Morning.
So, we made our first official signing of the summer season yesterday, as David Raya joined on a everlasting foundation after spending final season on mortgage from Brentford. The price is round £27m, and his contract will run for 4 years – till 2028, at which level he’ll be 32, nonetheless comparatively younger within the lifetime of a goalkeeper.
Then once more, he does must carry on the appropriate facet of a supervisor who does love a goalkeeper signing.
Chatting with the official web site, the boss mentioned:
David confirmed us final season what an necessary participant he’s for us, so we’re delighted he’s now formally our participant. He’s an enormous presence in our dressing room and we’re actually happy to maintain working with him.
We all know he’ll take the robust foundations he put in place final season and construct on them within the years to come back, and that he’ll get pleasure from extra success with us. Now we have a really proficient group of goalkeepers and I like to see connections just like the one I see in our goalkeeping unit.
It was clear fairly shortly final season that Raya was introduced in to be the #1, regardless of Arteta’s uncharacteristically clumsy feedback about ‘timeshare goalkeepers’, and though he had some wobbles right here and there (principally at first), he performed an enormous half in our season, so let’s hope there’s much more to come back over the approaching years.
And whereas this deal just isn’t a shock in any respect, it does carry into the highlight the Aaron Ramsdale scenario. He’s away with England, in fact, however he gained’t need to spend one other season on the bench, so it’ll be fascinating to see what occurs with him. Some will say Arsenal are in a robust place as a result of he has a long-term contract, however the deal he signed final May additionally made him among the finest paid keepers within the Premier League, in order that’s a difficulty relating to discovering a brand new membership. What number of golf equipment can afford these wages? Not too many, so it may be a case he goes on mortgage with the hope {that a} good season wherever he performs generates a bit extra curiosity than there may be proper now.
The opposite query is what number of golf equipment are out there for a top-level keeper this summer season? There may must be just a few items transferring right here and there earlier than the appropriate transfer comes lengthy, so we’ll wait and see how that one performs out.
In the meantime, Arteta did a really fascinating interview with James Olley of ESPN from the Marbella coaching camp, and was requested about his contract. He has lower than a yr left, however sounded a constructive word, saying:
Issues occur in a pure method and our relationship is that good that I don’t predict any points occurring. However issues must develop in the appropriate method and it’ll occur. The main focus now could be, ‘OK, how we will enhance issues across the staff, how we will enhance now the issues within the switch window that we’ve.’ Now we have time to take a seat down and talk about that.
And on the plans for the switch window, he was as opaque as you may think, quick on specifics, however made it clear he desires to enhance the squad:
We need to enhance in each potential division. With the brand new laws, there are particular issues we’ve to respect and take heed to after which clearly the Euros and Copa America are slowing all the things down. Hopefully now it’ll choose up just a little bit.
There are issues that we’ve to enhance, that’s for certain and we’re going to attempt to. However the market is difficult. Now we have been very aggressive, we’re very decided and we’ve a transparent thought clearly of what we need to do. It should come right down to discovering the appropriate agreements on the proper time.
A event summer season is at all times tougher than others, and I do sense just a little anxiousness amongst Arsenal followers – maybe tied to the truth that a participant we targetted (Sekso) determined in opposition to making a transfer. Nonetheless, I feel the best way we’ve carried out our enterprise over the previous few summers, each by way of high quality of participant and timing (for probably the most half), ought to reassure those that we’ll be capable to do the offers we wish. Who? When? Your guess is nearly as good as mine, however with somebody like Arteta, you may think about how exhausting he’s pushing behind the scenes for the optimum end result, so let’s wait and see.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for now. There’s a brand new Arsecast so that you can take heed to beneath, chatting about Riccardo Calafiori and much extra with Phil Costa. Take pleasure in.
