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Arsenal FC 2024-25: Back Where We Belong

Derka

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Dutch
Dutch

Let’s. Fucking. Go.   

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It’s also aimed at the Man U bar across the street 

Dutch
Dutch

ONE NIL TO THE ARSENAL

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Dutch 4576

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Williams would be amazing in our system. Him, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Kai, Gabriel Jesus... that's a fearsome and versatile frontline. But somehow I see broke-as-shit Barca somehow getting him, though. Neto would be a good addition; we need more depth in MF. And supposedly we're haggling with Bologna over 3m. Get em 'all done, and let's enjoy the barbecue at Edu's.

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18 hours ago, Ted Lange said:

 

 

At our darkest, he was one of the glimmers of light.  December 2020, West Brom, in the snow. He was so good in that match (him and Tierney).  I was sure he and Saka would lead our line for a decade, but I don't blame him for wanting to leave for regular playing time and wish him nothing but success. Hopefully he can stay healthy.

This one hurts. 

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Also reportedly Barça couldn’t find the cash Nico Williams has opted to remain at Bilbao. At least until Madrid decide they want him or Barça find the cash. 

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The Athletic on the recruitment and signing 

Spoiler


Why Arsenal signed Riccardo Calafiori, the defender coveted byMikel Arteta

James McNicholas
Jul 29, 2024

Riccardo Calafiori was one of the breakout stars of Euro 2024 — but Arsenal’s new signing is not just a ‘tournament’ buy.
Arsenal have followed 22-year-old Calafiori for months. They are not alone in that. Bayern Munich made enquiries, Real Madridhave been keen admirers, Juventus were in hot pursuit, and there was interest among other Premier League clubs. The player wasnot short of options.

And yet, since the end of last season, Arsenal have been Calafiori’s priority. He wanted to move to London and the Premier League,and be part of this exciting young team. Above everything else, he wanted to play for Mikel Arteta.
The Arsenal manager has been the driving force behind this deal. Arsenal’s scouting department had tracked Calafiori’s dramaticprogress at Bologna but it was Arteta who insisted on pressing ahead with the transfer.

Calafiori’s excellent performances at the Euros did not spark Arsenal’s interest but they served as confirmation that this was a player with the quality and mentality to thrive on the biggest stage. Arteta was enamoured with Calafiori’s combination of technical ability, defensive intelligence and courage on the ball.
 
Arsenal did everything possible to back their manager’s hunch. Initially, they hoped to sell one of their existing defenders to facilitate Calafiori’s arrival. 

After several weeks of talks, fears that Real Madrid may try to gazump the deal saw Arsenal accelerate negotiations. Sporting director Edu and his assistant Jason Ayto have struck a deal that could rise to £42million ($53.9m) — although the guaranteed fee is below £40m. Having flown to London for a medical on Saturday, Calafiori has signed a five-year contract with Arsenal and joined his new team-mates in Philadelphia. 

During the Euros, Calafiori played as a left-sided centre-back for Italy. His football education in the Roma academy, however, was principally as a left-back — and it is this role he is likely to revert to with Arsenal. His versatility is part of his appeal. 
Like Ben White and Jurrien Timber, he provides Arteta with flexibility in his back four. 

The Athletic first reported on Arsenal’s interest in a new left-sided defender in December 2023. Arsenal kicked off the 2023-24 season with several availability issues in defence. Oleksandr Zinchenko started the season slowly while recovering from a calf problem and did not start his first Premier League match until September. Takehiro Tomiyasu also suffered from injury and suspension. In arguably the most significant blow, new signing Timber suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the opening day and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. 

Arteta likes having eight fit senior defenders — for much of last season, he was well short of that. 
Across the campaign, the left-back position suffered from a lack of continuity. Arsenal chopped and changed to cope with form and fitness issues. 

Zinchenko, Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior occupied the role at different points in the season. Tomiyasu mounted the strongest case to nail down the position but his absence from this summer’s United States tour illustrates the injury problems that have undermined his time with Arsenal. 
The search for a left-sided defender was not straightforward. The demands Arteta places on the full-back position are specific. Ajax’s Jorrel Hato was under consideration but signed a new contract in March. Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen was another name put forward by the recruitment department. 

