I’ve been saying it for a few years now: William Saliba will in the future be a Actual Madrid participant. He’s the sauciest younger centre-back on the planet, extraordinarily marketable, outrageously proficient, and, extra importantly… precisely the appropriate nationality to fit into a really French-flavoured Madrid squad.
We’ve identified it for some time: Arsenal have a galáctico on their palms. A one-man wrecking machine, with a contemporary defensive, inventive contact.
It was notable that the extension he signed with Arsenal was a four-year take care of no possibility. The participant wager on himself. He probably has his eyes on a transfer to Spain sooner or later, and he’ll need to be profitable the largest and greatest trophies on the planet.
Our fanbase hasn’t actually suffered over the previous decade. Aaron Ramsey leaving on a free? Didn’t care. Alexis Sánchez earlier than the good decline? I cared a bit however didn’t lose sleep. The final exit to essentially sting me was in all probability Cesc Fàbregas, or, at a stretch, Adebayor. We haven’t suffered true ache like dropping Anelka for £21m to Actual Madrid. Or Marc Overmars and Petit to Barcelona. Or Thierry Henry to Barcelona. We simply haven’t had a adequate batch of gamers to have a Coutinho-like second.
Effectively, welcome to the brand new period of Arsenal. We’ve signed, coached, and raised a batch of outstanding younger gamers, and sooner or later, one in every of them goes to interrupt our hearts.
The one option to fight this?
Massive-money contracts.
Compete on the highest ranges each season.
Win trophies.
That’s all you want. It’s a giant ask, however there’s little motive to suppose we will’t ship, contemplating what we’re seeing and what may occur to the facility construction this season. I believe we’re going to win the Premier League this season. If we will get previous the quarter-finals of the Champions League, it’s a roll of the cube who wins. However why not Arsenal?
I don’t suppose there are various choices extra enticing than Arsenal in world soccer. Madrid, sadly, is at all times going to be one in every of them for sure gamers. South People are inclined to favour Spain for cultural causes, French children are at all times going to attach attributable to Madrid’s historical past, and there may even be deeper curiosity from English gamers, given Jude Bellingham’s large success there.
That stated, London is a lovely place to reside. Arsenal Soccer Membership has status, and a swagger it’s lengthy lacked is effectively and really again. We have now world-class coaching amenities. A media that received’t search via bins. A kinder setting to play soccer. We’ve bought all of it proper now.
What we don’t have are looser tax legal guidelines that give gamers extra take-home pay. We additionally don’t presently have the funds to assist among the mega offers Madrid gamers are getting. Their wage invoice sits at €492m gross, which is big. England additionally doesn’t have good climate.
The query but to be answered is how KSE will adapt to the growing calls for of gamers shifting into their prime. Will the household proceed to ramp up wages as membership income climbs? Or will there be a tap-out second? You possibly can argue that our mega switch spending ended this summer time as we missed out on signing a everlasting winger, a brand new #6, and a striker. Is {that a} signal of tightening the budgets? Or only a squad bloat problem?
We don’t know but. However with Massive Invoice Saliba, we’ll want to begin negotiations on the following deal subsequent summer time. 2027 will come round quick. Mbappé left PSG on a free switch. So the thought is on the market. Will we go all-in for a ‘franchise participant’, or will we lastly really feel the ache, numbed by a £150m charge?
A bit scary, however my job right here is to be trustworthy so you may put together a security blanket if the worst occurs.
Okay, I’m signing off. See you tomorrow. x
