ITALIAN DEFENDER DEAL CLOSE
It’s a Saturday morning post and we’re in great shape because David Ornstein has finally given us the news we wanted on an incoming player: Riccardo Calafiori.
The Italian only wants Arsenal. Arteta only wants the Italian. The fee being mentioned around the internet is £33m, which is crazy because this is one of the best defenders at the Euros, playing for the Italian champions, looking a million dollars doing modern JdP things. He’ll cost half of what Leny Yoro cost and likely won’t even hit £100k a week. The absurd addiction some clubs have to potential over signing players who are able to perform right now is wild to me. A full-blooded Italian international who is 22 years old will fetch half the price of an uncapped teenager.
Some clubs are still paying a premium for what isn’t there - Arsenal might have just landed a bargain for what is very clearly already there.
I am not really sure what to say about this haircut. A girl in my school did this when she went to Barbados when I was 11. She was the richest at the school. It was a terrible move, and I’ve never forgiven what I saw. Riccardo has a beautiful mop of stereotypical Italian hair, so why would he do this? The crazy thing is, he was probably sober when he made this decision. My guess? That girlfriend of his made him do it. Arteta has to step in.
This covers one of the positions I thought would be addressed this summer. We have our cover for Big Gabi, someone who can be better than Kiwior on the left, someone who gives us more power, more aggression, and a new tool for breaking through mid-blocks.
The only worries I have about this move are twofold:
1. Haaaawt players at international tournaments often disappoint in the real world.
2. His near career-ending injury lurks in the back of my mind. Anyone can be a physical beast in Serie A, but can he translate his fitness into a far more intense league under a demanding manager every single week?
We shall see. But it’s a sexy move.
Arsenal won their first preseason game of the season with a 2-0 victory over Leyton Orient. The Smith and Gabi Jesus were on the scoresheet, two injury-prone players with a lot to prove this season. I suspect only one of them will still be here by the end of the month.
Jesus is an interesting cat. He blew up in his first season, looked incredible, but he hasn’t been the same since he returned from injury. This summer was all about building strength and getting fit. This season is make or break. He could play as a 9 or slip in as our backup to Bukayo Saka. I hope there are plenty of minutes of uninterrupted Jesus JOY.
There’s still a lot of chatter about Nico Williams. This feels like one of those stories you should stay away from. He’s Barca bound, somehow. I’ve said since January that my biggest fear is Neto, and I reckon that story will start revving up again. Explosive, loads of control, and very direct. He’d add to the squad on paper, but I’m not sure if he’s viable over 50 games a season. “But maybe we could fix him” isn’t a strategy in my opinion, but let’s see where it goes. Could just be Mendes whipping up interest in a player no one has moved on yet.
Ok, that’s me done! Enjoy the rest of your Saturday. x