Arsenal transfer deadline checklist: Things the club must do before the window closes
As the end of the transfer window looms large, Arsenal have unfinished business this summer in terms of player sales, loans, and possible incomings...
Hello, Happy Monday!
The start of the week is so much better after an Arsenal victory.
There’s always an extra skip in our step, a smile on our face, a glint in our eye, and a buzz in our, er, buzzers, following a weekend victory.
It also sets us up for the week, safe in the knowledge that Arsenal-haters have absolutely nothing they can have a go at us about. Even though, no doubt they’ll try…
So, here’s to a good week after a satisfying victory and three points in the bag.
We move to the next game, cheers!
A busy week ahead
A busy week lies ahead for the Gunners - not on the pitch, as the first team doesn’t play again until Saturday (see you at Villa Park), so they’ll be ticking over on the perfectly manicured pitches of London Colney ahead of the tough trip to the West Midlands on Saturday.
No, off the pitch is where the powers-that-be will be busy bees this week, ahead of the looming transfer deadline.
Firstly, that means a few more loan deals for Arsenal Academy youngsters - and graduates.
Charles Sagoe Jnr
Charles Sagoe Jnr has already moved to Shrewsbury on a season-long loan - with the prospect of more of his year cohort doing the same before the month is out.
Having covered Stevenage 1-0 Shrewsbury at Broadhall Way on the opening Saturday of League One earlier this month, the toothless - and potless - Shrews could certainly do with a young, hungry, talented presence in attack.
Like all the best loan deals, all parties will surely benefit.
Sagoe Jnr, whose fledgling career will surely be aided by gaining experience week-in, week-out by playing against seasoned, hardened lower league pros.
While Shrewsbury will have the advantage of fielding a lively forward who cost no fee.
All the while, Arsenal (Academy) will be monitoring his form, and noting how he progresses on and off the pitch. All the while safe in the knowledge that their promising asset appreciate in value after putting pen to paper on a new, long-term deal signed earlier this summer. Good business all round.
For as much as we all enjoyed watching the lad make his debut at Brentford in the third round of the Carabao Cup last season, the odd substitute appearance in Mike Arteta’s first team for Sagoe Jnr in the League Cup during 2024-25 will not be enough to boost his career at this stage, so yes, it’s an ideal move all round.
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Ramsdale to resolve future?
Aaron Ramsdale warming up with David Raya before Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Brentford in the third round of the League Cup, September 2023 (the same match Charles Sagoe Jnr made his first team debut. CREDIT: OFFSIDE
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Ramsdale to resolve future?
Then it comes to the thorny issue of Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale has been nothing but the model pro since David Raya came in. He could have opened his mouth and moaned publicly, he could have pushed his agenda through ‘sources’, or he could simply have retreated into a year long strop.
But he’s hasn’t done any of the above. He’s shown respect to his club, his manager, his colleagues, his trade, his family, and himself.
So, if he wants to leave the club on his terms before the end of the month, then so be it.
The only thing is, if you’re a club that wants Ramsdale as your new No1, then you’ve got to pay the going rate for the England international. That’s why Ajax’s cheeky offer of a loan deal simply didn’t suit Arsenal. Yes, you could argue that his wages would be off the books, but no doubt the fallen Dutch giants would still only offer to pay a portion of his wages, not the full amount.
So, where are Arsenal benefiting if the fiscal savings aren’t actually that much?
On the pitch, why should the club lose a magnificent No2, for the sake of a loan deal?
And, even for Ramsdale, apart from the fact he wants to play every game (as all good pros do) it’s not as if there’s an international tournament next summer that he has to play regularly to be considered for. (Being taken to Germany as Jordan Pickford’s understudy destroyed that argument, as he only played three games - all against Raya’s at the time parent club Brentford.
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Kieran Tierney
Kieran Tierney
Another issue to be resolved by sporting director Edu, is to find another loan for Kieran Tierney - or find a club willing to buy him on a permanent deal.
It’s such a shame his Arsenal career has been plagued by debilitating injuries as he’s always been a whole-hearted player, popular with most fans who understand the game. Tierney is another whose attitude has been spot on, regardless.
For the sake of his career, let’s hope he finds a club, to kick-start his career again. As he’ll always be highly-regarding among the majority of Arsenal supporters.
Not least for using a plastic bag as his kitbag. (As an aside I was actually about 20 yards from Tierney stepping off the team coach with aforesaid accoutrement at Bramall Lane during lockdown and did a double-take when I saw him…)
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Mikel Merino
Mikel Merino
Interesting to note Arsenal target Mikel Merino was left out of Real Sociedad’s squad to play Raya Vallecano in La Liga this weekend…
It brings to mind something a former Arsenal CEO once said: “Those who know, won't speak. Those who speak, won't know.”
Incidentally, I was there at the Arsenal media room when Ivan Gazidis (for it was he) uttered those famous words, on the day news broke Arsene Wenger would be leaving the club. What a day that was. I think I wrote 19 different articles for Islington Gazette as Arsenal reporter, before, during and after making it to the Emirates for an unprecedented Friday evening presser…)
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Eddie, Reiss, Kiwior to leave?
Will these three move for a fee. The club could certainly do with the extra revenue generated by the sales from at least the first two. More on here on Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson later this week.
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Potentially strengthen in attack
Leroy Sane is still available….
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PS:
Threads. If you’re on Threads I’m @laythy29 as Twitter really is a cesspit, run by a cretinous, hapless. megalomanic, billionaire neo-capitalist who champions civil war in the UK, among many other dreadful things…