Welcome back to the blog and seemingly, finally welcome to Arsenal to transfer party this summer, after seeing plenty of clubs active so far, the club is starting to show it’s hand.
Zubimendi, Kepa all but officially confirmed and a surprising name cropping up this week but a very welcome one in Christian Norgaard from Brentford.
Christian Norgaard
With the news that Partey and the club have not been able to agree a new deal the midfield signing of Norgaard to me is a great addition for around £11 million by all accounts. Feering up the wage bill considerably also, with reports suggesting Partey was looking for more than his £200,000 a week terms, for someone who would be filling gaps and covering now with Zubimendi coming in it seems the right time to go separate ways with the player.
Now looking at the midfield, it looks like Zubimendi will be the replacement to Partey and Norgaard filling the Jorginho space left in the squad.
The club moving swiftly to secure his signature, a player with premier league quality, experience and nous. At 31, his age might be a surprise that the club went for him but a player last season in the top 20 players in the league for distance covered, showing durability and playing 80% of Brentfords fixtures in the last four seasons shows the astuteness of the signing in my opinion.
A sensible and reliable squad addition, a player who can help cover in games due to suspensions or cup game rotation, he can come on late to see out wins and also with an aerial threat to, which is great for a team so good at set pieces. Also, with Zubimendi adapting to a new team, a new league, having a Norgaard in the squad will give time for the Spaniard to find his feet also.
As discussed in previous blogs, Andrea Berta likes to keep options open and another name thrown into the ring towards the end of the week, Eberechi Eze.
Eberechi Eze
An alternative to Rodrygo if that one can’t be pulled off for the Real Madrid man, and to that I yes please, where do we sign to get this one done? Proven quality, albeit a slow start to his season last year but in 2025, he burst into life, the springboard to Palace’s FA cup win.
He is one of those players you just enjoy watching regardless of who you support and someone who I really think fits the Arteta mould of what he likes in a squad.
As discussed in my article ‘A little chaos is good‘ where I focussed on Rodrygo, I also see that element of chaos with Eze, he has that spark, something a little different but in a controlled manner.
But, the thing with the player is the multitude of roles he can play, he can operate all across the frontline and even at the number 10 role as possible cover to Odegaard if needed.
He offers a variety of cover and such flexibility as a player, predominantly his signing would be as the new left winger, cutting inside and with an absolute finesse to his shooting ability, he has great close touch and control also, can beat man on the inside and down the wing, he is unpredictable to opponents he faces.
With this type of player coming into the squad, i’m excited to think back to the times when Wenger went midfield mad from 2009 to 2015, cramming in a Rosicky with say a Cazorla, a Cazorla with an Ozil, triangles and passing galore to open the game up.
I think should the club bring Eze in, you essentially just make it work, you would be able fit him in due to his adaptability in the squad. The man brings a controlled chaos, and like I say a little chaos is good.
So, I’m all in on Eze if he is the new attacking signing, one to keep an eye on ahead of the players coming back for pre season mid July.
Santi Cazorla
Now speaking of Cazorla, what a player, what a guy and to achieve what he did with his club Real Oviedo last week after what he faced a few years ago is absolutely remarkable.
Playing at the age 40 now, on a reduced contract he helped guide the club back to the top table in Spain, beating Mirandes 3-2 on aggregate in the LA Liga Segunda play off and also scoring a decisive free kick in the semi final against Almeria sending Oviedo to the final.
My fondest memory of Cazorla obviously was also a free kick. His goal against Hull in the FA cup final back in 2014, starting the comeback off, and for some reason that day I was sat in the Hull end. Those first 20 minutes were not pleasant one bit, I can tell you that.
And to think the man nearly his foot, had a skin graft from his arm put in the foot area as part of the surgerical procedure , which was infected following previous surgeries, it was a miracle for him to walk let alone play football again.
We were most definitely robbed of seeing him for a few years at The Arsenal. I always remember his last ever contrubution to the club, a measured through ball to Ozil grabbing his second goal of the game against Ludogorets, he was instantly subbed due to injury after that, and yoiu wouldn’t of believed you’d never see him don the red and white again .
Seeing the adulation of the fans last week of Oviedo, his boyhood club and the one that had to sell him to Villareal due to financial trouble, last week was a fairytale for them and him.
A fan favourite at every club he played at and someone when you entered the Emirates on a match day was a pure joy to watch. Perhaps one day we’ll see him back at the club as part of Mikels backroom staff, he can maybe bring his affectious energy and knowledge to the squad.
There may be a spot for him with Carlos Cuesta taking the Head Coach role at Parma and at 29 years of age, what an achievement to him and hopefully he can go there and be a success. It will be interesting to see what the club does, Cazrola may fancy one more year with his club in La Liga and who could blame him.
Well, that’s all for this week, July is nearly here and by all accounts that means signings can finally be formalised for the accounting books. Till the next one, have a great week.
The View From Block 107 