Emiliano Martinez, Piero Hincapie, Alexander Isaac (Photos: Richard Pelham, Lars Baron, George Wood/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s busy deadline day
The deadline at Arsenal is expected to be quite busy.
Piero Hincapie arrived yesterday and the deal should be concluded and announced a little later, offering of course no late hiccups.
And that means Jakubu Kiwior completes his move to Porto.
However, other businesses are being run, and the school is mainly about expulsion.
You never want to rule things out as we all know that something can happen on the deadline day, but I would be very surprised if there were other incomes besides Hincapy.
However, there should be an exit, and Sambi Loconga is expected to complete the move to Hamburg, with Fabio Vieira, Reis Nelson and Olexandr Zinchenko potentially heading towards the door.
Arsenal has been working to carry out all these players’ deals over the summer, with Fulham and the Palace both garnering interest from several Bundesliga sides, with Nelson and Vieira both. West Ham is also said to be watching a former Porto man.
So it should be a busy last day at Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s tactics against Liverpool didn’t work – that was an opportunity that Arsenal missed.
You can understand some of the frustrations that followed Arsenal’s narrow defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.
That being said, I think the story that seemed to be pushed even as the game was progressing was broad from Mark.
I don’t believe a bit of Arsenal appears to “not seemingly lose” to Anfield, as it seemed Gary Neville and the other Sky Sports teams decided to make us all believe.
They went to win and Mikel Arteta chose a team they believed could do that, but it didn’t work.
It was a really tight game between the two teams that cancelled each other. I really don’t know that Arsenal was looking for a draw. If that could be leveled against them, then it should also be leveled against Liverpool.
They were home side and champions, but it was Arsenal who finished the game with higher XG, more shots, more shots, more passes, more touches in the confrontation box.
I’m not saying they deserve to win. It was a game written there with a 0-0 draw until Dominique Sezoboschlei stepped up and created a magical moment in which forces balanced in the direction of Liverpool.
It’s an incredible individual skill, and sometimes you need to hold your hand and say you did well.
Well, I said it all, so I did when I saw Starting XI, so I can see why Arsenal fans are getting frustrated.
I had felt that Arteta would start Mikel Merino in the absence of Martin Odegard, but I really wanted him to go down the other routes and go with a more aggressive setup.
I know Arteta considers Merino as an offensive option and he pointed it out after the match he quized with his choice, but his midfield, Rice and Zubimendi, have no sparks and imagination.
Arteta went down a conservative route when there were other options, but that was a bit disappointing as he really felt he had the opportunity to show that he was really ready to play on the front foot this season.
Maybe he feels it’s too early to start with Ebeki Eze and he clearly knows much more than I do. However, as Arsenal’s strength in defense and before Zubimendi and Rice, I felt there was protection to unleash Arsenal’s new signature and try out the game for Liverpool.
And otherwise, Ethan Nuwaneri, who was excellent against Leeds the previous weekend.
Obviously, I don’t know how things pand out if Arteta did something like that, but I’m sure Liverpool’s defense should be much more thoughtful, especially in the first half when Arsenal had so much control.
But in the end, they were the only player who carried a real threat to the visitors.
The result was far from the end of the world for Arsenal and Szoboszlai hadn’t scored an astonishing free kick, so I sat here saying it was a great point for Arteta’s side.
But the goal shapes how the game is perceived, and it was Liverpool that ultimately got it. For Arsenal, it really feels like an opportunity to miss out on.
Alexander Isaac from Liverpool to Liverpool means the title race
Alexander Isaac is clearly a sensational Liverpool signature.
The league’s best offensive teams have just landed the league’s best striker, so it clearly worries everyone else trying to abdicate them.
Liverpool was a favorite before signing ISAK, so most people believe that their second consecutive title is almost certain. But I don’t see it as a natural conclusion.
Arsenal can still win the league. They have great windows and they built a team that they think is as strong as anything they’ve ever seen in North London.
So they have to focus on themselves. Sunday was a setback, but not a knockout hit. A bigger game comes right after the international break, so they have to pick up themselves and go again.
The important thing is to get the player to fit. The injury killed Arsenal’s chances last season, and we’ve already seen it have a big impact this time.
Arsenal is sure if Bukayosaka and Kiahabatos deserved to start at Anfield, the outcome would have been different. They also lost William Saliba within five minutes.
Those absenteeism is really bothering me. It feels like it’s been going on since last season. If that’s true, there’s no way they can keep pace with Liverpool.
Don’t be surprised from Emiliano Martinez from Manchester United
It’s not really surprising to see Emi Martinez searching for a move to Manchester United.
He has always been a player with the ambition to achieve the biggest things and play for the biggest club.
I remember sitting at Martinez and interviewing him when he was loaned out for reading before he made a breakthrough.
Things hadn’t actually happened for him yet, but he still spoke like someone who knew they would. I could feel the desire to reach a very peak in him.
Have you ever been surprised he’s trying to do what he has in the game since? Of course I am. It was amazing how his career trajectory ended after he was thrown to the Arsenal side due to Bern Reno’s injury.
But the good things came to those who really believe in themselves, and he never hid his desire to reach the top of the game.
He is fighting his path there and if this move to United occurs, he will see it as another major step forward in his career.