Then Arteta landed on Calafiori as the ideal player for the position. The player was delighted — this was the move he had hoped for. Despite interest from elsewhere, Calafiori’s commitment to join Arsenal never wavered. 

Three factors complicated negotiations. First, English clubs are often charged premium prices by clubs on the continent. Second, there was the issue of the close to 50 per cent sell-on fee owed by Bologna to Basel, his club until August 2023. Finally, there were Calafiori’s performances at the Euros. Each Italy game saw the defender win new admirers and Edu watched the final price rise. 

Given all that, Arsenal feel they have struck a good deal. While the price may look steep for a defender who only really began to shine last season, the club believe that — as with their £50million investment in White in 2021 — Calafiori’s value will be proven in the long term. The signing fits with Arsenal’s strategy of signing young players who have already amassed considerable experience. Throughout negotiations, they were helped by the fact that Calafiori had made his preference clear to Bologna. 

Arsenal originally had designs on selling a defender first to help pay for Calafiori, with Kiwior the most likely candidate, but decided to proceed to see off competing clubs. The financial burden was also eased when the club became confident of receiving a substantial fee for Emile Smith Rowe. 

If Arteta was looking for a reference for Calafiori’s quality and character, he would have known just who to call. Calafiori’s manager last season was his good friend, Thiago Motta. 

Arteta and Motta were born in the same year, 1982, and have known each other since they played together in midfield for Barcelona B. With Motta installed as Juventus manager, the two friends became rivals in the race for Calafiori. 


This is not the first time Arsenal have signed a defender who has played under Motta. In January 2023, Kiwior arrived having spent a season being coached by Motta at Spezia. Arteta and Motta share similar philosophies, so it’s hoped that will accelerate Calafiori’s adaptation. 

Calafiori will also be helped by the presence of his international team-mate Jorginho. The 32-year-old is likely to take Calafiori under his wing to help him settle into a new life in London. 

As with any new player, Calafiori has areas where he must prove himself. There’s no doubting his technical ability, but the Premier League will provide a different physical challenge to Serie A or international football. 
Availability is a critical attribute for Arteta. In 2018, when playing for Roma in the UEFA Youth League, a young Calafiori suffered a serious injury to his left knee, which threw his development into considerable doubt. The knee was repaired by the same specialist, Dr Freddie Fu, who had treated Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

Calafiori played 30 Serie A games last season. Arsenal have done their homework — and a thorough medical — and believe Calafiori’s injury problems are behind him. 

In the end, the strength of Arteta’s conviction was sufficient to allay any doubts. At his behest, Arsenal have landed one of Europe’s most exciting defensive talents. As they look to close down Manchester City, the foundations of this Arsenal team look stronger than ever. 

 

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Dutch 4576

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16 hours ago, Derka said:

 

I mean... we've increased the talent just a smidge, would you say? Tierney I still think would have been great for us had he not been so brittle.

14 hours ago, Derka said:

 

Wish him nothing but luck. Hopefully he can stay healthy and show his quality in every match but two (OK, I'll allow him a goal or two in 4-2 Arsenal wins). 

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Dutch 4576

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39 minutes ago, Ted Lange said:

 

Back 4 looks incredible.

Need another impactful midfielder, sounds like that will be Merino

Need another winger and a striker to replace the likely-to-be departing Eddie.

 

Also need another defensive MF because Partey will get injured and miss five months.

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Dutch 4576

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Some comments on Merino. Seems he'd slot well into our midfield.

"Merino is the type of midfielder Arteta would create in a lab if given the chance. He is press-resistant, creative, combative and, above all, a duel-winning machine; Merino won more aerial duels (168) than any other midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues last season. Like Rice, who Arsenal paid around £105m for last summer, Merino is an impressively complete midfielder. He can step forward as a No 8 and lead the press, as the Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard often does, but he can also defend deep as a No 6 when required, whether that be alongside another player or on his own. Merino even has experience of playing alongside Odegaard: they were in the Real Sociedad team that won the Copa del Rey in 2020. Merino was the man of the match in the final."

https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/article/2024/jul/30/spain-midfielder-mikel-merino-ideal-arsenal-mikel-arteta

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