Tomorrow.
I asked for three little things in yesterday’s blog and the football gods only gave me one of them. Boo. Unai played completely against Man Utd, and Liverpool took care of Burnley quite easily, but at least Newcastle lost. At home. Ha ha. Chris Wood got a lovely hat-trick against his former club, good feet for a big man on a couple of occasions too, and it’s just one win in the last five for fake choirboy Eddie Howe.
On the other hand, Albert Sambi Lokonga was credited with an assist for Luton Town, but it’s as far from an assist as you’re likely to see. He gave a pass to a winger who then did all the hard work to score the goal, but it’s good to see him back playing after suffering a relatively serious injury at the start of the season. He made three appearances in December, so I hope he can continue playing for Luton throughout the season.
January is just around the corner, of course, and there’s a great article by James in The Athletic (£) about Arsenal’s transfer plans. He reports that the priority is a defensive addition, then perhaps in midfield, but that “a short-term loan remains the most likely option” due to FFP and what Arsenal spent last summer. Remember, we have David Raya with an IOU to Brentford as a way of getting around the financial rules, so unless we sell there is unlikely to be much in the coffers to spend.
The big question is who would be available on loan who would be good cover/depth for a team hoping to win the Premier League and want to stay in the Champions League? Your guess is as good as mine in that regard. Barring some sort of internal dispute or something, anyone of that quality will likely play regularly for their current team and won’t be willing to come and play as a substitute for us. Assuming said club is even willing to let them go.
Which makes me think that perhaps some outbound business could facilitate the arrival of a player who can make a difference. However, once again, I’m not sure who it could be, and while I realize there is a high-profile goalkeeper who could fit the bill, letting Aaron Ramsdale leave would make me feel a little uncomfortable because I don’t think that we have enough coverage for David Raya if something were to happen to him. The weight of the title chase hangs over every decision we make now, that goes for business in both directions, but let’s see what Edu and his team come up with.
Finally for today, is tomorrow a great opportunity for Emile Smith Rowe? With Kai Havertz suspended for the game against West Ham, there is a midfield position to fill. Leandro Trossard has done it before and done it well, but he wasn’t brilliant enough to automatically pick him there. So, beyond starting Jorginho and playing Declan Rice a little further forward, that leaves a fit Smith Rowe again as the obvious choice.
I would love to see him try and for me this is an opportunity for him and the manager to show some faith in a player who could still be an asset for us. If he doesn’t start on this, I’d really be worried that he’ll remain peripheral, just team material and that would be a real shame. Of course, he has to take the opportunity if he is given it too, but in a home game where he will essentially be playing with the first XI and not a cup/shadow team, it would be easier for him to contribute. Maybe it’s something Mikel Arteta will be asked about later, let’s see.
We’ll bring you news from the press conference a little later on Arseblog News, and we’ll also have our West Ham preview podcast on Patreon in the afternoon.
For now, have a good one.
