Josh Kroenke in London for Arsenal signing unveilings; could oversee late business for Barcelona starlet
Arsenal has continued to add to their ever-growing young core at the Emirates this summer, with Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Ødegaard the latest signings in a summer that has seen the Gunners bring in five players all of whom are 23-years-old or younger.
Unless I’m wrong, looks like Josh Kroenke there chatting to Edu. In London for end of window? https://t.co/qn5jZ4pRvh
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) August 25, 2021
And the club may not be done there, either. A recent video of Ødegaard completing his paperwork while taking photos with the club’s home kit saw Josh Kroenke standing out of frame along with club technical director Edu Gaspar, and chief executive officer Vinai Vankatesham. While this could certainly mean little, the timing of other events surrounding the club could leave bread crumbs to further business coming off before the conclusion of the summer window under the supervision of Josh himself.
Arsenal linked with interest in wantaway Barcelona starlet
Arsenal has recently been linked with interest in Barcelona’s La Masia graduate Ilaix Moriba this summer, with the 18-year-old – whose contract runs out at the end of the current season – is looking for a move away from the Catalan capital.
Moriba, who made 18-appearances for the Blaugrana across all competitions last season, is in high demand in England and across the continent in the wake of his public desire to move on from the Camp Nou.
The likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco, and Olympique Lyonnais have all fielded interest in the Spanish U18 international, with Leipzig apparently intent on signing the player before the window slams shut.
But a late move from Arsenal could certainly materialize given the lack of options in central midfield this season under Mikel Arteta. Despite the signing of Belgian U21 international Sambi Lokonga and the contract extension handed out to Granit Xhaka, Arsenal can only count on Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny as their other central pieces.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Emile Smith Rowe and Albert Sambi Lokonga of Arsenal look dejected after conceding their second goal during the Premier League match between Brentford and Arsenal at Brentford Community Stadium on August 13, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Four midfielders is hardly the depth required for a long campaign, especially one that will see both Partey and Elneny jet-set off to AFCON in the middle of the most strenuous period of the Premier League calendar.
Despite his age, the fact that Moriba has nearly twenty senior appearances for Barca (including in the Champions League) would give Arsenal another young player to add to the long-term project at the Emirates while also giving added depth to the team for the immediate future.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | West Ham United | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 | Chelsea FC | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 3 | Liverpool FC | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 7 | Everton FC | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | Brentford FC | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 | Manchester City | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 11 | Watford FC | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 2 | -2 | 3 |
| 13 | Southampton FC | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 2 | -3 | 1 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 17 | Burnley FC | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| 18 | Newcastle United | 2 | -4 | 0 |
| 19 | Arsenal FC | 2 | -4 | 0 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 2 | -8 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 2 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 2 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 1 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 1 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 1 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 1 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United | 1 |
| Klich, Mateusz | Leeds United | 1 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 1 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 1 |
| Ayling, Luke | Leeds United | 1 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 1 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 1 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 1 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 1 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 1 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 0 | 1 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 1 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 1 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 0 | 1 |
| Grealish, Jack | Manchester City | 0 | 1 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 0 | 1 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 0 | 1 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 1 |
| Murphy, Jacob | Newcastle United | 0 | 1 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 0 | 1 |
| Perez, Ayoze | Leicester City | 1 | 0 |
| Milner, James | Liverpool FC | 0 | 1 |
| Shelvey, Jonjo | Newcastle United | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 2 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 1 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 1 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 1 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 1 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 1 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 1 |
| Cleverley, Tom | Watford FC | 1 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 1 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 1 |
| Dallas, Stuart | Leeds United | 1 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 1 |
| Coufal, Vladimir | West Ham United | 1 |
| Lindelof, Victor | Manchester United | 1 |
