Why compare Agoumé to Caicedo? FBref uses statistical profiling to show how closely players match in terms of output and style—and in Agoumé’s case, he is remarkably similar to Caicedo.

Their underlying numbers tell the story. Both players rank closely in several key areas per 90 minutes: non-penalty expected goals and assists, expected assists, tackles, blocks, progressive carries and passes, and goal-creating actions.

According to FBref, Agoumé completes 87 percent of his passes when under pressure, slightly ahead of Caicedo’s 84.9 percent—an indication of his composure and quick decision-making under duress.

In terms of forward momentum, both average over five progressive passes per 90 minutes (Agoumé: 5.74; Caicedo: 5.78), highlighting their value in transitioning play from deep.

Defensively, Agoumé exhibits stronger ball-winning instincts: more blocks (1.55 vs. 0.83), more clearances (1.74 vs. 0.89), and more tackles and interceptions (3.48 vs. 2.89) per 90 minutes last season.

Yet Agoumé is also seen as a future elite number six due to his ability to control tempo, read play, distribute progressively, manipulate the ball under pressure, retain possession reliably, and duel effectively—both on the ground and in the air.

He is an all-action midfielder, and there is reason to believe he could handle the number eight role just as well.

In Agoumé, Arsenal may not just be getting the Caicedo they once chased—they may be landing a more complete, hybrid version of the South American.

Arteta’s "new midfield" is the real Grand Theft Auto and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise

 By Danong

Gooners can hardly contain their excitement about Arsenal’s 2024–25 midfield setup—and understandably so.

Once Martín Zubimendi completes his medical, the Gunners are set for a significant midfield shake-up.

Here’s what that could mean for Mikel Arteta’s setup—and for Thomas Partey.

Zubimendi would almost certainly slot in as the first-choice number six. His calmness under pressure, elite positional sense, and press resistance offer the kind of control Arteta has long craved at the base of midfield.

Defensive Monster

Zubimendi’s 2024–25 stats scream elite destroyer:  

- Tackles: 2.27 per 90 minutes (82.1% success rate)  
- Interceptions: 1.36 per 90 (top 10% in La Liga)  
- Clearances: 2.43 per 90 (90th percentile)  
- Aerial duels won: 1.64 per 90 (61.7% success)

According to Fbref, Zubimendi excels in defensive efficiency with fewer errors (3) compared to Partey's 4. He also has superior tackle success (63.6% vs. Partey's 60.5%, Rice's 41.5%).

He dominates in interceptions (44 vs. Partey's 35, Rice's 25) and almost makes the most ball recoveries (117 vs. Partey's 124, Rice's 78), despite fewer 90s played. 

Impressively, his lower "Lost" count (16 vs. Partey's 30, Rice's 24) highlights better ball retention. The Spaniard's balanced defensive contributions across all thirds (31 Def 3rd, 29 Mid 3rd) make him a more reliable and disciplined option.

With his introduction Rice could operate in a more dynamic, box-to-box role. With the Spaniard anchoring, Rice would be freed to carry the ball, press higher, and attack space—playing to his core strengths.

Partey's Crossroads

For Thomas Partey, it might now be decision time. He could remain a squad rotation option, or reprise the inverted right-back role we saw last season.  

A departure remains possible too. His contract expires in 2025, and extension talks have yet to yield progress.

Better Game Management

Zubimendi could transform Arsenal’s control in tight matches. Last season, some of the 14 draws exposed the team’s occasional midfield vulnerability—particularly in Partey’s absence.

With Zubimendi offering similar control but with more consistency, that fragility might now be behind them.

If we’re reading Arteta’s intentions correctly, he’s building for midfield domination. A trio of Zubimendi, Rice, and Martin Ødegaard offers balance, intelligence, and relentless ball progression.

While Manchester City fans may feel Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Rodri are daylight robbery, Arsenal’s new midfield is shaping up to be the real Grand Theft Auto.