As the transfer season is on-going and as we see movements at Chelsea and Man Utd in terms of midfield acquisitions, we also know that we are in the market to strengthen our midfield. It seems that Xhaka will be a starter again next year and we need to complement his skills and mitigate his weaknesses so we are looking for two types of players (assuming that Arteta will try to set us up as a 433 at some point)
- A more defensive minded player that has good discipline to protect the back four and good passing skills to initiate movements rapidly and effectively;
- A more attacking central midfielder that can carry the ball forward, dribble, pass and score a few goals – a more box-to-box player in a way.
Based on the above, shouldn’t securing Ceballos be our utmost priority? He managed to develop a good partnership with Xhaka, demonstrated defensive resolve and has also shown that he can drive and pass the ball forward. Securing Ceballos first would give us the chance to take full advantage of the players available on the market:
- If a wonderful box-to-box player is available, then we can play Ceba like he did towards the end of the season – which is more of a defensive role;
- If a wonderful defensive midfielder is available, then we can play Ceba further up as our box-to-box midfielder.
So the latest news is that the Club is really trying to get Ceba back as Arteta is keen to have him back in the squad and Ceba said that he would enjoy another spell at AFC so let us hope we can secure him quickly 🙂 Also, Lampard may make…Kante available on the market! If this is the case, I suggest we do whatever we can to land him 🙂
So what are your thoughts? Should Ceballos be our priority midfield signing?
PS: The Club is working hard to also secure long term future for Martinez and AMN
PPS: Auba will announce his signature once the club has announced the recruitment of more players but in essence he has agreed to the deal. He will only pen the contract once the other players have joined the club.
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
An interesting read: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12060647/dani-ceballos-arsenal-in-advanced-talks-with-real-madrid-to-re-sign-midfielder-on-loan
Nice one, RC 👍
I’m so happy Dani’s on his way back! I can sing about Estrella and Paella until my heart’s content now 🙂
All we need now is Partey to join our party and we’re done! Auba, Gabriel, Willian, Ceballos… and Partey (please 🙏), and that will be some window indeed 👌 We’re ready to roll….
Pity about Van de Beek joining the Mancs….
@Sue – Van de Beek is a very good player but I have my doubts about him concerning his pace and ability to cope with the EPL physicality but in essence, the guy is a hard working midfielder with a very keen eye for assists and goals so he may end up being the future De Bruyne but at Man Utd…
Tonight we’re going to …………… like it’s 1999
I am racking my brains to think of a player’s name that fits in the gap………………hmmmmm, tricky.
The Madrid press are saying that Ceballos returning to THOF is a done deal.
We’re playing QPR at London Colney this afternoon, with possibly 2 more friendlies before kicking our campaign off against Fulham 🙂 Nice!!
RC.. I hope VDB doesn’t become the future KDB, especially as he’s playing for that lot 😄
LB.. 🤣
RC,
Timely write up.
The question is does Dani have it? Truly have it. He may be the cheaper option, but still needs someone behind him to truly flourish.
Sue,
VDB does not have KDB’s pace, blistering passing feet, nor the explosiveness. They got a slower and more expensive Xhaka..
Signings today, can’t wait.
Maybe Gabriel, then a DM, and finally Auba!
Gabby is ours!
Welcome, Gabriel… needed my shades watching that…. his teeth are like Klopp and Firmino’s!!!
There’s only one KDB, Hey Aaron!! 😉
If YouTube is to be believed, then Aouar is the man to carry the ball from end to end. Another option according to our new scout (YouTube) is Benrahma .. identical to Aouar.
….. Anyway lets get serious. Ceba is more than capable and if we get no one else for AM or DM we got one or two young players who could move up a level this season.
Hold it what about William? ….. Willian?
I have nothing against short-asses, but it is a pleasure to have two young CBs, in Saliba and Gabriel, who are 6′ 3″ and 6′ 4″ tall respectively.
If only Arsenal had signed me, they would have someone with a few more inches (for clarity – that is height) and I would be seriously wealthy.
Of course I am rubbish at playing football, but that does not always matter it seems. 😜
A few more inches 😂😜
Hi Sue, 😎
178 cms extra is not to be sneezed at!! 😛
I am off to watch the crickeet – as they say oop North.
[This is becoming worrying for a Wichitan — I am transmogrifying into an Englishman, yeegad!! ]
Possible set-ups with Gabriel + Ceba?
