Morning.
I loved final night time’s Europa League last between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, not as a result of it was an excellent recreation, however as a result of it was only a recreation of soccer I might watch and never care someway about who received. I’ve accomplished an excessive amount of caring lately, so it’s a little bit of a deal with to only let it play out someway.
The Italian facet received it, in no small half to Ademola Lookman, who banged in a sensational hat-trick. The third purpose specifically, wooooof! It’s at all times attention-grabbing to see how a participant who struggled a lot at one membership has flourished elsewhere. He scored simply 4 objectives for Everton after shifting from Charlton. He had so-so mortgage spells at Leicester and Fulham, however final night time he was the principle man in a European last. Generally you simply want to search out the proper atmosphere as a participant.
This was, after all, Leverkusen’s first defeat of the season, and I’m unsure Xabi Alonso received it proper tactically. His staff choice from the off was a bit unusual, and Atalanta’s fashion nullified them each time they received into their half. I watched Granit Xhaka, as soon as of this parish, drop deeper and deeper to select up the ball to try to get them going, and that was in stark distinction to the place he performed for us for the final couple of seasons – his best interval as an Arsenal participant.
It’s by no means simple to lose a last, however the safety-net of the Bundesliga – and the German cup last this weekend – will guarantee it stays an incredible season for them. And as for Atalanta and Gian Piero Gasperini, it’s their first ever European trophy, their first silverware for the reason that Italian Cup in 1963, so what a narrative that’s for them. Sead Kolasinac, Europa League winner. Who’d have thought?
They’ll be an attention-grabbing staff to control in subsequent season’s Champions League too.
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In the meantime, Albert Sambi Lokonga, who spent an damage hit season on mortgage with Luton, has revealed he’ll be on the lookout for a brand new membership this summer time after discussions with Arsenal. Talking to the BBC, he mentioned:
I had a dialogue with Arsenal and the conclusion was the perfect factor for me was to depart the membership, so now it’s as much as my agent and the membership to search out one thing. I nonetheless have a contract there, one 12 months plus a one-year choice so let’s see what occurs.
There will likely be a lot to jot down and speak about in terms of the switch window this summer time, and the listing of potential departures is basically fairly lengthy. For the Belgian although, there’s not less than readability about what comes subsequent. Arsenal have mentioned ‘You don’t have any future right here’, so it’s as much as his representatives to type out a transfer.
You may fear that the general public information about his availability and the actual fact he’s not wished right here might play an element in how we a lot we get, however not less than there’s been no hanging round. No cloud of uncertainty. He is aware of. Arsenal know. Different golf equipment know. So, let’s see what Edu can generate for a participant who did properly when he was match final season, however whose inventory in all probability hasn’t shifted a lot since his arrival from Anderlecht in the summertime of 2021.
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In the meantime, with Aaron Ramsdale one of many possible departures this summer time, and a query mark over the way forward for Karl Hein (if he stays, he’ll possible exit on mortgage), we’ve been linked with Dutch keeper Justin Bijlow. He’s spent his total profession with Feyenoord, and has 8 caps for the Netherlands, and that’s about as a lot as I do know.
I did marvel about what profile of keeper we’d go for this summer time although. It was at all times unusual to me that we introduced in Matt Turner, who struggled to do what we would like from our keepers with the ball at his toes. So, the very first thing I did was search for his passing stats through FBREF, and in contrast with with David Raya.
Bijlow prime, then Raya
Not less than in that very primary comparability, they appear to be comparatively in-sync. I don’t know what he’s like as a shot-stopper or somebody who will come for crosses and many others, nevertheless it does look as if he can use the ball along with his toes in a method that matches the fashion of the staff.
I believe our goalkeeper recruitment, pushed by Inaki Cana, has been such that it’s not unreasonable to have doubts about any participant we goal. In case you have Alex Runarsson and Turner in your browser historical past (just because he was a foul match with how we play), then individuals could have questions. Bijlow may be the primary of many we’re linked with, however absolutely whoever we usher in has to have the ability to play in a method that’s analogous with Raya whose deal will develop into everlasting in some unspecified time in the future.
Proper, that’s your lot for now. I’m taking a number of days with a minimal workload this week, so there received’t be an Arsecast this week. Common service will start once more on Monday with an Arsecast Additional, so again tomorrow with only a weblog.
Till then.
