Happy Monday! I’ve delayed writing this post until the very last minute, hoping Arsenal would give me something to react to.
As it happens… Nothing has happened. Yet.
Let me tackle it in chunks.
Bruno Guimarães
This is going to happen, right? Right? All signs are pointing to yes.
With Christian Nørgaard set to depart for Everton, I think this is as big a clue as ever for Bruno to join. Nørgaard leaving is no surprise really. I thought he was a smart addition last summer, however, Arteta clearly didn’t trust him in a way we thought he would. Still, he leaves a Premier League champion so all the best to him… Apart from when he faces us obviously.
So, back to Bruno. Some say he’s going to be doing his medical today, some say he’s hunting down Newcastle to force through his exit. I pay no attention to the ins and outs of this one and await the confirmation. Please don’t jinx it, please don’t jinx it.
I know there’s talk about his age, his “nastiness” on the pitch. But, I want this to happen. Yes he’s closer to 30 than others we could go after, but right now I want Arsenal to retain the league and with the UCL the upcoming season – and he’s the right profile to help the cause. And the nastiness angle. Well he’s the sort of player you hate when you come up against him, but love him when he’s in your colours. I do feel there won’t be many excuses needed for Arsenal to receive more red cards this season so he will need to watch himself a bit.
Vinícius Júnior
THIS is the one. I laid out last week that I wanted a superstar in this position before the news of Vini Jr came out. And this is exactly the profile I want.
Would he be an instant success? I don’t know to be honest – he’s quality but the Premier League can require a bedding in period. I also get we won’t ask him to track back as much – but that may make us more of an exciting team to watch. This is the sort of signing that would make any doubters sit up and take Arsenal seriously. Signing him would be a huge statement to the world. And I’m pleased with the intent of the club in wanting to make this happen.
I’ve never spent so much time on Instagram just waiting for an update on a player before. Annoyingly there’s a lot of echoing so I’m waiting for David Ornstein, Gunnerblog, or Hand of Arsenal to give us the real updates.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a week in terms of emotions around this. At first I was pessimistic – believing the Arsenal owners were making a hollow attempt to move for Vini Jr to please Arteta after missing out on Morgan Rogers. But as the week went on it sounds like something Arsenal are really – REALLY – up for making it happen.
Then there’s Vini’s own agenda. Is he serious about coming to Arsenal? Or is he toying with us to see what else he can get from Real Madrid. It kills me to say it, but I reckon it’s the latter. I’m happy to be proved wrong. Maybe I’m just trying to protect my own feelings – trying not to go all in on him to save myself from any scars that come later.
If we don’t end up with him, then who else do we go for? Is Martinelli and Tzolis enough on the left wing? I don’t think so.
Arsenal Kits 26/27
All Arsenal shirts for the season have now been released. And Oh. My. God. They are beautiful. The away kit and third kit are some of the best shirts I have seen for this team.
If I were to complain, it would be that I would have liked to have seen the yellow shirt as the away shirt, and navy as third.
Mainly because I’m a traditionalist – nothing brings me greater joy than a yellow Arsenal away shirt. Apart from wins. And trophies. And Vini Jr signing. Ok, turns out there’s plenty of things that bring me joy.
Will I be buying each shirt? Yes. I already have the home shirt with the gold “Champions 26” on the back. Maybe on one of the other 2 shirts I may put the name of a certain Brazil star. That’s right – Denilson.