1. Martinez – Saliba, Luiz, Gabriel – Bellerin, Ceba, Xhaka, Tierney – Pepe, Auba, Willian
2. Martinez – Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney – Willian, Xhaka, Ceba – Pepe, Auba, Saka
Gabriel is physically more ready for the demands of the EPL so he could definitely be a starter for me esp. with Mustafi, Mari out and Holding about to be loaned out.
They showing the game sue
You think willian will play RWB bur
No, Fred… we won 4-3…..
Haha, RA, I’m not sneezing 😉😂
RA
Can you see any other reason for Chelsea spending so much in the transfer window than Abramavich simply making funds available?
Hi LB,
I suspect that there are a number of possible reasons for Abramovich wanting to boost Chelsea’s player pool.
He probably would like his team to start winning the title again, which is what we would like to do as well, or at least give City and Pool more of a fight, but in addition he must be annoyed that he is persona non grata in the UK too, because of the poor political climate between Russia and the UK.
Spending (say) £200m on boosting Chelsea’s transfer budget could reap rewards, and improve sponsorship income, so, if his football romance is coming to an end, and he wants to sell up and get out – the relatively small transfer funds may well help produce a substantial increase in the sale price of Chelsea.
This is all supposition, of course, as I have no facts to support the above theory.
Besides Silva, Chelsea has bought young players and with Tomori, Mount, Pulisic and Abraham already there, I would think that Roman is just spending a lot this year to support Frank and that as of next year, there will be a lot less cash available for transfers…but you are right RA, if he wants to sell the club, young talented players represent a very valuable asset…so who knows his motives?
Dani, yes please…….but what do AAers think about 35m for Bellerin to fund Partey AND Aouar.
It’s another yes please from me. As I have said before, I would like us to go back to four at the back, with split CBs in attack and Partey central.
Ainsley and Soares can cover right back role, and Dani, Willan AND Aouar can surely between them give us the creativity in the No 10 position currently lacking from Mesuts absence. AND how Smith-Rowe would learn from that trio!!
Sokratis and Kolasinac will be gone next…
It had always been said that Hector wasn’t for sale…. unless an offer too good to turn down comes in… which is what will happen, I believe…as long as we get Partey, really don’t want to miss out on that beast!
Btw, whatever happened to VP??
Think sokratis already agreed terms with napoli
Not sure if kolasinac agent(sue) letting him go anywhere though
Am not for selling hector, hector is a red and I think fans should give him more respect
Remember loyalty is both ways not as a player gets an injury and does meet your requirements any more he should audition be gone from the club
To fund partey we still have the likes of guendouzi torreira etc
Leno
Martinez
Gabriel
Luiz
Saliba
Mari
Mustafi
Chambers
Tierney
AMN
Soares
Chambers
Tierney
AMN
Saka
Xhaka
Ceballos
Torreira
Partey
Elneny
Willock
AMN
Smith-Rowe
Willian
Pepe
Saka
Aubameyang
Nelson
Martinelli
Smith-Rowe
Lacazette
Aubameyang
Nketiah
Martinelli
OUT
Bellerin
Holding (loan)
Sokratis
Geundouzi
Özil
Kolasinac
Mkhitaryan
I’d be happy to start the season with this and feel it would be a big step in the right direction. The defence would be totally overhauled, the midfield is more workmanlike in terms of effort and desire, and the forward players look really exciting. The goalkeepers would be a real battle also but it wouldn’t surprise me if we sold Martinez whilst the opportunity is there to get big funds for him that could potentially help us sign someone like Aouar. I really don’t want Martinez to leave but I could understand it from a team building point of view. The same could be said for Geundouzi (potential) and Bellerin (a Gooner) who could potentially bring in decent money. I could also see one of Chambers/Mustafi leaving and one of Torreira/Elneny leaving depending on how we get on in the transfer window. I think the chance to get Aouar would depend on if we can move Özil off the books aswell as generating funds.
On a side note I think Arteta has a real decision to make in terms of the tactics we employ. Suddenly we have a few players who can occupy that number 10 role in the squad (Willian, Smith-Rowe, Özil, Aouar if he was to come in) which doesn’t really fit with the 3-4-3 set up we’ve been going with recently. I know Arteta has mentioned that he wants the squad to play different systems, but a couple of those players would struggle to play in a 3-4-3 so it will be interesting to see if he keeps the likes of Özil and Smith-Rowe around and how much they are used.
New post on Bellerin ppl